In the event you’re like me, you’d be rightfully puzzled when a phone-maker occurs to be promoting completely different telephones beneath the very same identify, as if they’re precisely the identical telephone… Ideally, in fact, there shouldn’t be any variations between a Galaxy 22 or iPhone 14 you’ll purchase in North America and the identical telephone that’s offered in Europe, the UK or elsewhere.
Talking of Samsung, I’ve written a number of tales expressing my disapproval of the corporate’s weird resolution to present Galaxy flagships in North America and South Korea Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, whereas leaving the remainder of the world with what become usually inferior Exynos-powered Samsung flagship telephones.
Most just lately, in a collection of fascinating twists and turns, North America and Samsung’s homeland had been joined by India, South Africa, and the UAE, and now these areas supply Snapdragon-powered Galaxy S22 fashions. Nevertheless, consumers within the UK and Europe (one proper right here!) nonetheless have to accept the Exynos 2200 chip inside what are alleged to be the identical Galaxy S22, S22+ and S22 Extremely flagships. Reportedly, Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S23 collection will follow an analogous technique.
And now, to my shock, Apple is pulling a Samsung on us! No, there aren’t completely different chips powering the iPhone 14, however there are actually sufficient variations between iPhones offered in North America and people offered in the remainder of the world to boost a good query… Is Apple now following in Samsung’s footsteps?
Cheaper US iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Professional fashions have extra options than dearer iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Professional offered within the UK, Europe and the remainder of the world?
Apple provides – Apple takes! iPhone 14 satellite tv for pc connectivity function can be unique to the US, however People lose the bodily SIM card, compelled to modify to eSIM.
To leap straight to the purpose, right here is how iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Professional fashions offered in North America differ from these offered in the remainder of the world.
iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Professional fashions offered within the US have options resembling:
- Satellite tv for pc connectivity for sending emergency messages through a satellite tv for pc connection once you don’t have 4G/5G protection – a doubtlessly life-saving function
- Digital ID and digital driver’s licence (obtainable in sure US states resembling Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Mississippi, Ohio and the territory of Puerto Rico and increasing)
- Apple Maps three-dimensional metropolis view, obtainable in choose US and Canada (regularly increasing)
Sorry, US consumers! iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Professional fashions offered within the EU and UK supply options that may’t be discovered on US iPhone 14 fashions
Talking of variations in iPhones offered around the globe, you may know that US iPhone 14s now don’t have a SIM card tray. Which means US consumers must be prepared to modify to utilizing an digital SIM (eSIM) by way of their provider.
Nevertheless, this isn’t the case for folks primarily based outdoors the US, who lastly have one thing to brag about. So, sure – because it seems Apple’s regional division doesn’t work out too properly for US consumers too, who function the pilot research for Apple’s early adoption-type of options/or their lack of.
iPhone 14 options obtainable around the globe not obtainable to US iPhone 14 consumers:
- iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Professional offered outdoors the US have a SIM card tray, and assist for eSIM, which implies worldwide consumers now have way more flexibility relating to utilizing international SIM playing cards when travelling the world (eSIM isn’t supported all around the world)
- In some international locations the place it’s demanded by legislation, iPhone 14 can be delivery with a charger within the field – Brazil just lately fined Apple $2.34 million for promoting iPhones with no charger
Unfair? iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Professional priced considerably increased within the UK, Europe and different components of the world, in comparison with the US
USB-C mandate revenge? iPhone 14 costs in Europe (and the UK) are by way of the roof! US costs – unchanged.
Now, this argument might sound a little bit bit completely different from the final “the identical telephone with completely different options” tone of the story, nevertheless it’s arguably extra vital than the entire above-mentioned issues. That’s as a result of the worth of a product, together with the iPhone, performs a giant function within the perceived worth for patrons. You wish to get extra/the very best in your cash. Or ideally, the identical as everybody else.
If I advised you: “Right here’s the brand new iPhone 14 Professional with an improved digicam system, sooner processor, higher show, and a brand new Dynamic Island – for the identical value as final 12 months’s iPhone 13 Professional”, you’d be buzzing! But when I advised you: “Right here’s the brand new iPhone 14 Professional with an improved digicam system, sooner processor, higher show, and a brand new Dynamic Island – however 25% dearer in comparison with final 12 months”, you wouldn’t be buzzing as a lot, would you?
Nevertheless, what stands out to me is that iPhones offered in some components of the world are actually less expensive than iPhones offered elsewhere. In sure instances it is not sensible and virtually looks like Apple is making the remainder of the world pay up so the worth of the iPhone in North America and China might keep unchanged…
- Within the UK, iPhone 14 costs have jumped by a mean 15%, as the most affordable iPhone 14 now prices £850. The iPhone 14 Professional and iPhone 14 Professional Max price a whopping £1,100 and £1,200 (up from £950 and £1,050)
- In some European international locations like Poland, iPhone costs are by way of the roof – the iPhone 14 is now 24% dearer than final years’ iPhone 13, the iPhone 14 Professional prices 25% extra, and the iPhone 14 Professional Max has seen a 26% value bump. Poland isn’t wherever close to as economically developed as different international locations in central and western Europe
- In Germany, the worth improve is just like that within the UK, as I’d must pay €200 additional for a Professional Max iPhone in comparison with 2021, whereas folks in France and Italy should shell out almost €1,500 for a similar telephone that prices “solely” $1,100 within the US – as a lot because it did final 12 months (which can also be the case in Canada, China and Australia)
Now, positive, I’m not a monetary skilled, and I definitely bear in mind the truth that taxes aren’t included within the value of iPhones offered within the US. Nevertheless, the common gross sales tax in the USA comes up at about 7.5%, which doesn’t make iPhones that rather more costly – definitely not as a lot as a 26% value improve does. And that’s for states the place taxes are a factor…
Hey, Samsung and Apple, we would like one telephone for everybody! Additionally… Make it cheaper if you happen to can?
Google wins! Kinda.
Anyway, the thought behind this story is to indicate that Samsung isn’t the one firm that provides its flagship telephones completely different options in line with location (your telephone’s chip impacts all areas of its efficiency and subsequently options).
Positive, Apple is the “lesser evil” on this story, and we are able to speak all day about how Cupertino treats completely different clients, and even telephones. For instance, the brand new iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are actually considerably simpler to restore, whereas the dearer Professional fashions aren’t. We are able to additionally speak about Apple’s divisive pricing technique for the iPhone 14 collection, however we aren’t going to vary something, are we…
I suppose my name is for one telephone for everybody, Samsung and Apple! It’s in all probability foolish of me to ask for cheaper iPhones around the globe, however I can certainly ask for them to be the identical, proper? Positive, some options like satellite tv for pc connectivity is perhaps a matter of native laws and a problem Apple won’t be able to cope with proper now, however in that case, is it truthful to focus a lot of the iPhone 14’s advertising and marketing on a function that’s solely obtainable to 4.25% of the world’s inhabitants?
There’s no approach adventurists around the globe received’t be shocked to search out out their iPhone 14 doesn’t assist sat connectivity after having purchased it, and after having purchased into the advertising and marketing hype round this futuristic function that’s… not obtainable of their area.