iPhone 11 Pro Max from Apple Upgrade Program ported from AT&T not recognized on Verizon

Its the same model number, which means its the same model. Model numbers are unique to specific models. Otherwise there's no way to tell a GSM only model from a CDMA+GSM model? The model number does that.

It would be very confusing to call the different models by the same model number.

When there's more than one model for CDMA and GSM its is specifically listed with a different model number.

Cellular and Wireless

iPhone 11 Pro - Technical Specifications

• Model A2160*
• FDD‑LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 66, 71)
• TD‑LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48)
• CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz)
• UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
• GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
• Model A2161*
• FDD‑LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 29, 30, 66, 71)
• TD‑LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48)
• CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900 MHz)
• UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
• GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

In the past some iPhones had been GSM only for one model number, and CDMA+GSM for another model number.

For the iPhone 11, it supports both.

campbellashe wrote:

It is a bit confusing to me. The above is from the apple website regarding specs for the iPhone 11 Pro & Pro Max. Not sure that the A2160 (CDMA) and A2160 (GSM) are actually physically different devices? Are they?

They aren't. Same device. As I said there would be no way to tell them apart if that were the case.

The model number is what identifies them, and has in the past identified them as GSM only or CDMA+GSM.

For example for the iPhone 7 Plus:

Cellular and Wireless

• Model A1661*
• FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
• TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41)
• TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A)
• CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900, 2100 MHz)
• UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
• GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
• Model A1784*
• FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30) 
• TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41)
• UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) 
• GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

Notice how Model A1784 lacks the CDMA info. That specific model did not support CDMA carriers like Verizon at all.

Also, after the iPhone 4, there has not been a CDMA only iPhone ever again.

If the iPhone is working with Verizon, then what's the problem? I'm confused now. Why does it matter if Verizon's system recognizes it as an iPhone specifically or not?

This is as usual an issue with Verizon specifically. Indeed iPhones from the Apple iPhone upgrade program are unlocked and can be used with any carrier.

Verizon however, has a history of having issues activating a device that was not sold for their network specifically because it may not appear in their database. This is an issue with Verizon only. Every other carrier can activate it just fine.

In most cases, escalating the issue to a higher Verizon Rep may get it resolved as they may be able to add the IMEI number to the DB so it validates.

The other option, is to get an LTE sim card from Verizon and use that to activate it, instead of going through Verizon directly. In some instances it is known that the LTE sim card applies the proper settings, and gets the phone correctly connected to Verizon's LTE network and can then correctly use the 3G network when necessary.

But yes, this is an issue with Verizon exclusively unfortunately. If you were to stick a sim card from any other carrier in the iPhone it would immediately work.

The problem is there are two models of the 11 series phones, one of them supports CDMA and the other does not. Go to Settings/General/About. If there is no MEID listed (the equivalent of IMEI for CDMA networks) then the phone can't support CDMA. It probably works because Verizon is now almost completely converted to LTE, but there are still some network locations using CDMA and some of their partner networks are still on CDMA. It has nothing to do with carrier locking; it's that the hardware of a phone sold to be used on AT&T is the non-CDMA model.

If the phone has an MEID it should be fully supported on Verizon; then it's a Verizon problem to solve.

Did you specifically buy a Watch from Verizon or one from Apple that was first used on Verizon? Verizon also has a problem with carry in Apple Watches that have been activated on another carrier, in your case AT&T. The only way you will get this solved is to go as many tiers up with Verizon as you can in order to get your iPhone situation resolved. You may not be able to solve your Watch problem and will end up having to sell yours and buy one through Verizon.

I think I can shed light on the OP's issue.

I bought an unlocked iPhone 11 Pro from Quality One Wireless. They are affiliated with Page Plus Cellular (Verizon MVNO) where I currently have an account and am using an iPhone 7.

When I received my new phone and Page Plus sim card I called Page Plus to activate my phone. They entered the phone's IMEI number into their system and then told me the phone could not be activated since it is not compatible with Verizon.

This morning I traded email with a support tech at Quality One Wireless. He said that Apple and Verizon are working to fix this problem regarding IMEI numbers of unlocked iPhones and it should be fixed in a few days.

BTW, my iPhone 11 Pro does have an MEID # so I know it can do CDMA if it needs to fall back to that protocol.

This chaos related to IMEI's of unlocked iPhones is not surprising since this is the first time that Apple has made unlocked phones available on day 1 of a new model being released.

I did take the Page Plus sim card out of my iPhone 7 and put it into my iPhone 11 Pro. My new phone works fine 100%. However, I have informed Quality One Wireless that I will be returning the phone and expecting a 100% refund if Verizon and Apple are unable to sort out this IMEI issue within the next few days.

You did nothing wrong. Its mostly Verizon's inability to activate devices not specifically sold for their network. Its been an ongoing issue with them for many years.

As to the Watch issue, as deggie points out, you will need to escalate it with Verizon as high up as it takes.

Apple can't really do anything if the watches are working fine, can be activated on any other carrier, and the only issue is specifically with Verizon when the MEIDs are not in there database unfortunately.

If the iPhone is working correctly on their service, then they need to actually step up and work out the issue with the watch activation. escalation with Verizon support will be the only way to get he watch activated with them.

That is not correct. The iPhone 11 models support both CDMA and GSM. Model 2160 for North America is the only one for iPhone 11 Pro, and 2161 for Pro Max.

Your image shows 2 models: A2160(CDMA) and A2160(GSM). That implies that they are two different models, and with other model phones it certainly meant that they were different phones.