unlocked iphone 6 in japan

"SIM-free" is different from "unlocked".

Nothing has changed ......

Apple sells unlocked phones configured for CDMA or GSM

There is only one kind of unlocked phone and country unlocked phones do not exist.

Anyway, the sim free phones that the Japanese Apple store is selling are NOT unlocked. Sim free and unlocked are NOT the same thing and unlocked phones are not available in Japan - they are all carrier locked and Japanese carriers will not unlock phones.

It is correct that other Apple online stores sell unlocked phones, but if you want one of those you will have to go to the country - if you live in Japan then you can only use the Apple online store in Japan, they will not ship outside the country of origin.

Apple stores and SoftBank reps in Tokyo have confirmed that the SIM-free iPhone 6 sold in Japan will work with SIMs from other carriers in other countries. As widely reported, the lines at JP Apple Stores on launch day were packed with buyers from China. A lot of Japanese iPhone 6s will be used on Chinese networks with Chinese SIMs.

Perhaps. Until the error in the database is discovered and fixed, and they become useless.

Expecting this to work is a mistake. Until and unless it is announced that Apple sells unlocked iPhones in Japan, buying one based on that information alone is just plain stupid.

China case study aside, Apple Store and SoftBank reps in Tokyo have directly confirmed that the SIM-free iPhone 6 sold in Japan will work with SIMs from other carriers in other countries. That is the clearest information you are going to get.

No. The clearest information you will get will be a statement from Apple that unlocked iPhones are available in Japan All you have is a statement from a (possibly commissioned) sales person trying to get you to fork out money for a phone with a near zero chance that you will be able to return it by the time you find out it won't work.

Hello.

I have called Apple Japan (not the store, Apple itself) and they have confirmed that iPhones 6s sold on their online shop are all compatible for foreign SIM cards.

That's nice for you. When you can find that documented by Apple, please post a link.

Will you be happy if I post pictures of my iPhone 6+ straight for Japan working with two different South Korean carriers? 😉

No. I honestly don't care. But since Apple has explicitly said that they do not sell unlocked iPhones in Japan, you really need to stop spreading what amounts to rumors that directly contradict Apple's stated policies.

I am not really sure where people heard that Japanese iPhone's are "locked" even though they are SIM-Free. But I just wanted to let you guys know that today I bought a 6 Plus from Tokyo Apple store, SIM-Free, and I asked if it would work with my USA SIM card. The guy said yes. Well, I got home and plugged in my T-Mobile SIM, and it does work. I am roaming (free of charge) under T-Mobile. Previously, I had this SIM card in my iPhone 5S (unlocked and bought in the USA).

I also have a Japanese pre-paid SIM that also works on my new 6 Plus. So "unlocked" or not, I just wanted to let you people know that my SIM-Free Japanese iPhone 6 Plus works on my Tmobile SIM card!

On the Japanese Apple iPhone 6 buying page, there is a FAQ at the bottom with this question:

http://store.apple.com/jp/buy-iphone/iphone6

国外でもiPhoneを使えますか？

はい。iPhoneは世界中のGSM方式の通信事業者ネットワークで使用できます。Apple Online Storeで販売しているiPhoneはSIMロックが解除されているため、旅行先の通信事業者からSIMカードとサービスを購入すれば利用することがで きます。もしくは、現在お使いの通信事業者による国際ローミングを利用する方法もあります。国際ローミング料金については通信事業者にお問い合わせくださ い。

The translation of this can be found on the same page for the UK page for instance (the US page is different):

http://store.apple.com/uk/buy-iphone/iphone6

Can I use my iPhone outside my home country?

Yes. iPhone is enabled to work on networks using GSM around the world. Because the iPhone sold by the Apple Online Store is unlocked, you can purchase a SIM card and service from a local carrier at your destination. Or check with your home carrier regarding international roaming charges.

So, does this count as a reliable source?

Great!!

I'll trust in you and will buy the iphone in japan too.

Thanks a lot

eltonjpt wrote:

I am not really sure where people heard that Japanese iPhone's are "locked" even though they are SIM-Free. But I just wanted to let you guys know that today I bought a 6 Plus from Tokyo Apple store, SIM-Free, and I asked if it would work with my USA SIM card. The guy said yes. Well, I got home and plugged in my T-Mobile SIM, and it does work. I am roaming (free of charge) under T-Mobile. Previously, I had this SIM card in my iPhone 5S (unlocked and bought in the USA).

I also have a Japanese pre-paid SIM that also works on my new 6 Plus. So "unlocked" or not, I just wanted to let you people know that my SIM-Free Japanese iPhone 6 Plus works on my Tmobile SIM card!

I just wonder if it will work with the LTE bands in the US, since this is a foreign phone. That might be something you would like to report back to the other users when you return to the US. That is generally the problem people encounter, along with the fact that the warranty will only be good in Japan.