Many retailers will never tell you the differences between carrier locks in iPhones. However, if you're a novice, all you can notice is that one is cheaper than the other. The fact is that Apple produces iPhones in three (3) variations; "Chip Unlocked iPhone," "Factory Unlocked iPhone," and "World Unlocked iPhone."
These three categories of iPhone have different functions, prices and features. In this article, we are going to walk you through everything you need to know about "Carrier Locks" in iPhone, especially the "Chip Unlocked Meanings."
Chip Unlocked iPhone Meaning
"Chip Unlocked iPhone" or "Chip Locked iPhone" means the iPhone has been locked to a particular carrier in the United Kingdom (U.K.) or United States (U.S). Carrier companies including AT&T, Verizon, Boost Mobile, T-Mobile and Mint Mobile often lock their network to smartphones as part of a contractual agreement.
However, if an iPhone or any other phone brands like Samsung is locked to a network carrier in the U.S., U.K., or Canada, the phone will not be compactible with any other SIM card within the country or outside the country.
Meanwhile, the only legal way to use a "Chip Locked iPhone" outside the country which it's locked is when the network carrier company is currently operating/working in your country. If they're not working, then you can pay some technical know how expert that can convert it to "Factory Unlocked iPhone," but you should note that some network carriers are really pricey to unlock (you might end up spending amount that worth a new iPhone).
In essence, I strongly recommend not to buy a "Chip Locked" or "Chip Unlocked" iPhone. The reason is that: before, chip unlocked iPhone were good and you can easily unlock it through method called "Manual Chip Unlock." But since Apple has updated its iOS to iOS 13, and the previous way to unlock Chip Locked iPhone has been obsoleted.
Disadvantages of Chip Unlocked iPhone
Aside the fact that a Chip Unlocked iPhone does not support another SIM card in both in and out of the operating country, it also has a debt which is expected of you to pay. Many Chip Locked iPhones are purchased on a contract of Buy Now Pay Later. Hence, the network provider will decide to lock its carrier on the phone pending the time you repay your mobile loan.
However, some network providers will offer these phones at a cheaper price. In return, they want you to continue using their network carrier, so your phone is locked to their carrier. In some cases, some network providers may allows you to pay a certain fees to fully unlock the device and become compactible with other SIM, while others will never allows you to unlock the phone.
In addition to the disadvantages of iPhones that are locked to a certain carrier, they're blacklisted which means the IMEI is dented and you will have to pass through some sort of grace to get software to clean the IMEI or bypass it. In most cases, they are generally tag BAD ESN/Financed.
Is Chip Unlocked iPhone Good?
Yes, Chip Locked iPhones are in good condition and are working perfectly. The only different between The Chip Unlocked iPhone and Factory Unlocked iPhone or World Unlocked iPhone is that it allows you to use any SIM card any-day, anytime and anywhere.
However, the price difference are also clear. A Chip Unlocked iPhone is 30% cheaper than a Factory Unlocked iPhone. At the time this article was published, a Chip Unlocked iPhone 13 Pro Max cost $667 (approximately N933,800), while its Factory Unlocked cost $950 (approximately N1,330,00).
How to Unlock Chip-locked iPhone
You unlock a Chip Locked iPhone simply by contacting the phone network carrier customer care. They will tell you the requirements for unlocking. If the contract stated that the device cannot be unlocked, then you have to stick to the using of their network.
Furthermore, you can also unlock a Chip Locked iPhone using a method called R-SIM, popularly known in Nigeria as " Manual Chip Unlock". However, this method only work on iOS 12 and below. If your iPhone is currently running on iOS 13 and latest, I'm afraid that you will not be able to unlock it manually.
Final words
While unlocking a "Chip-locked iPhones" might seem like a quick way to use any network, but hold on! These "hacks" use extra chips that can be risky. They might mess with your phone's security, void your warranty, and even stop working with future updates.
While they're cheaper upfront, they can lead to more problems down the road. If you want network freedom, consider official unlocking methods or buy "Factory Unlocked iPhone" for a safer and smoother experience. Remember, sometimes cheap isn't the best choice!
FAQs
Can eSIM work on Chip Unlock iPhone?
No, eSIM typically won't work on a chip-unlocked iPhone. Here's why:
Chip unlocking and eSIM are two different things:
1. Chip unlocking is a method that bypasses the official carrier lock on an iPhone, often using an external chip to trick the phone into thinking it's compatible with other networks. However, it's not supported by Apple and can introduce security vulnerabilities and compatibility issues.
2. eSIM is a digital SIM card embedded directly into the phone, allowing you to easily add and switch cellular plans without needing a physical SIM card. However, it relies on software support from Apple and your carrier, which is often restricted on chip-unlocked iPhones.
Reasons why eSIM won't work:
1. Carrier restrictions: Official carrier unlocking removes the software lock that restricts eSIM functionality. Chip unlocking doesn't, so your carrier might not enable eSIM on a chip-unlocked phone.
2. Software limitations: Even if your carrier allows eSIM, the chip-unlocking process might interfere with the software needed for eSIM to work properly.
3. Security concerns: Apple and carriers prioritize security with eSIM, and they might not allow it on phones with unofficial modifications like chip unlocks.
In short: While chip unlocking might seem like a way to gain network flexibility, it often comes with trade-offs like limited eSIM functionality. If you want to use eSIM with your iPhone, choose an officially unlocked device for a more secure and reliable experience.
What is the meaning of Chip Unlocked iPhone?
Chip-unlocked iPhone is an iPhone that's been unlocked from a certain carrier lock.