Unlocked iPhone now on sale, starting $649 price tag for 16 GB model

June 14, 2011 By Adam Rosenberg

Apple officially starts selling unlocked GSM iPhone 4s on its website, with 16 GB models available for $649 and 32 GB models available for $749.

Apple has a new iPhone product listing in its online store, but it’s not the long-awaited handset upgraded you’ve been looking for. The iPhone 4 can now officially be purchased unlocked, meaning that it isn’t tied to a specific wireless carrier, TUAW has learned. You’ll be paying $649 for a 16 GB model and $749 for a 32 GB model. So, not cheap.

Don’t break out the champagne bottles and start planning a party just yet, however. For starters, the price is pretty prohibitive. Seriously. You could get an iPad 2 for less. The bigger problem is the fact that only the GSM model is available unlocked, meaning the phone is still restricted to the AT&T network here in the United States. The only other major wireless provider using GSM is T-Mobile, and that network is incompatible with the iPhone. Verizon phones use CDMA, and those remain (officially) locked.

The real advantage of an unlocked GSM iPhone is for world travelers. Previously, those with an iPhone who traveled abroad would have to worry about accruing some serious roaming charges when using their device outside the country. With an unlocked iPhone, swapping out your U.S.-friendly SIM card with one for a European service provider will cut down on those costs significantly. There’s also the advantage of being able to wrap your hands around one of Apple’s popular cellphones without signing your wireless communications life away to AT&T for two years. That alone may be enough to attract some buyers.

Showing 7 comments

Cow Layfo at 9:01pm 14th June 2011 Ha, now it's 16. Hilarious.
Jon Worrel at 4:49pm 14th June 2011 I paid $700 off-contract for my AT&T iPhone 4 on launch day, June 24, 2010.Nine months later, I paid $35 for my GEVEY SIM unlock kit, bringing the total cost to $735.I saved $15 bucks off retail price! ;)
Jacob Troyer at 4:42pm 14th June 2011 droids come with 64GB onboard.
Cow Layfo at 4:38pm 14th June 2011 You six likers are proof that Apple brainwashing exists. Only a total fool would be psyched to pay this much for a phone, let alone one with a pitiful 16 gigs of storage. Retarded.
Tom Pajak at 3:46pm 14th June 2011 rushing out to buy one right now!...ya right.....
Patrick Crook at 3:42pm 14th June 2011 Do I HAVE to sell my testicles if I wanted one?
patruns at 6:20am 14th June 2011 "The only other major wireless provider using GSM is T-Mobile, and that network is incompatible with the iPhone." That is not correct. You can still get an EDGE connection at the 1900 frequency and although T-Mobile uses the odd 1700 frequency for 3G/4G, they also use the 2100 frequency which according to the Apple website is supported by the iPhone.