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iPhone SE (2016) Would i be able to use a pre-paid iPhone SE as an iPod?

Gandek

Gandek

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Dec 7, 2017
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Basically bestbuy has a iPhone SE from either Total Wireless(Verizon net) or Simple Mobile (T-mobile net) for only $159 which is a much better deal compared to a $189 iPod 6g with the same storage. Question is if i buy it do i need to activate it somehow with their network/sim basically pay extra? Can i just use as a Wi-Fi i-Pod like device and be able to log into my apple account? I have no idea how these prepaid phones work in general so any answers are appreciated. To add i do have a t-mobile sim in my daily driver (iPhone 7) could i also technically activate it like that for the simple mobile one?

BestBuy link: https://www.bestbuy.com/site/simple...epaid-cell-phone-gold/5859423.p?skuId=5859423
 
It states on the website you mentioned "Secured for activation on SIMple Mobile only.", so it's SIM-locked I think. You'd need to buy a new SIM from SIMple Mobile.

Without sim-lock, you could've used your current SIM-card to activate the iPhone and remove it once it's set-up. After removing the card it will probably remind you from time to time that there's no SIM-card installed, but you could keep using it.
 
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I use a 4S as an iPod.

If memory serves, it needed a sim for the clean install, then it was ok. But on the last full iOS update (8 to 9 I think) I needed to put the sim back in.
 
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sunapple said:
It states on the website you mentioned "Secured for activation on SIMple Mobile only.", so it's SIM-locked I think. You'd need to buy a new SIM from SIMple Mobile.

Without sim-lock, you could your current SIM-card to activate the iPhone and remove it once it's set-up. After removing the card it will probably remind you from time to time that there's no SIM-card installed, but you could keep using it.
Click to expand...

So ive looked it up some more and apparently theres a SIM that comes with it thats not loaded that might do the trick of at least activating it? If not BestBuy also sells a prepaid card for $25 for a months worth of data would that work? An extra $25 would still be a heck of a lot better deal than a iPod 6g and i could use a extra line for a month which might come in handy who knows.
 
Reading the review comments looks like you're under contract for 12-months before you can unlock it.
 
I'm hoping it can work out like in this video
guy puts in sim it came with and can remove it with it all still working UNLESS he puts in a different sim. One fear i have after that is if it decides to not let me use it as a wifi device in the future and requiring the sim to be loaded.
 
Gandek said:
So ive looked it up some more and apparently theres a SIM that comes with it thats not loaded that might do the trick of at least activating it? If not BestBuy also sells a prepaid card for $25 for a months worth of data would that work? An extra $25 would still be a heck of a lot better deal than a iPod 6g and i could use a extra line for a month which might come in handy who knows.
Click to expand...
That's not needed at all. You need the SIM for five minutes setting up an iPhone that is brand new or freshly reset, but once it is set up, you can remove the SIM and use it with WiFi only, like a real iPod. In the UK, you can buy SIM cards for £0.99 with no data or a tiny amount of data, and the idea is that you top them up for £10.00. They work just fine. Or a SIM that you took from another phone; set up your iPodPhone and put the SIM back into the other phone.

But my first iPod was an iPhone 3GS purchased from eBay. You can get older phones really cheap, and the are perfectly good iPods.
 
You can use an iPhone as an iPod, although, I think the iPod works as a an iPod better than an iPhone would, at least when it comes to music.

For example, I am pretty sure that there is an equalizer built into the iPod Touch Music app, one thing missing from the iPhone.
 
vertical smile said:
You can use an iPhone as an iPod, although, I think the iPod works as a an iPod better than an iPhone would, at least when it comes to music.

For example, I am pretty sure that there is an equalizer built into the iPod Touch Music app, one thing missing from the iPhone.
Click to expand...

Yeah maybe the EQ is better in iPods i dont know.. generally speaking it seems like most modern iPhones have the same audio quality headphone wise but I'm no expert. Anyways either way I go i'l have a 4' inch screen with 32GBs of storage which will be plenty for everything + extra.
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gnasher729 said:
That's not needed at all. You need the SIM for five minutes setting up an iPhone that is brand new or freshly reset, but once it is set up, you can remove the SIM and use it with WiFi only, like a real iPod. In the UK, you can buy SIM cards for £0.99 with no data or a tiny amount of data, and the idea is that you top them up for £10.00. They work just fine. Or a SIM that you took from another phone; set up your iPodPhone and put the SIM back into the other phone.

But my first iPod was an iPhone 3GS purchased from eBay. You can get older phones really cheap, and the are perfectly good iPods.
Click to expand...

Looking at the very limited selection of vids i found that's how its looked so far, anyways I'm pretty sure the SE they provide is completely new. I've also seen similar threads on here about this but nobody ever followed up how it worked out for them so in a couple hours if i decide to pick it up il let you know.
 
You absolutely can. I've done it. It comes with the sim and you just need it initially to activate it over wifi, then you can take it out. You won't be able to use it on T-mobile though unless you use it for 12 months, activated with Simple mobile service, or pay them for 12 month's worth of service.
 
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traveltoromantis said:
You absolutely can. I've done it. It comes with the sim and you just need it initially to activate it over wifi, then you can take it out. You won't be able to use it on T-mobile though unless you use it for 12 months, activated with Simple mobile service, or pay them for 12 month's worth of service.
Click to expand...

Nice did you get it from best buy as well?
 
Not sure if you're on AT&T, but the AT&T Prepaid one is $194, and it works with a postpaid SIM. Unfortunately it used to be $149, but now they are forcing you to bundle airtime with it.
 
Is this still a deal @ $159 PLUS 12 months x $25 contract period = $459? versus the purchase of the iPod Touch?
 
RobaxMan said:
Is this still a deal @ $159 PLUS 12 months x $25 contract period = $459? versus the purchase of the iPod Touch?
Click to expand...

It's $349 unlocked from Apple. If you want that service anyway though, that's a good deal. The iPhone SE, as old as it is, is still one of the best deals in prepaid wireless today, compared to the cheap Android messes.
 
RobaxMan said:
Is this still a deal @ $159 PLUS 12 months x $25 contract period = $459? versus the purchase of the iPod Touch?
Click to expand...
12 months x $25 is only if you want to unlock. Otherwise, you're not forced to have service on the device.
 
rui no onna said:
12 months x $25 is only if you want to unlock. Otherwise, you're not forced to have service on the device.
Click to expand...

Well, if you don't activate the phone for a 12-month period, what's in it for SIMple Mobile to offer that discounted price?
 
Yes, definitely! I bought the Total Wireless one brand new from Best Buy on Black Friday for only $99 for my daughter to use like an iPod. As previously mentioned, I just did the initial setup that included popping in the SIM card, but never took the final step of actually activating it to use as a phone. We’ve been using it since November and no problems whatsoever. It never, ever asks or pops up any reminders to activate it, nothing. It is exactly like our iPod (we have a 6th gen one). It actually works better than our iPod because the iPod drains its battery a LOT quicker.

We’ve had a couple of prepaid smartphones in the past (Samsung ones and one LG, one HTC) that we used like iPods, just on WiFi, for music and Netflix, YouTube and such, but the constant barrage of reminders to activate the phone were just too much and not worth the trouble. But the iPhone SE does NOT do that, not at all, not even once. Even at the regular $159 price it’s worth it! And since my family’s all on iPads/Apple ecosystem, it’s a much better choice than the cheap Android prepaid alternatives, in our experience.
 
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We're heading to the US on vacation again in June (our annual 'big' vacation of the year) - and I used to have a crappy prepaid Verizon flip phone so I had a local number while there. I forgot to top it up at Christmas and eventually VZW closed down my number, so this year I was looking at the VZW website and saw a white 32GB iPhone SE (new, not reconditioned apparently) for $159.99. I asked a friend in New Orleans to buy it for me with the $50 prepaid plan. I only intend to use the service while we are there and then use it as an iPod and for my partners Spark drone.

According to the chat person on the VZW website, this phone will be unlocked so if I ever wanted to use it on another carrier, I can.

You have to buy service with the VZW one, and the cheapest for them is about $30. I don't intend to use renew the VZW prepaid plan after the 30 days has elapsed, and next year when we visit, I'll just go to a VZW store and pick up a SIM card.

This might be an option for you??
 
pacmania1982 said:
We're heading to the US on vacation again in June (our annual 'big' vacation of the year) - and I used to have a crappy prepaid Verizon flip phone so I had a local number while there. I forgot to top it up at Christmas and eventually VZW closed down my number, so this year I was looking at the VZW website and saw a white 32GB iPhone SE (new, not reconditioned apparently) for $159.99. I asked a friend in New Orleans to buy it for me with the $50 prepaid plan. I only intend to use the service while we are there and then use it as an iPod and for my partners Spark drone.

According to the chat person on the VZW website, this phone will be unlocked so if I ever wanted to use it on another carrier, I can.

You have to buy service with the VZW one, and the cheapest for them is about $30. I don't intend to use renew the VZW prepaid plan after the 30 days has elapsed, and next year when we visit, I'll just go to a VZW store and pick up a SIM card.

This might be an option for you??
Click to expand...
Verizon prepaid iPhone SE isn't unlocked anymore. They used to be but Verizon changed the policy back in July last year. I believe Verizon postpaid phones are still unlocked, though.

Carrier lock shouldn't matter if one is only using it as iPod, though.
 
Late update my bad, anyways none of the 2 bestbuys that are close to me had any despite the website claiming they had a good amount of stock/low stock depending which carrier or color you choose. Definitely a bad knock for Bestbuy.
 
So a few weeks later i pulled the trigger and bought one for $149 (Total wireless aka tracfone- doesn't matter) totally forgot Target was a thing and i found they had a good amount of stock as well as some iPod 6's laying around. I was really happy to see that the iPod 6 will be getting iOS 12 but the SE was still a better buy.. now its time to load up my music collection. Sound quality is just as good compared to my ip7/ipad pro with bluetooth.
vCaxgo3


https://imgur.com/vCaxgo3
 
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