Any carrier —

Apple now offers unlocked iPhone X models in the US

For those who don't want to be tied to a major carrier.

The iPhone X's display, with rounded edges and the sensor housing—also called the notch.
Enlarge / The iPhone X's display, with rounded edges and the sensor housing—also called the notch.
Samuel Axon

Just over a month after the iPhone X debuted, Apple is now selling carrier-agnostic models of the iPhone X. US customers can place orders on Apple's website for SIM-free iPhone Xs, rather than ordering a device that's already married to a specific carrier.

Previously, the iPhone X could only be purchased on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, or Verizon networks, but the unlocked option allows users to insert any SIM card they want. The iPhone X supports GSM and CDMA networks, so users can get on nearly any network they want with a SIM card.

The high price tag of the iPhone X remains for the unlocked models: a 64GB device costs $999 while the 256GB model costs $1,149. Carriers offer the option to pay the price of the smartphone in monthly installments, but those options aren't available when you buy a SIM-free iPhone X. However, Apple does offer its 24-month special financing program for specific credit card customers.

Apple's website indicates that unlocked iPhone Xs ordered today will be delivered on December 13, or they can be picked up in stores today. At the smartphone's launch, many were concerned about shipping delays due to production issues connected with Face ID, but delivery estimates have improved over the past few weeks. While iPhone X shipments began with four- to five-week delivery times, Apple has now shortened those wait times to about a week for most models.

Channel Ars Technica