Question about Apple warranty replacement and carrier locking

[Infinite Jest]

I have a Sprint iPhone XS that I just paid off and an waiting to get unlocked by Sprint so that I can switch carries. At the same time, it seems that the bottom speak of my phone has blown out and it will need to be replaced under warranty. Given the timing, I’m worried that my phone will be unlocked and then the replacement Apple may give me at an Apple Store will be locked to sprint still and a huge headache.

My question: will the replacement automatically be locked to sprint or will it lock after I insert the sprint sim?

 

[BrettDS]

I know with AT&T, at least, the replacement phone status will match the phone it replaces.. if you replace a locked phone the replacement will be locked. If you replace an unlocked phone then the replacement will be unlocked.

But it sounds like you might be in a bit of a limbo period. If you replace your phone now while it’s locked, then sprint goes to unlock your phone they might unlock the old IMEI and you’ll be stuck with a locked phone. I’m sure you could get it straightened out, but you might be better off waiting until the unlock is complete, then the replacement phone should be unlocked as well.

 

[Banglazed]

I have a Sprint iPhone XS that I just paid off and an waiting to get unlocked by Sprint so that I can switch carries. At the same time, it seems that the bottom speak of my phone has blown out and it will need to be replaced under warranty. Given the timing, I’m worried that my phone will be unlocked and then the replacement Apple may give me at an Apple Store will be locked to sprint still and a huge headache.

My question: will the replacement automatically be locked to sprint or will it lock after I insert the sprint sim?

The activation policy of your previous iPhone will transfer to the replacement iPhone. If your previous iPhone is still locked, your new iPhone will be locked until the previous iPhone gets unlocked. If there is any problem, Apple can help rectify after Sprint successfully unlock the previous iPhone.

A lot of users may not know that to unlock a replacement iPhone, you need to unlock the original iPhone that was replaced.