They changed it again.
Apple quietly tweaked the fine print for iPhone 17. The trick used by savvy buyers? It’s gone. Reddit users spotted it Wednesday, pointing out that you could previously select an unlocked device even if you were paying for it through T-Mobile’s Equipment Installment Plan or Verizon’s Device Payment Program.
Now? The path is blocked.
The new FAQ text leaves no room for interpretation: “If you choose to finance an iPhone… your iPhone will be locked to the载体 until paid in full.”
It’s not just AT&T anymore.
Apple’s move puts Verizon and T-M customers under the same conditions as before, David Lumb writes. Unfortunate to see customers locked in more than they were.
Is this a surprise? Hardly. Lumb, CNET’s Managing Editor of Mobile, calls it predictable. Most people wouldn’t jump ships halfway through a payment plan anyway, sure. But freedom is freedom, and Apple just tightened the leash.
Apple hasn’t commented.
Not dead, just expensive
Want an unlocked phone? You still can. The ban only applies to that specific financing route tied to carrier subsidies.
Buying direct from Apple keeps the phone unlocked from day one. Same for Apple’s own AppleCard payments. The catch? You might miss out on the carrier rebates. Those discounts exist for a reason.
Third-party retailers offer another way. Models there usually start unlocked. Check the small print though, because sometimes even these guys have side-deals with specific carriers.
There is a trade-off here, isn’t there?
Freedom costs extra. The locked phone costs less upfront. Pick your poison.
Or wait until the balance hits zero. The clock keeps ticking.
