iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini Cost $30 Extra for T-Mobile, Sprint, or SIM-Free Models [Updated]

[MacRumors]

While the 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini and 6.1-inch iPhone 12 are advertised as starting at $699 and $799 respectively in the United States, this pricing only applies to Verizon and AT&T models, which qualify for an "instant discount" of $30 at launch.

Pricing for T-Mobile, Sprint, and SIM-free versions of the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 starts at $729 and $829 respectively.

There is no price discrepancy with iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max models, which start at $999 and $1,099 respectively regardless of the model selected.

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro pre-orders begin Friday, October 16 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time, with shipments starting Friday, October 23. The smaller 5.4-inch iPhone 12 mini and larger 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max are launching later, with pre-orders beginning Friday, November 6 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time and shipments starting Friday, November 13.

Update: A spokesperson for T-Mobile has informed MacRumors that the carrier will also have iPhone 12 offers that will go live on Apple's website on Friday, the day that pre-orders of the devices begin.

Update: T-Mobile and Sprint are now offering the same "instant discount" of $30 off the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini as AT&T and Verizon.

Article Link: iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Mini Cost $30 Extra for T-Mobile, Sprint, or SIM-Free Models [Updated]

 

[dlewis23]

Uhh Why???? What is up with this garbage?

 

[ruslan120]

Unlocked makes sense.

As for Sprint and T-Mobile... c’mon...

Edit: I’ve previously bought release date Verizon iPhones (X, XS Max) and they have worked without issues on T-Mobile. In case that’s helpful.. not sure if that’s the case this year or if Apple is enforcing locking.

 

[PruneTracy]

why...? Are tmobile phone shipping unlocked?

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗]

Where did that come from come on! $30 more??? What for

 

[moabal]

I love Apple. But this is pretty stupid.

 

[dlewis23]

Unlocked makes sense.

As for Sprint and T-Mobile... c’mon...

It makes ZERO sense for unlocked to cost more money.

 

[currocj]

What are these shenanigans?

 

[Andres Cantu]

How much money did Verizon pay for this to happen? They just want to make the new T-Mobile look bad. T-Mobile should respond with the lower price as well.

 

[BradWI]

And the gap between 12 and 12 Pro drops to $170...

 

[budafied]

Huh?

 

[steevn]

Wow, super lame.

 

[seecoolguy]

Verizon gets you either way, if you buy the Verizon version you pay the $30 upgrade fee when you activate, or you buy unlocked and you plug in your sim card. :-/

 

[swrobel]

What in the actual **** Apple?

 

[and 1989 others]

America, I do not understand how your mobile operators operate. This seems crazy.

 

[ghostface147]

Well now that's rather interesting. Why have a small premium? Even for a SIM free one....

 

[zorinlynx]

What the hell? We're back to having different versions of the iPhone for different carriers? I thought we were done with that annoyance!

They should have one version of the hardware that works on all carriers.

 

[Neepman]

Apple, All-time world champions of nickel and diming.

 

[cwwilson]

This is what unchecked capitalism leads to and I’m an AT&T customer. It appears the Big 2 are using their muscle to squeeze the smaller carriers. It’s not right, I can tell you this.

 

[michael31986]

You mean buying from the carrier themselves or from Apple?

 

[thejadedmonkey]

Verizon gets you either way, if you buy the Verizon version you pay the $30 upgrade fee when you activate, or you buy unlocked and you plug in your sim card. :-/

I don't think there's an upgrade fee if you just swap sim cards.

 

[Rychiar]

aren't all phones the same in 2020?

 

[miflgr92]

Bought my current iPhone unlocked and then put my AT&T SIM card in it so I could avoid the stupid activation fee. Was planning on doing the same thing for this new iPhone but I guess I'll have to reevaluate?

 

[supergt]

This is BS. T-Mobile and Sprint would be smart to match the discount pricing on their website.

 

[neoelectronaut]

Stinks, but $30 isn't enough to make me give up my stellar T-Mobile plan.