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212rikanmofo

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Jan 31, 2003
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Since buying phones these days you're paying the full amount, I'm assuming they come factory unlocked?

I plan on ordering my phone from Apple once pre-order becomes active.
 
Since buying phones these days you're paying the full amount, I'm assuming they come factory unlocked?

I plan on ordering my phone from Apple once pre-order becomes active.

Yes they’ll come unlocked if you order it that way. I know mine did
 
Are factory unlocked phones available on launch day? Seems like it's always 1-2 months after launch that they start offering those... Unless of course you go with the IUP..then they're unlocked.
 
Are factory unlocked phones available on launch day? Seems like it's always 1-2 months after launch that they start offering those... Unless of course you go with the IUP..then they're unlocked.
You’re correct, in the U.S. they don’t come out for a awhile. Other countries get the sim free right away..
 
So on pre-order day in the US, they will sell ATT, T-Mobile, Verizon & Sprint model factory locked at FULL MSRP??? If I'm going to be paying full price right off the bat I would expect my phone to be factory unlocked.
 
So on pre-order day in the US, they will sell ATT, T-Mobile, Verizon & Sprint model factory locked at FULL MSRP??? If I'm going to be paying full price right off the bat I would expect my phone to be factory unlocked.
It should but even if it doesn’t you can have the carrier unlock it for you since it’s paid in full.
 
So on pre-order day in the US, they will sell ATT, T-Mobile, Verizon & Sprint model factory locked at FULL MSRP??? If I'm going to be paying full price right off the bat I would expect my phone to be factory unlocked.

This is the way it has been for a while. You would have to wait to get an unlocked version.

You can request the carrier unlock but it could take a while for them to do so.
 
This is the way it has been for a while. You would have to wait to get an unlocked version.

You can request the carrier unlock but it could take a while for them to do so.

Should be same day, within duration of call, Xfinity Mobile was, and internet says they have the worse CS.
I finished out my month on old carrier with new phone before transferring service.
 
This is the way it has been for a while. You would have to wait to get an unlocked version.

You can request the carrier unlock but it could take a while for them to do so.

I hope it doesn't require 2 years to get it unlocked. I really need a phone, I can't wait another 2 months.
 
I hope it doesn't require 2 years to get it unlocked. I really need a phone, I can't wait another 2 months.

Maybe a week. They get backed up when a new phone is released and it could take a week.
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Should be same day, within duration of call, Xfinity Mobile was, and internet says they have the worse CS.
I finished out my month on old carrier with new phone before transferring service.

AT&T get kinda back up due to the flood of requests so it could take a week.
 
The rumor is that there is only one SKU that will support all necessary bands, so you never know. A full price phone bought from an apple store could essentially be a sim free/unlocked model right out the gate if rumors are true.
 
So with last year's iPhone X, which was the definitive model to get that will work worldwide? I don't know why Apple doesn't sell one model to all the carriers in America (ATT Tmobile, Verizon, Sprint, etc.). Why does each carrier have to have a unique model? They can make one iPhone that truly supports worldwide bands and carrier instead.
 
If you get one of the Apple Upgrade Program phones they come unlocked to a carrier even though you have to choose one. You have to call a number to pay it off but not that big a deal
 
I think many people are confusing "unlocked" with "sim-free". Two different things.

The sim-free versions come out 1-2 months after the release. They come without a sim card, which means they are not linked to any particular carrier (via branding or other means). The sim-free iPhones are also fully unlocked.

However, on launch day, you can buy directly from Apple and by paying full price, that phone will come unlocked, regardless of the carrier you choose. So it's essentially the same thing as buying the sim-free version, except that, despite being unlocked, it comes with a sim card for that carrier and is branded for that carrier, if applicable.

Another misconception is that the "sim-free" models sold in the USA are global phones, which is not true. Sim free simply means they'll work with any carrier in the USA. However, historically, they will not work optimally in other countries. Take the iPhone 8, for example. The sim free version is missing crucial LTE bands that some carriers rely on throughout Asia. Your sim-free model will still work there, just not optimally. In order to get a global iPhone 8, you would have to opt for the Sprint model, which is a true "global" version of the iPhone 8 that most other countries got, which will unfortunately not work optimally for some carriers in the USA, such as Verizon.
 
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I think many people are confusing "unlocked" with "sim-free". Two different things.

The sim-free versions come out 1-2 months after the release. They come without a sim card, which means they are not linked to any particular carrier (via branding or other means). The sim-free iPhones are also fully unlocked.

However, on launch day, you can buy directly from Apple and by paying full price, that phone will come unlocked, regardless of the carrier you choose. So it's essentially the same thing as buying the sim-free version, except that, despite being unlocked, it comes with a sim card for that carrier and is branded for that carrier, if applicable.

Another misconception is that the "sim-free" models sold in the USA are global phones, which is not true. Sim free simply means they'll work with any carrier in the USA. However, historically, they will not work optimally in other countries. Take the iPhone 8, for example. The sim free version is missing crucial LTE bands that some carriers rely on throughout Asia. Your sim-free model will still work there, just not optimally. In order to get a global iPhone 8, you would have to opt for the Sprint model, which is a true "global" version of the iPhone 8 that most other countries got, which will unfortunately not work optimally for some carriers in the USA, such as Verizon.

Thanks for the info. Would that also apply for all future iPhone models is to get the Sprint version if you want a true world phone that is optimal for use globally? I'm an AT&T subscriber. So if I were to purchase a Sprint version of the iPhone Xs, would I still be able to use it right away with my existing AT&T sim card?
 
Thanks for the info. Would that also apply for all future iPhone models is to get the Sprint version if you want a true world phone that is optimal for use globally? I'm an AT&T subscriber. So if I were to purchase a Sprint version of the iPhone Xs, would I still be able to use it right away with my existing AT&T sim card?

You would have to look at the Apple website and compare the phones, once released. Apple lists the exact LTE band support for each phone. If you're an AT&T user and AT&T relies on LTE bands that are supported by the global model (Sprint, usually), then it's wise for you to buy the Sprint model, which will work well internationally. Assuming, of course, that you travel enough to take advantage of such a phone.

I travel abroad quite often, which is why I always buy the Sprint model unlocked, even though I never used Sprint as a carrier. Asian countries (Thailand, Japan, Korea, and China) have carriers that rely on LTE bands found only on the Sprint model of the iPhone 8, for example. I'm not sure about any of the newer iPhones.
 
This is the way it has been for a while. You would have to wait to get an unlocked version.

You can request the carrier unlock but it could take a while for them to do so.
A few days ago I requested my "FULLY paid for X" to be unlocked. ATT replied back in less than an hour the it was approved.
 
I always get the T-Mobile Version to use in Germany. I think AT&T one requires an AT&T account and some unlocking proceeding while on t-Mibile you just swap out the SIM card if I am not mistaken
 
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