US iPhone in Australia

[Shivneil]

Hey guys, I just wanted to know if a US iPhone 5 will work in Australia. I'm going on a holiday to the US and I'm planning to buy it from there, to use here in Australia.
Another thing, are the iPhones unlocked at the Apple stores in the US?
And how much are they at the Apple store if you buy it outright?

Thanks.

 

[jkun]

Ok...

First, you can't buy an unlocked iphone 5 in the US yet. Verizon iPhone 5's are unlocked, but have to be bought on contract or month-to-month.

And the LTE bands are not compatible with Australia's.

 

[mohsy90]

This will all depend on your cellular network. The AT&T and Verizon iPhone 5 at full price ($650+ state tax (8% in NY) will come GSM unlocked. What you need to consider is whether the iPhone will support LTE.

Check this Apple page. The only model I see that supports Australia's LTE networks is the GSM A1429. This model is intended for support overseas and is not sold in the US. Your best bet is to buy this model online or order from Apple.

 

[aka777]

The best bet is to buy the Verizon version, which is unlocked and supports the international LTE frequencies.

 

[Daveoc64]

Of course, it's going to be hard (translation: impossible) for someone from Australia to buy a contract phone - even if you plan to cancel it instantly.

 

[Chundles]

Also, pretty sure for the iPhones the warranty is only valid in the country of purchase.

Honestly you're better off getting it here.