Buying a new phone question

[thinkerbell]

We want to buy new iPhones. We are also planning on changing our service to Charter. We are with Verizon right now. To buy the phones through Apple or Charter they are going to be $30 more per phone than buying through Verizon. We also have $75 in device dollars that we will lose when leaving Verizon. Question: Can we buy the phones through Verizon to save the money ($60 + $75 device dollars)) on the two phones and then go directly to Charter to start up service? Or would that be against some rule? Or is it going to make it so that it is more hassle than just paying out the $135 extra At Charter? Advice, please.

 

[prairie_girl]

It depends. I would assume since you are buying them through Verizon that they will be locked to Verizon, meaning Verizon service only. Your best bet would be to buy an unlocked iPhone somewhere.

 

[sam_gordon]

We want to buy new iPhones. We are also planning on changing our service to Charter. We are with Verizon right now. To buy the phones through Apple or Charter they are going to be $30 more per phone than buying through Verizon. We also have $75 in device dollars that we will lose when leaving Verizon. Question: Can we buy the phones through Verizon to save the money ($60 + $75 device dollars)) on the two phones and then go directly to Charter to start up service? Or would that be against some rule? Or is it going to make it so that it is more hassle than just paying out the $135 extra At Charter? Advice, please.

As PP said, phones can be "locked" to a certain carrier, and they can't be used elsewhere. An "unlocked" phone can be used on any carrier. A couple things to think about...
1) If you purchase from Verizon, are you locked into a 2 year contract? If so, that extra $105 you "lose" by going elsewhere only costs you $8.75/month.
2) What is Charter's signal like in the your area (where you'd use your phone)? Have you talked to others who have cell phone service through Charter? What if you leave your area?

 

[thinkerbell]

Charter uses Verizon towers. Would that mean that it would be unlocked for Charter too or since they are different companies it would still be locked?

 

[Weedy]

We’re with Verizon and just bought new phones and are not locked into a contract
The days of phone contacts are long gone

 

[Weedy]

Double post

 

[sam_gordon]

We’re with Verizon and just bought new phones and are not locked into a contract
The days of phone contacts are long gone

Did you buy it outright, or on a payment plan?

 

[starry_solo]

purchase the phones directly from the manufacturer...In this case APPLE.

 

[kdonnel]

iPhones sold by Verizon are sold SIM unlocked. If you can get a better price from Verizon that does not lock you into a payment plan there should not be an issue.

All iPhones sold by Apple are sold SIM unlocked, except for the at&t branded iPhone. That one is the only one sold SIM locked. At Apple the only difference between the T-Mobile, Verizon, and SIM free phone is the SIM that is either included or the fact that one is not included.

iPhones sold by T-Mobile come SIM locked but can be unlocked once paid off. iPhones sold by at&t come SIM locked but can be unlocked once paid off.

For the iPhone 12 (regular/pro/max/mini)there is only one model sold for all carriers in the US so if you could get ahold of a SIM unlocked at&t phone, even it would work since it is exactly the same phone as sold by T-Mobile and Verizon.

Much simpler then years past where there were Verizon specific iPhones and everyone else iPhones. Then you had to know which technology the MVNO you were switching to used. Also made it difficult to jump from carrier to carrier. Now as long as your iPhone 12 is yours you can jump from Verizon to at&t to T-Mobile to Charter to Cricket to Boost to etc because the iPhone 12 will be compatible.

 

[fly girl]

I know this isn't your question, but I found a good deal if you currently have a iphone8 or newer that is in good condition. AT&T is having a $700 trade in offer. But you have to be with AT&T. Sounds like you want a different company, and I get that completely.

But for anyone who has AT&T and thinking of upgrading, look into the $700 trade in deal. I also bought dd her first phone for Christmas (iPhone 11) and it was only $5 a month. Online it still shows $10 without trade, but in store they gave me $5. I'll take it! My local store worked with me and finagled some extra deals (and additional $30 off per month for auto pay) so I am not spending much more than I already did with the 2 lines for dh and myself.

 

[spiders]

We’re with Verizon and just bought new phones and are not locked into a contract
The days of phone contacts are long gone

That isn’t entirely true. Yes, in theory - you’re not in a contract. But many keep offering fantastic incentives to trade in. AT&T gave me $800 this year to trade in my iPhone XS and even have my wife $800 for a S9. The catch is that you get the trade in credits over a period of 30 months. So, if we cancel right now then we basically have them our phones for $60 since we just upgraded to 12’s in October.

Verizon, at the time, was offering $450-500 to switch.

 

[firefly_ris]

I'm looking for an iPhone for my mother. It shouldn't be the latest version. What is the best place to look for it?

I buy my phones renewed/refurbished on Amazon.

 

[fla4fun]

I'm looking for an iPhone for my mother. It shouldn't be the latest version. What is the best place to look for it?

You can look at the refurbished phones on Apple’s website. They are as good as new, and you can even get Apple Care if you want to. The availability changes from day to day, so if you see what you want buy it quick. If you don’t see what you want, keep checking back.

If you want a more basic iPhone, consider the SE. It is the cheapest iPhone and costs less new than many refurbished iPhones.

 

[StageTek]

Are you happy with the used phones?

I have always been happy with used/refurbished phones.