You have (or want) an iPhone, and you desire to spend less money... but how?PrefaceBefore we start, as for iPhones in general... if you're thinking about (re)investing in one for whatever reason,
read this post. If you
still insist on or can justify using
one of the most expensive and least mustachian smartphones on the market instead of saving some money or selling the thing, let's get started!
AT&T iPhone 3G/3GS/4/4S modelsIf your AT&T iPhone 3G/3GS/4/4S has
not been carrier unlocked (easy to find out - if you put in any SIM card other than an AT&T one and there's no
Settings > General > Network > Cellular Data Network setting or you receive an error message, it's carrier locked), you'll need to do that. Fortunately, it's relatively cheap and easy to unlock if need be. AT&T will carrier unlock for free on request with active customers if the phone is over two years old or the ETF has been paid, but the unlocking service is also available through Ebay for around $4-5. If you do pay someone through Ebay, use common sense when selecting someone offering the service, and keep in mind that
this is still very legal to do just so long as the phone in question was clearly purchased before the end of January 2013 due to changes in DMCA law. These phones may have data speed issues on T-Mobile MVNOs in most markets due to lack of AWS 1700/2100MHz band support, but more on that under Carrier Options.
If you're looking to
buy an iPhone and don't have one yet,
re-read this post. If you're
still convinced you want to buy one, these are the models that you'll likely want to get either used or refurbished, excluding the 3G model due to its full end of life status and lack of iOS updates in nearly three years. The 3GS is technically end of life as well, but is still receiving iOS feature and security updates from Apple for the time being. You can usually find refurbished 3GS models with new batteries and a short refurb warranty for under $200 without working too hard looking on Ebay and Amazon, and used through Ebay or Craigslist for this model will be cheaper still. Just be sure to look for it being carrier unlocked (saves you a step) and having a clean IMEI (no outstanding ETF or listed stolen with AT&T). The prices just go up from that point, the newer the model.
You can technically buy any currently available iPhone 4/4S/5 from Apple directly brand new, outright and factory carrier unlocked, but prices
start at $450, and $450 can buy
four new carrier unlocked pentaband Nokia Asha 311 phones. Just something to keep in mind.
Sprint & Verizon iPhone 4/4S modelsIf you're dealing with a Verizon or Sprint iPhone 4/4S model, you're SOL as Verizon and Sprint are CDMA carriers, aren't compatible with
any AT&T or T-Mobile's GSM networks and their related MVNOs, and the only Verizon MVNO being
Page Plus doesn't
officially support the iPhone, and the same can be said for the Sprint iPhones and the related Sprint MVNOs
Ting and
EcoMobile. If you
do have a Verizon model, talk with
TheDude. He can give you advice to make it happen with Verizon 4/4S models with Page Plus
only if you feel comfortable with the risks involved, but understand that
you'll be in breach of contract with Page Plus doing so and
could get service yanked without warning.
If you insist on using an iPhone on the CDMA end, and specifically on a Sprint MVNO, you can buy iPhones through
Virgin Mobile.
Although the 4S models have GSM network chipsets and SIM slots, both Sprint and Verizon have carrier locked these phones to only use the European/Asian 900/1800MHz GSM bands, and carrier unlocking from them will only let you use the phone abroad. There
might be ways around this to use North American GSM SIM cards, but it involves doing
very technical things. You're on your own.
If you're stuck with one of these CDMA iPhone models and you insist on both continuing to use an iPhone and want a cheaper GSM MVNO plan, then you're just going to have to sell and re-invest in one of the AT&T 3GS/4/4S models listed above. Before selling your phone, wipe everything by doing a
factory reset. Do NOT sell your handset back to Apple for store credit, it's store credit and not cash, and you'll get even less than the cash many "we buy your phone" outfits you see advertising on late night TV will pay out for the same hardware. Better still? If its in good shape and the ESN is clean (ETF fees paid if any), sell it yourself on Craigslist or Ebay.
AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile & Verizon iPhone 5 modelsFirst, we'll start with
Verizon model of the iPhone 5: this phone cannot be sneaked onto the Page Plus network like the 4/4S models due to the presence of the LTE network chipset. However, due to LTE bandwidth agreement deals between Verizon and the FTC,
GSM support is fully unlocked for global GSM 850/900/1800/1900 frequencies from the manufacturer. This means that you can choose
any GSM MVNO you like for service with the phone
without doing anything but paying off your ETF if you have one and trying to cut down your SIM card to the 4FF nano-SIM size without damaging it. This model phone will also have the same data speed issues on T-Mobile MVNOs as the AT&T 3G/3GS/4/4S models due to lack of AWS 1700/2100MHz band support.
Next, we'll address the
AT&T models: the earlier revisions of this model (A1428) appear to still have the same data speed issues on T-Mobile MVNOs as the AT&T 3G/3GS/4/4S models mentioned above due to lack of AWS 1700/2100MHz band support, and it cannot be corrected through firmware updates. More current models from AT&T
might have full T-Mobile AWS support,
if serial numbers end with the right four digits. You'll still need to get it carrier unlocked from AT&T first before proceeding if it isn't already before you can hack down an MVNO SIM card and take it elsewhere. Hooray for ETF fees and contracts!
Third up, we'll address the
T-Mobile model: this one's going to support whatever cut down SIM card you can throw at it
after you pay the phone off with T-Mobile to ensure they don't blacklist your IMEI internally and with AT&T, and not have any quirky data speed restriction issues with other T-Mobile MVNOs. Until then, you may
think you don't have a contract on your phone service,
but you do anyway. ETF by any other name...
Finally, we'll address the
Sprint iPhone 5: sorry chum, you're stuck where you are with the same problems as the Sprint 4/4S models. That said, you might be able to pay off your ETF and switch plans over to Sprint's new
As You Go service, which has a
marginally less terrible $70/month smartphone plan which may or may not be cheaper than what you're already paying. Otherwise, you're going to need to do the same thing as the advice given for the CDMA 4/4S models above if you want to keep using an iPhone but want to switch to a cheaper MVNO plan.
GSM MVNO Carrier OptionsFor your GSM carrier unlocked iPhone 3G/3GS/4/4S/5 model handsets, in addition to
Airvoice Wireless being an option on the AT&T GSM network end, there's also
Platinumtel and
GoSmart Mobile on the T-Mobile GSM network to consider (those are the three best GSM carriers for
most people's needs - both price and support). However, you'll be limited to EDGE/2G data speeds on any T-Mobile MVNO in most cities for the
immediate future with your iPhone due to GSM data network band incompatibilities between AT&T and T-Mobile's GSM networks, specifically due to the lack of AWS 1700/2100MHz band support (excluding the T-Mobile iPhone 5). That said, EDGE/2G speeds are still plenty fast for text, e-mail and leisurely web surfing and this network incompatibility is changing. Also, don't forget about WiFi hotspots and
FreedomPop or
NetZero if you're inclined. In addition to all the linked providers, there's a plethora of other GSM MVNOs on both the AT&T and T-Mobile network like
Consumer Cellular,
H2O Wireless,
PureTalk USA,
Red Pocket, and
Walmart Family Mobile. Research if none of the linked providers suit your needs, and if data speeds are
that important to you through your primary carrier everywhere you go (including more rural areas), stick with an AT&T MVNO (Airvoice, Consumer Cellular, H2O, PureTalk, Red Pocket,
etc.).
As Airvoice is an AT&T MVNO (and this applies to
any AT&T MVNO), the unlocking step can be done
after activating with them if need be as the SIM card will still work in AT&T locked phones for calls and basic SMS messaging, just not for
data. You're not so lucky with T-Mobile MVNOs, however, as you will need the iPhone carrier unlocked first before
any form of use.
SetupIf the phone is a 3G/3GS model, the default 2FF mini-SIM from Airvoice/Platinumtel/GoSmart/etc. will fit in the phone without modification. If it's a 4/4S model, you'll need to hack the SIM down to 3FF micro-SIM size. If it's a 5 model, you'll need to hack down to the 4FF nano-SIM size. There's
plenty of instructions online for cutting yourself, or there's a thread here passing around a
SIM punch. You can also frequently find pre-cut micro-SIM and nano-SIM cards for the MVNO of your choice on Ebay. More on SIM card sizes
here.
As for
number porting and activation with your new MVNO carrier, the thing to remember is to
NOT just activate the SIM card,
but to fill out their number porting form instead (
Airvoice form -
Platinumtel form -
GoSmart instructions). It's pretty self-explanatory, and if you have troubles, call customer support for assistance. If you're not porting your number over, ignore this step and just activate the new account.
Once that's done, you're certain the phone is carrier unlocked, your number is ported, the SIM is active, and the phone is working... just follow the instructions on setting up data and MMS on the phone (
Airvoice instructions -
Platinumtel instructions -
GoSmart instructions).
Congratulations, you're now saving some money on service for your iconic consumerist moneypit!You can thank me
here.
Updated May 2, 2013 to flesh out purchasing and selling options for various models, and correct a couple details.Updated August 21, 2013 to reflect the data price reductions in recent AT&T MVNO providers.