All US XRs are A1984, the modem is the same. And you're backwards, the US has band 71 while the EU one does not.
iPhone XR Is the XR sold out everywhere, or is it in stock?
- Thread starter Ketsjap
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All US XRs are A1984, the modem is the same. And you're backwards, the US has band 71 while the EU one does not.
I’m aware. And I’ve also had issues with buying an X from them and it required being activated on the designated carrier before unlatching from the lock
archvile
macrumors 6502
There doesn’t appear to be a SIM-free option available yet, they are usually released about a month after an iPhone launches. The XS was an exception (who knows why) where the SIM-free version was available day 1.
look at my screenshot right above your post. You can make it SIM free by ejecting the SIM and flushing it down the toilet
The Apple store may be the best place to try this out and I’d seek advice and confirmations in person for sure before committing but you should be fine. There’s sometimes some hassles depending on carrier (Verizon) but I’m assuming you’re seeking a GSM model and I don’t think an AT&T or T-Mobile version is going to give you much grief. I hope this works out for you. Best of luck
Ketsjap
macrumors regular
Thanks. When selecting an 'AT&T iphone XR', paid in full, Apple's online store shows the screenshot doboy posted above. If you click on it, it shows this.
Makes me think that paying in full at an Apple store shouldn't be problematic?
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scotsmandc
macrumors 6502
That's what I meant.. people are giving misinformation left right and centre. A while ago in Canada, if you bought from carrier whether on contract or full price it is locked to carrier. Thankfully canada no longer sells locked phones due to a law that was passed.
This is why I brought it up for the OP as I'm not 100% sure how it works in the US. I only assume it is similar to Canadas old rules where if you purchase the phone from a carrier, it will be locked whether it's financed or full price but buying from Apple direct should be unlocked. That being said, few people here are saying there are no sim free iPhones right now so I myself is a bit confused.
Bottom line is someone from the US should confirm for OP if he could just buy a sim free phone direct from Apple as that is the safest bet for OP.
This is why I brought it up for the OP as I'm not 100% sure how it works in the US. I only assume it is similar to Canadas old rules where if you purchase the phone from a carrier, it will be locked whether it's financed or full price but buying from Apple direct should be unlocked. That being said, few people here are saying there are no sim free iPhones right now so I myself is a bit confused.
Bottom line is someone from the US should confirm for OP if he could just buy a sim free phone direct from Apple as that is the safest bet for OP.
Yes you should be fine. If you're worried about stock you may be even to order it and schedule the in-store pickup appropriately.
Ketsjap
macrumors regular
I’m very confused as well
The way I understand it, if you buy from an Apple store and pay full price, you’re basically buying an unlocked phone. At least that’s what Apple’s website tells me.
But I’m getting mixed signals in this thread, so I’m starting to doubt going trough with it. Maybe just play it safe and buy one here in Europe for 200 dollars (sigh) more, only to be 100 % sure it is unlocked and will work.
When did buying a phone get this complicated...
archvile
macrumors 6502
Sure, but for some reason it’s $50 more and you will probably have to pay the $30 activation fee to AT&T since you will be activating it with them. And then you will have to cancel the AT&T plan so you will pay for the day of using their service (the refund would be prorated).look at my screenshot right above your post. You can make it SIM free by ejecting the SIM and flushing it down the toilet
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If you buy it under any carrier banner, whether you pay full price or not, you have to activate it with that carrier. Which usually results in an activation fee. The phone itself is “unlocked” but still tied to a carrier plan until you cancel it. Then you can use other carriers with it. The true unlocked version has no carrier activation requirement.I’m very confused as well
The way I understand it, if you buy from an Apple store and pay full price, you’re basically buying an unlocked phone. At least that’s what Apple’s website tells me.
But I’m getting mixed signals in this thread, so I’m starting to doubt going trough with it. Maybe just play it safe and buy one here in Europe for 200 dollars (sigh) more, only to be 100 % sure it is unlocked and will work.
When did buying a phone get this complicated...
To add, Apple typically starts selling the SIM-free version about a month after the phone goes up for sale. The XS was an exception as the SIM-free version was available on day 1.
The XR currently does not have a SIM-free version available from Apple.
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Everything in this post is wrong. Where do you get this info. My god. You do not have to activate with the carrier you pick.
You simply don't have to do that. Buy the AT&T phone full price from Apple, take the sim card out before turning it on, and be done. It really is that simple
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I’m very confused as well
The way I understand it, if you buy from an Apple store and pay full price, you’re basically buying an unlocked phone. At least that’s what Apple’s website tells me.
But I’m getting mixed signals in this thread, so I’m starting to doubt going trough with it. Maybe just play it safe and buy one here in Europe for 200 dollars (sigh) more, only to be 100 % sure it is unlocked and will work.
When did buying a phone get this complicated...
It is only seeming complicated because people who don't understand this process are telling you things. It really is simple and just buy the full price version.
Ketsjap
macrumors regular
Alright. I’ll ask the employee at the Apple Story in San Fran to be sure. I assume they know it for sure.
Maybe that was true back in the day, but not anymore. At least when you buy outright at Apple Store. If you buy at AT&T, who knows.
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Just as an extra precaution, just buy the TMo version. TMo is pretty easy to deal with if you have any problems, which I doubt you'll have.
I purchased the Verizon model full price from Apple. I never activated it on Verizon. I have a GSX report confirming it is indeed unlocked. I am using it on Cricket.
A couple people on reddit claimed they purchased the AT&T model full price from Apple and it is locked. However, one one them was able to get it unlocked through AT&T’s device unlock portal.
A couple people on reddit claimed they purchased the AT&T model full price from Apple and it is locked. However, one one them was able to get it unlocked through AT&T’s device unlock portal.
Still take your European SIM card for you, so you can try it out when you get the phone and return it if you encounter any issue
Ketsjap
macrumors regular
I will. And hopefully it'll still work when I'm back on European soil..
ET iPhone Home
macrumors 68040
If you can make it up to Portland, Oregon, the state above San Francisco, California, you'll save even more. It's tax-free. You'll save about $70-90 depending on storage.
Bought an XR T-Mobile version from Apple.com and paid full price for it.
Took out the T-mo sim and put my ATT prepaid sim in it. No issues whatsoever and no need to a activate it with the carrier sim first.
Did the exact same thing with my old 6s three years ago. No issues back then either.
Took out the T-mo sim and put my ATT prepaid sim in it. No issues whatsoever and no need to a activate it with the carrier sim first.
Did the exact same thing with my old 6s three years ago. No issues back then either.
Cost of travel and time is definitely not worth it. I believe they can get most of the tax back at the customs before returning back.
OTACORB
macrumors 68000
Okay lots of misinformation in this thread!
This is from first hand experience no guess work here;
1. If you buy an AT&T phone, during the check out process you can pick that you will handle activation later. Just remember before ever turning the phone on to remove that AT&T sim.
2. Take the AT&T sim from your existing phone or other provider and insert it. Then power up the phone. I used AT&T initially and I never had to activate anything it just worked immediately. I then removed that sim and installed a Verizon sim and again it just worked.
The phone is absolutely unlocked. It would only be locked if you did carrier financing. If you buy directly from Apple you don't have to deal with that.
3. If you activate service with AT&T they don't give prorated refunds. They will bill you for a full month and will only cancel your service at the end of the current month that you've paid. You can have them turn the phone off immediately if you want too, but you will still pay for the full month.
I will caution you that these are US phones and I can't speak to if they will work on other country carriers, but they will indeed work on any other US carrier without a single doubt.
One last thing... long as you don't put that AT&T sim in the phone AT&T will not charge a upgrade fee. They don't even know you purchased it when selecting will activate later.
This is from first hand experience no guess work here;
1. If you buy an AT&T phone, during the check out process you can pick that you will handle activation later. Just remember before ever turning the phone on to remove that AT&T sim.
2. Take the AT&T sim from your existing phone or other provider and insert it. Then power up the phone. I used AT&T initially and I never had to activate anything it just worked immediately. I then removed that sim and installed a Verizon sim and again it just worked.
The phone is absolutely unlocked. It would only be locked if you did carrier financing. If you buy directly from Apple you don't have to deal with that.
3. If you activate service with AT&T they don't give prorated refunds. They will bill you for a full month and will only cancel your service at the end of the current month that you've paid. You can have them turn the phone off immediately if you want too, but you will still pay for the full month.
I will caution you that these are US phones and I can't speak to if they will work on other country carriers, but they will indeed work on any other US carrier without a single doubt.
One last thing... long as you don't put that AT&T sim in the phone AT&T will not charge a upgrade fee. They don't even know you purchased it when selecting will activate later.
FreakinEurekan
macrumors 604
NOT POSSIBLE. The phones at Best Buy, etc are "Reseller Flex Policy" and can be activated only on a USA carrier, regardless of the price paid.
Yeah...we already explained that you have to do it at Apple only.
Ketsjap
macrumors regular
Thanks!
It’s getting clear to me that it should normally work out fine.
I’m still on the fence, though, as I figured that buying an American iPhone to use overseas also implies that I won’t have any warranty on it (unless I travel back to the US when something’s wrong with my phone - but that seems like a stretch).
But that’s a whole other issue than simlock, off course. I greatly appreciate all the input!