iPad Air Locked?

Question

iPad Air Locked?

Since the iPad Air works on almost all the providers LTE channels, does it come locked to the specific provider you purchased it for?

MBP, mini, iMac, iPods, iPad, Mac OS X (10.6.3), Airport Extreme, Airport Express

Posted on Oct 24, 2013 11:11 AM

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Answer 1

varjak paw

Level 10

182,662 points

Oct 24, 2013 11:41 AM in response to Jeff Blundell1

iPads in most countries have not been locked to a carrier, so I see no reason to presume that it will change. For LTE support, though, see:

http://www.apple.com/ipad/LTE/

Note that if you wish to use an iPad with Verizon, Sprint, or any other CDMA carrier, you must buy the model specifically for that carrier.

Regards.

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Answer 2

tprevett

Level 1

0 points

Oct 25, 2013 6:55 AM in response to varjak paw

Okay.. got that.. but if I buy a Sprint ipad, will it be carrier locked? Or will i be able to Plop an AT&T sim into it and use it? I would like to buy a Sprint iPad Air, but their current 4g offering in my area is next to nothing, so I would want to activate it on at&t until sprint gets their S*it together.

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Answer 3

varjak paw

Level 10

182,662 points

Oct 25, 2013 7:11 AM in response to tprevett

Sorry, but I'm not sure. From a hardware standpoint it should work, but I'm not sure if you can activate a Sprint or Verizon iPad on another US carrier. Pehaps someone else with experience with an existing Sprint-model iPad will have insight.

Regards.

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Answer 4

Oct 25, 2013 8:42 AM in response to Jeff Blundell1

I think I found the answer:

http://www.apple.com/ipad-air/ultrafast-wireless/

Apple saye you can just "pop in a SIM card". This suggests the iPad is not locked to a carrier.

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Answer 5

tprevett

Level 1

0 points

Nov 1, 2013 8:08 AM in response to Jeff Blundell1

I can 100% confirm.. I activated my iPad on the line which my Sprint Galaxy Tab was activated.. (Via my sprint account on the webside.. Use MEID and not IMEI as the activation number) no problems whatsoevern and let me keep my $15 2gb plan. I then pulled the Sprint SIM, and dropped in a Brand New at&t Nano SIM, (without powering down even), and the iPad instantly recognized it, and changed all carrier settings to at@t. I then added an LTE plan for at&t, without any problems... speedtested LTE on at&t at 25 down and 10 up..

Now I feel future proof.. iPad will have at&t until such time that Sprints 1900mhz and 800mhz LTE covers my area!

Unlocked is where it's at.. Next up... Nexus 5 unlocked on Sprint

SAWEET!

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Answer 6

Nov 1, 2013 8:30 AM in response to tprevett

Thank you. Question answered! Thank you also to Apple for making it woork this way.

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Answer 7

Nov 1, 2013 12:54 PM in response to Jeff Blundell1

Ok, so, does this mean that I can buy an iPad Air Cellular version for any carrier (T-Mobile, Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint) and later change my mind and have it work on any of the four carriers without an unlocking fee and by only incurring the hassle of going to the store and getting the correct SIM card from that carrier? Or am I missing something?

I'm asking this, because I'm inclined to get the T-Mobile version to get the free 200mb data, and then later switch to Verizon if I start traveling more often and need better data access.

Thanks!!

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Answer 8

tprevett

Level 1

0 points

Nov 1, 2013 1:00 PM in response to washingtonpondfrog

You have to buy Sprint or Verizon version to use on each of those networks.. They can also be used on any of the GSM networks.. You can't buy a T-mobile/at&t to use on sprint or Verizon.. It doesn't work in reverse.. You also can't put a sprint unit on Verizon or vice versa..

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Answer 9

Nov 1, 2013 3:07 PM in response to tprevett

Why do you say this? I believe that with the iPad Air you have a unit capable of working on any of the US LTE frequencies, you just need the appropriate SIM card.

What you said may be true for earlier iPads.

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Answer 10

tprevett

Level 1

0 points

Nov 1, 2013 3:13 PM in response to Jeff Blundell1

Perhaps, but the Air is the first iPad which has all of the radio support in a single SKU/model...

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Answer 11

Nov 11, 2013 1:55 AM in response to Jeff Blundell1

Dears,

I want to know if i take my Ipad Air outside USA, will it work with any GSM carrier in the world or it is licked to USA carriers only?

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Answer 12

Jan 10, 2014 8:19 AM in response to yehiasidkey

Hi,

I have normally bought my iPads from Apple and so far it has worked in the countries I have visited (mostly Sweden).

Picked up an iPad Air at AT&T a couple of months ago and I am now travelling to Sweden.

get 'no service' on the iPad when I use the AT&T sim as well as a sim from a local provider (Telia).

According to AT&T support line it is becuase the iPad is locked (to AT&T).

Not buying from AT&T anymore.

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