wil iphone 5s A1533. T-mobile unlocked version from US. work in india?

Hello All,

Here's my experience. I purchased two T-Mobile iPhone 5s phones from the online Apple store. I brought them to India for someone and they both worked without a hitch with a Vodafone (India) SIM card. Both the phones had T-Mobile SIM cards pre-installed. Before we turned the phones on, we first removed the T-Mobile SIM cards, then inserted the Vodafone SIMs. The phones did not have to be connected to iTunes to activate.

As for LTE compatibility, Apple's website lists only ONE model number for phones used on AT&T and T-Mobile - Model A1533 (GSM) (http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/). This phone lists several LTE bands. It seems, therefore, that both AT&T and T-Mobile phones are likely the same and support the same LTE bands. The only benefit of purchasing a T-Mobile 5s from Apple's online store is that T-Mobile phones are unlocked (at least that's my personal experience). And Apple's website clearly says that "When you travel internationally, you can use a nano-SIM card for iPhone 5s from a local GSM carrier." That means that the T-Mobile iPhone 5s from Apple's online store is unlocked.

All AT&T quad-band and LTE unlocked phones work in India at the highest speeds available. I am personally using an AT&T Galaxy S4 (unlocked) on Vodafone and I have 4G (but not LTE) displaying on the phone in Mumbai. LTE hasn't yet arrived in Mumbai, at least not on any GSM-based carriers.

As for purchasing the 5s from a T-Mobile store or T-Mobile online, I have no experience. Whether those phones are carrier-locked or unlocked will have to be tested by someone before I can say for sure.

Hope that helps.

PerryK: The iphone 5S being sold by Airtel in India is model A1530. This model is same as being sold in many other south-east asian countries and it supports TD-LTE band 40 (2300 Mhz) amongst others (see the links below).

While you are right that there is very limited LTE network in India today (3-4 cities but coming to Delhi/Mumbai in a couple of months) but it is being built fast and when it does come up then the 5s bought in India will use the LTE network while the phones bought in US will not be able to take advantage of the LTE network.

http://shop.airtel.com/mobile/apple-iphone-5s/p-12032-53167859953-cat--0137341.h tml

http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

No. The unlocked iPhone sold in the US (which includes iPhones sold for use on T-Mobile in the US) Will NOT work on LTE networks outside of North America.

Re-phrasing the question in an attempt to get a different answer will not alter reality.

i got your point. so i mmust have to wait till its launch in india. but even apple doesnt know which lte bands are going to be use in india. as in india 4g takes lont time to enter.... and apple will launch its phone in couple of month in india. so then what apple will do?

Apple works with the carriers. The carriers work with the regulatory body in India. If they don't know, then it doesn't matter who the manufacturer is, no one can ensure that any device will work on LTE there.

Hi, Have you purchased iPhone5s from USA /.. Is it working in India..

I have also read a conversation with T-mobile representative, She is saying that if you buy iPhone5s from Apple Store , even the "one with contract free T Mobile" will come unlocked... But if you buy the same from T mobile Shop it will unlocked after 40 days using on the carrier...

http://support.t-mobile.com/thread/53661?start=0&tstart=0

Message was edited by: Sachin00020

Yes, Srikanth, it will work. Both Airtel and Vodafone use the 900 / 1800 MHz bands for their GSM service. Remember, though, LTE phones bought in the US from Apple will NOT work at LTE speeds in India. For one, there is very little LTE service in India. More importantly, though, India has decided to use TD-LTE and neither the T-Mobile nor AT&T iPhones have TD-LTE. Which raises an interesting question: will the iPhone 5s just released in India by Reliance work at LTE speeds? No, not the current ones being sold. They do not have TD-LTE.

Hope that helps.

Thank you so much PerryK for the response!

Are the iPhones you purchased are contractfree or unlocked models? We purchased a contract free model not unlocked.

Can you please clarify my doubt. If it works fine in India, I wil ask my friend to send it to me.

Srikanth,

As I also said in my previous posts, I purchased the phone directly from Apple's online store. Their site states that the 5s purchased there CAN be used with a SIM card in another country. So, theoretically (and practically), that phone is unlocked. That's the phone I would have your friend send you.

Its seems unlocked.. my mobile is with my friend and he activated the mobile with his t-mobile sim(not the pre installed sim) and he says its working fine.

I asked him to check with another carrier, Once he updates me, I ll post here

I am not sure if this helps any but the Verizon 5s comes with a SIM - card slot also and WORKS on a GSM network. The GSM side of the phone is UNLOCKED. That is, one can use the phone in India on any GSM network. It is likely that the phone MAY be usable on a CDMA network in India.

card*!!

No, telephone support only. If the phone actually malfunctions, you can't get replacement or service unless located in the USA. For iPhones sold in the USA, Apple won't accept shipments from or return to addresses outside the USA

Like I said in my earlier response to this question, yes, the TMobile 5s purchased from Apple's online store works in India with a local SIM card. The phone is SIM-unlocked. I already brought two phones and they work without a problem and have documented it in the forum.

You are absolutely correct, Abhi, and I am aware of the LTE band used in India. I have emphasized that in my previous comments. Yes, the T-Mobile phone will NOT be able to take advantage of LTE speeds in India. I suspect, though, people in India want to get a T-Mobile phone because it is cheaper than the iPhone in India. At about $680 after taxes, the rupee cost is about 42,300, vs. 53,500 at Airtel. Whether this Rs. 11,000 difference impacts the purchase decision in India remains to be seen. But, as to your original thought, yes, the current US iPhone 5s and 5c will not work at LTE speeds in India as they do not support the TD-LTE modes.