Monthly Archives: June 2023

Phone Unlock Policy | Metro by T-Mobile

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Unlocking your mobile wireless device

Most mobile devices are programmed to prevent the device from operating with other wireless carriers’ networks without first being unlocked. We’re committed to providing you with clear information about unlocking your mobile device.  

If you purchased your device from Metro by T-Mobile or if you have a Metro by T-Mobile authorized device, please follow the steps outlined below to determine your eligibility for device unlocking. In order to unlock a mobile wireless device that is not sold or authorized by Metro by T-Mobile, you need to contact the mobile carrier or manufacturer that sold you the device.

Metro by T-Mobile’s approach to device unlocking

Once a device becomes eligible for unlocking (eligibility requirements are described below), Metro by T-Mobile will automatically and remotely unlock the device within two business days if the device supports remote unlock.

Some devices cannot be remotely unlocked by Metro by T-Mobile. In these cases, Metro by T-Mobile will send a notification to the device within two business days of it becoming eligible, with next steps to complete the unlock process.

If you received a notification that your device is eligible to be unlocked, and you need instructions for completing the unlocking process, click here.

Unlock eligibility requirements

We unlock mobile devices that meet the following eligibility criteria free of charge:

• The device must be purchased from Metro by T-Mobile.
• The device must not be reported as lost, stolen or blocked.
• One hundred eighty (180) days must have passed since the device’s activation date.

About deploying military personnel

Military personnel who are pending deployment do not have to meet the 180-day requirement described in the previous section. To unlock their Metro by T-Mobile device, military personnel (or family members) must visit a Metro by T-Mobile Store with their deployment papers.

Instructions for unlocking your Metro by T-Mobile device

If you received a notification that your device is eligible to be unlocked, please review these instructions for completing the unlocking process.

1. Make sure you are connected to the Metro by T-Mobile network or Wi-Fi.
2. Swipe up on your Home screen to open the Apps tray and follow the steps below:
   • Newer Samsung Devices (2019 or newer): Settings > Connections > More Connection Settings > Select Network Unlock
   • Other Android Devices: Use the Device Unlock app or Unlock app pre-installed on your device and follow instructions on-screen. If you do not have this app, your device is unlocked or it is on a 2019 or newer OS.
3. Select Permanent Unlock
   • If you receive an error, please see the table below with troubleshooting steps.
4. Wait while the device completes the unlock.
   • If you receive an error, see the troubleshooting section below.
5. Restart the device.
6. Contact us at 888-863-8768 if:
   • You do not see the apps or settings listed for your device. You may need a PIN code for unlock, which Metro’s Care team can provide.
   • You meet the eligibility requirements but cannot unlock your device.
   • You have a device not listed above.

If you have an Apple device, once it becomes eligible, Metro by T-Mobile will automatically authorize, and initiate unlock for your device remotely. To complete the unlock on your device, please follow these steps.

1. Verify that your device is eligible to be unlocked.
2. Make sure your device is on WiFi.
3. Insert a non-T-Mobile SIM card into your Apple device and complete the first-time use.
   • If the device has already been set up, follow the on-screen instructions to sign into your Apple ID.
   • If you don’t get the setup prompt or if no SIM is available:
     • Back up your iPhone.
     • After you make a backup, erase your iPhone.
     • Restore your iPhone from the backup you just made.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does my phone being ‘unlocked’ mean?
   A device unlock enables your Metro by T-Mobile device to use a non-Metro by T-Mobile SIM card to connect to a different international or domestic network. This may also be known as a SIM unlock, network unlock, or carrier unlock.
2. When can I unlock my phone?
   Your phone can be unlocked when you are eligible for unlock. Please see Metro by T-Mobile’s policy for more details.
3. What happens if I don’t unlock my device?
   Nothing! Your phone will continue to work just as it does today.
4. Why do I have to wait 180 consecutive days?
   As a pay in advance service provider, this helps us reduce fraud and misuse of service. This is in line with industry standards for pay in advance services.
5. When does the service requirement (180 consecutive days) start?
   The service requirement begins from your phone’s activation date. The first day your phone is active with Metro by T-Mobile counts as day 1. Please note that your phone’s activation date is different from your account’s activation date.

   Note: For phones under warranty exchange, the activation date is the date you originally purchased the phone, not the activation date of your warranty exchange handset.

6. Is there a fee for requesting a device unlock?
   No. We unlock mobile devices that meet eligibility criteria free of charge.
7. What do I do if I received an error using the Device Unlock app?
   If you receive an error using the Device Unlock app, review the following table for troubleshooting:

Error Message	Information/Troubleshooting
Device not recognized by your service provider. Please call customer care.	Rooting your device will disable the unlock application. Download the latest Metro by T-Mobile software to continue.
Data corrupted during transfer. Please try again. Error during data transfer. Please try again.	Ensure the device has stable mobile signal or connect to WiFi. Restart the device and try again.
Server not responding. Please try again later.	No response is received from the server. Try using an alternate internet connection.
Failure in processing the request. Please reboot device and try again.	Ensure that your device has sufficient memory. Restart the device and try again.
No internet connection available. Please try again when internet connection is available.	No internet connection is available: Device is not connected to 3G/4G LTE/5G. Please use WiFi or connect to cellular network.
Unable to connect to the server at this time. Please try back again later. Unlock Failed: This mobile wireless device is not eligible for unlock. For Device Unlock eligibility details, please go online or contact Customer Care.	No response is received from the server. Try using an alternate internet connection. The device is not eligible for unlock.
Unlock Failed : System maintenance error, try again later.	System Maintenance is currently underway wait and try again later.
Failure in applying the unlock settings. Please try again.	The device must be connected to the mobile network (including domestic and international roaming). Disconnect from Wi-Fi and try again.

December 9, 2020

Best Unlocked Phones in 2023: A Guide to Phone Freedom

After years of reigning supreme, carrier-locked phones are now actively rivaled by unlocked devices that can be used across multiple carriers and in combination with different phone plans. More and more customers are starting to see the benefits of that, so unlocked phones are at the height of their popularity and availability. Pretty much any of the best iPhones out there or the best Android phones available come unlocked as well.

First of all, it’s important to outline why it’s important to consider getting an unlocked phone. Overall, it’s rather simple—getting an unlocked phone doesn’t bind you to a carrier or a service, allowing you to switch carriers, change services and plans as freely as possible and as easy as swapping a sim card. Another benefit is that these usually lack some of the extra apps that carriers tend to preload on their locked phones.

So, which is the best unlocked phone out there? Which unlocked handset will get you the clearest phone calls, the best battery life? Should you go for the affordable price tag or go with a premium unlocked iPhone?

Best unlocked phones to consider in 2023:

• Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra — Likely the most versatile phone of 2023 and one of the best new Android phones.
• Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max — Apple’s most advanced new iPhone and possibly the best all-around unlocked phone to buy in 2023. 
• Apple iPhone 14 Pro — The compact top iPhone in Apple’s lineup in also available as an unlocked phone.  
• OnePlus 11 — A return to form for OnePlus, with excellent hardware and a super-aggressive pricing.
• Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra — The most capable among the Android unlocked devices. 
• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 — The most advanced foldable phone can be yours as an unlocked phone as well. 
• Google Pixel 7 Pro — Stock Android and tons of great features at a very good price makes this the best Google Pixel device out there. 
• Google Pixel 7a –– The affordable stock Android experience. 

So, which among these unlocked phones should you pick?  

To begin with, you must pick between the iOS and Android ecosystems. However, you’ve probably already done that as either is as mature as it gets, so you already know what phone you potentially want, whether it’s an iPhone or an Android champ.

After you’ve selected your decision, you’ll need to evaluate the form factor and size you want for your unlocked model. Should you think what’s best for your fingers or  Yet, no matter which ecosystem you go for, you will be capable of scoring any of the great unlocked phones.

Also read:

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The most versatile phone of 2023

9.2

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The Good

• Battery life is great, big improvement from predecessor
• New Snapdragon chip is the best one in years
• Design is improved, feels more ergonomic
• Screen is less curved and gets very dim (perfect for night time use)
• Camera improvements are there, but not quite huge
• Loudspeakers sound much better now
• You get double the storage (256GB) at base model

The Bad

• Base model still only has 8GB RAM
• Charging speeds have not improved
• Haptics are still not as good as rivals
• Camera system hasn’t improved as much as hoped for
• Expensive if you buy at full price

The super-versatile Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung’s update to its flagship lineup, was unveiled in early February 2023. The latest Samsung flagship is building upon all the essential pillars that make for an exceptional and premium phone experience: not only is it introducing a rather noticeable bump in performance that puts it way above its predecessor and on par with its biggest competitors, but also enhanced camera that now weighs in at the respectable 200MP, and could potentially take exceptionally detailed photos.

Truly, the Qualcomm chip inside is a custom Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 tailored specifically for Samsung’s new Galaxy S23 series, and truly delivers in terms of performance and efficiency, but what’s more important here is that it has been chosen as the exclusive chipset of choice in all regions around the world. That’s new, as Samsung previously opted to adorn its international Galaxies with the yearly Exynos flavor.

You can get the Galaxy S23 Ultra as an unlocked device straight from Samsung.com, or most all major online and brick-and-mortar retailers. One perk of getting the unlocked phone from Samsung’s own online store is that you can pick among four exclusive colors: Lime, Graphite, Sky Blue, and Red. Honestly speaking, all these look way snazzier and more exciting than the slightly muted and unexciting colors that the regular Galaxy S23 Ultra is available in.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

The best iPhone with 48MP camera, new design

Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max

With its Dynamic Island punch-hole, improved rear cameras that deliver better picture quality, huge 6. 7-inch OLED display with 1-120Hz refresh rate, and always-on display functionality, the iPhone 14 Pro Max is Apple’s best and most technologically advanced new Apple iPhone and easily one of the best unlocked phones you can buy in early 2023.

The phone includes Apple’s latest A16 Bionic chipset, 6GB of LPDDR5 RAM, and will be offered in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and the top-of-the-line 1TB storage options. With long battery life, this Apple iPhone is among the best all-around flagship phone offerings out there, capable of rivalling the best Android phones, be it Samsung’s Galaxies or Google’s Pixel phones.

The camera on the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max and its new 48MP sensor may be one of its main selling points. Compared to Apple’s previous 12MP cameras, it has substantially superior detail and low-light image quality since it employs a 1/1.3-inch sensor with quad-binning. There’s a better front camera as well.

Overall, we’d rate the top-end Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max as possibly the best among the unlocked phones available out there. It’s among the more expensive phones to buy unlocked, but worth it nonetheless.

Apple iPhone 14 Pro 

Best compact but powerful iPhone

Apple iPhone 14 Pro

The more compact of the latest iPhone flagship phones, the Apple iPhone 14 Pro comes with a 6.1-inch ProMotion OLED display with a 1-120Hz refresh ratio that allows Apple to utilize an always-on display functionality.

The iPhone 14 Pro also has an improved main camera, utilizing a 1/1.3-inch 48MP camera sensor, which uses pixel-binning to achieve much better light sensitivity. The ultra-wide and 3X telephoto lenses still weigh in at 12MP. The front camera now has a wider, faster F1.9 aperture and autofocus.

Battery life of this one is more than decent, but not as good as the Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max. Thus, the major differences between the iPhone 14 Pro Max vs iPhone 14 Pro mostly stem in the battery size and display real estate. Those two are the best unlocked smartphones right now if you’re favoring Apple’s camp.

OnePlus 11

A return to form for OnePlus, excellent performance and value

8.7

OnePlus 11

The Good

• Affordable price
• Powerful chip inside
• One of the fastest and smoothest phones around
• Incredibly fast charging
• Great haptics

The Bad

• Camera quality a step below rivals, especially video
• Display does not get as bright as rivals
• OxygenOS makes weird changes to accepted Android gestures
• No wireless charging
• Throttles quicker than other Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 phones

The OnePlus 11 was announced in early 2023, and is for all intents and purposes, the company’s return to form, which was a bit lost in recent years. With excellent hardware and the right price tag attached, it’s a very decent phone that should be considered by anyone looking into getting an unlocked Android phone that’s not a Galaxy in the US.

Equipped with a tack-sharp 6. 7-inch OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, as well as the latest and most powerful Qualcomm chip, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the OnePlus 11 doesn’t settle for mediocre hardware. There’s also 5,000mAh battery on board that keeps the lights on for at least a day, though its battery life is fairly average in comparison with some popular rivals.

What’s more, the OnePlus 11 comes with a rather decent camera, which delivers great results in the most common lighting conditions. A decent 50MP main camera joined by a 48MP ultra-wide snapper and a relatively short 2X telephoto camera that measures at 32MP, as well as a 16MP selfie camera complete the OnePlus 11 specs sheet.

While the OnePlus 11 won’t be sold on T-Mobile, which was a long-time partner for OnePlus, it can be purchased as an unlocked device on BestBuy, Amazon, other outlets, as well as OnePlus’ own website as well. Starting at $799, it’s priced very well to compete with the rest of the best on the market.

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

The best Android phone from 2022, still very capable, good value

8. 8

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra

The Good

• S Pen in a flagship, great for creatives
• Industry-leading screen quality
• Faster charging than before
• 10X zoom camera is improved significantly
• Video recording gets smoother stabilization
• 4 years of major software updates!

The Bad

• Battery life has gone down from the S21 Ultra
• You get less RAM than last year
• No microSD card slot, no headphone jack
• Loudspeaker quality could be better
• Jittery swiping, microstutter with gesture nav in One UI

The definitive Samsung flagship phone, the unlocked Galaxy S22 Ultra supports all US carrier bands out of the box. This is possibly one of the best unlocked Android phones out there, so you can bring it to your favorite carrier no matter where you get it from. It’s a successor to the Samsung Galaxy Note, a phone that would do much more than simply making phone calls.

The Galaxy S22 Ultra comes with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (or Exynos 2200), has a 6. 8-inch QHD+ display with the ultra-smooth 1-120Hz refresh rate, a truly massive 5,000mAh battery, wireless charging, some 128GB of native storage, and probably most importantly, it has a built-in S Pen stylus accessory on deck that lets you quickly jot down notes, draw, take precise screenshot, and so much more. 

Battery life, while improved, isn’t on par with some other devices, but the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s battery life would still last you a day. The only thing that’s seemingly missing is a microSD card slot.

It’s certainly what we’d describe as one of the best-value flagship among all unlocked phones currently on sale, as you definitely get a lot more in comparison with some of its direct rivals.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

The most advanced foldable phone in the US

9.0

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4

The Good

• Solid build
• Empowering multitasking features
• Beautiful displays
• Stylus support
• Smooth performance
• Good battery life

The Bad

• Expensive
• Still has a crease
• Thick and heavy, harder to carry around than a slab phone

The latest Samsung foldable phone, the Z Fold 4, once again pushes the limits of what’s possible on a modern foldable phone.  Surely, it’s a among the most expensive unlocked phones out there, but the premium is worth it.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 improves on some of the key Galaxy Z Fold 3 features. For example, it has the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, a slightly different design, a lightweight build, a triple camera system similar to the Galaxy S22 and the Galaxy S22 Plus, and a slew of multi-tasking features. It also has a new under-display camera, which should be a little harder to spot. It also ships with Android 12L and Samsung’s latest One UI 4.1.1 software.

Aside from having exceptional hardware for a foldable phone, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 also has a range of software tricks to make good use of its screen real estate. The most beneficial one is a desktop-like dock that allows for quick and easy multitasking by displaying your favorite and recent apps, including app pairs, as a dock at the bottom of the screen. This Android phone also has a pretty good battery life for a foldable, though an iPhone would generally get you better battery life.
 

Google Pixel 7 Pro

Stock Android, user-friendly interface

8.8

Google Pixel 7 Pro

The Good

• Great deal at $900
• Speedy performance, clean software
• Powerful zoom camera
• Guaranteed day 1 software updates

The Bad

• Portrait Mode is bad
• Tensor G2 is not as powerful as rivals
• Slow-ish charging

Could this be the best unlocked phone for most people? The Google Pixel 7 Pro is powered by Google’s second-gen Tensor G2 chipset, which once again puts emphasis on the user experience and overall functionality instead of raw performance. The Google Pixel 7 Pro is an Android phone still comes with lots of camera improvements including a new telephoto camera, utilizing what may consider the best cameras on Android, and is always on time for the next Android update.

But this doesn’t mean that the hardware is severely lacking; on the contrary, the Google Pixel 7 Pro is an incredible deal at its starting price of $899.  And, of course, you can buy this phone unlocked as well

Of course, you can opt for the more compact but still extremely capable Google Pixel 7 instead. Sans for the extra telephoto camera on the Pixel 7 Pro, the Pixel 7 will offer mostly the same overall user experience and is definitely among the best value phones right now. Battery life on both is more than reasonable, making them very decent Android flagships.

Google Pixel 7a 

The affordable stock Android experience

8.5

Google Pixel 7a

The Good

• Good value for money
• Stock Android with tons of AI/ML-powered software features
• Display finally has a 90Hz refresh rate
• Compact and user-friendly size
• Face Unlock on board
• Wireless charging
• Capable camera with lots of features

The Bad

• More expensive than its predecessor
• Some slight build quality issues
• Only a single 128GB storage option
• Uninspiring digital zoom
• Charges slowly

The Pixel 7a is Google’s affordable flagship for 2023, and it’s definitely a phone that encompasses the best of the Pixel lineup while keeping the price tag decently low and affordable. More importantly, the phone is available as an unlocked device that will work on any of the major carriers out there.

What makes the Pixel 7a such a noteworthy device? Generally, it’s a phone that delivers excellent bang for your buck. It comes with a 90Hz display that feels super-smooth, wireless charging for the first time on an affordable Pixel phone, as well as both a fingerprint scanner and Face Unlock that allow you to unlock your phone however you like. 

One of the more important aspects of a modern phone, no matter flagship or affordable device, is its camera. The Pixel 7a is no exception, and this one has a surprisingly adept camera system that punches above its weight, similar to most previous Pixels. It delivers excellent image quality in both good and low-lighting conditions, with very true-to-life colors and the Pixel’s “gritty” and contrast-y signature look. 

Don’t forget to check out our Google Pixel 7a review for the full scoop on this device. 

Are there any drawbacks and limitations to buying an unlocked phone?

Unlocked phones are a bit pricier than carrier-subsidized ones as they need to be paid in full. Many unlocked phones also don’t benefit from the same kinds of sweet deals and discounts that carriers offer for their locked variations.

If you’re after just about anything, that could be your cup of tea, but the best deals, especially around the Black Friday craze, are always found on the carriers, and that usually involves buying a carrier-locked device.

Another drawback is the potentially prolonged service downtime in case your phone needs to go for repairs or another warranty issue. Carriers tend to be a little faster in terms of such repairs, so have that in mind.

Finally, unlocked phones tend to get updated later than their carrier versions in come cases, which could be an unexpected downside of those unlocked devices out there.

What are the best places to buy an unlocked phone?

The best outlets to get unlocked phones are manufacturers’ own websites, which wouldn’t always offer the same deals as the carriers. You can also score unlocked phones on all the major e-commerce and online retailers, like Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and more. Have in mind that these retailers and outlets tend to also sell specific carrier-locked versions of the same devices, so being vigilant when buying a new device is always paramount.

For the most competitive prices, we’d recommend checking out Amazon and Best Buy’s offers on the regular.

You can definitely look for awesome door-busting deals during Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and Amazon’s Prime Day, which are all some of the biggest shopping festivals of the year and tend to give us tons upon tons of excellent unlocked Android device, be it a Google Pixel, a Samsung Galaxy, or an iPhone. Most of the excellent deals on phones we saw during the last Black Friday, for example, were of unlocked phones.

Will my unlocked phone work with all major US carriers?

Most of them would, though you will always have to do your research and act accordingly. Some phones might not support specific 5G bands, for example, which would render it impossible for you to use them as intended on the specific cellular network.

Previously, differences between CDMA carriers and GSM carriers rendered some carrier-locked phones incompatible with the competing network, but these days are now mostly over.

These days, most of the popular flagships and midrange phone devices are compatible with just about any wireless network in the US, allowing for much greater flexibility when it comes to choosing your carrier or wireless service provides.

What is an unlocked phone and how do I know if my phone is unlocked?

What is an unlocked phone?

Unlock vs. hack

You can buy unlocked phones

SIM vs eSIM

How do I know if my phone is unlocked?

Unlocked means freedom

If you’re shopping for a new smartphone, chances are you’ll come across the term “unlocked phone”. What is an unlocked phone and how do you know if it’s unlocked? Moreover, you generally0015 want to have an unlocked phone and is it safe to use? We answer all these burning questions that inquisitive minds want to know.

What is an unlocked phone?

What is an unlocked phone? Simply put, an unlocked phone is a device that is not tied to one specific carrier. Typically, when you have a monthly ball and chain contract, the linked phone remains tied to that particular carrier’s network.

Why? Because mobile operators sell phones at a discount. To recover financial losses from subsidies, telecom operators enter into a multi-year contract with customers while tying the phone to their network. This prevents customers from getting a phone at a discount and jumping to other networks without paying the bill. It also prevents phones from being sold before they are paid out.

However, you cannot install SIM cards from competing networks and expect an instant connection. Even if the phone has equipment to support other networks and you have made all payments, it usually remains blocked by the carrier until you make an official request and meet certain conditions.

For example, if you receive a Samsung Galaxy S9 through AT&T, it remains bound to that network until you submit an unlock request. However, you can only send this request to if the device is fully paid for, you have fulfilled the contractual agreement, you have used the device for a certain number of days online, and so on.

Here are the links to unlock requirements for the four major carriers in North America:

• AT&T
• sprint
• T-Mobile
• Verizon

Of the four, Verizon is the only carrier that does not block phones, even if contracts and payment plans are not completed. This is due to an agreement Verizon made with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) when it acquired Block C Spectrum. Verizon’s stance on unlocking may eventually change as the company seeks FCC approval for a new policy that will lock devices for 60 days after the purchase.

In addition to postpaid plans and phones, restrictions also apply to prepaid plans and related devices purchased from wireless carriers. These phones don’t have data plans, but carriers still want time and financial investment before unlocking these devices. For example, T-Mobile requires an active account and one of two options: use the device for a year on the T-Mobile network, or spend at least $100 to recharge.

Unlock vs Jailbreak

One of the major misconceptions we see is the term “jailbreak” (or even rooting) is incorrectly associated with unlocking phones. Software hacking specifically refers to software as you remove the phone’s media restrictions in order to install a different operating system or remove/hide unwanted pre-installed applications that cannot be removed. In this case, you “unlock” the phone’s true potential, or “unlock” it from software restrictions, but it is still not unlocked by the carrier.

Phone lock usually starts at the SIM level in order to accept a specific mobile network code. But the other half of that limitation stems from your phone’s International Mobile Equipment Identity Number (aka IMEI). This number is unique to each phone and is used to identify all devices that have access to terrestrial cellular networks, including smartwatches, laptops, modems, tablets and more.

Moreover, all IMEI numbers have associated codes used to unlock the phone. Manufacturers store these codes in a database accessible by carriers and other third party services. It does not allow you to remove the SIM card from the Galaxy S9, which you now buy through AT&T, and use it on the T-Mobile network. The IMEI number is still tied to AT&T, so the only way to unlock the phone is to make all payments, send an unlock request to AT&T, and receive the unlock code.

According to T-Mobile Quick Chat, you can choose this route or allow the carrier to pay up to $650 for the device and a connection termination fee. In return, you must hand over the phone to T-Mobile and purchase a new device through the company.

You can buy unlocked phones

You can get your phone without a carrier at most retailers, including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and more. You’ll be paying full price up front compared to a regular carrier contract payment plan, so the prettier the phone, the bigger the bite on your wallet.

For example, you can get factory versions of Samsung Galaxy S8, Sony Xperia XZ3, Apple iPhone 8 Plus, Google Pixel 3 XL and even Samsung Galaxy Note 9. Want an unlocked version of your Samsung Galaxy S10+ phone? You can also get this starting at $999. Gamers can get an unlocked Asus ROG phone for $999.

But before you buy an unlocked phone, you need to check if it is compatible. Wireless networks in North America use two different standards: Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) used by AT&T, T-Mobile and several prepaid carriers, and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) used by Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular and several prepaid carriers. Most carriers outside the United States rely on GSM networks, as the GSM Association is an international organization originally created in 1987 year.

Because of these two separate standards, a phone built specifically for Verizon and Sprint may not have the required bands to support AT&T and T-Mobile. The good news is that you can find phones that support both GSM and CDMA connectivity, but you’ll need to dig deeper into the phone’s hardware before making the investment.

Here we encounter step 2 obstacles to compatibility. Although AT&T and T-Mobile provide GSM-based cellular networks, they own and use different radio frequencies. T-Mobile openly provides their list of frequencies here, while you can find three others here along with many other carriers such as FreedomPop, Google Fi, Straight Talk, US Cellular, and more. You need to make sure that the phone’s supported frequencies match the target carrier frequencies.

“Even if your phone, tablet, or mobile Internet device is compatible with carriers, your device may not work well on another carrier’s network,” warns T-Mobile regarding device compatibility.

SIM vs eSIM

Short for Subscriber Identification Module, the SIM card stores everything your phone needs to access a specific network. This data includes your Mobile Caller ID, encryption keys, contacts, SMS messages and more. This is a small physical card that is usually inserted into a slide-out slot on the side of the phone. When you change wireless carriers, you also change SIM cards.

Originally introduced in 1991, new, smaller generations are typically released every six to eight years. Today we have a nano-SIM card, introduced in 2012, measuring just over a square centimeter. Some devices also use a new embedded SIM card module (eSIM) installed inside the device, eliminating the need for replaceable, disposable cards that can get lost or damaged.

Due to the difference between SIM cards and eSIMs, please check if the unlocked smartphone you want to buy includes the latest eSIM and is supported by your wireless carrier. The latest devices with eSIM modules include the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, iPhone XR, Apple Watch Series 4, Samsung Gear S2 and S3 smartwatches, and many more.

You will also find phones with dual SIM slots, allowing the device to access two separate networks. This is useful for separating business and personal calls because you will have two different phone numbers. This duality also provides better coverage since you can switch from one network to another after entering a dead zone. You can even use one SIM card locally and a separate card internationally, eliminating costly roaming charges.

Dual SIM phones are usually sold unlocked.

How do I know if my phone is unlocked?

If you’re currently making monthly payments for a non-Verizon device and a carrier, it’s likely that your device is locked. If you paid for the device and submitted an unlock request, the first method to check its status is to remove the current SIM card and install another card from another network.

You can also check the phone’s unlock status by its IMEI number. Just follow these instructions for Apple iOS and Google Android platforms:

1. Dial *#06#, to get your IMEI number in the popup window.
2. Go to imei.info.
3. Enter your IMEI number.
4. Press button Warranty and carrier . However, you need to create a free account in order to use this particular service.

If you have a cellular iPhone or iPad, there is another way to check the unlock status:

1. Open settings .
2. Open cellular .
3. Open cellular data.
4. Cellular settings must be present on an unlocked phone.

Again, if your qualified phone is tied to a specific carrier, you need to submit an unlock request. The required information includes the IMEI number of the device, your account number, the social security number of the account holder, phone number, and, if necessary, overseas accommodation documents.

How to unlock your phone with a code depends on the device. After requesting to unlock an Android phone, customers receive a code from their carrier in a text message and a pop-up window on the device. The customer then turns off the phone, removes the first carrier’s SIM, installs the second carrier’s SIM, turns on the device, and follows the prompts to enter the unlock code.

Another option is to use a special application provided by telecom operators. For example, Cricket Wireless provides the myCricket app with an “Unlock device” option on the app’s login screen. Once the app has received the required code, customers must reboot their phone to complete the unlock process.

For iPhone and iPad, Apple provides unlock instructions here.

Other than carriers, third party services can unlock your phone, but this may violate your contract. For Android phones, you pay a flat fee for an unlock code. These third party services have access to databases managed by phone manufacturers that contain unlock codes linked to the device’s IMEI. But be careful: some third-party services may be illegal and work with your money.

Unlocked means freedom

I hope you now have a better understanding of what “unlocked” means for phones and how to tell if your current device is locked to a particular network. With your phone unlocked, you have the freedom to choose the best compatible wireless carrier. Even if you paid for the phone and fulfilled your contacts obligations, the device is all yours and you can switch freely. Call your carrier today if you have met all required obligations.

Post source: https://www.androidauthority.com

🥇 ▷ Over 200 Instagram bio ideas for you to copy and paste ✅

Your Instagram bio is all about making that shocking first impression. Most people quickly scan their bio and photos before deciding whether or not to follow them. If your Instagram bio is interesting, users may decide to interact with your content or follow your account. If not, you may lose interest… forever. Okay, maybe not forever, but at least until you make some major changes. In this article, we’ll cover what a bio is, how to write one, and some cool biological Instagram tricks. But most importantly, we will give you some Instagram bio ideas that you can literally copy and paste on your profile. (Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone, it will be our little secret).

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What is an Instagram biography?

The Instagram bio is a small area below your username for you to share some details about yourself or your brand. Your Instagram bio can include a brief description of yourself or your brand, contact information, emojis, hashtags, and more. Here is an example of the best bio on Instagram:

Marie Forleo He has a strong Instagram background.

The first line is used to describe who she is ‘CEO’.

Writer.

#MarieTV.

“An unusual dancer”, emphasizing some of her roles.

The second line of her cool biography is used for social proof “By the name of Oprah “Next Generation Thought Leader”, this can also be used to convince people that she is worth it.

should follow her.

The third line of this short Instagram biography describes what you do by telling people what you have to offer: “Learn to get *everything* you want. ”

And the last line is your CTA, which mentions “Free Download” with a link.

It also included two emoticons to make the text easier to read and draw attention to the main topic.

If you’re looking for Instagram bio ideas for girls, it’s worth copying Maria Forleo’s bio formula for Instagram.

Instagram bio template to follow

You can write your Instagram bio however you like. Here are some Instagram bio tips you can add based on popular Instagram bios. If you want to become an Instagram teacher, follow these biographical tips and sign up for a free Instagram course today.

1. Turn on self-description

If you’re looking for biographical examples from Instagram, the Queen Latifah formula is worth stealing. The best Instagram bios tend to be self-descriptive. Things to add: your positions and the company you own or work for. For example, check out Queen Latif’s Instagram biography. In the first line of your great biography, write: “Actor / Rapper / Singer / Producer. ” When people visit her fan page, they will know that she is more than just an actress and will be able to see her other concerts to learn more about her. Also, this little blue tag appears on her page and people will immediately know that she is famous when she visits her Instagram account. One of the Instagram bio tips that Queen Latifah teaches us is that you can learn a lot about a person from even a small Instagram bio.

2. List your interests

Her Instagram bio is crawled in seconds. You can create a good first impression by connecting with your audience. How can you do it? Share your interests. For example, Paola Antonini’s Instagram biography shares a subtle clue about who she is and what her Instagram is about. In her interests, she shares: “Lifestyle | Travel | Gratitude”. When you see the word “thank you” you get a little intrigued. And after looking at some of the images, you immediately see that you have a prosthetic leg. And most of her Instagram includes images from her life, travels and entertainment that are worth following her, I’m sure her 2. 6 million followers also agree. The best bio will always be one that is easy to read and meets your most interesting interests, so these are two very important Instagram bio tips to copy.

3. Share your contact information

If you are the owner of a fan page, company or public figure, your Instagram biography should include your contact information. Most people write something like “For business inquiries, please send an email to (email protected)”. You can also direct people to your DM to send messages. However, having an email address in your Instagram bio makes it easy for people to find a place to email you. The app company, Color Story, includes their email address in their Instagram bio for ease of communication, making it a pretty cool Instagram bio. The purpose of social media is to be on social media, so making your contact information more accessible is one of those Instagram biological tips to follow.

4. Add a call to action

If you’re a business owner or influencer, a call to action is a must in your Instagram bio. Remember: it has a link that you can include so that users can click on it. Therefore, by sending the request “enroll in my course”, “view my latest blog post” or “buy the trendiest products now”. Tony Robbins Biographical example from Instagram includes the CTA documentary “CTASee”, the emoji finger points to the link below. This is why most people include a query at the end of their Instagram bio to direct people to the link.

4 Instagram bio tricks to try

Want to learn some Instagram bio tricks to make your bio design stand out? Here are four of the most popular:

1. Instagram bios

Using a tool like LingoJam, you can easily copy and paste various Instagram bios for your profile. All you have to do is enter the words you want in a different font, such as their name. Then scroll through the fonts until you see the one you like. Then copy and paste the font you like and add it to your Instagram bio.

2. Bio Instagram Symbols

Using a site like CoolSymbol, you can copy and paste symbols and elegant text with a symbol click. You’ll find countless symbols ranging from stars, copyrights, arrows, currency, square brackets, hearts, zodiac signs and more. As soon as you click on one of its symbols, it will be copied immediately, allowing you to go directly to Instagram to post it to your Instagram bio.

3.

Instagram Bio Link

So you probably already know how to add a link to your website in your Instagram bio.

But what happens when you want to add multiple links? Cool little site to help you add some Linktree links. All you have to do is log into your Instagram, sign up for a free plan, and add the links you want.

Then, when all you’ve done is your Instagram bio link leads your visitors to a page with multiple links.

Check out this example from social chefs:

4. Instagram Bio Cosmos

Using Apps4Life’s free tool, you can add line breaks to your Instagram bio (or Instagram caption) and simply click the Convert button to add it to your clipboard. You can then go to the Instagram app and paste the text directly into your Instagram bio. This is the easiest way to create biospace on Instagram. This saves you the hassle of manually creating the desired Instagram biospace in the Instagram app.

Over 200 Instagram bio ideas to improve your Instagram game

Cool Instagram Bios

1. The best things come from living outside your comfort zone
2. Here is my story for the history books.
3. I am a cupcake looking for your bun
4. In a world where you can be anyone, be yourself
5. Success is in my veins.
6. Yes, I’m just another Instagram influencer
7. How much is here to reveal my secret biography.
8. No, this is not a dream, this is my reality
9. What should I put here?
10. Welcome to my world

Best Instagram biographies

1. Simplicity is the key to happiness.
2. If I were a writer, I would have the best biographical Instagram quote
3. You can’t be the best without being the worst first
4. In the world of worries, be a warrior.
5. It won’t always be easy, but always try to do the right thing
6. She turned her banks into banks and her dreams into plans.
7. Life is what happens to you when you scroll through Instagram
8. One day in my life: Eat avocado toast, post Instagram videos, read Instagram comments
9. It’s my time to get into the spotlight, I deserve it
10. I practice what I publish

Instagram creative biographies

1. Dreams 👉 Goals
2. If “love is in the air”, why is the air so polluted?
3. It took me __ years to look like this
4. I’m currently saying yes to new adventures.
5. I’m in pain, but I’m still smiling.

   This is my life.

6. Midnight Snack 🌝
7. Everyone else was taken, so it’s me
8. Recovery Cake Addict 🎂
9. I earn money while I sleep 🛌
10. People call me Sarah, but you can call me tonight 😉

Bio instagram ideas with emoji

1. welcome to my house
2. 👇 Check out my latest blog post 👇
3. 🐦: (twitter id) 👻: (snapchat id) 🎥: (youtube id)
4. Traveler ✈️ Book Lover 📖 Taco Obsessive 🌮
5. We love all animals 🐶 and donate a percentage of sea life sales 🐠
6. Cancer Survivor 🎗️
7. Personal Trainer 💪 Dancer 💃 Meditator 🧘
8. Currently hanging out on 🇵🇹
9. ❤️ Lover is not a fighter who reaches over him 🌎
10. Entrepreneur ➕ Globetrotter Speaker Motivational speaker

Bio Instagram ideas for girls

1. Leaving a little sparkle wherever you go ✨
2. I believe in making the impossible possible because giving up isn’t fun
3. I made my dreams my vision and my vision my reality
4. Smart.

   Strong.

   Fool.

   Direct class law.

5. I’m not perfect, but stories are always better with a touch of imperfection
6. My standards are high…as are my heels
7. Me: happy girls are the prettiest too Me: i would like to buy 15 pounds of makeup please
8. Who rules the world? ME.
9. Happiness never goes out of fashion
10. I am a woman with ambition and a heart of gold.
11. I shine from within so no one can dim my light

Bio Instagram ideas for kids

1. Live life on your own terms
2. I don’t care what people think of me, it’s me in the rudest sense
3. I’d rather be hated for being me than loved for not being
4. Risky.

   Adventure.

   Globetrotter.

   Live my dream

5. I may not be where I want to be yet, but every day I’m getting closer
6. One day I hope to be a happy married old man telling wild stories from his wild youth.
7. I got to where I was today
8. I was born to do exactly what I do today
9. You don’t like me? I don’t care
10. I hasten to state that my

Best Instagram biography to get followers

1. Follow me to greatness
2. Follow me and I will follow you
3. thanks, come back again.
4. I don’t know what to do? You can start by clicking the continue button.
5. Follow my story (adjective)
6. Click the Continue button to be part of my journey (adjective)
7. Do you want to know my story? Click the continue button.
8. I’m on my journey. Join me on my journey.
9. Follow me and then follow the link below!
10. Please follow us on Instagram
11. My story will inspire you, so be sure to hit the follow button
12. Follow me to see my life behind the scenes
13. Continue watching history in progress

Big Instagram bios

1. 🍂🍃 fell in love with you 🍂🍃
2. ☕ Stressed, blessed and obsessed with coffee ☕
3. Have the best time of my life!
4. Seeing the world through colored glasses
5. I’m as sweet as sweet 🍯
6. Don’t teach me, you won’t finish 🎓
7. 🌟 Submit my selfie to NASA because I’m a star 🌟
8. Cancel my subscription to your problems
9. Status update: currently hungry 🍔🍟🌭🌮🥗🍪
10. Kanye’s attitude towards Drake’s feelings 😭

Instagram Bio Poons

1. They call me Febreeze because I’m so cool
2. Don’t Mix My Atmosphere
3. Follow my instagram or I’m already a friend
4. I believe in myself
5. My Instagram account is very disabled
6. Sea of ​​the day
7. I like to stop and sniff my
8. I’m pawome and it’s a beautiful day
9. Spending their days at the well so that I can tell they had a good time
10. Artists never retire, they retire
11. I was told, “You are what you eat. ”

    I guess I ate a sex beast this morning.

12. My name is not Mary, but I keep showing up

Simple biography for Instagram

1. I am an exception
2. Simple but important
3. Do better
4. Ride with friends
5. live a little
6. Nice and profitable
7. Life is beautiful
8. Brightness is the only option.
9. Something less predictable
10. I see beauty in everything
11. Target: big smile

Funny instagram bios

1. I apologize for everything I post while hungry
2. Humble, with a touch of Kanye
3. I would rather steal your dessert than your boyfriend
4. Cheeky, elegant with a rough touch
5. Someday I hope to be an adult
6. I used to think I was hesitant, but now I’m not quite sure
7. Life is short so I smile as long as I have all my teeth
8. My hobbies are breakfast, lunch and dinner covered in chocolate dessert.
9. Marital status: Netflix and ice cream
10. Bags under the eyes – Chanel
11. Instagram bio is currently loading
12. I’m not very funny.

    I’m just really bad, but people always think I’m joking.

13. I am a social media guru.

    No, really.

Cute Instagram Bios

1. Many of my smiles for you
2. Very happy to share my world with you
3. All your dreams can come true and I will take care of it
4. Live in the sun where you belong
5. My life is better than my dreams
6. Spraying kindness wherever I go
7. I love my followers more than life itself
8. Don’t regret the opportunities you were too afraid to use
9. Sometimes we could always use a little magic without hiding the magic inside us
10. Every day may not be good, but there is good every day

The perfect bio for Instagram

1. Not like the rest.
2. Oh you 😊
3. one of a kind
4. The best things in life are really expensive.

   You can take me for 7 billion dollars 😉

5. Aloha 🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴🌴
6. Hello.

   Hello.

   Hello.

   Ola Bonjour Chao Good morning.

   Namaste Zalema.

7. Life is short, eat cake 🍰
8. Adding some sparkle to your day ✨
9. I don’t regret what you see in this channel
10. My biggest fear is not starting.

    My biggest fear is not reaching the top.

Instagram business bio

1. I believe in helping people
2. Put customers first since 2013
3. Official home (of the brand) on Instagram
4. 👇 FLASH SALE THIS WEEKEND ONLY – 50% off 👇
5. Share your photos with us using # (brand)
6. International Free International Shipping
7. Contact us: (email protected)
8. Click the link below to buy our Instagram
9. Large selection (product type) merch
10. Check out our bestsellers below

Bio subtitles

1. Enjoy every second of my life, follow me and see for yourself
2. When the pain passes, you finally see how much good came out of a bad situation
3. Love 💗 and Peace ✌️
4. Mentally on the beach 🏖️
5. If you want tea, follow me ☕
6. Dream more than my imagination can bear
7. Start again
8. I’m just going with the flow 🌊
9. I shine like my water ✨
10. I don’t come with instructions, but my subtitles are the best 📚

My Instagram Bio meetings

1. Keeping it real since 1999
2. I’m as weird as the Reckon Expert suit in Fortnite
3. I am limited edition, there is only one I am
4. In 2019, I will be better than ever.
5. Less talk, more action.

   Look at my photos if you don’t believe me

6. I am worthy of the greatness that I have
7. Loving me is not your job, but mine.
8. I’m amazing (don’t worry, I think you are too)
9. I’m not here to be average, I’m here to be the best
10. Born to Shine
11. Always be yourself, because the original is always more valuable than the copy

Swag Bio for Instagram

1. Even if you had instructions, you still couldn’t handle me
2. Something less predictable
3. Be young.

   Being under the influence of drugs.

   Direct the show.

4. I will remember and get well, but this does not mean that I will forgive and forget
5. I would rather make mistakes than false perfection
6. I don’t wipe my tears, I wipe the people who made them
7. I’m like coffee: dark, bitter and too hot for you
8. In the middle world I am wild
9. It’s hard to find someone smart, funny, charming and totally rude.

   My only advice is to remember to follow me

10. Too glamorous for you to care
11. My Instagram is proof that I always create the best version of myself

Instagram bios

1. I don’t care what you say about me.

   I like the way I am.

2. Love without limits
3. I suffer an edge case of not being a Kardashian
4. Together we can be unstoppable
5. In the world of darkness, look at the stars
6. I’m so deep that even the ocean gets jealous
7. Tell me not to do something and I will do it twice and take pictures
8. All I do is win, win, win.

   It doesn’t matter.

9. In a world where you can have everything.

   Donate first.

10. You become what you believe in, so believe in yourself

Briefly from instagram bio quote

1. It’s me
2. Follow me
3. Welcome to my Instagram
4. Check the link below
5. This is my life
6. I have nothing
7. Perfect screw
8. Happy Thoughts
9. Just smile 🙂
10. Know (name)
11. …
12. This is my biography

Instagram Bio Text

1. Single. Definitely. Living life.
2. Creating the sun in the world
3. I wonder how many calories my exes burned by jumping to conclusions
4. Always better together xoxo
5. You will never shine if all you do is cast a shadow
6. Just a little imperfect
7. Royal queens arrange the crowns of others
8. Today is the day I live
9. No life is as perfect as their Instagram feed
10. I don’t know where I’m going, but I’m going

Bio Instagram inspiration

1. Every day I create the life I love
2. When the world is dark, look at the stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
3. Trying to see more sunsets than Netflix
4. I’m ready, let’s do it
5. Be a flamingo in a flock of pigeons
6. Making mistakes is better than pretending to be perfect
7. Spraying some magic
8. Sharing my happy thoughts
9. Capture every moment
10. I am a rainbow 🌈 on a rainy day 🌧️

Instagram biography for fashion

1. I dress like I’m about to see my nemesis
2. My clothes can’t change the world, but I’m sure
3. I’ll make you stop and watch
4. My clothes highlight my colorful life
5. I may be a fashionista, but I don’t like labels
6. Shopping is my therapy, hey, it’s cheaper 😉
7. “I need new clothes. ” – Me, every damn day
8. My ex is not in my outfit
9. Money cannot be the root of evil, because shopping brings people so much happiness
10. Women can look beautiful in any outfit, but the right outfit can make women strong.

Fitness Bio for Instagram

1. Training Enthusiast and Personal Trainer
2. Help you develop healthy habits.
3. When you want to give up, keep going
4. You are what you do, not what you say you will do
5. Strength comes from what you thought you couldn’t
6. Do something today, what is your future, I will be grateful to you for
7. I don’t need your excuses today. Do it.
8. The worst workout is the one you didn’t bother with
9. Hustle for muscle gain
10. Train Crazy Or Stay The Same

Instagram bio for models

1. Shh… I’m a Victoria Secret model. It’s a big secret, even Victoria doesn’t know
2. Full Instagram Model: Business Inquiry DM
3. I’m not just a girl with a phone, I’m a model
4. The most beautiful smiles hide the biggest secrets
5. I’m confident in my sleeve
6. The most important part of the camera is the person in front of it.
7. I take a lot of selfies for my future biographer
8. Life is short, take every selfie for
9. #beyourselfie
10. I don’t use filters for my photos, all real girls are here 🙂

Travel Biography for Instagram

1. I may not know who I am, but I know where I want to be. Right here in paradise.
2. My best stories on the pages of my passport.
3. I haven’t been there yet, but it’s on my list
4. Anderwanderlust strong strong desire to travel
5. Join my next adventure!
6. Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer
7. All I need is vitamin sea 🌊
8. I like to take the scenic route
9. Take advantage of every opportunity because some things only happen once in a lifetime
10. Fill your life with experiences so you always have a great story

Instagram bio examples

1. Better to be a lone lion than a popular sheep
2. Service.
   

RIP Panasonic plasma TVs: Reactions from industry experts

The ZT60 is the ultimate Panasonic plasma.

Panasonic plasma is dead. I’d like to take a moment for everyone to express their feelings at its passing.

Next March, Panasonic “will end sales of plasma TVs for consumer use and PDP-related products for commercial use,” in the company’s own words. They’ve been CNET’s favorite TVs for years, and we’re not alone.

Other reviewers, editors, consultants, calibrators, engineers and picture quality aficionados of every stripe have studied, designed, lauded, picked apart, recommended, purchased for themselves and/or enjoyed countless hours watching a Panasonic plasma.

I asked a few industry experts, many of whom I’ve worked with over the years and all of whom care deeply about picture quality, for their reactions at the exit of these flat-panel televisions from the market. I told them I’d like to publish a sort of eulogy.

The response was overwhelming.

I’ve been recommending Panasonic plasma TVs to friends and family since the mid 2000s. Compared to LED and LCD TVs, plasmas (particularly Panasonic plasmas) simply produce a more realistic-looking, enjoyable image. I am undoubtedly sad to see Panasonic leaving the plasma business, particularly in light of the excellent performance of their 2013 crop of plasma TVs. I look forward to see what the future holds for OLED and as yet unimagined technological alternatives, but for now the the TV-buying consumer will suffer for the loss of such a high quality, high value television. RIP, Panasonic PDP.
— Chris Boylan, editor in chief, Big Picture Big Sound

Although the confirmation arrived early, I’ve known about Panasonic’s departure from plasma since late 2011. It will definitely be missed in the videophile community, but how much depends on how the Koreans react. Will Samsung and LG continue the progress made with plasma, bringing to market versions that outperform the 2013 Panasonics? Or will they decide to follow Panasonic’s lead and bury plasma forever? Regardless, I hope Panasonic has the will and capacity to succeed at OLED, because it has zero chance of increasing its LED LCD market share. Otherwise, the name associated with “quality at a reasonable price” will no longer be available to future consumers in the display world.
— DeWayne “D-Nice” Davis, video system specialist, AV Fidelity

This has been a long time coming, and it shows that plasma is finally going the way of CRT and rear projection. LED-backlit LCDs are much lighter, much more energy efficient, and (in very rare cases) can finally meet the black levels that previously were restricted to plasmas. Why keep a separate infrastructure for one panel type with one big selling point when the alternative can now offer all of the benefits across the board? I’m only surprised that it’s taken this long, and that there are still any major electronics manufacturers making plasma HDTVs.
— Will Greenwald, consumer electronics analyst, PC Magazine

Thanks, Panasonic, for carrying the plasma torch for so long, even if in the end it wasn’t as profitable as making car batteries. Countless Kuro-less movie fans who would otherwise have been forced to watch Blu-rays exclusively on LCD screens are in your debt. Now please get to work on OLED TVs, and make them affordable!
— Al Griffin, contributing editor, Sound and Vision

I’m disappointed that we, as reviewers, were unable to help keep plasma alive. From outdated notions on burn-in to poor performance on the show floors of big box retailers, it faced an uphill fight for a few years now despite always offering a superior image and value. Now I have to go buy an ST60.
— Chris Heinonen, senior editor, Secrets of Home Theater

The only Panasonic plasma I ever owned — a TC-P60GT30 — was the first TV to truly amaze me with its picture quality. Achieving the pinnacle of flat panel picture quality turned out to be the kiss of death for plasma, which is most unfortunate since OLED is not quite ready to fill its shoes.
— Mark Henninger, senior writer, AVS Forum

Plasma TVs have been the undisputed kings of flat panel picture quality for years. Panasonic’s exit from the vanishing pool of plasma display manufacturers is another strong signal that new display technologies (OLED, micro-LED) are poised to finally exceed plasma’s quality, if not yet reach its affordable price. Panasonic’s latest/last plasma offerings represented the pinnacle of display design and imagery, the pinnacle of eye candy, and its exit from this space saddens me even as we look forward to amazing new things.
— Robert Heron, Heron Fidelity

I’ve spent the best years of my professional career recommending Panasonic plasmas just about everyone, secure in the knowledge that they provide great picture quality and value. I can’t help but feel a sense of loss. Yes, it’s just a TV, but comparing Panasonic and Samsung plasmas was one of the highlights of my job. It’ll be way too long before I can compare Panasonic and Samsung OLED TVs my readers can actually afford.
— David Katzmaier, senior editor, CNET

I was sad to learn that Panasonic will exit the plasma business, not just because they make great TVs, but also because the plasma engineers seemed to care about accurate and great picture quality. In the short term, it will leave a void in the TV market place, but I feel confident that OLED technology will offer even more impressive picture quality in the years to come.
— Rasmus Larsen, founder, FlatpanelsHD

The end of Panasonic plasma is a gigantic loss for quality representation of film at home. Panasonic’s irreplaceable involvement in this technology created a glassy, lucid canvas that really let quality video shine. As compressionists encoding films for Blu-ray, it’s vital to us all that home viewers can enjoy panels of this quality, without our efforts being compromised. Knowing that our work is watched on Panasonic’s plasmas is a key impetus for us to go the extra mile in the production process. Thank you Panasonic for your receptiveness in listening to and acting on our enthusiast demands, and for holding out this long.
— David Mackenzie, hardware consultant, HDTVTest

I believe that Panasonic’s announcement will be the death knell for plasma altogether. LG and Samsung will probably cease plasma production as well in the next few years, in favor of putting resources into the further development of OLED. It saddens me because once again the superior product category is eclipsed by an inferior technology (LED LCD), which is reminiscent of the Betamax vs. VHS story. My hope is that TV manufacturers will quickly ramp up production of larger OLED screen sizes, and reduce the current stratospheric pricing, so that an even better display technology emerges soon after the demise of plasma.
— Kevin Miller, co-founder, TweakTV

There are going to be those who try to shape this as a “win” for LCD, or as a sign that plasma has “lost the battle. ” This is stupid. To try to phase it like the technologies were anthropomorphically “fighting” is absurd. The only thing lost is a series of TVs with excellent picture quality and decent prices. That is a loss… for anyone shopping for a TV next year. Samsung (and LG) have said they’ll be coming out with plasma for 2014. But 2015? Beyond? Let’s hope OLED drops in price fast enough that it is a valid option.
— Geoff Morrison, privateer writer, Forbes

Pioneer and Panasonic plasmas may leave the market, but the brilliant engineering teams that brought us those reference quality displays remain. I have had the privilege of working with these extraordinary people at multiple companies, and I enjoy the products they sired both at my home and at ISF sessions worldwide. Do yourself a favor. Read the reviews on the current Panasonic plasma offerings, then buy one while you can. Invest in a professional calibration so you can experience the same picture reviewers rave about. Enjoy these delightful HDTVs while you await the next generation of technological wonders from the proven engineers behind plasma.
— Joel Silver, founder, Imaging Science Foundation

Display technologies have natural life cycles just like people. CRTs had a nice long commercial life of about 65 years, and I was saddened when this great technology died around 2005. Now we’re told plasma will die at the early commercial age of about 15 years. In my opinion, this premature death is due almost entirely to the industry ignoring, ostrich style, the screen burn-in issue. That was a PR and sales disaster because every TV buyer was concerned about it, even though the issue had already been solved with 100,000+ hour phosphor lifetimes. So plasmas, RIP, but it’s your own damn fault.
— Raymond Soneira, president, DisplayMate Technologies

Plasma displays have long represented the best value in high-quality flat-panel television and models engineered initially by U. S.-based Plasmaco, which was later absorbed into Panasonic, were routinely among the best in class over the years. With luck, consumers will continue to find strong values in plasma sets from Samsung and LG, until OLED TVs evolve into more mainstream-friendly products.
— Greg Tarr, executive editor, TWICE

First Pioneer, now Panasonic. For those of us who look at TVs every day and care about picture quality, there’s a sense of loss at Panasonic’s exit from the plasma market, and what it portends for the future of plasma. This year, its ST60-series sets were probably the TVs I recommended most to friends who asked for buying advice, and the ZT60 sets we tested were perhaps the best TVs we reviewed short of Samsung’s OLED set. I only hope that Samsung and LG realize there are customers looking for a top-performing plasma TVs and remain committed to the technology, at least until OLED can get bigger and cheaper.
— Jim Wilcox, senior editor, Consumer Reports

I am deeply dismayed at the passing of Panasonic from the plasma TV business. Having finally matched and even exceeded the legendary Pioneer Kuro with this year’s VT60 and ZT60, it’s ironic that the leading proponent of plasma technology now finds it necessary to stop development and production due to business concerns. I sincerely hope that Panasonic turns its considerable talents to making OLED TVs larger and more affordable–and flat–because only then will we have a worthy successor to the plasma crown. The king is dead, long live the king!
— Scott Wilkinson, director of content, AVS Forum

When I first heard the rumors that Panasonic would be exiting the plasma business, it brought back the same feelings and emotions I felt when Pioneer announced the end of the legendary Kuros. This may sound silly, but being a serious videophile I felt like I had lost someone very close to me. I understand mass merchant retailers promote LCD displays, but specialty stores like mine recommend plasma to most clients, and A/V enthusiasts prefer plasma. The silver lining is that Samsung is committed to plasma and from what I am told, we’ll see new plasma development and products for the next few years.
— Robert Zohn, owner, Value Electronics

It’s always made me crazy that the easier a technology is to spell, the more successful it seems to be. Regardless of having the better picture, I guess plasma had 3 too many letters.
— Anonymous former plasma engineer

At the moment I’m not confident Panasonic is going to do away with plasma sets, so participating in a eulogy seems a bit ahead of its time…as much as I like to be ahead of time. At best I see the near term future of plasma to be uncertain.
— Joe Kane, founder, Joe Kane Productions

With that last note of faint hope, I invite CNET readers for their own reactions in a comment below.

Thanks for all the great pictures, Panasonic plasma. You’ll be missed.

Plasma TV: why Samsung and Panasonic ditched the technology for good

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(Image credit: Panasonic)

You don’t hear much about plasma TVs these days, and for good reason: no one’s made them for several years. But for a TV technology that was once the pinnacle of picture quality, where did plasma TVs go?

Writing about a much-loved technology that’s been and gone feels like writing a love letter to an ex. You remember the reasons you loved them, and you also remember how they annoyed you. It’s a soul-cleansing exercise.

But what do we recall when we talk about plasma TVs? The technology that made flat screens an everyday reality for you and I originated in a humble lab in the University of Illinois. The potential of what started as an academic experiment to create a display for educational computers became very apparent to TV manufacturers, which had been struggling to find a realistic solution to take over from cumbersome CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) TV sets.  

Plasma screens feature millions of cells, filled with gas, sitting neatly between two sheets of glass. When they’re charged with electricity, the cells – or pixels – lit up to form the image. That charged-up gas is called plasma, hence the name of the screens. 

CRT models, on the other hand, feature a single tube that defines the size of the screen. The move to plasma technology and its use of millions of cells made it far easier to enlarge screen sizes, while also making them thin – far more slender than normal CRT sets. In addition, the higher definition and refresh rate resulted in a much higher-quality picture. 

To understand the lure of plasma and how it managed to conquer hearts and living rooms alike, you must look beyond the pretty screen and deep into the heart of the technology behind it.

• Next-gen TVs: the OLED, Micro LED and holographic TVs of the future

Plasma TVs: how do they actually work?

(Image credit: Wikipedia / Jari Laamanen)

Think of a plasma TV as a neon lamp. It’s built on an emissive technology that uses plasma to excite phosphors to emit light. 

“The glass is comparable to window glass, unlike LCD. There are horizontal and vertical electrode grids and a phosphor array. The connection between the two is scanned, firing the discharge at the intersection and causing the phosphor to glow,” says analyst Paul Gray, who leads TV research at Omdia, a global firm that provides analysis across the technology ecosystem. “The phosphor side is similar to CRT, while the plasma is a glow discharge like a neon lamp.”

But the genesis of the technology had nothing to do with the entertainment industry. Larry F Weber, a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers wrote the following in IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science:

“As with any invention, it all started with a need. In this case, it was the need for a high-quality display for computer-based education. The University of Illinois started a project in 1960 called PLATO (Programmed Logic for Automatic Teaching Operations) to conduct research on the use of computers for education… The plasma display panel (PDP) was invented by Prof. Donald L Bitzer, Prof. H Gene Slottow, and their graduate student Robert H Wilson in 1964 to meet the need for a full graphics display for the PLATO system.”

The technology evolved fast – literally from lab glassware to the best TV screens – in a very short space of time. 

Plasma TVs: the early days

(Image credit: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science)

However, as would be the case with any technology product for the consumer market, there was a long period of low-volume but high-cost production.

The first manufacturer to take the dive into making plasma in serious numbers was Fujitsu, making a 42-inch screen in 1997. That screen was selling for $20,000 (around £15,000 / AU$26,000), according to San Francisco Business Times. 

Philips and Pioneer followed suit, and other manufacturers piled in shortly afterwards.

“The starters were Fujitsu and Panasonic, but NEC, Pioneer, Samsung, LGE and Chunghwa (CPT) all made the displays,” says Gray. “Most brands had plasma in their ranges. It’s important to remember that in the early 2000s, the PDP [Plasma Display Panel] was in the lead in large-screen TVs such as 42-inch models, and there was serious concern whether 42-inch LCD was economically feasible. Sony and Sharp even worked on a hybrid technology called PALC, Plasma-addressed Liquid Crystal.”

It was the first time that a large TV was available in a form that could be mounted on a wall. This was a huge leap forward from the furniture-piece CRT TV sets that were boxy and heavy, although sturdy. Remember, also, that it was a strange world where small screens and large screens (LCD and projection respectively) were flat, but the ones in the middle (14-inch to 37-inch) were curved.

Plasma TVs: picture quality

(Image credit: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science)

Plasma TVs had come a long way since its first iteration. It went on to dominate the consumer market for TV screens and provided one of the best viewing experiences available.

Plasma TVs had panels that lit up small cells of gases (xenon and neon) between two plates of glass, offering very bright and crisp images even on a large screen surface, according to Samsung, which was one of the main manufacturers of plasma TVs. The screens contain phosphors that created the image on the screen light up themselves and don’t require backlighting.

The technology meant that large screens (typically from 42 inches to 63 inches) “offer high contrast ratios, gorgeously saturated colours, and allow for wide viewing angles – meaning every seat in the house is a great one,” according to Samsung, while it worked “well in dimly lit rooms, which is great for watching movies.” It could also “track fast-moving images without motion blur,” making plasma “ideal for watching action-packed sports or playing video games. The sharpness of visual detail is astonishing.”

However, there were some disadvantages. Plasma was more of an electricity guzzler than LCD (Panasonic had got the consumption pretty much to parity, and plasma’s power consumption depended heavily on the amount of light in the video content). It was heavier, with many more power electronics packed in each set. It wasn’t as bright, meaning that to enjoy it fully, you really needed to like your dimly lit, cinema-style watching experience – which wasn’t a disadvantage if you weren’t a fan of daytime telly. Burn-in was an issue, too, especially for avid gamers.

The plasma boom and the new kids on the block

(Image credit: IEEE Transactions on Plasma Science)

By 2005, six million units of plasma were being shipped globally per year, according to Omdia’s data. “The business peaked at 18.4 million in 2010,” says Gray. 

But then other technologies started to catch up. LCD screens were lighter and brighter. They consumed far less energy and performed better in daylight. 

“Essentially, the fundamental problem was the pace of innovation,” says Gray. “Plasma needed to counter the LCD industry, which had more players working on development. It faced either an uneconomic level of R&D or, alternatively, slowly falling behind. Samsung and LG were only in the PDP [Plasma Display Panel] market as an insurance policy, while the Japanese were unwilling to make big bets. In fairness, they acted rationally – while Korea Inc got its money back in LCD, Taiwan Inc only broke even and China Inc’s chances of ever making a positive return on its LCD investment are slim. ”

The end of plasma TVs

The plasma honeymoon didn’t last, then, and there were some basic factors that had a severe impact on sales – including one of the criticisms commonly levelled at OLED, being low brightness.

“Plasma wasn’t as bright as LCD. Critically in US retailers, the TV area was brightly lit and PDP looked washed out,” says Gray. “Plasma – like all emissive displays – struggled with fine pixel densities. Only Panasonic managed to make a 1080p 42-inch, and even then it wasn’t a great product commercially. Manufacturing yield was reportedly poor. In the end, LCD had massive manufacturing capacity and the advantage of scale. PDP simply wasn’t unique enough.”

As manufacturers started making huge losses, they began to phase out plasma. Pioneer putting an end to the production of its much-loved Kuro screens was notable. When Panasonic announced that it would no longer make plasma screens, everybody knew that the end was near. LG and Samsung followed suit shortly after. And just like that, the light went out on plasma.

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