Carrier US and China SE models support same frequency bands, neither lists support for the other country, why? Will they work anyway?

[Cake9437]

I want to buy the new Iphone SE, but I need to be sure that it will work when i travel between the US and China. Can you help me?

I went to the apple store to purchase one today but was told that the model I wanted to buy, an unlocked A2275 (US) is only supported in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. China's version of the new SE is said to only be supported in Mainland China.

However, All of the LTE bands supported for both phones are exactly the same. Does this mean that either one will work in either country? and other countries too? Will Data and phone calls be able to received or only phone calls or only data? If they are compatible, why would Apple not say so? why would the man at the Apple store tell me the phone i wanted to buy is incompatible in China?

This is very interesting. This information is posted by Apple here:

iPhone - Supported 5G and LTE networks

See the countries and regions that have certified 5G and LTE networks on iPhone including the U.S., Canada, Japan, Germany, China mainland, and more.

www.apple.com

Here is a side by side comparison of the supported frequency bands:

Thank you so much for your help I will be monitoring this thread for your reply.

 

[kevink2]

I think supported means that you can take it to an Apple store, assuming open, and get support. Not that the phone will/won't work.

An US Apple store won't have a Chinese model for swap if needed, for example.

 

[Cake9437]

I think supported means that you can take it to an Apple store, assuming open, and get support. Not that the phone will/won't work.

An US Apple store won't have a Chinese model for swap if needed, for example.

Okay, but do you think I can get full data and phone service on Chinese networks with this phone or it will only receive partial and intermittent connections?

 

[JPack]

Okay, but do you think I can get full data and phone service on Chinese networks with this phone or it will only receive partial and intermittent connections?

Yes, people have been doing this for years as some consumers want the true dual-SIM feature on the Chinese model.

 

[Shirasaki]

iPhone and modem nowadays are so mature, there is barely any moment where most international travellers have to do extensive research or even carry multiple devices to cope with different bands etc. For me, the iPhone I bought in Australia can be used in China with no drawback whatsoever.

Something you do need to keep in mind is iPhone sold in China has FaceTime audio disabled, does not support eSIM and has a slightly more complicated wireless connection (wifi and mobile data) management tool. China Mobile and China Unicom both should support a US device connecting to their tower with no issue.
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Yes, people have been doing this for years as some consumers want the true dual-SIM feature on the Chinese model.

At the cost of FaceTime audio.

 

[Cake9437]

iPhone and modem nowadays are so mature, there is barely any moment where most international travellers have to do extensive research or even carry multiple devices to cope with different bands etc. For me, the iPhone I bought in Australia can be used in China with no drawback whatsoever.

Something you do need to keep in mind is iPhone sold in China has FaceTime audio disabled, does not support eSIM and has a slightly more complicated wireless connection (wifi and mobile data) management tool. China Mobile and China Unicom both should support a US device connecting to their tower with no issue.
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At the cost of FaceTime audio.

This is great news! I'm still really surprised they wouldn't say it would work abroad when it will. Why do you think they wouldn't mention it and say there's no support in those countries for the US device?
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Additionally, What is eSIM? After looking it up it looks like it is an embedded sim card? What advantage would there be to that? I don't see one as a consumer

 

[Shirasaki]

This is great news! I'm still really surprised they wouldn't say it would work abroad when it will. Why do you think they wouldn't mention it and say there's no support in those countries for the US device?
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Additionally, What is eSIM? After looking it up it looks like it is an embedded sim card? What advantage would there be to that? I don't see one as a consumer

Apple device warranty is essentially separated into two parts: China, everywhere outside China (including Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR and Taiwan). Depending on the region the warranty policy will be different of course, but if you buy AppleCare, Apple says you can enjoy services wherever you go, except in China. Chinese device won’t be able to receive service outside China and US device won’t be able to receive service inside China. I could be wrong as all above are told by Apple store staff.

Regarding eSIM, it is an electronic version of SIM card. It can theoretically achieve easy service swap and eliminate physical contact issue. Also it has the potential to save device internal space. (SIM card tray is huge) However, due to “national security” concern (CCP having no power to control eSIM), China iPhone don't have eSIM. For customer, I think the benefit is just for easy service swap and maybe a bit better connection quality.

 

[Cake9437]

Okay, Thank you for clarifying. So the phone will be functional everywhere I go in the US and China for data, phone calling, and text messaging, as long as there is a physical SIM card in it? But AppleCare will not be offered for my device in China, is that all correct?

If so I will buy it.

 

[nicho]

Yes, people have been doing this for years as some consumers want the true dual-SIM feature on the Chinese model.

They shouldn't be buying an iPhone SE then...
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This is great news! I'm still really surprised they wouldn't say it would work abroad when it will. Why do you think they wouldn't mention it and say there's no support in those countries for the US device?

Have you thought of - here's a crazy idea - reading the paragraph at the top of the page you linked?

This page isn't a complete list of places that a particular model of iPhone might work. It's a list of the places that Apple and networks are sure that each model will definitely work. A US carrier cannot certify their network on a model sold only in China. A Chinese network cannot certify their network on a model not sold in China.

They are distinct models. The differences shouldn't affect network operation (lack of Facetime Audio, and lack of eSIM - in the case of the SE there's no dual nano-sim function, it's just a single sim phone) but neither the carriers nor Apple can promise that they won't.

 

[iDron]

Do you realize the phone bands of the iPhones sold in HK are the same to those in europe?

 

[Shirasaki]

Okay, Thank you for clarifying. So the phone will be functional everywhere I go in the US and China for data, phone calling, and text messaging, as long as there is a physical SIM card in it? But AppleCare will not be offered for my device in China, is that all correct?

If so I will buy it.

AppleCare in China will be invalid anywhere else. US AppleCare will be invalid in China. But your data/text/phone call should be fine.

 

[Cake9437]

AppleCare in China will be invalid anywhere else. US AppleCare will be invalid in China. But your data/text/phone call should be fine.

Thank you, I will buy it thanks to your advice.