iPhone X When buying a used iPhone should I buy unlocked or carrier locked to my network?

[TH55]

I am buying a used X for taking pics/videos, texting and paying music while kayaking. Do I want locked or unlocked, and why? I have AT&T.

I read somewhere that carrier locked phones are set up to work better for that network, any truth to this?

 

[ian87w]

Personally, obviously unlocked, so you can easily switch carriers in the future if you need to (or if you want to travel). I don't see the benefit of buying a device that is locked into a single provider (no phones are carrier locked in my country) unless it's free.

 

[perezr10]

With AT&T I believe you can unlock any locked iPhone after 3 months of paying your bill. Provided that the phone was paid off.

An AT&T locked iPhone might be cheaper.

 

[TH55]

With AT&T I believe you can unlock any locked iPhone after 3 months of paying your bill. Provided that the phone was paid off.

An AT&T locked iPhone might be cheaper.

I read somewhere that carrier locked phones are set up to work better for that network, any truth to this?

 

[TH55]

Personally, obviously unlocked, so you can easily switch carriers in the future if you need to (or if you want to travel). I don't see the benefit of buying a device that is locked into a single provider (no phones are carrier locked in my country) unless it's free.

I read somewhere that carrier locked phones are set up to work better for that network, any truth to this?

 

[VineRider]

I read somewhere that carrier locked phones are set up to work better for that network, any truth to this?

There is no truth to this. All carrier lock does is lock the phone to a particular network, in your case AT&T. You cannot use that device on another network (for example Verizon) unless you get an unlock code from AT&T and unlock the device. AT&T will only do this when the phone is fully paid off.

Carriers do this to prevent people from getting trade in deals on new phones and then taking that new phone to another carrier and never paying the device off.

If I were buying a used phone, I would ensure it was unlocked so I have flexibility on what carrier I wanted to activate the device on. If you are sure you are never leaving AT&T, then an AT&T locked device would be fine.

 

[CMoore515]

I always buy unlocked direct from Apple.

However, a family member needed a new phone so we bought a 12 Pro Max through US Cellular as they had a deal to make it free, and it's locked to them for 6 months. I don't foresee us leaving them for at least that long, so it's no biggie this time.

Still annoys me though.

 

[rui no onna]

I read somewhere that carrier locked phones are set up to work better for that network, any truth to this?

Depends. Sometimes there are multiple versions of a model with different LTE bands and the carrier locked model has extra bands for that carrier.

For the iPhone 12, I think they're all the same model in the US.

I'm not sure about the iPhone X.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I read somewhere that carrier locked phones are set up to work better for that network, any truth to this?

It's possible you might have issues with visual voicemail on unlocked iPhones.

 

[StaceyMJ86]

My iPhone 12 Pro Max was purchased as outright and sim free. I have no issues using it on Verizon or when I used it on T-Mobile for 3 days. All of the features worked as well as Visual voicemail. I like not being tied down to one carrier and is especially helpful as my family will be traveling to international countries for vacation starting next summer.

 

[FattiesGoneWild]

Eh it don’t matter. Got my 12 Pro through Verizon unlocked after 60 days. Passed it down and got 12 Pro Max directly from Apple unlocked. They work the same. What you have to watch out for is people selling phones unlocked BUT not paid off through a carrier. They can blacklist that phone despite being “unlocked”. Ask for proof of paid off phone before buying carrier wise.

 

[Closingracer]

With AT&T I believe you can unlock any locked iPhone after 3 months of paying your bill. Provided that the phone was paid off.

An AT&T locked iPhone might be cheaper.

For brand new phones the phone would have to be paid off. Verizon you just need to wait 60 days even if financed.

 

[Closingracer]

I read somewhere that carrier locked phones are set up to work better for that network, any truth to this?

Back in the day sure but phones these days Android and iPhones are built for all carriers in the region. There’s only one iPhone model for all 3 major carriers

 

[Closingracer]

There is no truth to this. All carrier lock does is lock the phone to a particular network, in your case AT&T. You cannot use that device on another network (for example Verizon) unless you get an unlock code from AT&T and unlock the device. AT&T will only do this when the phone is fully paid off.

Carriers do this to prevent people from getting trade in deals on new phones and then taking that new phone to another carrier and never paying the device off.

If I were buying a used phone, I would ensure it was unlocked so I have flexibility on what carrier I wanted to activate the device on. If you are sure you are never leaving AT&T, then an AT&T locked device would be fine.

I mean 5-6 years ago there was some truth but no longer

 

[Closingracer]

Depends. Sometimes there are multiple versions of a model with different LTE bands and the carrier locked model has extra bands for that carrier.

For the iPhone 12, I think they're all the same model in the US.

I'm not sure about the iPhone X.

There is 2 models I believe for the X or did they stop that with the 7? I believe the X had 2 variants with sprint and Verizon having Intel modems and the others getting Qualcomm modems ?

 

[rui no onna]

There is 2 models I believe for the X or did they stop that with the 7? I believe the X had 2 variants with sprint and Verizon having Intel modems and the others getting Qualcomm modems ?

CDMA (Sprint/Verizon) uses Qualcomm although as I mentioned, I'm not sure if that still applied to the 8/X. That might have been around the time Verizon was planning on starting to shut down their CDMA network and VoLTE and LTE coverage was already prevalent so CDMA fallback wasn't as necessary.

I know for the iPhone 7, Sprint/Verizon used Qualcomm and AT&T/T-Mobile used Intel. I believe that's actual the first model where they used Intel modem.

 

[Closingracer]

CDMA (Sprint/Verizon) uses Qualcomm although as I mentioned, I'm not sure if that still applied to the 8/X.

I know for the iPhone 7, Sprint/Verizon used Qualcomm and AT&T/T-Mobile used Intel.

I knew it was something. I think the X had it the same way

 

[SigEp265]

I always buy unlocked direct from Apple.

However, a family member needed a new phone so we bought a 12 Pro Max through US Cellular as they had a deal to make it free, and it's locked to them for 6 months. I don't foresee us leaving them for at least that long, so it's no biggie this time.

Still annoys me though.

Now thats a good deal

 

[kevink2]

I read somewhere that carrier locked phones are set up to work better for that network, any truth to this?

For iPhones generally not. Some years the model specific to a carrier may have an additional band. Or maybe a different modem. But for current phones, the US model is universal.

For Android phones, that is a whole other can of warms. ATT may only whitelist models with their firmware. Or some features may only work with their firmware, like Wi-Fi calling.