iPhone 12 mini Region locked iPhone?

[iphonefreak450]

I bought my iPhone 12 mini from a computer shop in Europe and the sales guy told me that they only sell unlocked phones. These are GSM.

Model Number: 2399

Im in the USA now and they could not activate my phone because it’s maybe Region locked but not carrier locked.

In the Settings/About/Carrier Lock, it says No SIM Restrictions.

So, is it true that I bought the phone UNLOCKED, but somehow it’s Regional locked?

If yes, should I call my carrier in Europe so they can probably Region unlock my phone?

 

[EDH667]

I bought my iPhone 12 mini from a computer shop in Europe and the sales guy told me that they only sell unlocked phones. These are GSM.

Model Number: 2399

Im in the USA now and they could not activate my phone because it’s maybe Region locked but not carrier locked.

In the Settings/About/Carrier Lock, it says No SIM Restrictions.

So, is it true that I bought the phone UNLOCKED, but somehow it’s Regional locked?

If yes, should I call my carrier in Europe so they can probably Region unlock my phone?

You have a global version which is unlocked since it states ‘No Sim Restrictions’. It depends on which US provider you are trying to have it activated with. I know Xfinity is very strict on only activating certain model numbers, but their SIM card would still work on the phone. You also have the oportunity of using the eSIM for activation depending on the provider.

 

[iphonefreak450]

In the EU my SIM card is with Telekom. I took to Sprint/T-Mobile but they said my IMEI number could not be activated.

The strange thing is, on the upper left corner, it shows AT&T for some odd reason…

Now is worth getting another phone from the Apple store while I am here in the USA or maybe trying AT&T?

But if I do decide to purchase another phone from the Apple Store I am not sure if it will work there in Europe.

Or, should I call Telekom so they can Region unlock it?

So is my phone Region or Carrier locked?

 

[EDH667]

In the EU my SIM card is with Telekom. I took to Sprint/T-Mobile but they said my IMEI number could not be activated.

The strange thing is, on the upper left corner, it shows AT&T for some odd reason…

Now is worth getting another phone from the Apple store while I am here in the USA or maybe trying AT&T?

But if I do decide to purchase another phone from the Apple Store I am not sure if it will work there in Europe.

I would try it with AT&T or Verizon before you purchase another phone.

 

[iphonefreak450]

Ok, but if the phone is unlocked which I verified with the store who sold it, then why aren’t they able to activate my IMEI here in the USA? Don’t get it and I’m very confused on what to do now.

Verizon will not work since it’s CDMA network, AT&T should since it’s GSM.

If I purchase another phone from the Apple Store here in the US, will work in Europe when I go back?

 

[ian87w]

From what I read through tech forums, this is mainly the problem of US carriers, not the phone. US carriers, especially those with CDMA background like Verizon/Sprint, are very picky that they only want to activate phones that they sell (ie. more money for themselves). They will use all tricks to make you not use your own device.

If you are using T-Mobile, just put in the SIM and it should work since T-Mobile is GSM. Try just getting their prepaid SIM and put it in.

I have not heard about region locking on iPhones, although I did read about region locking on Samsung phones, even unlocked ones.

 

[Jemani]

In the EU my SIM card is with Telekom. I took to Sprint/T-Mobile but they said my IMEI number could not be activated.

The strange thing is, on the upper left corner, it shows AT&T for some odd reason…

Now is worth getting another phone from the Apple store while I am here in the USA or maybe trying AT&T?

But if I do decide to purchase another phone from the Apple Store I am not sure if it will work there in Europe.

Or, should I call Telekom so they can Region unlock it?

So is my phone Region or Carrier locked?

Take out your Telekom SIM card and it won’t say AT&T anymore. Telekom prolly has a roaming agreement with AT&T.

 

[iphonefreak450]

I’ll try the prepaid option, but would that be more expensive or cheaper? How does that work?

I need something like I used in Europe whenever my SIM ran out of money, I had to refill it using my debit card and I was good to go and that was much easier.

Do they have something like this here in the US?

 

[jetsam]

I took to Sprint/T-Mobile but they said my IMEI number could not be activated.

I think the person you talked to had incorrect information.

Try downloading the T-Mobile Test Drive App:

‎T-Mobile Network Test Drive

‎With T-Mobile Network Test Drive, you’ll get 30 days or 30GB of high-speed data along with unlimited talk and text for free, all while keeping your current carrier and phone number. Try our network on your iPhone, right now, risk free. T-Mobile Network Test Drive Features: Fast Activation...

apps.apple.com

If that works, then a physical SIM should work with T-Mobile, too (or you can just use the e-SIM with T-Mobile).

 

[iphonefreak450]

The store agent even gave me SIM card to insert into my phone and had me test call their store and it worked.
But the issue was, that when I tried to sign up for their monthly plan, their system would not allow my IMEI number to be activated.

Ok the compatibility check went through ok. And now it needs to add an esim.

I skipped this step for now.

So it seems that my device is compatible?

If yes, then if I take to a t-mobile store then next time I should have them add my device to my esim or get a pre-paid physical SIM card?

 

[Saladin12]

The store agent even gave me SIM card to insert into my phone and had me test call their store and it worked.
But the issue was, that when I tried to sign up for their monthly plan, their system would not allow my IMEI number to be activated.

Ok the compatibility check went through ok. And now it needs to add an esim.

I skipped this step for now.

So it seems that my device is compatible?

If yes, then if I take to a t-mobile store then next time I should have them add my device to my esim or get a pre-paid physical SIM card?

Not sure the process in the US but are you not able to just buy a monthly plan via the T-mobile website?

 

[iphonefreak450]

The t-mobile test drive works well and I managed to setting it up with an esim.

Here’s the bad news.
These are primarily products intended for the EU market, as we are also in this region, whether or not it will be operational in the US, we cannot confirm.

This was from an email that came from the shop where I purchased the phone when I was there.

Worse case, I need to buy a phone here in the US from the Apple Store.

But will that work in the EU if I decided to go back?

 

[canuckRus]

The t-mobile test drive works well and I managed to setting it up with an esim.

Here’s the bad news.
These are primarily products intended for the EU market, as we are also in this region, whether or not it will be operational in the US, we cannot confirm.

This was from an email that came from the shop where I purchased the phone when I was there.

Wose case, I need to buy a phone here in the US from the Apple Store.

But will that work in the EU if I decided to go back?

Millions of American travel overseas with theirs. Confirm with Apple.

 

[ian87w]

The t-mobile test drive works well and I managed to setting it up with an esim.

Here’s the bad news.
These are primarily products intended for the EU market, as we are also in this region, whether or not it will be operational in the US, we cannot confirm.

This was from an email that came from the shop where I purchased the phone when I was there.

Worse case, I need to buy a phone here in the US from the Apple Store.

But will that work in the EU if I decided to go back?

Wait, you already set it up with an esim, so that means it works no? Why do you still have doubts?

 

[2REPOU]

The store agent even gave me SIM card to insert into my phone and had me test call their store and it worked.
But the issue was, that when I tried to sign up for their monthly plan, their system would not allow my IMEI number to be activated.

Ok the compatibility check went through ok. And now it needs to add an esim.

I skipped this step for now.

So it seems that my device is compatible?

If yes, then if I take to a t-mobile store then next time I should have them add my device to my esim or get a pre-paid physical SIM card?

That seems strange. You can set up an account with any device then just swap the sim back into your iphone

 

[AeroEngineer]

Hey! Back in the day (you know, before COVID) I travelled back on forth between the EU (Netherlands) and the US a lot and lived in the US for some time. Since I was tired paying roaming fees to my Dutch provider, but wanted some flexibility, I just got an AT&T prepaid plan. All very easy, just swapped SIM in the plane, put money on the account with credit or debit card and had different data plans to choose from. If I was back home for a month or longer, I switched to a xx cent/minute plan for that period and then switched back to a data plan when I got back to the US. No issues with activation or IMEI numbers whatsoever. What you're going through sounds like way more of an issue than it should be. Just walk into an AT&T store and ask for a prepaid sim.

Good luck!

Edit: for sake of completeness, my experience was over the course of multiple years, with different iPhones. The phones were acquired both in the US and NL, as well as at Apple and through providers. Did not seem to make a difference.

 

[iphonefreak450]

Got it resolved by going back to T-Mobile shop and getting a pre-paid SIM card. The guy there said that my device seems to only work strictly on t-mobile and would not work as Sprint/T-Mobile.

I am still confused but at least the guy was helpful and my phone now is working with a pre-paid T-mobile only SIM card.

 

[EDH667]

I’ll try the prepaid option, but would that be more expensive or cheaper? How does that work?

I need something like I used in Europe whenever my SIM ran out of money, I had to refill it using my debit card and I was good to go and that was much easier.

Do they have something like this here in the US?

Got it resolved by going back to T-Mobile shop and getting a pre-paid SIM card. The guy there said that my device seems to only work strictly on t-mobile and would not work as Sprint/T-Mobile.

I am still confused but at least the guy was helpful and my phone now is working with a pre-paid T-mobile only SIM card.

It is because Sprint can still use CDMA even though it has been acquired by T-Mobile. That is why only certain IMEI numbers will work for Sprint/T-Mobile. The Sprint side is being phased out and it will only be T-Mobile eventually.

 

[iphonefreak450]

Yeah, I recall the guy mentioning the same thing. So I guess he put in a T-Mobile only SIM card that uses GSM.

 

[eyoungren]

From what I read through tech forums, this is mainly the problem of US carriers, not the phone. US carriers, especially those with CDMA background like Verizon/Sprint, are very picky that they only want to activate phones that they sell (ie. more money for themselves). They will use all tricks to make you not use your own device.

It is because Sprint can still use CDMA even though it has been acquired by T-Mobile. That is why only certain IMEI numbers will work for Sprint/T-Mobile. The Sprint side is being phased out and it will only be T-Mobile eventually.

The thing about Sprint, as already mentioned above, is that they will not activate any phone that is not in their IMEI database. You can get an IMEI added to their database (at least you could before the merger) but it takes someone at Sprint who knows the backend systems and what the hell a ClickIt ticket is. Most Sprint reps have zero idea about any of that, let alone the T-Mobile reps that are taking over.

Since the merger, I highly doubt you can do this now, but I really have no idea. T-Mobile is trying to shut down and move over Sprint's systems

 

[eyoungren]

Yeah, I recall the guy mentioning the same thing. So I guess he put in a T-Mobile only SIM card that uses GSM.

T-Mobile is GSM only. There is no CDMA with T-Mob.

 

[iphonefreak450]

I got it working now since the guy put in a pre paid T-Mobile only SIM card. See picture in this post.

Let’s suppose I purchase an iPhone here in the USA directly from the Apple Store, then it would of activate the IMEI without problems even with Sprint?

It’s working now with this t-mobile pre paid SIM card, but I’m just asking the above question out of curiosity.

 

[Jemani]

I got it working now since the guy put in a pre paid T-Mobile only SIM card. See picture in this post.

Let’s suppose I purchase an iPhone here in the USA directly from the Apple Store, then it would of activate the IMEI without problems even with Sprint?

It’s working now with this t-mobile pre paid SIM card, but I’m just asking the above question out of curiosity.

Only Sprint can answer that with any certainty and they are no longer. Best not even to mention their name.

 

[TheIntruder]

I'm not sure why Sprint is even in the conversation -- it was sold to T-MO and no longer exists.

The CDMA technology it (and Verizon) employed is close to being completely eliminated by the end of 2022 in the U.S. Verizon started its sunsetting process for CDMA phones a few years ago by ceasing to activate new phones that relied on it.

The service is gone, and soon, the technology will be as well (though apparently, DISH and its lawyers didn't get that memo, but that's another topic altogether).

An unlocked global LTE/GSM phone can be used with any of the three major U.S. carrier networks, or the prepaid/MVNO services that piggyback onto them.

The choice between the AT&T, T-MO, or Verizon networks is a matter of service quality in the specific use area, and the choice between service options, prepaid or postpaid, comes down to desired features, airtime, and cost.

The market shift away from service contracts has rendered postpaid plans more flexible, but they are still more costly, albeit with greater features.

For a temporary resident, choosing the prepaid/MVNO route offers the greatest flexibility, at lower cost, albeit by sacrificing some features, and service quality (lower speeds and priority).

Verizon is more friendly to MVNOs than it used to be, but AT&T and T-MO are still better in that respect.

Between the latter two, T-MO is at a disadvantage because it has been historically lacking in low-band coverage, the type needed to penetrate buildings, which affected its coverage quality. It has steadily addressed that by purchasing more spectrum to improve service, but part of that effort includes the 600MHz Band 71, which the global A2399 model does not support. That could be a potential hindrance if the phone is used in an area where Band 71 is deployed to provide coverage.

The beauty of unlocked phones and prepaid service is the flexibility that they offer. But in terms of getting basic service, there should be no hurdles, just as it is when U.S. travelers go to Europe, and buy temporary SIMs there during their stays.

 

[Closingracer]

Ok, but if the phone is unlocked which I verified with the store who sold it, then why aren’t they able to activate my IMEI here in the USA? Don’t get it and I’m very confused on what to do now.

Verizon will not work since it’s CDMA network, AT&T should since it’s GSM.

If I purchase another phone from the Apple Store here in the US, will work in Europe when I go back?

CDMA doesn’t matter. Nobody really uses it. Verizon would work with that iPhone