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iPhone 5 – Collect Them All

by Colin Berkshire
Colin here. For those hoping that the iPhone5 would be a single global model: no dice. It now comes in three different models. So as you travel around the world you can’t just use your phone.
My iPhone4 can be used on ANY GSM carrier, as well as CDMA. That’s super convenient.
The iPhone5 CDMA model can also be used on any GSM carrier. But LTE is an absolute mess. Model A1428 only works on LTE bands 4 and 17. Model A1429 works on bands 1, 3, and 5. But if you have the CDMA version of model A1429 you also get compatibility with bands 13 and 25. Thus, neither the CDMA nor the GSM version of model A1429 will work on LTE bands 4 or 17.
No mention at all of any iPhone5 being compatible with LTE bands 2, 6~12,  14~16, 18~24, 26+
 
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Here are band assignments for various countries (Wikipedia):
  • Australia: 3
  • Brazil: 7
  • Canada: 4 & 7
  • Columbia: 7 & 38
  • Germany: 3 & 20
  • Hong Kong: 3 & 7 & 40
  • India: 40
  • Japan: 1 & 3
  • Puerto Rico: 4
  • Thailand, Cambodia, China: NONE
  • USA:
    • T-Mobile: 4
    • Metro PCS: 4
    • AT&T: 4 & 17
    • Cricket: 4
    • Sprint: 2
    • Verizon: 13
Global travel using LTE is a [broken] pipe-dream for now.
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Here are the Apple iPhone models:
  • GSM model A1428: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 4 and 17)
  • CDMA model A1429: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1900, 2100 MHz); UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5, 13, 25)
  • GSM model A1429: UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz); GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz); LTE (Bands 1, 3, 5)