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Edited March 20, 2024
at 10:38 PM
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https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sams...Id=6530811
S23 for $299
S23+ for $399
S23 ultra for $549
IMO great price for S23U
The VZW S23 is $50 more. VZW one unlocks after 60 days even if you cancel the account. For ATT read below for instant unlock.
1. There are two timelines for the cancellation. If you cancel a line before 3 days it was active then the activation fee is waived. If you cancel it within 14 days from activation under buyers remorse then no bill is charged but activation fees need to be paid. The line activates on right when you place the order not the day you receive the phone on hand so you might have to pay the activation fee of $35.
2. You can get a new number in a best buy store or you can use a tello number and port to ATT to do this all online but you would have to make sure porting is successful by going to
https://www.att.com/portstatus/.
3. You can use SIM swap method method to unlock the device.
4. When you receive the phone activate it on ATT with the SIM provided. Make sure it shows up on myATT app/in the web so ATT knows and registers the IMEI in the network. Then put the SIM in another unlocked phone, reboot, make some calls and make sure this unlocked phone is now showing under the line in app/web portal.
5. Now go to ATT unlock portal
https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/ and then choose not an ATT customer and use the IMEI of s23 and submit an unlock request.
6.Confirm the unlock request email and receive the unlock code.
7. Only cancel the line after you have unlocked the phone.
Then after unlocking if you are feeling adventurous and want to flash the phone to an unlocked firmware to get rid of ATT bloat you can follow these steps. It's actually very easy to do with Odin.
1. There are many models of s23U but in US two models are imp. S918U is carrier locked version and S918U1 is the unlocked US version. The firmware for these versions are interchangeable so you can flash the ATT model with S918U1 firmware.
2. Download patched odin v3.14.1_3B_PatchedD.zip from
https://xdaforums.com/t/patched-o...1.3762572/ as regular odin does not allow flashing mismatched firmware.
3. Download the firmware from S918U1 XAA version from
https://samfrew.com/firmware/mode.../Desc/0/10 Extract as there will be multiple files.
4. Connect S23U to the windows PC. Make sure developer mode is turned on in the phone.
5 .Put s23u in download/recovery/odin mode. Power down. Press Volume up and down together and then press Volume up to go into recovery (a green screen would appear).
6. Start odin and then select different files for different categories and then start.
7, It should be now the US unlocked version.
Cancellation of the ATT account and bill thereafter
== Will ATT send me a bill after the account is cancelled?
Firstly, keep the ATT buyers remorse policy handy when you talk to them. See
https://www.att.com/wireless/return-policy/ click on "Consumer and Signature Customer Program Devices and Accessories" and here are the policy terms
"Service Cancellations within 14 Days. You may call us at 800-331-0500 to cancel wireless service. You are responsible for all applicable fees, prorated access charges, taxes, surcharges, or other charges through the termination date. AT&T will refund your activation fee, if any, if service is terminated within 3 days of activation. The charges for service used on the account before the service termination date may be applied against any down payment."
ATT will send you a bill with the full amount even after you cancel your account so you have to do couple of things to get rid of charges.
1. When you open the bill in myATT app/att website there will be something called "Don't recognize this fee" under the activation. You can click on it to get rid of a activation fee. This is an instant and automatic credit. Also this works even if you cancelled the account after 3 days.
2. Chat with CS to get rid of rest of the charges. Make sure to not fall for credit in the next bill/adjusted in the next bill, Be polite but persistent that you want charges to be credited now. Bring up the policy if you have to.
See
https://slickdeals.net/f/17327499-oneplus-nord-n30-5g-128gb-unlocked-chromatic-gray-cph2513-best-buy-0 recent interactions with ATT CS.
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Believe it or not, that type of gaming is tracked and no one will be able to fix that for you.
Ex-AT&T employee.
PS: If you don't care, that's fine. But If you do, then you should be aware of this and pick your deals carefully.
Also s24 have similar att offers through best buy for +$100 to $150
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Hmm.. let us know how it goes.
If you get denied initially, leave the SIM in your secondary unlocked device for a day and then try the unlock again using a clean browser session. YMMV but it worked for me.
So that the AT&T unlock system doesn't associate the request with my existing account.
If you get denied initially, leave the SIM in your secondary unlocked device for a day and then try the unlock again using a clean browser session. YMMV but it worked for me.
I was able to get the unlock code. When I inserted my non-ATT simcard (H2O sim card in this case), it's not asking to enter the device unlock code. Could someone help me?
H2O is an ATT MVNO, so it would work even with the device locked. You'll need to get a different SIM. Maybe you have a friend you could borrow from?
Oh OK. Let me try that. Thanks!
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As I mentioned in the steps you are supposed to use a different number after choosing non ATT customer.
So did you try H2O SIM before unlocking? It seems to me that it would have worked without unlocking
Ah, then using another different number for the next request might be better.
You are right. I'll update the instructions for the next time.
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I also got my unlock request denied last night stating line being active less than 60 days (following the steps outlined), just that I did not think of using non-ATT contact info on the form. Then few minutes later, I tried 2 more times using IMEI and non-ATT contact info, but got denied both times. It would definitely have helped if the steps mentioned using non-ATT contact info on the unlock request form.
Tried chatting with support, but was told the same thing - line active less than 60 days. Couldn't get to "tech support" on the chat no matter what keywords I used, just got to regular customer service agent.
I've re-installed the original/new ATT sim in my new S23+, and will be trying unlocked request form tomorrow (to make it 24 hours since last request). Also, now wondering if it was really worth the time and effort and the additional ~ $250 on top of my traded in S23 FE.
Anyone tried buying unlock code at eBay or trying cheaper MNVO prepaid plans?