Buyers who wanted to finance an iPhone through a carrier payment plan and still walk away with an unlocked device have lost that option. Apple updated its iPhone 17 selling FAQ this week, closing a loophole that Reddit users noticed on Wednesday.
The updated policy is direct. The newest version of Apple's answer to the question "Will my new iPhone be unlocked?" now states, "If you choose to finance an iPhone through the AT&T Installment Plan, T-Mobile Equipment Installment Plan or Verizon Device Payment Program, your iPhone will be locked to the carrier until paid in full."
Previously, buyers using the Verizon Device Payment Program or the T-Mobile Equipment Installment Plan could select an unlocked iPhone and use it with any carrier while making payments. That is no longer possible, according to CNET.
AT&T had already required phones to stay locked until financing was paid off. The new policy brings T-Mobile and Verizon customers under the same conditions. CNET Managing Editor of Mobile David Lumb noted that the change was not entirely unexpected. "Apple's move puts Verizon and T-Mobile customers under the same conditions as AT&T's," he said. "Most carrier subscribers won't notice a difference, as they likely would've stuck with a carrier until they paid off their phone anyway -- but it is unfortunate to see customers locked in to their carriers more than they were before."
Apple did not respond to a request for comment.
There are still ways to get an unlocked iPhone. Buyers who purchase directly from Apple, including through Apple's own payment plans, will still receive an unlocked device. Third-party retailers may also sell unlocked models, though Lumb advises checking the details carefully to confirm the seller is not partnering with a specific carrier. The tradeoff is that buying outside of carrier financing means losing access to discounts and rebates that carriers typically offer when customers sign up for their payment plans.
The policy change applies to the iPhone 17 lineup. It affects buyers who want carrier financing and the flexibility to switch carriers before their phone is paid off.
