iPhone XR When will there be a SIM-FREE version?

[Appurushido]

I might be in the market of the cheaper version iPhone this year, XR over XS. If USB-C iPads get announced next Tuesday, then it's probably a good bet that next years flagship iPhones will adopt USB-C over lightning.

Are the carrier phones (T-Mo, Sprint, Verizon, ATT) the same as the SIM-Free version if I bought them outright? or is the ATT and Spr ones CDMA again and locked to that system? Has a sim-free version been announced?

 

[gurase]

They are all the same. I ordered a Verizon model from Apple and I’m using it on Cricket. You don’t need a carrier account to order any of the carrier models.

 

[Mackinjosh]

Tip: Buy any of them that are being offered. Take the sim tool it comes with, stick it in the hole, remove sim, throw it in the trash, enjoy your unlocked sim-free iPhone. As long as you buy it from Apple and pay full price, you're getting an unlocked phone that just so happens to include a phone sim for the carrier you selected at checkout.

 

[dmk1974]

This is good to know. Not just for XR, but for any that are bought direct from Apple. I like to have the flexibility to use my personal or work SIM in the phones from time to time (T-Mobile and Verizon respectively).

What about full price purchase from Best Buy? Can I not activate from them too? Get some rewards points there.

 

[Banglazed]

The sim-free version normally comes out a month after the launch date.

 

[Appurushido]

They are all the same. I ordered a Verizon model from Apple and I’m using it on Cricket. You don’t need a carrier account to order any of the carrier models.

Awesome. I assume you bought it outright when you purchased the phone? But with the carrier phones, wouldn't you need to sign up with a service plan? Or would it be the same if you paid in full at purchase?

Tip: Buy any of them that are being offered. Take the sim tool it comes with, stick it in the hole, remove sim, throw it in the trash, enjoy your unlocked sim-free iPhone. As long as you buy it from Apple and pay full price, you're getting an unlocked phone that just so happens to include a phone sim for the carrier you selected at checkout.

Cool. So regardless of carrier, they are compatible with all network carriers? Or are there still CDMA vs GSM phones?

The sim-free version normally comes out a month after the launch date.

I asked because the XS, which I originally planned to buy and maybe still will, came with sim-free at launch. I just noticed the XR didn't have day one sim-free versions.

 

[stafil]

Tip: Buy any of them that are being offered. Take the sim tool it comes with, stick it in the hole, remove sim, throw it in the trash, enjoy your unlocked sim-free iPhone. As long as you buy it from Apple and pay full price, you're getting an unlocked phone that just so happens to include a phone sim for the carrier you selected at checkout.

Aren’t the model numbers different?

 

[Squeak825]

Awesome. I assume you bought it outright when you purchased the phone? But with the carrier phones, wouldn't you need to sign up with a service plan? Or would it be the same if you paid in full at purchase?



Cool. So regardless of carrier, they are compatible with all network carriers? Or are there still CDMA vs GSM phones?



I asked because the XS, which I originally planned to buy and maybe still will, came with sim-free at launch. I just noticed the XR didn't have day one sim-free versions.

They are all the exact same phone and model number in the US. Buy it full price from Apple and it comes unlocked with courtesy SIM card for carrier of your choice.

 

[kevink2]

Cool. So regardless of carrier, they are compatible with all network carriers? Or are there still CDMA vs GSM phones?

All new US model iPhones released this year work on all US carriers. Xs, Xs Max, Xr. The 8 and 8+ sold new still differ between models that work on all, and those that don't support CDMA.

The Xs surprised me at being available SIM Free at launch. But this year the models under more demand were the Max (for those liking larger phones) and the Xr (many of the benefits, cheaper)

 

[gurase]

Awesome. I assume you bought it outright when you purchased the phone? But with the carrier phones, wouldn't you need to sign up with a service plan? Or would it be the same if you paid in full at purchase?

Yes I bought it outright. During checkout there is the option to enter your carrier account info, or you can select “activate later”, which is what I chose. I never had to choose a rate plan or interact with Verizon at all. Activation was exactly the same as with my sim free 6S+, besides removing the preinstalled Verizon sim.

 

[shelt]

The carrier versions may NOT be the same as SIM-free. Carriers have the option to lock down one of the SIM trays, and I suspect carriers like VZW may take advantage of that as they did with the Pixel 3/3XL. Even if you pay full price for the 3/3XL from VZW, you get one physical SIM and no e-SIM. The same phone from google has both SIMs fully unlocked. Remember, carriers really don't like you having dual SIMs...

 

[Shadowbech]

Aren’t the model numbers different?

Model number is the same. It's actually the Part number that is different.

 

[avanpelt]

Today, I actually heard an Apple Store employee tell a guy who wanted to buy an unlocked iPhone XR and was paying for the phone outright that they “didn’t receive any unlocked AT&T XRs.” I quietly listened as the customer politely asked the guy to go double check that with his manager.

While the Apple Store employee was off getting schooled by his manager, I told the customer that the Apple employee had no idea what he was talking about and that if he pays for the phone in full and doesn’t do AT&T’s own device payment plan, the phone will be unlocked. Lo and behold, the Apple Store employee came back and confirmed that the customer would be receiving an unlocked phone.