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The other thing the sim-free gives you is higher resale value because anyone can use it, with no worries about compatibility. Given that Apple traditionally offers the sim-free 3 or 4 weeks after launch, why the rush to grab a lesser model now? The sim-free is the way to go.
[doublepost=1473573020][/doublepost]

This contradicts Apple's own documentation.

Would your statement, then, be a case of "a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest" or of Apple inaccurately describing the capabilities of its own products? If the latter, perhaps you should submit your resume to Apple or write a letter to set the company straight instead of attacking the messenger.

Read my post above. Apple's own documentation. Quoted from them. You are mistaken.
 
VZW only wants to sell phones tied to an account. Also, say 150k orders of the VZW iPhone but only 75k tied to an account...reduces the metrics for VZW.
 
The GSM phone is an inferior product (with an inferior Intel modem). You want the CDMA phone with the Qualcomm modem.

Honestly the GSM version is iPhone 7 minus. Can't believe Apple is screwing with people this way over a few dollars. This is going to be 10x worse than Samsung vs TSMC.
 
Isnt cdma used only in a couple places around the world with Verizon and sprint being the big two? I guess this could affect resale value in the USA or be a problem if you plan on switching from a gsm provider to a cdma provider. Most of the rest of the world uses gsm so the phone without cdma shouldn't be a problem to most of us unless you plan on switching.
 
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It can be done with CDMA as well with some parts of its 3G protocol and chipsets that support SVDO or EVDV or devices that have multiple radios where one is used for voice and one for data. But at this point it doesn't really matter much as CDMA providers mostly didn't go down that route as they switched over to LTE.
CDMA, as implemented. Apple never put an additional CDMA radio in their phones.
[doublepost=1473604909][/doublepost]
The other thing the sim-free gives you is higher resale value because anyone can use it, with no worries about compatibility. Given that Apple traditionally offers the sim-free 3 or 4 weeks after launch, why the rush to grab a lesser model now? The sim-free is the way to go.
[doublepost=1473573020][/doublepost]

This contradicts Apple's own documentation.

Would your statement, then, be a case of "a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest" or of Apple inaccurately describing the capabilities of its own products? If the latter, perhaps you should submit your resume to Apple or write a letter to set the company straight instead of attacking the messenger.

The sim free model is unlocked, and all carriers will accept it. In the past, carriers like Verizon wouldn't accept a phone that was initially sold to ATT, even if unlocked and CDMA compatible.

I don't know how a fully paid off Verizon iPhone 7 would work with Sprint, for example. What is Sprint's current policy. Or vice versa. If the CDMA portion causes issue, the SIM free model would be better.
 
I was on with apple for about an hour asking how to purchase the phone that will work with all networks. After being put on hold numerous times while the rep questioned her superiors she told me that they request carrier info to set up the phone for you when you receive it, but...if you order the upgrade plan from the Apple Store site only and pay cash you will receive the Verizon type phone set up for ATT in my case...I told her over and over that it states ATT GSM on the order...she stuck to her story so I ordered it with the plan to return it if it isn't what I want...
 
The other thing the sim-free gives you is higher resale value because anyone can use it, with no worries about compatibility. Given that Apple traditionally offers the sim-free 3 or 4 weeks after launch, why the rush to grab a lesser model now? The sim-free is the way to go.
[doublepost=1473573020][/doublepost]

This contradicts Apple's own documentation.

Would your statement, then, be a case of "a man hears what he wants to hear and disregards the rest" or of Apple inaccurately describing the capabilities of its own products? If the latter, perhaps you should submit your resume to Apple or write a letter to set the company straight instead of attacking the messenger.

What are you talking about? Apple's own tech specs state that all GSM carrier bands and frequencies are supported on the CDMA iPhone 7. I know from personal experience having had both AT&T and Verizon at the same time for the iPhone 6 and 6S. I swapped SIM cards regularly and they both worked with both networks. The only thing with the 6S was lack of Band 30 support on the Verizon model, but it otherwise worked fine on AT&T and T-Mobile, and around the world.

The Verizon iPhone 7/7+ works with everything, the only question is after how long (or ever) will Sprint activate a Verizon phone on its network. And vice versa, will a Sprint 7/7+ work on Verizon or is it locked for a certain period of time.

CDMA, as implemented. Apple never put an additional CDMA radio in their phones.
[doublepost=1473604909][/doublepost]

The sim free model is unlocked, and all carriers will accept it. In the past, carriers like Verizon wouldn't accept a phone that was initially sold to ATT, even if unlocked and CDMA compatible.

I don't know how a fully paid off Verizon iPhone 7 would work with Sprint, for example. What is Sprint's current policy. Or vice versa. If the CDMA portion causes issue, the SIM free model would be better.
Too early to tell, we'll likely need to wait until launch about Sprint.

http://www.pcmag.com/news/347728/if-you-want-to-switch-carriers-buy-verizons-iphone-7
 
After reading through all these threads with conflicting information and recommendations, a wise person will disregard the information on this thread and do their own research through Apple. This thread is officially worthless.

Although some posts are correct, there's no way for a reader to make an informed decision... since no one here has any credibility.

Forums
 
After reading through all these threads with conflicting information and recommendations, a wise person will disregard the information on this thread and do their own research through Apple. This thread is officially worthless.

Although some posts are correct, there's no way for a reader to make an informed decision... since no one here has any credibility.

Forums

There is a lot of info in this thread for sure and it's confusing.

I ordered the $869 black 1661, Verizon 7 plus 128gb and I will put my AT&T sim card in it immediately to use on AT&T. If for some reason I have a problem doing that, I will return it and get the sim free model whenever they offer it.

I really believe that this 1661 Verizon model will be the sim free model. I was told that by several other Verizon reps too, but I'm actually going with my gut feeling on this.

Today I called Verizon to see if I can get in on the Verizon trade in promo. Some people on here said that I would not get it because I'm on the $29.99 unlimited data plan still and not the recently increased $49.99 plan. In other words I didn't have the $20 increase in the Verizon unlimited data plan. Guess what, the csr did the $650 DPP upgrade for me!
Maybe it's the luck of the draw or maybe they will kick me out of the DPP before I get started. Who knows, but I made the decision myself and will handle it if I'm wrong.

Also, I still appreciate all of the info here so thanks everyone.
 
Last edited:
Wait until the sim-free version is offered. That's the only one that will work everywhere, with every carrier. The others are a crock of bull and should not be offered for sale, IMO. Apple must have some kind of deal with the big 4 carriers that prevents them from offering the sim-free at launch.
You have no idea how wrong you are. Apple would gladly have all phones unlocked, supporting all of the LTE frequencies - it's the carriers that want to preserve sim locking and physical sims. Lots of negotiations over how sim free is going to work without the carriers losing their ability to keep you by the short hairs.

To the comment that "LTE is in its infancy" - umm. Sorry, no, it's already well rolled out across North America and much of the world. LTE Advanced is now being rolled out in the metro centres (much higher speeds, etc).

Do NOT buy a damn CDMA phone! Not unless you live in a rural area that that's the only signal you get at home. CDMA is all but dead. If you buy a CDMA/LTE phone you will have inferior battery life to those who didn't saddle themselves with it (as it'll still look for a CDMA network to land on every so often).

As long as you're getting an unlocked phone (from either AT&T or T-mobile or better yet - the Apple Store), you really should be fine.

More info on worldwide coverage here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks
 
You have no idea how wrong you are. Apple would gladly have all phones unlocked, supporting all of the LTE frequencies - it's the carriers that want to preserve sim locking and physical sims. Lots of negotiations over how sim free is going to work without the carriers losing their ability to keep you by the short hairs.

To the comment that "LTE is in its infancy" - umm. Sorry, no, it's already well rolled out across North America and much of the world. LTE Advanced is now being rolled out in the metro centres (much higher speeds, etc).

Do NOT buy a damn CDMA phone! Not unless you live in a rural area that that's the only signal you get at home. CDMA is all but dead. If you buy a CDMA/LTE phone you will have inferior battery life to those who didn't saddle themselves with it (as it'll still look for a CDMA network to land on every so often).

As long as you're getting an unlocked phone (from either AT&T or T-mobile or better yet - the Apple Store), you really should be fine.

More info on worldwide coverage here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks
Not true at all. I use a Verizon iPhone 6s Plus on AT&T every day and my battery life is stellar.
 
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
Model Number2
LTE Band Support3
Country
Supported LTE Networks

iPhone 7
Model A1660 (CDMA)

iPhone 7 Plus
Model A1661 (CDMA)

1 (2100 MHz)
2 (1900 MHz)
3 (1800 MHz)
4 (AWS)
5 (850 MHz)
7 (2600 MHz)
8 (900 MHz)
12 (700 MHz)
13 (700c MHz)
17 (700b MHz)
18 (800 MHz)
19 (800 MHz)
20 (800 DD)
25 (1900 MHz)
26 (800 MHz)
27 (800 MHz)
28 (700 APT MHz)
29 (700 de MHz)
30 (2300 MHz)
38 (TD 2600)
39 (TD 1900)
40 (TD 2300)
41 (TD 2500)

usa_2x.png
United States
  • Appalachian Wireless
  • Bluegrass Cellular
  • Boost
  • C-Spire
  • Carolina West
  • Cellcom
  • Chariton Valley
  • Chat Mobility
  • Consumer Cellular
  • Copper Valley Wireless
  • Credo
  • Cricket
  • Family Mobile
  • GCI
  • Illinois Valley Cellular
  • Inland Cellular
  • iWireless
  • MetroPCS
  • Nex-Tech
  • NorthwestCell
  • Panhandle
  • Pioneer Cellular
  • Pure Talk
  • Sagebrush
  • Sprint
  • SRT
  • STRATA Networks
  • Thumb Cellular
  • Tracfone
  • Truphone
  • Union Wireless
  • United Wireless
  • US Cellular
  • Verizon
  • Viaero
  • Vodafone
china_2x.png
China
  • China Mobile
  • China Telecom
  • China Unicom
hong_kong_2x.png
Hong Kong
  • 3
  • China Mobile Hong Kong
  • CSL
  • SmarTone
puerto_rico_2x.png
Puerto Rico
  • Claro
  • Open Mobile
  • Sprint
60.png
USVI
  • AT&T
  • Sprint
iPhone 7
Model A1778

iPhone 7 Plus
Model A1784

1 (2100 MHz)
2 (1900 MHz)
3 (1800 MHz)
4 (AWS)
5 (850 MHz)
7 (2600 MHz)
8 (900 MHz)
12 (700 MHz)
13 (700c MHz)
17 (700b MHz)
18 (800 MHz)
19 (800 MHz)
20 (800 DD)
25 (1900 MHz)
26 (800 MHz)
27 (800 MHz)
28 (700 APT MHz)
29 (700 de MHz)
30 (2300 MHz)
38 (TD 2600)
39 (TD 1900)
40 (TD 2300)
41 (TD 2500)

usa_2x.png
United States
  • AT&T
  • T-Mobile
andorra_2x.png
Andorra
  • Andorra Telecom
australia_2x.png
Australia
  • Optus
  • Telstra
  • Vodafone
austria_2x.png
Austria
  • 3
  • A1
  • T-Mobile
bahrain_2x.png
Bahrain
  • Batelco
  • Viva
  • Zain
belgium_2x.png
Belgium
  • Base
  • Mobistar
  • Proximus
  • Telenet
bulgaria_2x.png
Bulgaria
  • Telenor
canada_2x.png
Canada
  • Bell
  • eastlink
  • MTS
  • Rogers
  • SaskTel
  • Tbaytel
  • Telus
  • Videotron
croatia_2x.png
Croatia
  • Hrvatski Telecom
cyprus_2x.png
Cyprus
  • Cyta
  • MTN
  • PrimeTel
czech_republic_2x.png
Czech Republic
  • O2
  • T-Mobile
  • Vodafone
denmark_2x.png
Denmark
  • 3
  • TDC
  • Telenor
  • Telia
estonia_2x.png
Estonia
  • Elisa
  • Sonera
  • Tele2
finland_2x.png
Finland
  • DNA
  • Elisa
  • Sonera
france_2x.png
France
  • Bouygues
  • Free
  • NRJ
  • Orange
  • SFR
  • Virgin
germany_2x.png
Germany
  • 1&1
  • Deutsche Telekom
  • O2
  • Vodafone
greece_2x.png
Greece
  • Cosmote
  • Vodafone
  • WIND
greenland_2x.png
Greenland
  • TELE Greenland
hungary_2x.png
Hungary
  • Telekom
  • Telenor
  • Vodafone
iceland_2x.png
Iceland
  • Nova
  • Simmin
  • Vodafone
ireland_2x.png
Ireland
  • 3
  • Meteor
  • Vodafone
isle_of_man_2x.png
Isle of Man
  • Manx Telecom
  • Sure
italy_2x.png
Italy
  • 3
  • TIM
  • Vodafone
kosovo_2x.png
Kosovo
  • Telekom Slovenije
kuwait_2x.png
Kuwait
  • Ooredoo
  • Viva
  • Zain
latvia_2x.png
Latvia
  • LMT
  • Tele2
liechtenstein_2x.png
Liechtenstein
  • Salt
lithuania_2x.png
Lithuania
  • Omnitel
  • Tele2
luxembourg_2x.png
Luxembourg
  • Orange
  • Post
  • Tango
maldives_2x.png
Maldives
  • Dhiraagu
  • Ooredoo
malta_2x.png
Malta
  • Vodafone
mexico_2x.png
Mexico
  • AT&T
  • Movistar
  • Telcel
monaco_2x.png
Monaco
  • Monaco Telecom
netherlands_2x.png
Netherlands
  • KPN
  • T-Mobile
  • Tele2
  • Vodafone
new_zealand_2x.png
New Zealand
  • 2Degrees
  • Spark
  • Vodafone
norway_2x.png
Norway
  • Telenor
  • Telia
poland_2x.png
Poland
  • Orange
  • Play
  • T-Mobile
portugal_2x.png
Portugal
  • MEO
  • NOS
  • Vodafone
puerto_rico_2x.png
Puerto Rico
  • AT&T
qatar_2x.png
Qatar
  • Ooredoo
  • Vodafone
romania_2x.png
Romania
  • Orange
  • Telekom
  • Vodafone
russia_2x.png
Russia
  • Beeline
  • Megafon
  • Yota
saudi_arabia_2x.png
Saudi Arabia
  • Mobily
  • STC
  • Zain
singapore_2x.png
Singapore
  • M1
  • Singtel
  • Starhub
slovakia_2x.png
Slovakia
  • Telekom
slovenia_2x.png
Slovenia
  • Telekom Slovenije
spain_2x.png
Spain
  • Movistar
  • Orange
  • Vodafone
  • Yoigo
sweden_2x.png
Sweden
  • 3
  • Tele2
  • Telenor
  • Telia
switzerland_2x.png
Switzerland
  • Salt
  • Sunrise
  • Swisscom
taiwan_2x.png
Taiwan
  • APT
  • Chunghwa Telecom
  • FarEasTone
  • Taiwan Mobile
  • Taiwan Star
united_arab_emirates_2x.png
UAE
  • du
  • Etisalat
uk_2x.png
United Kingdom
  • 3
  • Everything, Everywhere
  • O2
  • Vodafone
iPhone 7
Model A1779 (CDMA)

iPhone 7 Plus
Model A1785 (CDMA)

1 (2100 MHz)
2 (1900 MHz)
3 (1800 MHz)
4 (AWS)
5 (850 MHz)
7 (2600 MHz)
8 (900 MHz)
11 (1500 MHz)
12 (700 MHz)
13 (700c MHz)
17 (700b MHz)
18 (800 MHz)
19 (800 MHz)
20 (800 DD)
21 (1500 MHz)
25 (1900 MHz)
26 (800 MHz)
27 (800 MHz)
28 (700 APT MHz)
29 (700 de MHz)
30 (2300 MHz)
38 (TD 2600)
39 (TD 1900)
40 (TD 2300)
41 (TD 2500)
 
Im also a bit confused. Why won't apple let you purchase a full price VZ phone?

You can purchase it outright online if you're a VZ customer. I'm not a customer, but I want a CDMA unlocked phone. I haven't been able to get an answer on this from Apple about buying one outright and have it unlocked, but I'm going to try to do so from an Apple store. If they don't know, I'll just buy it and put my T-Mobile sim in the phone. If it doesn't work, I'll return it. I find it amazing that one has to go through such lengths to buy a phone outright.

Then again, I wonder if it makes a big difference if one gets an unlocked GSM phone instead of CDMA. Is it a big deal as far as traveling overseas and not being able to use a CDMA carrier? I'm under the impression that there are very few CDMA carriers outside the US. And I have no intention of ever going with any of the CDMA carriers in the US.
 
Not true at all. I use a Verizon iPhone 6s Plus on AT&T every day and my battery life is stellar.
The polling interval could be insignificant enough to not merit a significant difference - AT&T could also be disabling the CDMA radio when they push down their carrier settings.
(Historically CDMA radios were much harder on battery life than GSM/TDMA).

Really, the only benefit to CDMA radios anymore is if you're in rural areas where that's the coverage that's available.

That IS also true of China (so anyone traveling extensively to China - China Mobile's proprietary TS-CDMA network will only be supported by the Verizon/Sprint iPhone). But, again, that's only for rural areas. Major cities will have LTE coverage.
 
In other words, buy the Verizon version. It works with everything.

Nit pik: I thought we were past having different model phones tied to carriers... especially with no subsidized deals anymore.:rolleyes: I wonder why Apple would bother to make separate phone guts anymore when one could cover all bases?
From what I've read, CDMA model uses Qualcomm chip and GSM model uses Intel. Going with the Intel chip is supposedly cheaper.
[doublepost=1473617507][/doublepost]
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
Model Number2
LTE Band Support3
Country
Supported LTE Networks

iPhone 7
Model A1660 (CDMA)
iPhone 7 Plus
Model A1661 (CDMA)
1 (2100 MHz)
2 (1900 MHz)
3 (1800 MHz)
4 (AWS)
5 (850 MHz)
7 (2600 MHz)
8 (900 MHz)
12 (700 MHz)
13 (700c MHz)
17 (700b MHz)
18 (800 MHz)
19 (800 MHz)
20 (800 DD)
25 (1900 MHz)
26 (800 MHz)
27 (800 MHz)
28 (700 APT MHz)
29 (700 de MHz)
30 (2300 MHz)
38 (TD 2600)
39 (TD 1900)
40 (TD 2300)
41 (TD 2500)

usa_2x.png
United States
  • Appalachian Wireless
  • Bluegrass Cellular
  • Boost
  • C-Spire
  • Carolina West
  • Cellcom
  • Chariton Valley
  • Chat Mobility
  • Consumer Cellular
  • Copper Valley Wireless
  • Credo
  • Cricket
  • Family Mobile
  • GCI
  • Illinois Valley Cellular
  • Inland Cellular
  • iWireless
  • MetroPCS
  • Nex-Tech
  • NorthwestCell
  • Panhandle
  • Pioneer Cellular
  • Pure Talk
  • Sagebrush
  • Sprint
  • SRT
  • STRATA Networks
  • Thumb Cellular
  • Tracfone
  • Truphone
  • Union Wireless
  • United Wireless
  • US Cellular
  • Verizon
  • Viaero
  • Vodafone
china_2x.png
China
  • China Mobile
  • China Telecom
  • China Unicom
hong_kong_2x.png
Hong Kong
  • 3
  • China Mobile Hong Kong
  • CSL
  • SmarTone
puerto_rico_2x.png
Puerto Rico
  • Claro
  • Open Mobile
  • Sprint
60.png
USVI
  • AT&T
  • Sprint
iPhone 7
Model A1778
iPhone 7 Plus
Model A1784
1 (2100 MHz)
2 (1900 MHz)
3 (1800 MHz)
4 (AWS)
5 (850 MHz)
7 (2600 MHz)
8 (900 MHz)
12 (700 MHz)
13 (700c MHz)
17 (700b MHz)
18 (800 MHz)
19 (800 MHz)
20 (800 DD)
25 (1900 MHz)
26 (800 MHz)
27 (800 MHz)
28 (700 APT MHz)
29 (700 de MHz)
30 (2300 MHz)
38 (TD 2600)
39 (TD 1900)
40 (TD 2300)
41 (TD 2500)

usa_2x.png
United States
  • AT&T
  • T-Mobile
andorra_2x.png
Andorra
  • Andorra Telecom
australia_2x.png
Australia
  • Optus
  • Telstra
  • Vodafone
austria_2x.png
Austria
  • 3
  • A1
  • T-Mobile
bahrain_2x.png
Bahrain
  • Batelco
  • Viva
  • Zain
belgium_2x.png
Belgium
  • Base
  • Mobistar
  • Proximus
  • Telenet
bulgaria_2x.png
Bulgaria
  • Telenor
canada_2x.png
Canada
  • Bell
  • eastlink
  • MTS
  • Rogers
  • SaskTel
  • Tbaytel
  • Telus
  • Videotron
croatia_2x.png
Croatia
  • Hrvatski Telecom
cyprus_2x.png
Cyprus
  • Cyta
  • MTN
  • PrimeTel
czech_republic_2x.png
Czech Republic
  • O2
  • T-Mobile
  • Vodafone
denmark_2x.png
Denmark
  • 3
  • TDC
  • Telenor
  • Telia
estonia_2x.png
Estonia
  • Elisa
  • Sonera
  • Tele2
finland_2x.png
Finland
  • DNA
  • Elisa
  • Sonera
france_2x.png
France
  • Bouygues
  • Free
  • NRJ
  • Orange
  • SFR
  • Virgin
germany_2x.png
Germany
  • 1&1
  • Deutsche Telekom
  • O2
  • Vodafone
greece_2x.png
Greece
  • Cosmote
  • Vodafone
  • WIND
greenland_2x.png
Greenland
  • TELE Greenland
hungary_2x.png
Hungary
  • Telekom
  • Telenor
  • Vodafone
iceland_2x.png
Iceland
  • Nova
  • Simmin
  • Vodafone
ireland_2x.png
Ireland
  • 3
  • Meteor
  • Vodafone
isle_of_man_2x.png
Isle of Man
  • Manx Telecom
  • Sure
italy_2x.png
Italy
  • 3
  • TIM
  • Vodafone
kosovo_2x.png
Kosovo
  • Telekom Slovenije
kuwait_2x.png
Kuwait
  • Ooredoo
  • Viva
  • Zain
latvia_2x.png
Latvia
  • LMT
  • Tele2
liechtenstein_2x.png
Liechtenstein
  • Salt
lithuania_2x.png
Lithuania
  • Omnitel
  • Tele2
luxembourg_2x.png
Luxembourg
  • Orange
  • Post
  • Tango
maldives_2x.png
Maldives
  • Dhiraagu
  • Ooredoo
malta_2x.png
Malta
  • Vodafone
mexico_2x.png
Mexico
  • AT&T
  • Movistar
  • Telcel
monaco_2x.png
Monaco
  • Monaco Telecom
netherlands_2x.png
Netherlands
  • KPN
  • T-Mobile
  • Tele2
  • Vodafone
new_zealand_2x.png
New Zealand
  • 2Degrees
  • Spark
  • Vodafone
norway_2x.png
Norway
  • Telenor
  • Telia
poland_2x.png
Poland
  • Orange
  • Play
  • T-Mobile
portugal_2x.png
Portugal
  • MEO
  • NOS
  • Vodafone
puerto_rico_2x.png
Puerto Rico
  • AT&T
qatar_2x.png
Qatar
  • Ooredoo
  • Vodafone
romania_2x.png
Romania
  • Orange
  • Telekom
  • Vodafone
russia_2x.png
Russia
  • Beeline
  • Megafon
  • Yota
saudi_arabia_2x.png
Saudi Arabia
  • Mobily
  • STC
  • Zain
singapore_2x.png
Singapore
  • M1
  • Singtel
  • Starhub
slovakia_2x.png
Slovakia
  • Telekom
slovenia_2x.png
Slovenia
  • Telekom Slovenije
spain_2x.png
Spain
  • Movistar
  • Orange
  • Vodafone
  • Yoigo
sweden_2x.png
Sweden
  • 3
  • Tele2
  • Telenor
  • Telia
switzerland_2x.png
Switzerland
  • Salt
  • Sunrise
  • Swisscom
taiwan_2x.png
Taiwan
  • APT
  • Chunghwa Telecom
  • FarEasTone
  • Taiwan Mobile
  • Taiwan Star
united_arab_emirates_2x.png
UAE
  • du
  • Etisalat
uk_2x.png
United Kingdom
  • 3
  • Everything, Everywhere
  • O2
  • Vodafone
iPhone 7
Model A1779 (CDMA)
iPhone 7 Plus
Model A1785 (CDMA)
1 (2100 MHz)
2 (1900 MHz)
3 (1800 MHz)
4 (AWS)
5 (850 MHz)
7 (2600 MHz)
8 (900 MHz)
11 (1500 MHz)
12 (700 MHz)
13 (700c MHz)
17 (700b MHz)
18 (800 MHz)
19 (800 MHz)
20 (800 DD)
21 (1500 MHz)
25 (1900 MHz)
26 (800 MHz)
27 (800 MHz)
28 (700 APT MHz)
29 (700 de MHz)
30 (2300 MHz)
38 (TD 2600)
39 (TD 1900)
40 (TD 2300)
41 (TD 2500)
The iPhone LTE page just tells you what specific model the carriers ship.

As far as underlying technology is concerned, the CDMA iPhone 7/7+ models have CDMA, GSM and LTE. GSM iPhone 7/7+ models have GSM and LTE.

When the SIM-free iPhone is released, it will probably be the same model as the CDMA (Verizon/Sprint) version. Only advantage of SIM-free is it's whitelisted on both Verizon's and Sprint's networks.
 
From what I've read, CDMA model uses Qualcomm chip and GSM model uses Intel. Going with the Intel chip is supposedly cheaper.
[doublepost=1473617507][/doublepost]
The iPhone LTE page just tells you what specific model the carriers ship.

As far as underlying technology is concerned, the CDMA iPhone 7/7+ models have CDMA, GSM and LTE. GSM iPhone 7/7+ models have GSM and LTE.

When the SIM-free iPhone is released, it will probably be the same model as the CDMA (Verizon/Sprint) version. Only advantage of SIM-free is it's whitelisted on both Verizon's and Sprint's networks.

Why did they leave off AT&T for the U.S. is what I want to know? It says Cricket which is AT&T correct?

I ordered the Verizon 1661 to use on both AT&T and Verizon, but I'm curious.
 
Why did they leave off AT&T for the U.S. is what I want to know? It says Cricket which is AT&T correct?

I ordered the Verizon 1661 to use on both AT&T and Verizon, but I'm curious.
Yep, Cricket is AT&T. You'd have to ask the bean counters at Apple for the answer to that question.

My guess, Apple ships very few Cricket iPhones that they didn't bother using the GSM SKU for that. Meanwhile, the millions of iPhones sold through AT&T and T-Mobile would represent significant savings in unnecessary hardware/licensing/patent fees.
 
Why did they leave off AT&T for the U.S. is what I want to know? It says Cricket which is AT&T correct?

I ordered the Verizon 1661 to use on both AT&T and Verizon, but I'm curious.
I think they forgot to put AT&T on the list. AT&T LTE bands are 2, 4, 5 and 17 which are on the list, so you're good to go with the A1661 I'll be doing the same Unlocked model to be fully covered and can resell it to anyone.
 
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After reading through all these threads with conflicting information and recommendations, a wise person will disregard the information on this thread and do their own research through Apple. This thread is officially worthless.

Although some posts are correct, there's no way for a reader to make an informed decision... since no one here has any credibility.

Forums

My post has strictly Apple-sourced information with links. I included them so as to have people read from the source.


Either trolling or blissfully obstinate. Either way: for other folks reading, please see above.
 
I called the Apple Store and they told me that if you order and pay total price from their internet store you get the unlocked model that they offer on the upgrade offer no matter your service...it will be setup for your current service...hope this is the case...what do you think?

image.png
 
Last edited:
What are you talking about? Apple's own tech specs state that all GSM carrier bands and frequencies are supported on the CDMA iPhone 7. I know from personal experience having had both AT&T and Verizon at the same time for the iPhone 6 and 6S. I swapped SIM cards regularly and they both worked with both networks. The only thing with the 6S was lack of Band 30 support on the Verizon model, but it otherwise worked fine on AT&T and T-Mobile, and around the world.

It seems to be missing AWS-3 Band 66, so not all bands are supported.
 
You have no idea how wrong you are. Apple would gladly have all phones unlocked, supporting all of the LTE frequencies - it's the carriers that want to preserve sim locking and physical sims. Lots of negotiations over how sim free is going to work without the carriers losing their ability to keep you by the short hairs.

To the comment that "LTE is in its infancy" - umm. Sorry, no, it's already well rolled out across North America and much of the world. LTE Advanced is now being rolled out in the metro centres (much higher speeds, etc).

Do NOT buy a damn CDMA phone! Not unless you live in a rural area that that's the only signal you get at home. CDMA is all but dead. If you buy a CDMA/LTE phone you will have inferior battery life to those who didn't saddle themselves with it (as it'll still look for a CDMA network to land on every so often).

As long as you're getting an unlocked phone (from either AT&T or T-mobile or better yet - the Apple Store), you really should be fine.

More info on worldwide coverage here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks
Haha, you are so wrong. CDMA has nothing to do with rural vs urbal. AT&T has far superior rural coverage to Sprint, yet they are GSM. Your CDMA radio also isn't active if you are using it on a GSM network, it simply has support for CDMA if you use a CDMA SIM.

A CDMA iPhone simply allows you to switch your carrier to Verizon or Sprint down the road and keep your phone.

It seems to be missing AWS-3 Band 66, so not all bands are supported.
No phones have band 66 yet, neither does the GSM iPhone.
 
Haha, you are so wrong. CDMA has nothing to do with rural vs urbal. AT&T has far superior rural coverage to Sprint, yet they are GSM. Your CDMA radio also isn't active if you are using it on a GSM network, it simply has support for CDMA if you use a CDMA SIM.

A CDMA iPhone simply allows you to switch your carrier to Verizon or Sprint down the road and keep your phone.


No phones have band 66 yet, neither does the GSM iPhone.

You are correct that no iPhone 7's have support for Band 66. I didn't mean to imply that it was just the CDMA version.

As for other brands of phones. I'm not interested in them. I am wondering why Apple didn't/wouldn't include it?

If you are going to reply, I think it's best to reply here. EDIT: I see that you already did :)
 
I'm most likely going with tmobile because of their trade in program. Upgrade from a 5s to a 7 only cost $250, thats mean they are paying $400 for my 5s. What a steal

VZW is giving me $650 for my iPhone 6 to go towards an iPhone 7. They were also giving $400 for a 5S. Indeed, a steal.
[doublepost=1473679200][/doublepost]
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
Model Number2
LTE Band Support3
Country
Supported LTE Networks

iPhone 7
Model A1660 (CDMA)
iPhone 7 Plus
Model A1661 (CDMA)
1 (2100 MHz)
2 (1900 MHz)
3 (1800 MHz)
4 (AWS)
5 (850 MHz)
7 (2600 MHz)
8 (900 MHz)
12 (700 MHz)
13 (700c MHz)
17 (700b MHz)
18 (800 MHz)
19 (800 MHz)
20 (800 DD)
25 (1900 MHz)
26 (800 MHz)
27 (800 MHz)
28 (700 APT MHz)
29 (700 de MHz)
30 (2300 MHz)
38 (TD 2600)
39 (TD 1900)
40 (TD 2300)
41 (TD 2500)

usa_2x.png
United States
  • Appalachian Wireless
  • Bluegrass Cellular
  • Boost
  • C-Spire
  • Carolina West
  • Cellcom
  • Chariton Valley
  • Chat Mobility
  • Consumer Cellular
  • Copper Valley Wireless
  • Credo
  • Cricket
  • Family Mobile
  • GCI
  • Illinois Valley Cellular
  • Inland Cellular
  • iWireless
  • MetroPCS
  • Nex-Tech
  • NorthwestCell
  • Panhandle
  • Pioneer Cellular
  • Pure Talk
  • Sagebrush
  • Sprint
  • SRT
  • STRATA Networks
  • Thumb Cellular
  • Tracfone
  • Truphone
  • Union Wireless
  • United Wireless
  • US Cellular
  • Verizon
  • Viaero
  • Vodafone
china_2x.png
China
  • China Mobile
  • China Telecom
  • China Unicom
hong_kong_2x.png
Hong Kong
  • 3
  • China Mobile Hong Kong
  • CSL
  • SmarTone
puerto_rico_2x.png
Puerto Rico
  • Claro
  • Open Mobile
  • Sprint
60.png
USVI
  • AT&T
  • Sprint
iPhone 7
Model A1778
iPhone 7 Plus
Model A1784
1 (2100 MHz)
2 (1900 MHz)
3 (1800 MHz)
4 (AWS)
5 (850 MHz)
7 (2600 MHz)
8 (900 MHz)
12 (700 MHz)
13 (700c MHz)
17 (700b MHz)
18 (800 MHz)
19 (800 MHz)
20 (800 DD)
25 (1900 MHz)
26 (800 MHz)
27 (800 MHz)
28 (700 APT MHz)
29 (700 de MHz)
30 (2300 MHz)
38 (TD 2600)
39 (TD 1900)
40 (TD 2300)
41 (TD 2500)

usa_2x.png
United States
  • AT&T
  • T-Mobile
andorra_2x.png
Andorra
  • Andorra Telecom
australia_2x.png
Australia
  • Optus
  • Telstra
  • Vodafone
austria_2x.png
Austria
  • 3
  • A1
  • T-Mobile
bahrain_2x.png
Bahrain
  • Batelco
  • Viva
  • Zain
belgium_2x.png
Belgium
  • Base
  • Mobistar
  • Proximus
  • Telenet
bulgaria_2x.png
Bulgaria
  • Telenor
canada_2x.png
Canada
  • Bell
  • eastlink
  • MTS
  • Rogers
  • SaskTel
  • Tbaytel
  • Telus
  • Videotron
croatia_2x.png
Croatia
  • Hrvatski Telecom
cyprus_2x.png
Cyprus
  • Cyta
  • MTN
  • PrimeTel
czech_republic_2x.png
Czech Republic
  • O2
  • T-Mobile
  • Vodafone
denmark_2x.png
Denmark
  • 3
  • TDC
  • Telenor
  • Telia
estonia_2x.png
Estonia
  • Elisa
  • Sonera
  • Tele2
finland_2x.png
Finland
  • DNA
  • Elisa
  • Sonera
france_2x.png
France
  • Bouygues
  • Free
  • NRJ
  • Orange
  • SFR
  • Virgin
germany_2x.png
Germany
  • 1&1
  • Deutsche Telekom
  • O2
  • Vodafone
greece_2x.png
Greece
  • Cosmote
  • Vodafone
  • WIND
greenland_2x.png
Greenland
  • TELE Greenland
hungary_2x.png
Hungary
  • Telekom
  • Telenor
  • Vodafone
iceland_2x.png
Iceland
  • Nova
  • Simmin
  • Vodafone
ireland_2x.png
Ireland
  • 3
  • Meteor
  • Vodafone
isle_of_man_2x.png
Isle of Man
  • Manx Telecom
  • Sure
italy_2x.png
Italy
  • 3
  • TIM
  • Vodafone
kosovo_2x.png
Kosovo
  • Telekom Slovenije
kuwait_2x.png
Kuwait
  • Ooredoo
  • Viva
  • Zain
latvia_2x.png
Latvia
  • LMT
  • Tele2
liechtenstein_2x.png
Liechtenstein
  • Salt
lithuania_2x.png
Lithuania
  • Omnitel
  • Tele2
luxembourg_2x.png
Luxembourg
  • Orange
  • Post
  • Tango
maldives_2x.png
Maldives
  • Dhiraagu
  • Ooredoo
malta_2x.png
Malta
  • Vodafone
mexico_2x.png
Mexico
  • AT&T
  • Movistar
  • Telcel
monaco_2x.png
Monaco
  • Monaco Telecom
netherlands_2x.png
Netherlands
  • KPN
  • T-Mobile
  • Tele2
  • Vodafone
new_zealand_2x.png
New Zealand
  • 2Degrees
  • Spark
  • Vodafone
norway_2x.png
Norway
  • Telenor
  • Telia
poland_2x.png
Poland
  • Orange
  • Play
  • T-Mobile
portugal_2x.png
Portugal
  • MEO
  • NOS
  • Vodafone
puerto_rico_2x.png
Puerto Rico
  • AT&T
qatar_2x.png
Qatar
  • Ooredoo
  • Vodafone
romania_2x.png
Romania
  • Orange
  • Telekom
  • Vodafone
russia_2x.png
Russia
  • Beeline
  • Megafon
  • Yota
saudi_arabia_2x.png
Saudi Arabia
  • Mobily
  • STC
  • Zain
singapore_2x.png
Singapore
  • M1
  • Singtel
  • Starhub
slovakia_2x.png
Slovakia
  • Telekom
slovenia_2x.png
Slovenia
  • Telekom Slovenije
spain_2x.png
Spain
  • Movistar
  • Orange
  • Vodafone
  • Yoigo
sweden_2x.png
Sweden
  • 3
  • Tele2
  • Telenor
  • Telia
switzerland_2x.png
Switzerland
  • Salt
  • Sunrise
  • Swisscom
taiwan_2x.png
Taiwan
  • APT
  • Chunghwa Telecom
  • FarEasTone
  • Taiwan Mobile
  • Taiwan Star
united_arab_emirates_2x.png
UAE
  • du
  • Etisalat
uk_2x.png
United Kingdom
  • 3
  • Everything, Everywhere
  • O2
  • Vodafone
iPhone 7
Model A1779 (CDMA)
iPhone 7 Plus
Model A1785 (CDMA)
1 (2100 MHz)
2 (1900 MHz)
3 (1800 MHz)
4 (AWS)
5 (850 MHz)
7 (2600 MHz)
8 (900 MHz)
11 (1500 MHz)
12 (700 MHz)
13 (700c MHz)
17 (700b MHz)
18 (800 MHz)
19 (800 MHz)
20 (800 DD)
21 (1500 MHz)
25 (1900 MHz)
26 (800 MHz)
27 (800 MHz)
28 (700 APT MHz)
29 (700 de MHz)
30 (2300 MHz)
38 (TD 2600)
39 (TD 1900)
40 (TD 2300)
41 (TD 2500)
A simple link and description would've sufficed.
 
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