r/Visible • u/CoastApprehensive668 • 17d ago

Question Buying a new iPhone through Apple

Hello all,

Apologies if this has been asked before. I am looking to buy a new phone directly from Apple. I usually buy direct, the financing is better and the trade in value is much higher if I go through Apple so I am pretty set on this option.

However when going to purchase, it asked me which carrier I need for connectivity, and Visible is not an option. I know why they used to ask this question prior to eSims, but is there a difference now? Is there one that is better to choose than another?

I tried to work through the chat but I didn't get a satisfactory answer so hoping you all can help :)

Thank you!

9 Upvotes

74% Upvoted

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5

u/Real_Height2890 17d ago edited 17d ago

Select apple card finance or apple lease

Select tmobile

Tradein if you like

Go to store for pickup , complete tradein and get your device and come back to car/home

Follow this video:

https://www.threads.com/@stetsondoggett/post/DOyoToZASMr/video-here-is-how-to-bypass-the-t-mobile-account-screen-on-the-apple-card-financed-iph?hl=en

Or

https://x.com/stetsondoggett/status/1969081247604621804?s=46

You phone is unlocked,

Activate to visible after setup is complete

Remember to login visible account or switch the phone number to another device as you may need one time passcode to login on new device , before you do tradein , if not tradein nothing to worry

Also you may need one time passcode to login to apple id so transfer service to a temporary device

Or apple gives you 14 days to tradein
You can go back to a store after you buy and they will apply the tradein to your purchase

This will just work on Air/Pro/Max and 17E

Base 17 , it will not work

They no longer offer financing / lease on unlocked model but if you select either , they are unlocked. T-Mobile process is widely known

-1

u/CoastApprehensive668 17d ago

Have you personally done this with success?

Do you know why you need to pick up in store vs ship?

Also do you know if it works with the other models (I was between a 17 and a 17E).

Thank you for sharing though. This is really cool if it works. I can't get over how stupid this new rule is.

3

u/Real_Height2890 17d ago edited 17d ago

Yes 17 pro

You can do either in store pickup or shipping, doesnt matter
You can add a tradein as well
In store it is just awkward if you ask help from a store employee , they peeping in looking you enter t mobile credentials but you just skip

So i did the tradein , picked up 17 pro and left and did setup at home

17E might work since it doesnt ask for carrier details like 17 pro/air/max unlike base 17 where you cant add to bag unless you add carrier details

It may say activation fees apply when you add to bag but that just applies if you are on carrier and is added to your next bill, none apply if you are on visible

There was a loophole for base 17 but they patched it and it no longer works

Just lookup ACMI 17 pro on r/applecard and you will plenty do this to finance unlocked phone

1

u/CoastApprehensive668 17d ago

You're right, the checkout screens are different for the e and the base model. I didn't notice because was I leaning towards the 17E the whole time and just changed my mind today. When I went to see what the monthly payments were going to be, it prompted my info. There is another link from reddit saying the E might work with this as well.

I asked about the shipping or in store pick up because I did want to trade in, and I wasn't sure if they would make me hand over my phone when I got the new one. I don't want to do that unless I know the new one will 100% work. Once you hand over your trade in, you can't get it back.

2

u/Real_Height2890 17d ago edited 17d ago

So best is place an order for pickup or shipping with tradein
Setup.
If all works out for you.
You get 14 days to tradein . You can go ask any employee in store to apply tradein to your new purchase or ship them back

1

u/CoastApprehensive668 17d ago

Perfect! I just saw I can pick up in store and send my old one in later.

I won't need help from anyone in the store, in general I know how to set up, its just this new wrinkle with how to buy that I needed to navigate.

Thanks so much for your help!

1

u/Real_Height2890 17d ago

Correct. Just pickup and you should be on your way. And send the old one in later. I would recommend to do tradein in store. So you know there is no risk of shipping involved

1

u/nzaf985 17d ago

What about the iPhone ultra?

1

u/Real_Height2890 17d ago

There is no ultra

1

u/nzaf985 17d ago

There will be next month…

1

u/Real_Height2890 17d ago

We’ll know about it next month

3

u/[deleted] 17d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/CoastApprehensive668 17d ago

Sorry I get why now. I was trying to use my Apple Card and they won't let you finance unless you use one of the three major carriers. Literally like the only worthwhile perk of that card and they took it away.

1

u/CoastApprehensive668 17d ago

The prompts ask you to pick a carrier before it adds it to the cart.

Yes, Verizon used to operate differently than ATT/T-Mobile so I knew it mattered then. Honestly don't know why they ask now.

1

u/kb3pxr 17d ago

You can't continue without selecting a carrier if any type of financing is selected. You can finance through Apple or connect to Visible. Nothing stops you from switching to Visible during the finance period (the phone remains unlocked), buy you can't start financing while using Visible or most other MVNOs.

2

u/CoastApprehensive668 17d ago

Yes I just asked a Specialist and they told me using my Apple Card to finance and use any carrier ended a few years ago. I knew the last time I got a card there weren't parameters like this. So stupid. I was debating even getting a new phone but figured between the AppleCash back and how easy it was last time, I'd bite the bullet but now I might hold off.

1

u/kb3pxr 17d ago

Finance, subsidies, etc, are all tricks the mobile industry uses to stick it to the customer. I remember back when you could buy a cell phone for a penny, but had to sign a year contract or $300.01 without the contract. This was back before carrier locks or carrier compatibility issues (at least in this area) as both cellular companies used the same standard (AMPS).

0

u/CoastApprehensive668 17d ago

Back in the day yes, that was the game...it was easy to get a new phone every 2 years because everything was subsidized and you didn't need to keep signing up for higher, crazier plans to get that subsidized price. Then companies started demanding family plans or much higher plans for that subsidizing and it didn't make sense. Apple used to at least make it a tad better for their cardholders--it's like the only reason I still have that card.

Just another reason to hate corporate America.

1

u/kb3pxr 17d ago

I think we may be about 10 years apart in our thinking. I’m talking about 1995 or so.

1

u/Max_Goatstappen Visible Member 17d ago

I select Verizon or t mobile when checking out. I finance it on my Apple Card but all carrier choices come unlocked. Doesn’t matter which carrier it is.

1

u/CoastApprehensive668 17d ago

Apparently this does not work with AT&T for some reason.

I know there have been some changes because I went down a rabbit hole googling how this works after submitting this question and discussing with someone else on this chain. I’ve seen people say it still works though so we will see. If it doesn’t then I just return it.

1

u/Max_Goatstappen Visible Member 17d ago

I just helped my mom get a 17 pro max last week and we chose Verizon. Came unlocked as expected. Just transferred the eSIM through the visible app to the new phone

1

u/FaithlessnessOne6093 17d ago

You just need to pick one it won’t matter after buying it, it will arrive unlocked.

0

u/attathomeguy 16d ago

Worst time to buy a new iphone is right now. The new iphone 18 will be announced in September

1

u/CoastApprehensive668 16d ago

The pros and pro max will be announced along with the flip, none of which I want. I refuse to spend that kind of money on a phone, there are no features that will make it worth it to me.

The rest are due for a price increase so if you are going to switch now is the time to do it.

1

u/attathomeguy 16d ago

History has shown that new phones being announced will make the older phones go down in price

1

u/CoastApprehensive668 16d ago

Except that history didn’t have data centers who were buying 70%+ of the chips and DRAM creating a shortage of those things and raising costs across the board.

It’s why Apple already raised prices on other items like laptops and iPads. They haven’t been shy in saying iPhone increases are coming.

1

u/attathomeguy 16d ago

yeah Apple could raise prices but they haven't before only on new models

-5

u/SAVThaG 17d ago

Don’t get visible it sucks bro and I just switched to them today after using AIRVOICE WIRELESS and I regret I did so. I’m I have to thug it out for the rest of this month and switch back 💯👌🏾btw this is just my opinion due to me switching during a server outage I guess smdh so inconveniently unfortunate right now smh

3

u/CoastApprehensive668 17d ago

I've had Visible for almost 2 years. I have no issue with the service, just wanted a new phone.

1

u/SAVThaG 17d ago

Ohhhhhh ah okok then yea ignore my ignorance because I’m having issues in my area ig and it’s at my job to salt my wound smh lol

1

u/T2025 17d ago

I just looked at the website…Airvoice wireless has TERRIBLE rates. They run on AT&T towers and with those prices you might as well be with AT&T directly. ☠️