whats the difference between the uk and us versions of the new iphone 5

Lots. The US iPhone is not sold unlocked as yet and you have to purchase it with a choice of 3 carriers - phone companies. You need to set up a contract with them before purchasing. The LTE frequencies on the US iPhone will only work in North America and not in the UK and then warranty issues. If purchased in the US, then only a US warranty.

The UK iPhone is sold unlocked, but will be expensive due to this, so you would have to pay £699 for an iPhone 64GB. It is also set up to work with the LTE frequencies in the UK and also warranty issues.

Main differences are really locked and unlocked and also LTE - if you purchase in the US, then it won't work in the UK and vice versa and also the warranties - they are not international warranties with the iPhone as with other Apple products.

It looks to us like Apple Care+ is only available in the US, not in the UK. Apple Care + covers for accidental option. I really want that!

Thanks to other posters who have clarified that LTE compatibility in the US does not mean LTE compatibility in the UK. Our situation is that we have in the US for part of every year and in the UK for part of the year so our phone must be unlocked, provide good service in the UK with a UK sim and good service in the US with a US sim.

Anyone have any information on Apple Care + coming to the UK?

Anyone have any information about when the US will be offering an unlocked iphone 5?

Anyone know what EE plans will be offered in the UK?

Anyone know what US plans will be pay as you go/no contract so that we can go to the US for a month, use the service there, and then return to the UK for a few months and use EE?

Would be very grateful for help with the above, as the Apple rep I talked to yesterday was obviously not knowledgeable. "The iphone 5 is new. We don't know a lot about it." Der. Sounded like a SAturday Night live skit of an Apple rep.

The answer to ALL your questions is that no one here knows (or can say) anything that Apple hasn't publicly announced, and everything they announce is on their website. There are no iPhone PAYG plans announced in the US by any carriers.

"Plain" AppleCare will still make the warranty international. Don't most carriers in the UK offer accidental damage insurance plans?

The answer to my question is a little more complicated than that. For instance, http://www.techradar.com/news/phone-and-communications/mobile-phones/4g-and-lte- everything-you-need-to-know-926835 provides information about US and UK LTE. What I'm looking for is a savvy world traveler who is waiting for an iphone 5 that will be full service in both countries. Once I find that person(s) I hope to maintain communication so that we can share each other's detective work.

What I'm looking for is a savvy world traveler who is waiting for an iphone 5 that will be full service in both countries.

You'll be waiting in vain, because there is no such iPhone 5, and never will be. Current chips can't support all the possible frequency bands in a single radio and there isn't enough room for multiple radios. Maybe iPhone 6, 7, or 8?

LTE band compatibilty. UK and US cariers use different bands.

Please turn off your caps lock when posting. All caps is difficult to read, and considerd as SHOUTING and rude.

When the US unlocked model is available, which likely will be coming shortly, the ONLY difference will be the LTE bands. If AppleCare is purchased, the warranty becomes international.