Carrier (T-Mobile iPhone 5s is LOCKED- Unlocked iPhone 5s Discussion)

[Kulfon]

You can find out if your iPhone is an AT&T model. All you need is to check your IMEI status.

Many IMEI checkers will give you model, capacity and color. If it happens yours is an AT&T iPhone, you'll have to go online to request the unlock.

Can i just go and request it myself? I started thinking that this phone is under contract....so what will happen if I will request an unlock?

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Also how can I check whether my phone is not black listed and that Att will unlock it?

 

[NeXT MacRumors]

Close the Thread Please

Actually it is not that complicated to determine which version is locked or unlocked…

For iPhone 5 or 5C or 5S that bought in Apple Retail Stores:

AT&T version:
LOCKED for contract; UNLOCKED for “device only” purchase. For locked iPhone, you can request unlock if you have fulfilled the contract.

T-Mobile USA version:
UNLOCKED

Verizon:
UNLOCKED for BOTH contract and “device only” because of the FCC requirement of the 700MHz spectrum that Verizon is using

Sprint:
LOCKED for BOTH contract and “device only”. You can request unlock ONLY for international travelling if your iPhone is attaching to an active Sprint account. (i.e. only non-US carriers sims can be used even it is unlocked. AT&T, T-Mobile USA and other US carriers’ sims WILL NOT WORK)



For iPhone 5 or 5C or 5S that bought directly from carriers or authorized resellers (including Best Buy, Wal-Mart…etc)

AT&T version:
LOCKED for BOTH contract and “device only” purchase. However, you can request unlock if you have fulfilled the contract OR your iPhone was purchased as “device only” (or called no commitment pricing or without contract or full pricing). You will have to provide proof of purchase (e.g. store receipts) if you want to unlock for iPhones bought without contract.

T-Mobile USA version:
LOCKED. T-Mobile USA will unlock it only under certain requirements. Most common requirement is the phone must be active under T-Mobile account for at least 40 days.

Verizon:
UNLOCKED for BOTH contract and “device only” because of the FCC requirement of the 700MHz spectrum that Verizon is using

Sprint:
LOCKED for BOTH contract and “device only”. You can request unlock ONLY for international travelling if your iPhone is attaching to an active Sprint account. (i.e. only non-US carriers sims can be used even it is unlocked. AT&T, T-Mobile USA and other US carriers’ sims WILL NOT WORK.

Please Close the Thread, this has been confirmed.

 

[.Macelek]

If I buy the iPhone 5S from Apple full price with T-Mobile sim, will I be able to use LTE in Europe with a european sim card? Just because the Modell Nr. is different for the US and EU versions... The US is A1533, the EU Model is A1457, both GSM, but different LTE band support. I can only guess, that I won't be able to place an order for the EU model in the States... Thanks for your answers

 

[Coleman2010]

If I buy the iPhone 5S from Apple full price with T-Mobile sim, will I be able to use LTE in Europe with a european sim card? Just because the Modell Nr. is different for the US and EU versions... The US is A1533, the EU Model is A1457, both GSM, but different LTE band support. I can only guess, that I won't be able to place an order for the EU model in the States... Thanks for your answers

Yes it will work.

 

[.Macelek]

This is not true. You are spreading false information.

If purchased from Apple the T-Mobile iPhone 5s is unlocked.

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Yes it will work.

My concern is about the LTE Bands, that the US version uses... In Europe, it's all the same, except for LTE Band 7 (2600Mhz), that is not supported by the US version. So is there anybody, who bought iPhone 5s (T Mobile version) in the US and uses it in Europe with LTE working properly?

 

[Coleman2010]

My concern is about the LTE Bands, that the US version uses... In Europe, it's all the same, except for LTE Band 7 (2600Mhz), that is not supported by the US version. So is there anybody, who bought iPhone 5s (T Mobile version) in the US and uses it in Europe with LTE working properly?

This is the list of LTE bands supported by the US version.

1 (2100 MHz)
2 (1900 MHz)
3 (1800 MHz)
4 (AWS)
5 (850 MHz)
8 (900 MHz)
13 (700c MHz)
17 (700b MHz)
19 (800 MHz)
20 (800 DD)
25 (1900 MHz)

2600 is not supported.

 

[.Macelek]

This is the list of LTE bands supported by the US version.

1 (2100 MHz)
2 (1900 MHz)
3 (1800 MHz)
4 (AWS)
5 (850 MHz)
8 (900 MHz)
13 (700c MHz)
17 (700b MHz)
19 (800 MHz)
20 (800 DD)
25 (1900 MHz)

2600 is not supported.

This is exactly what I was telling... So, why do you think it will work perfectly in Europe? Do you have any personal experience?

 

[ritushinde]

Guys! to stop this debate: I have bought a golden iPhone 5s last month from the Apple Store at full price/commitment free (the one where it says T-mobile).

I confirm: It IS unlocked. I'm using it now in Amman, Jordan.

It came with a T-Mobile nano SIM card in it, but you can just replace it with your carrier's SIM.


Blessings!

Based on all of this...I just picked up a ATT 64GB Full Price at an Apple Store.

I didn't reconnect it to iTunes and just inserted a non-ATT sim and it just worked. Then swapped out with T-Mobile and it worked too.

So just to add more evidence to those that say Full Price ATT bought from Apple and TMobile bought from Apple appear to be the same.

hi

I am from India. i have bought iphone 5s 32gb t mobile from apple directly. It showed unlocked on imeiinfo site. i can confirm that it is UNLOCKED and works very well on Vodafone india.

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i Bought it in USA.

 

[Angelynoa]

Has any one every heard of eBay.com

 

[Haunter1988]

hi

I am from India. i have bought iphone 5s 32gb t mobile from apple directly. It showed unlocked on imeiinfo site. i can confirm that it is UNLOCKED and works very well on Vodafone india.

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i Bought it in USA.

Thank you.

And what about the 40 days to wait the sim to be unlocked to avoid reselling?
False right?

To Finish this. Buy the "device only" from whatever carrier except Sprint from Apple retail stores only to prevent problems

 

[Guillermogm]

I want to know if I buy a t mobile iphone online and I wait it to be shipped , will it ship unlocked?

 

[Kennypp]

I want to know if I buy a t mobile iphone online and I wait it to be shipped , will it ship unlocked?

100% unlocked out of the box my work perfect in Vietnam

 

[Coleman2010]

Thank you.

And what about the 40 days to wait the sim to be unlocked to avoid reselling?
False right?

To Finish this. Buy the "device only" from whatever carrier except Sprint from Apple retail stores only to prevent problems

You do not have to wait 40 days for n unlocked iPhone. If you buy the T-Mobile version from Apple online or retail store it is unlocked out of the box.

 

[Haunter1988]

You do not have to wait 40 days for n unlocked iPhone. If you buy the T-Mobile version from Apple online or retail store it is unlocked out of the box.

Yehhhh!!!! I can´t wait!!!!! You are the man Coleman!

Now, the problem is the stock. My uncle is gonna be there in Miami on December 9th
I would like to have the space gray 32 Gb, is there a way to ask from the web page?

 

[Guillermogm]

Yehhhh!!!! I can´t wait!!!!! You are the man Coleman!

Now, the problem is the stock. My uncle is gonna be there in Miami on December 9th
I would like to have the space gray 32 Gb, is there a way to ask from the web page?

I bought mine today, it was a 16gb space gray, apple said it will be delivered between December 3 - December 9.

 

[.Macelek]

I bought mine today, it was a 16gb space gray, apple said it will be delivered between December 3 - December 9.

You have to wait 1 month??? They say at the online store that its 2-3 weeks...

 

[Coleman2010]

Yehhhh!!!! I can´t wait!!!!! You are the man Coleman!

Now, the problem is the stock. My uncle is gonna be there in Miami on December 9th
I would like to have the space gray 32 Gb, is there a way to ask from the web page?

He should be able to find Space gray in the retail store. I've checked stock and many stores always have space gray.

 

[Guillermogm]

You have to wait 1 month??? They say at the online store that its 2-3 weeks...

Look at my order, I paid 10$ for shipping it fast

 

[Haunter1988]

How have you checked the stock?
I click on "check availability" and i wrote the correct zip code and it says "unavailable to pick"

The solution is to order your iphone from the web page i think, 2 - 3 weeks right? No more...
I have to tell my cousin to buy it now.

I hope to find the space gray 32 gb!

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fast? Two or three weeks? But that's not for everyone

 

[Coleman2010]

How have you checked the stock?
I click on "check availability" and i wrote the correct zip code and it says "unavailable to pick"

The solution is to order your iphone from the web page i think, 2 - 3 weeks right? No more...
I have to tell my cousin to buy it now.

I hope to find the space gray 32 gb!
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fast? Two or three weeks? But that's not for everyone

Have your cousin arrive at an Apple retail store 2-3 hours before they open and wait in line. He should be able to get a Space gray "device only" which will be unlocked. Have him ask for an AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile iPhone 5s device only.

 

[Haunter1988]

Have your cousin arrive at an Apple retail store 2-3 hours before they open and wait in line. He should be able to get a Space gray "device only" which will be unlocked. Have him ask for an AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile iPhone 5s device only.

Wait in line? 2-3 hours before the opening?! :S
It's imposible. He is very lazy, he is not going to do the line.

So, the queues are still alive :S

If he order one from the apple web page? How much time more or less will the product take to arrive?

Thank you

 

[spencers]

Just received a Verizon iPhone 5S in from the Verizon online store (2-yr contract) for one of our employees.

Decided to pop in my AT&T SIM card from my iPhone 5. Sure enough, it worked out of the box.

Very cool!

 

[navigates]

Tmobile 64gb from Apple Store is Unlocked

I can confirm that the tmobile phones being sold at apple are full priced and is unlocked. I've tested that with an AT&T sim and an international sim which roams on AT&T.

 

[Coleman2010]

Wait in line? 2-3 hours before the opening?! :S
It's imposible. He is very lazy, he is not going to do the line.

So, the queues are still alive :S

If he order one from the apple web page? How much time more or less will the product take to arrive?

Thank you

He just has to call the stores and ask if they have stock on the Space grey 5s and ask if they have long lines. If not, he can get one right away.

 

[insoc]

I've read all the success stories of people buying unlocked phones (either the AT&T ones and the T-Mobile Contract Free ones).

Just ONE QUICK QUESTION please: I won't buy the 5S from any Apple store but from the store at apple.com. If I buy the T-Mobile Contract Free at apple.com and bring it back to my country without using it in the US, would it just be a matter of replacing the T-Mobile sim with the nano sim I use in my country at then I'm done?

Thanks!