iPhone XR Now Available SIM-Free in the United States

[BearsFan34]

When you bought the AT&T phone, did you swap out the SIM with your active SIM or did you try to activate the SIM inside the phone? If you did the latter, was there a fee involved (even if you were able to later call and get it waived)?

That's the beauty part--at least with sticking with the same mobile carrier--I did the latter. Put an active SIM from my X into a fully-paid but unlocked AT&T XR. Didn't have to do anything. No fees. Every time I've done this (meaning, paying full price for either an AT&T or a "SIM-Free" iPhone), I've never seen any activation fees when moving an active SIM to a new "paid full price" iPhone.

 

[Mackinjosh]

In some past versions an ATT phone could not be transferred to Verizon. Their network seemed to lock out unknown IMEIs. Also there were iPhones with different chips for different carriers. Are we sure now the radio chips support all carriers even if you buy one with a sim already in it?

We're positive. At checkout on apple.com it tells you that what you're buying is an unlocked phone with a sim card for the carrier you chose. They also show you all the carriers the phone will work on regardless of the sim you chose.

 

[ghanwani]

That's the beauty part--at least with sticking with the same mobile carrier--I did the latter. Put an active SIM from my X into a fully-paid but unlocked AT&T XR. Didn't have to do anything. No fees. Every time I've done this (meaning, paying full price for either an AT&T or a "SIM-Free" iPhone), I've never seen any activation fees when moving an active SIM to a new "paid full price" iPhone.

I think the point I'm trying to get confirmation on is that Apple is allowing unsuspecting, non-knowledgable customers to get duped into paying a SIM activation fee by selling a carrier version of the phone. These are customers that are not aware that they can simply swap their SIM and instead get the new SIM activated and unnecessarily get hit with a fee.

 

[Mackinjosh]

I think the point I'm trying to get confirmation on is that Apple is allowing unsuspecting, non-knowledgable customers to get duped into paying a SIM activation fee by selling a carrier version of the phone. These are customers that are not aware that they can simply swap their SIM and instead get the new SIM activated and unnecessarily get hit with a fee.

Apple tells everyone at checkout that their phone is unlocked. I don't think they're duping anyone.

 

[ghanwani]

Apple tells everyone at checkout that their phone is unlocked. I don't think they're duping anyone.

OK I'll buy that.

What is the purpose of the carrier version of the phones? And what is the purpose of delaying the SIM-free version?

 

[Wowzera]

I've done this both ways: paid full price for a "SIM-Free" iPhone (for the 6S Plus, a 7, and the X) and also paid full price for an "AT&T" iPhone (a different 7, and now the XR).

Both ways -- any time I paid full price for an iPhone since the 6S Plus, I've been able to put any mobile carrier's SIM card in the phone (in the US) and it worked fine. And for the iPhone X, I put a Three (3) SIM card in the US-bought phone and it worked fine.

I get the theories but am not completely sure why Apple does this overt sale of "SIM-Free" phone when really the LTE bands in Europe (or most of Europe--please correct me if I'm wrong) for GSM networks are the same as they are in the US.

I've yet to hear of someone in the US paying full price for an AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile iPhone and then it does not work in Europe.

Its not true. This year model (like the iphones past the 5s) have different bands than the EUR models.

 

[hlfway2anywhere]

Exactly. $599 is a bit more reasonable as a mid budget iPhone. The current price is silly.

They have one. They call it iPhone 8.

 

[Mackinjosh]

OK I'll buy that.

What is the purpose of the carrier version of the phones? And what is the purpose of delaying the SIM-free version?

Carrier versions when sold on a price-plan are locked. When you pay full price, they're unlocked and will work on all carriers that Apple supports but they do include a sim card for the carrier you chose. Not sure why they didnt just include the no-sim version from the start, but I imagine it might have something to do with contracts signed with the carriers.

 

[BearsFan34]

Its not true. This year model (like the iphones past the 5s) have different bands than the EUR models.

Would you have a link for this?

On another computer I did some looking around & don't have the tabs saved; from what I saw, at least in my specific case, the AT&T but unlocked XR I have will work across Europe will no real restrictions...meaning I can grab a SIM from any of the major mobile carriers in Europe, drop it in the XR & be on my way without issue.

Meaning, Europe may not have the same exact bands in use as in the US, no...but the phone will still work even if not operating on the fastest 4G/LTE bands in the EU.

 

[TTTedP]

I don't understand people calling the iPhone XR a budget phone.

That's what happens when you position your product as a luxury item. People get all elitist on you. It's like the 911 guys who hold their nose up to Boxster owners.

 

[laudern]

Why is that phone so expensive?

Lol you must be new here. Welcome to Apple.

 

[Wowzera]

Would you have a link for this?

On another computer I did some looking around & don't have the tabs saved; from what I saw, at least in my specific case, the AT&T but unlocked XR I have will work across Europe will no real restrictions...meaning I can grab a SIM from any of the major mobile carriers in Europe, drop it in the XR & be on my way without issue.

Meaning, Europe may not have the same exact bands in use as in the US, no...but the phone will still work even if not operating on the fastest 4G/LTE bands in the EU.

Band 28 (LTE/4G).
The LTE/4G still will work, but LTE+/4,5G and such things may not work in countries that uses band 28. It's the case of Brazil. LTE / 4G works on bands 3, 7 and 28. This years USA iPhones don't work on band 28, but Global/European models do.

France, Germany and Iceland uses band 28 (Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks_in_Europe)

 

[hudson1]

OK I'll buy that.

What is the purpose of the carrier version of the phones? And what is the purpose of delaying the SIM-free version?

I think it's so people can get up and running with a new phone as quickly as possible on the carrier they chose when buying the phone. Historically, the SIM-free phones came out a little later as Apple tried to get as many carrier-oriented phones into the retail channel as possible on Day 1 of launch. When supply and demand came into balance, they released the SIM-free versions.

 

[martyjmclean]

You wouldn’t have to transfer numbers. Just take the new sim out and put in your old one. The new sim would just be unused.

That was literally my point...You would have to transfer numbers if you kept the new SIM, so why bother bundling SIM cards with a phone if they don't get used?

 

[daye]

These were available from day one. Here's how:
- Pay full price for any carrier model
- Open sim tray
- remove sim
- throw sim away

Not that simple. ATT IPHONE works on T-Mobile and vice versa, but not Verizon or Sprint.

Only sim free iPhone works for any carrier.

 

[Mackinjosh]

Not that simple. ATT IPHONE works on T-Mobile and vice versa, but not Verizon or Sprint.

Only sim free iPhone works for any carrier.

That's incorrect. Any iphone XR, XS, or XS Max you pay full price for from Apple is unlocked and will work on all their supported carriers.

 

[Starship67]

That was literally my point...You would have to transfer numbers if you kept the new SIM, so why bother bundling SIM cards with a phone if they don't get used?

And you totally missed mine. You don't need the keep the new sim if you already have one.

 

[daye]

That's incorrect. Any iphone XR, XS, or XS Max you pay full price for from Apple is unlocked and will work on all their supported carriers.

Yes, unlocked if you pay full price. But if you choose ATT WHEN ordering the phone and you put your Verizon SIM card, does it work? If yes, why you have to chose a carrier instead of just order the sim free phone.

 

[Mackinjosh]

Yes, unlocked if you pay full price. But if you choose ATT WHEN ordering the phone and you put your Verizon SIM card, does it work? If yes, why you have to chose a carrier instead of just order the sim free phone.

Yes it works. You gotta ask Apple why they do it this way.

 

[einsteinbqat]

I guess locked phones aren't illegal/are the norm in America? I don't get how that works, but it must be annoying.

In Canada,

Before 1st December 2017, there were two options:
1. Locked with SIM phones when bought through the mobile operator
2. Unlocked, SIM-free, phones when buying through Apple or other brands

After 1st December 2017, all phones must be sold unlocked whether through the mobile operator or at Apple et al.

 

[Tiger8]

Some history:
Pre iphone 4: AT&T and international gsm, no Verizon or sprint, and 2g on t mobile
iPhone 4: Verizon phone a few months later, no place for sim
iPhone 4s: Sprint phone (they also got budget 4), three distinct models that don't work with each other, once you pick your carrier, you are stuck with it
iPhone 5: same as above, but t mobile gets iPhone. T mobile iPhone supported extra band compared to at&t
iPhone 5s: the first iPhone that can be used across all four carriers, minor differences between different editions (LTE bands)
iPhone 6 and beyond: all 4 carriers use the same model, some variations for international models

 

[CrapShack]

I wonder if the rumors of "cuts" in XR production where actually just a shift over to the production of SIM free models?

 

[Mackinjosh]

I wonder if the rumors of "cuts" in XR production where actually just a shift over to the production of SIM free models?

I doubt they need different production lines just to not have a guy stick a sim in the phone. That's literally the only difference.

 

[Newsduck]

My suspicion is that, as a bow to the carriers, Apple makes it look as if you have to join a carrier. I bought an XR that appeared to be tied to T-Mobile, if didn’t read the fine print. Even when I replaced the T-Mobile SIM with my AT&T one, I got a message on my iPhone to call T-mobile to complete the setup. I ignored the message and easily set up the phone. But I wonder how many people linked themselves to T-Mobile (or any other carrier) because of the confusion.

 

[linkgx1]

Why would anybody buy a locked phone, ever? It is soooo strange to me that new iPhones are being sold only with one of these four carriers initially.

To me, the choice of a phone and the choice of a wireless carrier have NOTHING to do with each other. It makes absolutely no sense to me why the customer would want to buy these two things bundled.

You don't buy your house or apartment bundled with an internet provider, do you? It just makes no sense for the customer.

The issue is that until Apple came out with IUP you either had to buy it out right or finance it from your carrier.
[doublepost=1542383363][/doublepost]

I've done this both ways: paid full price for a "SIM-Free" iPhone (for the 6S Plus, a 7, and the X) and also paid full price for an "AT&T" iPhone (a different 7, and now the XR).

Both ways -- any time I paid full price for an iPhone since the 6S Plus, I've been able to put any mobile carrier's SIM card in the phone (in the US) and it worked fine. And for the iPhone X, I put a Three (3) SIM card in the US-bought phone and it worked fine.

I get the theories but am not completely sure why Apple does this overt sale of "SIM-Free" phone when really the LTE bands in Europe (or most of Europe--please correct me if I'm wrong) for GSM networks are the same as they are in the US.

I've yet to hear of someone in the US paying full price for an AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile iPhone and then it does not work in Europe.

It can happen and has happened to me.