this post was submitted on 17 Dec 2025
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I will never buy a phone directly through a carrier instead of the OEM. They are offering me some nice discounts right now, but I have no interest in a phone where I can't unlock the bootloader. (Or the carrier lock!)
That's the thing though, I'm pretty sure all of them have an unlocking requirement at some point from the FCC. Depending on how you read the law that should include the bootloader. Verizon especially is screwed on that regard since they can't "restrict what applications a handset user can use on the device" (paraphrased from their agreement). I'm pretty sure if I bought a Pixel from Verizon and wanted to use GrapheneOS on it, their bootloader lock is preventing that and they're in violation of the terms of the agreement.
If we had a more favorable FCC it would be trivial to start a class action over that could literally include most Verizon customers (and second hand device buyers) since they made that agreement with the FCC. The damages would probably be $50-100 (time and effort of trying to get Verizon to do their fucking job) per device up to the cost of devices (they're not fit for purpose). Like either way that's either a substantial blow up to a death sentence for them.