{"id":2046945,"date":"2026-07-15T22:44:31","date_gmt":"2026-07-15T19:44:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2046945"},"modified":"2026-07-15T22:44:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-15T19:44:31","slug":"apple-closes-loophole-letting-buyers-pick-unlocked-iphones-using-carrier-payment-plans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2046945","title":{"rendered":"Apple Closes Loophole Letting Buyers Pick Unlocked iPhones Using Carrier Payment Plans"},"content":{"rendered":"

[analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/www.cnet.com\/a\/img\/resize\/ecf9e87089f2c568b2afa8c65e60c36242fc0747\/hub\/2025\/09\/17\/32a3fd45-2f22-4965-a584-986d72681b5c\/opening-edited-bokeh-00-05-44-04-still007.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=675&width=1200″]<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>
<\/p>\n

If you want a new iPhone, your options for an unlocked version just narrowed significantly.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Celso Bulgatti\/CNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

An update to Apple’s iPhone 17 selling FAQs closes a loophole that allowed buyers to choose an unlocked iPhone<\/span><\/span> from T-Mobile and Verizon.<\/p>\n

Before this update, as noticed on Wednesday by Reddit users, you could pick an unlocked iPhone with the Verizon<\/span><\/span> Device Payment Program or the T-Mobile<\/span><\/span> Equipment Installment Plan and use it with your preferred carrier<\/span><\/span> while making payments. Now it appears that it won’t be possible going forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The newest version of Apple’s iPhone question, “Will my new iPhone be unlocked?” now has a response that states, “If you choose to finance an iPhone through the AT&T Installment Plan, T-Mobile Equipment Installment Plan or Verizon Device Payment Program, your iPhone will be locked to the carrier until paid in full.”<\/p>\n

CNET Managing Editor of Mobile David Lumb noted that the change isn’t so surprising. “Apple’s move puts Verizon and T-Mobile customers under the same conditions as AT&T’s,” he said. “Most carrier subscribers won’t notice a difference, as they likely would’ve stuck with a carrier until they paid off their phone anyway — but it is unfortunate to see customers locked in to their carriers more than they were before.”<\/p>\n

A representative from Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

How you can still get an unlocked iPhone<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>
<\/p>\n

Unlocked iPhones are still available through Apple.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Prakhar Khanna\/CNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It’s important to note that these unlocked iPhone limitations apply only to the financing you’d get when buying a phone through carriers. There are other ways to get unlocked iPhones<\/span><\/span>\u00a0— it may just cost more upfront now.<\/p>\n

You can still buy directly from Apple, including via Apple’s payment plans, and receive an unlocked iPhone. However, that approach may lose out on discounts and rebates that carriers can offer if you sign up for their plans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you buy an iPhone from a third-party retailer, Lumb says those models should also be unlocked, but it’s important to check the details and see if the seller is partnering with a specific carrier for that iPhone.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

About the Author<\/h2>\n
\n
\n
\n
\"Headshot<\/div>\n
\n

Tyler Lacoma<\/h3>\n

Editor \/ Home Security and Smart Home<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Tyler Lacoma<\/h3>\n

Editor \/ Home Security and Smart Home<\/span><\/div>\n

Tyler has worked on, lived with and tested all types of smart home and security technology for over a dozen years, explaining the latest features, privacy tricks, and top recommendations.<\/p>\n

With degrees in Business Management, Literature and Technical Writing, Tyler takes every opportunity to play with the latest AI technology, push smart devices to their limits and occasionally throw cameras off his roof, all to find the best devices to trust in your life. He always checks with the renters (and pets) in his life to see what smart products can work for everyone, in every living situation. <\/p>\n

Living in beautiful Bend, Oregon gives Tyler plenty of opportunities to test the latest tech in every kind of weather and temperature. But when not at work, he can be found hiking the trails, trying out a new food recipe for his loved ones, keeping up on his favorite reading, or gaming with good friends. <\/p>\n

Read full bio\n <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

\n
\n
\n

\n Mobile Guides
\n <\/h2>\n
\n
\n

\n Phones
\n <\/span><\/div>\n
\n
    \n
  • \n Best iPhone\n <\/li>\n
  • \n Best Galaxy S24 Deals\n <\/li>\n
  • \n Best Phone\n <\/li>\n
  • \n Best iPhone Deals\n <\/li>\n
  • \n Samsung Galaxy S24 Review\n <\/li>\n
  • \n Best Android Phones\n <\/li>\n
  • \n Best Samsung Galaxy Phone\n <\/li>\n
  • \n Pixel 8 Pro Review\n <\/li>\n
  • \n iPhone 15 Pro\/Pro Max Review\n <\/li>\n
  • \n Best iPhone 15 Deals\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
    \n
    \n

    \n Foldable Phones
    \n <\/span><\/div>\n
    \n
      \n
    • \n Best Foldable Phones\n <\/li>\n
    • \n Galaxy Z Fold 5 Review\n <\/li>\n
    • \n OnePlus Open Review\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
      \n
      \n

      \n Headphones
      \n <\/span><\/div>\n
      \n
        \n
      • \n Best Wireless Earbuds\n <\/li>\n
      • \n Best Noise Canceling Headphones\n <\/li>\n
      • \n Best Headphones\n <\/li>\n
      • \n Best Over Ear Headphones\n <\/li>\n
      • \n Best Wireless Earbuds and Headphones for Making Calls\n <\/li>\n
      • \n Best Headphones for Work at Home\n <\/li>\n
      • \n Best Noise Canceling Wireless Earbuds\n <\/li>\n
      • \n Best Sounding Wireless Earbuds\n <\/li>\n
      • \n Best Cheap Wireless Earbuds\n <\/li>\n
      • \n Best Wireless Headphones\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
        \n
        \n

        \n Mobile Accessories
        \n <\/span><\/div>\n
        \n
          \n
        • \n Best iPhone 15 Cases\n <\/li>\n
        • \n Best iPhone 14 Cases\n <\/li>\n
        • \n Best Power Bank for iPhone\n <\/li>\n
        • \n Best Airpods Pro Accessories\n <\/li>\n
        • \n Best Magsafe iPhone Accessories\n <\/li>\n
        • \n Best Speakerphone\n <\/li>\n
        • \n Best Wireless Car Charger and Mount\n <\/li>\n
        • \n Best iPhone Fast Charger\n <\/li>\n
        • \n Best Portable Chargers and Power Banks for Android\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
          \n
          \n

          \n Smartwatches
          \n <\/span><\/div>\n
          \n
            \n
          • \n Apple Watch Series 8 vs Series 7\n <\/li>\n
          • \n Best Apple Watch Bands\n <\/li>\n
          • \n Best Android Smartwatch\n <\/li>\n
          • \n Apple Watch Ultra Review\n <\/li>\n
          • \n Best Smartwatch\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
            \n
            \n

            \n Wireless Plans
            \n <\/span><\/div>\n
            \n
              \n
            • \n Best Prepaid Phone Plans\n <\/li>\n
            • \n Best Cheap Phone Plans\n <\/li>\n
            • \n Best Unlimited Data Plans\n <\/li>\n
            • \n Best Phone Plans\n <\/li>\n
            • \n Best Phone Plan Deals\n <\/li>\n
            • \n Best Senior Phone Plans\n <\/li>\n
            • \n Best Family Phone Plans\n <\/li>\n
            • \n Best Travel Phone Plans\n <\/li>\n
            • \n Best Verizon Plans\n <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
              \n
              \n
              \n
              \n
              \n
              \n
              \n
              \n
              <\/div>\n<\/div>
              <\/p>\n

              If you want a new iPhone, your options for an unlocked version just narrowed significantly.<\/p>\n

              <\/span>Celso Bulgatti\/CNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

              An update to Apple’s iPhone 17 selling FAQs closes a loophole that allowed buyers to choose an unlocked iPhone<\/span><\/span> from T-Mobile and Verizon.<\/p>\n

              Before this update, as noticed on Wednesday by Reddit users, you could pick an unlocked iPhone with the Verizon<\/span><\/span> Device Payment Program or the T-Mobile<\/span><\/span> Equipment Installment Plan and use it with your preferred carrier<\/span><\/span> while making payments. Now it appears that it won’t be possible going forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n

              The newest version of Apple’s iPhone question, “Will my new iPhone be unlocked?” now has a response that states, “If you choose to finance an iPhone through the AT&T Installment Plan, T-Mobile Equipment Installment Plan or Verizon Device Payment Program, your iPhone will be locked to the carrier until paid in full.”<\/p>\n

              CNET Managing Editor of Mobile David Lumb noted that the change isn’t so surprising. “Apple’s move puts Verizon and T-Mobile customers under the same conditions as AT&T’s,” he said. “Most carrier subscribers won’t notice a difference, as they likely would’ve stuck with a carrier until they paid off their phone anyway — but it is unfortunate to see customers locked in to their carriers more than they were before.”<\/p>\n

              A representative from Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

              How you can still get an unlocked iPhone<\/h2>\n
              \n
              \n
              <\/div>\n<\/div>
              <\/p>\n

              Unlocked iPhones are still available through Apple.<\/p>\n

              <\/span>Prakhar Khanna\/CNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

              It’s important to note that these unlocked iPhone limitations apply only to the financing you’d get when buying a phone through carriers. There are other ways to get unlocked iPhones<\/span><\/span>\u00a0— it may just cost more upfront now.<\/p>\n

              You can still buy directly from Apple, including via Apple’s payment plans, and receive an unlocked iPhone. However, that approach may lose out on discounts and rebates that carriers can offer if you sign up for their plans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

              If you buy an iPhone from a third-party retailer, Lumb says those models should also be unlocked, but it’s important to check the details and see if the seller is partnering with a specific carrier for that iPhone.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

              \n
              \n
              \n
              \n
              \n
              \n
              <\/div>\n<\/div>
              <\/p>\n

              If you want a new iPhone, your options for an unlocked version just narrowed significantly.<\/p>\n

              <\/span>Celso Bulgatti\/CNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

              An update to Apple’s iPhone 17 selling FAQs closes a loophole that allowed buyers to choose an unlocked iPhone<\/span><\/span> from T-Mobile and Verizon.<\/p>\n

              Before this update, as noticed on Wednesday by Reddit users, you could pick an unlocked iPhone with the Verizon<\/span><\/span> Device Payment Program or the T-Mobile<\/span><\/span> Equipment Installment Plan and use it with your preferred carrier<\/span><\/span> while making payments. Now it appears that it won’t be possible going forward.\u00a0<\/p>\n

              The newest version of Apple’s iPhone question, “Will my new iPhone be unlocked?” now has a response that states, “If you choose to finance an iPhone through the AT&T Installment Plan, T-Mobile Equipment Installment Plan or Verizon Device Payment Program, your iPhone will be locked to the carrier until paid in full.”<\/p>\n

              CNET Managing Editor of Mobile David Lumb noted that the change isn’t so surprising. “Apple’s move puts Verizon and T-Mobile customers under the same conditions as AT&T’s,” he said. “Most carrier subscribers won’t notice a difference, as they likely would’ve stuck with a carrier until they paid off their phone anyway — but it is unfortunate to see customers locked in to their carriers more than they were before.”<\/p>\n

              A representative from Apple didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

              How you can still get an unlocked iPhone<\/h2>\n
              \n
              \n
              <\/div>\n<\/div>
              <\/p>\n

              Unlocked iPhones are still available through Apple.<\/p>\n

              <\/span>Prakhar Khanna\/CNET<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

              It’s important to note that these unlocked iPhone limitations apply only to the financing you’d get when buying a phone through carriers. There are other ways to get unlocked iPhones<\/span><\/span>\u00a0— it may just cost more upfront now.<\/p>\n

              You can still buy directly from Apple, including via Apple’s payment plans, and receive an unlocked iPhone. However, that approach may lose out on discounts and rebates that carriers can offer if you sign up for their plans.\u00a0<\/p>\n

              If you buy an iPhone from a third-party retailer, Lumb says those models should also be unlocked, but it’s important to check the details and see if the seller is partnering with a specific carrier for that iPhone.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n

              [analyse_source url=”http:\/\/cnet.com\/tech\/mobile\/apple-closes-loophole-letting-buyers-pick-unlocked-iphones-using-carrier-payment-plans\/”]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              [analyse_image type=”featured” src=”https:\/\/www.cnet.com\/a\/img\/resize\/ecf9e87089f2c568b2afa8c65e60c36242fc0747\/hub\/2025\/09\/17\/32a3fd45-2f22-4965-a584-986d72681b5c\/opening-edited-bokeh-00-05-44-04-still007.jpg?auto=webp&fit=crop&height=675&width=1200″] If you want a new iPhone, your options for an unlocked version just narrowed significantly. Celso Bulgatti\/CNET An update to Apple’s iPhone 17 selling FAQs closes a loophole that allowed buyers to choose an unlocked iPhone from T-Mobile and Verizon. Before this update, as noticed on Wednesday by Reddit users, you could […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[67,226],"class_list":["post-2046945","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-cnet-com","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2046945","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2046945"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2046945\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2046945"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2046945"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2046945"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}