Apple Now Selling Unlocked GSM iPhones in the U.S.

[kalsta]

The one advertised in this article is the unlocked one which is same price as Aussie.

No, not the same price. Normally Apple is pretty good when pricing in Australia (compared to companies like Adobe which really screw us). For example:

iPad with Retina, 16 GB wi-fi:
US store: $499
Australian store: $539

That's the kind of markup I can live with. (Edit: The Australian price is actually less when you subtract the 10% GST, making the prices match very closely with actual currency rates.)

But iPhone 5, 16 GB:
US store: $649
Australian store: $799

That's a big penalty for living down under even though our dollar is on top!

 

[Mr Hill]

iphone 4/4S were $699 plus tax! So this is indeed cheaper!

No. They were $649 in the US as well. I bought several of them. They were around $705 after sales tax in my area.

 

[OriginalMacRat]

No 3G, possibly no LTE.

You can find user reports of T-Mobile's 1900MHz "3G" signal on www.airportal.de.

When T-Mobile starts rolling out their LTE in 2013, it will be on the same bands as the AT&T iPhone 5.

 

[gotluck]

So what sort of prices does AT&T charge the customer if you bring them an already-unlocked iPhone 5?

Unfortunately, no difference in price. You would have to go to an AT&T MVNO for better pricing, and none of them are currently offering LTE.

 

[John.B]

What's the big fuss about? Anyone who wanted to get a sim-lock free iPhone could have already gotten just the Verizon version.

Not to mention the fact that this is probably the AT&T Version unlocked, which means for all the people getting abroad: No LTE (unlike the Verizon version).

So what?

So this is the AT&T model A1428? Does the Verizon Model A1429 work on European LTE bands? Or would you be limited to 3G speeds no matter which one you took overseas?

 

[Xavier]

Cheaper than expected.

I sense the sarcasm.

The price you pay for an upper class unlocked phone .

 

[gotluck]

So this is the AT&T model A1428? Does the Verizon Model A1429 work on European LTE bands? Or would you be limited to 3G speeds no matter which one you took overseas?

I believe the Verizon Model is the most international as far as LTE goes. I don't have a source handy but I believe it is so.

 

[EbookReader]

I sense the sarcasm.

The price you pay for an upper class unlocked phone .

Nexus 4 at $299 and $349 GSM unlocked seem to be popular. Google can't keep up with demand. But they might not have many in stock in the first place.

 

[Deanobear]

well you can get an iPhone in US for about $100 carrier locked. The one advertised in this article is the unlocked one which is same price as Aussie.

What I can't understand is that UNLOCKED iPhones aren't available from day 1 in the US

 

[Ryth]

What I can't understand is that UNLOCKED iPhones aren't available from day 1 in the US

Most likely an agreement with AT&T/SPRINT/VERIZON to not offer immediately it so they can make sure to get their customers and people first...from supply to also sales.

The 5 isn't available yet on Virgin either...most likely coming next week also.

 

[waloshin]

When will Google start selling unlocked GSM Nexus phones at these prices?

You better be kidding cause I hope never!

 

[alexandr]

ordered. thank you, macrumors!

 

[waloshin]

No, not the same price. Normally Apple is pretty good when pricing in Australia (compared to companies like Adobe which really screw us). For example:

iPad with Retina, 16 GB wi-fi:
US store: $499
Australian store: $539

That's the kind of markup I can live with.

But iPhone 5, 16 GB:
US store: $649
Australian store: $799

That's a big penalty for living down under even though our dollar is on top!

What is your minimum wage!

At 20 years of age $15.59.
Americans get a lot less so quit complaining!

 

[OriginalMacRat]

Nexus 4 at $299 and $349 GSM unlocked seem to be popular. Google can't keep up with demand. But they might not have many in stock in the first place.

Technically, the quality android phone is currently the Samsung Galaxy SIII which sells for $699 unlocked.

 

[Raftysworld]

Wow. Apple hit it out of the ballpark with these prices. The biggest update to the iPhone ever, and the off-contract price comes down compared to the 4S.

Ordering one for my wife and daughter.

 

[andyx3x]

Most likely an agreement with AT&T/SPRINT/VERIZON to not offer immediately it so they can make sure to get their customers and people first

This is correct.

 

[kalsta]

Your dolar is worth less, therefore, you pay more!

Australian dollar is currently worth 104.2 US cents.

 

[notjustjay]

Nexus 4 at $299 and $349 GSM unlocked seem to be popular. Google can't keep up with demand. But they might not have many in stock in the first place.

Which makes me wonder if these prices are anywhere near profitable, or if they're selling them at cost or even at a loss.

 

[waloshin]

Australian dollar is currently worth 104.2 US cents.

At 20 you make $15.59 AUD in the US they make a minimum of around 6.50 USD! Big difference. That's why you pay more!

 

[Deanobear]

Most likely an agreement with AT&T/SPRINT/VERIZON to not offer immediately it so they can make sure to get their customers and people first...from supply to also sales.

The 5 isn't available yet on Virgin either...most likely coming next week also.

What I'm trying to say is, why are iPhones on the US Apple Store NOT unlocked from the day they go on sale, which has always been the case here, nothing to do with providers, here providers are in the same category as "lawyers, used-car sales-people, telemarketers, and the rest of the A-Grade Shysters"

 

[kalsta]

What is your minimum wage!

At 20 years of age $15.59.
Americans get a lot less so quit complaining!

I see you edited your comment since I first replied. Minimum wage is only one indicator. The gap between the rich and poor is far greater in the US than it is in Australia. Rich people buy iPhones too.

I'd suggest to you that the additional cost of Apple doing business in Australia doesn't justify such a big difference in price, but I'll admit that's pure speculation and I could be wrong.

 

[mr0c]

ordered. thank you, macrumors!

+1 pick up tomorrow in store

Ps: for the LTE banding info per country check out the apple site:
http://www.apple.com/iPhone/LTE

 

[andyx3x]

When T-Mobile starts rolling out their LTE in 2013, it will be on the same bands as the AT&T iPhone 5.

So you are saying that the iPhone 5 that I am using on T-Mobile right now will get LTE speeds on T-Mobile when it is offered?

 

[wordoflife]

I can't understand the situation in the US. I live in Australia, and I bought my iPhone 5 outright from Apple, as it has always been - with iPhone 3, 4, etc., you can order from the online site, it's unlocked and you put in the sim of your mobile provider of choice. What hold do US carriers have over Apple? Perhaps someone can enlighten me ...

in the US you can order from Apple for $199/$299/$399 *but* you're obliged to a two year contract and the device is mostly locked to one of the three official carriers. Some carriers, like AT&T, do not unlock your device until you've completed your contract, so if you're one to travel overseas a lot... then this is the problem.

Additionally, if you wish to use the iPhone on another carrier, not one of the three official (and most expensive ones) carriers, you wouldn't want to sign a contract for 2 years. You were only able to order an iPhone from apple.com provided you were a customer of one of those three carriers.

 

[waloshin]

I see you edited your comment since I first replied. Minimum wage is only one indicator. The gap between the rich and poor is far greater in the US than it is in Australia. Rich people buy iPhones too.

I'd suggest to you that the additional cost of Apple doing business in Australia doesn't justify such a big difference in price, but I'll admit that's pure speculation and I could be wrong.

For all we know the Australian government could put tariffs on the imports of Apple iPhones so they are more competitive in the Australian market.