SIM-Free iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus Now Available From Apple Online Store

[runner1971]

Here's the model # differences between AT&T/Tmobile (A1784/GSM) and VRZ/Sprint (A1661/GSM-CDMA) per http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/. Background: I purchased 7+ VRZ activated finance thru CitizenOne/Apple program. The 7+ AT&T Next activated (locked) . I kept the 7+VRZ using AT&T sim (works). I called VRZ cancelled acct paid $3.00 + tax(1day use). The attached shows (Lirum app) the VRZ model# has A1661/A1785 (Japan)/A1786(China) (CDMA/GSM). I traveled to these countries which serves my purpose. I don't know if Apple "Sim-free" 7+ model is same as VRZ. My guess it will be b/c modem hardware, QC use GSM/CDMA versus Intel GSM only. I'm not an expert but just an informed consumer. Good luck.

 

[redmounts]

Well, the reason Apple takes a little longer to release sim-free iPhones is the scalpers from abroad. Let me explain how the rich "black market"
works outside US: Apple releases iPhones in September in US, and as everbody knows there are no enough iPhones for everybody. Intentionally
or not, the demand is always higher than the supply. While a couple dozen countries get the first, second and third wave of launches, there remain
more than 100 countries without iPhones - and an eager damand in those countries to get them. So what Apple does is to put an obstacle to avoid
the famous lines in front of Apple store to be made of - only - scalpers from abroad. Then, when everybody, or almost everybody gets their iPhones in US, then Apple releases the unlocked iPhones to - mainly - US customers. But then the scalpers get step into the stage: I have friend from Brazil who
travel to Miami only to buy unlocked iPhones for $649, just to sell them for around $1,200. I have a friend who bought an ultra-lux apartment only
with this scheme. He sells around 400 iPhones a year. All of them bought in Miami and sold with a margin of more than $500 dollars. Brazil now
has two Apple Stores, going to the third one. But it takes so long for us to get the iPhone, that we actually are thankful to the scalpers. Even with this
absurd price, that's how a vast fraction of iPhones get into our hands: scalpers. In reality, US customers should be considerate to Apple, for it postpones the release of unlocked iPhones every year to avoid iPhones getting into the hands of scalpers instead of US customers. BTW, it takes so long to iPhones reach Brazil and other countries due to import barriers.

 

[littyboy]

i dont understand. isnt the tmobile version the same as this sim free one, they are both unlocked just one comes with no sim and one comes with a tmobile sim

Tmobile only has GSM. They used to all have the same bands but Apple being Apple.

 

[popaj]

So if I understand this correctly, according to: http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/ both iPhone 7 models A1660 (SIM free, Verizon, Sprint) and A1778 (TMobile, ATT) cover the same LTE bands. The ONLY difference is that the SIM free model can be used with CDMA networks. So the A1660 will also work when I'll put a SIM card in it with a Canadian or European providers listed for the A1778 model?

 

[maxsix]

Why did it take so long? You should have been able to get the iPhone 7 SIM-free from the very beginning.

This is Apple putting us in our place. Reminding us who's boss. Flaunting their power and control over the commoners.

 

[Sasparilla]

Ahh, good. It's time....

(Wanted my included SIM popper)

This is Apple putting us in our place. Reminding us who's boss. Flaunting their power and control over the commoners.

No, you make me laugh. You could get unlocked from day 1. The phones from an Apple Store are unlocked by default, you just have to take out the Tmobile or AT&T SIM etc. prior to startup and you're good. I've done that previously and confirmed with Apple store salesperson 2 days ago.

I just wait till now to make sure no bad hardware issue slipped through to production (would show up by now) and because I want the included SIM Popper that comes with the unlocked model.

 

[whyamihere]

No need to wait that long for a jet black SIM free. Here's what I did last week. Checked istocknow.com for the jet black model I wanted. When I saw it finally in stock at my local Apple Store I went up there. I paid full price for the Verizon version and put my AT&T sim in and voila, it was immediately unlocked and activated.

 

[aaronhead14]

"...but costs almost $1,000,000."
Okay, that's an exaggeration. But seriously, buying an iPhone outright should be half that price. There's no way a phone should cost the same as a laptop. Totally ridiculous. (Apple isn't the only smartphone company guilty of jacking up prices though!)

 

[32828870]

So a full price, off-contract (I.e. how the rest of the world handles mobile devices) iPhone 7 on Verizon is essentially a "SIM free" iPhone?

 

[44267547]

Anyone else quickly scroll down the front page hoping the airpods were released too?

Good question. I was certainly wondering the same thing today, that the Airpods hopefully will be launching soon. Is Apple launching them silently or pre-announcing is the question. Those will likely be sold out through the holidays, I'm guessing.

 

[ogun7]

To everyone writing that the reason why the unlocked phones aren't sold at launch because of scalping I say that's false. It's because Apple has a deal with the carriers to buy a certain amount of phones at launch and so they need some incentives to sell those phones. Apple's growth & sales projections are predicated on the amount of iPhones that carriers worldwide buy in bulk. Most people around the world and even here in the US buy iPhones from carriers and that relationship has to encouraged somehow.

 

[KPOM]

So, does Apple get some kind of kickback for selling a phone with a sim in it on their program? I'm asking because I can't imagine why a sim free model would be excluded from program such as this.

My guess is that the carriers negotiated a month of "exclusivity" to meet their sales commitments to Apple.
[doublepost=1476414688][/doublepost]

Anyone else quickly scroll down the front page hoping the airpods were released too?

I'm guessing 10/27 if Macs are announced or 10/31 otherwise.
[doublepost=1476414781][/doublepost]

"...but costs almost $1,000,000."
Okay, that's an exaggeration. But seriously, buying an iPhone outright should be half that price. There's no way a phone should cost the same as a laptop. Totally ridiculous. (Apple isn't the only smartphone company guilty of jacking up prices though!)

Why not? The CPU is as fast as a MacBook's CPU. Smartphones are computers.

 

[Larry The L]

Sounds like the SIM-free ones will use Qualcomm radios. Not sure it really matters though unless you expect to use the phone with Verizon or Sprint at any point during its lifetime.

Umm. That's exactly why it matters.

 

[bunim1]

Does anyone know the difference between the A1784 and A1661 for the 7+?

I'm from Australia currently in the US. My 6+ has touch disease and thinking I might just replace it if I can reserve on online.

The bands look the same so what's the difference?

[doublepost=1476416728][/doublepost]You are better off with the A1661 which supports cdma as well

See the attached

 

[C DM]

So a full price, off-contract (I.e. how the rest of the world handles mobile devices) iPhone 7 on Verizon is essentially a "SIM free" iPhone?

That seems to be the case.

 

[SystemHasFailed]

Different models: the T-Mobile model (which is also the AT&T model) only supports GSM, while the SIM-Free model (which is also the Verizon/Sprint model) supports GSM and CDMA.

That's a pretty significant step backwards from the 6. All of my iPhone 6 and 6+ T-Mobile phones work great on Verizon and support CDMA.

Why did Apple remove that feature? Now if you want to port out and move carriers you'll have to buy a new phone if you start with T-Mobile..

 

[Steve.P.JobsFan]

That's a pretty significant step backwards from the 6. All of my iPhone 6 and 6+ T-Mobile phones work great on Verizon and support CDMA.

Why did Apple remove that feature? Now if you want to port out and move carriers you'll have to buy a new phone if you start with T-Mobile..

*Now if you want to port out and move to a CDMA carrier you'll have to buy a new phone if you start from T-Mobile.

FTFY.

Buying a T-Mobile labelled iPhone will work fine on AT&T.

Sprint is still very picky even with their supposed BYOD program so even if it supported Sprint, they would almost certainly force you to buy an iPhone from them.

It would *technically* work on Verizon too, but you would not be able to access their 3G EV-DO or 1X legacy networks. You would only be able to access their LTE network (which is on Bands 2, 4, and 13 - all iPhones support these bands) and you could still make phone calls just fine thanks to VoLTE.

But they likely wouldn't activate it, and there are still areas, almost eight years later, that still are 3G only on Verizon.

 

[SystemHasFailed]

Buying a T-Mobile labelled iPhone will work fine on AT&T.

Presumes I'd ever be on AT&T, but that's another topic. And not my point. Apple took a step backwards with their radio designs and products, IMNHO.. and that's a shame..

 

[Steve.P.JobsFan]

Presumes I'd ever be on AT&T, but that's another topic. And not my point. Apple took a step backwards with their radio designs and products, IMNHO.. and that's a shame..

We could also look at this another way:

Blame Apple for dumping support for EV-DO and 1X CDMA networks (partially), or blame Verizon and Sprint for operating ancient, legacy networks (nearly 20 year old tech!) and not using GSM, which is a global standard... like everybody else?

 

[BlackLight]

Finally!!!! Thought Apple was waiting forever to do this. Ordering now.

 

[C DM]

We could also look at this another way:

Blame Apple for dumping support for EV-DO and 1X CDMA networks (partially), or blame Verizon and Sprint for operating ancient, legacy networks (nearly 20 year old tech!) and not using GSM, which is a global standard... like everybody else?

As if GSM isn't an old technology.

 

[predation]

Lame Tou can't do iup with these. What if I switch carriers on my gsm only version? What does Apple do then?

 

[KPOM]

That's a pretty significant step backwards from the 6. All of my iPhone 6 and 6+ T-Mobile phones work great on Verizon and support CDMA.

Why did Apple remove that feature? Now if you want to port out and move carriers you'll have to buy a new phone if you start with T-Mobile..

A desire to move away from being dependent on Qualcomm. Most people don't switch carriers. Eventually CDMA will be turned off so it won't matter.

 

[genius2k]

No need to wait that long for a jet black SIM free. Here's what I did last week. Checked istocknow.com for the jet black model I wanted. When I saw it finally in stock at my local Apple Store I went up there. I paid full price for the Verizon version and put my AT&T sim in and voila, it was immediately unlocked and activated.

Did you make a reservation online? Or you just showed up and asked for verizon version. Thank you!

 

[anek007]

Is this with the Qualcomm or Intel modem? Isnt there reports with issues with the Qualcomm?