It’s no longer necessary to specify a wireless provider when you purchase an iPhone XR.
Apple has begun offering its latest handset unlocked, so that it can be easily swapped to any carrier.
This is likely related to the holiday shopping season. An iPhone XR purchased as a gift should allow the recipient to choose which service provider they prefer.
While this is a recent change for the XR, the iPhone XS and XS Max could already be purchased unlocked.
No extra hassles with an unlocked iPhone
Buying an iPhone unlocked directly from Apple doesn’t effect the purchase price. For example, the base XR model with 64GB of storage is $749 no matter if it’s unlocked or comes with its eSIM pre-programmed for a wireless carrier.
Any wireless service provider can provide a SIM, or program the eSIM. Just contact the appropriate company to start the process.
A phone bought now as a gift can be presented on Christmas Day or even later, as Apple has extended its holiday return period until early January.
