Marketed as one of Apple’s most 'affordable flagship' devices, the iPhone Xr has lots going for it. But if you bought it through a network, it’s likely to be locked to that network.
A locked iPhone Xr is a pain because it means missing out on cheaper deals. But it isn’t a problem. There’s a quick solution. Unlock your phone using your phone’s IMEI number.
If you own an iPhone Xr, you may or may not be aware that there are actually four Xr iPhone models of the phone. Two of the models are designed for the Asian market. One is designed for the North American market. The other is designed for the global market. Why does that matter here? Well, depending on the model you have will determine your choice of different network, once the phone is unlocked.
More information found on the Apple.com website.
This is the most popular and common model. Sold in the US and Canada direct to customers in Apple stores and via third-party networks, it works on 4G LTE, GSM and CDMA frequency bands. And, as such, is compatible with most North American networks, and prepaid MVNO and global networks if it’s unlocked. These include (among others):
The global version of the iPhone Xr device, this model only supports GSM networks.
These models are unique to the Asian markets and not designed to work fully with British networks such as EE and o2.
Check out our latest online service: iPhone is disabled how to unlock it
Phones, particularly the latest model iPhones such as the iPhone Xr, are notoriously expensive to buy outright. This is why most people enter into pre-payment contracts which build the cost of the phone into 24 or 48 more manageable monthly payments. These subsidized phones are usually locked at least until the contract term has been reached.
There is, of course, the option to buy a device directly and in full from a manufacturer such as Apple. Or through a third-party retailer such as Amazon. With the physical device paid for at the point of purchase, most of these devices come unlocked.
It’s hard to tell if a used phone is locked or unlocked when you buy it. Some will be. Some won’t. You can ask the seller before you commit. But until you insert your new SIM card you still won’t know for sure.
For this reason, it’s a good idea to run a network check before you buy. Using Mobile Unlocked you just need your IMEI and we’ll find out in seconds. And send you a full report via email.