iPhone XS Difference between T-Mobile and SIM-free iPhone XS?

[matthew23]

I have T-Mobile and my Apple store only had the SIM free iPhone XS max. The rep told me there should be no difference between that and the T-Mobile version of the XS Max so I got the SIM free version. Will the SIM free version support the new bands, etc that I have been reading about in T-Mobile that the iPhone now supports? Any difference in the antennas or software that connects to T-mobile? I just want to make sure I’ll get the same performance out of the SIM free version on t-mobile.

Thanks!!!

 

[Agent OrangeZ]

No difference this year. All iPhones have identical hardware except in China. The only difference is that there is no T-Mobile SIM in your box.

 

[seezar]

It's the same exact phone. You should be good.

 

[matthew23]

Great, thanks so much! What is the advantage to ever getting the T-mobile version then?

 

[tgi]

Great, thanks so much! What is the advantage to ever getting the T-mobile version then?

It comes pre-loaded with a T-Mobile sim, that's it.

 

[matthew23]

Cool, thanks.

 

[tgi]

Also the sim free versions have to be paid in full, the carrier ones can be financed through the carrier or Apple directly.

 

[matthew23]

Also the sim free versions have to be paid in full, the carrier ones can be financed through the carrier or Apple directly.

I actually got the SIM free version through Apple's IUP program...they made have added the SIM free version to the program this year?

 

[tgi]

Hmm not sure, but when you look at sim free versions on Apple.com it only allows you to pay in full or do special financing with Barclays. It doesn't even show the breakdown of monthly payments like it does on the carrier versions.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I actually got the SIM free version through Apple's IUP program...they made have added the SIM free version to the program this year?

How do you know you got the SIM-free model? What does the back of the iPhone box look like?

 

[matthew23]

Nope, this is unlocked. My receipt says "iPhone Unlocked" but the box does not give any indication of it being unlocked or for any specific carrier. Should the box say something?

If it helps, I initially got an iPhone XS through the iUP for T-Mobile at Apple.com. I decided I wanted the Max and exchanged it today but, as stated above, they did not have a T-Mobile version, only the SIM free version.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Nope, this is unlocked. My receipt says "iPhone Unlocked" but the box does not give any indication of it being unlocked or for any specific carrier. Should the box say something?

If it helps, I initially got an iPhone XS through the iUP for T-Mobile at Apple.com. I decided I wanted the Max and exchanged it today but, as stated above, they did not have a T-Mobile version, only the SIM free version.

If that is what the receipt says, you should be good to go.

 

[matthew23]

If that is what the receipt says, you should be good to go.

Do you think they screwed up? I saw that they had SIM free versions online before I went there and when I got there, I explained to the guy that I wanted to exchange my XS for the XS Max SIM free version as that's what it showed they had in stock. The guys said cool, put in my reservation and then brought the phone out and we did the exchange. He had to run my credit again and approve for the new IUP and then cancelled the old one once everything went through.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Do you think they screwed up? I saw that they had SIM free versions online before I went there and when I got there, I explained to the guy that I wanted to exchange my XS for the XS Max SIM free version as that's what it showed they had in stock. The guys said cool, put in my reservation and then brought the phone out and we did the exchange. He had to run my credit again and approve for the new IUP and then cancelled the old one once everything went through.

No, I don't think they screwed up. You should be fine.

 

[matthew23]

So, here's what I just found out from another thread - you can by a SIM free version through the IUP program BUT is has to be activated through a carrier at the store. They gave me a new T-mobile SIM card and activated it at the store. I guess they don't want people buying SIM free versions without activating them...

 

[BeeGood]

So, here's what I just found out from another thread - you can by a SIM free version through the IUP program BUT is has to be activated through a carrier at the store. They gave me a new T-mobile SIM card and activated it at the store. I guess they don't want people buying SIM free versions without activating them...

Hmmm. If you buy a SIM free phone outright they won’t make you activate it. My hunch is that it’s an extra step to insure that you’re keeping the phone yourself and not selling it (which is odd given the fact that IUP is effectively an unsecured loan).

 

[matthew23]

Hmmm. If you buy a SIM free phone outright they won’t make you activate it. My hunch is that it’s an extra step to insure that you’re keeping the phone yourself and not selling it (which is odd given the fact that IUP is effectively an unsecured loan).

Probably, it forces you to come in the store to use the IUP for a SIM free phone whereas if you buy online you have to pay full price and can then do whatever you wants with the phone and there is no loan...

 

[Jumpie]

No difference this year. All iPhones have identical hardware except in China. The only difference is that there is no T-Mobile SIM in your box.

One other difference, there is no SIM ejector unless I missed it

 

[matthew23]

One other difference, there is no SIM ejector unless I missed it

Yep! There’s one in there. In the paperwork.

 

[Jumpie]

Yep! There’s one in there. In the paperwork.

I never opened it