New generation of iPhone has been officially available and it comes in two versions this time, the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. Apart from considering between a 4.7-inch and a 5.5-inch iPhone, consumers also have to deal with choosing among different models, including A1549, A1586, A1589, A1522, A1524 and A1593.

I see a lot of people buy iPhone 6 in the U.S. or on eBay with global shipping but many of those phones couldn’t work in their countries because there are some iPhone models manufactured for different wireless carriers and markets. They have almost the same tech specs but there are some differences in cellular connectivity. The situation is much better this year as the new iPhone 6/6 Plus features new VoLTE (Voice over LTE) technology, which means you can buy a GSM version and still can use a full range of services on CDMA networks. For example, you can buy a sim-free T-Mobile phone and completely avoid CDMA to use it on Verizon. Some carriers offering VoLTE are T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon in the US; Hutchinson Telecom (3), CSL and SmarTone in Hong Kong; SK Telecom, KT and LG U+ in South Korea and StarHub in Singapore.

Read also: Differences between iPhone 6S Models (A1633, A1634, A1688 and A1687)

As VoLTE hasn’t become popular worldwide yet, I’d recommend you to check carefully so that you can purchase the most compatible one. The model numbers of iPhones can easily be found on the box or on the back cover. The amount of iPhone 6’s model numbers is less than iPhone 5S’, then it is much easier for us to pick the right one. So, what are the differences between those iPhone models? Let’s check them out.

iPhone 6

Buy Factory-Unlocked Apple iPhone 6 on Amazon

The 4.7-inch iPhone 6 comes in 3 model numbers, which are iPhone A1549 (GSM), A1549 (CDMA) and A1586. Here are details of those models:

1. A1549 (GSM): This model is compatible with 4G LTE networks on some major carriers in the US and Canada like AT&T, T-Mobile, Rogers (Fido). It supports following LTE bands: 1 (2100 MHz), 2 (1900 MHz), 3 (1800 MHz), 4 (AWS), 5 (850 MHz), 7 (2600 MHz), 8 (900 MHz), 13 (700c MHz), 17 (700b MHz), 18 (800 MHz), 19 (800 MHz), 20 (800 DD), 25 (1900 MHz), 26 (800 MHz), 28 (700 APT MHz) and 29 (700 de MHz). Besides, the GSM version also works on UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) and GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz).

Read also: iPhone 6 A1549 (T-Mobile) Review

Below are some part numbers of the model:

United States:

iPhone 6 16GB Gold (GSM) T-Mobile MG562LL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Gold (GSM) T-Mobile MG5D2LL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Gold (GSM) T-Mobile MG592LL/A

iPhone 6 16GB Space Gray (GSM) T-Mobile MG542LL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Space Gray (GSM) T-Mobile MG5A2LL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Space Gray (GSM) T-Mobile MG572LL/A

iPhone 6 16GB Silver (GSM) T-Mobile MG552LL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Silver (GSM) T-Mobile MG5C2LL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Silver (GSM) T-Mobile MG582LL/A

iPhone 6 16GB Gold (GSM) AT&T MG4Q2LL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Gold (GSM) AT&T MG502LL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Gold (GSM) AT&T MG4V2LL/A

iPhone 6 16GB Space Gray (GSM) AT&T MG4N2LL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Space Gray (GSM) AT&T MG4W2LL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Space Gray (GSM) AT&T MG4R2LL/A

iPhone 6 16GB Silver (GSM) AT&T MG4P2LL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Silver (GSM) AT&T MG4X2LL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Silver (GSM) AT&T MG4U2LL/A

Canada:

iPhone 6 16GB Gold Unlocked MG3D2CL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Gold Unlocked MG3L2CL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Gold Unlocked MG3G2CL/A

iPhone 6 16GB Space Grey Unlocked MG3A2CL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Space Grey Unlocked MG3H2CL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Space Grey Unlocked MG3E2CL/A

iPhone 6 16GB Silver Unlocked MG3C2CL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Silver Unlocked MG3K2CL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Silver Unlocked MG3F2CL/A

2. A1549 (CDMA): This is considered as the world phone version. It supports all the same spectrum frequencies as the A1549 (GSM) and also includes CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (with 800, 1700/2100, 1900 and 2100 MHz bands). Besides, it works on UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz), GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) and 4G LTE bands include bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29. The model is compatible with Verizon and Cricket in the US. However, if you buy an unlocked Verizon phone, you will be able to use it on any other GSM networks like T-Mobile and AT&T as well. Here are some part numbers of this model:

United States:

iPhone 6 16GB Gold (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MG5Y2LL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Gold (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MG652LL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Gold (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MG622LL/A

iPhone 6 16GB Space Gray (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MG5W2LL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Space Gray (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MG632LL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Space Gray (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MG602LL/A

iPhone 6 16GB Silver (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MG5X2LL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Silver (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MG642LL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Silver (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MG612LL/A

3. A1586: This version is sold locked on some CDMA carriers in the US like C Spire, Sprint and US Cellular. This is the most versatile version but you won’t be able to unlock it easily in the US. Therefore, you have more chances to buy the factory unlocked A1586 in Asia or Europe. The unlocked version is also available on Amazon through some retailers. The model works on CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz), GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) and TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A). Compatible 4G LTE bands are FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29) and TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41 which are corresponding to frequencies 2600 Mhz, 1900 Mhz, 2300 Mhz and 2500 Mhz).

Along with the iPhone 6 Plus A1524, this model supports both TD-SCDMA bands of China Mobile and band 39 for TD-LTE. The bands 38 and 40 are also available, so you absolutely can use LTE in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. The LTE will work on China Mobile Hong Kong, CSL, Hutchison, SmarTone in Hong Kong, Deutsche Telekom, O2, Vodafone in Germany, Optus (Virgin), Telstra, Vodafone in Australia, and 3, EE, O2 (Giffgaff), Vodafone in the UK. Below are part numbers of this model.

United States:

iPhone 6 16GB Gold (CDMA) Sprint MG6C2LL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Gold (CDMA) Sprint MG6J2LL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Gold (CDMA) Sprint MG6F2LL/A

iPhone 6 16GB Space Gray (CDMA) Sprint MG692LL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Space Gray (CDMA) Sprint MG6G2LL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Space Gray (CDMA) Sprint MG6D2LL/A

iPhone 6 16GB Silver (CDMA) Sprint MG6A2LL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Silver (CDMA) Sprint MG6H2LL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Silver (CDMA) Sprint MG6E2LL/A

iPhone 6 16GB Gold Sprint Factory Unlocked MG492LL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Gold Sprint Factory Unlocked MG4J2LL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Gold Sprint Factory Unlocked MG4E2LL/A

iPhone 6 16GB Space Gray Sprint Factory Unlocked MG472LL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Space Gray Sprint Factory Unlocked MG4F2LL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Space Gray Sprint Factory Unlocked MG4A2LL/A

iPhone 6 16GB Silver Sprint Factory Unlocked MG482LL/A

iPhone 6 64GB Silver Sprint Factory Unlocked MG4H2LL/A

iPhone 6 128GB Silver Sprint Factory Unlocked MG4C2LL/A

4. A1589: This version is available exclusively on China Mobile and you should only buy it if you don’t plan to use it on any other carrier. The iPhone 6 A1589 is compatible with TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A) as well as TD-LTE bands 38, 39, 40, 41, and GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz). Notably, the model also supports UMTS (WCDMA)/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) and FDD-LTE (band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29) but they apply only to international roaming. That means 3G and 4G LTE of this phone won’t be compatible with China Telecom and China Unicom.

iPhone 6 Plus

Buy Factory Unlocked Apple iPhone 6 Plus on Amazon

At the moment, the 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus has 3 model numbers, which are A1522 (GSM), A1522 (CDMA) and A1524. Basically, the A1522 (GSM) bands are the same as iPhone A1549 (GSM), A1522 (CDMA)’s bands are the same as A1549 (CDMA), A1593 is the same as A1589 and A1524 is corresponding to the A1586. Details are shown below.

1. A1522 (GSM): This is the popular iPhone 6 Plus version that can work properly on most GSM carriers over the world, including United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. Its compatible bands are GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) and LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29).

Read also: iPhone 6 Plus A1522 (T-Mobile) Review

Here are some known part numbers of the model:

United States:

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Gold (GSM) T-Mobile MGC12LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Gold (GSM) T-Mobile MGC72LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Gold (GSM) T-Mobile MGC42LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Space Gray (GSM) T-Mobile MGAX2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Space Gray (GSM) T-Mobile MGC52LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus128GB Space Gray (GSM) T-Mobile MGC22LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Silver (GSM) T-Mobile MGC02LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Silver (GSM) T-Mobile MGC62LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Silver (GSM) T-Mobile MGC32LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Gold (GSM) AT&T MGAN2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Gold (GSM) AT&T MGAW2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Gold (GSM) AT&T MGAR2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Space Gray (GSM) AT&T MGAL2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Space Gray (GSM) AT&T MGAU2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Space Gray (GSM) AT&T MGAP2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Silver (GSM) AT&T MGAM2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Silver (GSM) AT&T MGAV2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Silver (GSM) AT&T MGAQ2LL/A

Canada

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Gold Unlocked MG9P2CL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Gold Unlocked MG9W2CL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Gold Unlocked MG9T2CL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Space Grey Unlocked MG9M2CL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Space Grey Unlocked MG9U2CL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Space Grey Unlocked MG9Q2CL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Silver Unlocked MG9N2CL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Silver Unlocked MG9V2CL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Silver Unlocked MG9R2CL/A

2. A1522 (CDMA): This is the world phone version of the iPhone 6 Plus, it is the one you get when you buy it through Verizon. As all Verizon iPhones are factory unlocked, it can work on most CDMA and GSM networks in the world. To know if it is compatible with carriers in your country, check out its radio frequencies: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz), GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) and LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29). Some known part numbers are listed below:

United States:

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Gold (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MGCM2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Gold (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MGCU2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Gold (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MGCQ2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Space Gray (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MGCK2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Space Gray (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MGCR2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Space Gray (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MGCN2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Silver (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MGCL2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Silver (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MGCT2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Silver (CDMA) Verizon Wireless MGCP2LL/A

3. A1524: The model is available via Sprint in the US and it is sold locked to the CDMA carrier. However, you can buy the unlocked iPhone 6 Plus in some countries in Asia and Europe like Singapore, Hong Kong, or Japan. It has a wide range of spectrum frequencies and technically it is compatible with any GSM or CDMA operator. However, the problem is that you won’t be able to buy the version easily in the US. If you want to buy the factory unlocked iPhone 6 Plus A1524 in the US, you can look for it on Amazon.

Following are its radio frequencies: CDMA EV-DO Rev. A and Rev. B (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz), TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A), GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz), FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29) and TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41). You will be able to use LTE in Europe and Asia including countries like China, Hong Kong, Japan, France, Germany, Singapore, Australia and the UK. Listed below are some part numbers:

United States:

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Gold (CDMA) Sprint MGCX2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Gold (CDMA) Sprint MGD42LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Gold (CDMA) Sprint MGD12LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Space Gray (CDMA) Sprint MGCV2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Space Gray (CDMA) Sprint MGD22LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Space Gray (CDMA) Sprint MGCY2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Silver (CDMA) Sprint MGCW2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Silver (CDMA) Sprint MGD32LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Silver (CDMA) Sprint MGD02LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Gold Sprint Factory Unlocked MGAA2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Gold Sprint Factory Unlocked MGAK2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Gold Sprint Factory Unlocked MGAF2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Space Gray Sprint Factory Unlocked MGA82LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Space Gray Sprint Factory Unlocked MGAH2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Space Gray Sprint Factory Unlocked MGAC2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 16GB Silver Sprint Factory Unlocked MGA92LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 64GB Silver Sprint Factory Unlocked MGAJ2LL/A

iPhone 6 Plus 128GB Silver Sprint Factory Unlocked MGAE2LL/A

4. A1593: This version is distributed exclusively by China Mobile, the largest carrier in China. Therefore, you shouldn’t buy it if you want to use on other carriers. It supports TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A), TD-LTE (bands 38, 39, 40, 41) and GSM / EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz). Some bands of UMTS(WCDMA) /HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) and FDD-LTE (band 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 29) are also available but they can’t be used inside mainland China, they work only for international roaming purposes.

Leave a comment below if you have any issue picking a suitable iPhone 6 or iPhone 6S model. I’d love to help.