Unlocked iPhone 6 now available through Apple

Apple is finally selling the SIM-free unlocked Apple iPhone 6 and the Apple iPhone 6 Plus through its retail outlets and online store. The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus was first launched back in September in the US, and was made available on contract through Verizon, AT&T and Sprint. The T-Mobile variant was sold through Apple at its full retail price.

The SIM-free iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus costs the same as the  T-Mobile variants:

	16 GB	32 GB	64GB
iPhone 6	$649	$749	$849
iPhone 6 Plus	$749	$849	$949

While the T-Mobile variant comes with the carrier's SIM card, it too is essentially unlocked, and can be used on any GSM carrier. This means, T-Mobile customers have two-unlocked iPhone models to choose from.

What is the difference between the Unlocked T-Mobile and SIM Free iPhone 6 / iPhone 6 Plus

The main difference lies in the bands which both the handsets support, and it can end up affecting your buying decision for which model you would want to go for.For starters, there’s one model each of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus for both T-Mobile and the SIM-free versions. They are as follows:

T-Mobile

• iPhone 6 (model A1549)
• iPhone 6 Plus (model A1522)

SIM-Free

• iPhone 6 (model A1586)
• iPhone 6 Plus (model A1524)

The model of your iPhone 6 or 6 Plus is written behind the box in which the device comes in.

Unlocked iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus for T-Mobile

• The T-Mobile variant of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus features bands which are more specific to the United States, therefore the handset will work just fine with most 4G LTE networks there.
• The T-Mobile version of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus won’t work with China’s advanced TD-LTE network, so if you plan on going to China, getting the T-Mobile version isn’t a good idea.
• This model comes with T-Mobile’s SIM card pre-installed, and it’s the best option to go for if you’re in the United States or plan to stick with the carrier as your daily runner.
• T-Mobile’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will also work with most 4G LTE networks around the world, but it’s first always good to check which bands are supported by your network before you make the purchase.

T-Mobile’s unlocked iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus will work with the following carriers in the United States with full support for 4G LTE:

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

The bands and networks supported by the T-Mobile iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are as follows:

• iPhone 6 GSM [ Model A1549]
  
  • GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
  • UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29)
• iPhone 6 CDMA [ Model A1549]
  
  • CDMA EV-DO Rev.A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
  • UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29)

• iPhone 6 Plus GSM [ Model A1522 ]
  
  • GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
  • UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29)
• iPhone 6 Plus CDMA [ Model A1522]
  
  • CDMA EV-DO Rev.A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
  • UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29)

SIM-free iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus

The SIM-free variant of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus is the one which is tailored to be used pretty much anywhere in the world, with compatibility for 4G LTE capable carriers in various nations.
This model also works on China’s advanced TD-LTE and TD-SCDMA networks, so you can rest assured that all the necessary bands are there when you get hold of the device.
The SIM-free iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus may not offer full compatibility with carriers in the United States, therefore you might be restricted to 2G or 3G on some popular networks.
Unlike the T-Mobile version of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, the SIM-free variant does not come with any SIM card out of the box, and you have to purchase it separately.

The carriers supported by the SIM-free models in the United States are as follows:

• Appalachian Wireless
• Bluegrass Cellular
• Boost
• C Spire
• Cellcom
• Chariton Valley
• Chat Mobility
• Defense Mobile
• MobileNation
• Nex-Tech
• NorthwestCell
• nTelos
• Pioneer Cellular
• Sprint
• STRATA Networks
• Syringa
• Thumb Cellular
• United Wireless
• US Cellular

The bands and networks supported by the SIM-free iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus are as follows:

• iPhone 6 [ Model A1586]
  
  • GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
  • UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • CDMA EV-DO Rev.A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A)
  • FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29)
  • TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41)

• iPhone 6 Plus [ Model A1524]
  
  • GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
  • UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • CDMA EV-DO Rev.A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
  • TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A)
  • FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29)
  • TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41)

Conclusion

Essentially, if you are a frequent traveller, you should select the SIM-free model of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. This will support all the necessary bands worldwide, but will have some limitations when it comes to carriers in the United States. Interestingly the unlocked model supports Sprint's bands in the U.S.

If you are living in the U.S., you can select the Unlocked iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. This model can be used with most major U.S. carriers, including Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile.



source - Apple