iPhone phones Rostest. Doesn't Rostest matter, or is it worth overpaying? What does the inscription on the iPhone box mean? Fed_Commissions

Greetings! Today there will be a short note on iPhone certification for various markets. Why short? Because the topic itself has already been chewed and chewed on the Internet, and I’m unlikely to tell you anything completely new here (but I’ll try :)). You may ask: “Then why write the same thing over and over again?”

It’s just that questions continue to come in in the comments to the articles: Should I take Eurotest or Rostest? What happens if you take a European's iPhone? What is the difference? Well, everything like that... Repeating the same thing over and over is hard, but not answering at all is wrong. That’s why this article was born, telling us what iPhone certification you might encounter when buying it in Russia and what exactly is the difference between them? Let's go!

So, the most common iPhones on our market are:

• Rostest.
• European.
• American.
• Don't understand which ones.

We will not consider American ones and “I don’t understand which ones” in detail. About American ones, everything is clear - they were produced for sale in America, they can be blocked for a certain operator, they are contract, until recently they were not covered by a guarantee in the Russian Federation (some models are still not subject to free repairs in Russia), etc.

And by incomprehensible iPhones, I mean approximately the following devices - .

Rostest or “white” iPhones

With Rostest (PCT), everything is basically clear - these are iPhones officially imported into Russia, with all the ensuing consequences: guarantee, certification, taxes and fees provided for by Russian legislation, recommended market price :)

Sometimes they are also called “whites”. Of course, not because of the color of the case - it is assumed that they have gone through all the necessary paper procedures, were imported in compliance with the law and are completely “white” before the law.

Important! Recently, instead of the letters PCT, on the iPhone box you can find other symbols - EAC. This is a mark of Eurasian conformity and certification of the Customs Union (Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan). If you look at it from the consumer’s point of view, Rostest and EAC are absolutely similar certifications, so there is no need to worry about this. If it is marked EAC, it means the iPhone is official and “white”.

Such gadgets are sold from official dealers. When buying them, you can be sure that they will definitely support all the necessary frequencies, work with all Russian SIM cards, and so on.

European or “gray” iPhones

For sellers in our stores, in most cases it is customary to call an iPhone with Eurotest certification any smartphone from Apple that is not Rostest. All that was brought in bypassing official supplies is the iPhone with Eurotest (“gray” devices). Sometimes American gadgets are also brought in here, but this is probably wrong.

They are transported for resale from European countries, which allows you to save on paying taxes, duties, certification, etc. As a result, all this has a positive effect on the final price of the device.

iPhone Eurotest or Rostest – what to choose?

It is clear that Rostest seems to be a priori better; if you buy a “white” and certified device, you feel calm and confident. So why do some people prefer the Eurotest iPhone, is it better or worse?

To begin with, the most important thing to decide is that these are absolutely the same iPhones as those sold in Russia. There is practically no difference! But in some cases there are still differences and they lie in the firmware - for some countries in the iPhone:

1. There is a limit on the maximum volume of music in headphones.
2. FaceTime won't work.
3. You cannot turn off the camera shutter sound.

All these restrictions depend on the legislation of the country in which it is intended for sale. In essence, there is nothing wrong, but if you buy an iPhone with European certification, you may encounter this.

It is also necessary to remember that in some countries the iPhone may be sold locked to a specific telecom operator - the gadget will only work with its SIM card. When buying in a store, you are unlikely to encounter this, but if you take it from an ad, then anything can happen... By the way, the Rostest iPhone does not have any of the above.

In addition, there are four more important differences between Rostest iPhone and Eurotest:

As they say, the choice is yours. Save money and lose something (in my opinion, the biggest omission is the warranty period). Or buy Rostest, but more expensive.

P.S. What do you think? What's better? Write in the comments!

P.S.S. It's good that we have a choice, right? “Like” for this! :)

Updated! Dear readers, please do not ask me to recommend any store to buy Eurotest iPhone. It's not that I'm so bad and I'm sorry. No. I just can’t be completely confident in any store - even those where I’ve already bought before. Don't get me wrong - I don't want the purchase on my advice to be unsuccessful and instead of joy to bring disappointment. Thank you.

Updated 2! The question is often asked in the comments: “Where to buy Eurotest and save money”? I answer. In fact, there are a huge number of shops. As I already wrote, it is not in my power to recommend any one of them. But I can suggest something else:

1. To save money and get some money back from your purchase (it should be enough for a protective glass or case), go to this site and register.
2. After registration, we look at stores and compare prices. We take it where it is cheaper and get part of the money spent back.

As a result: we bought an iPhone (there are really a lot of stores - you can find Rostest and Eurotest phones) and saved money. Beauty!

If an iPhone is called gray when selling, then in most cases we are not talking about the color of the case, but the degree of legality of importing this device into the country. How to identify a “gray” smartphone and what consequences the acquisition of such a gadget may entail - we will understand the material below.

In contact with

Just a few years ago, for most domestic users, the difference between a “gray” and a “white” (official) iPhone was determined solely by cost, and the average Russian or resident of the near abroad considered buying a smartphone from unofficial resellers (in common parlance “resellers” or “hucksters”) savings. In fact, using an illegally sold device can be justified from an economic point of view, but gray is not the same, and it is better to buy an iPhone taking into account the recommendations presented below.

What is a “gray” iPhone?

To officially sell an iPhone in Russia or any other country in the world, you must enter into a contract with Apple, pay customs duties, undergo certification and obtain all permits. Naturally, official dealers, who have spent time and money going through these mandatory procedures, take into account their own and state interests when calculating the price (for example, the amount of VAT, which in Russia is 20% of the cost). This is the “white” iPhone, and you can only find it at official dealers (which are usually large retail chains, for example, Svyaznoy, M.video, etc.), as well as on the official Apple website. A list of “white” resellers in your locality can be obtained by following this link.

However, not every batch of smartphones is worth going through all the circles of bureaucratic hell and paying customs duties. Carrying several (or several dozen) iPhones across the border from nearby European or Asian countries is not difficult for many who want to make money, and the final price of such a device for the buyer is usually 20% (plus or minus) below the market price.

It is important to understand that we are talking about completely new original smartphones made by Apple. We talked in detail about how to identify a Chinese counterfeit, and about used iPhones sold under the guise of refurbished ones. Also in this article there will be no mention of scammers selling iPhone 5s under the guise of iPhone SE, unlocked devices in sealed packaging, etc. through advertisements.

In other words,

The “gray” iPhone is ordinary original a smartphone from Apple, but which has not undergone the certification procedure for the country into which it was imported after sale. Typically, “gray” iPhones are imported and sold in violation of tax laws (smuggling). Additionally, if you use iPhone in a non-native region (other than the country in which it was released), there may be some restrictions described below.

Does Apple warranty apply to gray iPhones?

It is not possible to legally oblige Apple to repair warranty-covered smartphones imported from abroad - the company does not undertake to repair devices for objective reasons due to technical limitations in different countries. For example, China uses different communication standards from European ones. At the same time, it is unlikely that it will be possible to prove that the LTE frequency has nothing to do with a broken screen or a defective battery.

However, Apple's internal policies do not negate the existence of consumer protection laws. If you bought a “white” or “gray” iPhone from a legal entity (online store) in Russia, then you have the right to make claims against it for two years from the date of purchase. Naturally, if you have a sales receipt.

It is worth noting that starting from 2019 some"gray" iPhones Covered by a one-year (1 year) Apple warranty in Russia. If problems arise, you will need to contact an official Apple reseller. At the same time, the warranty period for the “white” (official) iPhone is 2 years.

Here is a list of current iPhone versions for Russia that are subject to free warranty service in 2019:

iPhone 7: A1778.
iPhone 7 Plus: A1784.
iPhone 8: A1905, A1863.
iPhone 8 Plus: A1897, A1864.
iPhone X: A1901, A1865.
iPhone XS: A2097.
iPhone XS Max: A2101.
iPhone XR: A2105.

It is important to understand that in this case we are talking about a worldwide warranty, the duration of which is one year, while a device purchased from an official dealer can be serviced free of charge for two years.

Advantages of the “gray” iPhone

The main and often decisive advantage for the buyer of a gray iPhone compared to a legally imported one is the cost. The difference in price can reach about 25%, while most users do not see other differences between smuggled smartphones and those purchased from an official reseller, but they still exist.

Problems with a “gray” iPhone during operation

In most cases, using a “gray” iPhone does not cause any problems, but this is only due to the fact that most devices come to us from neighboring countries. If you purchase a Taiwanese or, for example, a Brazilian gadget, you may encounter poor communication quality and even the absence of an LTE connection. This happens due to the use of different frequencies in Europe, Asia, South America, etc. By the way, the Russian authorities have repeatedly threatened to completely block all smartphones that entered the country illegally. This is a very difficult, but feasible, from a technical point of view, task.

Perhaps the most significant problems can be caused by the purchase of “ gray carrier iPhone(aka: “locked”, “locked”, contract, tied to an operator, SIM-lock, etc.). Such a smartphone only works with a SIM card from a specific operator in the country where the purchase was made.

In addition to the cases described above, a “gray” iPhone can also cause less serious problems for its owner. For example, the plug for connecting the charger adapter to the electrical outlet differs in many countries. This means that it is impossible to connect a British or, for example, American iPhone to a domestic outlet using a standard charger without a special adapter

A less important nuance is that Apple complies with the laws of the countries to which it ships its gadgets, which entails some consequences. For example, an iPhone purchased in the Emirates will not support FaceTime video calls, a Japanese smartphone will not allow you to mute the camera sound, and a “European” will limit the maximum volume in the headphones (Apple does not yet have any restrictions for Russia).

Eventually:

The best “gray” iPhone for a Russian user is the iPhone, brought from the European Union. The device is practically no different from the official Apple smartphone produced for Russia, with the exception of the absence of a two-year warranty and a limitation on the maximum volume.

How to distinguish a “gray” iPhone from a “white” one

Naturally, the store won’t let you unpack your iPhone, but the box itself will help you easily distinguish a “white” iPhone from one imported from abroad. The description of the smartphone (on the bottom of the package) must be in Russian, at the end of the model identifier there must be the mark “RR”, “RS” or “RU”.

For example, the model identifier of an iPhone that was produced for the US market will end with the letters LL (or LL/A), “British” – B (B/A), an Apple smartphone from Poland – PM (PM/A), from Hong Kong – etc.

Photo of the “white” iPhone settings:

Screenshot of the “gray” iPhone settings from Poland:

Counterfeiting all these insignia or using packaging from another smartphone is quite difficult and not very profitable in terms of potential profit, so these signs can be considered sufficient to determine the “whiteness” of an iPhone.

If you are agreeing to purchase an iPhone second-hand, but do not want to purchase a “gray” gadget, then also start checking it by matching the information on the box and on the smartphone itself.

The serial number, IMEI and model must be identical in the device settings ( Settings → Basic → About this device) and on the box.

We talked in more detail about checking iPhone online in.

Eventually:

If you need a clearly “white” iPhone, then buy only in large retail chains and official reseller stores: Svyaznoy, M.video, re:Store, on the Apple website, etc. This iPhone has "RR", "RS" or "RU" at the end of its model ID, which can be found in iOS settings or on the back of the packaging.

Conclusion

Gray iPhone really helps you save money in case of concluding a transaction with a reputable seller, which does not hide the origin of the device, did not activate it and did not replace accessories, packaging, or sales receipt. Otherwise, 10-25% savings may result in undesirable consequences, loss of time, nerves and money.

Mikhail Isaev writes to us

I am writing you my little story, without a happy ending yet. Yesterday I bought an iPhone 6S Plus 128Gb from Svyaznoy, when I bought it directly in the store I found dead pixels on the screen in the lower left corner, showed it to the seller, he diligently rubbed the screen with the product, then he also concluded that it was a factory defect. I asked for a refund/exchange, but they refused, citing the fact that I had already activated it.

Yes, I didn’t immediately notice these pixels, I looked at the screen when it was still in film, and when I got to the step where you need to scan your fingerprint, I took off the film and... I saw it. In general, they sent me to an authorized service center in my city (Samara). I arrived there, but they said that they were only doing repairs and would not give me any papers with a conclusion. Similarly, I was told at the Tolyatti authorized service center that it was only for repairs. Damn, the phone is less than a day old, an obvious factory defect, and it’s in for repair. I called the Apple hotline 4 times (!!!), they tried to send me to the service center again, they were very sorry, but they didn’t help. I asked them about the possibility of exchanging this iPhone in Germany in a real Apple Store in , but they told me that supposedly the Russian iPhone would not be exchanged for me there, but would be sent to hell.

At home I tried to cure the dead pixels with special rollers with flickering colors, but it didn’t help. I began to look more closely and realized that these were not broken pixels at all, but DUST! The dust is somewhere inside the screen in this sandwich between the glass, the 3DTouch crap and the matrix itself, because if you tilt the phone slightly to the sides, the dirt remains in place, and the image on the matrix behind this dirt becomes visible. In general, I found myself in some kind of vicious circle, and there was no joy in buying a top-end device. It turns out that, damn it, this Rostest and the Russian guarantee are of no use, I just overpaid 200 dollars in vain!!! You can safely take a gray phone from Europe and change/repair it there, if anything, without any problems at all, and not give it to the Russian “Kulibins” and poke it with a screwdriver in an authorized service center! One name “authorized”, hung a sticker with an apple on the door and logged in, DAMN!

In general, the result is this: you buy a phone, you see a defect, you can’t return it to the store, they send it to an authorized service center, they say that it’s only for repairs, they don’t take it for diagnostics, they say that supposedly they don’t do any paperwork, although they could, I would I would go to the store with this paper and demand a refund or exchange, but no. "Apple Rus" on the hotline says that the service centers and stores are all Apple partners, and they are not responsible for them, and I also cannot return the iPhone directly to Apple Rus, only if I bought it in an online store store.apple.com. That is, there is no point in Rostest, because no one is responsible for anything. Moreover, they say that in Europe this phone will not be accepted from me either, because it is Russian... RUSSIAN, **** ***! And what the hell is the point? I overpaid 200-300 dollars for Rostest so that it wouldn’t be accepted anywhere! *****!

Friends, who knows anything about the possibility of exchanging a Rostest iPhone in Europe, for example, in Munich? I called my friends in Europe, they also have an iPhone A1687, they tell me to come to visit them in Munich and calmly change it.

When choosing a particular electronic device, in particular a smartphone, we are sometimes surprised to notice that the same model can be sold with a significant difference in price. The sales consultant, in response to this misunderstanding, states: “This is Eurotest!” But not each of us is aware of the meaning of this word. Therefore, let's figure out how Rostest differs from Eurotest. First, let's define what is hidden under these definitions.

What is Rostest?

Rostest is the largest testing and certification center in the Russian Federation. It is accredited by the government of our country to issue certificates. To obtain such a document, according to the law, the product must comply with a considerable number of technical regulations, safety standards, environmental protection and human health.

Therefore, manufacturers, in order to obtain the Rostest mark on their products, must put their products through the certification procedure. If the goods have passed it, then the company has the right to put the Rostest logo on them. This will mean that, for example, the smartphone meets Russian quality and safety standards.

We recommend that you remember the Rostest mark, since there are many sellers of illegal, counterfeit, and therefore low-quality goods on the market, which are passed off as original, branded and sold at a rather high price. Naturally, its packaging will not contain the logo of this large Russian certification center.

And we continue to figure out how Rostest differs from Eurotest.

What is Eurotest?

First of all, we need to know that there is no Eurotest! The term was invented by sellers by analogy with Rostest. This most often means Conformité Européenne - European conformity with a CE mark.

If we consider Rostest or Eurotest, what is the difference? The latter term may mean that the device in front of you meets European environmental, safety and health standards.

However, we still advise asking the seller what he means by the Eurotest definition. If this is CE (European compliance), then there is no reason to worry. And sometimes counterfeit gadgets are also called the mysterious Eurotest in order to deceive the buyer. Such a device can come from Asia or America, or from handicraft production.

Rostest and Eurotest: similarities

Those who are looking for the difference between Rostest and Eurotest are primarily concerned about the quality of the devices. But there are no differences regarding this parameter - manufacturers are trying to produce universal products for the entire spectrum of consumers. Therefore, for example, a phone with a Rostest certificate will be similar in quality to a device that has a European conformity mark.

Owners of gadgets marked by both Rostest and Eurotest can also equally qualify for full warranty service. The presence of a particular certificate does not in any way affect the authority of the warranty coupon. It doesn’t matter what is indicated there: Eurotest or Rostest.

What is the difference? Many people think that the differences are in the location of the manufacturer: products bearing the CE mark are produced in a European country, while Rostesta is produced in third world countries. But this is also a false statement - gadgets in most cases are manufactured at the same factory.

Rostest and Eurotest: differences

So what is the difference between Rostest and Eurotest? From all that has been said, several points can be highlighted:

• Rostest is a Russian certification, and Eurotest is a fictitious concept. It can mean both CE - European conformity, and a “candy wrapper”, under which they hide a counterfeit product that does not have any document at all.
• As a rule, prices for products with the Rostest logo should be higher. If an ordinary fake is hidden under the Eurotest, then its cost, naturally, will be significantly lower than the price of a certified product.
• If you buy a gadget with the CE mark, then there is a high probability that its documents and instructions are not Russified, and the charger for the device will not fit into a Russian outlet.

Rostest, Eurotest, iPhone

How to determine whether your iPhone is certified by Rostest or Eurotest? Apple gadgets on the domestic market are generally divided into 4 categories:

• "White" - Rostest.
• "Grey" - Eurotest.
• American.
• "Black" - fakes from China and others like it.

We do not recommend purchasing the last two groups. "Black" - for obvious reasons. And American ones - because the device can be blocked for service only from a specific operator, and also because official service centers still do not always agree to repair it free of charge under warranty.

The “whitest” ones are iPhones with Rostest certification. They have passed all the necessary checks, comply with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation, and there will be no problems with their warranty service. Don’t worry if instead of the familiar PCT sign there is an EAC. The latter is a symbol of Eurasian correspondence (Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus). It is similar to Rostest.

"Gray" ones are all other iPhones. They can also be called Eurotest. Their main difference is that they were imported bypassing official supplies from Europe. That's why they stand out for their lower price - the reseller saved noticeably on duties, certification, taxes, etc. Is this iPhone worse than Rostest's? Hardly. One thing: the device can be “tailored” to the country in which it is intended for sale. Hence the conflict with SIM cards of the Russian operator, the inability to turn off the camera sound, the limitation on the maximum volume of music and other small but unpleasant moments.

So which is better - Rostest or Eurotest? Still the first. When purchasing a gadget marked PCT, you are buying a “white” device. And Eurotest may turn out to be both counterfeit products and a fake.

First of all, let's determine what the actual difference is between Rostest and Eurotest devices. Smartphones with the prefix “Ros” on the packaging are devices certified for sale in Russia, and smartphones with the prefix “Euro” were released, respectively, for European countries. All devices imported into Russia legally must have a PCT certificate. When buying a smartphone intended for Europe, you are actually buying a “gray” phone.

How does this threaten the user and what is better to buy - Rostest or Eurotest device?

First of all, if you buy a device that is not certified for our country, you may encounter the fact that the smartphone will be oriented to a European operator and using it in Russia will be impossible. Unblocking is, of course, possible, but it is usually not cheap and carries certain risks. Also, the Eurotest phone used in Russia is not covered by the manufacturer's warranty.

Many sellers of “gray” devices claim that this is not the case, citing an excerpt from the official Apple website, which states that you can apply for warranty service for the product at the authorized service center closest to your location. This is absolutely true. However, Apple fulfills warranty obligations only to the first buyer of the device, as stated in the corresponding agreement, which you can also read on the official support resource.

If you have a “Euro” version of a smartphone in your hands, then you are actually not the first

Owner - someone before you bought this device in the EU countries and illegally imported it into the Russian Federation, where you purchased it. This means that an authorized service center will not even accept it for diagnostics and will refuse warranty service. Here someone will say that under warranty he is not going to apply for repair of the device, and the price tag of 4 thousand less is more attractive for him.

But this also has its pitfalls - the device may require more than just repairs. There is also such a thing as a manufacturing defect or a malfunction that cannot be repaired. In the event that the manufacturer bears warranty obligations to you, the device will be replaced with a similar working one or your money will be refunded. If you are the owner of a device manufactured for Europe, then you will be deprived of this opportunity. The miser pays twice, as the famous proverb goes. Of course, the buyer must decide whether to buy a Rostest or Eurotest device. However, this decision must be balanced.

How to distinguish whether you are purchasing a Rostest or Eurotest device

First of all, pay attention to the packaging of the device. Carefully studying it is the only way, without activating the device, to determine whether the iphone is Rostest or Eurotest in front of you.

The box must have inscriptions in Russian. The barcode sticker must also contain two letters “RR”. If you have the opportunity to inspect the contents of the box, then pay attention to the presence of a warranty card from the official distributor of devices in Russia. It is worth noting that only MTS and Megafon companies supply certified devices to our country. These simple steps will prevent you from buying an uncertified smartphone and help you avoid unnecessary problems.