Hi - I can't seem to get a good answer to this. I currently have Cricket Wireless as my cell provider. If I want to purchase an iPhone X, which model should I select? I'm ok paying full price for the phone. I assume I can just pop the SIM card out of my iPhone 7 and use it in the new phone as long as the phone is unlocked. Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks.
iPhone 7 Plus, iOS 10.2.1
Purchasing a Verizon iPhone X in store will not require an account with Verizon if you are paying in full at the time of purchase. You can then replace the Verizon sim with Cricket Wirless sim and it will work. I did just that two days ago with no issues.
Technically all Four carrier models are unlocked as long as they are paid in full. The only real caveat is that AT&T, Verizon and Sprint require an existing account, or to create one during purchase.
The T-Mobile version is also unlocked, and does not require an account. But comes with a T-Mobile Sim which you can remove and replace with your own.
What Apple currently does not offer is a Sim Free no carrier option.
The T-Mobile option is the closest thing to that.
Since Cricket is owned by AT&T, you may be able to get an AT&T version, and setup your existing plan. Otherwise T-Mobile is the only choice, but do note it cannot be used with CDMA networks like Verizon or Sprint.
What did Cricket Wireless suggest when you asked them?
I'm not familiar with them, but be advised if you're in the US, ALL iPhone X currently available in Apple Stores and retailers are carrier locked to either Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile or Sprint. A fully unlocked phone is not available and likely won't be until supply catches up with demand.
Then you need to wait until Apple releases an unlocked iPhone X in their stores.
One of the sales people at Cricket Wireless seemed to indicate that I could get any model as long as it was unlocked. But I didn't fully trust that answer. What you and others indicated about the supply seems more in line with what I've seen elsewhere. Thanks for the response. 🙂
Agreed. And that's were some of my confusion came in. On the Apple web site, when you select the Verizon phone and choose pay in full, it actually says "Unlocked iPhone with Verizon SIM". Very odd.
That makes sense. Thanks for the info. I appreciate it.
Yup - I think that's the safe bet. Thanks again.
Thanks. I look forward to the day when it's not so complicated. Here's hoping. 🙂
Excellent! Thank you!
The best option you have is to ask Cricket directly. If you cannot get a clear answer there, then that is a red flag.
In principle an AT&T model will work on Cricket. However, it may have to be activated on AT&T first so there is no way to know for sure. AT&T may whitelist by IMEI and make that impossible initially. Tier 1 carriers are often reluctant to allow new models to be available immediately on their MVNOs.
As their are no unlocked iPhone X's for sale at this time saying "any model as long as it was unlocked" is the same as saying, none.
Which iPhone X should I buy that will work with Cricket Wireless?
