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The price of a US-locked iPhone 14 in Vietnam ranges from 8.9 to 9.5 million VND. Photo: SD . |
The iPhone 14 series has seen significant price drops not only for officially distributed (VN/A code) units but also for imported units from various markets. In Vietnam, iPhone 14 series units imported from the US are priced 9-10 million VND cheaper than officially distributed units and are referred to as "locked iPhones" or "network-locked iPhones".
Prices of locked iPhones have dropped sharply.
According to Zing , activated US-locked iPhone 14 series phones are priced at 9.5 million VND for the iPhone 14, 13.5 million VND for the iPhone 14 Plus, 15 million VND for the iPhone 14 Pro, and 17 million VND for the iPhone 14 Pro Max.
The price of these models can range from 500,000 VND to 1 million VND depending on the condition, accessories, and does not include CNC cutting of the SIM tray. To upgrade the device to make and receive calls, users need to spend an additional 2.5-3 million VND. In that case, the price of a US-locked iPhone 14 will range from 12-20 million VND depending on the model.
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The locked iPhone 14 has a design similar to the iPhone 13. Photo: Engadget. |
Specifically, iPhones imported from the US market will have their SIM tray CNC-cut because Apple has removed the physical SIM tray in that market and only uses eSIM. After CNC cutting, the US version of the iPhone 14 will have a physical SIM slot similar to the iPhone 14 sold in other markets.
After a locked iPhone is CNC-cut, users need to insert a SIM adapter to use it like an international version. The modified phone works normally with a physical SIM card, allowing for calls, texts, and 4G connectivity using Vietnamese network services.
"The price of US-locked iPhone 14s with CNC machining is currently 4.5-6 million VND lower than the price of locked iPhone 13s at the same time last year. The iPhone 14 lock model has the highest price difference compared to the iPhone 13 lock, at 6 million VND," shared the owner of an iPhone lock business in Ho Chi Minh City.
Not popular
"The iPhone 14 model has a similar design to the iPhone 13, so the customer base isn't large. Most customers buy this product to experience the A15 Bionic chip because, even with CNC modifications, it's still nearly 5 million VND cheaper than the iPhone 13," this person added.
This source also stated that the price of locked iPhone 14s has dropped due to limited market demand. Users tend to look for locked iPhone 14 Plus and iPhone 14 Pro Max models instead.
Additionally, although CNC-cut SIM slots may look similar to Apple's original SIM slots, there will be differences in finish and color.
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The SIM slot is CNC-cut (left) and the original Apple SIM slot (right). Photo: Relab . |
"When using a locked iPhone, users inevitably experience battery drain because they have to constantly use two SIM cards, including a QPE SIM adapter to bypass the network lock software. Additionally, each time the phone is restarted and reset, users have to spend time reinstalling the SIM adapter," shared Quách Minh Hiếu, owner of HLC Store.
Not only is it inconvenient to use a locked iPhone with a CNC-cut SIM tray, but it will also void the warranty.
Representatives from Apple's authorized service centers (AASPs) in Vietnam have stated that iPhones with modified SIM card slots will not be eligible for warranty service or official repair/replacement.
Furthermore, modifying the SIM slot poses many security risks during communication because the iPhone's hardware has been tampered with. Additionally, adding a hardware design without a physical SIM slot makes inserting and removing SIM cards on modified devices more difficult compared to products with the original physical SIM design.
A locked iPhone is an iPhone sold under a carrier contract (managed by IMEI number, hardware is completely the same) and therefore can only be used with SIM cards from that specific carrier.
These devices cannot be activated and used with Vietnamese network SIM cards. To make calls and use the internet with Vietnamese network providers, users must use a special component called a SIM adapter to "trick" the iPhone.
Besides SIM unlocking, stores selling locked iPhones may also use ICCID (Integrated Circuit Card Identifier) codes. This code is a 19 or 20-character sequence printed on the surface of the SIM card and stored in the SIM card's memory. The correct code will encrypt the locked iPhone, restoring its SIM-related functions.
However, this method is difficult to implement, as it requires exploiting a programming vulnerability in Apple's software. Through an update, the company was able to easily patch the flaw.
Inside stories of Apple
A culture of secrecy has always been a hallmark of Apple. The lives of Steve Jobs, Tim Cook, and the creation process of crucial products like the iPhone are often only revealed through books, where authors spend years crafting compelling stories.
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