Where can I buy an unlocked iPhone SE?

[bloodypom]

Hi guys

I live in New Zealand where the iPhone SE 64GB costs over $600, but I'm going to the Los Angeles area for the last two weeks of May so I was planning to pick up an unlocked one while I'm there. But now that I've started looking around at availability it seems like I might be out of luck.

Apple Stores all seem to be out of stock currently, and you can only order one for pickup with a US credit card which I don't have. I see some stock in some branches of Target, but I think they only sell them with carrier activation (which I don't want). Best Buy appears to sell them but they're currently quoting $599 for an unlocked phone so they've added $100 to the price!?

Where, other than the Apple Store, can I buy an unlocked iPhone SE?

It sucks that Apple have constrained availability this bad.

 

[rijc99]

Don't forget the 9% sales tax LA charges.

If you can find one in Best Buy or Target they might do a price match. I've heard people having luck getting them to price match Apple.com. Hopefully supply will catch up by the end of May.

 

[James.K.Polk]

I'm sure availability will be fine by the end of May. I've gotten a 16 GB and 64 GB in-store (both unlocked) without much trouble. Just use the online status checker.

 

[bloodypom]

Don't forget the 9% sales tax LA charges.

If you can find one in Best Buy or Target they might do a price match. I've heard people having luck getting them to price match Apple.com. Hopefully supply will catch up by the end of May.

So Target *do* sell them unlocked?

 

[dave006]

No at Target or Best Buy. The SIM-free / unlocked is only available at the Apple store. The chains make their money on the activations the carriers pay them for in-store activations. Only Apple does not care as long as you purchase an iPhone.

Note: Double check your Best Buy search as they should only offer an unlocked iPhone as preowned.

Dave

 

[se1000]

Timing is key. I checked a few times a day and found one in store that I went an just picked up. If you've got friends or someone you know, maybe you can have them pick it up early and save it for you.

 

[erure]

The stock might be in better shape by the time you get here. But yeah you could always try to price match at Best Buy.