20 votes

Does anyone want to buy an unused Pixel 10?

I got a new Verizon account in December 2025, and was surprised to learn they'd give me a free phone. I chose a Pixel 10 (128GB, Obsidian).

When I opened the Verizon account, the Verizon employee touched this Pixel 10 just enough to make sure the eSIM was configured, but we never even set up the OS. I moved the eSIM to my phone, so this Pixel 10 has never been used, never even finished the initial boot process.

I think Verizon carrier-locks their phones for 60 days. I got the phone on 12/17/25 so it should be out of carrier lock now.

This Pixel 10 is boot-loader locked and I use GrapheneOS, so it's of no use to me. I tried to sell it on eBay, but they wanted me to upload photos of my ID or some such nonsense, which I won't do. I tried to sell it on Swappa, but they refused because the phone is "financed"*.

This phone is technically in new condition except the plastic seal on the box has been broken.

If you'd like to buy an unused Pixel 10 for $500 + shipping, please send me a private message and we'll work out the details.

Photos can be seen here (link available until 4/30/26): https://immich.thewooskeys.com/s/pixel10

Let me know if you have any questions about the phone.

Offers will be considered.

*The "free phone" deal with Verizon is that they charge me the cost of the phone ($800) prorated monthly over 2 years, and each month they also credit me that same amount so the total charge each month is $0.00. If ever I cancel my plan with them, they will charge me the balance.

13 comments

  1. [8]
    em-dash
    Link
    ooh, I've been wanting to switch to GrapheneOS, this sounds grea-- -- oh okay then. Is it not unlockable with the usual fastboot fiddling?

    ooh, I've been wanting to switch to GrapheneOS, this sounds grea--

    This Pixel 10 is boot-loader locked and I use GrapheneOS

    -- oh okay then.

    Is it not unlockable with the usual fastboot fiddling?

    12 votes
    1. [6]
      mike_wooskey
      Link Parent
      I haven't tried, but my understanding is that if the manufacturer/provider locks the boot loader, there is nothing you can do about it.

      Is it not unlockable with the usual fastboot fiddling?

      I haven't tried, but my understanding is that if the manufacturer/provider locks the boot loader, there is nothing you can do about it.

      7 votes
      1. [5]
        dreamless_patio
        Link Parent
        Verizon can unlock it once the payment plan completes. Things might get murky if it's sold to a third party; edit:...

        Verizon can unlock it once the payment plan completes. Things might get murky if it's sold to a third party; at the very least you'll need to remain available to the buyer to facilitate the unlock.

        edit: https://www.verizon.com/business/support/equipment-devices-services/wireless-devices/unlock-device/

        Do I have to do anything to have my device unlocked?

        No. Your device will be unlocked automatically as long the following applies:

        You’re 60 days from purchase (if purchased before 1/27/2026)
        Your device is paid in full.
        Your device is not flagged for fraud, or reported as lost or stolen

        3 votes
        1. [4]
          delphi
          Link Parent
          This specifically refers to carrier locking, not the bootloader. I wouldn't be surprised that nobody at the Verizon store knows what you're talking about if you went there and asked about if their...

          This specifically refers to carrier locking, not the bootloader. I wouldn't be surprised that nobody at the Verizon store knows what you're talking about if you went there and asked about if their phones could be bootloader-unlocked.

          5 votes
          1. [3]
            dreamless_patio
            Link Parent
            It is the same thing. If the carrier unlocks the phone, the bootloader unlock toggle will be available in dev options. edit: I have installed Graphene on multiple AT&T and Verizon Pixels (***but...

            It is the same thing. If the carrier unlocks the phone, the bootloader unlock toggle will be available in dev options.

            edit: I have installed Graphene on multiple AT&T and Verizon Pixels (***but not a Pixel 10).

            4 votes
            1. [2]
              whbboyd
              Link Parent
              It definitely is not, necessarily, though it's possible it varies on the model of phone. Xperia devices can definitely be carrier-unlocked but bootloader-locked (which makes them useless for my...

              It definitely is not, necessarily, though it's possible it varies on the model of phone. Xperia devices can definitely be carrier-unlocked but bootloader-locked (which makes them useless for my purposes, and yeah, confuses a ton of people). Pixels may conflate those settings, but they don't need to.

              4 votes
              1. dreamless_patio
                Link Parent
                Yeah I was doing some research and it's murkier than I remember. Both functions are at least controlled by the same system: https://grapheneos.org/install/web#enabling-oem-unlocking I've had no...

                Yeah I was doing some research and it's murkier than I remember. Both functions are at least controlled by the same system:

                https://grapheneos.org/install/web#enabling-oem-unlocking

                Carrier variants of Pixels use the same stock OS and firmware with a non-zero carrier id flashed onto the persist partition in the factory. The carrier id activates carrier-specific configuration in the stock OS including disabling carrier and bootloader unlocking.

                I've had no issues carrier unlocking (and then bootloader unlocking) an AT&T Pixel 6 and 8, and a Verizon Pixel 7; but clearly the best advice is to just get the unlocked model directly from Google!

                Cheers

                2 votes
    2. carrotflowerr
      Link Parent
      I fell for the same thing. Verizon inexplicably sold me a pixel 10 for $150, non financed. It's a great phone! But I got it in hopes of using Graphene. To my knowledge, the lock protection is much...

      I fell for the same thing. Verizon inexplicably sold me a pixel 10 for $150, non financed. It's a great phone! But I got it in hopes of using Graphene. To my knowledge, the lock protection is much stricter.

      2 votes
  2. [5]
    moocow1452
    Link
    Verizon may allow you to use it as an exchange or for trade in credit for the future. If one of their stores is around, they may be able to help you out? Worst case, you can keep it as a spare, or...

    Verizon may allow you to use it as an exchange or for trade in credit for the future. If one of their stores is around, they may be able to help you out? Worst case, you can keep it as a spare, or Verizon does have a deal with Motorola, so they may carry a Graphene phone in the future you can trade up into.

    Also, be careful about changing your plan with Verizon as well. I started on the 5G Welcome plan and moved onto the Unlimited Welcome plan to save money, but I couldn't get the credits for the phone back, so it was a bit of a wash.

    3 votes
    1. [4]
      mike_wooskey
      Link Parent
      Thanks for the ideas. If I can't sell it, I'll look into possible future trade-in credit. And if everything fails, I may use it as a local-only device (no cellular and firewall it to my internal...

      Thanks for the ideas. If I can't sell it, I'll look into possible future trade-in credit. And if everything fails, I may use it as a local-only device (no cellular and firewall it to my internal network only), though I have no idea for what purpose.

      2 votes
      1. moocow1452
        Link Parent
        After giving it a think, with just local access you could use Termux and run a server on it or get into Home Assistant or Android dev, stream to it from a Plex/Jellyfin Server or Steam...

        After giving it a think, with just local access you could use Termux and run a server on it or get into Home Assistant or Android dev, stream to it from a Plex/Jellyfin Server or Steam Link/Moonlight for games, maybe make it into an iPod with some local music or videos, or a “productive” device that is for work/writing/a specific task that you want your own device with no other junk in the way. Or go completely in the other direction, and make it an Emulation device, with Retroarch, Gamenative, what have you.

        2 votes
      2. [2]
        moocow1452
        Link Parent
        Not sure how deep you are in the gaming scene, but Gamenative just released a new version with fixes for the Pixel 10, and that can run offline once games are locally on the device....

        Not sure how deep you are in the gaming scene, but Gamenative just released a new version with fixes for the Pixel 10, and that can run offline once games are locally on the device.

        https://github.com/utkarshdalal/GameNative/releases/tag/v0.9.0

        1 vote