If you have ever bought an iPhone, you would have noticed that the packaging states the device is designed in California. However, iPhones are not manufactured in California; the components are manufactured in different countries and assembled in certain countries before being shipped to different markets, including Japan. If you want to buy a new iPhone, you might be wondering if Japanese iPhones are good.
So, are the Japanese iPhones any good? Japanese iPhones are good because they are made from the same hardware used to make iPhones for other regions. The same components that will make an iPhone for the European market are the same as those used to make Japanese iPhones. The slight changes made on the Japanese iPhones comply with the local laws. One benefit of buying a Japanese iPhone is that it is very cheap compared to other countries.
Many countries have specific laws on how mobile devices and other electronics can function within their borders. These laws lead to manufacturers manufacturing devices specific for certain countries to comply with the laws.
When iPhones are assembled, they are usually marked with a serial number, which indicates where the iPhone should be sent. Apple manufactures iPhones for many countries in the world, including Japan. If you are interested in buying a Japanese iPhone, you might be asking yourself if it is good.
Japanese iPhones are good devices and function perfectly like other iPhones meant for other countries. When the iPhones are assembled, Apple usually considers the local laws of all the countries in which the iPhones will be sold.
The Japanese iPhones have to fully comply with Japanese laws before being sold in the country. The differences between a Japanese iPhone and a North American iPhone are the camera settings and cellular differences. If you buy a Japanese iPhone, you might need to make a few changes to it to ensure it functions properly while in the US.
The quality of the iPhone does not change regardless of the country it is going to be sold in. Apple Inc. ensures that all iPhones go through rigorous quality control before being shipped out to specific countries.
The Japanese iPhone has the same quality as a North American iPhone or any other iPhone. It only has differences in the settings and features, not affecting its quality. Apple Inc. also faces stiff competition from Samsung in the fight to control the smartphone market in Japan. Therefore, it would be detrimental for Apple Inc. to allow inferior iPhones to be sold in Japan while other countries get good-quality iPhones.
iPhone is an American product designed in California; however, it is not manufactured in the United States. All the parts of an iPhone are manufactured in different countries, and the parts are shipped to China and other specific countries to be assembled. However, certain countries like Japan have laws determining which models will be sold in their countries.
When the iPhone has been fully assembled and ready for shipping, Apple Inc. will include a serial number that indicates where the iPhone should be sold. Japanese iPhones will have the letter “J” or letters “JP” before the slash on the serial number.
A Japanese iPhone will function the same way as other iPhones meant for different countries. Apple Inc. uses the same components to make all the iPhones, and the only differences in most iPhones meant for different countries are found in the settings and features.
Japan has a privacy law restricting people from disabling the shutter sound when taking a picture with their phone. Therefore, Apple Inc. has designed the Japanese iPhone in a way that you cannot disable the shutter sound. If you buy a Japanese iPhone, the camera’s shutter sound will always be on, and the only way to remove the shutter sound is using third-party tools.
If you plan to use the Japanese iPhone in the United States, you will have to find a way to silence that camera shutter sound. Since most people in the United States are used to disabling the shutter sound, your Japanese iPhone camera shutter sound might start to get on people’s nerves when you use the camera in public.
You can use third-party tools to mute your Japanese iPhone shutter sound, such as Tenorshare 4MeKey. To use this tool, you will need a computer and connect the Japan iPhone to the computer using a cable to jailbreak it.
However, you should only jailbreak your iPhone while living in a country that does not have shutter sound laws. If you use your jailbroken Japanese iPhone to take pictures in public in Japan or South Korea, you might get in trouble for breaking privacy laws.
Is it Okay To Buy a Japan iPhone?
When Apple Inc. assembles different iPhone components to make a working iPhone, they will separate them into different variants for a specific country. Many countries have an iPhone variant, including Japan. If you are traveling overseas and want to buy an iPhone, you might be wondering if it is okay to buy a Japanese iPhone.
It is okay to buy a Japanese iPhone because it is the same quality as other iPhone variants. It will work the same as a North American iPhone but slightly different. Due to privacy laws in Japan, their iPhones have a shutter sound that you cannot disable. A Japanese iPhone will still make a sound when you take a picture, even if the phone is in silent mode. You also can use the Japanese iPhone in the United States, but it will need repairs to work.
If you bought the Japanese iPhone in Japan, the warranty might be international, but sometimes you might be required to visit or send the device to the country of purchase, which is inconvenient. One benefit of buying a Japanese iPhone is the low price compared to other variants like the US iPhone.
The Japanese iPhone has two differences from other iPhone variants, including the North American iPhone. The differences are the camera shutter sound and the cellular settings. The camera shutter sound cannot be disabled on the iPhone. If you want to stop the shutter sound, you will have to jailbreak the Japanese iPhone.
The iPhone uses two major cellular bands: GSM and CDMA, available in Japan and the United States. Therefore, the Japanese iPhone can be used in the US; however, you will have to repair your Japanese iPhone to make it work correctly due to mobile radio band differences. You can also check Apple’s official website for band compatibility to ensure you are buying the correct iPhone for the region you are currently in.
If you bought the Japanese iPhone with a contract from one of the cellular carriers in the country, it might be locked to that carrier. You cannot use any other cellular carrier on that Japanese iPhone until you unlock it. If your Japanese iPhone is locked, you will have to unlock it before you can start using it in the United States or any other country.
Contact your carrier in Japan and request them to unlock your iPhone. You need to fulfill your contract before requesting the iPhone to be unlocked. If you are required to finish paying for the Japanese iPhone before they unlock it, you must ensure that you have finished all your payments.
Apple does have an international warranty that allows you to repair certain Apple devices in all Apple Stores across the world. The international warranty only applies to portable devices that can work independently without a power cord, hence your Japanese iPhone can be repaired in the United States or any other country. However, the repair or replacement services could be limited to the options available in the country the repair is requested.
Therefore, if your Japanese iPhone is damaged and you take it to an Apple Store in the United States, the Apple workers can only repair the iPhone with the options they have in their work station. If they do not have certain parts that can only be found in Japan, you will have to send your Japanese iPhone to Japan, which will take a lot of time. You will also be responsible for shipping and handling fees if the iPhone has to be shipped to Japan.
Are Japanese iPhones Original or Different?
Apple’s iPhone is one of the most popular smartphones globally, and with it comes the risk of buying fake iPhones. People want to capitalize on the economic success of the iPhone and release fake ones to unsuspecting customers in the market. When shopping for a new iPhone, you might notice Japanese iPhones and wonder if they are fake or different.
Japanese iPhones are original because they are assembled in China with original iPhone parts. They are of the same quality as all other iPhones meant for other countries. The Japanese iPhone is not physically different from the other iPhone variants, but it does have a different camera feature. The Japanese iPhone has a camera shutter sound that cannot be disabled, a feature that can be disabled in other iPhone variants like the ones sold in the United States. However, there is a possibility of fake Japanese iPhones in the market; therefore, before buying one, ensure you know how to differentiate between an original iPhone and a fake one.
If you want to avoid buying a fake Japanese iPhone, you need to buy it from the Apple Store or the online Apple Store. You can visit an Apple Store near you in Japan to buy the iPhone or any authorized dealer. If you do not have time to go to the store and do not know how to find one, you can buy it from the online store. If you buy a used Japanese iPhone from another person, you should ask for receipts to prove they purchased the iPhone from an Apple Store.
There are ways you can check if a Japanese iPhone is original or fake. The first one is checking the IMEI or serial number.
- go to “Settings”
- tap on “General”
- tap on “About”
Scroll down until you see the IMEI number, indicating if the iPhone is for Japan or another country. It is fake if your Japanese iPhone does not have an IMEI or serial number. While you check the serial number, check the iPhone’s operating system.
An iPhone runs on iOS, but a fake iPhone runs Android with an iOS skin to fake users. Try to download apps that run exclusively on iOS platforms, and if they do not work, your Japanese iPhone is fake.
If you bought the Japanese iPhone online, check the packaging when it arrives. Genuine iPhones have packaging with no spelling errors, and the texts are printed in the same font and include information about the iPhone. When removing the iPhone from the packaging, first check the Apple logo.
Fake iPhones usually have a recessed logo with a mirror finish. Check the charging port for any irregularities. A fake iPhone will have a plastic border and an engraved line to mimic the same build as the original product. An original iPhone uses Penta lobe screws instead of normal cross screws. It is probably fake if your Japanese iPhone is fastened by screws that do not have five-screw head points.
When you turn on your Japanese iPhone, the first thing you will see is the Apple logo. If the Japanese iPhone you bought is fake, you will not see the Apple logo, but the word “Welcome” will appear on the screen.
Original iPhones do not use external storage devices; therefore, it is fake if your Japanese iPhone has a memory card slot. If you suspect that the Japanese iPhone you bought is fake, report the suspected fake iPhone on Apple’s official website.
Finally
Apple Inc. makes iPhones to conform to the laws of different countries. Some iPhones have different features or settings, such as the Japanese iPhone, which does not make them bad. The Japanese iPhone has the same quality as the other iPhone variants but with a different camera feature.
Due to privacy laws, you cannot take pictures of people in public in Japan. To comply with this rule, Apple makes a Japanese iPhone with a camera shutter sound that cannot be disabled. If you bought your iPhone in Japan, you would have to jailbreak it to remove the shutter sound and repair it to ensure it works properly. Even though Apple makes original Japanese iPhones, there are still fake ones on the market, and you need to exercise caution when buying one.
