Other Where To Buy Unlocked IPhone?

[rui no onna]

At least for AT&T and Verizon, they both charge a $30 activation/upgrade fee so all things considered, you're not really getting a discount. That extra $30 just shows up on your next wireless bill.

Dunno what the policy is at T-Mobile.

 

[BruiserB]

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.

Go ahead and buy the T-mobile phone. It will be $699 and will be unlocked and you can put whatever sim you want in it from day one if you buy it from Apple. You can even use Apple's financing to buy the phone, it's not necessary to pay for the phone all at once. The phone itself is the exact phone you would get for $729 with no sim or service.

But I believe you're going to run into a roadblock when you try to go through the checkout process. It's going to ask you for either your current T-mobile account info or prompt you to sign up for a new line of service. If you happen to already have a different phone on T-mobile, you could probably enter the information for that line. Then when the phone comes, just use it as your international phone as you intended and keep your other phone on your current T-mobile line. But there is no way you are just going to select the T-mobile phone and be able to check out on the Apple website without setting up or linking to T-mobile service.

You've likely spent more than $30 worth of your time and worry asking this question....there's really no way around this $30 fee that won't end up costing you more money and time in adding and removing a line of service that you probably don't need.

 

[ronniejoe]

Okay so I just thought about something but pretty sure this won't work or make sense. So what if you have someone who already has tmobile service and an iphone that they use it with it. Then put their sim card into this new iphone to recognize the tmobile sim card in it so to speak. Then you just take out their sim card and later put your sim card in? Or does that make no sense? I was wondering like is it the first carrier sim card it detects in the phone first or its not like that?


Thus you put your nonUS sim card or like an ultramobile sim card or something like that into it? I thought the first sim it has to be recognized is a current t mobile one? I would be paying for the phone at full price at once.


So what if a current tmobile customer puts their sim card in it and use it for few days. Then they later cancel their tmobile service which they could be using for years. Then decide to buy another sim card like ultramobile and put that sim card into this iphone? Certainly that would work? But if the person I borrow to use their sim card for this... continues to use their sim card in their current tmobile plan in their phone, would that mean this wouldn't work at all? This is really confusing because why does it show $729 for unlocked iphone and connect later but only $699 when you connect to a carrier? Because I thought if you buy a locked phone... isn't there a much bigger price difference? Would have though if you buy it locked... instead of it being $699, it might be even literally $300?

 

[webkit]

This is really confusing because why does it show $729 for unlocked iphone and connect later but only $699 when you connect to a carrier? Because I thought if you buy a locked phone... isn't there a much bigger price difference? Would have though if you buy it locked... instead of it being $699, it might be even literally $300?

The phones you buy through Apple are all "unlocked." The reason to select a carrier phone from Apple is really more about convenience if you happen to have an account with one of the listed carriers. When the phone arrives, it's all ready to go.

If your carrier is other than AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile or Verizon, you would go with a "connect later" phone.

 

[ronniejoe]

Well if thats the case, why not choose tmobile as the carrier and pay 30 dollars less... then put in your nonUS sim or ultramobile or another sim card into it then?


So if you choose tmobile, you can't just put your credit card information and check out like that? You need to put your current tmobile carrier name and all that information in order to check out?

 

[rui no onna]

Well if thats the case, why not choose tmobile as the carrier and pay 30 dollars less... then put in your nonUS sim or ultramobile or another sim card into it then?


So if you choose tmobile, you can't just put your credit card information and check out like that? You need to put your current tmobile carrier name and all that information in order to check out?

Yes, you need to activate with an actual T-Mobile line.

On the iPhone 13 series, the eSIM would be preprogrammed with the T-Mobile phone number you used while purchasing so it's a major hassle if you don't actually want T-Mobile service on the new phone.

As the saying goes, no such thing as a free lunch.

 

[ronniejoe]

Okay if thats the case, couldn't you use someone else's tmobile information to do this? Thus enter their information into it? But if you do that, do you need to put their tmobile sim card into the new iphone first to recognize it?


So it doesn't come with a sim card then right? Or it does?


So you can't just do that and then put in another sim card to use right away then?

 

[rui no onna]

Okay if thats the case, couldn't you use someone else's tmobile information to do this? Thus enter their information into it? But if you do that, do you need to put their tmobile sim card into the new iphone first to recognize it?


So it doesn't come with a sim card then right? Or it does?


So you can't just do that and then put in another sim card to use right away then?

No. When you order the iPhone, it will ask for the T-Mobile number and last 4 of account owner's Social Security.

The new iPhone will ship preprogrammed with the T-Mobile number on the eSIM. When you set up the new phone, it will deactivate T-Mobile service on the old T-Mobile phone.

You can install a physical Nano SIM on the new phone right away and it will work. However, you'd end up with two lines on the new iPhone: T-Mobile on eSIM and the Nano SIM carrier. To cancel the T-Mobile eSIM account or return the T-Mobile number to the actual owner is going to be a major hassle.

 

[ftaok]

Everyone is telling you that there's really no way to avoid that $30 charge. If you have your friend order the phone, sure, you'll pay $700 for the phone, but then who's going to pay the $30 "upgrade" fee?

In the event that you are able to convince t-Mobile to waive the $30 fee, great. But your friend is going to have that iPhone linked to his account. Maybe that's no big deal.

Is all this worth it to "maybe" save $30? If you're really that put off over the $30, get an SE or a Pro. That way, there's no $30 charge/discount.

 

[BigBlur]

Okay if thats the case, couldn't you use someone else's tmobile information to do this? Thus enter their information into it? But if you do that, do you need to put their tmobile sim card into the new iphone first to recognize it?

They would need to activate the phone with their number, then work with T-Mobile to get the new phone disconnected and reconnect their old phone (since activating the eSIM will disable their old physical SIM or previous eSIM). They may even need to pay an activation fee.

So it doesn't come with a sim card then right? Or it does?

No, none of the phones shipped from Apple include a SIM card. They are using eSIM instead.

So you can't just do that and then put in another sim card to use right away then?

Nope, the eSIM will be activated too. See first point above.


You're really making this more complicated than it has to be... You are not going to get a phone for $30 less without any hassle.

 

[webkit]

Well if thats the case, why not choose tmobile as the carrier and pay 30 dollars less... then put in your nonUS sim or ultramobile or another sim card into it then?

So if you choose tmobile, you can't just put your credit card information and check out like that? You need to put your current tmobile carrier name and all that information in order to check out?

If you have an account with T-Mobile, you can buy a T-Mobile phone for that account through Apple and then replace the installed SIM with another if you want to. That's what I meant by "unlocked."

When you order a T-Mobile (or other carrier) phone through Apple, it will ask for a wireless phone number and account holder's SSN to look for a match to an existing account.

If you're really this hung up on the $30 price difference/discount/savings, perhaps you should consider an iPhone 11. Those prices are the same carrier or SIM-free and, of course, are cheaper than iPhone 13 e.g., a SIM-free 128 GB iPhone 11 is $280 less than a SIM-free 128 GB iPhone 13.

 

[ronniejoe]

What in the world is an esim? I never heard of this.


Well the thing is I'm confused why other phones like the old iphone se i bought years ago... and the current iphone SE right now does not do this. If you check the iphone SE right now, its the exact price whether you choose tmobile or no carrier. I mean if you have tmobile at the moment on another iphone, do you just pick tmobile or do you pick no carrier? Wouldn't it make sense to choose choose later anyway so your phone is unlocked? But if you do this, you would need to take your old sim card from your current iphone and put it in the new iphone?

 

[ronniejoe]

The $30 price difference isn't going to make me not buy an iphone 13 mini. It was just could I not pay that amount if I don't need to. Again the thing was I thought when you choose tmobile or any other carrier, it comes with a free sim card with it. But if you choose later, then it has no sim card. So back then when I bought the old iphone SE years ago, I notice the price was the same whether you pick the carrier or connect later... i pick connect later... then i thought... why didn't i choose tmobile so at least i have a spare tmobile sim card to use in the future. Does that make sense?


So after you all explained, I thought such as could I use someone else's tmobile sim card and their information to register the phone, then once I do that... and get the phone, just put in my own sim card in and use it as how I like and they use their iphone like how they always used it. They using an older version of iphone.

 

[rui no onna]

What in the world is an esim? I never heard of this.

An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows you to activate a cellular plan from your carrier without having to use a physical nano-SIM.

So after you all explained, I thought such as could I use someone else's tmobile sim card and their information to register the phone, then once I do that... and get the phone, just put in my own sim card in and use it as how I like and they use their iphone like how they always used it. They using an older version of iphone.

The iPhone 13 series don't ship with physical nano-SIM. The phone number is programmed into the digital eSIM on the phone.

If you borrow your friend's account, you'd be causing your friend a hassle. They would lose service when you activate your new phone and would need to convert their number from your iPhone's eSIM back to physical nano-SIM (would probably need to buy a brand new one). You'd also be potentially subjecting them to a $30 activation fee on their T-Mobile wireless bill.

If you don't have your own T-Mobile account that you can mess up, then just select SIM-free/Connect later.

 

[NoBoMac]

Why is it only the 13s have this pricing? No-one really knows. It was like this with the 12 and went forward with 13.
As someone else mentioned, the $30 less price needs to be seen as a carrier discount for existing customers worked out between the carriers and Apple. It is what it is and nothing can be done about it and no sense trying to figure out why just the 12/13.

As to why not use a friend's account to save $30, see above. And a bunch of others explaining the same.

 

[rui no onna]

Why is it only the 13s have this pricing? No-one really knows. It was like this with the 12 and went forward with 13.
As someone else mentioned, the $30 less price needs to be seen as a carrier discount for existing customers worked out between the carriers and Apple. It is what it is and nothing can be done about it and no sense trying to figure out why just the 12/13.

As to why not use a friend's account to save $30, see above. And a bunch of others explaining the same.

Considering both AT&T and Verizon both have $30 activation fees, I just see the $30 discount from SIM-free pricing as an offset to that.

 

[NoBoMac]

That's the way I've seen it. But still, why 13 and not other models... who knows.

 

[webkit]

Considering both AT&T and Verizon both have $30 activation fees, I just see the $30 discount from SIM-free pricing as an offset to that.

That would be logical but since all of them (potentially) have an activation fee, why do they only offer the $30 discount on the 12/13 and 12/13 mini but not on others like the 13 Pro or Pro Max?

 

[rui no onna]

That would be logical but since all of them (potentially) have an activation fee, why do they only offer the $30 discount on the 12/13 and 12/13 mini but not on others like the 13 Pro or Pro Max?

Interesting. Didn’t realize the Pro models weren’t subject to it.

Quick guess, Apple needed to increase MSRP to hit profit margin targets but wants to be able to advertise $699/799 so they made a deal with carriers.

 

[ronniejoe]

Why is it only the 13s have this pricing? No-one really knows. It was like this with the 12 and went forward with 13.
As someone else mentioned, the $30 less price needs to be seen as a carrier discount for existing customers worked out between the carriers and Apple. It is what it is and nothing can be done about it and no sense trying to figure out why just the 12/13.

As to why not use a friend's account to save $30, see above. And a bunch of others explaining the same.

Isn't that what I was suggesting? Thus use a family member or even friend's tmobile account to do this to save $30? But then someone mentioned it would create a hassle for the other person and they might even have to pay a $30 activation fee to reactivate their tmobile account? Or does anyone know if they do not do that?


Again if its going to be a huge hassle and people here don't know if they will be a fee to reactivate the current tmobile account of the other person, obviously I wouldn't do this. But if there is no fee and its simple, I wouldn't mind doing it.


Okay so let say I do the connect later. The physical sim card that I have now... a nonUS sim card and another US carrier card that I might use later on... let say its ultramobile or lycamobile etc... i can put these sim cards into this new iphone right? You say its a digital esim but I have current physical sim cards. I could even put both of my sim cards into this iphone right?

 

[Le Big Mac]

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?

IIRC this started when Verizon (or maybe AT&T) cut a deal with Apple to offer a $30 discount that would effectively pay for the activation/upgrade fee they would charge you on your account. TMobile didn't have such a fee at the time. Apple was happy to do this so they could say that their phone started at $699 (or whatever) instead of the actual cost of $729-$30. Basically Apple was getting $30 from Verizon instead of direct from the customer, and Verizon looked like it was "cheaper" to buy a phone for than TMobile . . . when of course it was exactly the same net price to the consumer.

When I bought spouse a phone with TMobile I recall just putting in her old SIM and it worked. No fee.

 

[TheIntruder]

Tech is the current easy target for the government's anti-trust attention, but if they'd hired better lobbyists, played the game more skillfully and greased the palms of politicians like the old pros in the Telco cartel do, Apple and others could sleep easy at night.

The mobile market has changed a lot, in some respects, since Apple entered, and didn't kowtow like the other phone makers historically did to the carriers. Could you imagine buying a new iPhone, with the Death Star plastered on the outside, and all sorts of carrier-mandated junk and bloatware apps pre-loaded?

Only Cingular was willing to play ball, and not impose its total will on Apple, betting on the future potential of the iPhone to the eventual benefit of both.

But, the carriers still have their filthy hands all over the mobile market, and even Apple can't resist completely, considering that the bulk of iPhone sales go through carrier channels, not their own.

The "30" figure has been in the news a lot lately, mostly associated with app store cuts. But, the BS $30 "activation" fee and other fees for simply flipping an electronic bit? Where's the outrage over them? Why isn't the mobile market more competitive, and unencumbered by the shenanigans the carriers put users through?

The Telco elephant has always been in the room, and is quite comfortable.

 

[ronniejoe]

Okay Le Big Mac, so when did you bought your spouse iphone with tmobile and putting in her old sim and it worked? But that was also a tmbile sim? Was that sim active though?


But can others here confirm if you choose tmobile as oppose to connect on your own later, you need to put the tmobile information?


I got to assume someone here had to have ordered the iphone and put in tmobile and eventually when they got their own, they had or did not have issue with their unlocked phone?

 

[BigBlur]

But can others here confirm if you choose tmobile as oppose to connect on your own later, you need to put the tmobile information?

You can confirm this yourself. Select T-Mobile and continue to add it to your cart. The phone number and last four digits of the account holder's SSN are required. There's no way around it other than choosing to connect on your own later.

 

[ronniejoe]

Thanks for that information. But has anyone here used someone else's tmobile number whether it was a family or friend and then did this and did it work though?


Thus you have them use their phone number and ss and then afterwards you put your nonus sim or other us sim card and then use it? Someone mentioned that you would need to have the other person contact tmobile on this but does it work? But someone said there might be a reactivation fee or something like that which would cost exactly the same as the price here to pay discount less? I know that person said it might not be worth the time but has anyone here done this before?


Again im pretty sure there has been people that paid for the tmobile discount so to speak here... then continued to use tmobile as is. But then let say within a week they decide to just cancel their service and move to mint mobile or ultramobile etc... certainly that wouldn't be an issue? But of course this situation is different because they planning to still use their tmobile service on their iphone. So wondering if this is possible. Again, this price difference isn't a consideration of me not buying this iphone, its just could i pay less without it being a big issue. Such as yea you just put their information. Then when you get the phone, have them contact tmobile and mention so and so... then they fix it on their end... then you put your own nonUS or other carrier sim in it.