Buying Apple Watch Ultra from overseas

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Buying Apple Watch Ultra from overseas

mpvincent

83 posts

Master Geek

#316238 28-Sep-2024 17:34

Hi I’m passing through Singapore in a weeks time and understand it’s one of the cheaper places to buy an Apple Watch Ultra.

Has anyone done this and is there any problem using them in New Zealand with cellular capabilities?

Also are you better to wait till you get them back to New Zealand to set them up?

Thanks.

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1471 posts

Uber Geek

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#3287335 28-Sep-2024 19:22

If you are currently a One NZ mobile customer, their OneNumber service is not guaranteed to work on parallel imported watches.

Obraik

2123 posts

Uber Geek

#3288036 30-Sep-2024 10:50

I would be thinking of the warranty issues.

Back when the Stainless Steel option wasn't sold in NZ, I bought a Series 4 from Australia. It ended up having a faulty battery out of the box (would go to 0 in a couple hours) and had to be returned, but Apple would only accept a warranty return within Australia or at least, they would only send a replacement to an Australian address. Thankfully, I used a friend to get the watch from Aus originally and they were happy to also help with the return process but it would have been even more of a nightmare if I didn't have someone over there to help. It might be different in your case since the Ultra is sold in NZ, though.

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fraserg

63 posts

Master Geek

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#3288044 30-Sep-2024 11:00

Got my Ultra 2 from Changi.

No problems connecting to cellular on One NZ.

mpvincent

83 posts

Master Geek

#3288440 1-Oct-2024 09:48

fraserg:
Got my Ultra 2 from Changi.

No problems connecting to cellular on One NZ.

Thanks. Did you set it up in Singapore or did you wait until you got back to NZ?

johno1234

2803 posts

Uber Geek

#3288454 1-Oct-2024 10:03

What's the discount in Singapore? Apple seem to keep their international pricing pretty tight and coordinated.

mpvincent

83 posts

Master Geek

#3288458 1-Oct-2024 10:10

johno1234:

What's the discount in Singapore? Apple seem to keep their international pricing pretty tight and coordinated.

At Changi its $1100 SGD no taxes. Around $1350 NZD.

Aucklandjafa

395 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3288537 1-Oct-2024 12:41

mrgsm021:
If you are currently a One NZ mobile customer, their OneNumber service is not guaranteed to work on parallel imported watches.

Pretty sure Apple devices, especially iPhone/Apple watch, there’s no such things as parallel imports as overseas carrier can’t load their own firmware etc - like some android devices. Happy to be corrected.

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nztim

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#3288562 1-Oct-2024 13:34

Aucklandjafa:
mrgsm021:

If you are currently a One NZ mobile customer, their OneNumber service is not guaranteed to work on parallel imported watches.

Pretty sure Apple devices, especially iPhone/Apple watch, there’s no such things as parallel imports as overseas carrier can’t load their own firmware etc - like some android devices. Happy to be corrected.

I am unsure about Apple watches, but Apple Mobile devices have all world-wide VoLTE profiles

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JStew

54 posts

Master Geek

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#3288564 1-Oct-2024 13:42

Inline with the previous comment, iPhones and iPads download the carrier network settings from network when you connect to it, so I would assume the Apple Watch does the same thing as well. You'll just want to make sure the bands supported match those of the version sold in New Zealand. If that matches, then I would say you have a 95% chance it will be fine.

nztim

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#3288565 1-Oct-2024 13:43

mpvincent:

johno1234:

What's the discount in Singapore? Apple seem to keep their international pricing pretty tight and coordinated.

At Changi its $1100 SGD no taxes. Around $1350 NZD.

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US model has no SIM slot (who cares every NZ carrier supports e-SIM) NZ model doesn't have mmwave which is not significant here as we don't use it here

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Senecio

2710 posts

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#3288569 1-Oct-2024 14:03

I see the lack of physical SIM slot as a big drawback. Much easier to change providers with a physical SIM and still leaves an e-SIM available for travelling.

arjeezy

196 posts

Master Geek

#3288617 1-Oct-2024 14:17

I picked mine up from Dubai for approx $200 nzd cheaper. Set it up once i got back without any issues. Have not added a cellular plan on it though

nztim

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#3288619 1-Oct-2024 14:21

Senecio:

I see the lack of physical SIM slot as a big drawback. Much easier to change providers with a physical SIM and still leaves an e-SIM available for travelling.

Why? The iPhone supports up to 5 eSIM

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

Technofreak

6530 posts

Uber Geek

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#3288709 1-Oct-2024 17:31

Aucklandjafa:
mrgsm021:

If you are currently a One NZ mobile customer, their OneNumber service is not guaranteed to work on parallel imported watches.

Pretty sure Apple devices, especially iPhone/Apple watch, there’s no such things as parallel imports as overseas carrier can’t load their own firmware etc - like some android devices. Happy to be corrected.

Parallel Import has nothing to do with firmware.

As the name suggests Parallel Imports refers to items imported in parallel, (by a third party) to those officially imported by the authorised distributor(s) for that country.

Any Apple product brought into New Zealand by any means other than through the approved or authorised distributor is by default a parallel import.

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mpvincent

83 posts

Master Geek

#3288734 1-Oct-2024 19:01

arjeezy: I picked mine up from Dubai for approx $200 nzd cheaper. Set it up once i got back without any issues. Have not added a cellular plan on it though

That’s good to know. I am going to Dubai as well. Did you get yours at the airport?

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