I am thinking to trade my Series 2 and get Series 4 in the US. I might move to Japan next year. I wonder if the Apple Watch H/W sold in Japan is different from the ones sold in the U.S. Should I wait and trade-in and get Series 4 in Japan? If that's the case, I cannot use it when I return to the U.S.? I will most likely to use Cellular feature.
Apple Watch Series 4
The USA version of Apple Watch LTE is only compatible with North American region cellular. It will not work on cellular networks anywhere else in the world, and there are no modifications to alter region after the watch is manufactured. See https://www.apple.com/watch/cellular/ for details of regional hardware and supporting networks.
Hardware. You only responded on S/W (WatchOS) aspect. I would like to know the differences on the hardware of Series 4 sold in the U.S and Japan. Your part numbers seems to be different looking at Apple.com.
hi
i dont know the answer to yr question (sorry).
but i would also like to know.
be wary of all the replies you have received so far (i have a feeling they are all wrong...)
- note: the watch and iphone can be paired and unpaired at will (the only limitation is it can be paired with only 1 SIM at the same time)
- note: the watch is sold in the USA and Japan.
- the LTE frequencies, while differing some, still have enough overlap that depending on the carrier you choose the same frequencies stand a good chance to be found on the USA model and the Japan model (beware newer "just of testing" bands that probably are more used in either country"
summary: check before hand which are the bands that provide the most coverage for each carrier in each country and choose the carrier that fits the bands/frequencies in the model you bought.
- warranty: apple care for watch (and all other apple products) has been global for quite some time for the Watch and macs. here is the exact wording from the apple site: "AppleCare products for Apple Watch, for Mac, for iPod, and for Apple TV provide global repair coverage. Service will be limited to the options available in the country or region where service is requested. Service options, parts availability, and response time vary by country or region"
i doubt there is anybody in the world right now (at least in these forums) who can tell us if the above works - but in theory it should work...
one the horizon there is also likely to be a "second number" for the watch that is available through the eSIM card method as well...
from the above you can tell that i too am looking for a way to have the same watch be able to be used internationally. i already have SIMs for my phone that i insert into my iPhone in each country. i want the watch to be able to be used in each of these major countries i visit.
based on the above, i am thinking docomo in Japan and ATT in the USA might be the best, with the watch purchased in Japan.
azamino wrote:
hi
i dont know the answer to yr question (sorry).
but i would also like to know.
So you first admit your knowledge doesn't support any of what you then continued to write in your post...
be wary of all the replies you have received so far (i have a feeling they are all wrong...)
See comments below.
- note: the watch and iphone can be paired and unpaired at will (the only limitation is it can be paired with only 1 SIM at the same time)
That's the only complete and accurate statement in your post
- note: the watch is sold in the USA and Japan.
Correct. With the constraint that the US and Rest of World use different regional hardware to provide compatibility with cellular frequency bands in different regions. The regional variants will only make a cellular connection within the region for which they were manufactured, and in most cases the cellular network provider will detect an incompatible device and will not attempt to activate it.
- the LTE frequencies, while differing some, still have enough overlap that depending on the carrier you choose the same frequencies stand a good chance to be found on the USA model and the Japan model (beware newer "just of testing" bands that probably are more used in either country"
summary: check before hand which are the bands that provide the most coverage for each carrier in each country and choose the carrier that fits the bands/frequencies in the model you bought.
There are several hundred Apple Watch owners living in India who wish you were correct. They purchased the US version in USA (either because it could not be purchased in India, or because it was cheaper) before taking the device back to India where they found the US version simply won't connect on the Indian networks. Their cellular watches only work like the non cellular version when paired to their iPhones.
- warranty: apple care for watch (and all other apple products) has been global for quite some time for the Watch and macs. here is the exact wording from the apple site: "AppleCare products for Apple Watch, for Mac, for iPod, and for Apple TV provide global repair coverage. Service will be limited to the options available in the country or region where service is requested. Service options, parts availability, and response time vary by country or region"
The text is correct as quoted. The reality of getting service is rather different within the limitation of options available in the country...
i doubt there is anybody in the world right now (at least in these forums) who can tell us if the above works - but in theory it should work...
As noted above, there are many users around the world who have posted their failure reports here in the ASC communities. You are wrong.
one the horizon there is also likely to be a "second number" for the watch that is available through the eSIM card method as well...
You seem to be getting confused with the new dual line iPhone XS Max. eSIM does not support multiple numbers or lines, although it is possible to detach the eSIM from one account and attach it to a different account.
from the above you can tell that i too am looking for a way to have the same watch be able to be used internationally. i already have SIMs for my phone that i insert into my iPhone in each country. i want the watch to be able to be used in each of these major countries i visit.
You can already do this provided the watch is compatible with the networks in each country, and you have iPhone plans in each country, each configured for Apple Watch. It is pretty much a question of swapping the SIM in the iPhone, then reconfiguring the watch to attach to the correct account.
based on the above, i am thinking docomo in Japan and ATT in the USA might be the best, with the watch purchased in Japan.
The Japanese purchased watch will connect and work on cellular in Japan. When migrated to USA it is not compatible, and will not connect on any US network. The network providers will (should) refuse to even attempt to configure the incompatible watch onto the account.
Watches are regional and certain features are different.watchOS - Feature Availability - Apple
Thank you!
What about H/W differences? Also, Can I exchange the SIM on Series 4 bought in the U.S. with a SIM card from a different carrier in the different country (Japan) and expect to work?
What is H/W?
They are different. That's why I said that they were regional (hardware) and features may be different (software)
The warranty will only be valid in the country you purchase the watch in. USA watch = Warranty works in the USA only.
OK. Thanks for the warranty info.
Would the SIM card from other country (Japan) work on the Apple Watch Series 4 purchased in the U.S?
Warranty and apple care are not the same thing.
Please explain HOW ... all the replies you have received I have posted so far (i have a feeling they are all wrong. Thank you in advance.
Apple Watch Series 4 bought in the U.S.would work in other countries?
