You may have heard the term “unlocked phone” thrown around in the wild. Maybe it’s because you’re about to switch to Mint Mobile (hey, there) or maybe it’s because you’re thinking about getting a new phone. Whatever the reason, you might be wondering “what is an unlocked phone, exactly?,” what the difference is between an unlocked phone and a locked phone, or whether one is better than the other? Well, let’s do a deep dive.
What does “unlocked phone” mean?
Unlocked phones are phones that aren’t tied to a specific carrier’s network, which means an unlocked phone can work with more than just one service provider.
Benefits of an unlocked phone
There are many benefits to unlocking your phone, including:
- Unlocked phones make it easy for you to switch carriers whenever you want, like when you find out certain carriers have some pretty f*!ing great deals (we said foxing). This allows you to get the best rates and coverage for you, instead of being locked into a contract.
- You can bring your phone with you if it’s unlocked — that’s right, there’s no need to buy a new device just because you’re moving to a new carrier.\
- No monthly phone payments. Since unlocked phones are usually purchased outright instead of via installment plans, once you buy, you can say “bye bye” to paying every month.
- You can use two SIM cards on one phone, as long as your phone is dual SIM or eSIM-compatible. This is great if you want a personal line and a business line, for example.
- If you want to sell your phone one day, you’ll typically get more money for an unlocked phone. That’s because the person that buys it can use whatever carrier network they want (freedom is always a selling point).
- They’re good for international travelers, since you can use your unlocked phone with any foreign carrier that works with your phone’s technology. Instead of paying roaming charges, you’ll be able to pay local rates.
- You aren’t limited to the phone models your carrier offers. If you have yet to purchase a phone, you have way more phone models to choose from if you’re not limited to your current carrier. And more choice is always good.
What is a locked phone?
As you might imagine, since there are unlocked phones, there are also locked phones. Locked phones have software that prevents them from being used by different mobile networks for a period of time, typically 1-3 years, hence they’re locked into a certain network and can only be used with that specific carrier. Even if you didn’t buy your phone from a specific carrier, it can still sometimes be locked by that carrier.
So, you might be asking: do locked phones have any benefits for customers? While they may only work with a certain network for a time, locked phones do tend to be cheaper to buy than unlocked ones, so you could save big on a brand-new device.
What is jailbreaking a phone?
Another term you may have heard while discussing locked or unlocked phones is the term jailbreaking. A jailbroken phone will have media restrictions lifted so that users can run different operating systems on their device, or delete or hide preloaded apps that usually cannot be deleted. However, a jailbroken phone does not mean the phone is unlocked. A phone can be jailbroken, but still tied to a specific carrier.
Disadvantages of unlocked phones: Are there any?
One important thing to note is just because a phone is unlocked, it doesn’t mean it will work with every single carrier. It also depends on which cellular network your phone model is compatible with: GSM or CDMA.
Most new phone models are compatible with both, but older phones may only be compatible with one of those cellular networks. In fact, the network your phone is compatible with may make it harder or easier to unlock your phone. GSM-compatible phones (which are the types of phones that are compatible with Mint) are more straightforward to unlock, while CDMA-compatible phones can be harder to transfer to new carriers, since certain overpriced wireless carriers have their own unique databases and networks (they really do make everything more difficult). But, since GSM is the standard for most carriers now, you probably won’t run into this issue.
Another thing to consider about unlocked phones is that you have to pay for them in full, and not over time in monthly installments. But while some may see this as a con, it also helps you to avoid being locked into a multi-year contract.
How do I know if my phone is unlocked?
There are many ways to tell if a phone is unlocked or not, including swapping SIM cards and calling your current carrier. For more detailed instructions, see how to check if your phone is unlocked.
How do I unlock my phone on Verizon?
Phones purchased through Verizon are unlocked 60 days after the total payment for the phone is completed.
- If you buy a phone from them outright, it will be unlocked 60 days later**
- If you’re on a phone payment plan, it will be unlocked 60 days after your final payment
- If you buy your phone from an authorized Verizon retailer, it will be unlocked 60 days after activation.**
Want to confirm for sure after your 60 days are up? Dial *611 from your Verizon device or call customer service to double-check.
How do I unlock my phone on AT&T?
- Go to AT&T’s unlock page and click “Submit an unlock request.”
- Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements.
- This includes paying off your installment plan early (if you have one) and waiting 48 hours after your final payment to make the request.
- Once you meet all the requirements, submit the form.
- After that, you’ll receive a confirmation email with the unlock request number. Click on it within 24 hours to confirm your request.
- You may have to request again if you miss the 24-hour window.
- After two business days, AT&T will let you know that your phone has been unlocked.
Where can I buy an unlocked phone?
Want an unlocked phone from the jump? It’s no problem, since many retailers and carriers do offer phones that are unlocked from the get-go. So wherever you choose to purchase your next phone, just let them know you’re specifically looking for an unlocked phone and they should be able to hook you up.
Can I bring my unlocked phone to Mint Mobile?
Oh, fox yeah. Mint requires its users to have an unlocked phone, so we definitely encourage you to bring your own phone when you’re ready to switch (and after it’s been unlocked), especially if you’re still happy with your current device and it’s compatible with our service. Once your phone is unlocked, you can check if it’s also compatible by plugging in the brand and model, or IMEI number, on that same page.
Since you’re wondering if you can bring your phone over to Mint, you might also be wondering if unlocking your phone and bringing it over to our service will mean you need to change your phone number. That’s a big, fat NOPE. You can easily transfer your phone number over — and here’s the guide that will help you do it. That’s right, you won’t miss a single text or message from your S.O. or your parents (even if you might want to).
Ok, so. Do you already have an unlocked phone you want to bring to Mint? Or maybe you just purchased one at our online store? The next step is to check out our plans here to see which one is right for you and your newly-unlocked phone.
It feels good to break free from overpriced wireless, doesn’t it?
First published: August 2021; updated June 2024
**https://www.verizon.com/support/device-unlocking-policy/
