Apple Shopping

Where to order an unlocked iPhone 5 from

If you want to order an iPhone 5 the easiest and most likely the quickest way right now is to get it from the UK Apple store. The UK Apple Store sells the iPhone 5 unlocked and you can ship it to your UK Shop & Ship or a UK Borderlinx mailbox. You don’t require a UK credit card, any local Kuwaiti card would work.

Price wise the 16GB costs around KD240 but then you would also have to add the shipping price to Kuwait and the 5% local tax both Aramex and Borderlinx are charging. It doesn’t come out very cheap in the end but if you’re in a hurry this is the best way to go about it and it’s what I did last year.

This year though I’m not in a rush to get it and instead I’m going to wait either for the US store to start selling the unlocked versions (they sell them cheaper than the UK) or for Viva to get them early like they did last year.

Here is the link to the iPhone 5 on the UK Apple Store. [Link]

56 Comments on Where to order an unlocked iPhone 5 from

56 replies on “Where to order an unlocked iPhone 5 from”

ummmm… doesn’t it use a nano Sim … which means you can’t cut a Sim to make it the size of a nano Sim, the way it was done with the micro Sim, and therefore buying an unlocked version before a solution to the nano Sim is available in Kuwait … is kind of pointless ?

All providers are going to have Nano Sims and Wataniya even announced they’ll have them by the end of the month so that’s not really an issue.

oh ok, that is good to know.

I read that you can actually cut it because it’s not using a different technology just a different form factor.

that’s what i thought originally but turns out the nano sim is also 15% thinner

Saw that too and then read an article that fine sandpaper should deal with the thickness!

I’d seen about Wataniya & Viva – have Zain said they’ll also have nano this month?

Yes I also read sand paper should do the trick

I thought the micro-sim ordeal was silly. This is plain ridiculous.

Well you and me might think it’s silly but Apple must have a reason for doing it.. making more room for other things inside there to give the user a better experience.

I am doing the same Mark. Waiting for US or someone locally to get it at a good price. In no rush with my S3 holding me off.

Anyone know for sure if Zain are doing the nano sims?

ALL telecom providers are doing Nano sims for sure.

Hi Mark,

I’d called Zain before seeing your reply and they said no word on it yet and no ETA – do you know anyone there who knows when they would be receiving?

Thanks

ofcourse theyre getting it, Iknow 3 people who work at zain and they said theyre getting it for sure. Why wouldnt they? Think people think

Great… so ETA?

Last November I shipped the unlocked from Apple US through the USPS to an APO Military address. There is a new law this year that prohibits the shipment of smart phones or computers with batteries. It sucks for us since we used to get special treatment (cheap shipment / no customs) and now we are just like the rest of you. ;P

Do you know which frequencies Kuwaiti telecos are going to use for LTE?

Its hard to say. In Saudi they are using 2600, in UAE its 1800. LTE also has different bands within the same frequency.

As far as I know, only Viva actually has LTE equipment in Kuwait and in Saudi STC (the parent of Viva), is using band 38 (2600)

Unlocked iPhone 5 will work with all. Locked AT&T one won’t.

As far as anyone’s concerned, Telecom Providers already have LTE towers installed, just not operational. Blame The ministry.

Hi Muscati!!

Telcos in Kuwait would either use 2600 or 1800. These are the only frequencies commercially do-able here..

Viva should have their first shipment by November

US and UK have different frequencies for LTE. So its better off just to wait till Zain get the iPhone so I can guarantee if Kuwait bring LTE the iPhone it can work. I think it will be worth the wait.

Abooo.. LTE iPhone would work well with existing 3G networks. Its same like 3G devices work on 2G networks as well.. You dont have to wait Telcos launch LTE to use your iPhone 5

Last year Zain was the first to launch the iPhone 4S by selling it at midnight whereas VIVA was available the next day. I am guessing that availability of the phone on the networks will be mid-October since Apple has already announced that they will launch the iPhone 5 in 100 countries by end of September/October so that’ll solve that.

One thing to note is that the LTE bands on an unlocked iPhone 5 from the US is different than the European version, if and when we get LTE it will most likely be on the European bands and not the US ones. So best case scenario a phone from Europe would be the best to have regardless of the 40KD you would save buying it from US or Canada.

I wouldn’t get too exited about the frequency for LTE – according to some reports the phone can’t do data and voice simultaneously.

That’s only true for CDMA so no

if we get it from the UK is there any chance we can get our VAT back?

Am going to wait for iphone sex 😉

who want to buy iphone 5 !!

if you already have iphone 4 so you basically have an iphone 5 but only with smaller screen ( better than the new one ) that’s it ..

Just because it looks a lot like it doesn’t mean it’s like it. I’m not happy that the look hasn’t changed either but the insides definitely have.

i have pre-order 2 iphones , is it possible to change the shipping address ?

Mark,Why are you buying an IPhone again, Aren’t you fed up of it , Why dont you go for an Android phone or a Lumia , Why Do you always buy an IPhone ?

No other phone appeals to me right now. Even if I stay with my current 4s for another year I don’t mind. I could say any other phone is a step backwards but then I’d get android fan boys bashing me.

@7th

Unfortunately, larger SIMs (Micro Sim)won’t work in the iPhone5 even if you try to cut them down.

The newer spec isn’t just smaller in shape, it’s thinner too.

So i presume the telco here will have to provide us..

https://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2012/08/06/iphone5-nano-sim-0_610x354.jpeg

I don’t get LTE coverage where I live. Will the phone still work?

Yes, the phone defaults down to a 3G connection, just like it goes back down to EDGE when there’s no 3G available.

Apple’s iPhone 5: Everything you need to know (FAQ)

(https://news.cnet.com/8301-13579_3-57512634-37/apples-iphone-5-everything-you-need-to-know-faq/)

New iphone Nano-SIM Tray :

https://translate.googleusercontent.com/translate_c?act=url&depth=1&hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&rurl=translate.google.com&sl=auto&tl=en&twu=1&u=https://www.nowhereelse.fr/iphone5-tiroir-carte-nano-sim-69085/&usg=ALkJrhh5h2ZwEQ93Ck4V4I8NEsOLg5YD4A

Iphone4s vs Iphone 5

IP4 (3.5 inches)
Ip5 is 4 inches – 1/2 increase in size
Ip5 its taller, thinner
Ip5 has Extra row of icons
Ip5 has a new 8 pin connector
(Apple’s Lightning Cable)

Battery :There’s no change in battery life between last year’s model and this year’s

As mentioned, you can make it thinner with sand paper. At least that’s what I’ve been reading.

You’re wrong about battery life. Apple said they made it better and here’s a better comaprison on Engadget https://www.engadget.com/2012/09/12/iphone-5-whats-changed/

Since when Kuwait’s customs has local tax?! so that’s 5% on the total price of the bill??

There is a customs charge of 5% on everything. but not on Smart phones and PCs. You only pay for the shipping and phone. Please be aware and do not let ARAMEX fool you.

Mobile phones are exempted from the 5% customs fees

Dear All

As far as i know, Zain will support LTE on the new iphone from UK but Viva will not bucause they use 2600 Mhz and zain use 1800 Mhz

thanks all

Its not for sure. Why take the risk if zain, viva, or watinya don’t have LTE out yet. Unless of you have some sort of way of proving this information which I doubt any of these companies would give out any information until its released

I guess you can cut it.

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/iPhone-5-Nano-SIM-Card-Cutting-Cutter-Micro-full-SIM-card-Tray-holder-2-adapter-/160807601574

There’s no customs charge on certain products, this includes mobile phones.

Can any one tell me the real diffrence between iphone 4s and the iphone 5 ?

slimmer, ligher, battery lasts longer, larger screen, faster wireless, better low light performance for the camera, faster graphics and processor.

Basically a phone thats better than the iphone 4s in every way.

MARK Can i have your opinion on android OS and smartphones that run android!

gonna be using the new Tag Heur android phone this week, so will let you know.

Oh Nice, and please if you got the New galaxy note make a review about it, am really waitting for it, maybe will be in kuwait beging of October. Thanks

What if Apple announced nothing on Sep 12? Literally.

Check out this hilarious College Humor parody video of that exact thing happening.

https://blog.gsmarena.com/apple-has-enough-money-so-it-announces-nothing-in-a-cool-parody-video-and-one-more-thing/

Do you think we can get it shipped from the US store to Aramex or will they send it back?

if you purchase an unlocked iPhone 5 from the US when they are out, they will not work on LTE networks in the region anyways as they use different bands

4 (AWS)
17 (700B MHz)

while the one from the UK supports more popular LTE bands in this region like

1 (2100 MHz)
3 (1800 MHz)
5 (850 MHz)

if you dont care about LTE then it will work on 2G and 3G even if you purchase from the US.

but I mean, I heard Apple doesn’t accept freight forwarders, so I’m wondering if I use my Shop and Ship address, will the order be cancelled? Thanks for your answer tho.