SIM-Free iPhone X Now Available From Apple Online Store in the United States

[Bart Kela]

Does the Verizon phone have any Verizon "branding"?

As far as I can tell, in the 10+ year history of the iPhone, there are no iPhones with any sort of carrier branding whatsoever.

Apple has never allowed this.

Of course, in the past, some carriers have locked devices to their network, but that's not a branding exercise.

Apple refuses to let any carrier pre-load non-standard software and won't allow any third-party logos on the retail packaging.

That dovetails nicely with Apple's overall and long-standing stance that mobile network operators are just dumb pipes. There is no value add from cellular companies. That was Steve's belief.

 

[willnpc]

i hope a lot of people take advantage of the opportunity to own a sim-free iPhone X. It is a truly incredible device that is worthy of the price.

Wow.. you don't sound like a shill at all...

 

[bunnicula]

Why would AT&T choose GSM phone for their network instead of the CDMA version?

Because the majority of the world is LTE. CDMA is in rural areas.

Seriously, there's nothing magical about CDMA unless you want to sell a phone to someone who spends a lot of time in the USA in the middle of nowhere. Most of the rest of the planet only uses GSM now, so you only need an phone that supports LTE.

People love to tell you on here that there's something special about it. It's just that they do this unlocked in GSM/CDMA so everyone can use it. No mystery.

 

[Baymowe335]

Wow.. you don't sound like a shill at all...

Maybe he’s just saying it’s a great device?

I also think it’s well worth the money.

 

[bunnicula]

If you want the Qualcomm modem and the flexibility to move to Verizon or a Sprint, then yes.
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It uses GSM. AT&T doesn’t have a CDMA Network.

In reality all networks are using mostly LTE today. GSM and CDMA are fallback networks now.

That's a good point. LTE is really all you need.

 

[nylon]

iPhone X yields have been good. Pretty much at supply/demand balance after 1 month.

 

[fraXis]

Can you buy a SIM FREE phone via the Apple upgrade program? When I select SIM FREE, I don't see an option for the Apple Upgrade Program.



I also remember with the iPhone 6 or iPhone 7, that the GSM model came with support for one of the newer LTE bands that the SIM FREE model did not come with.

Is this still the case with the iPhone X as well?

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Can you do apple upgrade with this?

Only way to get sim free is purchase outright..

 

[newyorksole]

Can you do apple upgrade with this?

Yes, but it’s not necessary unless you have AT&T. By doing the iPhone Upgrade Program your phone is unlocked and will work on all carriers. The SIM Free, Verizon and Sprint phones are all the same and work on GSM AND CDMA.
[doublepost=1512448643][/doublepost]

Only way to get sim free is purchase outright..

This is not true. At Apple Stores they can ring up a SIM Free phone with a separate SIM Card and do a Post Paid Activation. The only option with this method is to do iPhone Upgrade Program. You can’t do carrier financing with a SIM Free phone.
[doublepost=1512448753][/doublepost]

Can you buy a SIM FREE phone via the Apple upgrade program? When I select SIM FREE, I don't see an option for the Apple Upgrade Program.



I also remember with the iPhone 6 or iPhone 7, that the GSM model came with support for one of the newer LTE bands that the SIM FREE model did not come with.

Is this still the case with the iPhone X as well?

You can do a SIM Free iPhone with the Upgrade Program, but it has to be in store and you can’t do it with T-Mobile.

I hope you all realize that a SIM Free, Verizon and Sprint phone are all the same... Not sure why everyone is clamoring for the SIM Free.

 

[timborama]

I also remember with the iPhone 6 or iPhone 7, that the GSM model came with support for one of the newer LTE bands that the SIM FREE model did not come with

You actually have that backwards. The sim-free 6/+ had the extra world band.

 

[thadoggfather]

I bought the iPhone 8 Sim Free because of the Qualcomm modem - I wanted to see if it makes a difference - AND it does. The problem now is - if I like the iPhone X and it doesn't give me Migraines - what will I do with my iPhone 8 that really is a great phone. Well - I guess I'll see when it comes - which is scheduled for 12/12.

You compared Intel and QC 8's?

Or QC 8 vs Intel 7? Bc if the latter, the radios are upgraded on QC and intel front from previous gen

 

[getmetwister]

Question. Can you purchase an unlocked iphone X and activate it WITHOUT signing up to a carrier? I travel internationally a lot, and have a travel blog. I want to use the iphone X as my travel camera. I'd like to use wifi only...but then occassionally pop in a sim when i am overseas. It may sound odd, but i don't want to join any carrier service.

Another question...i also have a grandfathered unlimited ATT data plan for my iPad. Can i pop out that sim and put it into an iphone X? Just wondering.

Yes if you buy the Sim free version which is available now. You can pop in any sim and use it without any issues.

 

[thadoggfather]

Because the majority of the world is LTE. CDMA is in rural areas.

Seriously, there's nothing magical about CDMA unless you want to sell a phone to someone who spends a lot of time in the USA in the middle of nowhere. Most of the rest of the planet only uses GSM now, so you only need an phone that supports LTE.

People love to tell you on here that there's something special about it. It's just that they do this unlocked in GSM/CDMA so everyone can use it. No mystery.

is it really fringe remote areas, and even driving interstate a lot of the times you'd probably be alright?

just curious, I have no plans to go to Verizon/Sprint ever (if anything it'd be Tmo or a Tmo/ATT MVNO) but

 

[Black Magic]

Why didn’t you just buy an AT&T iPhone earlier? What advantage did you gain?

You weren’t to obligated to use carrier or Apple financing. I paid full price for mine so I don’t see any difference.

ATT Phones use Intel modems which are slower than the Qualcomm Verizon models.

 

[getmetwister]

I don't get it. If you go on a contract, you get a much better deal, right? Or do you not?

The problem is there is lot of confusion weather it will work with different carriers on different regions which will affect people like me who travels a a lot. For example AT & T model even though it comes unlocked if you pay full price the LTE band on the device wont support major asian carriers. So for us the best choice will be to go forward with SIM free version.

 

[thadoggfather]

ATT Phones use Intel modems which are slower than the Qualcomm Verizon models.

lol apple caught with their pants down a little I guess,

they said there was parity after reports came out otherwise last year, with 7. Do they outright lie to customers?

..wonder if they'll do the same here or

--

if I had an A1901 with crappy screen it'd go back on principle. but not as big as a deal as this beaut of a panel I'm staring down all the time

(A1901 has nothing to do with my screen being delicious FYI, but a "just my luck" sorta scenario having QC models but with terrible screens- so never properly tested radios myself, )

my 7+ intel too

I got intel insides.

 

[getmetwister]

So is this the Verizon model, but without a Verizon sim card?

No this is completely different which supports all GSM carriers on the world. Verizon fully unlocked version for example here in India only supports Reliance Jio and Airtle leaving Vodafone, Idea etc

 

[thadoggfather]

No this is completely different which supports all GSM carriers on the world. Verizon fully unlocked version for example here in India only supports Reliance Jio and Airtle leaving Vodafone, Idea etc

How?

its the same model without a SIM and a SIM ejector tool included this time.

Nothing is different otherwise, whatsoever. as far as I am aware.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Yes, but it’s not necessary unless you have AT&T. By doing the iPhone Upgrade Program your phone is unlocked and will work on all carriers. The SIM Free, Verizon and Sprint phones are all the same and work on GSM AND CDMA.
[doublepost=1512448643][/doublepost]

This is not true. At Apple Stores they can ring up a SIM Free phone with a separate SIM Card and do a Post Paid Activation. The only option with this method is to do iPhone Upgrade Program. You can’t do carrier financing with a SIM Free phone.
[doublepost=1512448753][/doublepost]

You can do a SIM Free iPhone with the Upgrade Program, but it has to be in store and you can’t do it with T-Mobile.

I hope you all realize that a SIM Free, Verizon and Sprint phone are all the same... Not sure why everyone is clamoring for the SIM Free.

So you go in store and ask to sign up to Apple IUP sim free? I thought they wanted you to reserve a phone before you come in?

 

[bozzykid]

Any iPhone requires a SIM card to operate, pretty sure.

It needs a sim during setup to activate, but you can use an iPhone without a SIM after that (without cellular functionality of course).

 

[SmartApple]

Why would you want to buy a SIM-free iPhone X?????

Starting today, Apple is offering a SIM-free version of the iPhone X from its online store in the United States, allowing customers to buy an unlocked iPhone without choosing a carrier.

SIM-free versions of the iPhone X in all capacities list the same ~one week delivery estimate available for other iPhone X devices. SIM-free iPhone X models ordered today will arrive on December 12.

SIM-free iPhone X models will work with any carrier and have full support for both CDMA and GSM networks, much like the Sprint and Verizon versions of the new smartphone. iPhone X models from AT&T and T-Mobile do not support CDMA networks and are not compatible with Sprint or Verizon.

Since iPhone X pre-orders kicked off on October 27, Apple has only allowed customers to buy an iPhone X with an AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon SIM, though models purchased in full are listed as unlocked. At launch, Apple was requiring carrier pre-activation to make an iPhone X purchase, but that requirement was lifted in mid-November.

It's been possible to get the equivalent of a SIM-free unlocked iPhone X ordering a Verizon model and paying full price, but now there is an official SIM-free version.

Now that SIM-free iPhone X models are available, Apple is will also soon allow its employees to purchase the iPhone X through the internal employee site at a discount.

Article Link: SIM-Free iPhone X Now Available From Apple Online Store in the United States

 

[newyorksole]

So you go in store and ask to sign up to Apple IUP sim free? I thought they wanted you to reserve a phone before you come in?

In order to sign up with Apple iUP on a SIM Free phone you need to have a post-paid AT&T, Verizon or Sprint account.

You don’t have to reserve a phone before you go in. You can just walk in and if they have it in stock you’re good. Or you can buy it online and do in-store pickup for same day and when you get there you can return and repurchase the same phone with iUP.

 

[IG88]

Isn't this essentially the same as buying the Verizon iPhone X, without a contract?.

No, because the Verizon phone won't be in Sprint's whitelist, but the Sim free phone will.
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Can the sim free CDMA iPhone actually use the GSM network, or does it simply use CDMA on the AT&T network without the benefits of GSM?

Yes the VZW uses GSM on a GSM carrier. I bought the Verizon 6S on day 1 because I didn't want to wait for the Sim free. I was with AT&T at the time.

 

[dwd3885]

Do you think it’s worth it to get the Qualcomm model for use on AT&T and lose $100 on it when I already have the Intel AT&T model?

 

[Black Magic]

Do you think it’s worth it to get the Qualcomm model for use on AT&T and lose $100 on it when I already have the Intel AT&T model?

No. You probably won't notice a difference.