Pick the phone up directly from the manufacturer (Apple in this case), you won't have a contract with your cell provider for the phone; you will just own the phone outright.
this post was submitted on 10 Sep 2025
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Thank you! This will be the first Apple product I've bought and I've never gone to an Apple store, I wasn't sure if they'd have the same policy in store.
Apple hasn’t required carrier contract in a long time.
You can buy an unlocked phone online or in the store. Just buy directly from Apple. Some third party retailers only sell carrier locked phones.
You're right, I checked again and it was the financing option that forces me to lock in a carrier. Thanks!
I had an iPhone 3, then went android until I got an iPhone 14 two years ago. I drove the 85 miles to one so I could hold it in my hand and see which version I wanted. For me the drive was well worth IT and keeps e from thinking what if that other model would have fit better.
You just can't beat shop experience. You go there, all excited, look around the store, look at the phones, choose yours, discuss with the experts there, get it in a back, go home all excited. It's just better than online
Having been an Android guy for so long I was worried about going into the shop and being surrounded by smug Apple users, but it really was pleasant.
So a bad time to start chanting “One Of Us! One Of Us”, eh? ;)
All of the Android koolaid is out of my system now, I am fully immersed in the Apple ecosystem.
FYI if you don’t activate the phone immediately at the store (or online) they charge an extra $30 fee.
That's scummy. I appreciate the heads up, I hadn't read that anywhere!
Yeah they call it a “carrier discount” but it’s really just a fee:
I use the Apple Credit card and finance through Apple. The benefit is that I can pay as I go (and it’s 0% interest on Apple products) and the phone is effectively unlocked for any carrier you want.
I just went through the “get ready” process on the Apple Store app, and it allows for picking a carrier-free option.
Yep, I had selected the financing option which forces a carrier but selecting Buy lets you pick a carrier later. I edited my post, thanks
Going from my experience two years ago
- I thought iPhones have never been locked - that’s one of the ways they made a splash when new
- if you buy from your phone company you will be on contract
- iPhones don’t have sale prices but you may get a deal on financing (like phone company or a gift card (like Costco). I prefer being free and clear
- from Apple you can choose carrier or no
- carrier cause a week delay for them to configure the eSIM
- eSIM means you can configure through your phone company website.
And from this year. Apparently Apple only lets you get one phone preconfigured. Between the delay and that limitation I just got both our phones unconfigured
…. And there’s a delay anyway.
You’ve been able to buy factory unlocked phones in most countries since the iPhone 4.
Just buy from directly from Apple, and in checkout, either buy outright, or finance through Apple. That’s the easiest way to avoid carrier BS.