Customers in the US can now purchase iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus handsets unlocked and SIM-free from Apple’s retail and online stores. Yesterday, 9to5Mac reported that Apple would begin offering SIM-free version of the latest iPhone models on January 6th and that information has now been proven to be accurate.
The base model, 16GB iPhone 6, starts at $649 with prices increasing by $100 per storage increase. iPhone 6 Plus prices start $100 higher than that of the iPhone 6 at $749, again increasing by $100 with each higher capacity storage option.
Unlocked iPhones purchased through Apple can be used on any network — AT&T, Verizon, Sprint or T-Mobile. Prior to today, Apple had made available T-Mobile iPhones that were unlocked and not bound by a contract which were usable on any network, albeit arriving with a T-Mo SIM installed.
Judging by the differing model numbers, the new SIM-free iPhone 6 and 6 Plus models are capable of supporting more LTE bands with better international carrier compatibility than the unlocked T-Mo versions.
Apple usually makes unlocked, SIM-free models available soon after launch but has waited slightly longer with the current crop of iPhones, perhaps due to the strong demand for the handsets.
Interestingly, unlocked, SIM-free models are showing 3-5 business day shipping estimates with most carrier-locked versions being available the following day.
Outside of the US, it is common practice for SIM-free iPhones to be available on launch day. In the UK, for example, you could buy an unlocked iPhone 6 up front without a contract from the first day of availability.
Have you been waiting for unlocked and SIM-free iPhones 6 and 6 Plus? Will you be grabbing one now that they are available in store and online? Let us know in the comments below!
