Well, unfortunately, we've got some sad news to share with you. Without an official announcement, it seems that Samsung has decided to end support for foreign SIMs completely (rather than just limiting the functionality) on US variants, but will continue to support international variants. For U/U1 variants only, here's what's going to happen:
• Except for a few European countries (including Germany and Sweden), any physical SIM from a carrier outside of the US and Puerto Rico will no longer work, not even from South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America, CIS, Middle East, India, Asia Pacific, or CN/HK/TW, just like it was back before unlocked devices officially debuted in the United States in 2016. In other words, unlocked devices were not meant to be sold in the US in the first place. Even after a carrier unlock, newer devices released since 2023 would still remain locked to the US and Puerto Rico.
• For foreign eSIMs, you will no longer be able to add them from eSIM transfers. Existing eSIMs may continue to work depending on the carrier. You cannot use Open (1st screenshot) or Search for eSIMs or Scan QR Code (2nd screenshot) as methods for activating foreign eSIMs.
• If you scan a QR code and it could not be read for any reason, it may show an error instead of showing the Enter Activation Code screen (notice that the Enter Activation Code button is no longer there in the 3rd screenshot). Furthermore, any eSIMs solely relying on manual activation code entry will no longer be supported.
• As always, eSIMs from carriers and MVNOs not listed can still be added as new activations, provided they are from the US and Puerto Rico.
• Roaming will continue to work as usual.
(The last ever truly unlocked phones worldwide were the Galaxy S22, Z Fold 4, and Z Flip 4.)
• Except for a few European countries (including Germany and Sweden), any physical SIM from a carrier outside of the US and Puerto Rico will no longer work, not even from South Korea, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Latin America, CIS, Middle East, India, Asia Pacific, or CN/HK/TW, just like it was back before unlocked devices officially debuted in the United States in 2016. In other words, unlocked devices were not meant to be sold in the US in the first place. Even after a carrier unlock, newer devices released since 2023 would still remain locked to the US and Puerto Rico.
• For foreign eSIMs, you will no longer be able to add them from eSIM transfers. Existing eSIMs may continue to work depending on the carrier. You cannot use Open (1st screenshot) or Search for eSIMs or Scan QR Code (2nd screenshot) as methods for activating foreign eSIMs.
• If you scan a QR code and it could not be read for any reason, it may show an error instead of showing the Enter Activation Code screen (notice that the Enter Activation Code button is no longer there in the 3rd screenshot). Furthermore, any eSIMs solely relying on manual activation code entry will no longer be supported.
• As always, eSIMs from carriers and MVNOs not listed can still be added as new activations, provided they are from the US and Puerto Rico.
• Roaming will continue to work as usual.
(The last ever truly unlocked phones worldwide were the Galaxy S22, Z Fold 4, and Z Flip 4.)
