Mobile
No Unlocked iPhone 5 Sales on Release Day
While the on-contract versions of the iPhone 5 will go up for pre-order tomorrow and will be released in retail stores on September 21st, the unlocked iPhone 5 won’t make its debut in the United States until several weeks after the iPhone 5’s initial launch.
The Verge confirmed the grim news with several Apple Store representatives who stated that the unlocked iPhone 5 would not go up for pre-order tomorrow and that it wouldn’t be available in-stores when the iPhone 5 goes on sale on September 21st.
Customers who live in Canada will face no such issues as the unlocked iPhone 5 as all iPhone 5s sold in the Canadian version of the Apple Store are sold unlocked.
Read: iPhone 5: AT&T vs. Verizon vs. Sprint – Which Carrier is Best?
The unlocked iPhone 5 won’t arrive until later in the U.S.
Apple did not say when the off-contract iPhone 5 would go on sale in the United States, only that it would become available sometime in the weeks ahead. No specific time frame was given and to confirm, we were told the same thing by an Apple Store representative.
While this slight delay is irritating, it’s not new. Last year, the unlocked iPhone 4S did not go on sale until November in the United States. The iPhone 4S launched in the United States in mid-October.
Those who are looking to pre-order the iPhone 5 tomorrow will only be able to order the locked version of the iPhone 5 which will be available on AT&T, Sprint and Verizon Wireless.
Read: Where to Preorder the iPhone 5.
The iPhone 5 preorder period begins tonight at 12am PST (3am EST) and retail stores like Best Buy, Radio Shack and Walmart will also have the device available to preorder in-store when their doors open in the morning.
Those models will range in price from $199.99 for a 16GB iPhone 5 to $399.99 for a 64GB iPhone 5. Unlocked iPhone 5 models, as we told you yesterday, will be much more expensive.
A unlocked 16GB iPhone 5 starts at $649.99 while a 64GB iPhone 5 is $849.99.
Jon
09/13/2012 at 6:20 pm
Same problem for the Canadian stores. No unlocked will be available , only online
Jeremy
09/13/2012 at 7:53 pm
That’s interesting. Apple reps told me via the store chat that it WOULD be available. I guess we will know very soon…
Jon
09/14/2012 at 2:11 pm
I just got a call from an apple store manager that the unlocked version will only be sold online..might change in the future. this is killing me!
Matthew
09/13/2012 at 8:09 pm
Hi Adam! Thanks for the update! :) I was wondering if I could get your source for the price comparison photo you have in this post (just so that I can verify the price drop on Nov. 8th for myself). Thank you! :)
John
09/13/2012 at 8:55 pm
The price above is only a reflection of the person buying it per their own contact. It is unique to when a contract is up, what carrier, and location.
James Hatch
09/14/2012 at 2:21 am
Well I knew it would be a bit problematic to get unlocked phones. AAPL isn’t just catching up revenues on nothing. Still, I would say let us wait till 21st.
Regards
.J-
iPhone 5 cover
Liam Hayes
09/14/2012 at 4:55 am
Is the photo displaying unlocked prices and dates legitimate?
Kind regards,
L.
John
09/26/2012 at 7:14 am
Factory Unlocked Apple iPhone 5 64GB (Wholesales)
iPhone 5 64GB (Black, White)
16GB £350
32GB £370
64GB £400
IPhone 4s (Black, White)
16GB £270
32GB £300
64GB £350
Apple iPad 3 4G 64(White, Black)
16GB £300
32GB £330
64GB £350
IPhone (Black, White)
Standard battery
AC travel Charger
USB data cable
Stereo headset
User manual
Key Product Features.
Condition:
New: A brand-new, unused, unlocked and undamaged item in original wholesale packaging, the item comes direct from the manufacturer.
For inquiry Order Contact:
[email protected]
[email protected]
Skype: info.buying
+44 7031952386
Sasha Abramenko
09/30/2012 at 9:47 am
John, how come the price is almost twice lower than the orginal website sells it for?
Nahid
08/05/2013 at 8:35 pm
I was worried to hear this news, because I made a plan to buy it on the released day.