Very pissed with Apple about unlocked X

[evorc]

Another option if you really needed an unlocked phone is by iPhone Upgrade Program. If you are in this program the phone will be unlocked regardless of your network you select. If you wanted the Verizon version instead of the AT&T or TMO version then all you needed was a Verizon account during network verification for the program. Some say you could use someone's Verizon account to do the verification if you didn't have one. So my point is if you really wanted an unlocked phone during release you could have done your research upfront. So don't blame Apple for your mistake.

 

[rugmankc]

Nothing new here--bye--🙂

 

[DNichter]

Why is it inferior?

 

[Pspressart]

AT&T will not sell a phone outright. They require a purchase via Next and you can pay in full with the first billing date. As a result it is locked. You have to ask AT&T to unlock after the phone is free and clear.
Went through this with a 6S+, 7, 7+, and IPP.
Bought an SE unlocked from the Apple Store.

Just the way they (AT&T) do business.

I bought mine outright from AT&T. I'd have to wait 14 days (the return time) if I wanted to get it unlocked.

 

[dk001]

I bought mine outright from AT&T. I'd have to wait 14 days (the return time) if I wanted to get it unlocked.

How did you buy it outright?
I have tried online and in-store (AT&T Store) and was unable to do so for a while now.
For the IPP LTE version, on-line, only option was via Next and I paid it off and unlocked next billing date.
Have done phones via on-line and in-store; same issue.

What did I miss?

 

[LarryJoe33]

I do not agree with the OP that he got shafted and the implications that Apple upgraded the X a month after launch. That's just silly. They sell different configurations to match the US carriers technology. Again, if you paid full price for the ATT phone (like me), then it is unlocked, but no, it will not work overseas. If this was important to you then you should have asked some questions. Are you planning on going overseas for an extended period of time? If not, what does it matter?

 

[macfacts]

What's inferior about it? Please give examples that the newer iPhone X is superior.

Apple does this all the time, so its not really surprising

Your last sentence implies you know what is inferior about one model vs the other.

 

[cwosigns]

So let me get this straight, the iPhone X I waited in line for on launch day is actually inferior to the one they are starting to sell now that is unlocked?

Can't I have my AT&T phone be unlocked so I can port it to other carriers or use it on trips with foreign SIMs if I wish to?

I find this completely unacceptable for a company that prides itself with consumer friendliness, to start selling an upgrade a month later and make folks like me regret their $1200 purchase.

I will see if they accept a return of my carrier locked phone. If not, they've lost a loyal customer.

This literally happens every year, with every release. If you were a loyal customer, you’d know that.

 

[maflynn]

Your last sentence implies you know what is inferior about one model vs the other.

No, sorry that's not what I meant. Apple releases sim free models a month or so after its release date.

 

[rockitdog]

Its funny how many people are infatuated with the unlocked devices. This is nothing new, Apple does this every year. The only person the OP should be pissed at is himself.

 

[Septembersrain]

This is why I moved from Apple. I paid the same for a 7 Plus that has a difference from the Qualcomm 7 Plus.

This is my biggest pet peeve with Apple is that the Qualcomm on the 8/8+/X was crippled. The antennas removed for 4x4 MIMO/256 QAM so they can match that inferior Intel. You'd have to wait until next year to get a similar (hopefully) modem that certain Android models of 2017 already have.

One model can be on all carriers, one cannot. One had the potential to give you better data speeds but Apple crippled it so it couldn't.

Tell me, if you went to buy a car, would you feel okay if they used the governor to limit your 600 horsepower car to match their other model with 400 horsepower?

Sure they are the same price but wouldn't the 400HP buyer feel overcharged and the 600HP owner feel miffed?

I know I would!

Edit: I think what upsets me most is that not only did  not allow you to buy the unlocked Qualcomm from day one but they made you buy for your carrier. So the early adopters who previously believed that just "Paying it off and getting it unlocked" would allow them the same freedom as previous models before the 7/7+. It's a slap in the face!

 

[Michael Goff]

Just ran a speed test on my X, on ATT. Got 11mbps according to fast.com.

I don’t think most people on ATT will ever have to worry about hitting that theoretical max speed their phone can hit.

 

[rockitdog]

This is why I moved from Apple. I paid the same for a 7 Plus that has a difference from the Qualcomm 7 Plus.

This is my biggest pet peeve with Apple is that the Qualcomm on the 8/8+/X was crippled. The antennas removed for 4x4 MIMO/256 QAM so they can match that inferior Intel. You'd have to wait until next year to get a similar (hopefully) modem that certain Android models of 2017 already have.

One model can be on all carriers, one cannot. One had the potential to give you better data speeds but Apple crippled it so it couldn't.

Tell me, if you went to buy a car, would you feel okay if they used the governor to limit your 600 horsepower car to match their other model with 400 horsepower?

Sure they are the same price but wouldn't the 400HP buyer feel overcharged and the 600HP owner feel miffed?

I know I would!

Edit: I think what upsets me most is that not only did  not allow you to buy the unlocked Qualcomm from day one but they made you buy for your carrier. So the early adopters who previously believed that just "Paying it off and getting it unlocked" would allow them the same freedom as previous models before the 7/7+. It's a slap in the face!

Android manufacturers do the exact same thing. They've been giving the world Exynos processors for year that test out better than the Qualcomm crap that we receive in the US. You can buy carrier Androids or you can buy them unlocked usually after the launch. Everyone does this!

 

[RevTEG]

AT&T will not sell a phone outright. They require a purchase via Next and you can pay in full with the first billing date. As a result it is locked. You have to ask AT&T to unlock after the phone is free and clear.
Went through this with a 6S+, 7, 7+, and IPP.
Bought an SE unlocked from the Apple Store.

Just the way they (AT&T) do business.

Forgive me if I'm misunderstanding your post, but my wife and I both bought the AT&T iPhone X on launch day. We did order them through Apple, but they are both no contract paid in full AT&T phones. Both confirmed unlocked. We didn't have to change to the Next plan or even change our plan at all. We both still have the original grandfathered unlimited data plan.

 

[dk001]

Forgive me if I'm misunderstanding your post, but my wife and I both bought the AT&T iPhone X on launch day. We did order them through Apple, but they are both no contract paid in full AT&T phones. Both confirmed unlocked. We didn't have to change to the Next plan or even change our plan at all. We both still have the original grandfathered unlimited data plan.

That makes sense. If I buy through Apple they do come that way. If I buy via AT&T they do not.
I buy via AT&T as my employer covers 25% of the device cost. 😉

Thx!!

 

[AlphaGuitarist]

So you're comparing a Qualcomm chip from 2015 to an intel chip from 2017.... You don't think Qualcomm upgrades their chips? or do you think they've been using the same chips since the first iPhone in 2007 lol.

Prior to the 6s Plus, I owned a regular 6, purchased through AT&T. Its performance was identical to the 6s Plus. In this specific case, I'm comparing an Intel chip from 2014 to a Qualcomm chip from 2015. I guess that means that Apple was throttling the Qualcomm chip? 😀
[doublepost=1512590594][/doublepost]

Again, if you paid full price for the ATT phone (like me), then it is unlocked, but no, it will not work overseas.

I bought the T-Mobile variant of the X (same model as the AT&T variant) through Apple, specifically to bypass the carrier checked. I had no problem using it in Spain on Vodafone ES. Of course, it won't work on CDMA networks that are still in use in a handful of countries, but most of the world uses GSM anyway.

 

[Archer1440]

I do not agree with the OP that he got shafted and the implications that Apple upgraded the X a month after launch. That's just silly. They sell different configurations to match the US carriers technology. Again, if you paid full price for the ATT phone (like me), then it is unlocked, but no, it will not work overseas. If this was important to you then you should have asked some questions. Are you planning on going overseas for an extended period of time? If not, what does it matter?

AT&T iPhones absolutely DO work overseas. I've used mine in the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain, China, Turkey, Slovenia, Croatia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Japan.

Hmm, looking back at that list, I feel like I could sing a Johnny Cash song...

 

[LarryJoe33]

I bought the T-Mobile variant of the X (same model as the AT&T variant) through Apple, specifically to bypass the carrier checked. I had no problem using it in Spain on Vodafone ES. Of course, it won't work on CDMA networks that are still in use in a handful of countries, but most of the world uses GSM anyway.

Good to know, an even better reason why the OP should not feel slighted. I am not up on the standards, but I remember having to buy my son a used unlocked 5s last year because he was studying abroad in AUS and his 6 would not work, but I remember now it was because it was under contract and you couldn't pop in a Vodafone sim because of this.

Anyhow, done with all contracts on all 5 of my phones in the plan now, all "unlocked" so never have to worry about this anymore.

So what's the big deal with a SIM free phone? Don't get me wrong, if it was an option on 11/27 I would have picked it, but I certainly would not have waited until now for it.
[doublepost=1512591580][/doublepost]

AT&T iPhones absolutely DO work overseas. I've used mine in the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, and Japan.

Understood, see my post above, I was confused based on a prior experience.

 

[adam1080]

Can't I have my AT&T phone be unlocked so I can port it to other carriers or use it on trips with foreign SIMs if I wish to?

Relax. This is exactly what you can do with your phone.

How are you gonna buy a GSM SIM card in another country and put it in a SIM free phone?

CDMA doesn’t matter a hill of beans if you travel internationally. I have been buying unlocked AT&T phones for years and have a collection of SIM cards from when I travel.

You think all these 3rd world countries and their cell providers gonna be able to flip on a SIM free cell phone with ease when you show up? Nope...

Fly somewhere cool, pick up a pre-paid SIM and live your dang life.

And take some pictures with your awesome iPhone X camera...

 

[LarryJoe33]

Relax. This is exactly what you can do with your phone.

How are you gonna buy a GSM SIM card in another country and put it in a SIM free phone?

CDMA doesn’t matter a hill of beans if you travel internationally. I have been buying unlocked AT&T phones for years and have a collection of SIM cards from when I travel.

You think all these 3rd world countries and their cell providers gonna be able to flip on a SIM free cell phone with ease when you show up? Nope...

Fly somewhere cool, pick up a pre-paid SIM and live your dang life.

And take some pictures with your awesome iPhone X camera...

Nailed it.

 

[RevTEG]

AT&T iPhones absolutely DO work overseas. I've used mine in the UK, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Denmark, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Spain, China, Turkey, Slovenia, Croatia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Japan.

Hmm, looking back at that list, I feel like I could sing a Johnny Cash song...

My wife and I both have unlocked AT&T iPhones and can also confirm that they work overseas. Mexico (not technically overseas for me), China, Korea, Japan and the Philippines.

 

[AlphaGuitarist]

So what's the big deal with a SIM free phone? Don't get me wrong, if it was an option on 11/27 I would have picked it, but I certainly would not have waited until now for it.

The SIM-free option is essentially the Verizon model, as it uses a Qualcomm modem, which is compatible with both CDMA and GSM networks, whereas the AT&T/T-Mobile model uses the Intel modem, which is only compatible with GSM networks. There's also evidence that the Qualcomm modem offers better performance under certain conditions, particularly where the signal is weak.

 

[LarryJoe33]

The SIM-free option is essentially the Verizon model, as it uses a Qualcomm modem, which is compatible with both CDMA and GSM networks, whereas the AT&T/T-Mobile model uses the Intel modem, which is only compatible with GSM networks. There's also evidence that the Qualcomm modem offers better performance under certain conditions, particularly where the signal is weak.

Thanks, I get that (now), but I think I agree that an unlocked ATT SIM phone is probably the better choice internationally for the reasons stated above. Pop in a SIM and go. Modem's aside, I read that article, there are a ton of factors to consider with network speeds and the Intel vs. Qualcomm is negligible.

 

[Archer1440]

Modem's aside, I read that article, there are a ton of factors to consider with network speeds and the Intel vs. Qualcomm is negligible.

Yes, but the crap-stirrers need SOMETHING to latch onto, especially since FaceID works great and "the notch" is a non-issue...

 

[AlphaGuitarist]

Thanks, I get that (now), but I think I agree that an unlocked ATT SIM phone is probably the better choice internationally for the reasons stated above. Pop in a SIM and go. Modem's aside, I read that article, there are a ton of factors to consider with network speeds and the Intel vs. Qualcomm is negligible.

You can do the same with the SIM-free phone, as it supports all the same GSM/LTE bands, in addition to CDMA. Either variant is a fine choice.