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Apple now selling SIM-free unlocked iPhone 6 and 6 Plus in the US, from $649

As we reported yesterday, Apple is now selling contract-free iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus in retail stores and online. Following historic pattern, the 16 GB base model iPhone 6 costs $649 with higher tiers costing $100 extra. The iPhone 6 Plus starts at $749.

Unlocked iPhones can be activated for use any carrier, AT&T, Sprint, Verizon or T-Mobile. Apple usually launches unlocked models of their phones a couple of months after normal debut, but this year it seems slightly delayed. This may reflect continued strong demand (and hence, low supply) of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus generation. Unlocked iPhone 6 and 6 Plus ship in 3 – 5 business days. For comparison, most subsidised options ship in 1 business day.

Apple sold a record ten million phones in the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus opening weekend, a remarkable achievement that Tim Cook described as being ‘way up’ year-on-year. Apple will report full-quarter iPhone sales numbers on 27th January, in its earnings call for the holiday quarter. Revenue is forecast to exceed $63.5 billion dollars.

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Comments

  1. 89p13 - 10 years ago

    “The existence of contract-free iPhones is a bit of weird concept anyway, as buying a T-Mobile iPhone from the website effectively yields the same result as an unlocked device. It doesn’t come with a T-Mobile SIM by default, though.”

    How I always buy my iPhones – unlocked and contract free. But everytime I’ve done this, there was a T-Mobile SIM installed in the phone – which makes me wish Apple still provided the SIM tray tool with iPhones.

    I’m guessing that this is Apple’s one concession to their carriers in the US – Delay the unlocked phones?

    • proudappleuser - 10 years ago

      What you bought the. Was a T-Mobile device only iPhone which is unlocked.

      Also, in the article it said that these iPhones can be activated on Verizon. Has this been confirmed because when I tried to put a factory unlocked iPhone 5s on Verizon last year it was impossible. Thanks.

      • Zac Hall - 10 years ago

        I had to double check myself, from Apple.com: “You can activate and use the unlocked iPhone on the supported wireless network of your choice, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, or Sprint in the United States.”

      • chrisl84 - 10 years ago

        Following up on Zac’s comment, while Apples website does say the statement he quoted, in small print at the bottom it also reads “An unlocked iPhone may be activated on supported GSM carrier networks. ” So the page seems to be contradictory.

    • philboogie - 10 years ago

      You don’t get the LM SIM Ejection Tool with an iPhone in the US? Wow, that’s…weird.

  2. brabauer - 10 years ago

    According to http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

    The unlocked iphone 6/6plus A1586/A1524 does not support verizon

    • Alexander Maltsev - 10 years ago

      That’s interesting. AT&T and T-Mobile are also not on that list, but those are GSM carriers and I already tested them on both unlocked iPhone 6 and 6 Plus and both carriers are working fine on LTE network. Looks like Apple has some contradictory information on their site.

    • The small print on apples site indicates that they do.

      “Models A1586 and A1524 also support LTE networks listed for models A1549 and A1522.”

      Supported LTE Networks

      Aio
      Alaska Communications
      AT&T
      Consumer Cellular
      Cricket
      Family Mobile
      GCI
      Net 10
      Straight Talk
      T-Mobile
      Union Wireless
      Verizon

  3. proedgebiker - 10 years ago

    If I buy one of these and use it with Sprint, will it be stuck with sprint forever?

    • brabauer - 10 years ago

      No,

      Being that it is unlocked you can take it to any carrier provided you have the proper SIM card for them.

Author

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Benjamin Mayo

Benjamin develops iOS apps professionally and covers Apple news and rumors for 9to5Mac. Listen to Benjamin, every week, on the Happy Hour podcast. Check out his personal blog. Message Benjamin over email or Twitter.


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