Post #1301896

2026-01-21 14:23 UTC

> Make sure it’s carrier unlocked, but yeah. I'm all for buying my own phones and not getting one bundled with service. However, many times getting a carrier unlocked phone carries a price premium. As long as you're fine sticking with your current carrier, they can even be carrier locked and work just fine. I agree though, ownership of your phone outside of your carrier's billing is the right way to go.

Replies (2)

@Zikeji@programming.dev 2026-01-21 14:39

Well, I wouldn't call it's premium. Unlocked is closer to MSRP, whereas carrier locked is being subsidized by the carrier and whatever requirements they have in place. You'll usually end up paying more in the long run then if you went with unlocked and a MVNO.

Open ##1301902
@astronaut_sloth@mander.xyz 2026-01-21 14:39

> However, many times getting a carrier unlocked phone carries a price premium. That's a good point. I've started advocating for buying phones lightly used (1-2 generations behind). Until just a couple of months ago, I was rocking a phone from 2019 with no issues. When I upgraded recently, I bought a Pixel 9 from a reseller selling one with an open box and a slight scuff on the bezel (that gets covered by a case anyway). Now I have an almost new phone that works like a dream for almost 75% of what I would get buying it directly from Google.

Open ##1301907