Getting a 13 Pro, moving from VZ dual sim question. Will it work ? or is the phone carrier locked ?
So currently on a 12 Pro Max with VZ which is on my digital sim, and i have a secondary physical sim for my personal line. I've never had issues with activation, using a VZ iPhone.
However VZ service has gone to pot where i live, so looking to get back with AT&T. Just concerned that the phone will be carrier locked on the physical sim, if i move my main number over to eSim on the new handset.
Does anyone know if i can put an xFinity mobile physical sim into an AT&T iPhone 13 Pro and it work ?
On an iPhone all SIMs are either locked or all unlocked. And Verizon still locks their phones for 60 days, so if buy from Verizon keep that in mind. If buy in full from Apple the site says it is unlocked.
Getting a 13 Pro, moving from VZ dual sim question. Will it work ? or is the phone carrier locked ?
I would buy through Apple for full price, through Apple Card or their financing program. Those will absolutely be unlocked. Avoid selecting a carrier when ordering, as selecting a carrier may give you a discount but also lock you to that carrier until you fulfill their policy guidelines.
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i know VZ locks for 60 days, but honestly in the last 2 or 3 phones (which i get every yr from VZ) my xfinity sim card just works without issue. all i do is move the main line to the eSim, then default all data to that, and then put in the xFinity sim and both lines work. So i'm not sure why that is.. i was hoping to go to AT&T as i facetime audio a lot, and the data is horrible with VZ around my neigborhood at the moment. i keep getting cut off 3 or 4 times while walking the dog when doing facetime audio. (oversea's call to family) so i setup a spare at&t phone and it didn't cut off. So hence the reasoning to go to AT&T.. my other solution is use an AT&T hotspot, which is a bit of a hassle as i have to carry that.. But AT&T is the way to go for me, around my neighborhood if i'm doing any cellular data calls.
i know VZ locks for 60 days, but honestly in the last 2 or 3 phones (which i get every yr from VZ) my xfinity sim card just works without issue. all i do is move the main line to the eSim, then default all data to that, and then put in the xFinity sim and both lines work. So i'm not sure why that is.. i was hoping to go to AT&T as i facetime audio a lot, and the data is horrible with VZ around my neigborhood at the moment. i keep getting cut off 3 or 4 times while walking the dog when doing facetime audio. (oversea's call to family) so i setup a spare at&t phone and it didn't cut off. So hence the reasoning to go to AT&T.. my other solution is use an AT&T hotspot, which is a bit of a hassle as i have to carry that.. But AT&T is the way to go for me, around my neighborhood if i'm doing any cellular data calls.
Technically Xfinity and Spectrum mobile are Verizon MVNOs, so that would explain why those SIMs work. Verizon tends to allow all VZ MVNOs to work on their devices, as long as the device isn't exclusive to Prepaid.
However, this may not always be said for an AT&T locked device. I have heard AT&T phones not working with Cricket or other MVNOs that rely on AT&T. AT&T'S unlock policy requires 60 days after paying it off, unless it is Prepaid which that becomes 6 months of service before unlocking.
i know VZ locks for 60 days, but honestly in the last 2 or 3 phones (which i get every yr from VZ) my xfinity sim card just works without issue. all i do is move the main line to the eSim, then default all data to that, and then put in the xFinity sim and both lines work. So i'm not sure why that is.. i was hoping to go to AT&T as i facetime audio a lot, and the data is horrible with VZ around my neigborhood at the moment. i keep getting cut off 3 or 4 times while walking the dog when doing facetime audio. (oversea's call to family) so i setup a spare at&t phone and it didn't cut off. So hence the reasoning to go to AT&T.. my other solution is use an AT&T hotspot, which is a bit of a hassle as i have to carry that.. But AT&T is the way to go for me, around my neighborhood if i'm doing any cellular data calls.
The iPhone 13s are flying out the door of various retailers who don't stick the SIM in before the device leaves the buillding. An interesting debate is going on in terms of "can I put in a SIM with the most liberal unlock policies and end up with an unlocked phone?" Is anyone aware of a particular SIM to put in an iPhone that would give a fast path to carrier unlock? The phones all seem wired to lock to whatever brand is inserted at the time it first powers up.
Several years ago many people bought a phone from Best Buy. Flex policy. Then stuck in a Verizon SIM to have it go to Verizon's policy. At the time unlocked of postpaid.
A few years ago I bought an ATT Prepaid iPhone. The SIM was not inserted when I got it, so I tried a Verizon SIM. The phone was already locked to ATT. I suspect that when Best Buy sells the phone nowadays it is probably tied to the carrier it was purchased with, even without a SIM installed. Their selling computers probably talk with Apple or the carrier to lock it.
Several years ago many people bought a phone from Best Buy. Flex policy. Then stuck in a Verizon SIM to have it go to Verizon's policy. At the time unlocked of postpaid.
A few years ago I bought an ATT Prepaid iPhone. The SIM was not inserted when I got it, so I tried a Verizon SIM. The phone was already locked to ATT. I suspect that when Best Buy sells the phone nowadays it is probably tied to the carrier it was purchased with, even without a SIM installed. Their selling computers probably talk with Apple or the carrier to lock it.
Is Apple the only place which sells carrier unlocked devices now? Bestbuy said 100 discount with tmobile activation on a 65 a month plan but it didnt give contract terms or say if it was locked so I am assuming that even paying full price non activated without discount, the device will still be locked. Same is likely true at other resellers.
Verizon wants a ridiculous 35 upgrade fee for getting it from them and full retail price even for existing customers. They only have a discount on tradeins along with being on the unlimited plans. I don’t want to port or leave Verizon. Was looking at a new account for the second sim but it looks like unless I buy from Apple directly, it will be a locked device.
So I am guessing Apple store is best bet and I will wait to see if any promotions exist such as credit card shopping portals, a coupon code, or other types of deals that may exist. Thankfully Apple has lots of retail stores in the NYC area as well as free shipping options. My last iphone was direct from Verizon which broke under warranty and apple store replaced with a new phone as per the new phone serial number. Apple store definitely has excellent service but long wait times depending on time and store location. Went to Apple over Verizon because they supported the device warranty and Verizon would have likely replaced with a faulty refurbished phone that had a weakened battery at a minimum as they are not the manufacturer.
Getting a 13 Pro, moving from VZ dual sim question. Will it work ? or is the phone carrier locked ?
Originally Posted by LTENetwork
Is Apple the only place which sells carrier unlocked devices now? Bestbuy said 100 discount with tmobile activation on a 65 a month plan but it didnt give contract terms or say if it was locked so I am assuming that even paying full price non activated without discount, the device will still be locked. Same is likely true at other resellers.
Verizon wants a ridiculous 35 upgrade fee for getting it from them and full retail price even for existing customers. They only have a discount on tradeins along with being on the unlimited plans. I don’t want to port or leave Verizon. Was looking at a new account for the second sim but it looks like unless I buy from Apple directly, it will be a locked device.
So I am guessing Apple store is best bet and I will wait to see if any promotions exist such as credit card shopping portals, a coupon code, or other types of deals that may exist. Thankfully Apple has lots of retail stores in the NYC area as well as free shipping options. My last iphone was direct from Verizon which broke under warranty and apple store replaced with a new phone as per the new phone serial number. Apple store definitely has excellent service but long wait times depending on time and store location. Went to Apple over Verizon because they supported the device warranty and Verizon would have likely replaced with a faulty refurbished phone that had a weakened battery at a minimum as they are not the manufacturer.
Yeah, for new models only Apple Retail sells immediately carrier unlocked models as SIM-free. Mass chain retail (Walmart, BestBuy, Target) have a “first SIM inserted lock” activation policy on their stock, so that they don’t have to carry SKU-specific devices for each carrier they sell. (This doesn’t always apply when it comes to prepaid/MVNO carriers like Tracfone and Cricket, as those might be sold immediately locked to them)
Best Buy sells unlocked devices, but they are late model, refurbished or preowned devices.
the sim free unlocked model straight from Apple is
the one you want.
Agreed but I heard of issues of Verizon having issues activating non Verizon branded phones due to IMEI issues and zi don׳t know if that is still an issue.
My area has loads of Apple stores to choose from in NYC Metro assuming I can find a store with the model I want in stock when I am ready to purchase. Fifth Avenue is the Flagship store open 24/7 as well. I believe it may be the only Apple store with these hours. Stores seem to have faster availability times than ordering it with the free shipping online. I can just keep trying to find availability and select pickup option when it comes in stock.
The iPhone 13s are flying out the door of various retailers who don't stick the SIM in before the device leaves the buillding. An interesting debate is going on in terms of "can I put in a SIM with the most liberal unlock policies and end up with an unlocked phone?" Is anyone aware of a particular SIM to put in an iPhone that would give a fast path to carrier unlock? The phones all seem wired to lock to whatever brand is inserted at the time it first powers up.
Thanks!
Dan
If a phone (any phone) is purchased not tied to any carrier. How does a carrier have a right to lock it? The carrier didn't subsidize it.
If a phone (any phone) is purchased not tied to any carrier. How does a carrier have a right to lock it? The carrier didn't subsidize it.
All I know is Apple store sells unlocked devices so you can use either dual esim or insert a nano and use another esim with any carrier without restriction without having to wait for an unlock.
People can get those locked devices more easily and sometimes with greater subsidies but in the long run it is cheaper to just buy an unlocked device at Apple. If you travel internationally you will save a lot of money and you can also increase domestic coverage by using two different carriers. You can also get lower cost MVNO rates and swap at will between them. Some MVNO plans also include free international calling to some countries as well.
Subsidized phones work to the carriers and retailers advantage.
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Originally Posted by TheDoc46
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