The option "Buy without a carrier. SIM-free. Activate with any carrier later" can be used with international sim and carrier?

Yes, as long as that carrier supports iPhone.

It will include iPhone X - WHEN they offer a fully sim-free model, which they currently do not. When that will happen is typically when supply catches up to demand. I'd translate that to be sometime in the first quarter of 2018 as they are still back ordered with millions of people still waiting for one and stores with virtually no stock on the shelves.

romad wrote:

The reason I asked is because when I went to order, the first step was to choose which cell provider to which it would be locked. Since I now have to pay full price up front, I should not be required to lock it to a particular provider unless I'm financing it through a particular provider. Additionally, the iPhone 8 has been available sim-free for awhile now.

iPhone 8 was available from day one sim-free. iPhone X is not and whether you think you should be tied to carrier or not is immaterial. Apple has not announced, nor are they currently selling a sim-free iPhone X in the US. You can wait for one just like everyone else who is waiting for one.

Driver8666 wrote:

I should add something to your post. It was well known that even before manufacturing, that the X would be in short supply.

I definitely agree with you.

Yes, it was widely publicized the X would be in short supply well into 2018. Apple hit a triple home run with this phone. Our 2nd X arrives today after ordering within the first hour on the 27th, when pre-orders went live.

The reason I asked is because when I went to order, the first step was to choose which cell provider to which it would be locked. Since I now have to pay full price up front, I should not be required to lock it to a particular provider unless I'm financing it through a particular provider. Additionally, the iPhone 8 has been available sim-free for awhile now.

Because the carriers knew there would be a shortage of iPhone X's 3 of the carriers limited availability of the X to current subscribers or you have to set up service with them. This was a change from previous years but the fact that an unlocked one was not available is not a change. If you have an issue with 3 of the carrier you need to take it up with them, Apple has nothing to do with it.

If you pay full price for the T-Mobile iPhone from Apple it will not be locked. But that phone will not work with Verizon or Sprint so if you plan to use them, or one of their MVNOs, pass on the T-Mobile.

You don't have to pay full price, all of the, and Apple, offer what is essentially a lease program. In my case I am on AT&T and the program is called Next. The other 3 in the US have similar programs.

Here is Apple's: iPhone Upgrade Program - Apple

Does this include the iPhone X? I can't locate anyone with the SIM-free model.

I should add something to your post. It was well known that even before manufacturing, that the X would be in short supply.

I definitely agree with you.

They sure did. They probably thought the cycle (single, double, triple and home run) wasn't enough. Probably went for the no-hitter as well.

:-)

Thanks for clarifying the reason, deggie. This will be the first iPhone I have to pay full cost since the carriers eliminated the 2-yr contract.