LemmyKnowsBest comments on How to buy a late-ish model good condition smartphone without paying $1k+?

How to buy a late-ish model good condition smartphone without paying $1k+? (lemmy.world)

submitted 9 months ago by LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world to c/nostupidquestions@lemmy.ml

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Every phone I've ever bought in the past I've bought from Verizon store and the cost is always egregiouy extortionate. I know there is a less expensive way. Please tell me.

How to be sure the second-hand phone is in good shape & functional & legal & not stolen/ resold by criminals etc?

Update: Thanks y'all! I made my selection & purchase through Swappa. You made a girl happy today.

[–] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world [S] 2 points 9 months ago (3 children)

Can you tell me what a locked phone is versus an unlocked phone? What happens if somebody buys a locked phone? What functionalities would be limited?

And why do people sell locked phones? How did they become locked? How can phones be unlocked?

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[+] voracitude@lemmy.world 4 points 9 months ago (2 children)

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[–] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world [S] 1 point 9 months ago* (1 child)

Thank you. On swappa they do not specify whether a phone is locked or unlocked* but they do provide a warning that if a phone is locked it cannot be unlocked. 🤔 I'm a bit leery of this. What do you suppose that's all about?

But when I browse their "unlocked" category first they say it can be activated by any carrier, then read further down it says it can only be activated by three carriers: "unlocked" (is that even the name of a carrier?) or "cricket" or some other carrier I've never heard of. If I buy a phone from their "unlocked" category but it says it can only be unlocked by cricket or whatever, could T-Mobile not unlock it for me? I am a T-Mobile customer.