How to unlock iPhone 8/iPhone 8 Plus for use with different carrier

2017 is one of the biggest years for Apple iPhone and we are expecting something special from Apple this year to celebrate the occasion. Rumors about Apple’s upcoming iPhone 8 have started making their way to the internet since the launch of the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus. Most rumors claim that the premium iPhone 8 will come with never-seen-before features and brand new design.

The next generation iPhone models were expected to beat out the recently-introduced Samsung Galaxy Note 8 and Apple took a big step to achieve that goal when the company announced the brand new iPhone X at its September event. The new iPhone X undoubtedly stole the spotlight, but the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus are also something worth our attention.

While the iPhone X is a huge improvement over the previous models, the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus introduce some slight changes. However, that doesn’t mean that they will come cheap at launch. With a new design and premium features, the iPhone X will cost you a fortune (at $999 for the basic model), while the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus start at $699 and $799 respectively.

Most carriers in the US will offer different monthly payment plans for their subscribers who are expecting to grab the new iPhone on launch day. Buying a carrier-locked iPhone may save you some cash, but this will come at a price.

Owning a brand new iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus is pretty exciting, but being locked to a single carrier who charges you every month and provides sub-standard customer service is not. If you want to switch to a different carrier or want to save a fortune on roaming fees while overseas, you need an unlock.

Apple iPhones are no longer easy to unlock due to advancements in mobile security. Apple has been trying to maintain a tight grip on its mobile ecosystem for years, making unlocking an iPhone look like a struggle. However, there is always something you can do. With a quick web search, you may find some unlock tools like Ultrasn0w, jail-break, and R-sim. However, there’s no guarantee that these methods work, as most of them are just scams to take your money.

If you are planning to grab a new iPhone 8/iPhone 8 Plus from a carrier’s store and you are tired of looking for ways to find out how to unlock your iPhone, we believe that we can help you out. Before proceeding with our look at unlocking an iPhone, there are a couple of things you need to know about unlocking a carrier-locked iPhone.

Why my iPhone is locked?

If you buy your iPhone from a carrier’s store, it’s most likely locked. A locked iPhone only works on the network of the carrier that locked it. This prevents you from using your phone on a competitor’s network. In other words, if you sign up with AT&T, your phone will not accept any other SIM card of other networks like Verizon, Sprint or T-Mobile.

Most carriers in the US now offer a standard payment plan that involves zero money down and a small monthly payment. However, keep in mind that a locked iPhone tends to be more expensive over time. If you ever head overseas, a locked device prevents you using a local carrier’s SIM card.

Methods of unlocking

There are three unlocking methods which you may come across in Google – software unlocking, hardware unlocking, and IMEI unlocking. However, only one that works for you.

Software unlocking (No longer works)

Software unlocking is an old unlocking method, which is not relevant right now. Software unlocking only works with older iPhone models (iPhone 3GS or older). If you have found a website selling software to unlock your iPhone, we recommend you stay away from such services because they are all scams, and you will end up wasting your money and time.

Hardware unlocking (Dangerous and void your warranty)

Hardware unlocking can work, but it’s dangerous and will void your warranty. Basically, hardware unlocking is where you pay a shady guy to open your phone and play with internal hardware to unlock it. This method is not recommended because it may ruin your phone and turn your device into a useless brick.

IMEI unlocking (Effective and reliable)

IMEI unlocking is the only method we highly recommend to you, as it is safe and permanent. IMEI unlocking is where you change the status of your iPhone from locked to unlocked on Apple database. This allows you to connect your iPhone to any carrier’s frequency-compatible network.

IMEI unlocking requires the help of an unlocking service provider. However, finding a trusted IMEI unlock provider can be difficult, as there are tons of scammers out there. We highly recommend you to use the unlock method provided by iPhoneIMEI (Unlock iPhone 8) because they are cheap and pretty fast.

IMEI unlock service by iPhoneIMEI.net

iPhoneIMEI is our number one recommendation because of all that they do is to unlock your phone. iPhoneIMEI.net received five stars on trustreview.net.

Range of unlocks

iPhoneIMEI supports a wide range of unlocks and carriers out there ranging from AT&T (US) to Vodafone (UK) and Optus (Australia). All you need to do is to get the IMEI number of your phone and you are good to go.

Cost

iPhoneIMEI is reasonably priced. They are much cheaper than the other unlock providers. The pricing may vary depending on the network your iPhone is locked to, but it typically ranges from $35 to $45. iPhoneIMEI.net uses PayPal as its primary payment method, which is not only safe for customers but also allows them to ask for a refund.