Hey,
quick question, why do you say the AT&T version (GSM) is worse than the Verizon or Sprint version (CDMA) when all of Europe is GSM? According to their website the Verizon/Sprint version is only a CDMA version not CDMA and GSM like the Iphone 4s or am I missing something here? Let me know thanks!
There are already countries in Europe with nation wide LTE coverage, but there are also some without any LTE coverage.
Also, it is not uncommon to reach speeds up to 20-30 Mbps in Europe on 3G networks. Not sure about the network speeds in Germany, though.
There are three iPhone 5 models:
- One for AT&T (because of certain LTE frequencies)
- One for Verizon, Sprint and Japan
- One for Europe and the rest of the world
The first one is, in my opinion, most limited. It supports few LTE frequencies and has no CDMA support.
The second one is the best model. It supports most LTE frequencies (namely those for Verizon and Sprint + the rest of the world (think Europe, Australia, Asia)). This model also supports CDMA. This model is mainly sold in the US and Japan.
The third model is similar to the second model and is sold worldwide, except for the USA. It supports more LTE bands than the first model, but less than the second model. It also doesn't support LTE.
So quick overview:
1) Model 1: few LTE frequencies (North-America support only), no CDMA
2) Model 2: most LTE frequencies (works all around the world), includes CDMA
3) Model 3: average LTE frequencies (mainly works everywhere except North-America), no CDMA
All models include the same, fast, 3G support.
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In fact, they could have used only two models: the second model does exactly the same as the third model, but supports more LTE frequencies and supports CDMA.
I think that third model only exists because it is cheaper to produce than the second model.
The first model just sucks: it's got the fewest LTE frequencies (and thus works only in North-America) and it doesn't support CDMA.