Hermitian
Level 1 (6 points)
iPhone

Q: If I buy an unlocked T-Mobile iphone7, can I use sim card from carrier other than T-mobile on that iphone7? Because I travel to foreign countries from time to time,I wonder if the unlocked Tmobile iphone7 accept other sim card when I am in foreign

If I buy an unlocked T-Mobile iphone7, can I use sim card from carrier other than T-mobile on that iphone7? Because I travel to foreign countries from time to time, I need to use some other sim card when I am outside US. So if I order an unlocked T-mobile iphone7, will it accept my sim card of some foreign carrier? Also, will it accept my 2nd sim card which is from Sprint (my sprint sim card is not tied to a device)?

Posted on Sep 8, 2016 7:02 AM

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Q: If I buy an unlocked T-Mobile iphone7, can I use sim card from carrier other than T-mobile on that iphone7? Because I travel to fo ... more

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  • by KiltedTim,Helpful

    KiltedTim KiltedTim Sep 8, 2016 7:35 AM in response to Hermitian
    Level 9 (55,083 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 8, 2016 7:35 AM in response to Hermitian

    An unlocked iPhone can be used with any compatible GSM carrier.

    Sprint is NOT a GSM carrier. They are a CDMA carrier.

  • by Hermitian,

    Hermitian Hermitian Sep 8, 2016 7:45 AM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 1 (6 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 8, 2016 7:45 AM in response to KiltedTim

    hI thank you for your reply.

    So I am using T-Mobile now and my SIM card is not tied to any device. Now if I preorder an unlocked T-Mobile iphone7 tomorrow, can I use my current untied T-Mobile SIM card on that iphone7? Also when I travel to foreign countries and if I use a foreign SIM card which is GSM, can that foreign SIM card be use on that unlocked T-Mobile iphone7? What's the difference between an unlocked T-Mobile iphone7 and a sim free iphone7?

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Sep 8, 2016 8:10 AM in response to KiltedTim
    Level 9 (58,481 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 8, 2016 8:10 AM in response to KiltedTim

    KiltedTim wrote:

     

    An unlocked iPhone can be used with any compatible GSM carrier.

    Sprint is NOT a GSM carrier. They are a CDMA carrier.

    I don't know for certain about Sprint, but Verizon, a legacy CDMA carrier, will allow unlocked iPhone 6/6+ and 6S/6S+ on their networks (except for ones originally intended for sale in China). I haven't heard definitive information about the iPhone 7. However, I think it might be worth the OP asking Sprint.

  • by Gerald Edgar,

    Gerald Edgar Gerald Edgar Sep 9, 2016 1:08 PM in response to Meg St._Clair
    Level 3 (645 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 9, 2016 1:08 PM in response to Meg St._Clair

    Also, they say the iPhone 7 uses a "nano" SIM, smaller than the previously-used "micro" SIM.  So you would have to get a new SIM from your carrier and put it in the iPhone.

  • by Meg St._Clair,

    Meg St._Clair Meg St._Clair Sep 9, 2016 1:15 PM in response to Gerald Edgar
    Level 9 (58,481 points)
    iPhone
    Sep 9, 2016 1:15 PM in response to Gerald Edgar

    I'm not sure who your answering. However, the iPhone has been using a Nano SIM since the iPhone 5. The nano SIM is also not that uncommon among newer phones by Motorola, Samsung, HTC and LG. I haven't owned a phone that used other than a nano for probably two or three years.