USA phone in UK

[Anonymous]

I will be travelling to the USA at the end of the month and was wondering whether I could purchase a SIM free iPhone 6 over there, bring it back it over to UK and stick my existing SIM card back into it or is it a different GSM band or something?

Might as well get it way way cheaper than what we are being charged here!!

[Bambino · Accepted solution]

Specs will be different. You definitely won't be able to use 4G here on a US spec phone.

[Anonymous]

Hi


As i understand it your asking if you can use an iPhone 6 purchased
In the states over here on an Uk Network.

Uk Iphone 6 specs here ;

http://m.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_6-6378.php

Specs for the American version are here http://www.apple.com/iphone-6/specs/

Then check those against the bands that the Uk networks use.

The o2 has bought 800mhz band 20 the european standard for 4G/Lte

So if 4G is not a deal breaker or you don't have that yet and your not concerned on getting it then it will work on 3G

Another consideration is the Apple Warranty. I'm not saying this will happen but if an issue crops up and you visit a Genius Bar they will know it's an American unit and may not be able to assist.

[MI5]

We've been asked this before and the last time I did some calculations on price.
Bearing in mind the reduced functionality, potential warranty issues, local sales tax and UK import tax it worked out at only around £30 cheaper overall, which wasn't considered to be worth the the risk.

[Anonymous]

Surely there would be no import tax if it's in your pocket as your phone

[Anonymous]

Errmm do you have anything to declare sir.

Nope.

[jonsie]

Tut tut bob!

[Cleoriff]

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@Bambino wrote:

Specs will be different. You definitely won't be able to use 4G here on a US spec phone.

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I think this is all the answer needed.....

Even of the OP could get 3G and be happy with that, I would suspect if anything goes wrong with the phone, UK manufacturers would turn their nose up at any type of repair.

[Anonymous]

It would be entirely down to the guys at the Genius Bar.

If someone is visiting over here for example and develop an issue I wouldn't think Apple would turn them away.

[Cleoriff]

Well...having travelled to the USA on a number of occasions, I know there are many things I would buy to bring home...a mobile phone isn't one of them...