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iPad US iPad air in UK

T

themoffster

macrumors regular
Original poster
Apr 26, 2011
151
0
Aside from changing the plug connector from the US to the UK variety, is there anything that I need to do to make this 'work'?
Is there anything restricted?
Do i need a US itunes account?

I take it the models are all identical regardless of where you bought them?

thanks
 
good questions

my parents are bringing me one back as a gift from USA next week! I hadn't thought about the wrong plug hah
 
themoffster said:
Aside from changing the plug connector from the US to the UK variety, is there anything that I need to do to make this 'work'?
Is there anything restricted?
Do i need a US itunes account?

I take it the models are all identical regardless of where you bought them?

thanks
Click to expand...

No, you wouldn't need a US iTunes account, have you got an existing UK iTunes account already? During the initial set up just enter those details as per.

There would be no restrictions either; and from what I can gather from the US and UK online Store they support the same LTE bands, too, unless yours is just a WiFi only model?
 
Yeah. I'm looking at a wifi only model.
I'm just not wanting to be burned buying something imported from the states that doesn't work as I expected.

I am right in saying I can plug it into UK mains without any converters by just changing the plug to a uk one without any issues?
 
themoffster said:
Yeah. I'm looking at a wifi only model.
I'm just not wanting to be burned buying something imported from the states that doesn't work as I expected.

I am right in saying I can plug it into UK mains without any converters by just changing the plug to a uk one without any issues?
Click to expand...

Yes, the cable is just that - a cable - so changing the power 'brick' (they're tiny now! :p ) which is integrated in the plug will work fine.
 
I have British family members who visit us regularly in California and someone always buys a wifi iPad here to take home. Other than the plug there is no issue whatsoever. My mother-in-law even had her US-bought iPad serviced by Apple in the UK under warranty (it was bricked by the iOS 7 update).
I've used my AT&T iPad in the UK on Three (3G only) no problem too.
 
Similar story to me now that I think about it

My current iPad mini is from USA and had ghost screen. The warranty is international with the receipt.

On the taxes, there is a limit to the total value of gifts you can bring back before and import duties apply so as long as people stay within there shouldn't be a problem

And you can get the uk plugs in USA as well, if the store are really nice they will swap the one in the box... They did for my mini anyway
 
No issues whatsoever. I recently bought an retina iPad mini from CA which I use now in Vienna, Austria and have used in the UK as well.
 
cambookpro said:
Yes, the cable is just that - a cable - so changing the power 'brick' (they're tiny now! :p ) which is integrated in the plug will work fine.
Click to expand...

The power brick will most likely handle 100 Volt to 240 Volt (it's printed on the brick, so you can check it), so you won't need an expensive power brick but only a cheap adapter for the plug. Of course that's a bit ugly, so you might decide to buy a new power brick instead.
 
njsapple2012 said:
Outside of the various additional taxes and import charges, no there isn't...!
Click to expand...

What additional taxes and import charges? I bought two 32GB iPad Airs from Miami and didn't have to pay any additional or import charges.

No issues at all, as stated, just the plug, and a slightly slimmer box than the UK box (due to the UK plug being bigger than US)
 
tomhall said:
What additional taxes and import charges? I bought two 32GB iPad Airs from Miami and didn't have to pay any additional or import charges.

No issues at all, as stated, just the plug, and a slightly slimmer box than the UK box (due to the UK plug being bigger than US)
Click to expand...

Legally. I believe you are suppose to declare anything of value (higher than X amount) and pay import VAT taxes on the iPad.

But we all know most won't.
 
What about the WiFi radio? I "think" Europe supports different wireless N channels than the US. On the 2.4 GHz Europe supports more, but the 5 GHz they support less ... do not quote me here. Maybe its location based and the iPad "knows" what channels it can use?

Edit:

Looking at the LTE model numbers ... they are the same for the US and the UK ... so I think the iPad just figures it out and makes available the extra channels.
 
Last edited:
No issues as long as it's the wifi only model.

Picked one up in New Zealand last year and brought it back, just changed the plug and all is good.
 
themoffster said:
Aside from changing the plug connector from the US to the UK variety, is there anything that I need to do to make this 'work'?
Is there anything restricted?
Do i need a US itunes account?

I take it the models are all identical regardless of where you bought them?

thanks
Click to expand...

Not a problem. I would just check for the warranty, but I believe Apple will honor it. One thing I noticed that the iPad has the option to choose countries during initial set up, so I assume it should work in the UK.
 
the warranty 100% words, see my post above regarding my story

just keep the receipt, and buy it on a credit card for extra protection
 
It works both ways . I bought my rMini in France and when traveling in the US just changed the plug and it worked perfectly.
 
themoffster said:
Aside from changing the plug connector from the US to the UK variety, is there anything that I need to do to make this 'work'?
Is there anything restricted?
Do i need a US itunes account?

I take it the models are all identical regardless of where you bought them?

thanks
Click to expand...

Now they are; including the radio bands. I've used mine abroad no problem except for Australia; where I had to turn the screen upside down in order to view items right side up.
 
just a quick update.
bought a US import in the UK and changed the power plug attchment and had no issues at all
 
nviz22 said:
Not a problem. I would just check for the warranty, but I believe Apple will honor it. One thing I noticed that the iPad has the option to choose countries during initial set up, so I assume it should work in the UK.
Click to expand...

You have the 1 year manufacturer's warranty, which is valid world wide for any Apple product. You won't have UK statutory rights, since the store you bought from is not in the UK.
 
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