• Apple iPhone X: differences between models for different countries. iPhone lineup

    I've heard about Apple and its devices. For example, about iPhones. These smartphones are distinguished by their quality and capabilities. These are unique and reliable devices worthy of attention. But such a device doesn’t cost that much. You'll have to spend money. Many people are interested in the country of origin of the iPhone. This is the only way to understand where Apple devices are actually made. This will help you avoid buying a fake.

    Diversity of Opinions

    In reality, answering the question at hand is not as simple as it seems. After all, today people have different opinions about where Apple gadgets are produced.

    What opinions can you find? For example, some say that the iPhone manufacturer is Malaysia, while others claim that original Apple devices are produced in the USA. There are also those who claim that the gadgets under study are produced in Finland or Taiwan.

    All these are misconceptions. Usually, ignorance of information about the country in which the gadget is manufactured leads to the fact that a person can easily be sold a counterfeit. This lack of awareness benefits fraudulent manufacturers. Next, we will talk about where the iPhone is actually created, and we will also figure out how to distinguish the original device from a fake one.

    Project development

    Apple is the main manufacturer of Apple phones and other devices. It is this organization that develops projects to create unique mobile products.

    Apple is an American company. The headquarters of the organization is located in California, in the state of Cupertino. Here, designers, programmers, advertising managers, economists and other workers are working on the development of new Apple devices.

    Accordingly, the iPhone manufacturer is the USA. It would seem that everything is simple. In reality, understanding the topic being studied can be problematic. After all, developing gadget projects is only half the battle. Devices must be assembled, tested for functionality, and components must be produced. These functions are not always performed in one country.

    Accessories

    How to determine the manufacturer of an iPhone? It is necessary to learn as much as possible about who is developing, assembling, and testing these devices. In fact, everything is more complicated than it seems. As we have already found out, in the USA, Apple is inventing new projects to create its own branded devices. Where are their components made?

    America does not have the capacity to produce its own components for iPhones. That's why they are made abroad. This technique allows Apple to save money. Components for Apple devices are produced in different countries. Apple usually purchases components for its devices from Samsung, LG, Elpida and Hynix.

    Apple's main cooperation is with Samsung. This company is located in Korea. It is responsible for the production of processors for phones and tablets. Therefore, we can call every iPhone a Korean assembly. More precisely, a Korean device. In addition, Apple has entered into a contract with LG. It is responsible for the production of LCD displays. "LG" is also located in Korea.

    Device assembly

    So, you already know that iPhones are made in the USA. That is why such devices are most often called an American creation. Only the components for them are often purchased in Korea, as we discussed above.

    Apple devices are assembled outside the USA. More precisely, in Taiwan. This task is carried out by the large Taiwanese company Foxconn. This is the only base on which iPhones and iPads are assembled from ready-made components.

    Foxconn currently cooperates with many modern large companies. For example, with Dell. And the organization entered into its first contract with Apple back in 2007.

    It follows that every Taiwanese iPhone can be original. But Taiwan cannot be considered a manufacturing country for Apple gadgets. After all, such devices are just assembled here. The main work on the development and creation of mobile devices is carried out in other countries of the world.

    China and assembly

    It is also worth paying attention to the fact that the Foxconn plant is located in China. The company is Taiwanese, but it is located in China. More precisely, on the border with Hong Kong, in Guadong province.

    It is in this place that the Chinese assemble iPhones and other devices from Apple from ready-made components. It turns out that in general, Apple devices are manufactured in the USA, China, Taiwan and Korea.

    Functionality check

    Once the phones are assembled, they are sent for performance testing. But where exactly? iPhone manufacturer - USA. And all assembled devices will be tested for functionality exactly in the place where the projects were developed. There is nothing unclear about this.

    About replacing components

    Today, Apple offers all its customers a special program for restoring faulty devices. Defective Apple phones are sent back to the manufacturer to be checked for functionality. Next, Apple either replaces the components and returns the device to the client, or sends him a new one. And the faulty gadget is reassembled and sent for sale, but with the appropriate marking.

    In this case, several countries act as the iPhone manufacturer. Exactly the same as in the previous situation. After all, the device is initially sent to the USA, to the Apple device development center. There, the organization's employees check the components, after which they transfer the gadgets to the Foxconn plant. On it, an iPhone is reassembled from ready-made components ordered in one country or another (most often in Korea). Next, the device is sent back to America. So the reassembled iPhones also have different manufacturers - the USA, Korea and Taiwan.

    Beware, fake!

    Almost any modern popular technology is produced not only in the form of originals. It is often counterfeited. Therefore, it is important to know who the iPhone manufacturer is.

    Apple is a US owned company. And fake Apple devices are most often produced in China, Taiwan and Finland. And distinguishing them from original gadgets can be problematic. If a buyer sees "Made in China" on an iPhone, don't panic. After all, as we have already found out, some components of Apple devices are actually produced in China, and not in America. Therefore, you will have to take a good look at the phone. And only after that should we say that what the buyer is looking at is a fake.

    Who is the manufacturer?

    Quite often the iPhone says Assembled in China. However, every person should know who the real iPhone manufacturer is. It is also important to understand for which region a particular device is intended. After all, there are some differences in the operating systems of Apple devices. They depend on the country for which the phone was originally intended.

    How to find out the manufacturer of an iPhone? You need to look at the back panel of the device, as well as the box with the device. It indicates both the country of production and the region for which the product is intended.

    You can turn on the device and open the menu “Settings” - “General” - “About device”. Here you will have to visit the "Model" section. The last pair of letters in the number is the country of origin. This combination must match the inscription on the box with the smartphone.

    Here are some signature options:

    • RS - Russia;
    • T - Italy;
    • PR - Moldova, Russia;
    • TA - Taiwan;
    • LL - America;
    • KS - Sweden, Finland;
    • J - Japan;
    • E - Mexico;
    • CH - China;
    • B - Ireland, UK.

    In fact, everything is not as difficult as it seems. The main thing is to thoroughly understand the topic being studied.

    Difference from fake

    Which iPhone manufacturer is better? It is generally accepted that only original Apple phones are distinguished by their quality. Customer experience often confirms this fact. But there are also very high-quality fakes.

    In any case, the following features will help you distinguish the original iPhone:

    1. This Apple phone does not support additional memory.
    2. Original Apple devices do not have the ability to work with multiple SIM cards.
    3. The cost of a fake is often lower than that of a real Apple smartphone.
    4. When you connect a real iPhone to a PC via iTunes, the devices are synchronized. In the case of fakes, the smartphone will not be recognized by the software.
    5. If you try to open the AppStore, fake Apple devices will open Google Play. Original Apple devices do not support such a service.
    6. The operating system of Apple smartphones is iOS. Counterfeits are most often controlled by the Android base.
    7. Real phones from a company called Apple have no translation problems. No hieroglyphs, typos or errors. Their presence indicates a fake.
    8. The original devices on the back panel have the following inscriptions: Assembled in China, Designed in California. The model number and certification mark will also be written here.
    9. The back panel of a real Apple smartphone is not removable. In order to disconnect it, you will have to unscrew the production screws.

    In addition, the fake (most often Chinese) iPhone has a USB or USB-mini charger, as well as a retractable antenna. Similar components are missing from real iPhones.

    Having remembered all the listed principles and rules, everyone will be able to understand whether the phone in front of them is a fake or an original. A first generation iPhone or a newer device is not so important. The main thing is that the listed principles are relevant for all Apple smartphones.

    Conclusion

    We found out that the iPhone manufacturer is USA. This is where the development and testing of devices takes place. Components for Apple equipment are purchased abroad in different countries. For example, in Taiwan and Korea. And the phone is assembled in China.

    In reality, everything is simpler than it seems. An iPhone from China is significantly different from the original device. But sometimes the Chinese fake works quite well. And not everyone can see the difference between the original iPhone and a copy. An inexperienced user may not recognize a fake. But now it’s clear how to avoid such purchases. The main thing is to carefully consider the device you are purchasing.

    Some users purchase Apple products not through official dealers, but from third-party sellers. Why? The answer is obvious - the desire to save money.

    An iPhone purchased through gray dealers not only has a lower cost, but also becomes available for purchase even before official sales begin in many countries. These are the two main and main advantages of purchasing an iPhone from “gray” sellers. However, sometimes when purchasing a gray device, the user may encounter various problems. We will tell you more about what these problems might be, as well as how to find out the country of origin of a particular iPhone, in this guide.

    In order to accurately determine the country for which a specific device was manufactured, you need to find out its serial number through the smartphone menu. Of course, you can see the number on the box, however, it is better to do this using the menu. Having information about the exact serial number, you can easily determine for which country the device was manufactured. All you need to do is use the “iPhonefrom” service.

    How to find out what country an iPhone is made for using the iPhonefrom service:

    How to find out the country by the last two letters in the batch number

    You can also determine the country manually, without using third-party sites. To do this, you need to study the batch number of the device. The last two letters determine which country the device is made for. For example, the batch number - MGA91RU/A makes it clear that the device was developed for the Russian market, and will work without problems with the networks of all operators in the country. You can find out the batch number by examining the box that came with the device.

    To determine which country your iPhone is for, use the region table .

    Disadvantages of “gray” iPhones

    We wrote about how to find out for which country the iPhone was made, but many readers may have a question - “Why?” Indeed, why, because “gray” gadgets often feel great on the Russian market and cope with all tasks without any problems.

    All this is, of course, true, but we should not forget about Apple’s warranty service, which allows the user, in the event of a warranty claim, to return his phone for repair or even exchange it for a new one. This cannot be done with a gray device.

    Conclusion

    By using one of the above methods, you can easily determine the region for which the iPhone was manufactured. The ability to determine the region of a device is extremely important if you are going to purchase it second-hand. As a rule, sellers on the secondary market like to assure the buyer that the device is made for the Russian market and there will be no problems with its operation. However, even if documentation is attached to the device and the batch number is indicated on the box, do not be lazy to check the serial number yourself through the device menu, thereby protecting yourself from making an unsuccessful purchase.

    Apple smartphones and tablets have one feature: the exact model name is not indicated on their case. Instead, it just says iPhone or iPad. It looks beautiful and stylish, but in some cases it is inconvenient, since it is difficult to determine which model is in front of you. Now we will look at several ways to determine the iPhone model in this situation.

    Determining iPhone model by model number

    The easiest and most reliable way to find out what iPhone model you have is to look at the model number. Knowing the model number, you can easily determine the model name. This can be done using the table on this page, or you can simply enter the model number into any search engine and examine the results.

    The model number is always indicated at the bottom of the back cover of the iPhone and is represented as “Model A123”, where “A123” is actually the model number. The picture below shows what it looks like on an iPhone 6s.

    Below is a table with a list of all currently existing iPhone models and the numbers that correspond to them.

    Model number iPhone model Year of issue Memory capacity Colors
    A1865, A1901, A1902 iPhone X 2017 64, 256 GB silver, space gray
    A1863, A1905, A1906 iPhone 8 2017 64, 256 GB silver, space gray
    A1864, A1897, A1898 iPhone 8 Plus 2017 64, 256 GB silver, space gray
    A1660, A1778, A1779 iPhone 7 2016 32, 128, 256 GB
    A1661, A1784, A1785 iPhone 7 Plus 2016 32, 128, 256 GB black, black onyx, gold, rose gold, silver, red
    A1633, A1688, A1700 iPhone 6s 2015 16, 32, 64, 128 GB
    A1634, A1687, A1699 iPhone 6s Plus 2015 16, 32, 64, 128 GB space gray, silver, gold, rose gold
    A1549, A1586, A1589 iPhone 6 2014 16, 32, 64, 128 GB
    A1522, A1524, A1593 iPhone 6 Plus 2014 16, 64, 128 GB space gray, silver, gold
    A1723, A1662, A1724 iPhone SE 2016 16, 32, 64, 128 GB space gray, silver, gold, rose gold
    A1453, A1457, A1518, A1528,
    A1530, A1533
    iPhone 5s 2013 16, 32, 64 GB space gray, silver, gold
    A1456, A1507, A1516, A1529, A1532 iPhone 5c 2013 8, 16, 32 GB white, blue, pink, green and yellow
    A1428, A1429, A1442 iPhone 5 2012 16, 32, 64 GB black and white
    A1431, A1387 iPhone 4s 2011 8, 16, 32, 64 GB black and white
    A1349, A1332 iPhone 4 2010 (GSM), 2011 (CDMA) 8, 16, 32 GB black and white
    A1325, A1303 iPhone 3GS 2009 8, 16, 32 GB black and white
    A1324, A1241 iPhone 3G 2008, 2009 (China) 8, 16 GB
    A1203 iPhone 2007 4, 8, 16 GB

    Determining iPhone model by serial number

    You can also find out your iPhone model by its serial number. Unlike iPads, the serial number is not indicated on the iPhone case, so to find it you need to open Settings and go to the “General - About this device” section.

    Once you have your serial number, you can go to Apple's Service and Support Eligibility Check page to find the model that matches that serial number. To do this, go to , enter the serial number, verification code and click “Continue”.

    If you do everything correctly, a page will load where you can find out the model of your iPhone.

    Determining your iPhone model using iTunes

    Another way to find out your iPhone model is iTunes. To use this method, connect your iPhone to your computer and launch iTunes. An icon of the connected device will appear in the upper left corner of the iTunes window; click it to go to the iPhone settings.

    As a result, a page will appear on which you can find out the iPhone model, the capacity of its built-in memory, serial number and other similar information.

    Domestic users of Apple devices believe that their mobile phones come from the USA, Japan, Taiwan - anywhere, but not from China. Russians have long had an extremely negative image of Chinese production - as if they do everything “on the knees”, in conditions of terrible unsanitary conditions and prefer quantity to quality.

    This is actually a misconception. In China, the situation is the same as in other countries (for example, in Russia): there are underground industries that assemble penny devices from low-grade components, and there are official factories whose assembly lines produce first-class products.

    Apple produces the iPhone and iPad in cooperation with China, but this is by no means a reason to hang offensive labels on Apple devices.

    iPhones and iPads are developed at Apple's head office, which is located in the American state of California, in the city of Cupertino. This is confirmed by the inscription that is present on the back edges of all Apple devices: “ Designed by Apple in California».

    The following activities are performed at Apple headquarters:

    Mobile market experts claim that 99% of the total contribution to the creation of Apple gadgets is made by the employees of the Cupertino office - despite the fact that many of these employees have never seen how the devices are assembled.

    Where are iPhones assembled?

    The plant of the Taiwanese company Foxconn is where iPhones are made for Russia and other countries. The Foxconn plant is located in the Chinese city of Shenzhen, near Hong Kong. He has been collaborating with Apple since 2007. Apple is not the only company that partners with Foxconn; a giant Chinese factory produces almost 40% (!) of the world's electronics.

    The Foxconn factory area is 5.6 million square meters. km, number of employees – 1 million 250 thousand people. Every day, 400 thousand new iPhones roll off the Foxconn assembly line, each of which fully meets the high standards set by Apple.

    Foxconn has been repeatedly accused of forcing its employees to work in truly slave-like conditions. Chinese workers allegedly spend 12-14 hours at work, 6 days a week, eat rations of food sold on the streets, and are also discriminated against by their Taiwanese colleagues. Apple conducted many inspections, which resulted in the discovery that most of the accusations of violation of labor laws are unfounded.

    Buyers often wonder: why doesn’t the Apple company produce gadgets in its own country? There are many reasons for this:

    • Americans are too highly educated. In the United States, there is a shortage of citizens with secondary technical education who are able and willing to perform routine, monotonous operations every day.
    • Chinese labor is quite cheap. The salary of a Foxconn employee is 300 – 400 dollars per month. An American would have to pay four or five times more.
    • The USA has high taxes. If iPhones were assembled in America, then due to additional insurance and taxes, the final cost of the Apple product would be doubled.
    • China produces the lion's share of rare earth metals, which are necessary when creating mobile gadgets. If Apple were to move its smartphone production to another country, it would have to negotiate exports with China—not an easy task.

    Foxconn has factories not only in China, but also in other countries - in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and India. In 2010, the factory was opened in Russia - in the village of Shushary, Leningrad Region. Now there is information that Foxconn is going to build a plant in the USA. Who knows - perhaps this is the first step towards starting the production of native American iPhones?

    Who supplies components for iPhones?

    Workers at the Foxconn plant assemble iPhones from components that are sourced from many countries. There are no Chinese components in Apple devices, but there are American ones. Among them:

    • Audio chips are manufactured in the USA by Cirrus Logic.
    • Radio modules are produced by the famous company Qualcomm.
    • Controller chips are created by American organizations PMC Sierra and Broadcom Corp.
    • Touch Screen Controllers – Also manufactured by Broadcom Corp.

    Other components are supplied by European and Asian manufacturers - for example:

    • Induction coils - Japanese company TDK.
    • RAM - Taiwanese organization TSMC.
    • Gyroscopes - Italian-French company STMicroelectronics.

    The situation with iPhone displays is interesting. Now 3 companies produce this component for the Apple company - Japanese Japan Display and Sharp, as well as Korean Display. However, for the iPhone 8th and 9th modifications, Apple plans to purchase panels only from Samsung - and in huge quantities.

    Among the suppliers of components for the iPhone there is a “full” international. Apple prefers to work with trusted and reputable component manufacturers, regardless of the countries in which their factories are located.

    What is the cost of an iPhone?

    Experts from IHS Markit, immediately after the release of the iPhone 7 in 2016, tried to calculate the cost of an Apple device by adding up the costs of all its components, including:

    • A10 Fusion processor – $26.9.
    • Intel module – $33.9.
    • Cameras – $19.9.
    • Electromechanical components – $16.7.

    According to expert calculations, the cost of the iPhone 7 turned out to be equal to 220 dollars (approximately 13 thousand rubles). The market value of the Apple gadget at the time of inspection was $649 – 37 thousand rubles at the current exchange rate. It is worth saying that this price was relevant for the USA. In Russia, the seventh iPhone even now costs 50 thousand rubles. It’s easy to calculate that in our country, the rate of promotion on Apple devices is almost fourfold.

    It is curious that the difference in cost between iPhones of different generations is very small. Let's look at the diagram:

    The cost of the iPhone 7 is only $8 higher than that of the iPhone 6S – in fact, 500 rubles. Gadgets of the same generation, but of different modifications (for example, 5 and 5S), as a rule, require equal costs for components. But what surprised me most was something else: the iPhone SE turned out to be the most economical smartphone in the Apple line (cost price: $160). Even the iPhone 3GS was more expensive to produce.

    Conclusion

    In 2016, Donald Trump, entering the presidential race, announced that he would force Apple to produce iPhones in the United States. If this day comes, then for Russian fans of Apple products it will definitely become “black” - the final cost of an iPhone created by American workers on American soil will be “unaffordable” for Russians.

    Now Russian users can afford to buy Apple products only because they are assembled in China. By collaborating with the Chinese, Apple saves on labor resources. A worker from a developed country in America or Europe would not agree to work for an amount three times greater than what a native from the Middle Kingdom receives.

    Knowing which model you hold in your hands can help in various life situations. For example, when installing any software on it. Or you are planning to sell it and on the product page you need to indicate exactly the model. In general, such information will not be superfluous.

    In most cases, you can look at the model of your iPhone on the back of the device. Also, if you know certain differences, you can understand what kind of phone you have in your hands simply by its appearance or by its hardware characteristics.

    Let's look at all the released models , so that if something happens, you can return to this article and compare the phone in your hands. The list will go from the newest models to the oldest smartphones from Apple.

    One of the latest and newest models in the series , released in 2016. As expected, the best hardware is hidden under the cover of the new device:

    • Processor: A10 Fusion 64-bit
    • RAM: 2GB
    • Camera: 12MP.

    What distinguishes this new product from previous models:

    • Increased display brightness.
    • The Home key has now become a touch key.
    • Added external stereo in the form of stereo speakers.
    • The phone case is now waterproof.
    • Changing the positions of the rear panel antennas.
    • There is now no 3.5mm audio output.

    Completed in two colors: matte black and black onyx.

    • A1660 - for the American region.
    • A1778 - for Asian and European regions.
    • A1779 - for Japan.

    iPhone 7 Plus

    This “plus” model, unlike its older brother, has a 5.5-inch display, 3GB of RAM and two 12MP cameras. Just by the presence of two cameras you can distinguish this model from others.

    The back cover may contain the following model markings:

    • A1661 - for the American region.
    • A1784 - for Asian and European regions.
    • A1785 - for Japan.

    The release of this device took place not so long ago - March 21, 2016. In fact, this model is almost identical to the model . What technologies are in the body of this smartphone:

    • Processor: Apple A9.
    • RAM: 2GB.
    • Camera: 12MP, which is capable of capturing video in full 4K.

    Regarding the appearance, we can say that it is quite difficult to distinguish this smartphone, since it is incredibly similar to the previous model You can understand that it is in front of you only by its model marking:

    • A1662 - for the American region.
    • A1723 - international version.
    • A1724 is an international variant and is also distributed in China.

    Released back in 2015, this smartphone still occupies a high position among product users . What's inside this phone:

    • Processor: two synchronized M9 and A9 processors.
    • RAM: 2GB.
    • Camera: 12MP.

    Perhaps one of the most memorable features in this model is 3D Touch. This feature allows you to control your device even more efficiently with increased pressure on the screen.

    The back cover may contain the following model markings:

    • A1633 - corresponds to the American region.
    • A1688 - mostly sold in Europe.

    iPhone 6s Plus

    It has a much larger screen compared to the regular model. Accordingly, the body of this 5.5-inch device is larger than its predecessor.

    Like all Apple smartphones, the back cover may contain the following model markings:

    • A1634 - mostly distributed in the USA.
    • A1687 - distributed in Europe, works great in 4G networks.

    Is one of the first models , which has a truly impressive display size. It is also worth mentioning that this line received a significant increase in performance due to powerful hardware:

    • Processor: two processors A8 and M8, working in symbiosis with each other (M8 is a coprocessor).
    • Camera: 8MP. with unique Focus Pixels technology.

    The back cover may contain the following model markings:

    • A1549 - made mainly for the American region.
    • A1586 - distributed to a greater extent in the European region, works well with Russian operators.

    iPhone 6 Plus

    The back cover may contain the following model markings:

    • A1522 - designed for distribution in the United States, comes with a charger of the corresponding standard.
    • A1524 - Distributed mainly in European regions.

    It is quite easy to distinguish this model. The device is available in three colors: silver, golden, milky gray. Apart from this, it can also be distinguished by its anodized aluminum back cover and a special True Tone LED. Plus, on top of everything else, the “Home” key has the function of a Touch ID fingerprint scanner.

    The back cover may contain the following model markings:

    • A1533, A1457 and A1530 are GMS smartphones.
    • A1533 and A1453 are CDMA smartphones.
    • A1518, A1528 and A1530 are GSM smartphones for the Chinese region.

    It's incredibly easy to tell iPhones apart from other iPhones because of their very colorful colors. They include a range of white, blue, pink, cyan, yellow and green colors. There is also another difference - the back cover of the smartphone is made of polycarbonate.

    The back cover may contain the following model markings:

    • A1532, A1507 and A1529 are GMS smartphones.
    • A1532 and A1456 are CDMA smartphones.
    • A1516, A1526 and A1529 are GSM smartphones for the Chinese region.

    This smartphone is very easy to confuse with an improved version . However, it differs in that it does not have the Touch ID fingerprint scanning function. Plus, it is made in gold tones.

    The back cover may contain the following model markings:

    • A1428 is a GMS smartphone.
    • A1429 is a CDMA smartphone.
    • A1442 is a GSM smartphone for the Chinese region.

    Confusion problem And will disappear because will soon lose support for iOS 8. But it’s still much easier to find out what you’re holding in your hands just by looking at the back cover:

    • A1431 is a GMS smartphone.
    • A1387 is a CDMA smartphone.
    • A1387 is a GSM smartphone for the Chinese region.

    As mentioned above, the iPhone 4 will no longer support iOS 8.

    The back cover may contain the following model markings:

    • A1349 is a CDMA smartphone.
    • A1332 is a GSM smartphone.

    The smartphone is made of plastic materials and has a special engraving that matches the Apple logo in brightness. This feature is key when compared with simple 3G.

    The back cover may contain the following model markings:

    • A1325 is a model for China.
    • A1303 is an international model.

    This model can be distinguished from according to several signs that are not immediately noticeable. Firstly, the Apple logo on the back cover is a little brighter than the engraving. Secondly, the old model does not support 32GB of storage.

    The back cover may contain the following model markings:

    • A1324 is a model for China.
    • A1241 is an international model.

    So we got to the very bottom of the list where the very first model is located . The color scheme includes one scheme: black and silver. It also has only one marking:

    • A1203.

    You can understand for which country the smartphone was developed through the internal Settings.

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