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Sim Free SE activated on Verizon
- Thread starter Vader2
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Hope I'm contributing and not hijacking the thread but I'd also love an answer to the following:
- If I buy the SIM-free version, will it work perfectly on Verizon?
- Elsewhere on these forums it's mentioned that the SIM-free version does not have all the LTE bands. If this is true, is it better to go with the Verizon model?
http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/#iphone-se
There's only 3 different SE versions from what I can tell: one with LTE bands strictly for China Mobile (A1724), One for Sprint + Foreign countries (A1723), and one for the rest of American carriers (A1662).
Since VZW is a CDMA carrier like Sprint, could a person buy the Sprint model at full MSRP, pop in their VZW SIM, and be good to go (with access to VZW LTE)?
I'd only buy a phone with foreign LTE bands (a world phone).
As per Apples website concerning a sim free model. Sim free models will not work with Sprint.
About the SIM-free iPhone
The SIM-free iPhone comes without a wireless contract commitment or carrier financing. It doesn’t come with a nano-SIM card for iPhone SE. And because it’s unlocked, it isn’t tied to one carrier, so you can get a nano-SIM from any supported carrier, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon in the United States. The SIM-free iPhone SE is not compatible with Sprint’s network. To use iPhone SE with Sprint, you need to select Sprint as your carrier when you purchase your iPhone.
Purchasing a SIM-free iPhone means you will not qualify for a carrier installment plan or the lower iPhone price associated with a contract.
If you don’t want a multiyear service contract, or if you prefer to use a local carrier when traveling abroad, the SIM-free iPhone is the best choice.
For details on LTE network support, please see www.apple.com/iphone/LTE.
About the SIM-free iPhone
The SIM-free iPhone comes without a wireless contract commitment or carrier financing. It doesn’t come with a nano-SIM card for iPhone SE. And because it’s unlocked, it isn’t tied to one carrier, so you can get a nano-SIM from any supported carrier, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon in the United States. The SIM-free iPhone SE is not compatible with Sprint’s network. To use iPhone SE with Sprint, you need to select Sprint as your carrier when you purchase your iPhone.
Purchasing a SIM-free iPhone means you will not qualify for a carrier installment plan or the lower iPhone price associated with a contract.
If you don’t want a multiyear service contract, or if you prefer to use a local carrier when traveling abroad, the SIM-free iPhone is the best choice.
For details on LTE network support, please see www.apple.com/iphone/LTE.
Adding my two cents here. Was at the apple store buying another iPhone 6s+ and was debating between the verizon model and the Sim free one. One of the biggest issues the sales rep at Apple said for the sim free version was VZW activation issues. He sees tons of returns for the SIM free version when trying to activate it on Verizon. If you buy the verizon version at full price then it is automatically sim unlocked. The benefit of the sim free version, at least in the US, is that is has the extra LTE band for AT&T. So if you don't care about AT&T and will primarily using it with VZW or want the ability to travel overseas and pop in a local sim card, less hassle to just get the verizon version.
I didn't buy a SIM-free model, but I did buy the AT&T model and had no issues using it on Verizon.
1. Yes. The Verizon and SIM-free models are exactly the same.
2. No SE has all bands. The Sprint model is missing a critical band for Verizon, so definitely don't buy that model to use on Verizon.
You could, but the Sprint model is missing band 13, which is critical on Verizon. LTE coverage wouldn't be nearly as good and you'd have a hard time getting a signal indoors.
SIM-free model does work on Sprint. You just don't get band 41 (LTE Plus/Spark). I'm currently using an unlocked AT&T SE, which is the exact same model as the SIM-free SE, on RingPlus, which uses Sprint's network.
Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile, and SIM-free SE's are all the exact same phone. Feel free to buy any of those to use on Verizon as long as it's unlocked.
Also, the Verizon version comes unlocked regardless of whether it's paid off. All Verizon LTE phones in the past 4 years are unlocked.
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No, that was my fault. You said 6s+ but, being a topic about the SE, I wasn't paying attention and assumed you were talking about the SE.
Yeah, the Verizon, Sprint, and T-Mobile 6s and 6s Plus don't have support for band 30, though that doesn't really seem to be a critical band. Still, it's better to get it if you can.
While the sim free and AT&T phones might have different model numbers, they have the exact same bands. Will find the link with that confirmation.
I can't find which model the SIM-free 6s is on Apple's website, but other sites are saying it's A1633/4 which does have band 30.
Yeah, you are right. Here's the link to Apple's website: http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/#iphone-6s-iphone-6s-plus
sim-free 6s is A1688. I thought the big fuss was Apple mis-printed the specs and left out a bunch of bands from the AT&T model, and then added them to the specs later.
Anyway, with the SE, you're still missing Verizon LTE or Sprint, neither one will work worldwide at full speed.