iPad mini Will a US iPad mini be unlocked in the UK?

[Yixian]

Looking to buy an iPad mini from the US and have a friend post it over to avoid Apple's disgusting conversion rate.

On the store it says:

"iPad mini with Wi-Fi + Cellular can roam worldwide on GSM/UMTS networks. In countries without compatible LTE networks, iPad mini will operate on GSM network technologies such as HSPA+ and DC-HSDPA. When you travel internationally, you can use a nano-SIM card from a local carrier."

Does that mean that when outside the US, the iPad mini is effectively unlocked and will take any sim card, and only in the US are you tied to one carrier?

 

[aneftp]

All USA iPads are sold unlocked for GSM use anywhere in the world including Verizon LTE iPad and obviously ATT iPad.

U may want to check LTE bands supported cause USA iPads may not support same LTE bands as UK iPads. But u will get at least hspa plus speeds.

 

[jakeruston]

It isn't a disgusting conversion rate.

When you buy it in the UK you're charged a flat 20% rate on top of the fee, unlike in the US.

So if you convert $329 into £ using today's exchange rate you get £204, where 20% VAT must be added on giving a cost of £244.80. When you factor in distribution costs you realise that the price is pretty much fair.

Obviously they have to add a little bit to the price too for exchange rate fluctuations, so if the exchange rate changes in the upcoming months they don't need to increase the price to maintain their average profit margins.

 

[Yixian]

It isn't a disgusting conversion rate.

When you buy it in the UK you're charged a flat 20% rate on top of the fee, unlike in the US.

So if you convert $329 into £ using today's exchange rate you get £204, where 20% VAT must be added on giving a cost of £244.80. When you factor in distribution costs you realise that the price is pretty much fair.

Obviously they have to add a little bit to the price too for exchange rate fluctuations, so if the exchange rate changes in the upcoming months they don't need to increase the price to maintain their average profit margins.

I can get a 16gb 4G iPad mini for almost 100 quid cheaper in the US, that's all I care about.




Do we know if the US/EU models will have different bandwidths? Not that 4G is anywhere near primetime in Europe anyway...

 

[aneftp]

Doesn't UK with 2 year warranty? In USA we only have 1 year.

Also some sales taxes in the USA are close to 7-10% sales tax rates.

 

[Yixian]

Doesn't UK with 2 year warranty? In USA we only have 1 year.

Also some sales taxes in the USA are close to 7-10% sales tax rates.

Getting mine in either NY or FL, that's 4 or 6%, roughly a quarter that of the UK.

Lol, just checked the conversion on the retina 13" MBP... 450 quid in it, unbelievable.

 

[jakeruston]

I can get a 16gb 4G iPad mini for almost 100 quid cheaper in the US, that's all I care about.




Do we know if the US/EU models will have different bandwidths? Not that 4G is anywhere near primetime in Europe anyway...

You'll have to pay the VAT on it when it arrives in the UK as it'll go through customs. So you probably won't save much, if anything at all.

There are two different 4G models of the iPad Mini, I imagine one is for the US and one for Europe, they both support different 4G bands. So I wouldn't guarantee that you could use the 4G in the UK on it.

 

[jedivulcan]

http://www.apple.com/ipad/LTE/

 

[aneftp]

You'll have to pay the VAT on it when it arrives in the UK as it'll go through customs. So you probably won't save much, if anything at all.

There are two different 4G models of the iPad Mini, I imagine one is for the US and one for Europe, they both support different 4G bands. So I wouldn't guarantee that you could use the 4G in the UK on it.

Hide or dump the iPad box and don't declare to customs. They will never know.

 

[nataliamck]

My friend is picking mine up in New York at the end of November.

How much will a 16GB wifi only cost in total in dollars in New York with tax included?

 

[Yixian]

You'll have to pay the VAT on it when it arrives in the UK as it'll go through customs. So you probably won't save much, if anything at all.

There are two different 4G models of the iPad Mini, I imagine one is for the US and one for Europe, they both support different 4G bands. So I wouldn't guarantee that you could use the 4G in the UK on it.

Gift wrapped and labeled as a gift = avoid customs.

And looks like a Sprint/Verizon model is the same as the EU model.

Sorted, buying one tomorrow.

 

[ckc]

Gift wrapped and labeled as a gift = avoid customs.

And looks like a Sprint/Verizon model is the same as the EU model.

Sorted, buying one tomorrow.

It is worth bearing in mind that if anything goes wrong with your iPad or it is damaged Apple in the UK will not handle the repair / replacement. The warranty is country specific, not international, so you would need to return it to the USA.

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Doesn't UK with 2 year warranty? In USA we only have 1 year.

Also some sales taxes in the USA are close to 7-10% sales tax rates.

The UK warranty is for 12 months with an option to take a further 12 months cover before the original warranty expires.

 

[footagehead]

Will a US iPad Mini be unlocked in the UK

Getting mine in either NY or FL, that's 4 or 6%, roughly a quarter that of the UK.

@Yixian, yeah sure, those were the sales tax rates in the 1970's,
Florida is 7% and NY is 8.8% .

Do your math and be sure, and hopefully your friend doesn't mind waiting on line for hours...holiday season and deliveries are behind.

The good news may be that the warranty is Intl, not country specific as a previous poster stated. I bought an iPod Touch at NYC Apple store
and it was repaired in The Netherlands when I had a problem here in France