What Phones Are Compatible with Total Wireless? (Best Options)

In case you missed it and you’re still stuck with the question, what phones are compatible with total wireless, then we got you!

In this guide, we will be elaborating on the compatible and eligible phones you can use with Total Wireless.

We’ll go over the common things to look for, what you need to consider, and other things that make it compatible.

Your phone will definitely be compatible with Total Wireless as long as it’s unlocked and so long as it’s a CDMA phone. Nevertheless, you can check your phone’s compatibility through the compatibility checker offered by Total Wireless.

What Phones Are Compatible with Total Wireless?

So, what cell phones are compatible with Total Wireless? Is there a specific category of phones allowed by the company?

In finding out Total Wireless-compatible phones, there are specific criteria you need to take note of.

This includes identifying if the phone is unlocked and if it’s a CDMA phone.

Are Smartphones CDMA Phones?

Yes, smartphones are CDMA phones, but they can also be GSM. The difference between GSM and CDMA is not with what SIM card a person is using, but with the device.

This is because GSM utilizes SIM cards to be linked to a phone in the network, while CDMA devices have built-in identification methods that do not need SIM cards for them to be identified in the network.

So, if you’re asking whether your iPhones or Android phones are CDMA, they most likely are.

Checking if the Phone is Unlocked

The first is to check if the phone you’ll be bringing in is unlocked.

What this means is that the phone shouldn’t be restricted to only a specific provider –it should be open and it should work with all types of providers.

One way to check if your phone is unlocked is to insert a different SIM card into it and see if it’ll work.

For instance, if you got your device from AT&T and you’ve had it for years, try inserting a Sprint SIM card. If it works, then it’s unlocked – otherwise, it’s not.

You can have it unlocked by contacting the provider you purchased it from, letting them know that you’re looking to have your device unlocked.

Checking if the Phone is CDMA

CDMA, short for Code Division Multiple Access, is the counterpart system of GSM or Global System for Mobile Communication.

In simpler terms, CDMA is the radio system that all smartphones today use.  

GSM needed SIM cards for them to be linked to a particular device within the network; CDMA does not.

Moreover, CDMA phones are those that are equipped with 3G – up to 4G/LTE networks.

Now that you’re sure your phone is CDMA and that it is unlocked, you are a few steps closer to the answer you’re looking for.

To further check Total Wireless phone compatibility, you want to use their dedicated tool to check whether a phone is compatible with Total Wireless or not.

How to Use Total Wireless’s Eligibility or Compatibility Checker

Before you fully decide on it, it’s extremely imperative that you check its compatibility using the tool supplied by Total Wireless.

To use this tool, follow these basic and simple steps:

Step #1: Access the Total Wireless Phone Compatibility Tool

To be able to use the compatibility checker, the first thing you want to do is to access it. You need to access this page.

Then, wait for the web page to load up completely before you go on with the next step, which is…

Step #2: Enter Your Device’s IMEI

You’ll know that the webpage is loaded up when you see the prompt “Enter your device’s IMEI/MEID/serial number.”

You then have to type in the IMEI or the serial number of your phone.

In case you didn’t know, the IMEI or serial number is the unique distinctive factor that separates all devices from one another.

Finding the IMEI on Android Phones

The best and easiest way to find the IMEI of your Android device is by going into Phone, and then dialing *#06#. The IMEI will be displayed.

NOTE: Choose the first value because that’s the primary IMEI of your device.

Alternatively, you can also locate your IMEI by going into Settings > About Phone > Status Information > IMEI Information.

Finding the IMEI on iPhones

For iPhones, though, the process of locating the IMEI would really be through Settings.

From Settings, go to General > About. From there, locate the IMEI; if you can’t find it, try looking for MEID or ICCID.

This is the easiest and fastest way for you to find the IMEI or the serial number of your phone, whether it’s an Android or an iPhone.

Step #3: Hit “Continue” and Wait for the Results

And lastly, you’ll be sealing the deal. Once entered, hit the Continue button on the page. The tool may take around a minute to load up, so wait for it.

If it’s compatible, the page will display a “successful” prompt, along with a guide or message on how you can proceed with the BYOP or the “Bring Your Own Phone” program.

Otherwise, the prompt will display a failed message with the message giving you instructions to purchase a phone from Total Wireless instead.

NOTE: The majority of reports that failed were devices that have been purchased overseas. 

If you purchased your phone in the U.S., regardless of the provider, it should be compatible.

Once done, you’ll know whether your phone is compatible with Total Wireless. You’ll be given sufficient information if your device is usable within the Total Wireless network or not.

Can You Call Total Wireless to Ask What Phones Are Compatible?

Calling their customer support wouldn’t help you in any way possible. In fact, they’ll even redirect you to the online compatibility checker.

This is because employees don’t memorize the phones that are compatible.

But, you’ll less likely be rejected to switch to Total Wireless via BYOP if you’re using a smartphone.

Read Next: Can You Track a Google Voice Number?

Final Verdict

Many, if not all phones today are compatible and eligible to be used in the Total Wireless network. However, you just need to ensure that the phone is unlocked and that it is CDMA – make use of the Total Wireless’s compatibility checker as well.

If you’re asking and wondering about what phones are compatible with Total Wireless, then you can go back to this guide anytime.

We’ve given you the complete list of things you need to know to determine whether your phone can be used under the Total Wireless Network or not.

This information is important because it does not only apply to Total Wireless but to other MVNOs, too.