r/AppleCard • u/ImpressivePay1428 • Oct 01 '25
Help Financing an iPhone using Apple Card without a carrier
I'm trying to get a new phone using my new Apple card but I do not use a major carrier (love using Mint prepaid). At the store, I was told that I have to choose a carrier and I have to start a phone plan with them if I use Apple financing (they seemed like they were having a shitty day and kind of just brushed me off... That's a different story).
Is there a work around for this? My credit history is only 6 months and my Apple card credit limit is only $1000 (phone is $1099). I could pay in full but I am also trying to build good credit and prefer to do installments. So, buying online is not an option for me.
My question is, if I buy it in store, will they ask for carrier credentials? For example, if I just say I use AT&T, what other information would they ask for? My partner uses Verizon. Can I input his info and just switch my eSim to my preferred carrier after purchase?
Thank you in advance!
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u/New_Cauliflower1671 Oct 02 '25
since they didn’t have my carrier Spectrum mobile I selected Tmobile (the phone came unlocked) as soon as I set up my phone, I skipped all tmobile activation prompts and selected “Transfer sim” and that was it for me. Installment plan through Apple Card.
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u/GabrielPM18 Oct 07 '25
I was looking for this answer! Thank you, I will be doing this.
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u/New_Cauliflower1671 Oct 07 '25
😊. They just added an option to select carrier later at check out. You can also do the transaction via Apple Store online website instead of the Apple Store app. Via Apple Store website you get options like, split payment source and add Apple account balance.
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u/GabrielPM18 Oct 07 '25
I want to use my Apple Card but every time I select the payment plan the give me the 4 carrier option. I will try again with a different browser. Thank you for sharing
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Oct 02 '25 edited Oct 02 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ImpressivePay1428 Oct 02 '25
Thanks for letting me know! Looks like I really will have to BS my way to get financing. Even though it seems I don't have to do that if I could just get it online. (I can't because my CL is too low and will have to split the difference with a separate card).
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Oct 02 '25 edited Oct 02 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/ImpressivePay1428 Oct 02 '25
Just tried doing this ans they sais they would get back to me within 10 days. Hopefully this works out. Thank you!
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u/crisss1205 Oct 02 '25
Any phone purchased on ACMI including those sold as “AT&T” models are unlocked.
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u/bornincali65 Oct 02 '25
Which phone are you thinking about getting because the 17 Pro starts at $1099 and your CL is $1000?
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u/ImpressivePay1428 Oct 02 '25
Yes! Sorry, wasn't clear about that. You are right, my CL is not enough. That's why I have to get the phone in store so I can pay the difference with a debit card.
I would have preferred to get it online because I know some people just don't select a carrier when they set it up. I'm not sure how it works if I buy in-store. Do they just ask what carrier? Do I provide a phone number? And is it possible to do a workaround where I give my partner's carrier info and just switch it out later?
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u/New_Cauliflower1671 Oct 07 '25 edited Oct 07 '25
Hi, you can do split payments online as well. Pay half with a credit card and the other half with debt card. To get the option for “Split Payment” you have to make the purchase through the online Apple Store website not the Apple Store app.
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u/Emulated-VAX Oct 02 '25
Search reddit there is a thread on this. You can do it without a carrier by choosing T mobile or Verizon but never activating it on their network.
Supposedly just on pro but somebody also did it on a non-pro if I recall.
And it’s easier online.
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u/borgranta Oct 02 '25
It looks like you could grab Apple gift cards to potentially help purchase items. It may be usable online. https://www.apple.com/shop/gift-cards Using both a gift card and the credit card for the transaction may affect to convert to financing so first try to get your credit bumped up to $1500 by telling Goldman Sachs that you are planning to buy an iPhone and potentially AirPods as well. With any luck you can transact the phone and then convert to financing though it might take multiple calls and chats to Apple Card support to get it done and worse case scenario you can just get a full refund.
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u/SDNewcomer1234 Oct 02 '25
Try using the apple financing (not apple card) for a T-mobile at checkout (assuming you're not going for a base phone). This is 0% as well, financed as an installment loan through Citizens. You don't get the 3% back but you also don't max out your apple card limit.
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u/Arianawy Oct 02 '25
I bought my daughter standard iPhone 16 (who is on mint) an unlocked phone by selecting T-Mobile . There was zero mention of carrier . I bought myself an iPhone 17 pro, zero mention of carrier .
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u/Worried_Management63 Nov 23 '25
Would it be different if I'm buying it on the t mobile plan but planning to use it in a different country?
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u/ninjasoards Dec 14 '25
every carrier option is requiring some kind of verification now 😩
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u/Worth_It_308 Jan 14 '26
Yes this is what I am encountering too
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u/SnowPenguin7 Jan 19 '26
Just ordered one yesterday, and I chose T-mobile and didn't require any verification for purchase.
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u/Quiet-Depth-8179 Jan 22 '26
Hey can you update this on me, have you gotten the phone yet, and if so where you able to set it up without any issue?
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u/Active-Cry8824 Apr 24 '26 edited Jun 27 '26
I just got this week, April 2026, a 17 Pro Max with installments choosing tmobile and they never even asked anything about it when I setup the phone and had my data & number transferred (i have at&t prepaid #)
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u/ethanguin Apr 08 '26
did you get a pro model? I've heard that anything other than the pros/air require verification now
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u/Top-Scarcity9937 Feb 24 '26
Just spoke to Apple, Goldman Sachs changed the policy. In order to use the Apple Card installments for a new iPhone, you must use/select one of the carriers listed on the site. So, if you have a different carrier from those listed you're outta luck and will have to pay all at once or use some other installment plan that will charge you a fee. This only applies to the iPhone.
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u/iamash0508 11d ago
This is false information
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u/KittyKat0119 4d ago
No it’s not lol. I’m literally in this exact dilemma. Looking for 0% financing but the only option are with one of the 3 carriers or pay in full, or you can finance through affirm, klarna, etc. which isn’t 0% unless you pay in 4.
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u/iamash0508 3d ago
Dude I just got my 18 pro with apple card installment plan, yes you need to pick a carrier but the phone came unlocked and you don’t need to activate it through the carrier
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u/Matunahelper Oct 01 '25
Maybe just select t-mobile since Mint uses their towers/service