Each year Apple releases a new iPhone series, we know that it only gets more expensive. However, this year is an exception. This year’s entry-level iPhone 13 in the series is priced just the same as the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini, and Apple dropped heir prices dropped so people are encouraged to buy the latest iPhones this year. 

That should make you think just how fast the iPhone depreciates in value. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 only differ by $100, which makes the latter, being the latest, the more viable option for many. But is it really? 

Before you upgrade to the iPhone 13, let’s take a look at what you’re actually buying and discuss any new features or new design upgrades versus the iPhones before it and the flagship Android devices within its price range.

Pros 

• Ceramic Shield for better protection 
  
• IP68 water and dust resistance 
  
• Updated 6-Core CPU and Chipset 
  
• Added new camera sensors 
  
• Better Camera stabilizers 
  
• Long battery life 
  

Cons 

• The design didn’t change from last year’s iPhones 
  
• The new camera alignment didn’t offer any new value 
  
• No power brick in the box
  
• No plastic shrink wrap for added protection 
  
• The camera bump is still there and thicker
  
• It is heavier than the iPhone 12 
  

Unlocking iPhone 13: Design and Build Quality

There is a good reason why the iPhone 13’s price is just the same as the iPhone 12’s. It’s because they hardly changed anything on the outside. The design of the phone is just the same as the iPhone 12, even the build materials used are the same. 

Can be argued, but we dare say the iPhone 13’s design is recycled from that of the iPhone 12.   

Moreover, the aluminum frame and the corning glass front and back cover are just the same. Apple says there is a 1mm difference between the two, but you can hardly see that when both are laid flat on a surface. 

The notorious camera bump in the back is still there, albeit with a little difference in the arrangement.  The cameras are of the same quality.

There is a substantial difference in the weight of the two phones because the iPhone 13 packs a bigger battery than that of the iPhone 12, which of course, explains why the iPhone 13 has longer battery life. The iPhone 13 has 3,227 mAh.

Related: Unlocking iPhone 13? Get a permanent carrier unlock for your iPhone here.

On the other hand, the iPhone 13 is sitting on Apple’s fastest and latest chipset and with a faster RAM and bigger internal memory. 

iPhone 13 Tech Specs vs Iphone 12 vs Android Flagships

When it comes to the price and the features, it’s clear that the iPhone 13 is just so-so compared to the iPhone 12 and its Android competition. For the same price, Samsung Galaxy S21 has 3 high-powered cameras at the back with better aperture and higher megapixels than that of the iPhone 13. 

Compared to iPhone 12’s memory capacity, iPhone 13 has more RAM and more internal memory, and with a faster chipset, there will be a huge difference when it comes to speed and real-time user experience. 

Related: Unlocking iPhone 12: Full Review, Features, and Flaws

Is it worth the price tag? 

So, is the iPhone 13 worth upgrading to? 

Compared to its predecessor, the iPhone 13 does have features that might make it worth the consideration to upgrading. If you’re looking for a faster experience or better memory, it does hold a lot more power and memory than the iPhone 12. 

Is it worth the $100 price difference? What do you think? 

Let us know in the comments section!

The most important thing that we need as we do network or carrier unlock on iPhones and any phones or devices for that matter is the IMEI number. Our customers would often ask us “do you know how to get IMEI number on iPhone if locked?”

Knowing your iPhone’s IMEI number is especially helpful if you’re trying to do an apple imei check or imei lookup to identify whether it is usable in your country. Unfortunately, a lot of people sell stolen iPhones on the market for unbelievably cheap prices, but these phones are blacklisted. 

If you’re stuck with a locked iPhone and you need the IMEI, we hope this article helps you figure it out quickly!

How to get IMEI number on iPhone if locked in under 3 minutes

And the answer to this is actually very easy, you can do it in under a minute if you’re quick. 

1. SIM Tray (from  iPhone 6s to the latest)

The IMEI is on the SIM tray itself for iPhone 6s up to the latest. This includes all the iPhones in their series. Just poke the sim card tray out, remove the SIM card and there you’ll see the IMEI number. 

2. Back of the device

Apple used to print the IMEI number on the back of each iPhone for the older iPhone models. 

• iPhone 5
  
• iPhone 5c 
  
• iPhone 5s 
  
• iPhone SE (1st generation) 
  
• iPhone 6 Plus 
  
• iPhone 6 
  
• iPad Pro, iPad, iPod Touch
  

The oldest models of iPhone have both the IMEI and the serial number printed on the SIM tray.

But what if you don’t have your device? No worries, it’s still possible. 

Not knowing how to get imei number on iphone if locked is a problem on another level if you don’t have the device with you. If it’s unfortunately stolen or misplaced, you still can get the IMEI through these steps:

3. Original packaging

If you still have your iPhone’s original packaging, the IMEI and the serial number are also printed on the barcode. 

4. Apple ID

• Sign in to appleid.apple.com/ on your web browser with the Apple ID that you use on your device. 

• Scroll down to the devices section, and select the device you want to check. 

Conclusion

We hope that this quick tutorial helped you out! Have you had the same problem before? Do you know another way on how to get IMEI number on iPhone if locked? Let us know in the comments below! 

The sim card is the chip that came with the phone and it not only saves data from texts or calls you received or made, it helps your phone connect to your carrier’s network. Sim not provisioned MM2 error is common among android phones. 

But don’t worry, this error is not difficult to fix. As long as you know what the reason for the error is, you’ll be able to fix it. And in this article, we’ll show you quick and easy troubleshooting tests that you can do to fix sim not provisioned mm2 or sim not provisioned error. 

What does sim not provisioned mm2 mean?

If the SIM card is not properly inserted, if it was damaged, or if it was not activated on your network, you will not be able to make or receive calls or texts, and you will see errors on your phone such as ‘sim not provisioned’, ‘phone not allowed for voice’, or ‘sim not provisioned mm2’. 

Other reasons for the sim not provisioned error to pop up are: 

• You are no longer in your carrier’s coverage area and not activated for roaming. 

If you are indeed “roaming” or outside your carrier’s coverage area, you have to insert a SIM card from other carriers that are servicing the area you’re in. 

On the other hand, for this to work, you must ensure that your phone is not locked to your carrier. Otherwise, using another carrier’s sim card will not work. 

Removing the carrier lock on your phone is an easy and straightforward process and if your carrier won’t or can’t do it for you, you can do it safely with UnlockBase. Go here: https://www.unlockbase.com/unlock-phone/

• You are using a new sim card that was not activated together with your device. 

If you have a new SIM card, it might take 24-48 hours before it’s fully activated by the carrier. 

How to fix SIM not provisioned error: 5 Ways

What do you do when you see the sim not provisioned for voice error pop up? 

Identifying the reason why this error appears in the first place is the first step to fixing it. Let’s start with the simplest, most obvious reason and that is the appearance of the sim card. 

1. Check SIM card for possible damages. 

• Take the sim card out. Are there dents, damage, or possible scratches? 
  
• Are you properly inserting the sim card to the sim slot? 
  
• Is it the right sim card size? 
  
• Is there dirt in the sim card or the sim card slot? 

You have to make sure the sim card and the sim card slot have no damage or dirt in them before you start using your phone. If this is the case, then you’ll have to replace the SIM card with one from your carrier. 

If you are using postpaid or you want to use the same phone number on your new SIM card, you have to activate the new sim card together with your device. They will ask you to provide the SIM card’s ICCID and your phone’s IMEI, both are the serial numbers assigned to them. 

If you have an older phone model, the sim card might be located at the back, below the battery. You have to remove the battery to access the sim card slot. Newer phones have a sim card slot on the side. 

2. Re-insert and restart your phone. 

If the SIM card and the sim card slot (caddy) is not showing any physical signs of damage or dirt, try refreshing your phone’s system with a restart. 

Sometimes, a simple restart can fix SIM card not provisioned error. 

This error could have happened because the phone took longer than usual to connect with your sim card or just hiccups in its system that’s not too big to be worried about. 

3. Enable Airplane Mode 

If restarting your device is not fixing it, you may try putting your phone on Airplane mode. Airplane mode disconnects your phone from any network. Tap Airplane mode again to enable your phone to reconnect. 

If you still see Sim not provisioned mm2 or sim not provisioned for voice error on the phone, your SIM card might not be activated. 

4. Try the SIM card on another phone. 

This is an option if you are not sure whether it’s the SIM card or the sim card slot that’s malfunctioning. If you have a spare phone that’s working, you can try inserting the SIM card you have on that phone. 

But if it is detected by the other device, then it means the SIM card itself is functioning. If it’s not detected and it’s a new sim card or there’s no damage on the outside, then it’s likely that the SIM card is not activated by your carrier. 

NOTE: If you are inserting the sim card on a postpaid phone that uses a different carrier, your sim card will not work and you will see an error that would say ‘SIM not valid’ or ‘SIM not supported”. 

Related: How to fix sim not supported error 

5. Activate your SIM card by contacting your carrier. 

Is your SIM card new? Are you using an old SIM card on a new phone? 

As we mentioned earlier in this article, it takes 24-48 hours to activate a new SIM card. If this is the case for you, all you need to do is wait for the time allotted for the SIM or phone to be activated. 

If you are using an old SIM card on a new phone, you have to inform your carrier that you wish to use the old SIM so they can ‘register’ and have it activated together with the new phone. 

Usually, new phones come with a new SIM card as well and that comes pre-registered with the phone. Also, you have to make sure your phone is compatible with your old SIM card. 

Conclusion: Troubleshoot  SIM not provisioned MM2 in under 5 minutes 

We hope the steps above helped you fix SIM not provisioned MM2 error. They will help know in under 5 minutes what the problem is and how to fix it. 

Did we miss anything here? Have you had this error before? How did you fix it? Let us know in the comments!

A device with a locked SIM can’t make or receive calls and may not be able to receive text messages as well. If you wish to unlock your SIM card, you can contact your carrier since all cellular providers are required by law to unlock SIM cards for free, assuming your contract has ended.

If that is not possible, this guide will show you what it means to have a sprint sim card locked and how to fix it.

Why would a SIM card be locked?

SIM cards are installed on most cell phones. They are memory chips used in mobile devices to store information such as your account number, phone book, texts, and other data. Carriers often ‘lock’ the phones that you purchase from them because they want to ensure you will continually use their services.

On the other hand, you will also see a Sprint sim card locked error if you are switching to a new phone or device using a sim from your old phone. That is because your phone’s serial number (IMEI) and the SIM card’s unique identifying number (ICCID) must be registered together. If they don’t match in your carrier’s system, you will see this error.

If you have been given a new phone for a replacement and you wish to use the same SIM card from your previous device, you have to call your carrier and have them register that SIM card together with your new phone.

What does Sprint SIM card locked error mean?

Like any other mobile service provider, Sprint also ‘locks’ the phone that you get from them. If your phone is ‘locked’ or if you see a Sprint SIM card locked error, it means you’re not going to be able to use their current Sprint-branded handset on another carrier’s network unless your device is unlocked.

Moreover, a locked phone is subject to roaming charges when taken outside of Sprint’s service area and network because the phone is programmed to work only with Sprint’s SIM card. If you are using your phone overseas where the Sprint network is not available, you have to pay for roaming charges to use your phone for calls, texts, or data when you’re not connected to WiFi.

A locked cellphone usually comes with a disclaimer about using it on other carriers. If you previously used Sprint and unlock your phone through UnlockBase, the phone itself is no longer tied to Sprint or any specific carrier.

Trying to use an unlock app from untrusted sources could brick your phone by sending incorrect commands to your device. Unlocking Sprint phones should be done either through your service provider or through reputable services such as UnlockBase.

According to Sprint’s Unlocking FAQs, your account will be examined for eligibility first. If you are indeed eligible for unlocking, you have to wait 2 days before they unlock the phone for you.

ERROR: Sprint SIM Card Locked. Please Power Cycle

This is the same error as the Sprint SIM card has locked and as mentioned earlier, SIM will lock if either the device MEID or SIM ICCID doesn’t match what is on your account. If you would like to fix this, then you can go to your carrier and ask them whether they’ll unlock the phone you’re currently using on their network, especially if it’s a phone that was bought as new as there is nothing wrong with doing so as long as your account with them is in good standing.

To unlock your Sprint phone, you have to prove that you are a customer who is owed a refund or has an account in good standing. You can not unlock a device that is still under contract, and it may take up to 10 days for your handset to be completely unlocked before it can be used on other networks.

It will also apply if you cancel your account with Sprint early by way of cancellation fees. However, as mentioned before, there are now ways around this, so you don’t have to wait any longer than necessary after canceling. Third-party providers such as UnlockBase offer unlocking services at reasonable rates so customers can enjoy their devices without limitations and the warranty they’re entitled to.

Fix Sprint SIM card locked error through UnlockBase

If you are not eligible for unlocking through Sprint, you may use the UnlockBase service. Unlocking your device with us will not break your device’s warranty if it’s still covered, and you don’t have to go through complex processes to get it done.

To unlock Apple devices such as iPhones and iPad, all we need would be your IMEI or the phone’s serial number. We also need just your IMEI number to unlock any type of Android phone.

Conclusion

You should know that if your account isn’t in good standing or you haven’t paid off the remainder of what you owe for the device, Sprint won’t grant your request for an unlocking code.

Unlocking Sprint phones can be done straight from the manufacturer or service providers since they know how these devices work. We hope the information mentioned above gave you an idea of how to fix the Sprint sim card locked issue.

Wondering if you have a blacklisted iPhone? Unsure if you could use or sell it? If you’re stuck with a blacklisted iPhone, don’t worry, we’ll help you figure out how to activate and unlock it in this article.

We’ll discuss how to know if you own a blacklisted iPhone, how to unlock it, and how to sell it legally.

What exactly is a blacklisted iPhone?

A blacklisted iPhone is an iPhone that has been reported as stolen, lost, or outside of the carrier’s coverage area. There are only two reasons why an iPhone is blacklisted: (1) it was reported lost or stolen, and (2) it was canceled due to non-payment. With the first one, you’re likely stuck with an illegally sold iPhone that you can’t use, but if your case is the latter, then there’s definitely a way to use the iPhone again.

Who controls the blacklist?

You might believe that Apple can blacklist an iPhone, but only the wireless carriers are in charge of doing so. Wireless carriers create their databases using the iPhone’s IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number. A stolen or lost iPhone can result in the device being placed on the blacklist using this unique IMEI or serial number.

And as earlier mentioned, blacklisting can also happen if the owner of a device is unable to pay their contract or if it was acquired fraudulently.

How to Know if Your iPhone is Blacklisted

How do you know whether or not you have a blacklisted iPhone if you don’t know its origin? An easy way to find out whether your iPhone is blacklisted is by purchasing an IMEI check or Apple Network Check (GSX). We offer this service and you can get the results in as fast as 5 minutes.

Through our Apple Network Check, you will know your iPhone’s complete origin details such as the carrier/network and country where it came from. And you will need this information, later on, to proceed with the unlock process.

Suppose you receive confirmation that there isn’t anything wrong with your iPhone, then great! But what should happen when your device comes back as being on the blacklist? You don’t have to worry because there are ways around this.

How to activate or unlock a blacklisted iPhone?

If there is an issue such as someone reporting the phone lost/stolen, any wireless company won’t activate your device. And although we can unlock blacklisted iPhones, we don’t do it for lost or stolen ones.

There are two parts to activating and unlocking a blacklisted iPhone: (1) we get your iPhone’s origin information, and (2) we unlock it remotely using its IMEI.

In order for us to know whether your device can be unlocked, we need to know the ‘Blacklist Status’ and ‘Current Owner Info’ from Apple’s database, and it is something that our Apple GSX Check Service can do for you.

To permanently unlock your iPhone, all we need is the iPhone’s carrier and country of origin, and the IMEI number. Once it is unlocked, you can use your phone on any carrier that supports it!

How to Sell Blacklisted iPhone Legally

Selling an iPhone that is blacklisted can be a tough decision to make, especially since it has the potential of coming back on you in some way. If your device is still under warranty, Apple may refuse to service it if they find out you are the current owner, but what about when this isn’t an option? Don’t worry because you still have options!

One thing worth noting here is that while iPhones are typically sold through third-party channels (such as eBay or Craigslist), certain services are available that will allow you to sell your phone directly to them without having any issues with blacklisting. These companies specialize in buying used devices and reselling them at retail prices for profit, so they don’t care whether or not yours is blacklisted-they just want to sell it quickly.

While there are many reputable services out there, be sure that you do your research before committing any transactions so you can avoid being scammed. Always check the company’s background and customer reviews online if possible and their refund policy if things don’t go according to plan.

For this service provider to purchase your device from you without issues, they will usually need more information than what is provided on an IMEI number alone. In some cases, all that may be needed is a photo or scan of both sides of the phone and its serial or IMEI number, which will allow them to determine whether or not the iPhone can be legally sold.

Conclusion

Purchasing a used iPhone is an excellent option to save money on the most recent Apple devices. Even though your iPhone is blacklisted, it doesn’t mean that you can’t use it. Blacklist removal services are sought by people who want to use an iPhone that is blacklisted but there’s no guarantee.

If you can’t unlock it or want to save the effort, you can still sell the locked iPhone. However, you won’t make as much cash from a locked iPhone compared to an unlocked one.

You are here because you got a new iPhone but can’t use it. The moment you try to enter a sim card it keeps saying ‘Sim not valid’  or ‘Sim not supported, and now you’re stuck with a phone that you can’t use at all, at least for voice calling. In this article, we’ll walk you through why you get this error and the possible ways and workarounds on how to fix this kind of error. 

Sim not supported iphone error – what does it mean? 

Sim not supported iPhone error only appears for two reasons: (1) your phone is locked to its carrier, or (2) you’re having software issues. But the most common reason would be the first one, your phone is locked to its carrier. 

You might be wondering, ‘why would my carrier lock my device, when I already paid for it?’ This is a common misconception among many postpaid users, but your phone is locked to them simply because they want you to keep using their service whilst your phone is still not fully paid.

When you get a new iPhone from T-Mobile, AT&T, or any other service provider for postpaid service, you are essentially paying for the subsidized price of the phone added to your monthly bill. 

When you are done paying your phone, it will NOT be automatically unlocked, you have to request from your service provider/carrier that you want to use the phone elsewhere or you’re moving to another network. Some carriers offer it free, but in most cases, you still have to pay them a service fee for unlocking your phone. 

On the other hand, if the phone is still locked into them (usually 24-36 months), they might deny your request for unlocking unless of course, you are willing to pay for the remaining subsidized price of the phone. 

The only way to know whether or not the ‘sim not valid’ or ‘sim not supported’ error on your phone is caused by your carrier is to check its settings. Here’s how to do it: 

Go to Settings > About > Carrier Lock > No SIM restrictions 

If that is what it says then your phone is already unlocked- otherwise, it is still locked to its carrier.

Unlocked iPhone: How To Bypass Sim Not Supported Error 

The ‘sim invalid’ error on already unlocked iPhones is easier to deal with because the issue can be easily solved without much technical knowledge. Oftentimes, the issue can be solved by a simple iOS update or a restart.

Here are the possible fixes you can do:

Fix SIM not supported iphone error by unlock

The easiest, most convenient way for you to get it unlocked is through an unlocking service provider like UnlockBase. No codes, no device settings tweaks, and no hassle. Our process of unlocking iPhones only needs its IMEI number.

The process does NOT involve you tweaking some settings or even taking out multiple sim cards. We’ll show you how it’s done below. 

Unlock an iPhone with Unknown Carrier

One of our qualifying questions before unlocking a phone is the carrier name and location. If you are not sure where your iPhone came from, you have to check first if it’s ‘ clean ‘ and not blacklisted/stolen. We do not unlock blacklisted and stolen iPhones. To get your iPhone’s full data instantly you may try our trusted Apple Network Check. All we need is your IMEI. 

The easiest way to get the IMEI is to simply dial *#06#

Unlock an iPhone with Known Carrier

If you already know where your phone came from or its original carrier/network service provider, then you’re ready for the unlock process. 

Step 1: Go to https://www.unlockbase.com/unlock-phone/iphone/

Choose Apple, then choose your iPhone’s model number. 

Step 2: Next, enter your iPhone’s IMEI number and Email. Then choose the country and the carrier where it came from.

Step 3: Wait for an email confirmation from us that your phone is unlocked. 

Step 4: And finally, once you receive the confirmation email, all you have to do is ensure you have the latest versions of iOS and iTunes on your phone. Insert a compatible sim card from the carrier you want to use, and then connect your phone to your computer using its original USB cable. 

Launch iTunes and wait for your iPhone to be detected by it, disconnect and reconnect after 10 seconds and voila! Your iPhone is now unlocked!

Conclusion

We hope that this article has helped you resolve the SIM not activated or SIM not supported error on your iPhone. If you need our services or if you want to inquire, feel free to chat with our team anytime. Did you encounter this problem in the past? How did you resolve it?

Let us know in the comments!

Is It A Worthy Upgrade?

It has been a year since the release of the iPhone 12 and it came with not only one, but three other models in the same year shortly after its release. Although the iPhone 12 is not the best phone compared to specs, design, and features in the series, it has garnered the most sales. 

iPhone 12 is the number 1 best-selling phone not only in North America but also across the globe. It was followed by iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro, which placed in the second and third spot respectively. 

It’s not rare for iPhones to take the top sales yearly, but if you’re planning to upgrade to the iPhone 12, we unlocked the features below. 

iPhone 12 Top-level Overview 

Pros 

• Available in 6 beautiful, trendy colors 
• Magsafe compatible 
• Long battery life 

Cons 

• Significantly more expensive compared to its direct competitors
• Small base storage, only 64GB 
• 60 Hz Display refresh rate not up to date with latest flagship phones 
• Cameras still need improvement

Design and Build Quality

What you’ll like: 

The beautiful Pantone colors of the iPhone 12 is what makes them an absolute eye candy. You can choose from 6 gorgeous colors: white, blue, purple, black, red, and green. 

One of the things that make the iPhone 12 a gorgeous phone is the flat edges- you’ll remember this with older models such as the iPhone 5s, which makes the phone really easy to grip. Moreover, Apple says they have Ceramic Shield on the 12 series, which means these phones are made to have some sort of ‘shatter protection’ in case you drop them- good thing to have especially if you’re a butterfinger. Downside- it might make it more prone to scratches, but you can always add a screen protector. 

It is a little bit thinner and lighter than its predecessors, but it still feels premium to hold thanks to its aluminum sides.

What you won’t like: 

If you’re an Android phone user switching for the first time to an iPhone, you’d probably get disappointed with the amount of money you will spend on it. 

Out of the box, the iPhone 12 comes with zero accessories to go with it except for a single USB C cable, not even a wall charger. Their reason? Everyone already has one and that’s why you only get the cable. 

That sounds like a good reason, but it also significantly cuts the costs of each phone. And if you’re a first-time user as we said, you’ll have to buy a compatible wall charger, which could cost you an extra twenty bucks. 

The lack of chargers is a real bummer because the old wall chargers are only 5 watts based on the abilities of older phone models, which is too slow for the newer iPhone models. So in the end, you’ll still end up buying yourself a new iPhone charger.  

Recently, Samsung made the same move with the Samsung Galaxy S21. They didn’t include a compatible wall charger in the accessories as well. This means if you want to take advantage of their fast-charging features, you’ll be forced to spend more.

On the other hand, the 60Hz refresh rate of the iPhone 12 is significantly much lower than that of the Galaxy S21 which has 120Hz refresh rate. This means that when you scroll or play games on the iPhone 12, it is not as clear and as smooth as the S21. 

If you’re a long-time Android or Samsung phone user, you’ll notice a significant difference when it comes to the display. A lot of Android phones have had either a 90 Hz or 120Hz refresh rate even before 2020. 

These features are based on the T-Mobile website, but we know it’s better to have unlocked iPhones or unlock your iPhone because you will not need to rely on a carrier, and travel with your phone worry-free! 

What’s in the box:

MagSafe: Charging in a snap!

If you’re not new to the Apple ecosystem, you probably have heard of or used MagSafe before. But for the sake of the others who didn’t, we will explain how it works here. 

Easily put, MagSafe is a magnetically attached puck charger that was previously used for Macs. MagSafe offers 15 Watts wireless charging and is designed to safely and quickly wirelessly charge your device, according to the Apple website. 

The iPhone 12 series is the first set of iPhones to have fast-charging MagSafe compatibility. It snaps onto the back of the iPhone 12 like a magnet on a refrigerator. You may still be able to use MagSafe on older models using Qi wireless charging technology, but they’re a lot slower due to a significant difference in wattages.

On the other hand, MagSafe charging is still significantly lower than a USB C fast charging based on tests done by Macrumors.com. 

Cameras.

The iPhone 12 cameras don’t have a lot of drastic changes, advantages, or new features over the previous iPhones. If you want to see the real camera upgrade, you’ll have to check out iPhone 12 Pro as it is the real deal when it comes to iPhone cameras nowadays. 

The iPhone 12 has two cameras in the back, the same as the camera placement back in 2019, but they can shoot videos in Dolby HDR, one of the best video-shooting standards. It also has a better, much larger ƒ/1.6 aperture which makes photos taken in low-light crisper and better than the other iPhones. 

Good aesthetics but lacks functionality

You’re probably wanting the iPhone 12 because of the amazing Pinterest boards you see about its app customization, but there’s still a serious flaw that you might want to consider: the floating apps on the screen are not interactive. 

What do we mean by this? 

Yes, you’re able to customize the widgets that you want to prioritize or see first, however, you still have to open the app in order for you to be able to use them. A few examples for this would be, (1) you need to start/stop music directly from the Spotify widget, (2) you can’t scroll on your calendar widget, etc.

Is the iPhone 12 worth buying? 

The iPhone 12, being the latest series, definitely has a lot of newer, cooler, better features compared to the iPhone 11. Compared to the other models that came out in this series, the iPhone 12 is not so bad. 

The iPhone 12 and the 12 Pro have the same size, although the Pro has some more serious camera upgrades. The Pro has a third camera in the back, with a price difference of $100+ it is worth considering.

Apple released 4 flagship phones last year in the same series- iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Mini, and the iPhone 12 Pro Max. The iPhone 12 models are the first ever series to have 5G connectivity from all Apple devices, and it’s the only one that supports the fastest 5G technology available in the world. Whatever extra speed means for you, these are the phones that allow you to experience the fastest 5G networks. 

When it comes to the prices, the iPhone 12 Mini is the most affordable among the four, but for the features, a lot of people are inclined to believe it is the iPhone 12 Pro. 

But is it worth buying? 

iPhone 12 Pro Top-level Overview

Pros 

• Sturdy, beautiful build 
• Gorgeous colors in matte finish 
• Faster chipset
• Long battery life

Cons 

• Very expensive 
• Heavier 
• Stainless steel sides is fingerprint magnet 
• No significant upgrades, the camera is so-so

Design and Build Quality 

What you’ll like: 

The iPhone 12 Pro comes with superior, gorgeous metallic colors with matte finish and it has a glossy camera bump. The iPhone 12 has a glossy finish and a matte camera finish on the back. The iPhone 12 Pro and the Pro Max were designed to look like the iPad Pro with flat edges. 

Moreover, the sizes of the phones are not the primary determining factor for the price in this series. 

The iPhone 12 and the iPhone 12 Pro are of the same size as both are 6.1 inches in length, but the price of the Pro is significantly higher. When it comes to comfortable hold, it is the perfect fit for the hand and is not awkward to hold such as the gigantic Pro Max, which is 6.7 inches tall, and the Mini which is 5.4 inches. 

What you won’t like: 

The stainless steel sides give the phone that shiny flagship-only luster, but it does come with downsides. One, it is prone to gathering fingerprints, and second it makes the phone substantially heavier than its predecessors or the ones it came with in this series. 

One would expect that Apple will adapt to the market and upgrade the display in this new series, but unfortunately, there’s no improvement at all from the iPhone 11. The refresh rate is still the same and is definitely inferior to the standard Android high-end phone displays that have a 120Hz refresh rate. If you’re gaming a lot, you will definitely see the significant difference between the iPhone 12 display versus the latest flagship Android phones.

What’s in the box:

Cameras.

The 12 pro and 12 have the same primary sensor and ultra wide sensor but it has an additional 2x telephoto zoom camera – not Space Zoom which is in android flagships like Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G. The iPhone 12 Pro Max on the other hand, offers 4X Optical Zoom, which is also one reason why it’s more expensive. 

The camera zoom captures crisp photos only if there’s enough light source. When the lighting is bad or when you’re taking pictures at night, the phone detects that your main camera can take better pictures than the telephoto zoom camera lens. 

The iPhone 12 Pro has dual optical image stabilization but all the bigger, much more significant camera upgrades are on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. 

The Pro Max contains Sensor Shift Image Stabilization which means the stabilization is on the sensor and not on the lens itself. This technology has been previously used only in DSLRs, but with iPhone 12 Pro Max has better than ever camera stabilization. 

AR 

Augmented Reality in the iPhone 12 models are definitely more immersive and accurate compared to their predecessors because they have LiDar scanners. These scanners also help you measure the height of anything, even people, accurately. 

The LiDar camera can also be used for AR games and also helps with camera enhancements, which made Night Mode possible in this series. 

Should you buy the iPhone 12 Pro? 

The iPhone 12 Pro is a great phone overall, but if you’re willing to spend $100 more, you can have the Pro Max, which is undeniably the best in this series. Although, the large size of the Pro Max would make you think it is going to be a bit challenging to hold, it can be a good phablet, and who knows, the future Apple OS might allow multi-tasking and with its big screen, you will not need to upgrade. 

Between iPhone 12 and the 12 Pro, there’s not much of a difference. The display, design, notch, haptics, except for the slight camera features are very much the same for these two devices. Their price difference is $170- and we think a slight compromise in the camera also makes the iPhone 12 a good buy in this series. 

Released August last year, the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G is aimed at serving a very specific target market. Perfect for those who take ‘work’ wherever they go or for content creators who record or make content in the most random moments, this phablet is everything you need for a portable ‘studio’.

If you’re considering buying this specific model from the Samsung cosmos, let’s take a look and unlock its features.

Top-level Overview

Pros 

• The brightest AMOLED Screen so far 
• Sharp Space Zoom cameras 
• Long battery life 
• Powerful new features 
• The gaming experience is amazing
• The S Pen has become much more intuitive

Cons 

• Very expensive 
• Less memory capacity compared to previous Note models 
• The curved display is aesthetically pleasing but annoying at times. 
• Fingerprint resistant finish 
• The camera bulges too much and it’s too bulky

Design and Build Quality

What you’ll like: 

If you’re buying a Note for the first time, you’ll definitely fall in love with the Note20 Ultra. It is a beautiful phablet (phone and tablet) with a matte bronze finish standing 6.9 inches tall. The weight of the phone is just about right, it is substantial enough to assert itself as a premium flagship device, but not too heavy that it feels like it’s made with cheap materials. 

The whole phone is made of Gorilla Glass both front and back and has a stainless steel frame. It is fingerprint resistant so you don’t have no need to wipe it too often. 

And if you’re feeling like taking your phone underwater to take incredible beach pictures, have no fear, because this flagship can stay submerged in up to 1.5m underwater for 30 minutes (IP68 dust/water resistant ). For sure you’ll have been able to take a lot of pictures by then. 

Related: How to permanently Factory Unlock your phone with the Mobile Device Unlock App.

What you won’t like: 

Design-wise, there are many things you wouldn’t like about the Note20 if you were to compare it with other flagships. Just like its predecessors, the Note20 Ultra has a curved display, although Samsung has managed to keep the apps away from the edges, it does cause accidental screen taps. 

The cameras at the back bulge off the back too much that the phone can’t lay flat on a surface. It makes the phone rock when you lay it down and because they hit the surface first, they are prone to breakage. Good to remember if you’re a butterfinger. 

It does make up for its 5X optical zoom ability which is very stable even up to 20x. You can zoom up to 50x and still get a decent photo, but it might be a bit too shaky for some. And if you’re not a leftie, you probably wouldn’t appreciate how they have moved the S-pen to the left hand side in this series. 

Lastly, this flagship is very, very expensive. From T-Mobile, the full price is $1299.99 when bought

The Note20 Ultra has an advanced chipset and operating system making it one of the fastest phones today. 

What’s in the box:

Cameras.

The cameras at the back may look unsightly but it captures way better than the Note20 5G. It has a dedicated autofocus sensor at the back that helps ensure your images are steady and sharp even when you zoom in up to 50x. 

It can be a preference type of issue, but the Note20 Ultra cameras make faces washed out or too ‘filtered’. 

If you’re a filmmaker or video content creator that takes a lot of raw videos, the Pro Video Mode is an absolute treat for you. You have the ability to tweak anything from the exposure to the white balance. Moreover, you can choose your bluetooth earbuds as the audio source so when you’re recording videos or vlogging outside, you can effectively reduce the background noise.

The S-pen.

Whether you’re taking notes or drawing, the S-Pen is your companion for your day-to-day work. It feels natural and smooth, and you will love how it came with new intuitive features. 

Samsung added new air gestures for the S-Pen and it’s a fast shortcut for when you’re in a hurry or multi-tasking between apps. You can even take screenshots you can write on or annotate! 

Gaming 

Whether you play small or play big, the Note20 Ultra is able to keep up with your needs. You can use DeX Mode and play on a 4K TV and you can stream XBox games and play with no lags. 

Aside from gaming, you can cast your Note20 Ultra screen on a TV and open multiple apps. You can also show your whole Note20 Ultra screen on a laptop or PC and be able to take calls, or run multiple apps side by side. 

With its 4500 mAh battery which can last a day on normal use, with music or video streaming, gaming, calling and more. 

Conclusion:

In conclusion, we can say that the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G is the ultimate dream phone for content creators who take their craft seriously, and a great phone for multi-taskers who take work everywhere they go. 

Is it worth its hefty price? 

For all the features it offers and the quality of the build, it is every bit worth its thousand dollar price tag. 

Compared to other flagship manufacturers within the same price point, the Note20 Ultra boasts superior features than the rest- moreover, with so many trade-in discounts nowadays, you will still be able to slash off a good amount from the original price making this phablet a steal. 

That’s it for our review of the Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G, we hope this helped!

Here at UnlockBase, our goal is to help you unlock the best potential of your device by giving you freedom over your choice of carriers. If you find yourself wanting to permanently unlock your Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G, choose the one that best fits your situation below. 

Tracfone is well known for its non-contract services as a prepaid mobile service provider. Being able to enjoy the fastest networks from the US and in some parts of Mexico, Tracfone is an affordable way to get connected while you’re on a budget. 

And today at UnlockBase, we’re happy to announce that we now support unlock for all Tracfone devices including its subsidiaries Straight Talk, Simple Mobile, Total Wireless, Walmart Family Mobile, and GoSmart, Net10 Wireless, and Page Plus Cellular. 

If you own a Tracfone device or any of the above-mentioned prepaid services carrier, you can now have your phone unlocked so you can use it on any network across the globe! 

How to Permanently Sim Unlock Tracfone Devices

All Tracfone (and its subsidiaries) devices, both GSM and CDMA, can now be unlocked through UnlockBase. 

The process is fairly easy. Here’s how: 

1. Dial #TFUNLOCK# (#83865625#) to open the Unlock Code menu

2. The device will ask for 2 Unlock Codes: In the first field, please enter the MCK/DEFREEZE Code. In the second field, please enter either the SPCK code OR (in case you did not receive an SPCK code), the NCK/NETWORK code.

3. Your device will show a “Device Unlocked“ message and may reboot.

4. That’s it – Your device is now successfully unlocked and ready to use with any GSM carrier worldwide!

Having your Tracfone phone unlocked is easy, the unlock codes for your device will be provided by UnlockBase! If you want to have your Tracfone phone unlocked, we have to know a few information from you in order for us to generate the unlock codes.

We need your device model number, its IMEI or serial number (how to know your IMEI code here), and your carrier. 

How to Know If You’re Using Tracfone GSM or CDMA Phone

There are two types of Tracfone devices, CDMA and GSM. It is important to know that an unlocked CDMA phone will only work with CDMA carriers, and an unlocked GSM phone will only work with GSM carriers. 

If you are planning to switch carriers, please make sure that your phone is compatible with the type of network your new carrier is servicing. 

Although most carriers in the USA are GSM, many carriers such as Verizon, Sprint, and US Cellular still use CDMA. On the other hand, the more commonly known carriers that are GSM are T-Mobile and AT&T. 

If you are unsure what type of Tracfone you own, here is an easy way how: 

For older Tracfone device

• If your phone model ends with a “G”, then it means you are using a phone compatible with a GSM carrier. 

• If your phone model ends with either a “C” it means you are using a phone compatible with a CDMA network. 

For new Tracfone device

• If your phone model ends with “VL” it means it’s using the Verizon-LTE network. 

• Some GSM phones from Tracfone use “AL” or “BL” which means they are either using AT&T LTE or T-Mobile LTE. There are also “DL”and “TL” models both of these are GSM as well.

For the best experience with your unlocked Tracfone device, we recommend that you choose the carrier which has the best coverage in your area. 

Conclusion

For the best experience with your unlocked Tracfone device, we recommend that you choose the carrier which has the best coverage in your area. 

Moreover, please note that most of the world uses GSM, good to know if you want to travel outside the USA and want to use a Tracfone device.