iPhone Country Variant: Check & Avoid Losing Critical iPhone Features (& Warranty!)

You are on a business trip in China. FaceTime is your go to way to stay in touch with family back home. Pulling out your iPhone 14 Pro, you open FaceTime and.. well, nothing works the way they used to. The phone is genuine, new and of course, expensive. This is not an app-related issue, it’s the region (or country) variant of your iPhone that’s causing the problem.

What Is “iPhone Country or Region Variant”?

An iPhone country or region variant refers to the market Apple originally made the device for. Based on this variant, certain features like hardware options, network support, or services may work differently depending on where you use the phone.

Why is Checking the iPhone Country Variant Important?

Many of us get confused with the iPhone model number vs part number. The model usually gives you the iPhone generation, hardware family information, generally starting with a letter like A (i.e: A2894). 

Model number is useful for some repairs and spec checking, but it doesn’t give you which country the phone was made for, or intended to be sold at. The part number is what you should be looking for when trying to check the iPhone country variant.

The country or region code appears inside the part number, not the model number. You will see a format like MT9K3LL/A. 

The letters just before the forward slash “/” are the key. In this example, ‘LL’ represents the region. These one or two letters tell you which market the iPhone was originally sold in, but most users never notice them unless a feature fails.

Here’s How To Check Your iPhone Country Variant in Seconds:

The most accurate and easiest way to check an iPhone’s country variant is directly from the phone settings. Apple hides their full part number by default, and revealing takes only a few simple steps.

 

• Open Settings —> General —> tap About
• Look for Model Number.
• Tap the Model Number once, it should change to full Part Number (i.e: MT9K3LL/A)
• Focus on the Letters right before the forward slash (i.e: LL/)
• Those letters indicate your iPhone country or region variant.

If the iPhone is inaccessible, you can still get a rough idea by locating the same info from the SIM tray or retail box for old iPhone like iPhone 8. It’s usually near the barcode on the box, and some SIM trays have small engraved codes. However, these models are not always reliable. The settings method remains the most accurate way to confirm the iPhone country variant.

Understanding The Letters (LL, ZP, CH, J, etc.)

The letters before the forward slash in your iPhone part number define the market Apple made the device for. Codes like LL, ZP, CH, or J link the phone to region specific rules, hardware, and software limits. 

LL is common for the USA and Canada because Apple groups North America under shared network and regulatory standards. Even if you see a single L in rare cases, you should treat both as North American variants. The letters after the forward slash (i.e: the “A” in “LL/A”) usually deal with software-end of similar things for specific countries or regions.

Check out the full list of codes to check Apple iPhone country variants at the end of this blog post.

What Changes With iPhone’s Country or Region Variation?

Apple implements country and region variation in part numbers mainly to meet local laws, network regulations and market requirements. These primarily affect things like SIM support, FaceTime availability, cellular band – and even what comes in the box. 

Most users never notice them until something stops working where they live or travel.

SIM / eSIM Differences

USA variants are eSIM only from iPhone 14 onward, with no physical SIM tray. Hong Kong and China variants offer dual physical SIM slots. This matters for travelers, frequent SIM swappers, and resale value in markets that still prefer physical SIM cards.

Difference in Cellular & 5G

Different regions support different LTE and 5G bands. USA variants often include mmWave 5G, while others do not. Imported iPhones may show weaker signals if local carrier bands are not fully supported by that region variant.

Legal Restrictions (i.e: Camera Behavior)

Japan and South Korea variants enforce a camera shutter sound due to local privacy laws. The sound may turn off when the phone is used outside those regions. This is a location based behavior, not a hardware fault or defect.

Software Limitations (i.e: FaceTime)

China variants permanently disable FaceTime audio and group calls. Some Middle East variants may hide or restrict FaceTime, depending on local rules. Changing the region in settings does not always restore these features because the restriction is built into the variant.

Power & Other Regulatory Differences

The charging brick included in the box can vary by region, along with safety or volume regulations in some countries. Today this matters less, since Apple often excludes chargers, but regulatory limits can still affect audio and accessory behavior.

Apple’s Limits Warranty / Service by Country Variant:

This is where understanding iPhone variants becomes very crucial. Country variants can also influence how and where your iPhone can be serviced. This becomes important when you buy an imported device or move with your iPhone between countries frequently.

Apple Warranty is NOT Fully Global. 

Some variants may not qualify for free repairs in other countries, even with AppleCare subscribed. The coverage relies highly on Apple’s local policies, part availability and if the set was sold officially. 

Certain variants use region specific parts, especially for cellular components. This can cause delay in repairs or increase costs in unsupported regions. Before telling your cousin to bring an iPhone this Eid, confirm the local service support for that specific variant.

So, Which Variant Should I Look For?

Understanding iPhone’s own service, warranty availability / eligibility and regional compliance puts you at the face of the obvious question; which iPhone country variant is best?

The short answer is; not all iPhone variants are equally desirable. Some regions offer features that better match specific user needs. Which is why you should, ideally, search for particular country codes if you do have that opportunity.

• USA: LL — The LL variant is popular for its strong 5G support and mmWave compatibility. It is best for users who rely on fast data in supported countries, but the eSIM only design may not suit everyone.

• Hong Kong / China: ZP / CH — These variants are known for dual physical SIM support. They are popular in markets where physical SIM flexibility matters, though China variants come with stricter FaceTime limitations that some users overlook.

• Japan: J — The Japan variant is often discussed because of the camera shutter sound. In real world use outside Japan, the sound usually gets disabled automatically. Performance and usability are otherwise identical to other global variants.

So, for instance, a Japan variant may trigger shutter sound and it might become an issue if you’re not opting for it. Again, Middle Eastern variants may limit FaceTime, but that’s hardly going to affect your everyday experience if you’re from Bangladesh.

This boils down to: choose a variant that may save you on the bills but will not affect your experience. A North American iPhone with mmWave technology will cost high, but in Bangladesh you benefit absolutely zero from this.

List of iPhone Country / Region Variant Codes

Ohh, and here’s the complete list of iPhone country and region variant codes we promised earlier —

 

Code	Region
A	Canada
AA	United Arab Emirates
AB	Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
AE	Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
AH	Bahrain, Kuwait
AM	United States, Canada
B	Ireland, UK, also used for some replacement units
BR	Brazil (Assembled in Brazil)
BZ	Brazil (Assembled in China)
C	Canada
CH	China
CL	Canada
CN	Slovakia
CT	Taiwan
CZ	Czech Republic
D	Germany
DN	Austria, Germany, Netherlands
E	Mexico
EE	Estonia
F	France
FB	France, Luxembourg
FD	Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland
FN	France, Netherlands
FS	Finland
GR	Greece
HB	Israel
HN	India
HU	Ukraine
IP	Italy
J	Japan
KH	China, South Korea
KN	Denmark, Norway, United Kingdom
KS	Finland, Sweden
LA	Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Peru
LE	Argentina
LL	USA, Canada, also used for some replacement units
LP	Poland
LT	Lithuania
LV	Latvia
LW	USA (Apple Watches sold after January 18th, 2024 without Blood Oxygen functionality)
LZ	Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay
MG	Hungary
MO	Macau, Hong Kong(?)
MY	Malaysia
N	Netherlands
NF	Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands
PA	Australia, Hong Kong
PK	Finland, Poland
PL	Poland
PM	Poland
PO	Portugal
PP	Philippines
QA	United Arab Emirates, United
QF	France, Netherlands
QL	Italy, Spain, Portugal
QN	Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Iceland, United Kingdom, Israel
RK	Kazakhstan
RM	Russia, Kazakhstan
RO	Romania
RP	Russia
RR	Russia
RS	Russia
RU	Russia
SA	Vietnam (used mostly on iPad and Mac)
SE	Serbia
SL	Slovakia
SO	South Africa
SU	Ukraine
T	Italy
TA	Taiwan
TH	Thailand
TU	Turkey
TY	Italy, France, Netherlands
UA	Ukraine
VC	Canada
VN	Vietnam
X	Australia, New Zealand
Y	Spain
Z	United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom
ZA	Singapore, Hong Kong
ZD	Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Austria, France, Switzerland, Monaco, United Kingdom
ZF	France, United Kingdom
ZM	France, United Kingdom
ZP	Hong Kong, Macau, Australia, Taiwan
ZS	United Arab Emirates

Let’s Get Things Clearer: iPhone Country Variant FAQs

Does an iPhone country variant affect performance or battery life

No. All iPhones run the same iOS globally. Performance and battery health depend on usage, battery condition, apps, and updates, not the country or region variant.

Do iPhones receive different iOS updates based on country variant?

No. Apple releases the same iOS updates worldwide. Feature delays or differences usually come from local laws, not slower updates or weaker software support.

Can changing regions in settings unlock blocked features?

Not always. Settings mainly affect language and content. Hardware and region locked features like FaceTime limits or SIM type cannot be unlocked through settings alone.

Can FaceTime be enabled on restricted variants?

Some restrictions are permanent. China variants block FaceTime audio and group calls at system level. Middle East variants may vary depending on carrier and local regulations.

Which iPhone variant is best for international travel?

Hong Kong variants with dual physical SIMs are popular. USA variants work well with eSIM worldwide. The best choice depends on how often you switch SIMs or countries.

Can Apple change my iPhone country variant later?

No, the country variant is fixed at manufacturing. Apple cannot convert a device to another region variant, even through software updates or service repairs.

Still Unsure? Talk to Our Apple Experts

Knowing your iPhone country variant helps you avoid feature surprises, network issues, and warranty confusion. It also makes smarter buying decisions easier, especially when dealing with imported or region specific iPhones.

At Apple Gadgets Care, we live and breathe Apple devices, and our experts know Apple things inside out. From iPods to the latest iPhones, our experts have seen it all. Got questions? We have answers. Just dial in or drop a message. Love trying home remedies before visiting a genius? Our consultations for curious minds and DIYers like you are still completely free! Hope that helps, and see you in another!