Did you know that there are various Iphone versions all over the world? We’ve been getting a lot of questions pertaining to the differences of each. Now, what’s the difference among the variants and how do I know which one to buy. Read on.
Is there an iPhone International version?
There is no international iPhone version. An iPhone can be used worldwide as long as it is factory unlocked (in any country in the world). The term “International Version” has been promoted for several years by many online sellers.
Unlike authorized resellers, who can only get iPhones from Apple’s local supplier in their country, third-party sellers mostly import the bulk of their iPhones from entirely different countries or regions.
How to identify different iPhone versions?
An iPhone’s version can be identified using two numbers. First is the Model Number, which points to their Region. And second, the Part Number, which identifies the specific country where Apple intended to sell it. Learn how to identify your iPhone model by its model number and other details here.
What’s the difference among the Iphone versions?
So how do these versions differ? Iphones from different regions would have exactly the same specs such as battery, display, ram, processor, etc. They would also have the same performance. But there could sometimes be a few tiny things that set them apart.
1. 5G and LTE bandwidths
The main difference is their supported cellular bands. Here is a comprehensive post that compares the various bandwidths for the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro Max for each region in 5G and 4G networks.
If an iPhone is not locked to a specific carrier, you can use it anywhere in the world. But it may not be able to connect to certain LTE or 5G bandwidths if it doesn’t support them. For Example, the Canadian iPhone 12 Pro and Pro Max can’t use the n260 (39 GHz) and n261 (28 GHz) 5G bandwidths.
2. Specific country regulations/requirements
The next difference results from specific country requirements. In various countries, service providers and telecom authorities may impose regulations on Apple.
UAE (Dubai) – Middle east iPhone versions
In the United Arab Emirates iPhones don’t have Facetime preinstalled. However, since the advent of iOS 13.6, it has been possible to get facetime working on a UAE-specific iPhone by simply switching to a different country through the phone settings.
Nonetheless, FaceTime still wouldn’t work in the UAE.
Japan – iPhone versions
People who unknowingly buy the Japan iPhone version soon find themselves stuck with an obnoxious shutter sound each time they take a picture. That’s because iPhones made specifically for Japan don’t have the option to turn off the camera shutter sound from the phone settings. And the only way to bypass that would be to either set a silent shutter sound or jailbreak the phone.
Hong Kong / China – iPhone versions
While iPhones from the rest of the world have only one nano sim card slot with the option to use a second mobile number through the e-sim, the Hong Kong and China mainland versions instead have two nano sim card slots. But in the Chinese iPhone, there’s no option to make Audio facetime calls. They only support video facetime calls.
Just keep in mind that any issue that necessitates the phone being replaced cannot be handled outside of Hong Kong/regions that offer dual physical sim variants. You won’t be able to replace the phone in New York or the Philippines if that region sells the e-sim model.
3. Locked iPhones Vs unlocked iPhones
Now, let’s talk about locked, vs unlocked iPhones. Sometimes an iPhone can be sold together with other services under contract by a carrier for a monthly payment. In that case, you would only be able to use the phone with a sim card from that particular carrier throughout the duration of that contract.
The sim lock can usually be removed by entering a special code or numeric password. The unlock codes can be obtained either from the carrier or from third-party companies that sell the codes. On the flip side, a Factory unlocked iPhone is not locked to any specific carrier and can be used with any sim card.
In certain situations, people buy a Factory unlocked iPhone, use it for a few months, and then it gets blocked and becomes totally useless. If that happens, then there are high chances that the phone was reported stolen and Apple has probably blocked it on purpose.
iRentmo offers different iPhone versions according to your preference. Aside from iPhones, they also have MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watch and other Apple accessories available for straight purchase or installment.
References:
http://techandcoolstuff.com/iphone-versions-explained-international-us/
