technology news: Unlocked OnePlus 7T now unavailable in US, better find one quick if you want it

mercredi 3 juin 2020

Unlocked OnePlus 7T now unavailable in US, better find one quick if you want it

OnePlus 7T whats in the box

Credit: David Imel / Android Authority

The unlocked OnePlus 7T is no longer listed on the OnePlus website.
The T-Mobile variant is still available, but it's unlikely the unlocked model will return.

The OnePlus 7T was one of the best phones of 2019, not to mention one of the best phones the company has made. Unfortunately, though, getting an unlocked OnePlus 7T here in the United States just became a bit more difficult as it appears OnePlus is no longer selling it.

If you head to OnePlus.com, you'll find the company is only selling the T-Mobile version of the phone. There is no longer an option to buy an unlocked OnePlus 7T. The T-Mo version is currently $100 off, though, so that's certainly nice.

Unlocked OnePlus 7T might be gone for good

It's not clear if this is a permanent change or a temporary one. However, the OnePlus 6T from 2018 also made a similar shift late in its life cycle. In fact, that phone is still available from the OnePlus site, but also only in its T-Mobile form.

The differences between an unlocked OnePlus 7T and a T-Mobile branded variant are subtle but important. The T-Mobile version will be locked to that carrier unless you go through unlocking steps. It will come with T-Mobile apps pre-installed and will not receive software updates as quickly as unlocked models.

There are ways to fully convert a T-Mobile variant into an unlocked OnePlus 7T, including installing international software to ensure you get updates as quickly as possible. However, it's far easier just to buy an unlocked model and skip all those steps.

If you want an unlocked OnePlus 7T in the US, your best bet now is to hit up third-party retailers or the used market. You could also wait and see if OnePlus restocks with unlocked variants at some point soon, although that is unlikely considering its current focus on the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro.