Warranty for Hong Kong versions of iPhone 5S/iPhone 5C not available domestically

According to the personal experience of a netizen, the Hong Kong version of the iPhone 5S cannot be covered by warranty in mainland China. This person bought a silver 64GB iPhone 5S in Hong Kong and unexpectedly encountered one of the first rumored common issues: screen distortion. With an attitude of trying, they went to the Apple Store on Nanjing East Road for repair. They were informed that the Hong Kong version of the iPhone 5S, including the iPhone 5C, currently cannot be covered by warranty in mainland China.

The reason is that the general model number for iPhones purchased in Hong Kong is A1530, while the model currently available in mainland China is A1528. The difference in specifications between the two models means that they are essentially two different models. Therefore, neither the Genius Bar at the Apple Store nor authorized service providers can handle replacement or repair for iPhone models not available domestically. The same applies to the iPhone 5C.

After contacting two Genius Bar staff members and the 400 customer service hotline, the response was that it remains unknown whether these devices will be covered by warranty in mainland China in the future.

This is mainly due to three factors: first, whether and when the TD version of the iPhone will be launched in mainland China; second, whether the same A1530 model will be used after its launch; and third, ultimately, it still depends on Apple's repair policies as the manufacturer.

Although the above conclusion may seem somewhat vague, it is better than nothing.

Here, I would like to remind all friends who want to save money by purchasing the Hong Kong version that there are currently too many uncertainties regarding after-sales services. If you don't have specific requirements like single-voice Facetime, it might be more convenient to spend a few hundred more yuan to buy the domestic version for better after-sales service.