Carrier So any/all iPhone 5S' are unlocked to work anywhere?

[HappyDude20]

Hi all,

So I've been placed with a task of buying an iPhone 5S for my aunt who currently living in Central America.

Prices start at $700 in store without contract but eBay has them (brand new) between $500-$650.

I'm simply wondering if buying any 5S will be unlocked to work with any carrier abroad.

I swapped my SIM card on an iPhone 4S a while ago with no problems abroad; figuring the 5S should be just as easy.

 

[mrbrown]

If you buy an unlocked device, then yes, it should work on almost any GSM network worldwide. You can't just buy "any" 5S, though - it has to be an unlocked device or a locked device than can be unlocked (i.e. some carriers will not unlock).

 

[JCCL]

T-mobile, AT&T or Verizon version, bought full price at an Apple Store, should work fine out of the box with any compatible GSM network.

 

[Winona Northdakota]

So any/all iPhone 5S' are unlocked to work anywhere?

Hi all,



So I've been placed with a task of buying an iPhone 5S for my aunt who currently living in Central America.



Prices start at $700 in store without contract but eBay has them (brand new) between $500-$650.



I'm simply wondering if buying any 5S will be unlocked to work with any carrier abroad.



I swapped my SIM card on an iPhone 4S a while ago with no problems abroad; figuring the 5S should be just as easy.

What country in Central America?

https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

The iPhone 5C or 5S bought from AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon won't work with LTE in Costa Rica, since they use band 7 (2600 MHz), from what I understand, though anything HSPA+ or lower is backwards compatible.