A friendly reminder that isps do NOT care about you or your digital rights. Always best to buy directly from the OEM rather than from the telecommunications (unless you can’t afford it). Do proper research before buying a phone!
This is why you never, ever, buy a phone from a carrier
The concept was always bizarre to me. It’s like getting a PC as part of your broadband contract. Speaking of, it would make more sense to get a phone as part of your broadband contract, my phone is 95% an internet device. That it happens to have a SIM card in it is a minor feature.
Expensive, but worth it.
Usually not even that bad, I buy a 1-2y old unlocked phone on fleabay for <= ~$400 when it’s time for an upgrade and I’m set for 3y or so
Last couple of phones I’ve bought have been pixel a-series, new. Only reason I’ve felt I had to upgrade what the phone no longer getting security updates.
Especially US carriers. Elsewhere, it varies.
You don’t even need to get a phone from ISP or some telecom, on Xiaomi you need to install sussy app on PC and wait for a week, for unlocking bootloader.
I think it’s 72h after linking your phone to your Xiaomi account, don’t need their pc app abd tools work fine.
It’s still one of the brands that are most open for custom roms since you’ll retain your warranty unless you manage to do physical damage to the phone in the process.
I don’t know what Verizons deal is with it honestly, but T-Mobile hasn’t gotten in the way of it, they’ve even carrier unlocked phones for me that were still on a fresh payment plan for it.
Always best to buy directly from the OEM
Not everyone can afford that you know, and I find those budget/mid range phones insufferable. I’d buy one as a matter of last resort only.
I am more than aware that not everyone can afford buying high priced phones right out. I should have clarified that in my post
The best thing is actually to buy a used phone that was really good a couple years ago. I bought a used Oneplus 9 for $200 last year and it’s still perfectly usable and way more powerful than I’ve ever needed a phone to be. Also older phones are more likely to be supported by third party android distributions.
Carriers still sell phones?
If you want to be on Verizon, check out Visible. Same network, but way cheaper. Bring your own device or use one of their cheap options.
While this is true, be aware there are drawbacks to 3rd party budget carriers.
The service includes caveats that your traffic lower priority then VZWs so if your on a busy node you may get throttled or temporarily kicked off
I’ve been using a VMNO for 4 years now, never had an issue.
I used to be Verizon only because of travel for work, and I need it to “just work”. I’ve found NVMO to be no different now.
It’s possible in a specific area this could be the case though. Not all areas have the same coverage.
I was also on Verizon forever since I could always smugly claim more bars than my poor friends
now that I’m kicked off my family plan and I actually have to pay for it and daycare and a mortgage I switched to mint and it works better than my wife’s Verizon
The $25/mo plan is unlimited GB but subject to throttling because it is not premium data.
The $45/mo plan is 50 GB of premium data before you’re subject to possible throttling on the rest unlimited GB.
I hear that throttling is rare except large events, so I’m willing to risk it, I only use about 5 GB mobile data per month anyways.Tbh I don’t need the absolute fastest speeds and I’m fine with some lag if the network is “congested,” so I’m happy with the $25/mo one. I live in a smaller town so YMMV of course.
Yup, my buddy has some Verizon budget deal. It works most of the time in our small ski town, but when the crowds swell on busy weekends, he may as well leave his phone at home.
Truly so frustrating
Use Swappa and never pay too much for your new old phone.
