Launch day iPhone 5 - Will Genius Bar replace with newer AWS version?

I have a 64 GB iPhone 5 that I got on launch day in 2012. Originally on AT&T and I got it unlocked by AT&T (ran the restore on iTunes and got the confirmation).

I just switched to T-Mobile. The SIM works fine in it, but the speeds are often slower and on Edge. After some research, it looks like they made a change to the iPhone 5 in March 2013 to have the internal radio support the T-Mobile bands.

The phone is still the A1428 model number, but in the phone About screen it says model MD642LL/A. It looks like the newer versions of this same phone from 2013 all start with a ME prefix instead of MD.

If I take this phone to my local Genius Bar, do you think they would swap it out for the newer version? I do have AppleCare+ and don't want the phone to have an "accident" to take it in for such a replacement. Curious if other have encountered this issue and if you were able to resolve it at a Genius Bar. Thanks!

 

Cool, that is very good to know.

Is there any likelihood that they would just replace mine for me because I want the newer AWS version? Or would I have to probably pay for the swap?

 

No, it is not. I got mine in Sept 2012.

 

Well, I actually went to the Genius Bar at lunch and did explain to them that the phone was always only showing Edge mode. I had my other phone with me too and the tech swapped the sims and so on and confirmed it. He tried a restore and no help. I didn't even ask or anything, but he offered to exchange the phone for a free replacement which I accepted. Had him confirm the sim worked at 4G speed in the replacement phone and off I went.

VERY happy with the Apple service of course in this instance. Couldn't be happier...glad I didn't resort to doing something malicious like breaking the phone or something to get the $50 replacement under the AppleCare+.

The model on this replacement is NE490LL/A.