SIM-Free iPhone X Now Available From Apple Online Store in the United States - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

SIM-Free iPhone X Now Available From Apple Online Store in the United States

by

Starting today, Apple is offering a SIM-free version of the iPhone X from its online store in the United States, allowing customers to buy an unlocked iPhone without choosing a carrier.

SIM-free versions of the iPhone X in all capacities list the same ~one week delivery estimate available for other iPhone X devices. SIM-free iPhone X models ordered today will arrive on December 12.

applesimfree

SIM-free iPhone X models will work with any carrier and have full support for both CDMA and GSM networks, much like the Sprint and Verizon versions of the new smartphone. iPhone X models from AT&T and T-Mobile do not support CDMA networks and are not compatible with Sprint or Verizon.

Since iPhone X pre-orders kicked off on October 27, Apple has only allowed customers to buy an iPhone X with an AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon SIM, though models purchased in full are listed as unlocked. At launch, Apple was requiring carrier pre-activation to make an iPhone X purchase, but that requirement was lifted in mid-November.

It's been possible to get the equivalent of a SIM-free unlocked iPhone X ordering a Verizon model and paying full price, but now there is an official SIM-free version.

Now that SIM-free iPhone X models are available, Apple is will also soon allow its employees to purchase the iPhone X through the internal employee site at a discount.

Related Forum: iPhone

Top Rated Comments

JPack Avatar
JPack
109 months ago
What was the reason for NOT allowing SIM free iphones? Could buy them from day one in Canada.
SIM-free = Qualcomm only

Apple probably had volume commitments to Intel. Most consumers would prefer not to get the crippled Intel version if they had a choice.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
citysnaps
109 months ago
Excellent. That's what I was waiting for!
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JPack Avatar
JPack
109 months ago
Question. Can you purchase an unlocked iphone X and activate it WITHOUT signing up to a carrier? I travel internationally a lot, and have a travel blog. I want to use the iphone X as my travel camera. I'd like to use wifi only...but then occassionally pop in a sim when i am overseas. It may sound odd, but i don't want to join any carrier service.

Another question...i also have a grandfathered unlimited ATT data plan for my iPad. Can i pop out that sim and put it into an iphone X? Just wondering.
Yes.

The rest of the world does this. They purchase a SIM-free unlocked phone and use it with whatever carrier and whenever they like. No commitments.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
jcshas
109 months ago
Isn't this essentially the same as buying the Verizon iPhone X, without a contract? I did and activated mine on AT&T.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thadoggfather Avatar
thadoggfather
109 months ago
I simply bought the T-Mobile version on launch day, it's basically like the SIM free iPhone.
You can make it sim free , just remove the included sim and you’re free !

:P
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
R
Rigby
109 months ago
So if you plan to use AT&T as a carrier, do you think you are better off sticking with the GSM version? Sounds like CDMA will work, but if GSM is the better network, I can't understand why people would forgoe a better network just for a chipset.
Attempting to clarify this a bit:

- When people talk about GSM today, they really mean 3GPP standards; GSM was the 2G 3GPP standard, today only 3G and LTE/4G are relevant (AT&T has in fact decomissioned GSM a while ago)

- AT&T has used 3GPP standards from the beginnning, from GSM over 3G to LTE/4G. Verizon originally used a different standard (often called CDMA, although that is really a more general term), but they are now migrating their networks to 3GPP standards as well (LTE/4G and in a few years 5G). They are in the process of decomissioning their CDMA network.

- The modem chips used in the current Verizon iPhones support a superset of the functionality of the ones in AT&T phones. Verizon phones support both 3GPP and CDMA networks, while AT&T phones only support 3GPP. So, you can use the Verizon version everywhere were you can use the AT&T version, plus on CDMA networks. In that regard it is a superior phone. But soon that advantage will be irrelevant since CDMA is becoming less and less important (at least in the US).
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments