CDMA & GSM and I'm not happy,

aximtreo

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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.
 

Just_Me_D

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I can only ‘assume’ that part of the reason is the agreement it has with the carriers.
 

Just_Me_D

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I ...Can I trade a GSM 8+ for a Verizon X and will it work. Here is the response I got back:

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

...

Am I missing something? Unless the person you’re trading with is requesting a Verizon brand iPhone 8 Plus, you will definitely be getting what ‘you’re’ seeking - an iPhone X that’ll work on any carrier. The other person will lose out if he is on VZW.
 

olliegrl

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I was gonna say..it's not a secret that there are GSM models and CDMA models...SOME are dual...but not all due to agreements with carriers.
 

LCW

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Am I missing something? Unless the person you’re trading with is requesting a Verizon brand iPhone 8 Plus, you will definitely be getting what ‘you’re’ seeking - an iPhone X that’ll work on any carrier. The other person will lose out if he is on VZW.

Yeah - I don’t get it either. OP is making out ahead with a VZ X. Unless the other party is backing out.
 

comiken205

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I’m not sure but someone mentioned something to do with Qualcomm and their licensing of their modem for mobile devices. I don’t know the technicalities but it was something along those lines. I may be wrong but from past reading it’s always better to get a Verizon phone because it’ll work across all carriers.

Also, I do Uber as a side gig. I spoke with a Verizon rep once and he said that the FCC pretty much told Verizon if they got the 400 MHz spectrum then they would have to give up some high band spectrum and unlock their devices.

So take these two with a grain of salt as that’s unverified and off the top of my head.
 

aximtreo

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Yeah - I don’t get it either. OP is making out ahead with a VZ X. Unless the other party is backing out.

I would have come out OK but the person getting my 8+ is on Verizon and my phone is GSM. Hope this clears it up.
 

Quis89

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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.

Your issue is with the carriers. Not Apple.
 

Raptor007

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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.
 

LCW

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Either there’s different componentry in either that it doesn’t all fit in one at this time without growing in size (I’m sure Apple fights for every fraction of a mm). Or the extra cost of the cdma components (if that’s all that is different) would be kept out of the bulk of the models - ie the GSM versions.
 

bobpet63

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I believe all of them are the same phone they turn off certain parts of the phone to not have access to the gsm side of the phone. Thru software.
 

Rob Phillips

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CDMA & GSM and I'm not happy,

I believe all of them are the same phone they turn off certain parts of the phone to not have access to the gsm side of the phone. Thru software.

In the US, CDMA models use Qualcomm modems while GSM models use Intel modems. The Qualcomm modems will work just fine on GSM carriers so long as the individual device isn’t locked to a particular carrier. So there are actually hardware differences.
 

Rob Phillips

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So I couldn’t take my Verizon iPhone x to att and use it one their system? I did it with a 7+ I have. I bought this one

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.
 

bobpet63

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AT&T always trying to scam. I was with them for 17 yrs. switched to Verizon 4 yrs ago and couldn’t be happier with my choice
 

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