Other Where To Buy Unlocked IPhone?

[ronniejoe]

Around 5 years ago, I bought the old IPhone SE on apple.com. I remember ordering it and selecting no sim as oppose to the other options of tmobile, att, verizon, sprint, etc. The reason being I was going to mainly use it while abroad with a nonUS sim card. I could even use that nonUS sim card in the US as well so first thing was making sure it was unlocked.



Now after using this old SE for years, it has lot of issues as battery is very bad and very laggy. I did get a battery replacement few years ago which made it better but then battery wears out. I am most likely going to buy the iphone 13 mini. The other options would be iphone 13, iphone 11 or maybe the new iphone SE though people say battery for it is not good as just like my old SE so I will mostly likely avoid it.



Now I was initially going to order it off apple.com. Do most of you order it there or buy it at the store? I see best buy and other stores sell it as well but mostly those sold are with a carrier and not a plan right? Or they also sell unlocked? But always best to buy directly from apple right?


Now the thing that confuses me is when I click on the iphone 13 mini or the other iphones, is you get the option of a carrier or no carrier. But why is it ... no carrier charges you 30 dollars more? I always thought if you selected tmobile, sprint, att or verizon, well all they going to do is give you a sim card and thats all. Thus whether you activate the plan yourself or not when you get the phone is on you. So this is not correct? But I also read if you choose ATT... then that phone is locked? I had thought all iphones were unlocked because how can it be locked and you paying 700 dollars for an iphone 13 mini? So does this mean if I choose tmobile, they going to give me tmobile sim card but they going to activate a plan for me as well? Thing is I do not want a tmobile plan now as I plan to use it abroad mainly.


Can anyone here clarify all this? Back few years ago when I bought the iphone SE and clicked on no sim, I regretted not picking tmobile because I thought... had I done that... then i get a tmobile sim card for free. But not only that... the price was exactly the same. So why is no sim 30 dollars more here on apple.com?

 

[now i see it]

Order an iPhone from Apple and choose “connect on your own later” as the carrier option. You’ll get an unlocked iPhone that will work with any carrier & all you’ll have to do is swap in your old SIM card and it’ll be active with your number.

 

[ronniejoe]

Yea but that seem to be 30 dollars more though. Thus like 730 as oppose to 700 dollars.


So if I choose Tmobile, what happens? I thought they only give you a tmobile sim card as extra and same phone is unlocked?

 

[WNYX]

Yea but that seem to be 30 dollars more though. Thus like 730 as oppose to 700 dollars.


So if I choose Tmobile, what happens? I thought they only give you a tmobile sim card as extra and same phone is unlocked?

The phone will lock into the network of the first SIM card you insert.

 

[BruiserB]

I believe ALL phones purchased from Apple either online or in store are unlocked.

Confirmed here: https://www.apple.com/iphone/buy/

So you can try to select a T-mobile phone (or any other carrier) phone to try to avoid the extra $30, but I'm not sure that's possible. I think to get the $30 savings you have to actually link the phone to either a new line or an existing line on the carrier you select.

Phones purchased from Apple do NOT lock to the first sim card you insert. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7552092

 

[ftaok]

Now the thing that confuses me is when I click on the iphone 13 mini or the other iphones, is you get the option of a carrier or no carrier. But why is it ... no carrier charges you 30 dollars more? I always thought if you selected tmobile, sprint, att or verizon, well all they going to do is give you a sim card and thats all. Thus whether you activate the plan yourself or not when you get the phone is on you. So this is not correct? But I also read if you choose ATT... then that phone is locked? I had thought all iphones were unlocked because how can it be locked and you paying 700 dollars for an iphone 13 mini? So does this mean if I choose tmobile, they going to give me tmobile sim card but they going to activate a plan for me as well? Thing is I do not want a tmobile plan now as I plan to use it abroad mainly.


Can anyone here clarify all this? Back few years ago when I bought the iphone SE and clicked on no sim, I regretted not picking tmobile because I thought... had I done that... then i get a tmobile sim card for free. But not only that... the price was exactly the same. So why is no sim 30 dollars more here on apple.com?

The non-pro phones are $30 less if you buy and activate via a carrier. Just the way it is. I also don't like the way it's advertised, but such is life.

As for locked vs. unlocked, the rule of thumb is that if you purchase outright, it's unlocked. However, in my experience, carriers want you to buy on an installment plan, as that "locks" you in for 24 to 30 months. They have no incentive to sell you an unlocked phone, so the discounts generally only apply if you do an installment plan, which means a locked phone.

If you need an unlocked phone, you're paying the extra $30.

EDIT - wait a second. On Apple's site, if you pay outright via a carrier, you don't have to pay the $30. I'm guessing that it's unlocked. But my point above stands, the special deals only apply if you do an installment plan.

 

[ronniejoe]

Well my plan is to buy the phone. But I would be putting in my nonUS sim card in it as I use it mainly abroad. Thing is right now im actually in the US now. So I am using my old iphone SE now with the nonUS sim card in it because they allow roaming.


But I also plan to buy an ultramobile sim card though and use that as well.


So based on that, which option do i pick? Again, i was confused why it cost more with no carrier as oppose to picking say tmobile as the carrier because i had thought you picking the carrier such as tmobile, sprint etc just meant they giving you the sim card so you don't have to buy it.

 

[ronniejoe]

Why would it cost 730 vs 700 dollars if you choose no carrier? The thing is if you pay 700 dollars and pick tmobile, well your phone is still unlocked right?


I know that locked phones cost much less... so can anyone explain this? Again 5 years ago when I bought the iphone SE on apple site, I remember you had the option of choosing carrier like tmobile, sprint etc... or no sim... i picked no sim... but any option cost exactly the same. Then I thought later on... shouldn't I have picked tmobile so that way i can a tmobile sim card for free so to speak?

 

[ftaok]

Why would it cost 730 vs 700 dollars if you choose no carrier? The thing is if you pay 700 dollars and pick tmobile, well your phone is still unlocked right?


I know that locked phones cost much less... so can anyone explain this? Again 5 years ago when I bought the iphone SE on apple site, I remember you had the option of choosing carrier like tmobile, sprint etc... or no sim... i picked no sim... but any option cost exactly the same. Then I thought later on... shouldn't I have picked tmobile so that way i can a tmobile sim card for free so to speak?

Think of it this way. If you buy through a carrier, they give you a $30 discount. Otherwise it’s $730.

For you, if you don’t want to activate through a US carrier, buy it sim-free and pay the extra $30. Depending on the carrier, it might be unlocked right away, or maybe they have a waiting period. Plus you would be on the hook for at least a month of service.

 

[ronniejoe]

So you are saying if i pick tmobile, i have to sign up one month of tmobile service... is that correct? Thus i have to pay the first month no matter what? So you telling me I can't use another sim card in it my first time?


Is there a reason when you look at the price of the new iphone SE... its 400 dollars regardless of whether you choose a carrier or sim free?

 

[ftaok]

So you are saying if i pick tmobile, i have to sign up one month of tmobile service... is that correct? Thus i have to pay the first month no matter what? So you telling me I can't use another sim card in it my first time?

no. I’m saying if you want to pay $30 less than the sim-free price, you have to activate service. I would imagine the phone is unlocked, but you would likely have to pay a month of service.

Is there a reason when you look at the price of the new iphone SE... its 400 dollars regardless of whether you choose a carrier or sim free?

yes there is a reason, but only apple knows for sure. I would imagine that the carriers can use the $30 incentive to lock users into an installment plan. Or at least get you to sign up. Once you’re signed up, it’s a hassle to switch.

The SE is older, so maybe it’s not worth discounting to attract subscribers.

I guess it would be interesting to see how apple does it in other countries. I’d this $30 a US thing only?

 

[EddieKeyton1]

Maybe it’s 30 cheaper because that’s what the normal activation fee is. Maybe If you use a carrier you get the activation fee waived but apple saw that as an opportunity to make an extra 30 on unlocked devices, and decided to oh so graciously pass it on down to us. Lol. Just a guess. Probably wrong.

 

[HDFan]

Why would it cost 730 vs 700 dollars if you choose no carrier?

Sounds to me like a carrier subsidy. No carrier, no subsidy.

 

[webkit]

I wonder why the $30 SIM-free charge/fee doesn't apply to 13 Pro or Pro Max. You'd think it would be across the board, at least for all "current" models.

 

[ronniejoe]

Does anyone know the reason for this? Again I notice it did not apply for the new iphone SE as well.


But can anyone here confirm if you do pick like tmobile carrier... that you have to sign up with them for one month if you choose that as oppose to the no carrier which saves you $30?


Again im planning to use a nonUS sim on it.

 

[sierrablue]

I don't think my 13 pro max cost me $30 more buying it unlocked from Apple store. Maybe the 13 and 13 mini do charge $30 more. T-Mobile tried to charge me $30 for the sim but I argued with them saying their ad said free to switch from Verizon to T-Mobile and they dropped the sim charge.

 

[meson]

If you buy the non carrier phone from Apple, you will pay an extra $30 for the phone. If you buy the phone through a US carrier, they will charge you a $30 fee that is called an 'upgrade' fee if the phone is used on an existing number or an 'activation' fee if the phone is used on a new number.

Regardless of whether you choose a 'carrier' model or an 'unlocked' model, you will pay the $30. It's just a matter of which line it is on your bill of sale.

 

[Cycom]

If you buy the non carrier phone from Apple, you will pay an extra $30 for the phone. If you buy the phone through a US carrier, they will charge you a $30 fee that is called an 'upgrade' fee if the phone is used on an existing number or an 'activation' fee if the phone is used on a new number.

Regardless of whether you choose a 'carrier' model or an 'unlocked' model, you will pay the $30. It's just a matter of which line it is on your bill of sale.

Not for the Pro.

 

[webkit]

I think we need to be looking at this slightly differently. The SIM-free iPhone 12, 12 mini, 13, and 13 mini are actually being sold at the full retail prices while each of the carrier connected ones have a $30 discount e.g., the retail price of an iPhone 13 is $829, not $799. So... if you are buying a SIM-free iPhone 13, you simply aren't getting the $30 carrier discount.

I'm still not sure why there aren't $30 discounts on all of them.

 

[ronniejoe]

I am still confused on this.


I mean what happens if you choose tmobile carrier and thus pay 30 dollars less? When you get the phone, the first service you have to use is tmobile? So that mean the first time you put in a sim card into this new iphone, it has to be with tmobile? If you use a non US sim card and put that in, it won't work?


I want to be able to put a nonUS sim card in it and maybe an ultramobile sim card in it etc. So those sim cards won't work? So basiclally the retail price of an iphone 13 mini is 730 dollars as oppose to 700 dollars then? That confuses me because i thought if you paying this much for a phone, it has to be unlocked? Thus if you pay say 300 dollars for one of these phones and sign some two year contract with att or verizon or whatnot, well that phone is locked and thus you get discount so to speak when you first buy it.

 

[meson]

If you want to use it internationally, you are best to buy the $730 model from Apple and pay for it in full. In this scenario, you are bringing your own device to a carrier's network. I would not consider a carrier phone with a repayment plan in your situation.

For you, the risk of having a phone rendered useless abroad significantly outweighs the $30 difference in price that you will likely have to pay T-Mobile anyway. We just upgraded 4 phones on the Verizon network to 13 Minis and had to pay the $30 fee plus sales tax on the $699 MSRP + $30 up front for each line, effectively making the sale price of the phones $729 + sales tax.

 

[ronniejoe]

Thanks for the response. But if someone paid the 699 only and chosed tmobile... what happens after you get the phone? Does that mean if you already have tmobile service with your old phone and sim, you put that tmobile sim in the new iphone and no issue right?


But what happens if you try to put a nonUS sim or say ultramobile sim or another type of sim into it... had you chosed tmobile?


What happens if you put your tmobile sim into the new iphone and use it for a month... then decide to switch to another carrier. Does that mean you then cannot put another carrier sim into this new iphone until you unlock it? That is what i want to know here.

 

[webkit]

I am still confused on this.

I mean what happens if you choose tmobile carrier and thus pay 30 dollars less? When you get the phone, the first service you have to use is tmobile? So that mean the first time you put in a sim card into this new iphone, it has to be with tmobile? If you use a non US sim card and put that in, it won't work?

I want to be able to put a nonUS sim card in it and maybe an ultramobile sim card in it etc. So those sim cards won't work? So basiclally the retail price of an iphone 13 mini is 730 dollars as oppose to 700 dollars then? That confuses me because i thought if you paying this much for a phone, it has to be unlocked? Thus if you pay say 300 dollars for one of these phones and sign some two year contract with att or verizon or whatnot, well that phone is locked and thus you get discount so to speak when you first buy it.

Yes, the retail price of the iPhone 13 mini is $729. I think buying a carrier connected phone through Apple is more for customers that already have an account with a particular carrier. Once the carrier phone is selected, the next step is to provide wireless number and partial account holder SSN. If no match exists to an existing account, it may not allow you to buy at the discount price. I'm just guessing as I haven't actually tried it myself.

You'd probably be better off (and it may be your only choice?) to go with a SIM-free phone. You lose the discount but we’re only talking $30 here.

 

[meson]

If you pay Apple $729 for the phone, you can put your current 4G T-Mobile SIM card in the phone and it will just work. Unless, by chance, your current SIM is 5G compatible, you will not have 5G service using the old SIM card. You can use the phone on T-Mobiles network as long as you like. You can then swap out the SIM to an active one from any other network and your phone will work on their network.

You should be able to ask T-Mobile for a 5G compatible SIM for the new phone and they should give you one, effectively deactivating your old SIM. Being a current subscriber, there may or may not be a fee associated with the new SIM card. This is one of those antiquated charges from the days when it actually took a little time and effort to change network connectivity. If you question it and fuss a bit, your agent may likely have the ability to override the fee.

The catch is if you pay Apple $699 for the phone and choose T-Mobile, you enter the area where the phone is associated with the carrier and they may play some shady games by locking the phone to their network even when they aren't supposed to on a paid in full phone. Verizon and ATT are notorious for pushing the rules right to the edge. I've never dealt with T-Mobile personally as my area is just too rural for anyone other than Verizon (better locally) or ATT, and they may well be easier to deal with. I just wouldn't take the risk. If your phone is paid in full, you will be able to complain and get them to release any lock they put on the phone, but it may take way more time than you want to spend to make it happen.

As mentioned, in your scenario, the fully unlocked SIM free phone is the best option and provides the flexibility with no hassle to switch from network to network at any time. The only real difference is that one phone will come with a SIM card in the box. For the other phone, you will need to chat with a rep online, over the phone, or in person at one of their storefronts to get a new SIM card for you phone, if you want/need a new one.

 

[BigBlur]

Yes, the retail price of the iPhone 13 mini is $729. I think buying a carrier connected phone through Apple is more for customers that already have an account with a particular carrier. Once the carrier phone is selected, the next step is to provide wireless number and partial account holder SSN. If no match exists to an existing account, it may not allow you to buy at the discount price. I'm just guessing as I haven't actually tried it myself.

You'd probably be better off (and it may be your only choice?) to go with a SIM-free phone. You lose the discount but we’re only talking $30 here.

This is correct. You can't buy the phone at the discounted price through Apple if you don't already have an account/service through the selected carrier. The only option is to buy it SIM-free.

If you do have an account/service and buy the phone at the discounted price, it's going to be locked to that carrier for a certain amount of days. Plus, other conditions need to be met before it can be unlocked and used on another network. I don't know the specifics around that for each carrier, but a quick Google search found this for T-Mobile. https://www.t-mobile.com/responsibility/consumer-info/policies/sim-unlock-policy

$30 is really not much more to pay for an unlocked phone and peace of mind for not having to deal with any potential hassles later.