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The iPhone in Germany and Europe

Das iPhone in Deutschland: Buying an iPhone for Germany

Also see our iPhone FAQ below.

If you already own a recent iPhone model, then see Part 2: Using an iPhone in Germany.

You have two basic choices when it comes to acquiring a new iPhone:

1. Buy an unlocked phone outright from Apple or a carrier.
2. Lease the phone monthly from Apple or a carrier.

Option 1 is your best option because it means you have an unlocked phone that you can use with any wireless service provider, simply by switching SIM cards (or using Apple’s new eSIM). Paying for your iPhone up front gives you maximum freedom, especially if you’ll be traveling a lot or living overseas (outside the US or Canada). Business travelers and expats know that having an unlocked phone is vital. Apple’s new eSIM option now also makes it possible to have two different phone numbers on a single phone, for instance, one number/account for U.S. callers, and a second number/account for German callers. More about this below.

Option 2 can be a good choice if you do it right. Usually a contract lease ties you to a specific carrier, but you don’t have to come up with a $600 to $1200 payment (or more in Europe) right up front. Now that the major US wireless phone carriers have generally moved away from the two-year-contract model, it is easier to obtain an unlocked iPhone or other smartphone. But not all carriers allow you to have an unlocked phone that isn’t fully paid for.

Where to Buy Your iPhone

One key thing: Whether you buy or lease a new iPhone, it will cost less in North America than in Europe and just about anywhere else. If you can buy your new iPhone in the US or Canada, it will save you money compared to paying for the exact same phone in euros. And it’s not just the exchange rate that makes the difference. Apple has always priced its phones higher in Europe than in North America, even adjusting for the built-in sales tax (VAT) in most European price tags.

The table below compares the cost of the iPhone 12 (64 GB) and iPhone 12 Pro (128 GB) models (more memory costs more) purchased in the USA versus Germany. Note that the optional AppleCare+ 24-month iPhone warranty costs $199 in the US and €229 in Germany. In the US, you can add theft-and-loss coverage for an additional $100 ($299 total). That option is not available in Germany. Some previous iPhone models are still available from Apple. The new iPhone 12 has a reduced price with a qualified trade-in (“ab 689 € mit Eintausch”). Check with Apple for current pricing.

If you travel often or spend a lot of time in Europe, there are a few things you need to know in order to be a happy iPhone or mobile phone user abroad. Number one is having an unlocked phone. Number two is making sure you have a GSM phone that also works on Europe’s 4G/LTE/5G mobile networks and its frequencies. (5G coverage is still limited in the US and in Europe.)

The Unlocked Revolution
Europeans have long seen the advantages of buying an unlocked mobile phone, but until recently there was little advantage for Americans to do the same thing – unless they traveled abroad a lot. It’s difficult to believe, but true, that Apple didn’t even offer unlocked, contract-free iPhones in the US until June 2011, four years after the first iPhone was introduced in 2007. It’s also shocking to know that AT&T refused to unlock an iPhone, even if the 24-month contract had expired, until 2012. But these days that’s no longer a problem. AT&T will happily unlock your iPhone if it is no longer under contract. See How to Get Your US iPhone Unlocked in Part 2.

GSM and the SIM Card
In the United States, all three major cell phone carriers use the same GSM technology that is used in all of Europe and over 200 countries worldwide. AT&T, T-Mobile USA (a German company), and Verizon now use GSM and SIM card technology. (Sprint is now part of T-Mobile.) Newer iPhone models have a SIM card slot and can be used in Europe. But be aware! Make sure your iPhone is a multi-band model that will work overseas if you travel a lot.

Expats or world travelers who buy a smartphone in the US should make sure it is a multi-band, GSM-capable device. All newer iPhones are, but for full capability it is best to buy an unlocked phone directly from Apple or from a carrier. Apple also sells unlocked iPhones in partnership with T-Mobile and other providers. You buy the iPhone online, complete with a T-Mobile SIM card, and then set it up with the T-Mobile talk and data plan you want.

FAQ: Buying an iPhone for Germany and Europe

• I have an unlocked iPhone (6 or later). Can I use it in Europe?
  Yes. See Part 2 of this article for more about your options.
• Can I buy an unlocked iPhone in Europe/Germany?
  Yes, you can, but it will cost more than the same iPhone model purchased in the US, even adjusting for US sales tax. If you can, buy an unlocked iPhone in the United States. It is also possible to buy a low-cost, contract (locked) iPhone from a German carrier, but that usually requires residence and a German bank account.
• An unlocked iPhone is fairly expensive. Can I get a used one for Europe?
  Yes. I still use my old (AT&T) iPhone 6 as my “Europe phone” with a German SIM. Apple and others sell “reconditioned” iPhones that are perfectly suitable for use as a world phone. Just make sure that any used iPhone you buy has a SIM card slot so it will work in Europe. Also see our buying tips for getting an unlocked iPhone on an installment plan (below).
• Are there Military Exceptions to allow an iPhone to be unlocked early for deployments?
  Yes. If you are deployed internationally or receive orders for international deployment, providers must unlock your device upon verification of deployment under new FCC standards. Contact your mobile service provider, provide verification of your deployment, and request that your device(s) be unlocked. (Source: fcc.gov)
• Can I keep all my data, photos and apps after I unlock my iPhone, or if I get a new iPhone?
  Yes. Make sure your current iPhone is backed up using iCloud or iTunes. When you have the new iPhone you can restore your data from your backup. (See this Apple support page for more.) – If you’re replacing an Android or Windows phone, check with your provider on how to make the conversion. Also see this digitaltrends.com guide to making the Android to iOS conversion.
• I’d prefer to buy an Android smartphone. Which ones work in Europe and Germany?
  Samsung and other smartphone makers sell many models that work well in the US and Europe. See our GW Expat Blog post for more on this topic.

A Telekom store in Stuttgart, Germany. The new “Magenta” plan allows you to use a German SIM-card on a prepaid plan. PHOTO: Hyde Flippo

The SIM Card
It was not that many years ago that most Americans had never even heard of a SIM card, much less used one! The GSM mobile phone technology used in Europe has always required a SIM card. The iPhone also has one, but most users don’t even know how to access it.

The iPhone micro-SIM card (top) is less than half the size of a normal SIM card. The newer iPhones use an even smaller nano SIM card.
PHOTO: PCWorld

A SIM card allows a single mobile phone to be used on two or more different networks from different providers, depending on which card you’re using. That is one of the many useful and money-saving tips we offer on our cell phone pages. The new eSIM technology that works in the United States and nine other countries (including Austria and Germany) uses a tiny built-in chip that is activated electronically. Like dual-SIM phones, the eSIM allows you to have two numbers on one phone. Unlike the old SIM cards, you don’t need to insert a second SIM card into your phone to use the feature.

Below you can learn how to buy an iPhone that is ready for Europe.

Buying an iPhone from T-Mobile in the USA
A good iPhone option for US consumers comes from German-owned T-Mobile. Ironically, despite the fact that T-Mobile in Germany was the exclusive iPhone provider there until other German providers also got the iPhone, T-Mobile in the US did not offer the iPhone until April 2013. If you don’t want to lay out the cash for an unlocked iPhone from Apple, T-Mobile offers a monthly plan (with SIM card) that may be an attractive option. T-Mobile USA also offers good rates for calls made on a US iPhone to or from Mexico, Canada, and much of Europe when you are traveling, much lower than AT&T.

The US online Apple Store also offers a no-contract T-Mobile option that includes the cost of the SIM card. (Check with T-Mobile for their current pricing.) Apple now also offers an installment plan for an unlocked phone, but only in its physical stores in the US. See more below.

With T-Mobile you can easily see how the costs are divided, and how much the iPhone costs. AT&T now offers a similar plan called Next. See Apple’s Compare iPhone models for current specs and pricing from Apple, T-Mobile and other carriers.

The big advantage of buying an unlocked iPhone is the freedom and lower-cost options it gives you. If you’re going to be using your iPhone frequently in Germany, Europe or most of the rest of the world, then buying an unlocked iPhone makes a lot of sense. You can avoid high roaming charges by using various local prepaid plans. You simply insert a new nano or micro-SIM card into your iPhone (or use an eSIM).

eSIM (embedded SIM card) Introduced in Apple’s iPhone Xs and Xr models, eSIM makes it easy to have two different numbers on the same phone. Unlike current SIM cards, which are pieces of plastic with a chip, the eSIM is a tiny built-in (embedded) device that is activated electronically, eliminating the need for a second SIM card slot. Some Android phones offer a dual-chip option that uses two SIM trays. The eSIM achieves the same result without having to insert a second SIM card. The eSIM will be of particular interest for business people and others who want a single phone with both a US number and a German number.

The old iPhone’s micro-SIM card slot is at the top of the phone next to the earphone jack. You open it by inserting the end of an unfolded paperclip into the small hole next to the slot. The iPhone 6/6s and 5s/c used an even smaller nano-SIM card. The iPad Air 2 with Wi-Fi + cellular even features a “switchable” SIM that does not require removing the SIM card at all. This eSIM tech has now come to the iPhone.

Buying an iPhone from Apple, AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon
With the introduction of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus in September 2015, Apple also introduced a new purchase option: an installment plan for an unlocked iPhone. Now with Apple’s latest iPhone models, it’s the same deal. That’s a good thing, but it makes it a little more confusing to decide which way to go. Here are some buying tips:

APPLE: Yes, you can now buy an unlocked iPhone from Apple with monthly installments. Some would call Apple’s “iPhone Upgrade Program” new-phone-each-year deal a lease arrangement, but you also have the option of paying off the phone and keeping it.

The AppleCare+ warranty is now an optional add-on, but there is now a new theft-and-loss option at extra cost. You’ll end up paying the same as you would buying an iPhone and AppleCare outright.

AT&T: This is actually a hybrid plan, both an upgrade plan and a financing plan. Similar to Apple, you pay for the phone month to month and can keep it once everything is paid off. But you also have the option of trading the phone in about six months before it’s fully paid for and swapping it for a new one. Upgrading early is not such a good deal, but if you use this plan as a financing option, it’s about the same as what you’ll get anywhere else. You still end up owning the phone without paying a big premium.

But AT&T’s financing plan can be a little confusing. AT&T names its plans after how many months you have to wait before you can upgrade, not how many months before your device is paid off. A good option is AT&T’s Next 18 plan, which divides the phone’s cost across two years (24 months). It’s really a lot like the old standard two-year phone contract, except you can get a new phone after 18 months. If you’re smart, you’ll keep it until it’s paid in full (24 months), and you’ve got an unlocked iPhone that can be used with any GSM carrier in the world. Check with AT&T for their current iPhone offers.

T-MOBILE: All of T-Mobile’s plans look alike. As long as you avoid any plan that has “Jump” in its name, you’ll end up with a standard 24-month financing plan. The prices are the same as buying through Apple.

MY UNPAID ENDORSEMENT: When I traveled in Europe in fall 2016, I took my unlocked T-Mobile USA iPhone 6s with me (as well as my old unlocked 5s to use with a German SIM card). Thanks to T-Mobile, I enjoyed free data. Voice calls cost only 20 cents a minute. When my tax preparer happened to call me from the USA, we talked for six minutes and that only cost me $1.20 USD. (AT&T charges almost that much for a minute!) The convenience of using my US cell phone number during the trip was certainly worth 20 cents/min. No, I did not use it a lot, but I enjoyed having the option. I was also able to check my email on my iPhone when I had no Wi-Fi (W-LAN in German). T-Mobile’s roaming plan also applies to Canada, Mexico, most of Europe, and some other parts of the world. (Check with T-Mobile for their current pricing.)

Verizon also offers its own iPhone plans, and their newer technology is GSM, just like the others.

Cancellation: If you leave any carrier before the phone is paid off, of course you’ll have to pay any remaining balance.

Cost of Buying an iPhone in Germany versus the USA

One thing is very clear: If you want to buy an unlocked iPhone, buy it in the US! You’ll save a lot of money. In most cases, the cost of an unlocked iPhone bought in Europe (even adjusting for VAT/sales tax) is over $200 more expensive than one acquired in the US. See the cost comparison chart above.

The iPhone 11 Pro features a dazzling OLED Super Retina XDR screen and three cameras: telephoto, wide, and ultra wide. The new iPhone 12 Pro looks similar. PHOTO: Apple

Buying an iPhone in Germany

Okay, you’re in Europe and you don’t have the option of buying an iPhone in the US right now. Or you have an iPhone already in Germany. Here’s what you need to know…

O2, Telekom, or Vodafone
In Germany you can buy an unlocked or contract (mit Vertrag) iPhone from most of the major providers: O2, Telekom, and Vodafone offer the iPhone with a monthly plan. Apple Germany now also sells iPhones without a contract. More below.

• WEB > Telekom – iPhones (in German)
• WEB > Telekom – Smartphone-Tarife – MagentaMobil (in German, all smartphones)

NOTE: We are not responsible for the content of external websites that we link to.

Buying an iPhone from an Apple Store in Germany
As in the US now, Apple in Germany also sells the iPhone unlocked. (The unlocked version can only be purchased online from the German or Austrian Apple Stores.) There are currently 15 official Apple Stores open for business in Germany. Besides the German online Apple Store, there are Apple retail outlets in Augsburg, Berlin, Cologne (2), Dresden, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt am Main (2), Hamburg (2), Hanover, Munich (2), Oberhausen, and Sindelfingen (Stuttgart area). We have a complete list of Apple Stores in Austria, Germany and Switzerland with links.

Buying a Contract Phone in Germany
If you plan to be in Germany for two years or more, you can now buy an iPhone from Telekom or the other German providers (O2, Vodafone) with special offers. See a store in Germany or go online to find the best iPhone deals in Germany. Also see the links above.

Apple Stores in D, A, and CH
See our guide to physical, brick-and-mortar Apple Stores in Germany, Austria (Vienna), and Switzerland with locations and opening hours: Apple Stores in Germany and Switzerland.

Next | iPhone in Germany – Part 2

Related Pages
AT THE GERMAN WAY

• Cell Phones in Germany and Europe – “Handy” Cell Phone Tips – Useful advice for using a wireless phone in North America and Germany / Europe – and saving money.
• Mobile Phone Tech Glossary – Our handy guide to the terms used for iPhones and other smartphones, in plain English. What is CDMA, GSM, or eSIM?
• Apple Stores in Germany and Switzerland – with links
• “Handy” Cell Phone Tips – Part 2 – First-hand tips on using a wireless phone in North America and Germany / Europe
• Telephone Tips – Getting phone service and using a phone in Germany and Europe
• Electrical Facts – Some shocking facts about electrical appliances in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland.
• Living in Germany – Advice and links for expats in German-speaking Europe.
• Hedy Lamarr – The Austrian actress was the co-inventor of “frequency hopping”—a technology that later became known as spread spectrum, a technology adapted for cell phones.

ON THE WEB

• GSM – Wikipedia – About the GSM mobile system used by 80 percent of the world’s mobile phone users
• Full List of GSM Countries – with coverage maps, plus non-GSM countries such as Japan and Korea (from mobileworldlive.com)