What is the difference between unlocked and prepaid

The locked phone may reject a SIM from a foreign network. And you can get a dumb phone and use it with a prepaid plan, or get a smartphone and use it with a prepaid plan. Brand new unlocked, no contract phones are pretty pricey, so I am happy with a used hand me down.

Have done it now with iPhone 3G and 4 models. I guess it depends on what you call pricey. Hmmm, had not considered that prepaid phones would also be locked. It sounds like my safest bet is to get an unlocked phone. I love the idea of finding someone about to upgrade their phone and purchasing it.

The short answer is software. Phones tied to a specific carrier are locked by carrier software. An unlocked phone doesn't have that software. But don't fret, the Unlocking Consumer Choice and Wireless Competition Act lets you unlock your carrier phone once you've paid for it fully and finished any contracts or agreements. An unlocked phone is a phone that is not tied to any specific carrier, while a universal phone is not tied to any specific network. A universal phone can be used on any of those networks.

For years, unlocked phones were almost exclusively GSM. When in doubt, always check with the phone manufacturer or your carrier for compatibility. It actually costs the same. Obviously, this doesn't include sales or promotions. You can buy an iPhone X from Apple or from any major carrier and the base price is exactly the same. Some brands, like Moto and Huawei, sell phones only from their websites or through retailers like Best Buy and Amazon.

If you want to buy it directly from a carrier, you have one choice: Verizon. The big advantage here is that buying an unlocked model from a phone maker gives you access to a larger variety of phone models compared with the smaller selection of handsets that carriers typically offer. Yes and no. For example, if you buy a Google Pixel directly from Google, it's unlocked and can be used on any major carrier simply by putting a SIM card in it.

Many people prefer to finance a new phone instead of paying full price for it upfront. Phone makers and phone carriers offer promotional credit plans to cover the price of your phone. Popular Articles Quad what and octa who? A quick guide to processor lingo. Android Lollipop: Our favorite features. Top 10 battery tips for your smartphone or tablet.

What are the pros and cons of unlocked phones? What are the benefits of a contract phone? How do you decide between an unlocked phone and a contract phone? This content is provided for information purposes only. All information included herein is subject to change without notice.

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