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AT&T charges a $45 upgrade fee, so the ATT model iPhone 12 is $844 while the unlocked iPhone 12 is $829. T-Mobile charges a $20 upgrade fee, so that will be the cheaper option at $819.

Does anyone know if I can activate with T-Mobile and then use the phone on another provider without ever using it on T-Mobile.

Those upgrade fees should be illegal though. If you buy from Apple and select activate with carrier, then there is nothing that the carrier has to do. You could argue that they have to pay for the integration with Apple for the activation, but they only need that integration so they know that they can charge you.
 
They're giving you more than the phone costs new for trade in? Something is way off there.

It’s a 30-month contract (bill credits). ETF if you want to switch carriers, change to a cheaper plan, or upgrade at a discount before 30 months is the loss of remaining credits / full remaining balance due in a single payment.

They’ll give that value because they’re guaranteed to make it back in locking you into the plan for 30 months (or getting paid back if you change off). Same as the old 2 year contracts everyone hated and carriers pretended to move away from except they’re 6 months longer now and have higher ETFs (foregone bill credits /repayment of balance) in many termination scenarios. Funny how that worked out for consumers, huh?
 
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I remember the first iPhone being only $599… then $399 after either Apple or AT&T subsidized it.
I remember paying $600 for the first iPhone and that was subsidized, and locked to AT&T. Then being upset when they dropped the price to $200 when the 3G came out.
 


Earlier this week, Apple's online store indicated that T-Mobile, Sprint, and SIM-free models of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini would start at $829 and $729 respectively in the United States, which was $30 extra compared to AT&T and Verizon models.

iphone-12-colors-trio.jpg

However, coinciding with the start of pre-orders for the iPhone 12 today, it turns out that T-Mobile and Sprint are now offering customers the same "instant discount" of $30 with activation. This means the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini now start at Apple's advertised $799 and $699 prices respectively with activation on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or Sprint.

SIM-free models of the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini continue to start at $829 and $729 respectively for use with any carrier.

It is unclear why the "instant discount" for T-Mobile and Sprint models showed up three days after AT&T and Verizon models, but it has certainly created a confusing situation for customers. Pre-orders of the 6.1-inch iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro are available now, while iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max pre-orders will begin Friday, November 6.

There is no price discrepancy with iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max models, which start at $999 and $1,099 respectively regardless of the model selected.

Article Link: iPhone 12 Starts at $799 With T-Mobile and Sprint Activation After All, SIM-Free Model Still Starts at $829


All Canadian iPhones ordered through Apple are factory unlocked I believe - just in case anyone wondered. I didn't think it mattered these days
 
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Will Verizon models of iPhone 12 still essentially be unlocked as were pretty much all Verizon iPhones since they started?
 
Orders for a iPhone 12 Pro 256GB in Pacific Blue already slipping to an November delivery date according to the Apple Store app, though oddly enough In Store Pickup option still shows 10/23 availability.
 
Still garbage that they advertise the price at $799 when it's actually $829. Because the carriers will charge you an upgrade fee, you're going to pay that $30 regardless, and it's so bogus, given that when you buy a phone outright the carrier needs to do NOTHING. You just put your existing SIM in and you're good.
ProtonMail CEO recently accused Apple of Mafia-like tactics. Sounds like US cell phone carriers are in the same boat. You guys in the US really have to put up with some nonsense from these companies.
 
I do not really care what Apple decides to charge for the iPhone. However, going on stage and saying something starts at $699 when it really starts at $729 (iPhone 12 Mini) is just straight disingenuous.

They are more than welcome to partner with the carriers to subsidize part of the phone. However, just say the proper price of the phone! I cannot believe Apple would go this low.
It does start at $699. You can buy it at that price with 2 MAJOR carriers. Possibly there is some confusion as to what "starts at" means.
 
So no USB-C charger, no headphones, and a $30 price increase?

But you can buy headphones and a charger for discounted prices of $19 each. And what’s $30? We’re all Americans who can afford all of this stuff. Just ask anyone from any other country who complain about their VAT and the exchange rate.

We all get hosed. That’s the luxury of locking us into their ecosystem. LMAO
 
Still garbage that they advertise the price at $799 when it's actually $829. Because the carriers will charge you an upgrade fee, you're going to pay that $30 regardless, and it's so bogus, given that when you buy a phone outright the carrier needs to do NOTHING. You just put your existing SIM in and you're good.
Not at Sprint. If I put my sim in a compatible phone, I still have to visit the store to get it going. It sucks.
 
T-Mobile themselves have kept the $29 price increase. It's in-store and on the website. Maybe the discount is only if you're buying the phone through Apple.
Yeh, I pre-order the 12, and the prices were at $829... I wonder if Apple made this last min decision, which got T-Mobile off guard... Now I wonder for those who actually pre-order including myself... will T-Mobile credit back that extra $30... or that's a promo/deal just for apple website... hmm
 
Not at Sprint. If I put my sim in a compatible phone, I still have to visit the store to get it going. It sucks.
Scam artists. At the store does the kid behind the counter tell you “Please turn around now sir and I will flip the magic switch to activate your sim”
 
AT&T charges a $45 upgrade fee, so the ATT model iPhone 12 is $844 while the unlocked iPhone 12 is $829. T-Mobile charges a $20 upgrade fee, so that will be the cheaper option at $819.

Does anyone know if I can activate with T-Mobile and then use the phone on another provider without ever using it on T-Mobile.

Those upgrade fees should be illegal though. If you buy from Apple and select activate with carrier, then there is nothing that the carrier has to do. You could argue that they have to pay for the integration with Apple for the activation, but they only need that integration so they know that they can charge you.

Yeah, I was caught off-guard by AT&T's "One-Time Upgrade Fee." Although mine was only $30. Still BS though. Something for people to be aware of as they're purchasing today.
 
So is this replacing the activation fee? Are Pro customers still forced to pay the stupid $30?
 
It's amazing how conspicuous Apple has become at squeezing money out of everyone. Tim Cook was the master of China since the late 90s, but that was behind the scenes.

Now to just come out and omit things like chargers and so obviously pit carriers against each other. It's obvious they wanted the 699/799 price and were unwilling to budge on their margins so they got one carrier to subsidize it and told the rest they would be competing at a higher cost if they didn't get on board.

It all would have been worth it if Phil Schiller had been on stage to call the whole thing Courage.
 
But you can buy headphones and a charger for discounted prices of $19 each. And what’s $30? We’re all Americans who can afford all of this stuff. Just ask anyone from any other country who complain about their VAT and the exchange rate.

We all get hosed. That’s the luxury of locking us into their ecosystem. LMAO
True! And I'm sitting here waiting for Apple One to become available so I can save a few bucks and be locked in even deeper. :eek:
 
I remember the first iPhone being only $599… then $399 after either Apple or AT&T subsidized it.
I hated when they used the word subsidized. I don’t think of a subsidy is something you have to pay back. No one was getting a phone for $199 or whatever. That was basically an upfront down payment on the phone. You were still paying off the rest of the phone over time.
 
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I remember paying $600 for the first iPhone and that was subsidized, and locked to AT&T. Then being upset when they dropped the price to $200 when the 3G came out.
If I remember correctly, Apple dropped the price of the first iPhone after just a month or two and provided early buyers with refunds for the difference.
 
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