Sim free iPhone X at Launch?

[Dirtydutch]

What protoxx said. Prepaid account info is not actually considered a carrier account when required to enter carrier info. I had verizon prepaid last year and it was not recognized during checkout.

people are completely confusing SIM free and Unlocked. Unlocked means that you are not tied to a specific carrier. If you pay for a phone in full, it is unlocked.

SIM Free is essentially the verizon/sprint version of the iphone. It contains both GSM/CDMA radios.

The only phone you can order online, without carrier info, is the T-mobile verison. That is GSM only. If you pay for the phone in full it will be unlocked, but that does not make it SIM free. If you want a "SIM Fee" phone on launch you are going to have to lineup at the store and buy the verizon/sprint model and pay in full. Apple will let you do this in store.

If you are on a prepaid carrier that uses CDMA, you are out of luck unless you camp out at the apple store.

Question has been asked and answered 100 times, this is a quite clear assessment of it yet ppl still don't get it. This should be a PSA

 

[netpeer]

So are we in agreement that there is no way tonight to buy the X at full price, and get an unlocked CDMA version, unless you already have Sprint/VZW?

Or unless you have a friend who is willing to share with you:
-phone number
-billing zip code
-last 4 of SSN
-account billing password

for their VZ account.

 

[LlamaLarry]

Darn, I really wanted SIM free instead of GSM only from AT&T. I'm not one to wait in lines (since the iPhone 4) so I guess I will just wait it out until the SIM free option comes to online shoppers. Hopefully I can get a phone early next year.

 

[MACelmore]

Or unless you have a friend who is willing to share with you:
-phone number
-billing zip code
-last 4 of SSN
-account billing password

for their VZ account.

And even then, the phone gets shipped to them, correct?
[doublepost=1509026123][/doublepost]

So are we in agreement that there is no way tonight to buy the X at full price, and get an unlocked CDMA version, unless you already have Sprint/VZW?

You could buy through Best Buy. Their phones are unlocked but they are notorious for having delivery issues of new Apple products.

 

[iPhone Xcited]

So are we in agreement that there is no way tonight to buy the X at full price, and get an unlocked CDMA version, unless you already have Sprint/VZW?

I am buying from Best Buy to do exactly this.

 

[netpeer]

And even then, the phone gets shipped to them, correct?
[doublepost=1509026123][/doublepost]

You could pick up at apple store around you if that's available.

You could buy through Best Buy. Their phones are unlocked but they are notorious for having delivery issues of new Apple products.

 

[mattopotamus]

So are we in agreement that there is no way tonight to buy the X at full price, and get an unlocked CDMA version, unless you already have Sprint/VZW?

Take your chances with Bestbuy or camp out in front of the Apple store. Unless you actually need the CDMA towers, just suck it up and get the T-mobile variant. All of the good prepaid carriers use GSM. Also, if you are planning to resell you will not see that great of a difference.

 

[BeatCrazy]

Take your chances with Bestbuy or camp out in front of the Apple store. Unless you actually need the CDMA towers, just suck it up and get the T-mobile variant. All of the good prepaid carriers use GSM. Also, if you are planning to resell you will not see that great of a difference.

Yeah, buying for me, not resell. I figured if I'm paying full price up front, I might as well go for the CDMA version with the faster modem. But I'm not going to jump through too many hoops or delay getting the phone for several weeks/months just for a potentially better radio.

 

[mattopotamus]

Yeah, buying for me, not resell. I figured if I'm paying full price up front, I might as well go for the CDMA version with the faster modem. But I'm not going to jump through too many hoops or delay getting the phone for several weeks/months just for a potentially better radio.

Also my take. It really is a shame they offered the 8/8+ SIM free and launch, and unless it just magically appears they did not do this for the X. Apple just needs to make one single phone that is the SIM free.

 

[iPhone Xcited]

Also my take. It really is a shame they offered the 8/8+ SIM free and launch, and unless it just magically appears they did not do this for the X. Apple just needs to make one single phone that is the SIM free.

I wish this was the case and I think the reason there is no SIM-free variant at launch is due to carrier agreements. Also why no new iPhone in the past has had SIM-free at launch either.

I’m going to place my bet on Best Buy tonight. Hoping for a smooth experience.

 

[ssspinball]

I wish this was the case and I think the reason there is no SIM-free variant at launch is due to carrier agreements. Also why no new iPhone in the past has had SIM-free at launch either.

I also think this is the case, but I'm not sure why at this Apple doesn't just tell the carriers to get eff'ed and offer SIM free as an option at every launch, just like they already do with the cellular iPads. I mean what are the carriers going to do, stop offering iPhones? As if!

 

[mattopotamus]

I wish this was the case and I think the reason there is no SIM-free variant at launch is due to carrier agreements. Also why no new iPhone in the past has had SIM-free at launch either.

I’m going to place my bet on Best Buy tonight. Hoping for a smooth experience.

The iphone SE actually had the SIM free at launch too.

 

[iPhone Xcited]

The iphone SE actually had the SIM free at launch too.

Ah, I did not know that. In any case, I mean when there is a “new-new” iPhone release, if that makes any sense.

 

[netpeer]

Yeah, buying for me, not resell. I figured if I'm paying full price up front, I might as well go for the CDMA version with the faster modem. But I'm not going to jump through too many hoops or delay getting the phone for several weeks/months just for a potentially better radio.

The Qualcomm modem is much better than the Intel one found in AT&T and TMobile. So it's not potentially better it is much better...

 

[bchreng]

Does ordering a Verizon model online from Best Buy require entering any account info? I have service on AT&T but prefer to have an unlocked phone with the faster modem.

 

[geoff5093]

I’m going to place my bet on Best Buy tonight. Hoping for a smooth experience.

I just looked on Best Buy's site, and they only offer the iPhone X on AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint. Plus the full price cost is $100 higher than through Apple.

 

[netpeer]

Just spoke with VZ. The upgrade fee is charged even if teh phone is never used on the VZ account. So for those wanting to use a friend's info, your friend will see $30 on the next statement regardless if the phone is used on the VZ account or not.

 

[iPhone Xcited]

I just looked on Best Buy's site, and they only offer the iPhone X on AT&T, Verizon, or Sprint. Plus the full price cost is $100 higher than through Apple.

I called my local Best Buy and they will price match it to the Apple Store that’s in the same plaza. I was hoping to buy the Verizon one anyway.
[doublepost=1509032752][/doublepost]

Does ordering a Verizon model online from Best Buy require entering any account info? I have service on AT&T but prefer to have an unlocked phone with the faster modem.

If you pay full price, then no. Not sure about the payment plans.

 

[geoff5093]

I called my local Best Buy and they will price match it to the Apple Store that’s in the same plaza. I was hoping to buy the Verizon one anyway.
[doublepost=1509032752][/doublepost]

If you pay full price, then no. Not sure about the payment plans.

How will you get it priced matched at midnight though? Or do you call back later and have them refund you?

 

[iPhone Xcited]

How will you get it priced matched at midnight though? Or do you call back later and have them refund you?

Arranging an in-store pickup and then they will credit the price difference ($100) back to my payment method.

Edit: If I were to ship to home, I would certainly contact them.

 

[jhearty99]

Just spoke with VZ. The upgrade fee is charged even if teh phone is never used on the VZ account. So for those wanting to use a friend's info, your friend will see $30 on the next statement regardless if the phone is used on the VZ account or not.

What a joke lol

 

[mattopotamus]

How will you get it priced matched at midnight though? Or do you call back later and have them refund you?

exactly. Bestbuy price match has to be done at the time of ordering unless the price change is at bestbuy. They will not price match another store after the fact, only their own store.

Source: I spend way too much time and money at BB.

 

[protoxx]

Does ordering a Verizon model online from Best Buy require entering any account info? I have service on AT&T but prefer to have an unlocked phone with the faster modem.

The modem is not faster, at least as implemented on iphone. It is throttled to match the intel modem speed. The advantage is that is does a little better at low signal strengths. It's not as big a difference in real life as the hand (keyboard) wringers here would make out.

 

[Wags]

They can charge it but good luck trying to collect. Can't charge for something never used on their network and have zero stake in PIF iPhone. I would like to see this on their TOA.

 

[protoxx]

exactly. Bestbuy price match has to be done at the time of ordering unless the price change is at bestbuy. They will not price match another store after the fact, only their own store.

Source: I spend way too much time and money at BB.

Best Buy doesn't deserve my (or your) business if you have to jump through hoops not to pay $100 OVER retail.