I purchased a new, unlocked iPhone directly from Apple using Apple Card Monthly Installments (ACMI), with 0% financing over 24 months. During checkout, Apple required me to select AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon, even though I had no account with any of those carriers and intended to use Mint Mobile. I selected Verizon to complete the purchase.
The new iPhone repeatedly failed with a Verizon-related activation error when I attempted to set it up for Mint Mobile. I worked with Mint Mobile technical support and tested several workarounds before returning the phone.
Here is what I observed:
- Setup while connected to Wi-Fi: Attempts to activate the iPhone while connected to Wi-Fi consistently produced the same Verizon-related failure.
- Mint Mobile activation while disconnected from Wi-Fi: When I disconnected the iPhone from Wi-Fi and scanned the QR code supplied by Mint Mobile, I was able to follow Mint Mobile's online instructions and successfully activate cellular service.
- Restoring my data from my old iPhone: After Mint Mobile service was activated, I reconnected the new iPhone to Wi-Fi and attempted to reset it and restore my apps and data from a backup of my old iPhone. The same Verizon-related failure returned.
These results suggest that Mint Mobile service itself could be activated successfully, but the normal iPhone setup and restoration process triggered the failure again. The problem persisted despite troubleshooting with Mint Mobile support.
My concern is that the failure originates in Apple's iPhone setup or activation workflow, potentially involving the carrier selection required during the ACMI purchase process. I cannot establish the precise technical cause, but the repeatable difference between activation without Wi-Fi and setup/restoration with Wi-Fi is significant.
I returned the iPhone because I could not reliably complete normal setup and restore my data.
Questions for Apple and the community:
- Why would an unlocked iPhone purchased directly from Apple encounter a Verizon-related activation failure when configured for Mint Mobile?
- Could selecting Verizon during Apple's ACMI checkout process create an activation or provisioning association that persists during setup or data restoration?
- Is there a supported way to purchase an iPhone using ACMI and configure it for Mint Mobile without this problem?
- Has anyone encountered and resolved this exact behavior?
I want to resolve the underlying issue before purchasing another iPhone. I am not looking for generic SIM/eSIM troubleshooting; Mint Mobile technical support and I already tested workarounds, and Mint service did activate under specific conditions. The unresolved problem is completing normal iPhone setup and restoring data without triggering the Verizon-related failure again.
Post Script:
Before returning the iPhone, I presented the problem for tech support at an Apple Store. Apple Tech support staff reproduced my original problem and could not activate my phone after verifying it was unlocked. They then consulted presumably more senior staff and then told me it was a known issue but it was not being treated as a problem to be resolved. Beyond that, lots of “sorries” and shrugs.