You may have heard people talk about unlocked smartphones. An unlocked smartphone works on more than one service provider (such as Verizon, AT&T, Xfinity, or T-Mobile). There are some pros and cons to an unlocked phone. Here’s what you need to know before you buy one.
What is an unlocked phone? – Best Buy Tech Tips
Each carrier offers a limited number of (locked) phone models to use with their services. If you buy an unlocked phone elsewhere (for example, from a retailer or the phone manufacturer), the number of models you can use with your carrier expands.
However, if you use a phone that was not provided by the carrier, you may not be able to use all of the services that the carrier does offer.
Some carriers will unlock your phone, but usually only after certain conditions have been met, such as the phone being fully paid off. You can have this done if you want to sell your phone or switch carriers without having to buy a new one.
