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Apple's iPhone 5 is Now Available Unlocked

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Apple's iPhone 5 is now available unlocked (but it'll cost you).

Late yesterday evening, word got out that Apple was to start selling its iPhone 5 smartphone unlocked in the United States. Sure enough, the option to purchase the iPhone 5 off-contract cropped up on Apple's website sometime last night.


Those shopping on Apple's website should now see the option to buy an unlocked iPhone 5 right underneath the carrier selection step in the purchasing process. Pricing is as was rumored yesterday. It ranges from $649, $749, and $849 for the 16 GB, 32 GB, and 64 GB models, respectively. Still no word on when the unlocked version of the iPhone 5 will arrive at retail stores, though 9to5Mac says stock is already arrived at stores, so we imagine it won't be long.

If unlocked isn't your thing, yesterday also brought news that the iPhone 5 is now in stock on Apple's website and that the waiting times for online orders have improved.

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24 Comments Comment from the forums
  • fyend
    Pass. I'll stick with my S3.
    Reply
  • masterasia
    Why would anyone want to pay that kind of money for a phone?????? I know people in the UK do, but the people here in the US buy most of their phones with the 2-year contract. That's why I'm thankful for the Nexus line. You get a better phone at 1/3 of the price of an iPhone. Just in case you didn't know, the Nexus 4 has a disabled LTE chip which can be turned on pretty easily.......but only in Canada will it work. It should work for AT&T and T-Mobile next year.
    Reply
  • atminside
    "the unlocked iPhone only works on supported GSM networks, such as AT&T in the U.S. When you travel internationally, you can also use a micro-SIM card for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S or a nano-SIM card for iPhone 5 from a local GSM carrier. The unlocked iPhone will not work with CDMA carriers such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint. Limit two per customer. Learn more about the unlocked iPhone"
    --Straight from apple website.

    Notice how it only applies to GSM carriers and not CDMA. Therefore the "unlocked" needs to be further explained in this article.
    Reply
  • bllue
    Seems like a ripoff
    Reply
  • samwelaye
    atminside"the unlocked iPhone only works on supported GSM networks, such as AT&T in the U.S. When you travel internationally, you can also use a micro-SIM card for iPhone 4 and iPhone 4S or a nano-SIM card for iPhone 5 from a local GSM carrier. The unlocked iPhone will not work with CDMA carriers such as Verizon Wireless or Sprint. Limit two per customer. Learn more about the unlocked iPhone"--Straight from apple website.Notice how it only applies to GSM carriers and not CDMA. Therefore the "unlocked" needs to be further explained in this article.
    This is always what unlocked has meant... I dont see what needs to be explained
    Reply
  • eternalkp
    $649, what a deal. :P
    too bad i already ordered my Nexus 4 for $349
    Reply
  • thats because your stay at home mother, is a whore. and gets gangbanged by 50 guys in 4 weeks, in the computer chair.
    Reply
  • zzz_b
    You are still locked in the Apple echosystem.
    No thanks!
    Reply
  • icemunk
    It amazes me that people still buy this phone. It's so ugly...
    Reply
  • What I think is really funny is how the 5 will be outdated in just 6 months by the 5S and people about to buy one for Christmas and into next Spring dont have a clue...lol
    Reply