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SHNXX

macrumors 68000
Original poster
Oct 2, 2013
1,901
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I want to buy a unlocked iphone6 for international usage from sprint for full price.

is it possible?
 
I want to buy a unlocked iphone6 for international usage from sprint for full price.

is it possible?

If you buy the Sprint version from Sprint it will not be unlocked. Also I'm pretty sure that if you hit it from the Apple Store it still won't be unlocked. However I've seen a few people including myself that received an internationally unlocked version from Apple Store.
 
There are reports that this is possible, but you have to buy at the Apple store and do not insert a Sprint SIM.

Don't believe they will sell it to you full price at a Sprint store.
 
I just want internationally unlocked.
Don't care about the US locked (if that's even a real thing, a phone thats internationally unlocked in GSM or whatever but locked in the US.
 
So far your only option for a truly unlocked A1524/A1586 is to buy one from Europe or Japan. Both have their own restrictions though (EU volume limit, and Japanese iPhones can't mute the camera shutter)
 
I just want internationally unlocked.
Don't care about the US locked (if that's even a real thing, a phone thats internationally unlocked in GSM or whatever but locked in the US.

Why sprint? That's the worst one. Get an unlocked AT&T, verizon or t-mobile.

Sprint phones loose value quickly because they are locked to sprint in the us
 
Why sprint? That's the worst one. Get an unlocked AT&T, verizon or t-mobile.

Sprint phones loose value quickly because they are locked to sprint in the us

He probably wants it for the TD LTE bands. And if he has no intention to use it in the US, there's no disadvantage
 
He probably wants it for the TD LTE bands. And if he has no intention to use it in the US, there's no disadvantage


I want to gift it for China.
I gifted one in China by buying one in China but there's markup in China and the wait is like a month long.
 
I want to gift it for China.
I gifted one in China by buying one in China but there's markup in China and the wait is like a month long.

Assuming the A1524/1586 are the versions sold in China, one bought from the Apple store at full price should work for you
 
Can I buy the UNLOCKED iPhone 6 (Sprint or US Cellular versions A1524/1586)

Assuming the A1524/1586 are the versions sold in China, one bought from the Apple store at full price should work for you


U mean if I just buy the sprint version?
Can you buy those without contract?

I already bought one in China.
I want to try to buy the next in US because it's more expensive and longer wait in China.

Maybe I will just buy the tmobile.
 
U mean if I just buy the sprint version?
Can you buy those without contract?

I already bought one in China.
I want to try to buy the next in US because it's more expensive and longer wait in China.

Maybe I will just buy the tmobile.

I see what you are saying. If that's the case I think you can just go to the store and buy it full price. When you buy full price they don't ask you for name or social security number or any of that details since they usually ask for those things to lock you down in a contract.

If they ask you, tell them you broke your Sprint phone and want to buy a replacement, and that you will activate it yourself on your own.
 
I see what you are saying. If that's the case I think you can just go to the store and buy it full price. When you buy full price they don't ask you for name or social security number or any of that details since they usually ask for those things to lock you down in a contract.

If they ask you, tell them you broke your Sprint phone and want to buy a replacement, and that you will activate it yourself on your own.

You can do that???
 
You're taking a big risk buying a sprint iphone.
Good chances are it will not work with any carrier at all besides sprint.
Its your money but if you want to risk having a useless device go for it and get a Sprint one.
 
You're taking a big risk buying a sprint iphone.
Good chances are it will not work with any carrier at all besides sprint.
Its your money but if you want to risk having a useless device go for it and get a Sprint one.

I see.

I would not want to do that because the phone is being gifted for use in China, where the TDLTE and other LTE bands that are not available on the T-mobile/Verizon/AT&T version are used.
 
You can do that???

If the Apple store is not far from you, go and try. I don't think it's official, but a friend of mine bought his girlfriend a replacement phone for her birthday, told them that broke her phone screen and he wanted to surprise her with a brand new sealed phone. They happily accepted his $650 :)
 
If the Apple store is not far from you, go and try. I don't think it's official, but a friend of mine bought his girlfriend a replacement phone for her birthday, told them that broke her phone screen and he wanted to surprise her with a brand new sealed phone. They happily accepted his $650 :)

that's very nice of him (if the story is true).
do you know if that phone can be used in Chinese networks without issues since it's "locked" to Sprint?
 
I see.

I would not want to do that because the phone is being gifted for use in China, where the TDLTE and other LTE bands that are not available on the T-mobile/Verizon/AT&T version are used.

I hear you. It's a big risk though.
At least with all other carrier models bought full price at Apple you will be 100% that they are unlocked. Even though LTE might not be compatible in China.
 
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