Last Updated on February 24, 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.
How do you know if you have an unlocked iPhone?
Table of Contents: How to Buy an Unlocked iPhone for Travel
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.
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 included- 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: Need a refurbished Apple laptop? Visit Apple’s website- it has a Refurbished page 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.
My Macbook Air battery was bad but that battery was discontinued due to the fact it was an old model. So Apple sent me the next generation of MacBook Air from their refurbished department. I was then offered the Apple Care warranty upon that.
Amazon Renewed: These days, Amazon has Amazon Renewed 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. Buying them manufacturer direct was my saving grace. In many cases, they’d switch out my gadget without question and provide me with a newly refurbished replacement, which means getting a near-new device and its accoutrements (I have a lot of extra batteries, cables and chargers from this) with manufacturer backing. It’s important to test it thoroughly after you receive it.
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!
Download my Solo Travel Mistakes Checklist and get travel survival tips to your Inbox
Gray Market
While tempting budget travelers, gray market phones can be a gamble. These devices, legally imported from countries like Japan, Hong Kong, or Korea, may offer enticing price tags. However, be aware that they’re not built or covered by warranties from your home country’s manufacturer. Think Apple Korea vs. Apple USA – different factories, different 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.
In short, gray market phones aren’t inherently illegal, but their potential downsides demand careful consideration. If budget is your biggest concern, weigh the savings against the risks. You might be better off investing in a phone with local warranty and support, ensuring peace of mind on your solo adventure.
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.
How to Stay Connected Abroad with your New Unlocked Phone
A Local SIM
Buying a local SIM card in the country you’re traveling to is a simple and cost-effective way to stay connected while traveling It typically provides much more affordable data, talk time, and text messaging compared to expensive international roaming charges. By using a local SIM, you’ll avoid the high fees your home carrier might impose for using their service abroad. Additionally, it gives you access to local networks, ensuring better coverage and faster data speeds, which is especially helpful for navigation, making local calls, or staying connected without the worry of running up a hefty bill.
An e-SIM
Avoid language barriers and the hassle of hunting for a shop that sells local SIM cards that can deactivate or which you need to top-off mid trip. Get an Airalo eSIM instead and activate it before or when I arrive in the destination. I can top-off from my mobile device app any time I like. There are single destination, regional and global e-SIMs to match your type of journey. Your mobile phone must use e-SIMs
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 accessories to have:
Multi-plug Surge protector
A multi-plug surge protectorshould be part of your travel kit if you carry a bit more than a mobile phone and camera. Great for hostels and hotels, it helps save money and time when you either, don’t want to carry many adapters or forget where you placed things for charging.
Power spikes happen however, it’s only really happened to me during an electrical storm, when it fried my MAC laptop battery. The wattage goes up to 220v. In the U.S., electrical devices take 110v, but many are equipped to handle up to 220v. Still, if you feel your battery heating up or your laptop vibrate when you touch it, it’s due to this extra voltage it’ll be getting.
Universal travel adapter
Forget buying individual adapters for each country. A more convenient investment is to get a universal travel and USB adapter.
