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SIM free iPhone

Garyhe23

Garyhe23

macrumors member
Original poster
Sep 26, 2015
65
13
I noticed the IPhone 8 offers the SIM free model at the pre-order, which is very different from what they did before. They usually started to offer SIM free model a few weeks after preorder.

Then what about iPhone X, any chance they will offer SIM free when the iPhone X pre-order starts?
 
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I hope this signals a new era where people can buy whatever phone they want and Apple will sell it to them. I realize Apple wants to reduce scalping, but some of their best customers (eg. ME) want to pay cash for a phone they can use internationally without selling their soul to a carrier.
 
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I think both the 5C and SE had the sim free version available right away. I have a feeling Apple views the 8 the same way (as the lesser model) and it will be back to business as usual for the X, unfortunately.
 
Applejuiced said:
Back in the day you couldn't buy the unlocked version until months later.
They wanted all the carriers to lock in their customers in 2 year agreements first. Even though people just wanted to purchase full price with no carrier commitments.
Click to expand...

It's still next to impossible to plunk down $1,000 and get an iPhone that day (without adding/upgrading/financing). Last month my wife's 6 Plus crapped out and I wanted to get her another one (a 7 Plus) that day. Went to Target because they had them on their website but was told they don't sell them outright, you have to upgrade or add a line. Went to the AT&T store but was told they don't sell them outright either, you have to finance it and then wait 30 days to pay it off. Went to Costco because they had them on their website but was told they don't sell them in the stores. I knew Best Buy had them but they charge $100 over MSRP (now I know why). Ended up ordering from Apple w/ next day shipping.

It should not be that hard to buy an iPhone outright.
 
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That's because both of these releases where not major releases.
Like the 5S or the iPhone 6 for example.
They were the lower end, cheaper models.


gurase said:
I think both the 5C and SE had the sim free version available right away. I have a feeling Apple views the 8 the same way (as the lesser model) and it will be back to business as usual for the X, unfortunately.
Click to expand...
[doublepost=1505697970][/doublepost]Best Buy would price match and sell it for $100 less of what they're originally asking for it if you ask them to price match.
But I agree, it shouldn't be that hard to just buy a phone without dealing with the other nonsense.


kilcher said:
It's still next to impossible to plunk down $1,000 and get an iPhone that day (without adding/upgrading/financing). Last month my wife's 6 Plus crapped out and I wanted to get her another one (a 7 Plus) that day. Went to Target because they had them on their website but was told they don't sell them outright, you have to upgrade or add a line. Went to the AT&T store but was told they don't sell them outright either, you have to finance it and then wait 30 days to pay it off. Went to Costco because they had them on their website but was told they don't sell them in the stores. I knew Best Buy had them but they charge $100 over MSRP (now I know why). Ended up ordering from Apple w/ next day shipping.

It should not be that hard to buy an iPhone outright.
Click to expand...
 
kilcher said:
It's still next to impossible to plunk down $1,000 and get an iPhone that day (without adding/upgrading/financing). Last month my wife's 6 Plus crapped out and I wanted to get her another one (a 7 Plus) that day. Went to Target because they had them on their website but was told they don't sell them outright, you have to upgrade or add a line. Went to the AT&T store but was told they don't sell them outright either, you have to finance it and then wait 30 days to pay it off. Went to Costco because they had them on their website but was told they don't sell them in the stores. I knew Best Buy had them but they charge $100 over MSRP (now I know why). Ended up ordering from Apple w/ next day shipping.

It should not be that hard to buy an iPhone outright.
Click to expand...

Agreed.

It's 2017, no subsidies, and we still have to wait or jump through hoops just to get an unlocked/sim free/non carrier phone. Progress is slow for the U.S. and these upgrade/lease programs tied to the carriers, although great for many, impedes this progress.
 
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I noticed the same thing and had the same question. Genuinely hoping this is Apple signaling "power to the consumer" and will allow for carrier-free purchases at launch. Otherwise, I may go for the 8 Plus.
 
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Dexterama said:
Agreed.

It's 2017, no subsidies, and we still have to wait or jump through hoops just to get an unlocked/sim free/non carrier phone. Progress is slow for the U.S. and these upgrade/lease programs tied to the carriers, although great for many, impedes this progress.
Click to expand...
Carriers what to do what ever they can to get you stuck on them. How many people left att then bought new iPhones with Verizon payment plans with unlimited which they switched only months later.
 
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Garyhe23 said:
I noticed the IPhone 8 offers the SIM free model at the pre-order, which is very different from what they did before. They usually started to offer SIM free model a few weeks after preorder.

Then what about iPhone X, any chance they will offer SIM free when the iPhone X pre-order starts?
Click to expand...
When I look at the iPhone X store page, I don't see a SIM free option. Which has me kind of irked. There was such an option listed for iPhone 8 before it opened for pre-order, so this doesn't bode well...

We've got a few weeks. I suggest those of us interested in an SIM free option get some feedback to Apple that we're not happy being tied to a carrier.
 
I think that Apple's contract agreements with the carriers is for them to have exclusive access to the newest phone for some period. IIRC for years you couldn't get a non-carrier locked phone.
 
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Analog Kid said:
When I look at the iPhone X store page, I don't see a SIM free option. Which has me kind of irked. There was such an option listed for iPhone 8 before it opened for pre-order, so this doesn't bode well...

We've got a few weeks. I suggest those of us interested in an SIM free option get some feedback to Apple that we're not happy being tied to a carrier.
Click to expand...

Is this for sure? I thought I actually looked at this in detail prior to pre-orders going live, and don't recall this option.. maybe I'm wrong.
 
Dwalls90 said:
Is this for sure? I thought I actually looked at this in detail prior to pre-orders going live, and don't recall this option.. maybe I'm wrong.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure I checked the pricing of the AT&T vs. SIM free before preorder opened, out of curiosity...
 
Dwalls90 said:
Is this for sure? I thought I actually looked at this in detail prior to pre-orders going live, and don't recall this option.. maybe I'm wrong.
Click to expand...
Analog Kid said:
I'm pretty sure I checked the pricing of the AT&T vs. SIM free before preorder opened, out of curiosity...
Click to expand...

Yes, it was there before - 100% sure.
Since there are still a few weeks till launch, I hope they will add this option. Otherwise this would ruin the iPhone X for me...
 
infinitejest said:
Since there are still a few weeks till launch, I hope they will add this option. Otherwise this would ruin the iPhone X for me...
Click to expand...

So sad, so bad. That you might have to wait.

It won't change. Expect the unlocked option 2-3 months after shipping begins. Haven't been tracking it exactly.

If you can't wait. Order a verizion phone paying full price with cheapest plan. Then when you get it go to verizion online/in person and cancel account. Out a few bucks but won't have to wait.
 
If for some reason the SIM free version is not offered and you plan to pay in full, get the verizon version :D

DO NOT get the t-mobile or ATT variant. It will not work with CDMA carriers is case you plan on switching.
 
protoxx said:
If you can't wait. Order a verizion phone paying full price with cheapest plan. Then when you get it go to verizion online/in person and cancel account. Out a few bucks but won't have to wait.
Click to expand...

Sounds reasonable for a phone I pay $1,250 for... Great customer experience...
 
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protoxx said:
So sad, so bad. That you might have to wait.

It won't change. Expect the unlocked option 2-3 months after shipping begins. Haven't been tracking it exactly.

If you can't wait. Order a verizion phone paying full price with cheapest plan. Then when you get it go to verizion online/in person and cancel account. Out a few bucks but won't have to wait.
Click to expand...

If you pay in full they do not make you have a plan. I have done this year after year. Paying in full does not require carrier info. I use cricket prepaid, and typically buy the verizon model outright, and then just pop my SIM in when the phone comes.
 
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mattopotamus said:
If you pay in full they do not make you have a plan. I have done this year after year. Paying in full does not require carrier info. I use cricket prepaid, and typically buy the verizon model outright, and then just pop my SIM in when the phone comes.
Click to expand...

In the previous years, does the SIM free and Verizon have exactly the same model?
 
Yes, for AT&T and Tmobile unlocked iPhones work fine with Wifi calling and VOLTE.
Its Verizon and Sprint that will drag you through hell and then still will not enable some of those features because the devices where not originally made for their network.


tivoboy said:
Does anyone know if the sIM unlocked phones, if AT&T will allow them to do WiFi calling or voice over LTE?
Click to expand...
 
Applejuiced said:
Yes, for AT&T and Tmobile unlocked iPhones work fine with Wifi calling and VOLTE.
Its Verizon and Sprint that will drag you through hell and then still will not enable some of those features because the devices where not originally made for their network.
Click to expand...
Thanks,
so is there any benefit to buying an AT&T phone? Are there more bands, like the 30 band on the AT&T version vs. the sim unlocked version? I can't seem to find all the band comparisons online anywhere.
 
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