Possible to buy unlocked iPhone 5s from Apple store?
Oct 6, 13, 7:24 pm
#1
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Possible to buy unlocked iPhone 5s from Apple store?
Hi,
If I buy the ~$700 iPhone 5s from the Apple store, can I use the phone freely abroad in Asia and Europe, or would I need to unlock it still?
I'm asking because I see the apple website listing a "contract free" version via T-Mobile, but have heard that the phone would still be tied to T-Mobile and needs to be unlocked. I just want to buy a 5s from Apple at full price that's unlocked to begin with. Any ideas if that's possible?
Thank you!
If I buy the ~$700 iPhone 5s from the Apple store, can I use the phone freely abroad in Asia and Europe, or would I need to unlock it still?
I'm asking because I see the apple website listing a "contract free" version via T-Mobile, but have heard that the phone would still be tied to T-Mobile and needs to be unlocked. I just want to buy a 5s from Apple at full price that's unlocked to begin with. Any ideas if that's possible?
Thank you!
Oct 6, 13, 7:30 pm
#2
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Apple usually sells unlocked iPhones but apparently doesn't yet with the 5s. If you buy the T-mobile version it will be locked to T-mobile in the US, but will work with any SIM card outside the US.
Oct 6, 13, 8:38 pm
#4
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To clarify, you mean that while the TM contract free version will be tied to TM in the US, when abroad there will effectively be no restriction whatsoever with local sim cards?
The phone is meant to be a gift to an abroad friend, so it would presumably stay abroad for its lifetime. Ideally I'd like to hand the phone in its original wrapping without burdening the recipient with having to unlock it somehow.
Thank you.
The phone is meant to be a gift to an abroad friend, so it would presumably stay abroad for its lifetime. Ideally I'd like to hand the phone in its original wrapping without burdening the recipient with having to unlock it somehow.
Thank you.
Oct 6, 13, 11:57 pm
#5
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Originally Posted by accrue450
The phone is meant to be a gift to an abroad friend, so it would presumably stay abroad for its lifetime.
Oct 7, 13, 8:10 am
#6
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Originally Posted by IslesFan
Isn't the verizon one unlocked as well?
Originally Posted by TWA884
Make sure that you buy a model that supports the LTE bands in the country where the phone will be used.
Oct 7, 13, 8:38 am
#7
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Originally Posted by gfunkdave
Apple usually sells unlocked iPhones but apparently doesn't yet with the 5s. If you buy the T-mobile version it will be locked to T-mobile in the US, but will work with any SIM card outside the US.
The ideal model is Verizon 5s from apple. It would be factory unlocked for ALL providers, including TMO/AT&T/international providers. But from other forums, it appears apple hasn't made them available yet....OP needs to call apple to confirm.
Last edited by dtsm; Oct 7, 13 at 8:44 am
Oct 7, 13, 1:56 pm
#11
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Originally Posted by gfunkdave
Yes - same thing. The only US SIM it will accept is Verizon's, but it will work with any SIM of a carrier based outside the US.
Also important consideration.
Also important consideration.
Oct 7, 13, 2:04 pm
#12
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Originally Posted by IslesFan
Are you absolutely sure about that? My VZW iPhone 5 has taken an at&t and a lycamobile us sim without issue.
Oct 7, 13, 3:03 pm
#13
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Originally Posted by gfunkdave
Yes - same thing. The only US SIM it will accept is Verizon's, but it will work with any SIM of a carrier based outside the US.
Originally Posted by TWA884
Make sure that you buy a model that supports the LTE bands in the country where the phone will be used.
Oct 7, 13, 3:07 pm
#14
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The Verizon iPhone 5 and higher (including 5S/C) is fully unlocked out of the box including US domestic SIM's (e.g. AT&T and T-Mobile). This includes ALL VZW Global LTE devices (devices with LTE + CDMA + GSM/WCDMA). This is due to a FCC ruling when VZW bought their billion $ 20MHz LTE spectrum in the US placed by Google for an "open network".
Oct 7, 13, 3:39 pm
#15
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Originally Posted by joshwex90
The iPhone 5 from Verizon was completely unlocked when initially sold - no idea if they changed that. Verizon iPhone 5 comes unlocked, usable on AT&T | Apple - CNET News
