What does unlocked really mean? Refurbished? null

“Unlocked” doesn’t refer to new vs. refurbished or anything like that. It means that the phone does not come “locked” to one of the cell service providers (Verizon, Sprint, etc.). You are buying just the phone, no cellular service included. You have to link the phone to your provider (assuming you have one) to get service. Best Buy can do this, typically at the time you buy the phone. I bought a Samsung Galaxy S10e in early May at Best Buy, and they linked it to my Verizon account before I left the store. I got a great deal on a great phone. Good explainer at CNet: https://www.cnet.com/how-to/unlocked-phones-vs-locked-ones-everything-you-need-to-know/

It means the phone is in its original state straight from Samsung's factory, before it gets sent out to cellular companies for brand specific modification. It also means cellular companies e.g. Verizon, T Mobile...etc. haven't got the chance to load their own modified software on the phone. Cellular companies often modify and lock the phones they sell to discourage you from switch to another service. Unlock phone Pro: You can switch cellular service any time. You can use it internationally by simply replace the sim card. No phone company bloatware. You can activate tether without paying extra. Con: No cellular company specific software or feature. Slower OS update in USA because Samsung push updates through cellular companies as of now.

Hello GeeGee, thanks for asking! Unlocked by Samsung lets you pick more than just your new smartphone. You can choose your compatible carrier, data plan, services, features and apps, so you can get your phone exactly the way you want it. You can learn more by following this link (https://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/phones/unlocked-by-samsung/). ^Elizabeth

“What does unlocked really mean? Refurbished?”

Asked by GeeGee 5 years ago

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Samsung - Galaxy S10e with 256GB Memory Cell Phone (Unlocked) - Prism Blue-Front_Standard

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“Unlocked” doesn’t refer to new vs. refurbished or anything like that. It means that the phone does not come “locked” to one of the cell service providers (Verizon, Sprint, etc.). You are buying just the phone, no cellular service included. You have to link the phone to your provider (assuming you have one) to get service. Best Buy can do this, typically at the time you buy the phone. I bought a Samsung Galaxy S10e in early May at Best Buy, and they linked it to my Verizon account before I left the store. I got a great deal on a great phone. Good explainer at CNet: https://www.cnet.com/how-to/unlocked-phones-vs-locked-ones-everything-you-need-to-know/
Answered by Steeplejack 5 years ago
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It means the phone is in its original state straight from Samsung's factory, before it gets sent out to cellular companies for brand specific modification. It also means cellular companies e.g. Verizon, T Mobile...etc. haven't got the chance to load their own modified software on the phone. Cellular companies often modify and lock the phones they sell to discourage you from switch to another service. Unlock phone Pro: You can switch cellular service any time. You can use it internationally by simply replace the sim card. No phone company bloatware. You can activate tether without paying extra. Con: No cellular company specific software or feature. Slower OS update in USA because Samsung push updates through cellular companies as of now.
Answered by Nelson 5 years ago
Sorry, there was a problem. Please try again later.
Hello GeeGee, thanks for asking! Unlocked by Samsung lets you pick more than just your new smartphone. You can choose your compatible carrier, data plan, services, features and apps, so you can get your phone exactly the way you want it. You can learn more by following this link (https://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/phones/unlocked-by-samsung/). ^Elizabeth
Answered by Samsung 5 years ago
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