US And UK iPhones; What Are The Big Differences?

Last Updated on June 29, 2023 by Admin

Recently, someone asked me if there is any difference between US and UK iPhone models. Yes; there are a few differences, and I will highlight them below. I will also answer some questions that people have about Apple iPhones in the United Kingdom.

The major difference between US and UK iPhones has to do with supported networks. Another difference has to do with the lock status of the phones. Let’s have a look at the details below.

Difference between US and UK iPhones

US iPhone models support both GSM and CDMA networks. GSM is the global standard that the rest of the world adopted for 2G and 3G networks. The United States went with CDMA. A carrier like Verizon in the USA runs its older generation networks on CDMA technology. UK iPhones will not work on such a network.

In addition, US iPhones also support US LTE carriers, while UK iPhones support UK LTE networks. While there is some overlapping, there are incompatibilities on both sides.

The other difference between US and UK iPhones is that US models generally are sold locked to a network and available on a small monthly payment. In the United Kingdom, Apple iPhones are sold unlocked and at their full prices. That is pretty much how iPhones are sold in most places around the world. The US market is the unique one. Of course, you can now buy unlocked iPhones in the US as well.

In summary, the key difference between IS and UK iPhones is 2G/3G/4G incompatibility, as the UK and US carriers use different bands. As such, of you purchase in the US, depending on the UK network you want to use it on, your US iPhone may not work in the UK, and vice versa.

Answers to questions about UK iPhones