TastehWaffleZSep 10, 2025

Is it possible to buy the iPhone 17 without a contact?

https://lemmy.world/post/35719748

Is it possible to buy the iPhone 17 without a contract? - Lemmy.World

I despise being on a contract. I heard that the new iPhones are all going to have eSims so it should be easy to hang them unlocked but when I looked at the preorder it made me choose a carrier. I’d like to have Google Fi, does picking one of the carriers lock me into a contract?

Show threadBombOmOmSep 10, 2025
Pick the phone up directly from the manufacturer (Apple in this case), you won’t have a contract with your cell provider for the phone; you will just own the phone outright.
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Show threadTastehWaffleZSep 10, 2025
Thank you! This will be the first Apple product I’ve bought and I’ve never gone to an Apple store, I wasn’t sure if they’d have the same policy in store.
Show threadgraySep 10, 2025
FYI if you don’t activate the phone immediately at the store (or online) they charge an extra $30 fee.
Show threadTastehWaffleZSep 10, 2025
That’s scummy. I appreciate the heads up, I hadn’t read that anywhere!
Show threadgray

Yeah they call it a “carrier discount” but it’s really just a fee:

Sep 10, 2025 at 7:23pmWeb