Skip to main content

New services promise lifetime iPhone unlocking, for a price

unlockThe days of awaiting a new jailbreak and unlock for your iPhone every time Apple releases an iOS update may be over. A company called CutYourSim is claiming it can unlock your iPhone without jailbreaking, and keep it that way for life. Of course you will have to pay up, but $169.99 for a permanent unlock may be worth it to eliminate the hassle.

It seems like CutYourSim has someone on the inside helping with the process. It’s likely the company is able to access Apple’s database and enter customers’ IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) numbers to unlock their devices. How exactly CutYourSim has made this connection remains to be seen, but speculation runs the gamut from an inside man to the possibility that the site was (or is) able to access a carrier’s online backend. They’re working fast too: “Our turnaround time is typically anywhere from two to five days for the iPhone.” As they should, seeing as Apple’s made its stance on unlocking and jailbreaking its devices pretty clear (it doesn’t like it). So act fast; we expect a hasty retaliation from the Cupertino company.

Recommended Videos

At the same time, we’re not entirely sure what grounds any Apple opposition will have to stand on. “Jailbreaking, or unauthorized hacks are NOT required,” CutYourSim says. “This does NOT affect your warranty status, because this is an official iPhone unlock.” BGR even tested the service, claimed it works “flawlessly.” Still, Apple will at the very least issue its discouragement of this service and try and get Verizon and AT&T to look into their online security.

CutYourSim isn’t the only one advertising this usually under the table service. Negri Electronics, Unlock Base, and GSM Phone Source are all offering the authorized unlock at similar prices.

There is the possibility that this whole thing is in fact illegal and that someone is hacking into Apple’s database. In that case, we’d advise you not to send out that $170. On the other hand… if this is a legit unlock, you might only have a few days to take advantage before Apple does some investigating and axes the whole operation.

Molly McHugh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
I’m saving for Apple’s game-changing 2027 products and you should, too
Apple Watch Series 7 sitting on top of an iPhone 13 Pro.

Apple makes terrific hardware, and serves an astoundingly refined software to go with it. The company, unfortunately, also follows a strategy where it repeats the same fundamental design and innovation stack for years. 

In a nutshell, you get to see a remarkably new hardware from Apple once or twice in a decade.  The year 2027 is shaping up to be one such year, and it seems buyers will be spoiled for choice with the sheer diversity of upgraded products in two years from now. 

Read more
Apple could soon fix Wi-Fi access woes across all your devices
Setting up Wi-Fi on an iPhone.

One of the biggest hassles while traveling is the hunt for a decent internet connection, and then getting it to work across all your devices. The conundrum is now mainstream across hotels, lodges, and coffee shops — essentially all the establishments a person is supposed to spend a few hours of their day, but needs to fill a web form first before they can get internet access.

Apple will soon put an end to those Wi-Fi registration struggles. According to Bloomberg, the company is working on “a system that can synchronize captive Wi-Fi access details across the iPhone, iPad and Mac.”

Read more
New iPhone 17 Air leak shows it could be the thinnest, even in a case
A mockup of the Apple iPhone 17 Air next to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

The new iPhone 17 Air is heavily rumoured to live up to its name by being a far thinner version of the smartphone.

Thinner than what? Well, the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Although once they're both in cases, will anyone even notice?

Read more