iPad Is this true, unlocked Ipad

[UH8183]

"IPad models equipped with wireless mobile data connectivity (3G or 4G+LTE), regardless of generation, are "unlocked" and not tied to a carrier in the United States."

Are iPad Models Unlocked? Carrier Support & More: EveryiPad.com

Details about locked and unlocked iPad models and carrier support for each device, where to buy iPad models free of sales tax, and more.

everymac.com

I just paid off my LTE gen 8 Ipad and canceled data service and wanted to know if the LTE is locked. I don't have a sim from another carrier to test.

I was thinking about selling my Ipad and M1 Mini and buy a Macbook pro.

Thanks

 

[RevTEG]

"IPad models equipped with wireless mobile data connectivity (3G or 4G+LTE), regardless of generation, are "unlocked" and not tied to a carrier in the United States."

Are iPad Models Unlocked? Carrier Support & More: EveryiPad.com

Details about locked and unlocked iPad models and carrier support for each device, where to buy iPad models free of sales tax, and more.

everymac.com

I just paid off my LTE gen 8 Ipad and canceled data service and wanted to know if the LTE is locked. I don't have a sim from another carrier to test.

I was thinking about selling my Ipad and M1 Mini and buy a Macbook pro.

Thanks

You could always call the carrier you had service with and ask. I will say this, here in the States, I’ve only owned cellular model iPads (since Gen 1) and I‘ve travel all over the Pacific and Asia with no issues using local sims. In the States I’m still on the original AT&T grandfather unlimited plan.

 

[rui no onna]

Which carrier?

In the US, the SIM card slot is always unlocked but iPads purchased from AT&T and Verizon usually have carrier visibility rules which restrict users from signing up for another carrier's plan via Settings - Cellular.

 

[UH8183]

Which carrier?

In the US, the SIM card slot is always unlocked but iPads purchased from AT&T and Verizon usually have carrier visibility rules which restrict users from signing up for another carrier's plan via Settings - Cellular.

Xfinity Mobile, which uses Verizon network.

 

[DanteHicks79]

Xfinity Mobile, which uses Verizon network.

If you bought from the carrier, then might be locked to them, initially. If it's paid off, and your contract has expired, you can probably ask them to unlock it if it isn't already. Same goes for iPhones.

 

[rui no onna]

Xfinity Mobile, which uses Verizon network.

What did your iPad box say? They might have sold the normal Wi-Fi + Cellular version. The one with the carrier visibility rules normally have Verizon, AT&T & Sprint labeled on the box.

The 8th gen should have eSIM so go to Settings - Cellular and check if it allows you to sign up for other carrier plans on the eSIM. Note, Verizon has the eSIM disabled on their Air 3. Dunno if Xfinity will be the same.

 

[rui no onna]

If you bought from the carrier, then might be locked to them, initially. If it's paid off, and your contract has expired, you can probably ask them to unlock it if it isn't already. Same goes for iPhones.

Normally carrier response to that inquiry is that all iPads are unlocked. Good luck finding a CSR familiar with carrier reveal/visibility.

 

[DanteHicks79]

Normally carrier response to that inquiry is that all iPads are unlocked. Good luck finding a CSR familiar with carrier reveal/visibility.

Never once had a problem before I started buying unlocked phones outright. Just call, and say you want to take your device abroad, and they'll set a flag that unlocks/releases it from the carrier.

 

[rui no onna]

Never once had a problem before I started buying unlocked phones outright. Just call, and say you want to take your device abroad, and they'll set a flag that unlocks/releases it from the carrier.

Rules are different for iPads. Even the automated online system will show the iPad is already unlocked.

Again, the SIM card slot is technically unlocked. I can pop in a local SIM with active service on there and it will work fine. It's just that you can't sign up with other carriers via the iPad's Settings.

 

[UH8183]

What did your iPad box say? They might have sold the normal Wi-Fi + Cellular version. The one with the carrier visibility rules normally have Verizon, AT&T & Sprint labeled on the box.

View attachment 1975367

The 8th gen should have eSIM so go to Settings - Cellular and check if it allows you to sign up for other carrier plans on the eSIM. Note, Verizon has the eSIM disabled on their Air 3. Dunno if Xfinity will be the same.

Rules are different for iPads. Even the automated online system will show the iPad is already unlocked.

Again, the SIM card slot is technically unlocked. I can pop in a local SIM with active service on there and it will work fine. It's just that you can't sign up with other carriers via the iPad's Settings.

I checked the add new plan and a bunch of carriers showed up. This would seem to be for the esim? So I think it is unlocked.

 

[rui no onna]

I checked the add new plan and a bunch of carriers showed up. This would seem to be for the esim? So I think it is unlocked.

Yep. That's the unlocked Wi-Fi + Cellular version that Apple sells.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I checked the add new plan and a bunch of carriers showed up. This would seem to be for the esim? So I think it is unlocked.

You got lucky. Normally, that is not the case when buying from a carrier.

 

[UH8183]

What did your iPad box say? They might have sold the normal Wi-Fi + Cellular version. The one with the carrier visibility rules normally have Verizon, AT&T & Sprint labeled on the box.

View attachment 1975367

The 8th gen should have eSIM so go to Settings - Cellular and check if it allows you to sign up for other carrier plans on the eSIM. Note, Verizon has the eSIM disabled on their Air 3. Dunno if Xfinity will be the same.

I checked the box and no carrier is listed.

 

[jdb8167]

I thought that AT&T locked out eSim when you used them. I know I got a warning at some point in the last couple of years. Maybe they fixed it.

 

[rui no onna]

I thought that AT&T locked out eSim when you used them. I know I got a warning at some point in the last couple of years. Maybe they fixed it.

Iirc, only the physical Apple SIM (Air 2 to 6th gen) got locked. Afaik, ATT can't lock the Apple Embedded SIM (Pro 9.7 and 2017 Pros) and eSIM (2018 Pros and newer) on unlocked iPads.

They do impose carrier visibility rules on iPads purchased directly from AT&T and on installment plan.

 

[jdb8167]

Iirc, only the physical Apple SIM (Air 2 to 6th gen) got locked. Afaik, ATT can't lock the Apple Embedded SIM (Pro 9.7 and 2017 Pros) and eSIM (2018 Pros and newer) on unlocked iPads.

They do impose carrier visibility rules on iPads purchased directly from AT&T and on installment plan.

I haven’t had a physical sim in my cellular iPads since Apple introduced the eSim. I’m sure I got the warning with the eSim and AT&T.

 

[rui no onna]

I haven’t had a physical sim in my cellular iPads since Apple introduced the eSim. I’m sure I got the warning with the eSim and AT&T.

They're not supposed to lock Apple Embedded SIM or eSIM on iPads unless you bought the iPad from AT&T or it's on installment.

Maybe a temporary glitch or an issue during the transition period?

I haven't needed to sign up for a prepaid AT&T plan in recent years since I'm on unlimited postpaid ($20 postpaid vs $35 prepaid). I sign up for the $10/5GB T-Mobile plan when I need standalone data on my backup iPads.

 

[Foghorn leghorn]

My 2021 iPad Pro from Apple came unlocked. I currently have Verizon on the pSIM and T-MOBILE and AT&T on the eSIMs. Works great.

 

[jdb8167]

They're not supposed to lock Apple Embedded SIM or eSIM on iPads unless you bought the iPad from AT&T or it's on installment.

Maybe a temporary glitch or an issue during the transition period?

I haven't needed to sign up for a prepaid AT&T plan in recent years since I'm on unlimited postpaid ($20 postpaid vs $35 prepaid). I sign up for the $10/5GB T-Mobile plan when I need standalone data on my backup iPads.

Or something that even AT&T customers found too awful to accept. I just turned on my cellular iPad Pro that currently doesn't have a plan since I'm not really using it and chose an AT&T plan and I didn't get a warning so you are probably right that it was temporary. I didn't actually follow all the way through with selecting it though because like I said, I'm not really using it and the AT&T prepaid prices are really terrible.

 

[rui no onna]

Or something that even AT&T customers found too awful to accept.

When Apple switched to embedded SIMs on the 2016-2017 iPad Pros, the embedded SIM didn't lock to AT&T when you sign up for their prepaid plan unlike the physical nano Apple SIM.

I think this was probably a rule Apple imposed. While it's easy enough to swap another nano SIM, having the embedded SIM lock to a carrier would greatly reduce the cellular iPad's usefulness. This rule is supposed to carry over to eSIM.

I mean, if someone's buying an iPad on installment from the carrier (typically with $100-150 discount), then sure, they can lock (or impose carrier visibility rules). To lock a device that the customer bought full price from another retailer though? That likely warrants a complaint to the FCC and consumer protection agencies.

 

[jdb8167]

tWhen Apple switched to embedded SIMs on the 2016-2017 iPad Pros, the embedded SIM didn't lock to AT&T when you sign up for their prepaid plan unlike the physical nano Apple SIM.

I think this was probably a rule Apple imposed. While it's easy enough to swap another nano SIM, having the embedded SIM lock to a carrier would greatly reduce the cellular iPad's usefulness. This rule is supposed to carry over to eSIM.

I mean, if someone's buying an iPad on installment from the carrier (typically with $100-150 discount), then sure, they can lock (or impose carrier visibility rules). To lock a device that the customer bought full price from another retailer though? That likely warrants a complaint to the FCC and consumer protection agencies.

It looks like they stopped the practice after Apple and the public complained and a DOJ started an investigation. Info in this report from 9to5Mac: Report: Apple’s complaints about AT&T and Verizon may have led to DOJ eSIM investigation

Apple has been including eSIM technology in its iPads for some time now, and began offering it with its Series 3 cellular Apple Watches as well. Notably, Verizon doesn’t let iPad users activate cellular service with the eSIM and AT&T locks devices that use the eSIM. Google’s Pixel 2 smartphones and Microsoft’s Surface devices also use eSIM tech, hinting that these companies may have had reason to file complaints as well.

 

[rui no onna]

It looks like they stopped the practice after Apple and the public complained and a DOJ started an investigation. Info in this report from 9to5Mac: Report: Apple’s complaints about AT&T and Verizon may have led to DOJ eSIM investigation

Lol, worse than an FCC complaint.

Mind, that article is dated April 20, 2018 so it actually predates the first eSIM iPad (2018 iPad Pro: November 2018). I'm guessing they were probably locking Apple Watches. Iirc, the 2017 iPhone 8 and X didn't have eSIM yet.

The Apple Embedded SIM used in 2016-17 iPad Pros aren't exactly the same as eSIM. The original New York Times article only mentioned the Apple Watch. It was only the 9to5Mac article that mentioned iPads and it's probably inaccurate since I've seen reports on reddit of Pro 9.7 and 2017 Pro signing up for AT&T prepaid without getting locked. Yes, it was a concern due to physical Apple SIM locking but it seems to have worked without locking for those who tested it.

 

[jdb8167]

The Apple Embedded SIM used in 2016-17 iPad Pros aren't exactly the same as eSIM. The original New York Times article only mentioned the Apple Watch. It was only the 9to5Mac article that mentioned iPads and it's probably inaccurate since I've seen reports on reddit of Pro 9.7 and 2017 Pro signing up for AT&T prepaid without getting locked. Yes, it was a concern due to physical Apple SIM locking but it seems to have worked without locking for those who tested it.

That could be what I'm remembering. The Apple embedded SIM might have been the one that AT&T locked when signing up for pre-paid. I distinctly remember seeing the warning and backing out of enabling the embedded SIM on AT&T.

 

[rui no onna]

That could be what I'm remembering. The Apple embedded SIM might have been the one that AT&T locked when signing up for pre-paid. I distinctly remember seeing the warning and backing out of enabling the embedded SIM on AT&T.

It shouldn't have.

The iPad Pro's embedded Apple SIM

When Apple introduced its new iPad Pro 9.7", one of the small technical specifications the company touted prompted the most questions from readers: the new embedded Apple SIM. For context, with the iPad Air 2, Apple introduced its Apple SIM, a programmable version of a regular SIM card that...

techcrunch.com

• If you buy the iPad Pro from AT&T stores, the embedded Apple SIM is used and is then locked for both domestic and international use. However, you can buy an iPad Pro from other channels and select AT&T from the embedded SIM and it will be unlocked for both domestic and international use. So, buy from an AT&T store and the SIM is locked and you’ll have to roam on AT&T’s plans internationally. If you buy from another source and manually choose AT&T, it’s not locked and you can switch carriers.

By any chance, have you ever owned a 2018 iPad 6th gen? Because that one uses the physical nano Apple SIM and that one does lock to AT&T. The Air 2, mini 3, mini 4, 2015 Pro 12.9, 5th gen and 6th gen all used the multi-network capable physical Apple SIM.

 

[jdb8167]

It shouldn't have.

The iPad Pro's embedded Apple SIM

When Apple introduced its new iPad Pro 9.7", one of the small technical specifications the company touted prompted the most questions from readers: the new embedded Apple SIM. For context, with the iPad Air 2, Apple introduced its Apple SIM, a programmable version of a regular SIM card that...

techcrunch.com

By any chance, have you ever owned a 2018 iPad 6th gen? Because that one uses the physical nano Apple SIM and that one does lock to AT&T. The Air 2, mini 3, mini 4, 2015 Pro 12.9, 5th gen and 6th gen all used the multi-network capable physical Apple SIM.

I’ve owned just about every larger iPad since they were introduced. But I started buying iPad Pros in 2015 with the first 12.9”. So I don’t think so.

Anyway it’s not important now as long as they don’t do it anymore.