simulacrum?!.....sim-free Apple iPhone X is now available....

[NewtonMP2100]

.....starting yesterday....


SIM-Free iPhone X Now Available From Apple Online Store in the United States

.....Starting today, Apple is offering a SIM-free version of the iPhone X from its online store in the United States, allowing customers to buy an unlocked iPhone without choosing a carrier.

SIM-free versions of the iPhone X in all capacities list the same ~one week delivery estimate available for other iPhone X devices. SIM-free iPhone X models ordered today will arrive on December 12.

SIM-free iPhone X models will work with any carrier and have full support for both CDMA and GSM networks, much like the Sprint and Verizon versions of the new smartphone. iPhone X models from AT&T and T-Mobile do not support CDMA networks and are not compatible with Sprint or Verizon.

Since iPhone X pre-orders kicked off on October 27, Apple has only allowed customers to buy an iPhone X with an AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon SIM, though models purchased in full are listed as unlocked. At launch, Apple was requiring carrier pre-activation to make an iPhone X purchase, but that requirement was lifted in mid-November.

It's been possible to get the equivalent of a SIM-free unlocked iPhone X ordering a Verizon model and paying full price, but now there is an official SIM-free version.

Now that SIM-free iPhone X models are available, Apple is will also soon allow its employees to purchase the iPhone X through the internal employee site at a discount.

here you go..............?!

[Speedy]

Does the typical foreign carriers (European, Latin America) support these SIM-free phones?

[space-time]

I don't see why not. They support other iPhone models, why would they not support iPhone X?

[Speedy]

space-time wrote:
I don't see why not. They support other iPhone models, why would they not support iPhone X?

SIM-free?

[sekker]

Why not just get an unlocked one with a carrier SIM?

[Winston]

Speedy wrote:
Does the typical foreign carriers (European, Latin America) support these SIM-free phones?

The iPhone X will work fine abroad. There is a special model for Japan which adds LTE Bands 11, 21, and 42, but both models sold in the U.S. (with and without CDMA support) have the same LTE bands sold everywhere else in the world.
See:
https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

And both models sold in the U.S. support
3G/4G: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
and
2G: GSM/EDGE

Except that the non-CDMA model won't support CDMA 2G and 3G/4G in places which use CDMA. Places with CDMA networks:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_CDMA2000_networks
Don't know if any of these have roaming agreements with a U.S. carrier. Since CDMA doesn't use SIM cards, you can't easily move a phone to another CDMA network.
Interestingly, the Wikipedia page says Verizon will shut down its CDMA network on 12/31/2019.


"SIM-free" means sold without a carrier SIM, and, by definition, therefore not locked to using only a SIM card from one carrier.

[tronnei]

Finally! Order placed, picking up at Apple Store tonight. Gift for my son; couldn't get one earlier cuz he doesn't use any of the Big 4 carriers and couldn't order without an account with one of them previously.

[Speedy]

Winston, thanks! So if I buy one of these and take it to another country where I stay for four months and want to use a local provider, they can make it work on their system? (Not academic, I have a trip like that coming up.)

[Winston]

Speedy wrote:
Winston, thanks! So if I buy one of these and take it to another country where I stay for four months and want to use a local provider, they can make it work on their system? (Not academic, I have a trip like that coming up.)

As long as the phone is "unlocked", meaning not locked so that it will only work with the SIM card from one carrier (aka SIM-locked). You just need to buy a SIM card from a local provider in that country, and put it in the iPhone. At least with T-Mobile, their SIM cards come pre-cut so you can punch out the size you need. All current iPhones use the "nano" (smallest) SIM card size. (vs. mini or micro size SIM card). Guessing most other carriers now do the same.

I bought a Sprint iPhone SE for full price at an Apple store early this year, and was able to put my T-Mobile SIM directly into it. Just took out the Sprint SIM and put in the T-Mobile one.

But if you buy from a carrier, or under a payment plan for a carrier, the phone may be locked to that carrier. iPhones have to be unlocked by the carrier which sold them, if they were locked to begin with, which can be a hassle. Just make sure to ask first. You don't necessarily have to buy the "SIM-free" model from Apple, but you need the phone unlocked.

The only iPhone you really have to worry about for international roaming is the SE, as the Sprint/Global model is much better for that than the AT&T/T-Mobile/Verizon model. I assume Apple did this to reduce the licensing fees it pays to Qualcomm for which LTE bands are turned on. The two models probably have the same radio chip, just with different features enabled. What's odd is that the SE is otherwise internally the same as a 6S, which only has one band different, on the AT&T model.


Good luck.

- Winston

[Speedy]

I'm as dumb as a post. I thought SIM-free meant no SIM slot. Now I finally understand! Thanks for your patient and complete answer, Winston!! My iPhone 5 is on its last legs (one camera out) and before we go abroad I want to get a new, carrier agnostic, unlocked iPhone, mainly for its camera. The best camera is the camera you use and I won't be carrying around a real camera when my iPhone has a good enough one.