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What will happen if I don't choose a carrier?

I want to buy a new iPhone. I don't have a bund plan with my carrier At&T. I just need a unlocked iPhone. But seems here, there is a $100 price difference between choosing Carrier and just an unlocked iPhone. What will happen if I only choose an unlocked iPhone, and put my old SIM card in it? Do I have to choose At&T?


Thank you for helping, community.

iPhone 11 Pro

Posted on Sep 27, 2019 2:21 PM

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Posted on Sep 27, 2019 3:06 PM

You can purchase an unlocked SIM free device but have to pay full retail at the time of sale. Similarly though, you can buy the AT&T model with an unprogrammed SIM in it by paying full price as well and it will be unlocked too.


That’s what I did with my iPhone XS this year, ordered direct from Apple. I used my iPhone 7 SIM in it when I got it to put it on my service, but I bought the AT&T model so I would have a spare AT&T SIM to activate old devices with as needed. Since I paid in full at purchase, that iPhone XS is unlocked

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Sep 27, 2019 3:06 PM in response to Christina_sfsv

You can purchase an unlocked SIM free device but have to pay full retail at the time of sale. Similarly though, you can buy the AT&T model with an unprogrammed SIM in it by paying full price as well and it will be unlocked too.


That’s what I did with my iPhone XS this year, ordered direct from Apple. I used my iPhone 7 SIM in it when I got it to put it on my service, but I bought the AT&T model so I would have a spare AT&T SIM to activate old devices with as needed. Since I paid in full at purchase, that iPhone XS is unlocked

Sep 27, 2019 2:46 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

iPhone 11 Pro. I'm trying to buy online (with trade-in), and coming to this page, that I have to choose.

See the difference? should I choose At&T ($749) or Unlocked and SIM-Free ($634)? it's $115 difference.

I do use AT&T as the carrier, but I don't have a bundled plan with AT&T at the moment, I only need a phone actually. Wondering which one I should choose. Thank you.


Sep 27, 2019 2:57 PM in response to Christina_sfsv

Thanks, I can do the math and saw the difference, but I guess that you indicated you had a trade, and I did not account for that. However, I'm unaware why there would be a difference in price. However, to answer your general question, you can purchase an unlocked phone if you wish and would be able to use it on AT&T or another carrier if you wish. That is what an unlocked phone is capable of doing. What did you indicate you had for a trade? I'm trying to duplicate what you are seeing.

What will happen if I don't choose a carrier?

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