Unlocked Vs. Carrier Phones

[G-Funkster]

I'm a bit confused on the difference between a Carrier phone Vs. an Unlocked one. If I can get better savings by trading in what I have currently through my Carrier, why would I want an unlocked one insted? Are there specific advantages to using one over the other??? Thank You!

[Tokas]

You can trade-in through Samsung also

[G-Funkster]

I see

[angelg4 · Accepted solution]

Unlocked phones can be used with any carrier, locked phones can be only used with that carrier. And you may have to pay extra to unlock the phone that was brought from your carrier.

[Gerold55]

Unlocked phones can also be used internationally and you can bounce between carriers as well

[G-Funkster]

Okay, that's very useful. Thanks!

[Jerechas37]

very true but I do know for a fact that US Cellular phones are already unlocked for any carrier even though they are carrier version, and I do believe there's a couple other carriers that your phone is either out of the box okay to use with any carrier or after so many days it unlocks itself, certain ones are 40 days and so on

[angelg4]

SM-XXXXU are the locked models, and SM-XXXXU1 are the unlocked models.

[LongHiker]

@G-Funkster Unlocked devices also don't run carrier firmware. So no carrier apps are loaded on an unlocked device. 

[G-Funkster]

That makes sense. Thank you!