Country Check

iPhone Country by Model

Determine the device region by model number. Full code table, regional differences, and tips.|

navigation

Guide sections

[01]

Why Know the Country

Why iPhone region matters when buying

 [02]

How to Find Model

Where to find the model number on iPhone

 [03]

Country Code Table

Full list of Apple region codes

 [04]

Model Prefix

M, F, N, P - what the first letter means

 [05]

Regional Differences

SIM, camera, 5G, FaceTime - what depends on region

 [06]

Recommendations

Which region is best for your location
01 - why it matters

Why Know the Country

iPhone region affects SIM configuration, features, and compatibility

The market is flooded with parallel-imported devices from different countries. All iPhones look the same externally, but there are critical differences between regions:

SIM Configuration - US iPhones (from iPhone 14) have no physical SIM slot, only eSIM. Chinese models, on the contrary, don't support eSIM but have two physical SIM slots.

Carrier Lock - Carrier Lock - US devices are often locked to a carrier (AT&T, T-Mobile). Devices from Hong Kong, UAE, Europe are usually sold unlocked.

Restrictions - in Japan and Korea, the camera shutter sound cannot be disabled. In some Middle Eastern countries, FaceTime is restricted.

02 - how to find

How to Find the Model Number

Two steps to determine the full model code

01

Open Settings

Go to Settings → General → About. Find the "Model Number" row. By default, a short code is shown (e.g., A2894).

02

Tap the model number

Tap the model number - it will switch to the full code, e.g. MQ9E3LL/A. The letters before /A are the country code. In this example, LL = USA.

03 - country codes

Country Code Table

Full list of Apple regional codes - suffix before /A in model number

Code Country / Region SIM Notes
04 - model prefix

Model Prefix

The first letter of the model number tells you whether the device is new or refurbished

M New Device (Retail)

Standard retail device bought in a store. The most common prefix. Means the iPhone was sold as new.

F Refurbished

Officially refurbished device from Apple (Apple Certified Pre-Owned). Underwent full diagnostics, case and battery replacement. 1-year warranty, same as new. Do not confuse with unofficial refurbished units.

N Replacement

Device issued as a replacement under warranty or AppleCare. Fully functional, equivalent to new. Apple replaces defective devices with these models.

P Personalized

Device with personalization - e.g., engraving (AirPods, iPad). Rare for iPhones.

05 - regional differences

Regional Differences

What actually differs between iPhones from different countries

SIM SIM Configuration

USA / Canada (iPhone 14+): eSIM only, no physical SIM slot. China: two physical SIM slots, no eSIM support. All others: physical SIM + eSIM. This is the most important difference - if you're not ready for eSIM only, don't buy a US iPhone 14 or later.

5G 5G Frequencies

USA: mmWave 5G support (ultra-fast speeds at short range). Other regions: sub-6 GHz 5G only. In most countries, mmWave is not used, so there's no difference.

CAM Camera Shutter Sound

Japan (J/A) and South Korea (KH/A): camera shutter sound cannot be disabled even in silent mode - a legal requirement. All other regional models can have the sound turned off.

FT FaceTime

UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia: FaceTime may be restricted or absent (depends on model and firmware). In practice, it usually works after an iOS update outside these countries.

HW Hardware

Processor, camera, display, storage are identical across all regions. An iPhone 15 Pro from Hong Kong and from the USA have absolutely the same hardware. Differences are only in SIM configuration and software restrictions.

06 - best for russia

Best Regions to Buy

Which iPhone to buy for parallel import

[ZP/A]

Hong Kong - Best Choice

Physical SIM + eSIM, no restrictions, no Carrier Lock. The most popular choice. Supports all features without exceptions.

[ZA/A]

Southeast Asia - Excellent

Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand. SIM + eSIM, no restrictions. Equivalent to Hong Kong in functionality.

[B/A, D/A]

Europe - Good

UK, Germany, France, etc. SIM + eSIM, no restrictions. Usually more expensive than Asian models.

[LL/A]

USA - With Caveats

iPhone 14+ has no SIM slot (eSIM only). Often Carrier Lock. For iPhone 13 and older - a good option. Carrier Lock.

[J/A]

Japan - With Limitation

SIM + eSIM, but camera shutter sound cannot be disabled. For some this is critical, for others - not.

[CH/A]

China - Not Recommended

No eSIM (two physical SIM slots). If eSIM matters to you, don't buy Chinese models. Otherwise - fully functional.

faq

Frequently Asked Questions

How to determine iPhone country by model number?

Settings → General → About → tap "Model Number". The full code appears (MQ9E3LL/A). Letters before /A are the country code. code table

Which iPhone region is best to buy?

We recommend ZP/A (Hong Kong) or ZA/A (Southeast Asia): SIM + eSIM, no restrictions, no Carrier Lock. Avoid LL/A (USA) for iPhone 14+ - they have no SIM slot.

Can you find out iPhone country by IMEI?

Yes. Send IMEI to @ispyware_bot - the report will show the purchase country, model, and region code. check on website.

What do letters M, F, N at the beginning of model number mean?

M = new retail device. F = Apple refurbished. N = warranty/AppleCare replacement. P = personalized (engraving). More about prefixes →

Check iPhone by IMEI

Find out the country, model, and all locks in seconds

$ ispy --check 353456789012345
→ iPhone 15 Pro 256GB | Country: Hong Kong (ZP/A) | Carrier: Unlocked ✓
>> Check on website [ Open bot ]