The Dilemma
When shopping for a new iPhone, you may notice different tags on the advertisements, such as “Factory Unlocked,” “Worldwide Unlocked,” or “Chip Unlocked.” However, the price difference between a Chip Unlocked iPhone and a Factory Unlocked one can be as much as ₦250,000 ?. This begs the question. Is it worth buying a Chip Unlocked iPhone to save money? In this blog post, we will explain what Chip Unlocked means, how it works, and whether it’s a good option for you.
What is a Chip Unlocked iPhone?
A Chip Unlocked iPhone is an iPhone that is locked to a particular network provider. When purchasing a smartphone, network providers will sometimes sell devices locked to their network as part of a contractual agreement. Only a sim card from that network will work on the phone, which can be frustrating if you want to use it with another network or abroad.
Network providers may allow customers to pay a fee to fully unlock the device, while others will never allow it to be unlocked.
How to Know if your iPhone is Chip Unlocked
There are 3 ways to know if your iPhone is Chip Unlocked
- Activate the device with a SIM inside the iPhone: If a SIM is inside the phone the error message below will pop up. Note that removing the SIM would allow the iPhone to be activated.
- Navigate to Settings >> General >> About >> Network Provider Lock. If the device is already activated you would need to navigate to settings. You will see one of these messages below
- Use an IMEI Checker. This is used when the device is New and you are unable to activate the device
How to Unlock Your iPhone with a Chip
The chip officially called an R-Sim is like a sticker with a microchip that is attached to the SIM that removes the network restriction temporarily from the iPhone. This chip tricks the iPhone into thinking it’s natively working with the SIM card, temporarily unlocking the device to use any SIM outside the network provider. Different brands and types of chips include GPP, GEVEY, HEISIM, HEICARD, SUPREME SIM, and SMART SIM.
Advantages of Chip Unlocked iPhones
There are several advantages to purchasing a chip-unlocked iPhone:
- It is cheaper than an officially unlocked phone, with potential savings of up to ₦250,000.
- It is the cheapest unlock method, costing only ₦10,000 or less.
- It is a safe unlocking method that does not void the phone’s warranty.
- It is an easy installation process that involves placing the chip on your sim card and entering an ICCID unlock code or using Auto TMSI mode.
- It is compatible with all iOS versions and does not interfere with OTA Software updates.
1. It is Cheaper to Buy
Honestly, a chip-unlocked iPhone will save you a lot of money. For instance, you can save up to ₦50,000 on the iPhone XR and up to a frankly ridiculous ₦250,000 on the iPhone 13 Pro Max… So, like a Nigerian philosopher, we ask, rhetorically, “Who no like better thing?” A chip-unlocked iPhone is one of the best options if you are on a budget.
| iPhone | Factory Unlocked Price | Chip Unlocked Price | Cost Savings |
| iPhone XR 64gb (Premium Used) | ₦250,000 ($257) | ₦140,000 ($186) | ₦30,000 ($40) |
| iPhone 13 128gb (Premium Used) | ₦475,000 ($633) | ₦350,000 ($467) | ₦125,000 ($167) |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max 128gb (New) | ₦850,000 ($850) | ₦500,000 ($667) | ₦250,000 ($333) |
2. It’s the Cheapest Unlock Method
Performing a factory Unlock is very expensive. The chip that unlocks your phone costs ₦10,000 ($22) or less… In these Buhari Times, we can’t say it isn’t appealing!
3. It’s Safe
Some unlocking techniques can void your phone’s warranty, but using the chip to unlock your phone isn’t one of those. It is safe and doesn’t trip any OEM-installed failsafe.
4. It’s Easy to Install
Arguably the easiest way to unlock a device, chip unlocking is as simple as placing the sticker (the chip) on your SIM card and using Auto TMSI mode, and you’re good to go.
5. Updates
Chip unlocking is compatible with all iOS versions, and you don’t have to worry about OTA updates; you are covered.
Disadvantages of Chip Unlocked iPhones
Although a Chip Unlocked iPhone has its benefits, there are also some cons to consider:
1. Chips Work Exclusively with iPhones
Sorry Android boys, unlocking your devices is a different proposition, or you can use wifi exclusively. Chips aren’t designed for you.
2. Chips Can Be Unstable
Depending on the brand of chip purchased, You may experience a loss of network; this is rare but can be easily rectified by going to the sim applications option on the iPhone and clicking reactivate. This is why you might see vendors advertise “Stable Chips” because there are unstable ones.
Where can you get a Chip unlocked iPhone?
You can place an order for it on our website . The chip is sold separately and currently sells for an average of ₦5000 to ₦10,000 Maximum. So don’t get scammed. We wrote this article because we care about you and do not want you getting scammed.
Can eSim Work on a Chip Unlocked iPhone?
An eSIM will not work on a chip-unlocked iPhone because it is locked to a specific network. Only an eSIM from that network provider will work on the iPhone.
In Conclusion
Unlocking your iPhone can be an excellent investment. It’s cheaper. However, ensure you get your chip from a trusted source like us and do your research before making any purchases. If you found this helpful, please share it with your friends. Remember you can pay Small Small for gadgets with Ogabassey. Catch you in the next one ✌️
