CDMA & GSM and I'm not happy,

[anon(5630457)]

I have a four week old 8+ 256 Space Gray. Really like it but want to trade someone with a comparable X that wants the 8+.

Found a perfect candidate locally and we started the negotiations. We agreed on the money and were about to swing the deal when I thought that maybe I should dig a bit deeper.

I asked the question on Apple website the following: Can I trade a GSM 8+ for a Verizon X and will it work. Here is the response I got back:

===================================================================

The short answer is YES. There are two main iPhone X models. Below you can see the list of bandwidths each one supports. In non-technical terms a CMDA iPhone (Verizon or Sprint) will work with any GSM carrier. Conversely, a GSM only iPhone will not support CDMA networks.

Model A1865*
FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66)
TD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41)
TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A)
CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900, 2100 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

Model A1901*
Model A1901 does not support CDMA networks, such as those used by Verizon and Sprint.

FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66)
TD-LTE (Bands 34, 38, 39, 40, 41)
UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)

Answered by Ciprian S from Coconut Creek
Oct 31, 2017
Flag as inappropriate Answer 1

Why in the name of common sense and higher manufacturing does Apple have two non compatible X phones. If I'm going to spend upwards of $1000 on a phone, I should be able to use it on any US carrier I want. Factory Unlocked is the way it should be.

Am I being too critical. One will work on both but mine only on GSM. What a PITA situation.

Buy it at Best Buy and it'll work on any carrier.

 

[kingweb]

Given Apple's power in the market today I see no reason regardless of carriers not to sell one model in the US that works on all carriers, unlocked or not. It makes no sense for the consumer to have to purchase a phone that may not be compatible if you decide to switch carriers a year or so later. Apple could make this far easier on consumers to simply make one model.

Money is the reason. Dual band phones most likely cost them more. So they try to sell the gsm only phones when possible. 99% of the worlds cellular carriers use GSM. Only vz, sprint and maybe a small handful of others around the world use CDMA. So most people will never need or miss a phone without cdma support.

 

[LCW]

Yes, you can use your Verizon iPhone X on AT&T. You can’t use an AT&T iPhone X on Verizon though, even if it’s carrier unlocked.

Are you sure the at&t version couldn’t work on Verizon just LTE only? Or would Verizon block the IMEI?

 

[Rob Phillips]

Are you sure the at&t version couldn’t work on Verizon just LTE only? Or would Verizon block the IMEI?

Great question. Honestly I’ve never tried. I’ve been with Verizon for a few years and was with Sprint before that. From everything I’ve read on the internet and on this forum the AT&T model will not even register on Verizon’s network.

 

[zenjen]

Great question. Honestly I’ve never tried. I’ve been with Verizon for a few years and was with Sprint before that. From everything I’ve read on the internet and on this forum the AT&T model will not even register on Verizon’s network.

This is my understanding as well. On the Apple site, check the Tech Specs on any phone and it clearly states that the GSM version works only on ATT and TMO. Actually, it says it this way... the GSM version will not work on the Sprint and Verizon networks.

 

[Rob Phillips]

This is my understanding as well. On the Apple site, check the Tech Specs on any phone and it clearly states that the GSM version works only on ATT and TMO. Actually, it says it this way... the GSM version will not work on the Sprint and Verizon networks.

Thank you for clarifying!

 

[bobpet63]

I switched from Verizon to att with no issues whatsoever with my x.

 

[bobpet63]

I had to switch. Shotty service in an area for work I just started on.

 

[5t3v3n1]

I think what people get confused on is that Verizon LTE is not CDMA technology. The AT&T version of the iPhone X will work on Verizon LTE; it will not work on Verizon 1x CDMA network. I’m not sure about 3G though

 

[Kilwillie]

Doesn’t Verizon still fall back to 1X for voice calls?

 

[LCW]

Doesn’t Verizon still fall back to 1X for voice calls?

No

 

[zenjen]

I switched from Verizon to att with no issues whatsoever with my x.

Per Apple’s Tech Specs, the Verizon version of the phone works on the ATT and TMO networks. This is why the A1865 model is the most versatile and the better investment given this versatility.

The ATT/TMO A1901 version is less versatile because it is restricted to just those two networks.