Buy a Verizon phone or wait for Apple?

[Gemütlichkeit]

My iPhone 4 is on it's last leg. I've since changed out the battery twice. Replaced the home button, and now the solder on the battery housing is going and I have to mod my phone with a piece of card board + tape to get the power to work inside the phone.

I'm ready for the iphone 5 but I'm currently using Straight Talk as my provider. I'm ready to trim the sim down but I need to find a store that offers an unlocked GSM iPhone 5.

Should I just go out and purchase an iPhone 5 that's GSM unlocked via Verizon or wait for Apple to offer theirs unlocked.

[3rd Rock]

If you can wait a bit.....Depending where you live (USA or Outside) I would be incline to use Apple simply for the 30 return policy and no restocking fee. Verizon has a 14 day return policy and so does AT&T - Sprint.

[forcetactic]

ATT locked iPhones work with straight talk as well

[Gemütlichkeit]

Originally Posted by forcetactic

ATT locked iPhones work with straight talk as well

If I'm going to drop 600+ on a phone I'd want to make sure it's unlocked for when I head over seas.

I'm looking for GSM unlocked iPhones specifically.

As of now the only way I know of obtaining one would be to purchase one through Verizon or wait for Apple. I won't be jailbreaking the device.

[faiz23]

If you are planning on using straight talk then LTE has no effect on you. I would recommend get what ever you can get your hands on at the lowest price. Check craigslist along with apple stores, bestbuy, at&t, walmart, radioshack and online. You will have to program APN, and MMS for both of them to have data working. This is the speeds you can expect on straight talk using AT&T HSPA+

[forcetactic]

Originally Posted by Gemütlichkeit

If I'm going to drop 600+ on a phone I'd want to make sure it's unlocked for when I head over seas.

I'm looking for GSM unlocked iPhones specifically.

As of now the only way I know of obtaining one would be to purchase one through Verizon or wait for Apple. I won't be jailbreaking the device.

If you buy full price, it will be factory unlocked by default. In the random chance that it isn't, then there are ebay unlocks for $3 about.

Only good part about verizon phones is that LTE works in more parts of Europe. ATT LTE bands will work with ATT and Tmobile (once they get it). If straight talk later gets LTE, it will work on ST as well.