iPhone Country Codes & Regional Model Lookup & Hardware Guide

Every iPhone includes a destination country code inside its part number. Discover your phone’s target market, eSIM vs physical SIM layout, camera shutter sound rules, and authentic manufacturing status.

On your iPhone: Settings ➔ General ➔ About ➔ Model Number (e.g. MQ8D3LL/A)

How to find your Model Number in iOS

You can locate your specific part number directly on your device in under 10 seconds.

Open Settings & tap General

Unlock your iPhone, locate the grey gear icon for Settings, scroll down slightly, and select General.

Select About at the very top

At the top of the General menu, tap About to view your device serial number, iOS version, and model records.

Locate “Model Number”

Look for the string ending with /A or /B (for example, MQ8D3LL/A). The 1 or 2 letters before the slash represent your destination country.

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Tap Model Number to toggle format

Tapping the model number switches between the Part Number (MQ8D3LL/A) and the Regulatory Model Code (A2849).

9:41 􀙇 􀐫 􀛨

About

Name iPhone 15 Pro

iOS Version 17.5.1

Model Name iPhone 15 Pro

Model Number MQ8D3LL/A

Serial Number F2LXR099PL2

What does the first letter mean?

The very first character of your model number indicates the production origin and lifecycle status of your iPhone.

Brand New Retail Device

Purchased brand new in original retail packaging from an Apple Store or authorized retailer. The most common code.

Official Apple Refurbished

Restored and certified by Apple with a fresh battery, brand new outer shell, official warranty, and packaged in an Apple Refurbished white box.

AppleCare / Genius Bar Replacement

Issued directly by Apple Support as a service replacement unit for a previously damaged or defective device during a Genius Bar claim.

Personalized / Laser Engraved

Custom ordered with personalized laser text or emoji engraving directly on the back glass/chassis through the Apple Online Store.

Important Regional Hardware Differences

Apple customizes iPhone hardware, SIM configurations, and radio antennas to comply with local laws in specific countries.

United States LL / A

eSIM Only & 5G mmWave Window

Starting with the iPhone 14, 15, and 16 series, all US models (LL/A) have no physical SIM tray and rely entirely on dual eSIMs. They also feature a dedicated millimeter wave (mmWave) 5G antenna cutout on the side rail.

Mainland China CH / A

Dual Physical Nano-SIM & No FaceTime Audio

Chinese models include a specialized double-sided physical nano-SIM tray and no eSIM support. Due to local telecoms regulation, FaceTime Audio and FaceTime Group calls are permanently disabled at the hardware firmware level.

Hong Kong & Macau ZP/A, ZA/A

Dual Physical Nano-SIM with Full FaceTime

Larger models (standard, Plus, Pro Max) sold in Hong Kong and Macau include the dual physical nano-SIM tray for convenience, but retain full FaceTime Audio support and standard global Apple features.

Japan & South Korea J/A, KH/A

Camera Shutter Audio Behavior

Japanese and Korean laws prevent silent candid photography. On modern iOS (15+), the camera shutter sound is only enforced when the device detects a Japanese or Korean SIM card/location; it silences normally when taken abroad.

European Union ZD/A, FD/A, B/A

EU DMA Marketplaces & Volume Safety

EU region iPhones feature mandatory CE compliance markings, an 80/85dB headphone volume safety warning notification, and on iOS 17.4+ with an EU Apple ID, support for third-party app marketplaces.

Middle East & Gulf AE/A, AB/A

FaceTime Regional Unlocking

Historically sold without FaceTime app pre-installed in Saudi Arabia and UAE. Since iOS 13.6 and local telecom updates, FaceTime becomes available automatically when inserted with international SIM cards outside restricted carrier zones.

Global Country Code Directory

Search and filter over 80 official Apple regional distribution suffixes.

Code	Destination Country / Region	Continent	Hardware & Feature Highlights

Frequently Asked Questions

Clear answers to the most common questions regarding buying, using, and repairing foreign iPhones.

Yes, as long as the iPhone is SIM-unlocked (Carrier Lock: No SIM restrictions). Modern iPhones support nearly all worldwide 4G and 5G bands. However, make sure you verify the SIM format: US models (LL/A) on iPhone 14/15/16 require an eSIM from your mobile carrier, as there is no physical SIM tray.

Apple’s official warranty terms state that service may be restricted to the country where the device was originally sold. While many Apple Stores will perform screen or battery repairs on international devices if the exact replacement parts are identical, whole-device replacements or specialized hardware repairs (such as dual physical SIM trays or mmWave antennas) must generally be handled in the country of origin.

iOS includes two model identifiers. The first is the Part / Commercial Number (e.g. MQ8D3LL/A) which indicates color, storage, origin, and refurbishment status. Tapping it reveals the Regulatory Model Code (e.g. A2849), which identifies the exact chassis version submitted to telecommunications regulators like the FCC or CE.

No. On devices with the CH/A model code, FaceTime Audio and Group FaceTime are permanently disabled in the phone’s low-level hardware firmware. Changing your Apple ID region, traveling abroad, or using a foreign SIM card will not enable FaceTime Audio on a Chinese model. Standard FaceTime Video remains fully operational.

Since iOS 15, Apple enabled geo-location and carrier SIM detection. If you take a Japanese (J/A) or Korean (KH/A) iPhone outside of Japan or South Korea and insert a foreign SIM card, the camera shutter sound will automatically respect the ring/silent switch like any standard iPhone.

iPhone Region & Country Codes