SIMlock (Carrier lock)

Unlocked devices can be sold to any buyer on any network, while SIMlocked devices are constrained to compatible buyers and regions. On secondary markets, locked vs unlocked variants of the same model commonly differ by 10-30%, depending on carrier, geography, and model demand. SIMlock is not always disclosed, which creates pricing distortions and avoidable returns; pricing intelligence that tracks SIMlock explicitly produces more accurate like-for-like comparisons than model-only comparisons.

The impact of SIMlock on price varies considerably by market. In the United States, where carrier-locked devices are common due to subsidised device sales, the price differential between locked and unlocked is well established and buyers frequently filter for unlocked status when browsing. In European markets where unlocked devices are more standard, a carrier-locked device may be harder to sell at any price because the buyer pool is significantly narrower. Operators sourcing devices from US carriers for resale into European markets must factor in the cost of unlocking or accept the price discount.

Carrier unlocking is legal in most markets but subject to carrier policies and timing constraints. In the US, carriers are typically required to unlock devices after a specified period or upon contract completion. A locked device approaching its unlock eligibility date is not the same commercial asset as one that can be unlocked immediately, and pricing should reflect that distinction. Some operators build unlock tracking into their inventory management to time resale listings after unlock becomes available.