Generally speaking, yes. Verify that your current provider supports it.
Having said that, your provider may offer you a deal. Of course ymmv
this post was submitted on 23 Dec 2024
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Make sure the phone is sim unlocked too.
It should be, the phone is an old iPhone 11.
You can verify by going to Settings->General->About.
Towards the bottom there should be “Carrier Lock” and it should say/list “No SIM Restrictions”.
If it doesn’t, you’ll need to call your provider to have them unlock the phone.
I don’t have the phone yet, so I can’t check that. I just know this is what the purchase screen showed. 
Sorry, I meant to say for your current phone. Otherwise you’ll have some sort of road block if the carrier sees your current phone as locked. I had that issue with Sprint years ago.
Yikes, well it shouldn’t be locked.
Thanks, it says no sim restrictions.
Don’t get it from your carrier unless you’re ok with it being locked down in weird ways. For instance: hot spotting works great on my iPhone that I got straight from Apple, and my mobile isp is Verizon. I know someone who’s in the same boat, but got their phone from Verizon, and hot spotting does not work.
How the fuck is this a thing? How are they allowed to control how I use my data?
The phone pulls carrier specific settings based on SIM card carrier data. Apple allows the carrier to set a hotspot block
How the fuck is this a thing?
Money
How are they allowed to control how I use my data?
You gave them permission when you signed the deal. Pretty simple.
It's pretty common to buy phones from electronics stores in Denmark, without a carrier attached. So locking down the phone isn't as common here, but that doesn't mean that ISPs aren't still up to no good. I heard about one company that would look at the IP header and if your packets came with a TTL of 63 or less, then the ISP would know that you had a tethered connection and would count the traffic differently.
I share your bafflement; it is nonetheless very much a real thing.
I currently have T-Mobile and I’m due and upgrade. I just don’t want the shenanigans of buying through them or paying extra monthly. So I would imagine they won’t throw a fit? 🤔
They'll usually let you bring you own hardware. As long as you buy one that is not carrier locked it will work (if you're buying it in a store, ask the staff to be sure it's unlocked)
If your old SIM card doesn't fit you might have to ask your carrier to send a new one, or you can ask for eSIM setup (log into your carrier account, scan a Qr code)
Lol, I think many people use unlocked phones just fine. This aint the 2000s where carriers can "punish" you anymore (lets hope those legal precedents don't reverse).
I bought my (android) phone from bestbuy and have switch between carriers and MVNOs, works fine.
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They won't care if you bring your own device unlocked. If you're buying from Apple's website or another 3rd party, it should give the option to select the version between unlocked or carrier specific options like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile.
You can buy the locked version from T-Mobile outright if it's cheaper. If you ever want to change carriers you can get it unlocked after a certain amount of time around 90 days.
Edit: Based on your other comments, you're buying from Apple directly. The last question relates to if the device is carrier locked. Choose "Connect to any carrier later".
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I've been using unlocked Android phones with Tmobile for 6 or 7 years now without issue.
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Yeah, should tell you it’s unlocked at checkout. Just don’t select a provider. Then, contact yours and ask for instructions to set it up.
Yes, as long as you don't buy it from a carrier, or buy a carrier specific version from some 3rd party seller it will work. Typically if you buy from a 3rd party seller and ask for "an iphone" you'll get the unlocked version, but some stores only carry carrier locked versions so they should ask what carrier you have first. If they do make sure you ask for the unlocked version.
If you're in the US you'll need to deal with eSIM setup, if you're in the rest of the world just pop your sim card in and it will work.
I’m buying from Apple directly with no carrier, figure that’s safer.
Yeah just make sure you purchase the unlocked version of the phone and you sb good to go then. They're usually like $20 more expensive than the carrier locked phones.
Apple charges the exact same price for a carrier locked one as a carrier unlocked one.
Since I already have T-Mobile, should I select that when purchasing, or is no carrier fine?
No carrier is what you want. If you aren’t financing you should never opt for the carrier locked version.
If you’re buying it from Apple it isn’t carrier locked. The carrier options on their page just help get your sim ported over or something. They explain this on the site, the only time it’s carrier locked is if you do the AT&T installment plan.
Understood, thanks.
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Don't.
Never choose any carrier. Don't want unexpected shenanigans. Just set up when you get the phone, its the same.
Understood, thanks!
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Depending on the US carrier you could have a physical sim too! And e sim is possible on some EU carriers. But generally speaking that's right
Are there any iPhone 16's in the US that have a physical SIM? I thought the 14 dropped sim, and I know for my 15 I had to import one from Canada to get the SIM.
Ah, you're absolutely right. Sorry about that. I didn't realize that apple removed it in the US
New iPhones bought from Apple that are unlocked “connect to any carrier later” work on all the networks in the us. Once upon a time, there was an “unlocked” phone - meaning you could change the sim and the phone wasn’t locked to a contract. But you still had to match the phone to the major carrier. For example, an att phone could be unlocked, and then used on straighttalk (becasue straighttalk resold att network). But it wouldn’t work on Verizon or T-Mobile because they were different networks.
That’s not a thing anymore with iPhones and hasn’t been for a long time. An unlocked iPhone can be used with any carrier that supports esims.
If your old phone is still on a contract - you may not be able to transfer the phone number, or have to request an unlock, or any other shenanigans. But the new iPhone will still work on whatever network you take it to.
Ideally, your contract is done, you buy new unlocked iPhone, you take it to your existing or a new carrier, you say “I bought a new unlocked phone, I want to set it up new, and I want you to transfer my number” a prime time carrier will just make this happen for you. A reseller can be a little more of a pain in the arse.
Personally I’ve been happy with the prepaid plans from straight talk - despite their setup process sucking. If you call them and get a person to help it goes pretty smooth. And the service is indistinguishable for a much cheaper price once it’s setup. I’m pretty sure this goes for most resellers.
Good luck - you’ll be fine!
Once upon a time, there was an “unlocked” phone - meaning you could change the sim and the phone wasn’t locked to a contract. But you still had to match the phone to the major carrier.
Ah yes, those confusing GSM/CDMA days. They were like 2g or 3g tech (not sure), but eventually they all converged with 4G and VoLTE. I'm so glad that bs was done.
That’s what I was worried about lol, glad those days are over and I can just pick “Connect to any Carrier later” option.
I’m debating on whether larger storage is worth it, 256GB to 512GB for $200 more. Any thoughts? Appreciate the detailed feedback.
For what it’s worth, choosing the T-Mobile option wouldn’t lock it to T-Mobile. It just includes some extra setup stuff, IIRC. If you’re buying it from Apple it isn’t carrier locked (with the exception of an AT&T installment plan, not sure if they still offer that).
Thanks, the past years of cellphone shenanigans have me paranoid lol.
I have 256 GB and have a “family” 2TB iCloud plan. I sync to iCloud for everything and have it set to automatically manage storage. I’d only buy a larger phone if you either don’t use iCloud or if you plan to take a lot of photos or plan to use the iPhone for filming.
iPhones have no sd card slots, so I'd get the bigger storage (if that money isn't that tight)
How much is your current iphone storage and how much is filled?
Currently it’s 97.56GB out of 128GB. So around 26% free space? Guessing 256GB will be enough.
Probably.
If its photos/videos taking up storage, you could always move it to a computer.
If you are in Canada they have to sell them unlocked. Not sure your location.
I remember when I bought my iPhone 3GS back in the day.
The only option was to buy it carrier locked on a one or two year plan in my country. Of course it was exclusive to a carrier that wasn't my choice of carrier.
I signed up, put it in a drawer and waited for the imminent jailbreak and unlocked modem firmware. It dropped two weeks later. After that one year of payments they unlocked it through official means.
It works fine. I’ve bought a couple iPhone pros from Apple to use with different carriers. One with Verizon and the other with cricket and later mint. The main difference used to be that Verizon/sprint phones supported fewer GSM bands than AT&T and T-Mobile phones, which could be relevant in Europe or Asia, but now Apple only sells one model. This time I got my phone from Verizon for “free” by trading in an obsolete iPhone with a broken screen. They claim they automatically unlock the phone after 90 days. It was about $120 out of pocket for a 16 pro.
USA? You'd be doing eSim and depending on carrier, it might be just loggining in and set up eSim, or if its T-Mobile, they have dumbass requirement for you to contact customer support for eSim, so that may take up to an hour.
If its non-USA, and you have a physical sim, just put in sim and its ready.
If you have an existing iPhone with T-Mobile, you can activate it with your previous phone which is much easier than calling customer support.
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Yep, if it's unlocked you can just hook it up to any carrier in the US. Can't speak for the rest of the world.
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