Help us choose an iPhone 6s model

September 17, 2015 2:23 PM

My wife is interested in buying an off-contract new iphone and switching to MVNO service but I have questions about compatibility of the two different models. Snowflakes inside.

We are planning to switch to Ting but if possible would like to keep open the option of trying Cricket if we don't end up liking Ting (we're not sure their pricing will work with our data usage). Ting recommends buying a TMobile version phone if you'd like to use their GSM network. However, the Apple TMobile version appears to be the CDMA version also used on Sprint and Verizon, model A1688.

However, looking at the specs, it seems like the models are virtually identical from a network standpoint aside from the GSM model, A1633, having one additional LTE band.

Cricket uses the At&t network, and Apple list the A1633 for them (and most other US networks).

Since these phones seem so similar, does it really matter which model you get if you're buying an unlocked phone? And if not, why does Apple bother making different models?

posted by ghharr to Technology (5 answers total)

Since these phones seem so similar, does it really matter which model you get if you're buying an unlocked phone? And if not, why does Apple bother making different models?

My theory is they have the exact same hardware but by removing firmware support for [mumbojumbo] they can avoid paying some small amount of additional licensing fees on the phones that for sure will never need that feature.
posted by aubilenon at 3:07 PM on September 17, 2015

Best answer: If you want the comprehensive story, you should read this article.

Briefly: unless you care about the highest possible LTE speeds on AT&T (and some extra degree of future proofing), it doesn't mater which one you buy at full price. I've bought unlocked iPhones over the last 3 generations (used them on AT&T GoPhone and now Cricket), and it's always been the "T-Mobile/Unlocked" version. It's fine.
posted by RedOrGreen at 3:23 PM on September 17, 2015 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Just FYI with Ting (maybe Cricket, I haven't checked) your iPhone won't get Visual Voicemail. I spoke to a Ting rep (confirmed from this person who I don't know) and they said it's one of the feature deltas given to MVNOs. You could of course get around it by using Google Voice Lite with your phone number, which will function similarly and also transcribe your voicemails.
posted by homesickness at 5:16 PM on September 17, 2015

Well, as far as Ting goes it looks like the T-Mobile version works for their GSM offering as expected but they've been giving non-answers and/or hinting that if you get the T-Mobile unlocked version of the 6s or 6s Plus it will work on their Sprint CDMA service. But they haven't given anything like a real committed answer to that question.

If you can swing it financially I would say to get the T-Mobile version from Apple and see if it works on Ting CDMA. That's my ultimate goal too but I don't care enough about the new phone to put my money where my mouth is.

See their replies in the comments of this blog post:
Will the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus work on Ting?
posted by eatcake at 5:53 PM on September 17, 2015

I would go with what the chart says. Doesn't seem to match the scheme for the iPhone 6 from last year. A phone call to Apple is always the best decision - their incentives are aligned to sell to you properly.
posted by oceanjesse at 5:52 AM on September 18, 2015