Will the Sprint Nexus 5 work on any carrier in the US?

[xcmiler]

Hi! I have an upgrade available and am considering buying the Nexus 5 from Sprint. We might switch to T-Mobile and so I was wondering if the phone would work on that network without having to unlock it?

I read that the device works on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint but I'm not sure if there are any restrictions placed on it by the carriers since I couldn't find anything specific on Sprint's website.

 

[Rxpert83]

It will work on any but Verizon.

However, if you're switching soon it may be best to get it straight from google. Its cheaper than sprints off contract price and you wont have to deal with an ETF if you go contract

 

[xcmiler]

Awesome! Okay, that makes sense. Thank you!

 

[xcmiler]

One more questions about the phones that are sold as "Unlocked" on websites like Swappa, are they really unlocked? Or do they say that because the nexus works on any carrier in the US except Verizon?

 

[Rxpert83]

No such thing as an unlocked nexus 5 (unless were talking about root ). When they say unlocked it just means its not tied to a carrier

 

[xcmiler]

ohhh, that makes sense. Thank you!

 

[Deleted User]

I bought my Nexus 5 from the Sprint store, and am using it with my Metro PCS (owned by T-Mobile and uses their GSM network)sim. I would have bought it at the T-Mobile store, but the line was long. There was no one at the Sprint store, so it was much quicker of a transaction.