iPhone 5 from Japan to US

[Chuchichan]

If I purchase an iPhone 5 in Japan and use it for a while and decide to move to the US, can I easily activate it there or would it be advised to purchase the iPhone in the US?

Thanks.

 

[i-John]

Buy it in the US if you intend to use it on LTE. iPhones bought outside of US or Canada won't work on LTE within the US or Canada.

 

[Chuchichan]

Buy it in the US if you intend to use it on LTE. iPhones bought outside of US or Canada won't work on LTE within the US or Canada.

I thought that carriers now offer LTE in Japan. Also, do you mean that different iphones are being made for regions around the world?

 

[illutionz]

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

Japan is using Band 1 LTE

US is using the following:
- AT&T - Band 4 and 17
- Verizon - Band 13
- Sprint - Band 25

If you purchase your iPhone 5 from KDDI in Japan, you have to get the LTE Simcard from Verizon and use it with them.

If you get your iPhone 5 from Softbank in Japan, you can use 3G in the US with AT&T or Tmobile but no LTE at all. Softbank iPhone 5 can't be used with Verizon/Sprint in the US.

Either way, my point is that you can either use Verizon with LTE but you can't use AT&T LTE with any of Japanese purchased iPhone 5.

PS: If you are interested in finding more details about these "LTE Bands" here's a good list:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-UTRA#Frequency_bands_and_channel_bandwidths

 

[i-John]

I thought that carriers now offer LTE in Japan. Also, do you mean that different iphones are being made for regions around the world?

Yes, though if you get the Japan model, it should work on LTE for Verizon or Sprint, but not AT&T.

 

[illutionz]

Yes, though if you get the Japan model, it should work on LTE for Verizon or Sprint, but not AT&T.

it has to be the KDDI Japan model, though. The Softbank won't have any LTE capabilities in the US since they only supports band 1,3, and 5 for LTE

 

[Chuchichan]

Understood. Thanks all for the replies.

 

[jayajaya]

I believe Japanese carriers do not unlock their iPhone. You could use Softbank / AU SIM card overseas, but it would be expensive especially if you used it for a long period of time.

 

[slayerz96]

The KDDI model works with Verizon and Sprint in the US.

SoftBank model only with some Asian carriers + DT + EE.

I'm quite sure Japanese phones are locked. You might need to find out more.

 

[marc11]

Softbank phones are locked and they will not unlock no matter what.

 

[haruhiko]

All Japanese iPhones are locked.