Subject really says it. I ordered the full-price $849 6s 128GB for AT&T from Apple. It clearly says for contract "no commitment." Will this phone come from Apple unlocked? I've never done full-price/unlocked before, and am going to Japan on Sept. 29 and would love to buy a local SIM!
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Is "no-commitment" full-price AT&T iPhone 6s definitely unlocked?
- Thread starter Nicky G
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It's been discussed quite a bit on here, but it's almost certainly unlocked if it comes from Apple and if not, AT&T will unlock it if it's paid off.
Yes, if you buy it full price, it comes unlocked - no need for any phone calls or anything. I bought my 4s and 6 this way and was able to use local SIM on my international travel.
I recently bought an iPhone 6 from Apple to use abroad. I was pretty sure that it was already unlocked, but decided to ask AT&T just to be sure. The rep told me that he couldn't check this (something I don't believe) but said that I could apply to have it unlocked, which I did during the same chat. I got an email with instructions in a day or so, which said to back up and restore the iPhone. (You have to erase the iPhone before restoring from backup - that's the only way you'll see the congratulations message in iTunes.) Alternatively, if you have a functional SIM from another carrier, you can insert it and see if your iPhone detects that network. If it does, the phone is unlocked.
That's really the only way to show that your iPhone is unlocked? There's nowhere in the settings where it shows you? Sheeeeesh.
Could you just have them unlock it before you activate it at all, and before you restore your backed-up iPhone image for the first time?
As far as I know, there's no way to tell that an iPhone is unlocked by looking at the settings. There are websites that let you check by entering the device's IMEI #, but the one I tried didn't work. In iTunes, you should see a congratulatory message when you activate the phone or when you restore it to factory settings.
The cynic in me says that not displaying the unlock status on the phone is a restriction that the carriers require - they don't want you to know that you can use your device on a competitor's network for less. But things are changing, as carriers and Apple now let you buy iPhones on installments (basically interest-free loans). There are differences, however. For example, under AT&T's Next plan, you aren't supposed to be able to have the phone unlocked until it's paid for (though this thread says that you can.) With Apple, the phone is unlocked even if it's not paid off.
I look forward to the day when devices and plans are independent, apart from any requirements imposed by the radio system the phone uses. I can connect my TV to any provider, and I should be able to do the same with my phone.
True, but that won't work if you're traveling somewhere and plan to buy a SIM when you get there. It's crazy that even AT&T wouldn't tell me if the phone was unlocked.
Get a SIM from T-mobile. You can get them for pennies. It doesn't have to be an active account
It's such a joke we are still even having to worry about this.
Anybody paying full price up front should always - always - be getting a fully unlocked device with no further effort required.
Anybody paying full price up front should always - always - be getting a fully unlocked device with no further effort required.
I knew that if we pop in a tmobile sim into a locked att phone, it will pops a windows ask for the unlock code. But what will pops out if we put an non-active tmobile sim to a locked ATT iphone??? sry new iphone user
If it works, you should see a "T-MOBILE" sign on the top left, rather than the "AT&T" sign.
I also paid in full for mine as well, in hopes it will be unlocked (AT&T same story)
Side note (and sorry for changing the subject) is it easier these days to get a SIM in Japan? A few years ago it was not as simple as it is in the US. Are there more options than renting one at the airport? I know there are a few sites you can get one.
you can just put in an unlock request if not. by law they have to do it if you own the phone outright
If it is anything like my family, you are not getting the full story from your brother. LOL!
It's not complicated. He bought a phone full price from tat with a iPhone plan. He put the request in online and was denied. He returned the phone after that.
Nice protip there!
I could even go to a T-Mobile store and just try one out there, and see if it recognizes the network (it's my understanding that for the new iPhone 6s, probably only AT&T and T-Mo will share the same phone model).