Apple and its carrier partners have closed a workaround that let shoppers buy an unlocked iPhone with carrier financing. The change appears to have gone into effect this month.
Prior to this change, you could buy an iPhone directly from Apple with carrier financing through T-Mobile or Verizon, and the iPhone would be unlocked.
This meant you could use it internationally or even with other carriers in the United States. With this change, however, your iPhone will be locked to your specific carrier until it is fully paid off. This was already the case for iPhones purchased with AT&T financing, and it now also applies to T-Mobile and Verizon.
Here’s what Apple now says at the bottom of the iPhone purchase page on its website:
In most cases, yes. An iPhone purchased from Apple is unlocked. Once your new iPhone is activated, it remains unlocked, which means you can use it with any carrier that provides service for iPhone. However, if you choose to finance an iPhone through the AT&T Installment Plan, T-Mobile Equipment Installment Plan, or Verizon Device Payment Program, your iPhone will be locked to the carrier until paid in full.
As The Mobile Report notes, this is a big change and closes what was an “open secret” among iPhone buyers. It means you can’t take advantage of carrier financing and trade-in promos while also still getting an unlocked iPhone:
This is a bigger deal than you might think. Customers have long taken advantage of this particular perk when upgrading to new iPhones, because it allows you to change your SIM to a different carrier, or even dual sim for better coverage, without having to pay off the device first.
Doing this gave you the best of both worlds: you could take advantage of a carrier promo (like $1,100 off an iPhone at T-Mobile, for example), and also receive an unlocked device.
It’s an unfortunate change but one I can’t say I’m surprised to see. It’s safe to assume that workarounds like this will eventually be closed, and that consumers will be the ones harmed by the change.
One of the easiest ways to buy an unlocked iPhone and save some cash in the process is via Amazon:
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