I know how to unlock my AT&T iPhone 6 Plus but I don't know if there are any compatible carriers. I don't want to be forced to go with a Xiaomi phone but I'm not sure there are any compatible carriers with my specific iPhone. Any help? Thanks!
iPhone 6 Plus, iOS 8.1.2, AT&T
Do you have any sources? I know at least a portion of your post is questionable. The A1522 (GSM) AT&T iPhones support the same LTE bands as the A1522 (CDMA) Verizon iPhones. This has nothing to do with LTE bands. It's about CDMA and GSM bands. Also, FYI Verizon and AT&T use a lot of the same types of LTE bands but again, that's completely irrelevant for the iPhone 6/6 Plus.
The following information is from Apple's website. https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
The A1593 for designed for China Mobile supports these LTE bands:
1-8, 13, 17-20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 38-41
The Verizon iPhone 6 Plus model supports these LTE bands:
1-8, 13, 17-20, 25, 26, 28, 29
The AT&T iPhone 6 Plus model supports these LTE bands:
1-8, 13, 17-20, 25, 26, 28, 29
The Sprint iPhone 6 Plus model supports these LTE bands:
1-8, 13, 17-20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 38-41
Regardless, then it's the former where Apple is arbitrarily fragmenting a single product without making the discrepancies immedietly clear to the user. Even if Apple saves money per iPhone for antennas, they are damaging the strength of their economy through scale by developing so many separate models when there is an option to include all antennas in at once.
But, once again, I am not asking about LTE. I'm asking about 3G. Verizon uses CDMA and the AT&T iPhone 6 Plus has a CDMA antenna in it (despite AT&T being a GSM network) but I know that Verizon has arbitrarily disabled users from being able to use AT&T devices on their network. I'm wondering if this is purely on Verizon's side or if Apple disabled the radios all-together.
Please only reply if you have legitimate information to provide since I'm not really interested in derailing any further. I didn't come here to explain anything. I just want help with my iPhone.
Deggie said this: "They probably won't work for every carrier in China. T-Mobile and AT&T are GSM carriers and use different LTE bands than Verizon so they do not include the same bands."
I challenged his statement respectfully and replied with this:
"Do you have any sources? I know at least a portion of your post is questionable. The A1522 (GSM) AT&T iPhones support the same LTE bands as the A1522 (CDMA) Verizon iPhones. This has nothing to do with LTE bands. It's about CDMA and GSM bands. Also, FYI Verizon and AT&T use a lot of the same types of LTE bands but again, that's completely irrelevant for the iPhone 6/6 Plus.
The following information is from Apple's website. https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
The A1593 for designed for China Mobile supports these LTE bands:
1-8, 13, 17-20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 38-41
The Verizon iPhone 6 Plus model supports these LTE bands:
1-8, 13, 17-20, 25, 26, 28, 29
The AT&T iPhone 6 Plus model supports these LTE bands:
1-8, 13, 17-20, 25, 26, 28, 29
The Sprint iPhone 6 Plus model supports these LTE bands:
1-8, 13, 17-20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 38-41"
And you were not discussing 3G because you failed to comprehend my posts where I discussed and re-iterated my posts's focus:
"I see that the ATT iPhone is supported on multiple carriers in China but it's my understanding that for some carriers it's only 2G support and for some it's 3G."
&
"But, once again, I am not asking about LTE. I'm asking about 3G. Verizon uses CDMA and the AT&T iPhone 6 Plus has a CDMA antenna in it (despite AT&T being a GSM network) but I know that Verizon has arbitrarily disabled users from being able to use AT&T devices on their network. I'm wondering if this is purely on Verizon's side or if Apple disabled the radios all-together."
Then, you said this:
"They will work on all 3G networks but there is no guarantee on LTE. And the warranty is only valid in the US."
Again, I calmly explained that this was incorrect:
"Regardless, I know that you are incorrect again because the AT&T iPhone will not work on all Chinese telecom mobile 3G networks."
Chinese networks use standards such as TD-SCDMA. The majority of the phones I listed do not include these bands.
Sorry but he is actually just wrong in this circumstance and I have properly explained why. If you find fault with my post, please feel free to explain why it's wrong. Perhaps you can even include a reputable source. Otherwise, please refrain from posting in my thread unless you have something tangible to contribute to the topic! Thank you! 😉
Here is an article on Apple's site that covers the iPhone 5 models and China Unicom. They signed a 3 year contract last year.
About LTE on iPhone 5s and iPhone 5c with China Unicom - Apple Support
Didn't find one on the 6/6 Plus but with a little bit of searching you can probably find one. I would also go to a corporate AT&T store and talk to them. I am assuming you paid full price for your 6 Plus and have requested an unlock?
I'm confused. I want to trust your word but there seems to be some conflicts.
"They will work on all 3G networks but there is no guarantee on LTE."
According to you, my iPhone will work on all Chinese 3G networks, correct? But that doesn't seem to be the case for the WCDMA networks you just mentioned (which I recall bringing up earlier in this thread). I am quite baffled by this!
My new research suggests that my iPhone will not work with China Unicom according to Apple's spec sheet (https://www.apple.com/iphone-6/specs/). This is why I was skeptical of the compatibility in the first place. Since you seem sure that the iPhone WILL work with China Unicom's 3G network, I would appreciate some sort of reference to give me peace of mind.
Thanks! I appreciate your service! 😀
LogicallyHank wrote:
I know how to unlock my AT&T iPhone 6 Plus
The only legitimate way to unlock a phone is though the carrier. If you have someone hack the phone to unlock it, there is a very good chance that every time you update the system software, it will be locked back to AT&T. Also, the warranty on an AT&T iPhone is only valid in the U.S.
I see that the ATT iPhone is supported on multiple carriers in China but it's my understanding that for some carriers it's only 2G support and for some it's 3G. Presumably, some version of the iPhone supports there LTE network as well but I believe it's only the Verizon model due to some arbitrary restriction imposed by the carriers. Would you happen to know where I can find more information about this? I've spent quite a long time searching for this online.
It isn't an arbitrary restriction, certain carriers can use certain LTE bands (note the plural). For the other carrier to work using LTE they would need to be using the same LTE bands as your iPhone. Check with the carrier to be sure.
From my understanding:
The AT&T iPhone can't work on Verizon's network but the Verizon iPhone can work on AT&T's network. The Verizon iPhone can work with LTE bands in China but the AT&T iPhone cannot. Either Apple arbitrarily did not include those support in phones that cost the same amount as their equivalents or a carrier is arbitrarily disabling it. Form what I've read, it's the latter. Is any of this incorrect?
The Verizon works on more international carriers than the GSM versions in the US due to the LTE bands they use in the US. They probably won't work for every carrier in China. T-Mobile and AT&T are GSM carriers and use different LTE bands than Verizon so they do not include the same bands. It isn't arbitrary at all, it is just including the bands necessary to work in that market. There is currently no model phone (or chipset) that can work on all LTE bands. The carriers aren't arbitrarily disabling anything either.
Yes, I'm quite familiar with all of that. If you prefer to believe it is some kind of conspiracy on the part of Apple, the carriers, the governments, a secret cable, whatever, go for it.
They will work on all 3G networks but there is no guarantee on LTE. And the warranty is only valid in the US.
Have a nice day.
I didn't say anything about a conspiracy. In fact, if you read my post, I said the opposite. I suggested it was convoluted and poorly thought out.
Regardless, I know that you are incorrect again because the AT&T iPhone will not work on all Chinese telecom mobile 3G networks. The article you linked provided the the same information I posted above you but it's much less thourough. Again, please only post here if you are sure what you're posting is correct and helpful. Sorry if this sounds rude but I'm not interested in explaining all of this to you. I would just like some help with my iPhone! 🙂
LogicallyHank wrote:
Regardless, I know that you are incorrect again because the AT&T iPhone will not work on all Chinese telecom mobile 3G networks. The article you linked provided the the same information I posted above you but it's much less thourough. Again, please only post here if you are sure what you're posting is correct and helpful. Sorry if this sounds rude but I'm not interested in explaining all of this to you. I would just like some help with my iPhone! 🙂
It's apparent that you don't actually understand all of the information you're referencing. deggie has tried to explain it to you. Telling one of the most knowledgable people on the boards they don't know what they're talking about and that you'd rather then didn't try to help is pretty much guaranteed to discourage anyone else from helping you, either.
To go back to your original question, if you go to Apple's file on it, which I know you have, and you go down to footnote 3 it will tell you that which LTE bands are active depends on which cell carriers iPhone you use. I'm not aware of any file on AT&T outlining which ones are active on their model iPhone but you could probably contact them and find out. Don't know specifically about the iPhone 6 Plus but on other models they are able to tell you which ones will work on some of the Chinese carriers and whether it will work on their 2g and 3g cell data. The problem in that area is the frequencies that they use and the vagaries of the Chinese cell network. Of the people I know who regularly travel to China none of them use their iPhones there (and none has a 6 Plus) they have all bought phones in China to use when they go there. If you are going to spend much time there it might serve you better to purchase a second iPhone their to use which will also aid you if you need warranty service.
<Edited by Host>
LogicallyHank wrote:
Otherwise, please refrain from posting in my thread unless you have something tangible to contribute to the topic.
It's not "your" thread. It's Apple's. Everything posted here because property of Apple. Anyone is free to post as long as they don't violate the Terms of Use.
As I have stated before, I am not interested in LTE compatibility for my device as my iPhone clearly does not contain the extra bands necessary to operate on an LTE network in China. Simple deduction suggests these are the LTE bands 38-41 but I suppose it could vary from carrier to carrier.
I am asking about 3G networks.
Also, as I have stated in the original post, I am not interested in purchasing a separate device due to my personal financial constraints.
I would simply like to know which carrier offers the highest level of compatibility with the iPhone 6 Plus for AT&T. I would like to think that is China Unicom with 3G support but I'm not entirely sure that is the case. When you get the chance, I would appreciate it if you quickly re-read through my posts to make sure you comprehend the question I am asking.
Cheers!
Using an AT&T iPhone 6 Plus in China?
