These days, you might buy an unlocked iPhone that you might use with whatever phone company you prefer.
An unlocked iPhone is more flexible, but it’s not right for everyone.
Here are the answers to the most common questions about unlocked iPhones.
What Is an Unlocked iPhone?
An unlocked iPhone is a phone that isn’t tied to any one phone company.
The one important thing to be aware of is how you bought the phone.
What Is the Advantage to Having an Unlocked Phone?
The biggest advantage of having an unlocked iPhone is flexibility.
Where Do I Buy an Unlocked iPhone?
The simplest wayto buy an unlocked iPhoneis to buy directly from Apple.
If you prefer to buy an iPhone in installments, check outApple’s iPhone Upgrade Programinstead.
Can I Unlock My Existing iPhone?
It’s possible to unlock most iPhones, even if they were not unlocked when you bought them originally.
Your phone company can perform the unlocking for you.
Maybe the easiest way, though, is to do these things:
TapSettings.
If it readsNo SIM restrictions, then your iPhone is unlocked.
Does the Unlocked iPhone Include a SIM Card?
If you buy an unlocked iPhone directly from Apple, it does not include aSIM card.
But that’s OK. ## Can an Unlocked iPhone Be Used With Any Phone Company?
Can I Use an Unlocked iPhone With More Than One Carrier at the Same Time?
Some recent iPhone models actually support the use of two SIM cards at the same time.
One of these SIMs is physical, the other virtual.
With the Dual SIM on the iPhone XS/XR/11/12, Do I Need an Unlocked Phone?
The first SIM is a physical card, while the second is a software-based eSIM.
Because there are two SIMs, you don’t necessarily need an unlocked phone.
On the other hand, you may prefer to keep both SIMs unlocked for maximum flexibility.
It really depends on how you want to use your phone.
Some people prefer unlocked phones on principle.
For others, the flexibility of the dual SIM configuration may be enough.
Are Unlocked Phones Also Jailbroken?
Whilejailbreakingand unlocking are often discussed in the same breath, they’re not the same thing.
The unlocked iPhones sold by Apple are not jailbroken.
To learn more about jailbreaking and what it offers, check out thedefinition of jailbreaking on the iPhone.
