Key Differences Between US, Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, and China iPhones
Recently, many friends have messaged me asking for recommendations on a smartphone. As a seasoned mobile phone enthusiast, aside from the telecom contract phone I previously purchased, I have bought various versions including the Chinese version, American version, Japanese version, and Macao version, but I have only bought the Hong Kong version once.
Prices vary, with the Chinese version being the most expensive, followed by the Hong Kong version, Macao version, Japanese version, and American version. The price differences can be several hundred. Today, I will introduce some differences, but the distinctions between the 4th and 5th generations differ, so we will mainly discuss the differences from the 6th generation onward, as you probably won't be buying the 4th or 5th generation anymore.
First, the back cover of the Chinese version has Chinese characters, and the Wi-Fi setting is labeled as "Wireless Network." The Chinese version supports all three networks, meaning it is a full-network 4G phone. Of course, since it is the Chinese version, it comes with nationwide warranty service, allowing for direct replacement if issues arise.
The Hong Kong version is the local version sold in Hong Kong, which can also enjoy warranty service in mainland China, but it has become stricter recently, requiring a receipt for warranty service in mainland China. This is due to some unscrupulous merchants who have attempted to defraud warranty services with problematic devices, leading Apple to enforce stricter policies. The Hong Kong version does not support telecom 4G, but supports 4G for China Mobile and China Unicom, so I generally recommend my friends to buy the American version.
The Macao version is the local version sold in Macao, which is quite good as it supports full-network 4G, similar to the Chinese version. I am not sure about the warranty service because I have never had to warranty a Macao version I sold.
The Japanese version is a bit more complicated, as there are many carriers like AU, DoCoMo, and SoftBank. However, regardless of the version, Japanese phones have a characteristic: they make a shutter sound when taking photos, which cannot be turned off. This is because Japanese people dislike covert photography; if you want to take pictures of something or someone in Japan, you need to ask for permission in advance, or it is considered impolite.
The American version used to have S and V versions, along with some smaller carriers that I won't discuss. The S version is a full-network 4G phone, while the V version does not support China Mobile's 4G. The S version and the Japanese SB version are essentially the same, as the American S version is from the US carrier Sprint, which has been acquired by Japan's SoftBank. Aside from the shutter sound, the two versions are essentially identical. Warranty service is not available since you are not in the US, and last year many unscrupulous merchants assembled fake iPhones with counterfeit motherboards to defraud Apple, which has made Apple stricter with warranty services for Chinese customers.
