iPhone 5 pricing question

Hi there everybody

I'm writing to you to ask you something about iPhone 5. I'm Spanish but I've got a friend who is going to the US before Christmas and I want to buy an unlocked iPhone 5. The thing is, here in Spain they cost 669€ (16BG). I've read a few forums saying the iPhone 5 there costs around $649, but I haven't been able to confirm it (they aren't shown on US apple webpage). On the other hand people some people say it's $649 + VAT while others say nothing about VAT. Could you tell me the exact price and whether I could buy it at an apple store UNLOCKED?

Also I would love to know if it would work here (I think there are 3 different kind of models, and while one would work the other two wouldn't…)

If you could help me out it would be great!

And thank you all in advance for your help!!

iphone5 please help

asked Nov 21 '12 at 01:38

Champ84
1●1●1●1

edited Nov 21 '12 at 17:56

Fogarty ♦♦
11.7k●12●27●38

2 Answers:

oldest newest most voted

I can't answer you on the pricing, cause I'm definitely sure it's $649, but I am not sure if that includes VAT. I can however, answer whether it'll work or not. The answer is simply depends. There is 3 versions on the iPhone, one a CDMA version, and 2 GSM version. It might be, oh no big deal I just get a GSM version right? Wrong. iPhone 5 GSM A1428 supports LTE on bands 4 and 17, which is what most US and Canadian carriers use if I'm not wrong. Then, there's the GSM A1429 variant, which will be mostly for the global market supporting bands 1, 3 and 5.

You're going to have to check with your local carrier to find out what bands are their LTE service uses (If any). Or you can just find out which model is sold in Spain and get the same variant.

Hope I help :)

answered Nov 22 '12 at 02:58

AlphaMike
871●43●48●65

Alpha, there's 2 CDMA versions and 1 GSM version in the US. CDMA= Sprint, Verizon (smaller carriers like Cricket, Virgin, Boost, etc.) GSM is just AT&T, and smaller carriers (no T-Mobile YET, but it's a good alternative because more and more cities are getting their 3G bands on for iPhone use.) If he really wanted a phone he could take anywhere, he should think about buying it in Mexico or Canada (if he can get there).

(Nov 22 '12 at 11:53) DJ Scooby Doo

Is that really? well my bad. I guess I read wrong :/ hha gotta re check my sources.

(Nov 22 '12 at 12:26) AlphaMike

Haha, it happens to all of us. I mean when I buy my iPhones, I buy them out of the US for the reason that it's usually cheaper and they're unlocked right out of the box. Since I don't buy iPhones anymore, it's not the case for me usually but I just like the international versions of phones better :)

(Nov 22 '12 at 13:01) DJ Scooby Doo

Well, in the case of my next phone, which I have decided to get the Nexus 4, it's cheaper to buy it in the US than in Indonesia, where I am. The mark up the Nexus 4 will have when released here is around $200-300. I'd rather get it in the US and consolidate it with a weekly shipment down here! hha

Maybe, but some international versions have different specifications, I believe the Galaxy S3 is like that.

(Nov 22 '12 at 13:22) AlphaMike

Yeah, I think all the Samsung phones are like that. For example yeah the S3 and the Note 2 are three different animals from the US version, International, and the Korean versions.

(Nov 22 '12 at 14:13) DJ Scooby Doo

0	Thank you very much!! You helped me indeed!! answered Nov 22 '12 at 10:59 Champ84 1●1●1●1

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