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Carrier If I buy iPhone 12 from Apple Online Store and select a Carrier (instead of SIM-free), will I be forced to sign a post-paid contract with the carrier?

T

tzd

macrumors newbie
Original poster
May 8, 2011
26
0
California
I have been using my iPhones with pre-paid AT&T SIM card for almost a decade.

For iPhone 12, Apple's website says that all iPhones sold are unlocked if I pay in full by choosing "One Time Payment", even if I select a specific carrier like AT&T. However, selecting the SIM-free version cost $30 more.

I am wondering if I can just buy the AT&T version of iPhone 12 and pop my existing AT&T pre-paid SIM card into it and use it? Or will I be forced to sign a post-paid contract with AT&T?
 
I don't see any advantage in buying the sim free model this time around. I've been buying sim free phones for the last 3 models. If I buy a sim free iPhone 12 this time and move my sim from my older phone to the new one, it's not going to do 5G. That means I have to go to my nearest T-Mobile store and get a new sim that will do 5G.
T-Mobile will charge me for the new sim.

If I order the T-Mobile model from Apple, it will already have the proper sim and I won't have to pay the extra $30 and whatever T-Mobile will charge me.
 
chscag said:
I don't see any advantage in buying the sim free model this time around. I've been buying sim free phones for the last 3 models. If I buy a sim free iPhone 12 this time and move my sim from my older phone to the new one, it's not going to do 5G. That means I have to go to my nearest T-Mobile store and get a new sim that will do 5G.
T-Mobile will charge me for the new sim.

If I order the T-Mobile model from Apple, it will already have the proper sim and I won't have to pay the extra $30 and whatever T-Mobile will charge me.
Click to expand...

Is that a T-Mobile thing? On At&t old sims get 5G fine as long as you are on the correct plan.
 
Renho said:
I am pretty sure you can. But you will need to call up ATT and have them provision it for 5G.
Click to expand...
chscag said:
I don't see any advantage in buying the sim free model this time around. I've been buying sim free phones for the last 3 models. If I buy a sim free iPhone 12 this time and move my sim from my older phone to the new one, it's not going to do 5G. That means I have to go to my nearest T-Mobile store and get a new sim that will do 5G.
T-Mobile will charge me for the new sim.

If I order the T-Mobile model from Apple, it will already have the proper sim and I won't have to pay the extra $30 and whatever T-Mobile will charge me.
Click to expand...

I bought SIM free and 5G works fine on ATT. SIM free also means you can skip the upgrade fees carriers charge.
 
bpeeps said:
I bought SIM free and 5G works fine on ATT. SIM free also means you can skip the upgrade fees carriers charge.
Click to expand...
They say you won’t get some of the security features if they don’t provision it. Just what I heard tho. And ATT added a new thing to dispute the fee and they credit you, all done on the App. Never had it be so easy before.
 
chscag said:
I don't see any advantage in buying the sim free model this time around. I've been buying sim free phones for the last 3 models. If I buy a sim free iPhone 12 this time and move my sim from my older phone to the new one, it's not going to do 5G. That means I have to go to my nearest T-Mobile store and get a new sim that will do 5G.
T-Mobile will charge me for the new sim.

If I order the T-Mobile model from Apple, it will already have the proper sim and I won't have to pay the extra $30 and whatever T-Mobile will charge me.
Click to expand...

I did it to see if I avoid paying Verizon’s $20 upgrade fee. I’ve only been with them for 3 months, so I have no leverage to ask them to waive the fee.
 
tzd said:
I have been using my iPhones with pre-paid AT&T SIM card for almost a decade.

For iPhone 12, Apple's website says that all iPhones sold are unlocked if I pay in full by choosing "One Time Payment", even if I select a specific carrier like AT&T. However, selecting the SIM-free version cost $30 more.

I am wondering if I can just buy the AT&T version of iPhone 12 and pop my existing AT&T pre-paid SIM card into it and use it? Or will I be forced to sign a post-paid contract with AT&T?
Click to expand...
The universal, non-carrier specific, sim-free phone has wider band compatibility across carriers. It’s worth it.
 
applefan19 said:
The universal, non-carrier specific, sim-free phone has wider band compatibility across carriers. It’s worth it.
Click to expand...
That may have been true in the past, but I don't think it is the case now.

What makes you think the sim-free option has more bands?
 
lordhamster said:
That may have been true in the past, but I don't think it is the case now.

What makes you think the sim-free option has more bands?
Click to expand...
The iPhone X model had wider band compatibility across networks because I compared the bands on the devices (not necessarily a larger overall # of bands), especially for what was needed in my area. Apple Genius also recommended.
 
Last edited:
On T-Mobile you will need a new SIM card that supports 5G Stand alone...you will get the middle bands but not the lower bands without the new sim if I read correctly. Your screen will say 5G on it but you won't receive those lower bands. if you buy the TMO phone from Apple you get the new sim and it is unlocked...if you buy the sim free phone it has no sim and is unlocked, but you will have to get a new SIM card. Even though I found where they are supposed to give you a new sim for free, you know they will try to charge you.
chscag said:
I don't see any advantage in buying the sim free model this time around. I've been buying sim free phones for the last 3 models. If I buy a sim free iPhone 12 this time and move my sim from my older phone to the new one, it's not going to do 5G. That means I have to go to my nearest T-Mobile store and get a new sim that will do 5G.
T-Mobile will charge me for the new sim.

If I order the T-Mobile model from Apple, it will already have the proper sim and I won't have to pay the extra $30 and whatever T-Mobile will charge me.
Click to expand...
Also, on Apple Support page it gives Instructions to switch your new phone from sim to e-sim...which should be 5G also.
 
Hawk665 said:
Even though I found where they are supposed to give you a new sim for free, you know they will try to charge you.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the confirmation regarding buying sim free vs the T-Mobile model from Apple. And yes, I have been charged by T-Mobile in the past for a new sim card. I suppose I can always go to my local T-Mobile store and ask. They're right down the street from me.
 
Renho said:
They say you won’t get some of the security features if they don’t provision it. Just what I heard tho. And ATT added a new thing to dispute the fee and they credit you, all done on the App. Never had it be so easy before.
Click to expand...
Really? You can dispute the fee in the MyAT&T app? That’s cool! How do I find this? 😃
 
I upgraded my wife’s and my iphone from the 11PM to the 12PM on the iphone upgrade program. My understanding through Apple’s website is that the phones are unlocked. We’ve been on the grandfathered unlimited data plan all these years, and it’s time to switch to something else. We’re considering T-Mobile’s Magenta Plus +55 plan because it’s about half the cost of our UDP with AT&T, and the midband 5G appears to be ubiquitous in our area.

Is it as simple as going to Tmobile and having them port our numbers from AT&T? My understanding is that we’re not under contract with AT&T since we bought the phones from Apple under the iUP, and we’ve been on this AT&T plan for years.

I plan on waiting until this billing cycle is complete to switch to Tom so that I can dispute the $30 upgrade fees with AT&T (my reasoning is that they’ll waive the fee as incentive to keep us as customers: they waive the fee every year for us when I call Customer Loyalty).

Any help is appreciated.
 
It’s pretty much that simple when it comes to porting your number. In August of this year I ported my number to Verizon. I was with T-Mobile for 6.5 years before switching, and I did it because I just wasn’t getting consistent service in my area compared to what the map said. Also when I went in certain neighborhoods on my route, I would completely lose service while people who had Verizon would have no issues.
 
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