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iPhone 6s LTE 30 Band and CDMA Version Megathread
- Thread starter milaround
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I'm sure I've missed something somewhere in this long thread, but is it confirmed that the T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint 6s iPhones are the same phone and can work on any carrier with that carrier's SIM card? I need a 6s that will run on a Verizon prepaid MVNO.
I have a Verizon 6s reserved at the Apple Store but thought I would see what would happen were I to try to preorder a paid-in-full T-Mobile phone on Apple's site. When I put the phone in the bag, the description said "T-Mobile (GSM)." If the same phone is used for T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint, why isn't there something written to that effect in the phone's description on the purchase site. When I read "T-Mobile (GSM)," I have a hard time pulling the trigger, knowing I need a CDMA phone. To me, this is unnecessarily confusing.
I have a Verizon 6s reserved at the Apple Store but thought I would see what would happen were I to try to preorder a paid-in-full T-Mobile phone on Apple's site. When I put the phone in the bag, the description said "T-Mobile (GSM)." If the same phone is used for T-Mobile, Verizon, and Sprint, why isn't there something written to that effect in the phone's description on the purchase site. When I read "T-Mobile (GSM)," I have a hard time pulling the trigger, knowing I need a CDMA phone. To me, this is unnecessarily confusing.
It's intentionally confusing. They don't want non T-Mobile customers buying up all the T-Mobile phones.
You'll be fine, it's all the same model.
In many metropolitan areas, there are often HOV (aka carpool) lanes on the freeways. The same freeway will get you from A to B regardless of what lane you're in, but the HOV lane is often not as congested since there are less cars that meet the requirements. Sure you can use the non-HOV lanes if you want, but you're there with everyone else–You just have more choices in which lane to use. Just because you have 2-3 people in your car, you're not forced to use the carpool lane, you can drive in any lane you want.
Band 30 (aka WCS or even 2300 MHz) is like the HOV lane. The iPhone 6s and the newer Android phones also have Band 30. They can use it, or any of the other LTE bands that AT&T supports. Just because these phones support band 30, they're not forced to use ONLY band 30, it's just that there's less people on it at the moment.
Ok folks, given that iphone 6s basically has all the bands possible, I don't see why there would be so called "SIM-Free" iphone later.
If Apple releases a SIM free version at all later, it will be basically the same phone you get from Apple's upgrade program, except that instead of having to commit to installments & apple care+, you would be able to get the phone only outright from Apple without having to select a carrier. But you can drop the carrier you choose now since you are getting a non-contract phone when paid full.
There seem to be tons of misinformation on unlocked vs SIM Free, but in most cases colloquially (i.e. among laymen) it's the same thing, especially for iphone 6s/6s+. Basically what people want from SIM free is
a) being able to change carriers at will (i.e. unlocked)
-> If I get the phone paid in full, it will be unlocked or you just need to call and get it unlocked.
b) having all bands to be used globally.
-> Iphone 6s has more bands supported than iphone 6 SIM free and there isn't any more band to be added, especially for model A1633/4. We can ignore CDMA rev. B since that's negligible.
There was legitimate unlocked vs SIM-Free for previous iphones since SIM free 6 or Sprint version had more bands supported than the non-SIM free version and people couldn't buy non-SIM free ones outright initially. Not the case anymore with 6s.
Also SIM free phones don't always mean they are unlocked (source: http://www.ebay.com/gds/What-Are-th...les-and-Smartphones-/10000000177589819/g.html)
If Apple releases a SIM free version at all later, it will be basically the same phone you get from Apple's upgrade program, except that instead of having to commit to installments & apple care+, you would be able to get the phone only outright from Apple without having to select a carrier. But you can drop the carrier you choose now since you are getting a non-contract phone when paid full.
There seem to be tons of misinformation on unlocked vs SIM Free, but in most cases colloquially (i.e. among laymen) it's the same thing, especially for iphone 6s/6s+. Basically what people want from SIM free is
a) being able to change carriers at will (i.e. unlocked)
-> If I get the phone paid in full, it will be unlocked or you just need to call and get it unlocked.
b) having all bands to be used globally.
-> Iphone 6s has more bands supported than iphone 6 SIM free and there isn't any more band to be added, especially for model A1633/4. We can ignore CDMA rev. B since that's negligible.
There was legitimate unlocked vs SIM-Free for previous iphones since SIM free 6 or Sprint version had more bands supported than the non-SIM free version and people couldn't buy non-SIM free ones outright initially. Not the case anymore with 6s.
Also SIM free phones don't always mean they are unlocked (source: http://www.ebay.com/gds/What-Are-th...les-and-Smartphones-/10000000177589819/g.html)
They will release a SIM-free phone later on, but even in the best case scenario, it won't have any more bands than the AT&T version. For all we know it might end up being the A1687/8 since that's what other countries seem to be getting (A1633/4 is US-exclusive it seems)
Whoops... You mean o wasn't suppose to buy the TMobile one for my ATT account... My bad
You can buy the AT&T version directly from Apple, you don't have to get directly from AT&T.
Why would you have to buy it in an AT&T store?
No b.c prepaid carriers cap your speed. Band 30 will really only make a difference for the power user who demands 45 Mbps/s at all times.
I don't agree. If the prepaid carrier is using AT&T for their service, and AT&T is using Band 30 to offload capacity issues, then it would benefit all customers.
Well it will be a benefit, but nowhere near important. ATT prepaid carriers cap you at 8mbp/s. I do not think I have ever seen less than that on LTE anywhere.
Not that I know of (yet) Just the prepaid carriers that use ATT towers. T-mobile prepaid through t-mobile also caps you at 8mbp/s (they just started that).
The cheap flavor of T-Mobile prepaid caps you, the regular flavor doesn't. MetroPCS, T-Mobile's prepaid division, doesn't cap speeds either. I'm getting an AT&T iPhone for use on T-Mobile
From AT&T's postings, LTE 30 band will only be in saturated markets and they only have a small amount of handsets to choose from obviously.
With Verizon testing 5G early next year, I see no reason to care about the 30 band. Never had an issue with Verizon speed or coverage. AT&T users on the other hand are probably very happy about this move. All carriers need to expand drastically to help the market get its prices down.
With Verizon testing 5G early next year, I see no reason to care about the 30 band. Never had an issue with Verizon speed or coverage. AT&T users on the other hand are probably very happy about this move. All carriers need to expand drastically to help the market get its prices down.
after 6 months i think the resale value would only affect it by 10/20 dollars. so i would just buy the correct one. but looks like att one does have cdma now
I agree. But also if you have a phone with LTE30 and you in a good range(another words close to the cell site) Att will be forced to LTE30, it leaves all over bands less congested.
Right now in my house I have 1-2 bars LTE2(1900MHZ) on the second floor, but LTE2 doesn't penetrate my basement, so I have LTE17(fraction of "famous" t-mo LTE12 - LTE17 700a) there. The moment I get back to the second floor Att forces me to higher band LTE 2.
Off top: I've read here that a lot of people want to migrate to T-mo now. Most of them are Att customers. If they switch then Att will has less congested network, but I strongly believe that t-mo will have problems soon even with their high capacity network(they build it with high frequencies to begin). Like in the old story: less people=more air
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at the rate att implements(wifi calling still not avail until ios9) i wouldnt be surprised this took awhile. but hope you are right
So I have an ATT account but it's a pre-paid account which is a much better deal if you buy your phone outright in-full. The problem is, I don't show up in the normal ATT account database so therefore, even from the Apple store, I can't pre-order the ATT phone variant because it I don't pass the eligibility check. Even directly from ATT stores, they require you have a full account to pre-order. Has anyone found a work around for this? In the meantime I have a TMobile model pre-ordered from Apple but can cancel it later. I could always just purchase directly in an ATT store after it's released but with supply that could be a month or more.
An Apple Upgrade preorder doesn't ask carrier information. You can order any flavor of iPhone you like, if it's available in your area.
Randian, I'm not trying to do the Apple Upgrade plan. I am trying to buy a payed in full 6S 64GB and if I select ATT it takes me directly to a page that says,
Connect to AT&T to check your account status.
Enter the details for the account you want to use, including the last four digits of the account holder’s Social Security number.
I even tried calling and they said there was no way to bypass that screen. Even if I pre-order and have them hold in store, they will not let me leave the store without activating the phone on an eligible ATT plan, which the pre-paid plans don't count.
Connect to AT&T to check your account status.
Enter the details for the account you want to use, including the last four digits of the account holder’s Social Security number.
I even tried calling and they said there was no way to bypass that screen. Even if I pre-order and have them hold in store, they will not let me leave the store without activating the phone on an eligible ATT plan, which the pre-paid plans don't count.
no way around it, as a prepaid customer you have to get the t-mobile variant. I have been in the same boat for a year now. The only other option is to camp out at the apple store and buy the ATT one there on launch day.
I know. If you order by AU, when you show up in the store you can decide to pay in full instead.