I’m looking to buy a Pixel 7 Pro and found a local shop offering two options: brand new and “brand new, soft-unlocked.” I was told the soft-unlocked version is carrier-unlocked (likely from US carriers like Verizon) and will remain unlocked unless I factory reset it. If I do reset it, they said it’s a quick 5-minute fix to unlock again.

The price difference between the two is about $60. Does what they’re saying make sense, or should I be concerned about potential issues down the road?

  • SolidGrue@lemmy.worldEnglish
    7·
    2 months ago

    I buy all of my phones carrier-unlocked, and have never had a problem.

    Potential pitfalls are if the IMEI is blacklisted, which could happen if the phone is reported as stolen, or if the radio deck isn’t compatible with your carrier’s network.

    In the US, the AT&T and T-Mobile networks are pretty open, and you just need to pop in your SIM card. I don’t have experience with Verizon to know if you can bring your own device or not, but I imagine as long as the phone can work with Verizon then its probably just a matter of visiting a store to have it activated.

    • RightHandOfIkaros@lemmy.worldEnglish
      3·
      2 months ago

      I have Verizon, and you can absolutely give them your own device, you don’t have to buy from them. You just have to make sure the phone supports their proprietary network protocol, which is why Verizon usually has their own version of devices compatible with their network.