Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacChinoNyc

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 14, 2008
427
7
Just curious, as I plan on getting a pay as you go type of plan.

Anyone do this in the ny/nj area? Whats the best option for a pay as you go plan?
 

mattopotamus

macrumors G5
Jun 12, 2012
14,687
5,940
They do come unlocked, and I believe the t-mobile variant is the best one to get since it supports all of the bands on all of the carrier, but someone else would need to confirm that.
 

Akack

macrumors 6502a
Mar 5, 2011
685
44
USA
Buy ANY model 5S except Sprint "version" at FULL retail price directly from Apple store and it will be unlocked.

My suggestion: buy the Verizon model since that version is unlocked for ANY GSM network and also easy to activate on Verizon if you choose.

Again do NOT buy the Sprint version if you have no intention on using Sprint or any MVNO that uses Sprint's towers.
 
Last edited:

MacChinoNyc

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 14, 2008
427
7
Buy ANY model 5S except Sprint "version" at FULL retail price directly from Apple store and it will be unlocked.

My suggestion: buy the Verizon model since that version is unlocked for ANY GSM network and also easy to activate on Verizon if you choose.

Really about the verizon version? Problem is if I pick a verizon version wont they make me get a plan at time of purchase? I think that would be the case. I'd be fine with a gsm version. I guess I can then walk into a tmobile store for a monthly plan/sims card? Or maybe even a walmart to buy a monthly sims card?
 

JayLenochiniMac

macrumors G5
Nov 7, 2007
12,819
2,390
New Sanfrakota
Really about the verizon version? Problem is if I pick a verizon version wont they make me get a plan at time of purchase? I think that would be the case. I'd be fine with a gsm version. I guess I can then walk into a tmobile store for a monthly plan/sims card? Or maybe even a walmart to buy a monthly sims card?

Just buy the SIM free version at the Apple store.
 

Akack

macrumors 6502a
Mar 5, 2011
685
44
USA
Really about the verizon version? Problem is if I pick a verizon version wont they make me get a plan at time of purchase? I think that would be the case. I'd be fine with a gsm version. I guess I can then walk into a tmobile store for a monthly plan/sims card? Or maybe even a walmart to buy a monthly sims card?

Yes just go to Apple Store and ask to buy a Verizon model FULL price and you don't want to sign contract.

Do not ask the Apple employee if the Verizon one is unlocked since they will tell you it is not unlocked.

I'm using a Verizon 5S on T Mobile since day one. Why you ask....I was thinking of switching to Verizon but decided to stick with TMobile.

Long story short, verizon phones are required by law to be unlocked for use on gsm networks.
 

MacChinoNyc

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 14, 2008
427
7
Yes just go to Apple Store and ask to buy a Verizon model FULL price and you don't want to sign contract.

Do not ask the Apple employee if the Verizon one is unlocked since they will tell you it is not unlocked.

I'm using a Verizon 5S on T Mobile since day one. Why you ask....I was thinking of switching to Verizon but decided to stick with TMobile.

Long story short, verizon phones are required by law to be unlocked for use on gsm networks.

But would you get LTE speeds on TMO or ATT? Or in another country like a gsm model would?
 

eyoungren

macrumors Penryn
Aug 31, 2011
29,396
27,964
Buy ANY model 5S except Sprint "version" at FULL retail price directly from Apple store and it will be unlocked.

My suggestion: buy the Verizon model since that version is unlocked for ANY GSM network and also easy to activate on Verizon if you choose.

Again do NOT buy the Sprint version if you have no intention on using Sprint or any MVNO that uses Sprint's towers.
This is correct as far as Sprint goes. My understanding of Verizon though is that Verizon (like Sprint) is a CDMA network.

In any case, full price for a Sprint iPhone simply means contract free. Sprint will not unlock for domestic use for any reason - ever. Most people, especially international users who are not aware of Sprint's unlock policy, don't understand this and end up screwing themselves. Apple employees for the most part also do not understand Sprint's unlock policy and will tell you that a Sprint iPhone at full price is unlocked because they "assume."
 

MacChinoNyc

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 14, 2008
427
7
My biggest challenge would be for the apple store to sell me a verizon model off contract? Or not that big of a challenge? I mean if not, then a verizon store would sell me an off contract phone as well no?
 

JayLenochiniMac

macrumors G5
Nov 7, 2007
12,819
2,390
New Sanfrakota
My biggest challenge would be for the apple store to sell me a verizon model off contract? Or not that big of a challenge? I mean if not, then a verizon store would sell me an off contract phone as well no?

The Apple store will have no problem selling it to you, but why not get the official SIM-free version then you won't have to explain to prospective buyers that the version you bought as "Verizon" at full price is a world iPhone?
 

MacChinoNyc

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Apr 14, 2008
427
7
The Apple store will have no problem selling it to you, but why not get the official SIM-free version then you won't have to explain to prospective buyers that the version you bought as "Verizon" at full price is a world iPhone?

Because seems the verizon 5s version is the most versatile out the box.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1637205/

I find it pretty cool it does cdma and gsm even internationally. I may want to try a verizon pay as you go in the future as well. As far as selling it, I wouldnt have a problem testing it out with the buyer so they see it works on their carrier. I've done that before with other unlocked devices.
 

JayLenochiniMac

macrumors G5
Nov 7, 2007
12,819
2,390
New Sanfrakota
Because seems the verizon 5s version is the most versatile out the box.
https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1637205/

I find it pretty cool it does cdma and gsm even internationally. I may want to try a verizon pay as you go in the future as well. As far as selling it, I wouldnt have a problem testing it out with the buyer so they see it works on their carrier. I've done that before with other unlocked devices.

If you want to try Verizon at some point, then yes get the Verizon version at full price.
 

mattopotamus

macrumors G5
Jun 12, 2012
14,687
5,940
The Apple store will have no problem selling it to you, but why not get the official SIM-free version then you won't have to explain to prospective buyers that the version you bought as "Verizon" at full price is a world iPhone?

being they are the exact same phone, he could sell it as a SIM-free
 

JayLenochiniMac

macrumors G5
Nov 7, 2007
12,819
2,390
New Sanfrakota
being they are the exact same phone, he could sell it as a SIM-free

Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. They're the same model (A1533), but this model is available in two different variants (GSM and CDMA). I believe the SIM-free version is the GSM variant (basically the same as T-Mobile or AT&T unlocked) whereas the Verizon is the CDMA variant (which also supports GSM).

But, yes, the OP can sell it as officially unlocked.
 

T5BRICK

macrumors G3
Aug 3, 2006
8,313
2,387
Oregon
Someone can correct me if I'm wrong. They're the same model (A1533), but this model is available in two different variants (GSM and CDMA). I believe the SIM-free version is the GSM variant (basically the same as T-Mobile or AT&T unlocked) whereas the Verizon is the CDMA variant (which also supports GSM).

But, yes, the OP can sell it as officially unlocked.

The Verizon model is the same hardware as the AT&T/T-Mobile/SIM-free model, but the ESN(or whatever Verizon uses in this case) is pre-registered with Verizon so they'll actually activate the phone if you'd like to use it in tier network. At least that's how I understand it.
 

C DM

macrumors Sandy Bridge
Oct 17, 2011
51,392
19,460
The Verizon model is the same hardware as the AT&T/T-Mobile/SIM-free model, but the ESN(or whatever Verizon uses in this case) is pre-registered with Verizon so they'll actually activate the phone if you'd like to use it in tier network. At least that's how I understand it.
Yeah, that's basically how it is.
 

JayLenochiniMac

macrumors G5
Nov 7, 2007
12,819
2,390
New Sanfrakota
The Verizon model is the same hardware as the AT&T/T-Mobile/SIM-free model, but the ESN(or whatever Verizon uses in this case) is pre-registered with Verizon so they'll actually activate the phone if you'd like to use it in tier network. At least that's how I understand it.

Makes sense. So the Verizon version is a bit more versatile in that you can use it but not the T-Mobile/AT&T/SIM-unlocked version on Verizon.
 

carjakester

macrumors 68020
Oct 21, 2013
2,228
55
Midwest
is buying a no contract phone like buying anything else? like i wouldn't need my mom to sign anything for me to get a new phone, since she pays the bill.
 

fedecape

macrumors 6502
Oct 23, 2011
414
32
Miami, FL
I bought AT&T full price on launch day and it came unlocked. I believe there's only a few variants of the 5S. They are locked to the carrier once you sign a contract.

Just curious, as I plan on getting a pay as you go type of plan.

Anyone do this in the ny/nj area? Whats the best option for a pay as you go plan?

AT&T Gophone $60 plan.

Gives you 2GB of data (LTE/4G) and unlimited calls and texts. Once you're in you can buy refills on eBay or callingmart for about $50-55
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.