Last Updated on June 30, 2025 by Christine Kaaloa

Unless you have a great data plan that offers bargain basement roaming fees for when you travel, many travelers prefer using unlocked phones. Unlocked phones allow you to swap out your SIM card for a local one, giving you access to affordable data and calling plans in the country you’re visiting. This can be a huge money-saver, especially compared to the often steep roaming charges from your home carrier.

If you’re considering buying an unlocked phone for your next adventure, you’re in the right place. In this guide, I’ll walk you through everything you need to know about purchasing an unlocked iPhone, from understanding what “unlocked” means to choosing the best model for your needs and making sure it works smoothly abroad.

This post contains affiliate links that help me share this information for Free. I never leave home without travel insurance- I like to buy insurance that covers theft and adventure but here’s a trip insurance finder tool  to find a plan that matches your budget. 

How do you know if you have an unlocked iPhone?

Unlocked means that your phone is not tethered to a service provider, but is capable of using any service provider.  Investing in an “unlocked” phone opens you to freedom and flexibility of using SIM cards in other countries. I’ll walk through how to know if you have an unlocked phone and different ways to buy an unlocked phone from factory unlocked, refurbished, gray market and jail-breaking. I’m using my unlocked iPhone 13 ProMax as an example.

Typically, an unlocked iPhone has to be bought from Apple, however, there are exceptions, which I will talk about.

If you bought it through your a service provider like Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile and you got a deal that made it cheaper than buying it from an Apple store at retail cost, then it’s Locked.  You got the discounted price due to the contract between Apple and your service provider. Your phone can be unlocked after a period of time of usage that is determined by your service provider, so you have to check with them.

How to Buy an Unlocked iPhone for Travel

Locked to Unlocked

Some service providers have contracts with Apple to sell an iPhone at a discounted or free rate to existing customers. This is called a locked phone, as it is locked to the contract of the service provider. This means your phone cannot be used by another carrier in your country or abroad. The good news is that after a designated contracted time, you can request your carrier to unlock your phone. Only then can you use your iPhone with other carriers abroad.

Factory Unlocked

Knowing I love to travel internationally and will buy a local SIM to stay connected I always buy a factory Unlocked iPhone.  Any mobile phones tethered to Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, or any other carrier is going to be cheaper than a factory Unlocked iPhone but you are tethered to that phone’s service provider’s contract.  You cannot use those phones abroad unless you pay your phone service provider a service fee for international usage and roaming costs. This is the most costly option, but offers great peace of mind.

Check out the travel vlogging gear I pack

Refurbished

Buying a refurbished unlocked iPhone can be a smart money-saving option, but it’s crucial to choose wisely. These phones were previously used, returned to the manufacturer, and restored to like-new condition. However, the original reason for return may still linger in some cases.

While I regularly purchase refurbished electronics – laptops and cameras too- to save a chunk of dollars. The key is to buy them directly from the manufacturer or a reputable dealer that can offer refunds and strong warranties.

Refurbished Apple Products: Apple’s website it has an official Refurbished page  I like to visit, where laptops to phones are discounted because they are directly refurbished through Apple. The reason it is ideal to get your refurbished phone directly from Apple is that Apple allows you to buy an Apple Care warranty, promising to fix your phone if there are damages. In some cases, they’ve even swapped my phone out for a new one, because they did not have the part my phone required. This goes for laptops too.

Recently, my MacbookAir battery went bad and that battery was discontinued, due to the fact it was an old model. So Apple sent me the next generation of MacBook Air – just a beat above my model- from their refurbished department as an equal replacement. I was then offered the Apple Care warranty upon that. Yowzers!

Amazon Renewed: These days, Amazon has Amazon Renewed Premium guarantee that you can “return the product within 90 days of receipt of your original purchase (or within 1 year of receipt of a Renewed Premium product) for a full refund or a replacement”

My experience with manufacturer-refurbished items has been mixed. Some refurbished products were flawless, like new. Others developed problems later– I experienced this with Canon trying to buy a upgraded and now discontinued vlog camera – the G7X Mark III . Buying them manufacturer direct was my saving grace. In many cases, with my other Canon G7X cameras, when I’d send it in for service, they’d switch out my gadget without question and provide me with a newly refurbished replacement. Each time, I’d get a near-new device and its box accessories (I have a lot of extra Canon batteries, cables and chargers from this, so I won’t complain!). It’s important to test it thoroughly after you receive it, but this is the warranty you get from the manufacturer.

Consider a refurbished iPhone from the manufacturer or a trusted dealer for substantial savings with the assurance of quality and warranty. Just be vigilant during the initial testing period and enjoy your tech-savvy purchase!

Other reputable dealers are Back Market and Swappa, although I haven’t used them.

Download my free Camera Buying Guide.

Gray Market

Also tempting budget consumers, gray market phones can be a gamble. These devices, legally imported from countries like Japan, Hong Kong, or Korea, may offer enticing price tags. It’s not a bad deal!

However, be aware that they’re not covered by warranties from your home country’s manufacturer. Think Apple Korea vs. Apple USA – different factories, different parts and servicing rules. While some phones might function flawlessly, repairs or replacements could mean sending them back to their country of origin, leaving you without a phone in the meantime. Plus, compatibility issues with local networks might arise. I bought gray market tech before, like my wide angle travel lens in Thailand (great deal!), a Canon camera from a fellow expat when I was teaching English in Korea.

In short, gray market phones are not illegal, but their potential downsides demand consideration if you want to fix it back home.

Avoid Jail-breaking

In the past, to get an unlocked phone, many people resorted to jail-breaking their phone, by taking it to some shady service to unlock their phone using shady hacks. Sometimes those hacks worked temporarily; other times, not. It’s a risk. Jailbreaking opens you to security vulnerabilities, app incompatibility, and unreliable unlocks. Avoid the jail-break.

Buy it Used

These days, you can easily find folks wanting to sell their iPhone on places like Facebook Marketplace.  That’s actually how I bought my iPhone 13 ProMax (1GB).  It led me to a local resale vendor here in Hawaii TCA Wireless, who buy and sell all sorts of used phones, but also do affordable servicing on them which is awesome, because I obviously don’t have an Apple Service warranty!  I almost always try to get a warranty of some sort if possible to minimize my servicing costs. In this case I was prepared to go renegade if need be cause Apple Refurbished did not have a model.

Buying Used from an owner or vendor comes with responsibility of doing your due diligence first!

Here’s a checklist for buying a used iPhone

1. Make sure it’s unlocked

2. Confirm battery health

These days more owners will take a snapshot of this when they sell their iPhone cause it’s important. Apple batteries require replacement much sooner and the cost with Apple Service Warranty is $89. But it can be higher outside of that.

3. Check IMEI and activation lock

4. Verify camera and screen

5. Make sure it’s not refurbished by 3rd party (unless trusted)

A refurbished device from Apple or trusted vendors (like Back Market, Swappa , Amazon Renewed Premium) is generally fine. Avoid unofficial repairs or unverified refurbishing sources.

6. Storage matters

7. Physical condition

8. Buy from a seller with return/warranty policy

You may not always get this, but prioritize vendors who offer:

9. If buying from an owner

Make sure they have disconnected their iPhone from their Apple account or you’ll get an annoying popup box about Transferring your Account.  I’m dealing with that right now as apparently my vendor did not check that aspect, but your Apple account can store a record of all your devices. The owner has to update that..

How to Stay Connected Abroad with your New Unlocked Phone

Global wifi

If you have many friends or devices tethering from your hotspot, then Skyroam global wifi hotspot is beneficial to get (get 10% off using my referral code: GRRRLTRAVELER). You can take your internet connection anywhere.

Extra mobile travel accessories to have:

Universal travel adapter

Forget buying individual adapters for each country. A more convenient investment is to get a universal travel and USB adapter.

What are your ways to get internet when traveling abroad? How do you Stay Connected while Traveling?