this post was submitted on 21 Oct 2024
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What do I need to watch out for when buying an unlocked phone on the used market? (lemmy.ml)
submitted 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) by yo_scottie_oh@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml
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I want my next phone to be "unlocked" so I can use it w/ any carrier - Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, Mint, etc. I'm based in the US, but if I travel internationally, it would be nice to be able to just pop in a local SIM card and continue using my phone like normal.

What gives me pause is, I see used phones listed as "US Version," and reviewers claiming the phone was not unlocked (for example, this Pixel 7a on Amazon).

Questions:

  1. What am I missing here? Do these reviewers just not know what they're doing, or are they buying from shady resellers?
  2. Does "US Version" imply I would not be able to use the phone internationally by just popping in a local SIM card?

Thank you!

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[–] poweruser@lemmy.sdf.org 14 points 3 weeks ago (8 children)

Stay away from any that are the "Verizon version"

Verizon deliberately conflates the term unlocked to mean not locked to a carrier (can use a non-Verizon SIM) instead of the bootloader being unlocked (can install a custom OS ROM such as GrapheneOS or LineageOS).

Their "unlocked" phones are all locked, so if you want a new OS that doesn't have their closed-source spyware then F you for buying the Verizon version

[–] yo_scottie_oh@lemmy.ml 10 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (5 children)

I wanna run GrapheneOS, so thanks for the heads up.

Based on reviews, the listing in my OP looks like a mixed bag—some reviewers complaining that the boot loader is locked (hence they cannot flash a custom ROM onto it), others complaining that it’s unlocked (hence a security risk)—so if I get this phone, I guess it’s up to chance whether the bootloader is locked or not. 🤞🏻

[–] poweruser@lemmy.sdf.org 2 points 3 weeks ago

The specific variant is usually listed by the seller. On Amazon if you're buying it used I believe it would be listed near the condition information from the specific merchant.

You may also be able to message them to ask. The model number is printed on the outside of the original box, and is also available in the About Phone settings page, so it should be easy for the seller to find it.

The model number to avoid is G0DZQ.

GWKK I think is the ideal version, especially if you're traveling overseas. This is the global version so it should have the most radio bands available.

GWKK3 (AT&T version) should work great in the US on a non-Verizon network.

I have the G82U8 version, which apparently was originally for the Japanese market, but it works great for me in the US. I'm using Mint Mobile with GrapheneOS.

(Source https://www.phonemore.com/models/google/pixel-7a/)

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