Last Updated: January 2024
Verizon has a bring-your-own-device program (sometimes called a BYOD, BYOP, or bring-your-own-phone program) for subscribers that don’t want to purchase devices directly from Verizon. While a lot of phones are eligible for Verizon’s BYOD program, the list of eligible phones isn’t as long as the list of phones eligible for AT&T or T-Mobile’s BYOD programs.
The easiest way to check whether you can bring your own phone to Verizon is to enter your phone’s information in Verizon’s compatibility tool.
Compatible iPhones
Most iPhones sold in the U.S. in the last several years will be eligible for Verizon’s BYOD program as long as the devices are not locked to a carrier other than Verizon. The iPhone 6 and more recent iPhones are usually eligible. If you’re considering bringing an iPhone to Verizon, I strongly suggest running your IMEI number through Verizon’s tool to double-check compatibility.
Compatible Android phones
A lot of unlocked Android phones are eligible for Verizon’s bring-your-own-phone program. High-end phones and recently released phones are especially likely to be eligible. Again, running Verizon’s compatibility tool is the most reliable way to see whether your Android phone is eligible.
Whitelisted phones
Verizon’s website has a list of Android phones eligible for Verizon’s BYOD program and a separate list for eligible devices made by Apple. Unfortunately, both of these lists are significantly out of date. They’re not likely to be useful unless you’re bringing a 5+ year-old phone to the network.
Required specifications
For a phone to work well with Verizon, it must:
- Not be locked to another carrier
- Be compatible with HD Voice/VoLTE
- Support some of Verizon’s core LTE bands
Verizon’s bands
Technically inclined people may want to check which frequencies and bands used by Verizon are compatible with their phones.
LTE bands
Verizon relies on five primary bands for LTE service:
- B2
- B4
- B5
- B13
- B66
Verizon also uses bands 46 and 48 in some areas. While Verizon may rely on these two bands more extensively in the future, compatibility with these bands is not currently necessary for good performance on Verizon’s network.
5G bands
So far, Verizon’s 5G service relies on five bands:
- n2 (1900 MHz) – Used for Verizon’s mid-band 5G
- n5 (850 MHz) – Used for Verizon’s low-band 5G
- n66 (1700/2100 MHz) – Used for Verizon’s mid-band 5G
- n260 (39 GHz) – Used for Verizon’s millimeter wave 5G
- n261 (28 GHz) – Used for Verizon’s millimeter wave 5G
Support for 5G bands is not required. Few areas have millimeter wave 5G, so support for n260 and n261 will not impact the user experience in most places.
