Buy iPhone 6 Plus in US for use in UK

[makotoisle]

Hey guys

I'm relocating to the UK for two years come Christmas and I'd like to buy an iPhone 6+. Ideally, I'd like to use in both the US and the UK as I'll be traveling back and forth a bit. Would this be possible? If so, which brand should I get?

Thanks

 

[0970373]

Hey guys

I'm relocating to the UK for two years come Christmas and I'd like to buy an iPhone 6+. Ideally, I'd like to use in both the US and the UK as I'll be traveling back and forth a bit. Would this be possible? If so, which brand should I get?

Thanks

You need the factory unlocked GSM version. Then you can just swap SIM cards as needed. You'll need to check the LTE band that your UK provider uses but it seems that the new iPhones have as many bands that they can cram into it, easily used between UK & US. I take my 5S between US/UK & other places in Asia and I just pop local SIM cards in.

 

[makotoisle]

You need the factory unlocked GSM version. Then you can just swap SIM cards as needed. You'll need to check the LTE band that your UK provider uses but it seems that the new iPhones have as many bands that they can cram into it, easily used between UK & US. I take my 5S between US/UK & other places in Asia and I just pop local SIM cards in.

Great to know! Thank you very much )

 

[TorontoSS]

You need the factory unlocked GSM version. Then you can just swap SIM cards as needed. You'll need to check the LTE band that your UK provider uses but it seems that the new iPhones have as many bands that they can cram into it, easily used between UK & US. I take my 5S between US/UK & other places in Asia and I just pop local SIM cards in.

So does that mean one should be able to hypothetically buy it in the US next week (obviously by pre ordering and after the 19th) and set it up/use it in the UK the next week?

 

[GummiBjorn]

I would also like to know if it would work in Europe, Sweden specifically. The price here for the iPhone 6+ 128gb is 1320 us dollars compared to 950 in the US so I'm not that eager on buying one locally hahaha.

 

[0970373]

So does that mean one should be able to hypothetically buy it in the US next week (obviously by pre ordering and after the 19th) and set it up/use it in the UK the next week?

Hypothetically, yes, as long as it's unlocked, etc etc. But you should research your carrier bands and the Apple specs. While it will work, you won't necessarily get LTE so that's research you'll need to follow up on to verify. I can't be held responsible if your phone isn't working the way you want it to

 

[BingoBlue]

Just researching here;

http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

It is suggesting that the Phone 6 Model A1586 and iPhone 6 Plus Model A1524 does support UK 4G LTE - the same version sold in the US. Unlike the previous versions.

BUT I don't seem able to pre-order contract free... only TMobile option available which is not the model i need.

 

[617aircav]

Just researching here;

http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

It is suggesting that the Phone 6 Model A1586 and iPhone 6 Plus Model A1524 does support UK 4G LTE - the same version sold in the US. Unlike the previous versions.

BUT I don't seem able to pre-order contract free... only TMobile option available which is not the model i need.

If you don't need the att or tmobile version,which do you need? I doubt Cdma will work in the UK.

 

[TorontoSS]

If you don't need the att or tmobile version,which do you need? I doubt Cdma will work in the UK.

Judging by that, only sprint, c spire and US cellular? (If I'm seeing this correctly).

 

[BingoBlue]

If you don't need the att or tmobile version,which do you need? I doubt Cdma will work in the UK.

Maybe i am reading this wrong??

iPhone 6
Model A1549 (GSM)
Model A1549 (CDMA)

iPhone 6 Plus
Model A1522 (GSM)
Model A1522 (CDMA)

These (above) don't support the UK networks.

iPhone 6
Model A1586

iPhone 6 Plus
Model A1524

These (above) do support the UK networks.

Based on this..... http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

 

[0970373]

Just researching here;

http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

It is suggesting that the Phone 6 Model A1586 and iPhone 6 Plus Model A1524 does support UK 4G LTE - the same version sold in the US. Unlike the previous versions.

BUT I don't seem able to pre-order contract free... only TMobile option available which is not the model i need.

The full price TMO direct from Apple comes unlocked. You don't need to sign up for TM service to use it. I bought this last year and just put my AT&T SIM in it when it arrived. The TMO full price is the contract free option. Or you go into an Apple store and tell them you want to buy a contract free version.

 

[BingoBlue]

The full price TMO direct from Apple comes unlocked. You don't need to sign up for TM service to use it. I bought this last year and just put my AT&T SIM in it when it arrived. The TMO full price is the contract free option.

But isn't it Model A1549/A1522 and for the UK we need... A1524

However the only difference (it seems)....

38 (TD 2600)
39 (TD 1900)
40 (TD 2300)
41 (TD 2500)

 

[TorontoSS]

The full price TMO direct from Apple comes unlocked. You don't need to sign up for TM service to use it. I bought this last year and just put my AT&T SIM in it when it arrived. The TMO full price is the contract free option. Or you go into an Apple store and tell them you want to buy a contract free version.

That being said, won't the t-mobile one still be the CDMA model? (Eg 1549).?

 

[0970373]

But isn't it Model A1549/A1522 and for the UK we need... A1524

However the only difference (it seems)....

38 (TD 2600)
39 (TD 1900)
40 (TD 2300)
41 (TD 2500)

You need to check the bands that your specific carrier uses. For instance, EE uses Band 3 & 7, which are also available on the TMO & AT&T models.

 

[BingoBlue]

That being said, won't the t-mobile one still be the CDMA model? (Eg 1549).?

It seems not having priced it up online...

iPhone 6 64GB Gold (GSM) T-Mobile

You need to check the bands that your specific carrier uses. For instance, EE uses Band 3 & 7, which are also available on the TMO & AT&T models.

All the UK networks use the bands supported by the version I could get it seems.

I just have one more to check that isn't listed online get as they haven't deployed their 4G network yet.

It seems so odd Apple would take this course of actions... I am saving myself $241 this way (and we are buying two so $482!!).

 

[0970373]

That being said, won't the t-mobile one still be the CDMA model? (Eg 1549).?

Verizon (CDMA) phones come with a SIM tray so as long as it's unlocked for use in the US, you could use it on TMO. The TMO & AT&T's GSM versions probably won't work on Verizon if the past is any indication.

 

[TorontoSS]

You need to check the bands that your specific carrier uses. For instance, EE uses Band 3 & 7, which are also available on the TMO & AT&T models.

Ok I see, acc to Wikipedia, vodafone uses Band 7 and 20 so that means the tom bike ones will work. But then this may seem like a silly question but how does one know if they're buying a gsm or CDMA one?

----------

Ok I see, acc to Wikipedia, vodafone uses Band 7 and 20 so that means the tom bike ones will work. But then this may seem like a silly question but how does one know if they're buying a gsm or CDMA one?

Never mind - figured it out - Verizon = CDMA and tmobile = gsm

 

[TorontoSS]

One more thing (sorry about this lack of knowledge) - if it is bought in the US, it would have to be unlocked right? Because it seems only tmobile contract free ones are in place? I am assuming still tmobile locked?

 

[BingoBlue]

One more thing (sorry about this lack of knowledge) - if it is bought in the US, it would have to be unlocked right? Because it seems only tmobile contract free ones are in place? I am assuming still tmobile locked?

That seems to be the case; i'm just weighing up my options also - at face value it seems it will work fine yet I find it so odd apple don't list them as supported networks.

 

[TorontoSS]

Yeah am in the same boat as you bingoblue. My boyfriend is going to NYC during launch weekend and he can pick up two phones for me and him but we obviously want to be certain we can use them!

 

[makotoisle]

Maybe i am reading this wrong??

iPhone 6
Model A1549 (GSM)
Model A1549 (CDMA)

iPhone 6 Plus
Model A1522 (GSM)
Model A1522 (CDMA)

These (above) don't support the UK networks.

iPhone 6
Model A1586

iPhone 6 Plus
Model A1524

These (above) do support the UK networks.

Based on this..... http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

They way I'm reading it, they all support 3, 7, and 20, which all three major carriers use? Possibly I'm misinformed as I've never been the U.K.

http://store.apple.com/us/buy-iphone/iphone6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks#Europe

 

[BingoBlue]

They way I'm reading it, they all support 3, 7, and 20, which all three major carriers use? Possibly I'm misinformed as I've never been the U.K.

http://store.apple.com/us/buy-iphone/iphone6
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks#Europe

You are spot on; reading it like us... just a little harder when it is your money being spent

It seems... I can buy it in the US and it will support the major UK networks - yay!

What confuses me is why Apple opts NOT to list UK networks as supported on the US sold version (GSM).

 

[7714]

So... I'm in the same boat accept I'm moving in the new year from the UK to USA. I'll be in the USA for a wedding on release day (wedding is at 5pm so I'm good hahaha)

Looking to get a T-Mobile Sim Only Phone. I use Three Network in the UK which uses LTE bands 3 and 20. My question is this. Can I authorize the phone with my Three Network Sim whilst in the USA?

Also, whilst I see the T-Mobile contract free phone listed can someone please confirm that it is unlocked permanently and not locked to the first carrier SIM registered to the iPhone?

 

[7714]

Hopefully this chat helps you out...

heres a chat transcript with an apple employee...

 

[pshifrin]

My AT&T 5s and retina mini worked on EE LTE in the UK on a trip in January. So if the 5s works, the 6 certainly will.