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Carrier Is the Sprint version of the SE the best version to get?

Hal~9000

Hal~9000

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Sep 13, 2014
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Is the Sprint version of the SE the best version to get?

Additional question: Apple states that the SIM free version won't work with Sprint... but if I buy a Sprint version at full price will it be unlocked & work with T-mobile, AT&T, Verizon, etc?

I'm curious because I placed an order for the SIM free version but when I look at this... http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/#iphone-se ... it shows the Sprint version as having much more LTE bands for worldwide carriers.

The A1723 Sprint / Foreign version lacks LTE bands 13 and 29... but it does have LTE bands 7, 28, 38, 39, 40, and 41 that the A1662 American version lacks. Is band 13 and 29 that important to have for American carriers?

Of course, if the Sprint version can't be unlocked or work with AT&T, T-mobile, Verizon in the first place, then the SIM free version is the only option to go with.

Thank you for your replies :)
 
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Yes buying the sprint one will allow you to use the phone on all 4 major networks


With how the law works they ( the carrier) has to unlock the phone given it is already paid for in full. I think they have 30 or 60 days policy but don't quote me on that. If you buy it in full at the Apple store I believe any carrier phone is already unlocked. Thought I read an article about that last year or something.
 
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Closingracer said:
Yes buying the sprint one will allow you to use the phone on all 4 major networks


With how the law works they ( the carrier) has to unlock the phone given it is already paid for in full. I think they have 30 or 60 days policy but don't quote me on that. If you buy it in full at the Apple store I believe any carrier phone is already unlocked. Thought I read an article about that last year or something.
Click to expand...
The "law" you reference has holes big enough to drive a truck through. The agreement the carriers have between them is more beneficial than the "law".

The "law" allows for technical issues. Hence, the 4s and 5 on Sprint can only be international unlocked.

The "law" seems toothless when it comes to the carriers demanding that a phone be active for "X" days before they unlock - even if you've fully paid for the phone.

Everyone wants to use this "law" against the carriers but the reality is that the agreement the carriers have between them is far more effective than anything this "law" has ever done.
 
If you're considering resell value, I don't think the model number matters, as both models have specific bands that the other doesn't. On top of that, none of them have band 30, so potential AT&T buyers from the United States probably won't have a strong preference.
 
From what I recall, band 13 is Verizon's major band (700mhz)... So you may have issues with coverage using the Sprint version on Verizon...
 
eyoungren said:
The "law" you reference has holes big enough to drive a truck through. The agreement the carriers have between them is more beneficial than the "law".

The "law" allows for technical issues. Hence, the 4s and 5 on Sprint can only be international unlocked.

The "law" seems toothless when it comes to the carriers demanding that a phone be active for "X" days before they unlock - even if you've fully paid for the phone.

Everyone wants to use this "law" against the carriers but the reality is that the agreement the carriers have between them is far more effective than anything this "law" has ever done.
Click to expand...



The law still states they have to unlock it no what but or ifs..... How they implement their network is another issue for another thread. Simply put they will unlock the device
 
even if the phones will work , the serial number of the device might be in the carrier's book of unsupported devies.
when this happens they will not activate a new line of service on the phone.

you have to get the imei checked or use a pre-activated sim card from another device


for example. you have the iPhone 6s that is t-mobile / verizon / sprint. AT&T will refuse to activate it t because its not theirs

sprint wasn't activating the AT&T / t-mobile / verizon iPhone 6 beause it is not theirs

for a year verizon wasn't activating unlocked iPhone 6 phones purchased , they decided to add it to their books in august of 2015. they wanted the sim free one prior to this date.

when in doubt. buy the sim free. don't buy the sprint one

typically it can take 90 days for a phone to be on the market as a unlocked phone to be white listed to any carrier . i had to wait 90 days before my 6s+ was white listed on sprint.

verizon told me on 9-27-15 that i did not have a Verizon device.
sprint told me on oct 2015 that my device was not compatible. on november 17 2015 they said it was a sprint device.

buy the phone. if they won't activate it, you might have to wait 90 days for them to list it

when ever an iPhone is sold. it sure seems to me there is a 90 day of carrier exclusivity where carriers agree not to activate each other's phones even if they are the same model
 
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Chatter said:
So nothing is definite but Sprint can be a major a$$ about unlocking phones even when paid in full. Especially with Sprint, I would stay away but the OP can decide.
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I remember reading an article on Technobuffalo about the time the iPhone 6 came out and they said all the iPhones that was bought paid in full with any carrier was unlocked if you bought from the Apple store directly. As far as Sprint goes I haven't had the need nor do i even own the phone so I can't comment on Sprint but they should be able to after like 30 days of owning it.
[doublepost=1459462118][/doublepost]
rigormortis said:
even if the phones will work , the serial number of the device might be in the carrier's book of unsupported devies.
when this happens they will not activate a new line of service on the phone.

you have to get the imei checked or use a pre-activated sim card from another device


for example. you have the iPhone 6s that is t-mobile / verizon / sprint. AT&T will refuse to activate it t because its not theirs

sprint wasn't activating the AT&T / t-mobile / verizon iPhone 6 beause it is not theirs

for a year verizon wasn't activating unlocked iPhone 6 phones purchased , they decided to add it to their books in august of 2015. they wanted the sim free one prior to this date.

when in doubt. buy the sim free. don't buy the sprint one

typically it can take 90 days for a phone to be on the market as a unlocked phone to be white listed to any carrier . i had to wait 90 days before my 6s+ was white listed on sprint.

verizon told me on 9-27-15 that i did not have a Verizon device.
sprint told me on oct 2015 that my device was not compatible. on november 17 2015 they said it was a sprint device.

buy the phone. if they won't activate it, you might have to wait 90 days for them to list it

when ever an iPhone is sold. it sure seems to me there is a 90 day of carrier exclusivity where carriers agree not to activate each other's phones even if they are the same model
Click to expand...


It doesn't matter.... With AT&T and T-Mobile or any of its carriers like Cricket if the phone has the necessary frequencies to function on their networks they will work. Verizon and Sprint could pose an issue with its CDMA technology since they need the phone to be in their database but it should work since it has the frequencies.
 
I was told today that all of the SE models have the same LTE bands. I don't think there's a difference, if you're getting it unlocked.
 
Closingracer said:
I remember reading an article on Technobuffalo about the time the iPhone 6 came out and they said all the iPhones that was bought paid in full with any carrier was unlocked if you bought from the Apple store directly. As far as Sprint goes I haven't had the need nor do i even own the phone so I can't comment on Sprint but they should be able to after like 30 days of owning it.
[doublepost=1459462118][/doublepost]


It doesn't matter.... With AT&T and T-Mobile or any of its carriers like Cricket if the phone has the necessary frequencies to function on their networks they will work. Verizon and Sprint could pose an issue with its CDMA technology since they need the phone to be in their database but it should work since it has the frequencies.
Click to expand...


my post was correct..

i went to AT&T's website. , i gave them the imei off of my "t-mobile / verizon / sprint " iPhone 6s+ phone. they refused to sell me a sim card.they would not put the sim card in the basket and they would not let me choose a plan. there was nothing i could do except call their 1 800 # and ask. its the same exact error i got when i tried to activate a black listed amazon fire phone

cricket white listed this handset. but AT&T did not


i think installing an activated sim from another AT&T handset would be ok
 
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