- I picked up my new Verizon Silver 64GB iPhone 5S yesterday afternoon to use with my AT&T service. I have been reading many conflicting posts on other forums as to whether or not it was really unlocked, including a blog where a guy tried to activate with a AT&T sim and could not get it to work. However Apples website lists it's compatibility with the LTE network frequencies here and since I was paying full retail anyway, I decided it was better to get the Verizon 5S which should work on AT&T and T-Mobile as well.... When I got it home, I moved the AT&T sim from my iPhone 5 to my Verizon iPhone 5S and it only showed a few dots with the LTE logo. However, after going through the activation process it then displayed the AT&T symbol as well as LTE. It has been working great on AT&T's LTE and 4G network as seen in my speed test screenshots below. I'm sure it will work with my secondary T-Mobile prepaid service as well when I can get a Nano T-Mobile SIM card..... For all those paying full retail for the 5S I would recommend looking at the Verizon model first, since it is already unlocked right out of the box.
Here are some pictures of my Verizon 5S on AT&T's network along with a LTE and a 4G speed test:
This is a screenshot showing that both Voice and Data work together on AT&T with Verizon's iPhone 5S
Sent from my iPad Mini using Tapatalk 2Last edited by Irish Rose; 09-29-2013 at 09:04 AM.
09-28-2013 03:21 PMLike 15 - 09-28-2013 03:40 PMLike 6
- You are welcome. I was hoping that by posting my experience it will help others out who still aren't sure if or how well the Verizon 5S would work on another carriers network. I like the fact that Verizon keeps their iPhone 5S unlocked out of the box. This way if I ever decide to switch to them in the future I won't have to purchase another 5S.09-28-2013 03:48 PMLike 4
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- Absolutely, I definitely thought the same thing when I was looking into why Verizon would unlock theirs and other carriers don't out of the box unless the customer paid full retail.09-28-2013 03:56 PMLike 0
- Hmm, maybe I should have picked up this model. I got the T-Mobile model to use with AT&T, and it works perfectly. Having the ability to use with Verizon may have been nice although I don't plan on switching to them since they limit their prepaid plans to 3G.09-28-2013 03:58 PMLike 0
- Definitely good share. While Verizon works so well for us overall, it's nice to know there are options if things change.nikkisharif and Eileen89 like this.09-28-2013 04:37 PMLike 2
- 09-28-2013 04:45 PMLike 0
- I've thought about trying Verizon out again to see if their LTE coverage has improved at my house, but right now my service with AT&T is awesome and I don't want to give up my grandfathered $25 data plan. I think it's good to have the Verizon 5S just in case things change in the future like you said.
I was a happy camper to find out when I popped in my dad's AT&T sim in I got LTE! Thinking of going to Aio Wireless since I would like to be back on GSM and since I'm not getting a break on my Verizon bill by paying full retail and being month to month now.
Carried by a raven from The Wall.nikkisharif and Eileen89 like this.09-28-2013 06:12 PMLike 2 - I purchased the AT&T model for full retail, and went online to AT&T support chat and had them unlock it. Works well with my Tmobile sim. I get same level of coverage in my area for literally half the cost. Happy camper over here, looking forward to seeing more 5s verizon models show up over the year. Gonna have to pick one up just in case.laerdh and Rocket_Girl like this.09-28-2013 08:14 PMLike 2
- Glad to see this. I remember the unlocked iPhone 5 on Verizon only getting HSPA+ for AT&T. So nice to see it getting LTE now. Does the Verizon model simply just support more bands on the 5S?09-28-2013 09:06 PMLike 0
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Sent from my iPad Mini using Tapatalk ProDaPhoneking and nikkisharif like this.09-28-2013 09:22 PMLike 2 - I edited my first post to include a screenshot showing that both Voice and Data do work together with AT&T using Verizon's iPhone 5S... This was another question I saw being asked a lot so I thought I would test it out and post the results in case anyone wanted to know if this worked or not.
Sent from my iPhone 5S using Tapatalk Pro.09-28-2013 10:03 PMLike 3 - Just to make it clear. The Verizon 5S is the AT&T model also T-Mobile. They are all only one model. The only difference is that a non Verizon 5S won't work over Verizon because Verizon doesn't feel like inviting you to their luxurious party where expensive data plans will be served.
Sent from my iPad Mini using iMore Forums mobile app09-29-2013 01:18 AMLike 5 - I edited my first post to include a screenshot showing that both Voice and Data do work together with AT&T using Verizon's iPhone 5S... This was another question I saw being asked a lot so I thought I would test it out and post the results in case anyone wanted to know if this worked or not.
Sent from my iPhone 5S using Tapatalk Pro.
Carried by a raven from the Wall.09-29-2013 02:53 AMLike 3 - Just to make it clear. The Verizon 5S is the AT&T model also T-Mobile. They are all only one model. The only difference is that a non Verizon 5S won't work over Verizon because Verizon doesn't feel like inviting you to their luxurious party where expensive data plans will be served.09-29-2013 08:58 AMLike 0
- I was wondering how your battery consumption is? I have the T-Mobile (unlocked) model, and they are my carrier but the battery life is as bad as the iPhone 5 battery was on T-Mobile. The unlocked AT&T version of the iPhone 5 battery usage was the same as it has been for years with me but as soon as Apple made the TMo specific version I thought it was the dual-bands burning through the battery. Now I'm wondering if its just TMo's frequency? My unlocked i5 was running TMo's 4G or HSPA+ but no LTE capability. I still don't use LTE because 4G murders my battery. Everyone can get a full day BUT us, it seems. Do any of you think the Verizon model would be better or do you think it works the same as what they advertise as the TMo unlocked i5S?09-29-2013 09:09 AMLike 0
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Sent from my iPhone 5S using Tapatalk Pro.09-29-2013 09:11 AMLike 5 - I was wondering how your battery consumption is? I have the T-Mobile (unlocked) model, and they are my carrier but the battery life is as bad as the iPhone 5 battery was on T-Mobile. The unlocked AT&T version of the iPhone 5 battery usage was the same as it has been for years with me but as soon as Apple made the TMo specific version I thought it was the dual-bands burning through the battery. Now I'm wondering if its just TMo's frequency? My unlocked i5 was running TMo's 4G or HSPA+ but no LTE capability. I still don't use LTE because 4G murders my battery. Everyone can get a full day BUT us, it seems. Do any of you think the Verizon model would be better or do you think it works the same as what they advertise as the TMo unlocked i5S?
Sent from my iPad Mini using iMore Forums mobile appEmceeGeek likes this.09-29-2013 09:12 AMLike 1 - I was wondering how your battery consumption is? I have the T-Mobile (unlocked) model, and they are my carrier but the battery life is as bad as the iPhone 5 battery was on T-Mobile. The unlocked AT&T version of the iPhone 5 battery usage was the same as it has been for years with me but as soon as Apple made the TMo specific version I thought it was the dual-bands burning through the battery. Now I'm wondering if its just TMo's frequency? My unlocked i5 was running TMo's 4G or HSPA+ but no LTE capability. I still don't use LTE because 4G murders my battery. Everyone can get a full day BUT us, it seems. Do any of you think the Verizon model would be better or do you think it works the same as what they advertise as the TMo unlocked i5S?
Battery life so far looks like this:
Sent from my iPhone 5S using Tapatalk Pro.EmceeGeek and nikkisharif like this.09-29-2013 09:21 AMLike 2 - I don't think the iPhone 5S supports 1700 MHZ (T-Mobile 3G AWS). It still only supports 1900 MHZ for 3G, so this device is not special for T-Mobile, it is the same as the AT&T model and Verizon. People it's all one phone no difference! Even the T-Mobile also the AT&T one both support Verizon CDMA it is just Verizon that won't allow you in as they want you to purchase the device of their stores.
My battery life so far is awesome. I'll post a screenshot here. The battery life on the 5S is definitely better than my backup AT&T unlocked iPhone 5. I'm getting about 2 to 3 hours more usage.... I wouldn't say the Verizon model is any better than the unlocked T-Mobile 5S. It's just that they won't run on Verizon's CDMA side which is a problem if someone ever wanted to switch to Verizon from AT&T or T-Mobile.
Thanks for letting us know the Verizon model does work for us GSM users, might come in handy down the road.Eileen89 likes this.09-29-2013 09:33 AMLike 1
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