AT&T Moto X on T-Mobile

[clutch51]

Hello all,

I have the chance to snag an unopened, unactivated AT&T Moto X for a song but would like to use it on T-Mobile. I've looked at so many phones the last couple of weeks that I feel like my eyes are about to pop out of my head and have come to realize that just because a phone is GSM doesn't mean it will work as intended on any GSM carrier. Sometimes missing just one band can put a damper on the experience.

So, what I am trying to find out is if the AT&T Moto X will work on T-Mobile just as if I were to order to T-Mobile Moto X directly from Moto-Maker.

I've only been able to track down one source from PCmag that points out a potential problem: "...it's the only Moto X which supports T-Mobile's HSPA+ 42 network on the AWS band. The AT&T-compatible Moto X*supports T-Mobile's LTE, but not the HSPA band, which means that if you fall off of LTE you'll be in T-Mobile's much more limited, slower 1900MHz HSPA+ 21 coverage."

So, am I better off spending the extra money to get the T-Mobile version or is this poppycock (as my grandmother would say)? If I buy the T-Mobile version and then take it to AT&T or Aio or Straight Talk then am I going to run into the same problem, only in reverse?

I am in Fort Worth, Texas if it makes any difference...


tl;dr: Are the AT&T and T-Mobile Moto X variants identical or will different radio calibrations lead to frustration? What exactly do I lose?

Thanks for any help and happy Thanksgiving!

 

[Rukbat]

Is it poppycock? No. Will it matter? If you're doing high speed data and you get into an area where there's no LTE, yes. Will that matter to YOU? Only you can answer that. Is saving a whole bunch of bucks more or less important than occasionally/very often/sometimes having a slower data connection? Since 99% of my high speed data is done on wifi, it wouldn't make any difference to me. I don't care how many microseconds it takes my GPS to update when I turn a corner.

 

[clutch51]

Thanks for the level headed answer, Rukbat.

One more question, if you don't mind. Ive read that the T-Mobile and Developer editions are identical but for two caveats:

1. You can't customize the developer edition (no concern here)
2. T-Mobile version can only be had in 16GB and not 32GB (this does concern me a bit)

Can I not order a 32GB T-Mobile Moto X? Has to be 16GB?

 

[alostpacket]

You can use motomaker and get a 32GB Moto X for T-mobile now.