Other Unconnected iPhone or Carrier Through Apple?

[Robdmb]

With the esim only this year is there any advantage to unconnected model or choosing your carrier such as Verizon when ordering from Apple if paying outright?

 

[Shadowbech]

Only advantage that I can think of is if you do the unconnected model over a carrier model like Verizon is that there is no activation fee when you get the unconnected model.

but for carrier models like Verizion, i think it depends on how you purchase it. I don't remember but I always bought sim-free (unconnected) models.