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What do I need to watch out for when buying an unlocked phone on the used market? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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:

What am I missing here? Do these reviewers just not know what they're doing, or are they buying from shady resellers?
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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[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 month ago (5 children)

The US is fucking weird. I'd honestly suggest you just buy a ready-out-of-box phone from the EU. EU laws make the device a whole lot more functional than what you'll get in the US.

If you travel to the EU it's easiest just to buy it in person over here - there are plenty of retailers that'll just sell you a new phone in box same day.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (4 children)

Gotcha, and then is the protocol to just sell it back at the end of the trip?

[–] PetteriPano 2 points 1 month ago (1 children)

Plenty of options for dual SIM phones here, too.

Which makes it even more convenient to just pop in a local SIM while traveling.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

I had not considered that. Thanks for the tip.

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