Apple has begun offering the iPhone XR in the U.S. for purchase outright without a carrier contract, less than a month after the device initially went on sale.
Apple normally launches new iPhone models in the U.S. only for purchase with specific carriers, presumably to prioritize availability for carrier partners and discourage people from purchasing iPhones for the express purpose of reselling them.
While the iPhone XS actually was available SIM-free on launch day, this was not the case with the iPhone XR, perhaps due to a more limited supply. SIM-free iPhone models come unlocked and can be used on any supported carrier worldwide, and prices for the SIM-free versions of the iPhone XR range from $749 for the 64 GB model to $899 for the 256 GB capacity.
