Will an unlocked Sprint iPhone 6 (Model: A1586 CDMA) work on T-Mobile BYOD?
I understand the difference between CDMA and GSM, but T-Mobile does support the Sprint iPhone 5 (Model: A1429 CDMA) as BYOD.
BYOD & Sim Cards | Get a Sim Card For Your Unlocked Phone | T-Mobile
Will voice calls work?
Will text messages (sms) work?
Will multimedia messages (mms) work?
Will 2G data work?
Will 3G data work?
Will 4G data work?
Will LTE data work?
Will any T-Mobile specific features work? AWS? WiFi Calling? VoLTE (Voice over LTE)?
From Apple, all the LTE bands are the same (Sprint's A1586 has 4 additional 38,39,40,41)
I was told from T-Mobile technical support, T-Mobile uses LTE bands 4 (AWS 1700/2100) primarily, and 2 (1900 MHz) secondary/experimental.
Furthermore, Wikipedia has T-Mobile LTE bands listed as 4 (AWS 1700/2100), 2 (1900 MHz), 12 (700 MHz Block A)
T-Mobile US - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
From Apple
Apple - iPhone 6 - View countries with supported LTE networks.
Thanks in advance.
Legal / Regulatory & Consumer Resources
Here is the Sprint unlock policy - I think it states that Sprint iPhones cannot be used on any other domestic carrier network
I can only give you my personal experience
I tried to get my iPhone 5 unlocked. It would not work on T Mobile's 4G network
As you might already have experienced - Sprint is most unhelpful when it comes to unlocking phones
You may have better luck with a Verizon phone rather than a Sprint Phone
Just my $0.02
not only is the iPhone 6 unlocked, but the t-mo... | Apple Support Communities
Bringing your iPhone to T-Mobile? Better think twice | The Verge
mansinha,
Thank you for your replies, they are excellent resources.
I too have access to a Sprint iPhone 5 which has been "unlocked" by Sprint (most likely internationally unlocked), and when I inserted my T-Mobile sim, it received the following error.
==========================
You are correct in mentioning Sprint states they cannot unlock their iPhones for other domestic use in their unlocking policy.
Sprints unlocking policy: Legal / Regulatory & Consumer Resources
My questions are now two things:
1) Can a Sprint iPhone 6 (Model: A1586) user who has had their phone "unlocked" (specify/request to Sprint customer support to unlock "domestically") confirm or deny that a T-Mobile sim will work.
2) If Sprint iPhones are mechanically unable to work on other domestic (US) carriers, as stated in their policies that they have "no technological process available to do this," how can T-Mobile state that you can bring your Sprint iPhone 5 and it will work on T-Mobile?
Re: Contradictory info on bringing Verizon iPhone 6 onto T-Mobile
Hi
Again with the disclaimer that I am only a customer
1. No - I believe the Sprint models are still locked to Sprint - see link above - the Verizon iPhone 6 has been successfully used on T Mobile as per the poster in that thread - apparently there is a law that states that ALL phones manufactured after Feb 2015 HAVE to be interoperable - but we are not quite there yet - Sprint is hiding behind technical mumbo jumbo - people have managed to unlock Sprint phones for use - although the ability to get 4G LTE is questionable
2. I believe there is an error in T Mobile's ad. I myself thought this would work and when I went to the store the rep (who I must say seemed technically savvy) took time to explain why the Sprint phone would not have full functionality on T Mobile
In a sense - it works - if 3G is all you want - but 4G LTE is doubtful
3. Finally you may want to look up "R SIM Pro 9" on Google and YouTube - it apparently deceives the lock and lets the phone operate on another carrier - specifically look up "R SIM Unlock Sprint iPhone" as the search term - there are posts claiming that this is the only way to truly unlock a Sprint phone for domestic use - not sure if it is either legal or provides full 4G LTE functionality
Let me know if you have any questions -
Good luck!
iit's easily done to get ANY iPhone on T-Mobile. go to the Apple Store and get your phone replaced for something covered under warranty. go in with your SIM card out and a T-Mobile sim available with you. after they bring the phone out, hand them your T-Mo sim to put it in the new phone. it will ask what carrier you're on, select StraighTalk. watch as your iPhone activates and becomes locked to the StraightTalk US Activation Policy! it works every time! on the A1586 (Sprint iPhone 6) I'm able to get T-Mo LTE! Speedtest.net by Ookla - My Results
Sorry - am a little confused - why would the store replace the phone if it is working fine?
"go to the Apple Store and get your phone replaced for something covered under warranty." meaning, WHEN your iPhone is in need of a replacement, go to the Apple Store and use this method. I used this method and told them that the phone wouldn't connect to wifi 50% of the time, and they replaced it even though it was working fine. when you're setting up the new phone, it lets you select what activation policy you want applied to the device. it's very simple.
really, the store will replace you a new IPhone, it is still the A1586 but it can work on the T-mobile?
yes, it will. make sure you put your T-Mo SIM card in the phone before it's even turned on to activate through setup, and it will ask you if you what carrier you want, select StraighTalk
really, it is perfect a good news. Have you make sure that on IPhone 6? Today I have been to Apple store but they didn't have a new one, so I have to wait to next Monday. Thanks for your good news. Could you add your Email address, so that I can ask for help when I get a problem during activating my new IPhone 6.
Besides, Sprint IPhone 6(A1586) with full price can work on ATT when I put ATT sim card before activation.
Thanks so much.
Now my IPhone 6, I activate it with China Union sim card, not sprint sim card, During the activation, there is not any step ask me to choose what carrier I want, so I am confused whether I can choose carrier when I activated another new IPhone.
I just tried your method, however, I could not activate the A1586 16GB "Sprint USA" iPhone 6 with "T-Mobile USA" sim card (prepaid plan), I got stuck on the "Sim Not Valid" screen after turning the phone on.
Can you tell me what I'm doing wrong?
1. Purchased a A1586 16GB "Sprint USA" iPhone 6 via "device only" for full price ($650+tax) at the Apple Store
2. After opening the box and before turning it on, I inserted my "T-Mobile USA" (prepaid plan) sim card into the device
3. After turning on the phone, connected to the Apple Store WiFi in order to activate
4. "Sim Not Valid" screen appears.
Please help.
Thanks.
You need to get Sprint to unlock the device. Without Sprint unlocking the device it will not work from what I remember. Only the ones sold by Verizon do not need this step due to Block C rules they are subjected to when buying the 700 Block C spectrum.
I just have one question -
If you were buying a device out right - why not get an AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon device?Why choose Sprint?
Not saying that it cannot be done but Sprint is arguably the worst of the Big Four at unlocking their device.
Please read my posts above and the links I have posted.
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