US iphone 6 In vodafone UK

[TorontoSS]

Hello, I am a vodafone customer with 4G. I will be in the US this month. If I buy a contract free tmobile iphone 6 in the US from the apple store (which I understand caters to 4g bands 7 and 20) will it work as a normal 4g phone if I put a vodafone sim in? Will 4g work as it's supposed to?

I got some of my info here: https://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

Thanks in advance.

[GojuSuzi]

You need band 20, and later possibly 3 (less pemetration, higher speeds, but will be more limited location-wise), so yes, although you'll need to check with them if it's unlocked or how to get it unlocked.

[TorontoSS]

Thanks for this. Although I thought it would be band 20 and 7 according to this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vodafone_UK (it says their 4g banding is 20 and 7?). Want to make sure I'm looking at the right things.

[TorontoSS]

Would be good if a mod replies? I would be using a Vodafone network through a SIM only plan - want to know if it would work as if I bought a contract free phone in the UK? And if the mod can also answer, if I do this, would I be able to keep Vodafone insurance on the phone if I buy it in the US?

[grolschuk]

The forum staff generally take 24-48 hours to get to new questions, although I am not sure how much they will be able to help with hardware that they don't supply.

As long as you get a model that is either A1586 or A1524, and make sure it is not locked to a network, then you should be fine.

You won't be able to use the Vodafone Insurance on it, as I think that is only for Vodafone issued handsets (although I may be wrong there)

[GojuSuzi]

Doi! You're right, it's 20 and 7, not 20 and 3. Apologies, that was a pre-caffeine post. So yeah, it'll work fandabbydozy as long as you've checked the network lock status.

[GojuSuzi]

Don't think insurance will work though, fairly sure they can only insure the phones they've sold. But you can get insurance separately, just as long as you have proof of purchase from wherever that states the IMEI number if the handset (Vodafone will be able to provide proof of use/blacklisting of the same IMEI if it's ever requited).

[jeffkinn]

Unless they've changed their policy, the iPhone warranty is country specific and not worldwide.

The EU warranty is for the whole of the EU but an American phone will not be covered by the EU warranty.

[TorontoSS]

I think you're correct about the insurance. I read elsewhere that other insurers like Protect your Bubble will be the same - must have bought it UK, VAT registered, etc. That being said, it's a gamble to get it from the US it seems. It may work, but if something goes wrong, you're on your own. Am I correct?

[jeffkinn]

I think you are correct. Personally I wouldn't take the chance.