[RESOLVED] Is The Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra from JB Hi-Fi Unlocked?

Lockdude on 07/02/2023 - 21:08
Last edited 07/02/2023 - 21:46 by 1 other user

UPDATE: After everyone replied with what my intuition told me anyway, I got back onto Telstra and got a different agent to check again. The second agent then said

Upon checking your IMEI number the device is unlocked.

So I have no idea how the first agent stuffed that up. Thank you everyone! 2 hrs of my life wasted on what I assumed was the case in the first place.

Original post below

Hey, I've gotten myself a bit confused and can't find an answer online.

I bought a Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G at JB Hi-Fi back in June 2021. When I bought this I went straight onto one of the Telstra plans to get the big JB Hi-Fi gift card. I am no longer on that plan, and am instead on a cheaper Telstra one.

I'm now going overseas in 2 weeks time, and purchased some overseas data sims, which prompted me to make sure my phone was unlocked.

When I contacted Telstra online, they said it wasn't unlocked. And have sent it to the team to get unlocked. They said this can take 7-10 business days - which is cutting it pretty fine for my trip.

However, during that conversation they mentioned prepaid a few times, which I found odd.

So I tried my housemates postpaid Sim in my phone, which is Kogan via Vodafone. And it worked. I was able to connect to 4G and use the internet.

So my question is this - Is my phone unlocked or not?

If I connected to Vodafone, sounds like it should be right? I wasn't sure if maybe the fact that the sim was postpaid, that maybe it would work anyway. And if I have a prepaid travel sim maybe it won't work.

Maybe that sounds silly to someone who knows what they're talking about, but I don't understand the process or how it works, so I can't problem solve it myself. And I don't really trust Telstra support on the matter.

Mobile Mobile Phone Samsung Android

Comments

  • 87percent on 07/02/2023 - 21:11
    +2

    pm me the imei and I can check on the network

    • Lockdude on 07/02/2023 - 21:16
      +1

      Thanks so much. PM sent.

  • Twix on 07/02/2023 - 21:16

    Unlocked.

    • Lockdude on 07/02/2023 - 21:17
      +2

      Amazing, thank you! I thought that must have been the case. Telstra online chat are hopeless!

      • MS Paint on 07/02/2023 - 21:29
        +3

        Ozbargain online chat > Telstra online chat

        • Lockdude on 07/02/2023 - 21:33

          You laugh but that's exactly why I came here. I back that the people here will at least understand the question I'm asking.

  • solidussnake on 07/02/2023 - 21:17
    +2

    If you bought it from JB using a gift card it will be unlocked as a dead giveaway Vodafone works on it. If you got it from JB on a plan and it has Telstra branding on the box it will still be unlocked but have the boot logo when turning on.

  • Morien on 07/02/2023 - 21:18
    +4

    If it is a Telstra phone, and your roommates Kogan (Vodafone) sim worked, then you have confirmed it is unlocked.

    Edit:
    For OP, and anyone who finds this.

    In Australia there are three cellular networks in operation.
    - Telstra
    - Optus
    - Vodafone

    All resellers use one of those three. Boost use Telstra. Amaysim use Optus. Kogan use Vodafone. etc.

    If your phone accepts any two, then it will accept all three. It is unlocked.

    the only reason you would run into any difficulty when travelling would be if you tried a network that used bands that were unsupported by your phone.

    For information on what bands our networks use (and you can then cross check these with whatever country you are going to), check:
    https://whirlpool.net.au/wiki/mobile_phone_frequencies

    • Lockdude on 07/02/2023 - 21:22

      This is the impression I was under. My confusion is why Telstra would tell me it's locked, I would have thought they could perform the IMEI check and would know.

      • Morien on 07/02/2023 - 21:29
        +1

        laziness. ignorance. assumptive. 1, 2, 3? Maybe all? Dunno.

  • Tee Rex Arms on 07/02/2023 - 21:18
    +1

    IMEI shows as locked

    • Lockdude on 07/02/2023 - 21:20

      Then why did the Vodafone sim work in my mobile? (just trying to understand what's going on)

      • Tee Rex Arms on 07/02/2023 - 21:20

        I’m just kidding I have no idea. It’d be unlocked.

        • Lockdude on 07/02/2023 - 21:21
          +3

          Haha, I appreciate the joke. Unfortunately I'm out of my depth here though!

  • PVA on 07/02/2023 - 21:35

    If it works with Telstra sim and with Vodafone some, then it is unlocked.
    The Telstra call staff don’t know what they are talking about.

    • Lockdude on 07/02/2023 - 21:38

      Thanks. That matches what I thought. I just thought if I gave them an IMEI it would be hard for them to get that wrong… For them isn't it just enter a number, read out the word?

      • PVA on 07/02/2023 - 23:45

        Who knows what their script tells them to do…

  • devize on 07/02/2023 - 23:44
    +1

    Anyone know why these questions still pop up all the time? When was the last time someone actually bought a carrier locked phone? Can't recall it being a thing for over 10 years. The only ones that are ever carrier locked are those cheap android prepaid handsets.

    • Morien on 07/02/2023 - 23:47

      Because it used to be a thing, and like with most things, people remember the first time they were burnt.

  • HairyChickens on 07/02/2023 - 23:49

    JB has stopped selling locked Telstra phones. All of their new phones are unlocked. This includes the S21 Ultra but I guess 87percent already checked it for you.

    • Lockdude on 08/02/2023 - 07:32

      Telstra eventually confirmed it. 87percent never got back to me, haha.

      • 87percent on 08/02/2023 - 07:43

        I was going to check it this morning when I logged into work

        • Lockdude on 08/02/2023 - 08:48
          +2

          Wasn't sure what was going on with you, but I saw how long you'd been in the ozbargain community, so knew it was nothing dodgy. In hindsight my comment looks like I was having a dig at you. Sorry about that, it wasn't my intent. I still appreciate the offer.

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