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ManUtd08

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 16, 2008
103
130
This will be the first iPhone cycle that I will not be sticking with AT&T and I am seriously considering purchasing an iPhone outright from Apple.com. However, I need some assistance in deciding which Unlocked version of the phone to get. Is there any advantage besides the different cellular bands the Sim-Free phone receives versus purchasing a T-Mobile/Verizon branded phone via apple.com? or what else should I take into consideration? I should point out I do not have plans for international travel at this time. Any pointers/advice/ect would be most appreciated in helping me make this decision. Thanks!
 
What carrier will you be going with? Why not go with them, you may get some sort of incentive.
 
Hi, last time I bought T-mobile iPhone 6 from Apple and it was unlocked. Don't buy from t-mo since it wiill be locked to t-mo and cost around 150 dollars to unlock it or you have to stay at half-coverage couple months to unlock through them. I have both now t-mo and att. Must admit t-mobile even in great for them north MA area is loosing to Att a lot. May be 700 MHz low band 12 changes the picture, but so far even spots 4G indoor on they map have no coverage in my area. It is not very bad, but online radio stops from time to time or I have plenty 1 bar - coverage zones.

VZW even with new volte have very bad voice quality it is not a choice at all for me. May it is better now, but VZW is still the most expensive. I have FIOS, it was FIOS outage and my friend's iPhone lost internet. I want diversity here. Sprint .... is Sprint :) (joke another-words)

I have upgrade eligibility now from Att and would like to run it and unlock later, submit to Att 50/50 chances or pay 40-70 dollars for unlock.

I stay with Att since I have grandfather plan and it is cheaper with subsidy and my FAN discount than t-mo.

I heard that VZW iPhone has a higher resell value, but I cannot figure out how to buy just a device from Apple. Maybe somebody can help here?
 
Then buy a t-mo phone. As mentioned, get it from apple not at a t-mo store as the apple variant is unlocked.
Thanks! Simple enough decision. Hopefully, it wont be difficult ordering a t-mo phone via apple.
 
I want to buy the Verizon iPhone, but I have a feeling that I won't be able to just purchase it outright. What I'm planning on doing is just opening a Verizon account on the Device payment plan and once I get the phone I will just call Verizon and cancel the account. I hope this works.
 
I want to buy the Verizon iPhone, but I have a feeling that I won't be able to just purchase it outright. What I'm planning on doing is just opening a Verizon account on the Device payment plan and once I get the phone I will just call Verizon and cancel the account. I hope this works.

Why? Walk into Apple store. Ask for Verizon phone. Pay full price. Walk out. Its simple really. No need to mess with opening/closing accounts.
 
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I want to buy the Verizon iPhone, but I have a feeling that I won't be able to just purchase it outright. What I'm planning on doing is just opening a Verizon account on the Device payment plan and once I get the phone I will just call Verizon and cancel the account. I hope this works.

Walk into an Apple store and say "I want to buy a Verizon iPhone 6s." They'll bring you one and you can pay for it.

Why wouldn't you be able to purchase one outright?
 
If you a
I want to buy the Verizon iPhone, but I have a feeling that I won't be able to just purchase it outright. What I'm planning on doing is just opening a Verizon account on the Device payment plan and once I get the phone I will just call Verizon and cancel the account. I hope this works.
If you are saying you plan to walk away from paying off the phone; that could have repercussions down the line.

If you are saying you will cancel the account within 14 days, you might have to return the phone. I don't know how the new plans work, but I don't think verizon will let you use them as your piggy bank.
 
If you a

If you are saying you plan to walk away from paying off the phone; that could have repercussions down the line.

If you are saying you will cancel the account within 14 days, you might have to return the phone. I don't know how the new plans work, but I don't think verizon will let you use them as your piggy bank.

Well as all of you know most iPhone releases its hard to find an iPhone just by walking in the store on release day. Thats why I wanted to pre-order it.

I didn't mean to just walk away and not pay off the phone. I would just cancel service and pay off the phone. I doubt I will be able to just walk in a store and purchase and iPhone 6s on release day.
 
Well as all of you know most iPhone releases its hard to find an iPhone just by walking in the store on release day. Thats why I wanted to pre-order it.

I didn't mean to just walk away and not pay off the phone. I would just cancel service and pay off the phone. I doubt I will be able to just walk in a store and purchase and iPhone 6s on release day.

Isn't this exactly why god made credit cards??
 
Well as all of you know most iPhone releases its hard to find an iPhone just by walking in the store on release day. Thats why I wanted to pre-order it.

I didn't mean to just walk away and not pay off the phone. I would just cancel service and pay off the phone. I doubt I will be able to just walk in a store and purchase and iPhone 6s on release day.
Make sure you aren't assessed an etf equal to the unpaid balance of the line.
 
Make sure you aren't assessed an etf equal to the unpaid balance of the line.

There isn't a ETF for the device payment plan. I really hope they allow people buy the iphone 6s outright on the Apple website, otherwise I'm gonna have to do this. I already talked to a Verizon rep and they told me I could cancel service at any time and they would just bill me the retail price of the phone.
 
I wish Apple would just sell the SIM-free version for pre-order from the start. This is what I'd prefer to buy; it's the MOST compatible phone (works on ALL carriers) so I doubt they'd have trouble selling the stock.
 
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This will be the first iPhone cycle that I will not be sticking with AT&T and I am seriously considering purchasing an iPhone outright from Apple.com. However, I need some assistance in deciding which Unlocked version of the phone to get. Is there any advantage besides the different cellular bands the Sim-Free phone receives versus purchasing a T-Mobile/Verizon branded phone via apple.com? or what else should I take into consideration? I should point out I do not have plans for international travel at this time. Any pointers/advice/ect would be most appreciated in helping me make this decision. Thanks!

I have the current sim-free 6+, upon doing research, the only difference are the extra bands for travel to Japan and/or certain Asia countries. Otherwise, the T-Mobile will suffice. But why not get the sim-free since the cost of the phones are the same?
 
I wish Apple would just sell the SIM-free version for pre-order from the start. This is what I'd prefer to buy; it's the MOST compatible phone (works on ALL carriers) so I doubt they'd have trouble selling the stock.

I agree, it would make things much easier.
 
I wish Apple would just sell the SIM-free version for pre-order from the start. This is what I'd prefer to buy; it's the MOST compatible phone (works on ALL carriers) so I doubt they'd have trouble selling the stock.

SIM unlock is the best phone, they have some LTE bands for Asia and Eastern Europe that t-mo doesn't have. Apple doesn't sell sim unlock phones from day one due to resell it back to China. I was in NH (tax free) mall day 1 iphone 6 came out. All the chinese guys there. They bought 2 iPhones and resold them right away for cash. Don't want to say something bad about them, but they didn't look like Apple users at all, most of them didn't speak English. BUT it is their business and opportunity to get some extra cash. No politics here, ok? :)
 
SIM unlock is the best phone, they have some LTE bands for Asia and Eastern Europe that t-mo doesn't have. Apple doesn't sell sim unlock phones from day one due to resell it back to China. I was in NH (tax free) mall day 1 iphone 6 came out. All the chinese guys there. They bought 2 iPhones and resold them right away for cash. Don't want to say something bad about them, but they didn't look like Apple users at all, most of them didn't speak English. BUT it is their business and opportunity to get some extra cash. No politics here, ok? :)

This problem could be easily solved by releasing in other countries like China at the same time as in the US.

Of COURSE there will be a freaking black market if they release months later in China! That's only common sense. Why not release world-wide simultaneously and prevent this problem?
 
I have the current sim-free 6+, upon doing research, the only difference are the extra bands for travel to Japan and/or certain Asia countries. Otherwise, the T-Mobile will suffice. But why not get the sim-free since the cost of the phones are the same?
SIM-Free is also white-listed on Verizon and Sprint.
 
This problem could be easily solved by releasing in other countries like China at the same time as in the US.

Of COURSE there will be a freaking black market if they release months later in China! That's only common sense. Why not release world-wide simultaneously and prevent this problem?
Supply is probably one of the main factors there.
 
I don't think you will be able to purchase a VZW or AT&T device on the Apple site without providing some sort account credentials, either. So buying 'outright' would automatically be the T-Mobile version or the SIM free. I'm buying mine outright as well and I hope Apple will have the SIM free version at launch but most likely they won't.
 
I don't think you will be able to purchase a VZW or AT&T device on the Apple site without providing some sort account credentials, either. So buying 'outright' would automatically be the T-Mobile version or the SIM free. I'm buying mine outright as well and I hope Apple will have the SIM free version at launch but most likely they won't.

yeah, thats why I'm being forced to open an account with Verizon if they don't offer the SIM-free version or the option to buy the Verizon iphone. I have read that the T-mobile version works on Verizon, but I'm hesitant about buying the T-mobile iPhone.
 
yeah, thats why I'm being forced to open an account with Verizon if they don't offer the SIM-free version or the option to buy the Verizon iphone. I have read that the T-mobile version works on Verizon, but I'm hesitant about buying the T-mobile iPhone.
In general (5S and 6 releases) the people that bought the Verizon phone couldn't cancel until 14 days after they started service so your best bet (unless you're planning on using the Japanese lines) is to just buy the T-Mobile outright as it works on all US carriers besides Sprint
 
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