Hi! My girlfriend is currently studying in Charlotte, and I want to buy an iPhone as a gift for her. When I try to order on the website, it asks me to choose a carrier and enter a phone number. I’m in another country right now. Which option should I choose to buy an unlocked device and send it to her as a gift without entering a phone number?
iPhone 16 Pro Max, iOS 18
What site are you attempting to order the phone from? In the US, if you order an iPhone and choose either pay in full or use an Apple Card, there is an option to connect to any carrier later. But ordering an iPhone from outside the US is no easy task. You MUST have a valid payment method, issued in the US. You can't use a credit card issued in another country. You also can't order an iPhone in your country to be delivered to the US.
Do you know someone in the US who can purchase the phone for you and then you pay them back for it? That would be the simplest solution for you.
How to order an unlocked iPhone as a gift without a carrier
