Purchasing iPhone 7 in USA

[nikiandemma]

We'll be in California in the first 3 weeks of October and hope to buy the 7 (if it's out / in stock by then) - I'm sure they will be packing as many LTE bands as possible in this release - this should work back here in the UK right?

Nick

[grolschuk]

Until the spec of the 7 is made public, it's hard to say.

The last few releases have been getting better at there being less devide between regional versions having reduced LTE coverage.

So if they continue that trend, it should work fine over here.

If they go back to a USA model and an EU model, then depending on what they create, may or may not work.

Esentailly, if it caters for the following you will be fine.

2G (GSM) 900/1800

3G (UMTS) 900/2100

4G (LTE) 800/2600 and in limited areas 1800/2100

[nikiandemma]

Thanks Grolsch - Will definitely need to keep my eye on it. If they don't have the specs on the back of the box any more then I'll do a look up of the model number on the Apple website before walking out the door with it.

Do you happen to know if the warranty will still be useable in the UK?

[grolschuk]

I'd check the site before heading to the shop, if it's released, the tech spec will be there to see.

Warranty, I think they have a clause that means they can limit it to the region that the device was supplied, but pretty certain you won't get the 2 year "uk consumer law" extension, and you will be stuck with the standard apple 12 months.

Unless you get their Apple Care product, which i think is a full international 2 year insurance plan for the phone.

[kids]

@nikiandemma A friend of mine bought an iPhone 6S in Texas last year but when he was back in the UK and the software played  up App,e told him it would have to be returned to the region (USA and Canada) that it was purchased in. It appears that they will repair screens and other hardware but not anything software related.

As @grolschuk has pointed out you will not get any protection under UK consumer laws but will have to rely on the Apple 12 month warranty which will be limited to the region.

There was talk last year of Apple offering an enhanced warranty over and above there 2 year extended warranty which would cover repairs worldwide but I have not heard of anything further about that.

Here in Thailand, even when iPhones are sold in the country, for anything other than cosmetic / hardware problems phones have to be sent to Singapore for repair.

[nikiandemma]

@grolschuk, @kids, Thanks guys. Will keep monitoring the forum and Apple for updates in the build up to launch.

Regards, Nick