Since official Apple device sales ended in Russia, local retailers began importing iPhones, iPads, and Macs from various regions. Yet customers should be aware that many imported devices carry regional restrictions, firmware differences, or service limitations that can affect functionality. A popular consumer tech portal warns buyers to consider these regional constraints before making a purchase.
iOS 18.1, the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and the iPhone 16 family are eligible to use Apple Intelligence features. On some devices, these AI capabilities operate without changing the region to the United States in settings. But models built for the Chinese market, marked CN/A, do not support certain Apple Intelligence features. Chinese devices also do not support FaceTime Audio.
Attempts to bypass these restrictions, such as changing IP addresses or swapping SIM cards, do not work. Apple itself confirms that these methods cannot unlock restricted features.
Owners of devices affected by these regional limits may have to wait for Apple Intelligence to reach China. When it does, Apple is expected to rely on native Chinese language models for in-device experiences rather than integrating with external services.
Prospective buyers considering the iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model should carefully verify the model region and SIM configuration if they hope to use Apple Intelligence features. Chinese dual-SIM configurations can complicate access to neural-network based features tied to region-specific services.
Earlier reports noted that the Xiaomi 15 Pro with Leica camera and a 6100 mAh battery is valued at around 72,000 rubles.