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Comment by electricslpnsld | Hacker News Reader

> iPhones are generally sold through carriers

This used to be true but it doesn't save you money now to buy an iPhone attached to a carrier plan. Apple will even sell you a carrier-free iPhone [1]. I would love an Apple SIM for travel to Canada, etc.

[1] https://www.apple.com/shop/buy-iphone/iphone-x#00

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For the last 3-4 years I’ve found it far cheaper to walk into a Virgin Mobile store in Canada to grab a pre-paid SIM than using the Apple SIM in my iPad. I worry more about Apple removing the SIM slot leaving me with less choices.

Can you pay for an unlocked iPhone in installments? I'm not prepared to throw down the price upfront honestly.

technically yes, because verizon got sued into being required to sell unlocked phones.

Device locking was prohibited by the FCC for Block C (700 MHz):

> (e)Handset locking prohibited. No licensee may disable features on handsets it provides to customers, to the extent such features are compliant with the licensee's standards pursuant to paragraph (b)of this section, nor configure handsets it provides to prohibit use of such handsets on other providers' networks.

https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/47/27.16

Yes, you can buy an unlocked Phone from Apple and use the financing available on their website.

Not sure about the US, but here in Canada, all phones come unlocked by law [1]. iPhones sold through carriers still come with 2-year contracts and installments, similar to how they were before the unlocking regulation went into effect.

[1] https://crtc.gc.ca/eng/phone/mobile/code.htm

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