I thought it would be useful for people to put together a short briefing on what you should consider before buying an iPhone 5 in UAE as with the launch of the iPhone 5, Apple has made a change to its usual 2 model approach and has added a third model in order to manage all the different LTE / 4G frequencies available in world.
4G networks around the globe are not being built on a single standard as it was the case with GSM and earlier technologies, This means that devices needs chips to talk to multiple frequencies available around the world but Apple’s solution to this is launch two different GSM compatible models with compatibility with different 4G networks but both of them continue to work on 2G / 3G networks globally in usual way.
Model 1429 (GSM) will be the right device of choice for UAE users in particular and ME users in general as its supports 1800 frequency which is used by DU and Etisalat . This model is generally compatible with whole Europe and in Asia.
Model 1428 (GSM) is being sold in the US & Canada and will work with most LTE networks out there which is based on 700 frequency. These devices won't function with LTE networks in the UAE. But you will find vendors offering this model at lower prices in UAE and consumers due to lack of awareness will end up buying model which will not allow them to connect to LTE network in future
Model 1429 (CDMA) is a completely different technology and won't work with GSM networks at all. Don't look into it even and be careful don’t be fooled with this model as model number is same as GSM version.
So be careful which model you are buying and from whom you are buying and you are buying right GSM version.
You can find in depth details on a range of models in this link by apple: http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
4G networks around the globe are not being built on a single standard as it was the case with GSM and earlier technologies, This means that devices needs chips to talk to multiple frequencies available around the world but Apple’s solution to this is launch two different GSM compatible models with compatibility with different 4G networks but both of them continue to work on 2G / 3G networks globally in usual way.
Model 1429 (GSM) will be the right device of choice for UAE users in particular and ME users in general as its supports 1800 frequency which is used by DU and Etisalat . This model is generally compatible with whole Europe and in Asia.
Model 1428 (GSM) is being sold in the US & Canada and will work with most LTE networks out there which is based on 700 frequency. These devices won't function with LTE networks in the UAE. But you will find vendors offering this model at lower prices in UAE and consumers due to lack of awareness will end up buying model which will not allow them to connect to LTE network in future
Model 1429 (CDMA) is a completely different technology and won't work with GSM networks at all. Don't look into it even and be careful don’t be fooled with this model as model number is same as GSM version.
So be careful which model you are buying and from whom you are buying and you are buying right GSM version.
You can find in depth details on a range of models in this link by apple: http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
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