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SE bands confusing the hell outta me...

A1723 is compatible with all 4 of Spain's bands.

The u.s model a1662 still covers 3 out of 4.
 
Channan said:
Buy model A1723 to use in Spain.
Click to expand...

But is that the "SIM-free" model? On the order page on Apple.com there's no model number like that!
Gav2k said:
A1723 is compatible with all 4 of Spain's bands.

The u.s model a1662 still covers 3 out of 4.
Click to expand...
But is that the "SIM-free" model? On the order page on Apple.com there's no model number like that!
 
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The SIM-free model is the AT&T and Verizon model that lacks support for all LTE bands used in Spain. You need to buy the Sprint model as it is the only one with support for all Spain's LTE bands.
 
renee_yuh said:
But is that the "SIM-free" model? On the order page on Apple.com there's no model number like that!

But is that the "SIM-free" model? On the order page on Apple.com there's no model number like that!
Click to expand...
What country are you in now?
 
Hellhammer said:
The SIM-free model is the AT&T and Verizon model that lacks support for all LTE bands used in Spain. You need to buy the Sprint model as it is the only one with support for all Spain's LTE bands.
Click to expand...

Let's assume you bought it at full MSRP... does the Sprint version actually come unlocked for international use out of the box? Or do you have to have an account with Sprint for a certain number of days before they will unlock it?
 
Hal~9000 said:
Let's say you bought it at full MSRP... does the Sprint version actually come unlocked for international use out of the box? Or do you have to have service with Sprint for a certain number of days before they will unlock it?
Click to expand...

It's not unlocked and based on the criteria here, it seems that you have to be a Sprint customer for at least 90 days before Sprint is willing to unlock it. Of course, you could contact Sprint and explain the situation to see if they can unlock it earlier.
 
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Channan said:
Not sure about buying online, but if you buy a Sprint iPhone SE from the Apple Store at full price, the phone is unlocked.
Click to expand...

But doesn't that mean the Sprint phone is also unlocked if you buy it on a payment plan at the Apple Store? Unless they have two different versions of that model -- one for full price sales, and one for installment buys, how would this work?

I mean I gues it could be in the activation of the phone, and at the Sprint store they're not going to let you walk out without activating it?
 
Mac 128 said:
But doesn't that mean the Sprint phone is also unlocked if you buy it on a payment plan at the Apple Store? Unless they have two different versions of that model -- one for full price sales, and one for installment buys, how would this work?

I mean I gues it could be in the activation of the phone, and at the Sprint store they're not going to let you walk out without activating it?
Click to expand...
If you buy it on a payment plan through Apple (not Sprint) then as far as Sprint is concerned, the phone is paid off. So yeah, it's unlocked.
 
Channan said:
If you buy it on a payment plan through Apple (not Sprint) then as far as Sprint is concerned, the phone is paid off. So yeah, it's unlocked.
Click to expand...

I don't think Apple offers their payment plan for the SE, only the 6 & 6s? As far as I know the only payment plan available through Apple for the SE is the carrier plan.
 
Mac 128 said:
I don't think Apple offers their payment plan for the SE, only the 6 & 6s? As far as I know the only payment plan available through Apple for the SE is the carrier plan.
Click to expand...
They have a different plan available for the SE. AppleCare+ isn't included in this plan, so it's only the exact cost of the iPhone spread out over 24 months. You may have seen their trade ins advertised with it where, for example, you can trade in an iPhone 5s and get the iPhone SE for $10/month.

Citizens finances it, so the carrier just sees it as paid off. You don't own the carrier or Apple any money.
 
Channan said:
They have a different plan available for the SE. AppleCare+ isn't included in this plan, so it's only the exact cost of the iPhone spread out over 24 months. You may have seen their trade ins advertised with it where, for example, you can trade in an iPhone 5s and get the iPhone SE for $10/month.

Citizens finances it, so the carrier just sees it as paid off. You don't own the carrier or Apple any money.
Click to expand...

Interesting. It wasn't explained that way to me at the Apple Store. So any Sprint iPhone will be unlocked from the Apple Store since there's no way to pay for it where Sprint is involved?

So theoretically that would be true if you bought the phone at Sprint too and paid for it in full, and walked out with it without letting them activate it -- assuming that's possible?
 
Mac 128 said:
Interesting. It wasn't explained that way to me at the Apple Store. So any Sprint iPhone will be unlocked from the Apple Store since there's no way to pay for it where Sprint is involved?

So theoretically that would be true if you bought the phone at Sprint too and paid for it in full, and walked out with it without letting them activate it -- assuming that's possible?
Click to expand...

I think it would be more problematic doing the latter...you might have to wait X number of days.

On a side question- does Apple sell the Sprint specific model (which is not the same as the SIM-free model) or do you have to go to a bestbuy or sprint store?
 
Mac 128 said:
Interesting. It wasn't explained that way to me at the Apple Store. So any Sprint iPhone will be unlocked from the Apple Store since there's no way to pay for it where Sprint is involved?

So theoretically that would be true if you bought the phone at Sprint too and paid for it in full, and walked out with it without letting them activate it -- assuming that's possible?
Click to expand...
Any payment plan you get from Apple that isn't through a carrier will come with an unlocked iPhone.

If you buy it from Sprint, even full price, it might still be locked.

bufffilm said:
I think it would be more problematic doing the latter...you might have to wait X number of days.

On a side question- does Apple sell the Sprint specific model (which is not the same as the SIM-free model) or do you have to go to a bestbuy or sprint store?
Click to expand...
Yes. You can buy Sprint iPhones off contract from the Apple Store.
 
Channan said:
Any payment plan you get from Apple that isn't through a carrier will come with an unlocked iPhone.

If you buy it from Sprint, even full price, it might still be locked.


Yes. You can buy Sprint iPhones off contract from the Apple Store.
Click to expand...

Thx
 
I don't understand why can't you just walk into an Apple Store and ask if it will work?!
 
Channan said:
Any payment plan you get from Apple that isn't through a carrier will come with an unlocked iPhone.

If you buy it from Sprint, even full price, it might still be locked.


Yes. You can buy Sprint iPhones off contract from the Apple Store.
Click to expand...

Right, but this is why I'm confused. Unless there are two different models of the Sprint phone, how can the same model be unlocked when paid in full and not used on Sprint network, and locked if paid in full at a Sprint store and not used on a Sprint network?
 
i'd get a verizon or at&t phone at full price for an unlocked phone. sprint phones are weird. its been that way for a while.
[doublepost=1465178561][/doublepost]
bufffilm said:
Thx
Click to expand...

because apple employees aren't fully versed on the exact reasons why a sprint full price phone wont work with certain networks. the verizon and at&t/tmobile phones are fine though. sprint is just weird like i said before
 
Mac 128 said:
Right, but this is why I'm confused. Unless there are two different models of the Sprint phone, how can the same model be unlocked when paid in full and not used on Sprint network, and locked if paid in full at a Sprint store and not used on a Sprint network?
Click to expand...
Because a network lock is not dependent on the model number. Any phone can be locked, but Apple doesn't lock the phone when you pay full price or finance it through Citizens.

Look at it like this. There is only one model that's sold for Sprint. You can ask an Apple employee for a Sprint iPhone. They grab one. You can either pay full price and it will be unlocked, or you can finance the same phone through Sprint and it will be locked.
 
itsray said:
i'd get a verizon or at&t phone at full price for an unlocked phone. sprint phones are weird. its been that way for a while.
[doublepost=1465178561][/doublepost]

because apple employees aren't fully versed on the exact reasons why a sprint full price phone wont work with certain networks. the verizon and at&t/tmobile phones are fine though. sprint is just weird like i said before
Click to expand...

Know though that getting anything but the sprint specific phone will result in a sub-optimal experience.
 
itsray said:
i'd get a verizon or at&t phone at full price for an unlocked phone. sprint phones are weird. its been that way for a while.
[doublepost=1465178561][/doublepost]

because apple employees aren't fully versed on the exact reasons why a sprint full price phone wont work with certain networks. the verizon and at&t/tmobile phones are fine though. sprint is just weird like i said before
Click to expand...
It all depends on what you want the phone for. Since OP specifically mentioned the iPhone SE, we'll stick with using that as an example.

If you're on Sprint and don't plan on ever using this phone on Verizon, it obviously makes sense to get the Sprint iPhone SE. It's the only model with band 41, which is used for LTE Plus (Sprint Spark).

If you're on AT&T or T-Mobile and travel outside the country a lot, it also makes sense to get the Sprint iPhone SE. The Sprint model has all the bands currently used by T-Mobile and AT&T, except band 30 which isn't on the AT&T model either. It also lacks band 29, which the AT&T model does have, but AT&T hasn't even started deploying it yet.

But if you're on Verizon or ever plan on using it on Verizon, definitely stay away from the Sprint iPhone SE. The Sprint model lacks band 13 which is crucial for coverage on Verizon.
 
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