Carrier Will T-Mobile Unlocked 5s work outside the US?

[FIVE86]

On the Apple Online Store they have the unlocked iPhone 5c in two options T-Mobile Unlocked and Sim-Free. I'm assuming the sim-free one will work with local carriers when I am abroad.

But for the iPhone 5s they have only one option, unlocked T-Mobile. It will ship with a T-Mobile sim card and there is no Sim-Free option. If I purchase the T-Mobile unlocked on September 20th will I be able to use it with local carriers abroad. I travel a lot therefore I need an iPhone that works with local carriers when I move from country to country.

Any thoughts?

 

[yeah]

T-Mobile will offer the GSM versions of the 5S and 5C.

 

[Truefan31]

I'm getting 3 5s with tmobile. Getting employee plans but gotta pay for phone outright. So there's about 2000 right there....then the tmobile ipad 5, about 3 grand lol

 

[FIVE86]

Activation

If I buy the unlocked T-Mobile iPhone 5s from the online apple store and swap the t-mobile sim with another country's sim card. Will it activate out of the box?

 

[yeah]

If I buy the unlocked T-Mobile iPhone 5s from the online apple store and swap the t-mobile sim with another country's sim card. Will it activate out of the box?

Yep, since it is unlocked.

 

[FIVE86]

Yep, since it is unlocked.

Thank you

 

[FIVE86]

Sim-Free

Any idea why there is no Sim-Free option for the iPhone 5S?

 

[CEmajr]

Any idea why there is no Sim-Free option for the iPhone 5S?

The unlocked T-Mobile option is the exact SAME as the Sim-Free option except it just comes with a T-Mobile sim card. If you have no need for T-Mobile then just toss the sim card. The phone is unlocked.

Traditionally in the US, Apple has chosen not to offer the unlocked iPhone until a couple of months after launch, most likely to push as many sales through the carriers as possible. T-Mobile now offering the iPhone has made it so that this is the first launch where an unlocked iPhone can be purchased Day 1.

 

[617aircav]

I'm getting 3 5s with tmobile. Getting employee plans but gotta pay for phone outright. So there's about 2000 right there....then the tmobile ipad 5, about 3 grand lol

Huh

 

[FIVE86]

Huh

lol...ignore

 

[barkomatic]

The unlocked T-Mobile option is the exact SAME as the Sim-Free option except it just comes with a T-Mobile sim card. If you have no need for T-Mobile then just toss the sim card. The phone is unlocked.

Traditionally in the US, Apple has chosen not to offer the unlocked iPhone until a couple of months after launch, most likely to push as many sales through the carriers as possible. T-Mobile now offering the iPhone has made it so that this is the first launch where an unlocked iPhone can be purchased Day 1.

Doesn't the sim free version have a different model number than the unlocked T-mobile version though? I believe I read that somewhere on Apple's web page.

I may be completely wrong, but I had heard the sim free version will be compatible with more overseas LTE networks.

 

[FIVE86]

found something

Doesn't the sim free version have a different model number than the unlocked T-mobile version though? I believe I read that somewhere on Apple's web page.

I may be completely wrong, but I had heard the sim free version will be compatible with more overseas LTE networks.

So I found this on their site:

Purchasing an unlocked iPhone means you will not qualify for the lower iPhone price associated with a contract. The unlocked iPhone 5c model is A1532 (GSM). The unlocked iPhone 5s model is A1533 (GSM).

And under where the Unlocked and Contract free model it says:

If you buy iPhone for T-Mobile, it will arrive with a nano-SIM card already installed that you can activate by visiting an Apple Retail Store or a T-Mobile store or by calling T-Mobile. When you travel internationally, you can use a nano-SIM card for iPhone 5s from a local GSM carrier. The unlocked iPhone 5s model is A1533 (GSM).

From that I assume that the T-Mobile Unlocked and contract free is A1533 which matches what I found previously.

The unlocked T-Mobile option is the exact SAME as the Sim-Free option except it just comes with a T-Mobile sim card. If you have no need for T-Mobile then just toss the sim card. The phone is unlocked.

So yeah I think this confirmed what CEmajr said ^