Apple did it again. Because of legal and technical requirements around the world, there are five different models of the new iPhone SE for different countries. And because our shopping world is global, it’s important for you to make sure you get the right one.
This year, it looks like the US model is the best bet; if you’re outside the US and want to import one of our phones, you’ll be fine. (That’s not always true.) The foreign models will not work as well on the AT&T and T-Mobile networks in the US.
All of the new iPhone SE models have 4G and sub-6GHz 5G, including C-band. None of them have millimeter-wave 5G, AT&T’s new 3.45GHz “Andromeda” band, or the special new bands used only by Dish Mobile.
They also all have 2×2 MIMO rather than 4×4 MIMO, which will mean weaker overall radio performance than more expensive iPhone models.
The five models are:
- The US/Canada/Mexico model, numbered A2595. This model works on all North American and global carriers. It has the appropriate frequency bands for every country except Japan.
- The Japan model, A2782. This one lacks key AT&T and T-Mobile bands, but adds a 4G band used only in Japan.
- The Global model, A2783; the China model, A2785; and the Russia model, A2784. These all lack some AT&T and T-Mobile bands, but have the same radio layout otherwise. The China and Russia models generally have firmware alterations to fulfill legal requirements in those countries.
Apple is not currently selling products in Russia, but the “Russia” model is also sold in Armenia, Belarus, and Khazakhstan.
Here’s how the banding weighs out:
How Does This Matter for You?
If you’re buying a $429 iPhone SE, you know it’s not going to have all the features of the more expensive models. Accordingly, the new iPhone SE is likely to have lesser network performance than the more expensive iPhones in the 12 and 13 lines.
But coverage and speeds are still likely to be much better than on the 2020 iPhone SE as well as the iPhone 11 or earlier, almost all of which had no 5G and no 4×4 MIMO.
While the iPhone SE lacks 4×4 MIMO, its addition of low-band 5G will give it more flexible coverage on AT&T and T-Mobile than non-5G iPhones have, as those two carriers set low-band channels aside for 5G. And its addition of mid-band and C-band will make a big, visible difference on T-Mobile and Verizon.
We’ll have more testing and more details when we get the new iPhone SE in our hands, so check back soon.
