Users are perplexed when a phone manufacturer sells different phones under the same name as if they’re the same phones. Of course, there should be no differences between an iPhone 14 purchased in North America and the same phone purchased in Europe, the United Kingdom, or elsewhere.

However, just because this flagship phone has the same name, design, and packaging doesn’t mean they are the same. “One phone for everyone” is no longer the case, and the company to which you can point a finger is the largest and most influential – Apple. 

The iPhone 14 isn’t powered by a different chip, but there are now enough differences between iPhones sold in North America and those sold elsewhere worldwide to raise a legitimate question.

US iPhone 14 vs. EU iPhone 14: Price and Features 

Here are the key differences between the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models sold in North America and the rest of the world.

Features of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models sold in the US include:

• When you don’t have 4G/5G coverage, you can use satellite connectivity to send emergency messages – a potentially life-saving feature.
• Virtual identification and a virtual driver’s license (available in certain US states such as Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Mississippi, Ohio, and the territory of Puerto Rico and expanding)
• Apple Maps’ three-dimensional city view is now available in selected areas of the United States and Canada (gradually expanding)

Speaking of differences between iPhones sold worldwide, you may be aware that the US iPhone 14s no longer includes a SIM card tray. This means that US buyers must be prepared to use an electronic SIM (eSIM) through their carrier.

This is not the case for people outside the United States, who now have something to brag about. So, Apple’s regional division doesn’t work out well for US buyers, who serve as a pilot study for Apple’s early adoption-type features/or lack thereof.

The following iPhone 14 features are not available to US iPhone 14 buyers:

• The iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro sold outside the United States include a SIM card tray and support for eSIM, giving international buyers much more flexibility when using foreign SIM cards while travelling the world (eSIM isn’t supported everywhere).
• In some countries where it is required by law, the iPhone 14 will come with a charger – Apple was recently fined $2.34 million in Brazil for selling iPhones without a charger.

Compared to the US, the price of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro is significantly higher in the UK, Europe, and other countries.

This claim may seem a little off from the story’s overall tone of “the same phone with different features,” but it’s more significant than all the things mentioned above. This is so because consumers’ perceptions of the value of a product, including the iPhone, are greatly influenced by its price. You desire the best/more value for your money. Ideally, everyone would be treated the same.

It’s not surprising that prices have increased given the ongoing global chip shortage, the financial crisis, inflation, wars, trade wars, and other factors. You see it daily, from phones to laptops to coffee and lunch.

But what is surprising is how cheaper iPhones are now in some regions of the world than in other regions. 

• The cheapest iPhone 14 in the UK has increased by 15% on average to £850. Price increases from £950 and £1,050 to a staggering £1,100 and £1,200 for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
• Prices for iPhones have skyrocketed in some European nations, such as Poland. The iPhone 14 is now 24% more expensive than the iPhone 13, the iPhone 14 Pro is 25% more expensive, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max has seen a 26% price increase. Poland’s economy is less advanced than others in central and western Europe.
• While people in France and Italy must pay nearly €1,500 for the same phone that costs “only” $1,100 in the US, the price increase in Germany is comparable to that in the UK, costing you €200 more for a Pro Max iPhone compared to 2021.

That insane price premium for the product is outrageous. It is much less expensive for people in the EU to pick one up from the US than it is to purchase one there. Anyone from the EU traveling to the US and wanting to purchase one of the new iPhone 14 devices should do so while in the US.  

US iPhone 14 vs. EU iPhone 14: Network Compatibility, Power Adapter, and Warranty 

The iPhone 14 Pro models sold in the US and Europe might be compatible with frequencies and bands because different nations and regions use cellular network technologies.

Moreover, the voltage and frequency of electricity can differ between nations, so the iPhone 14 Pro models sold in the US and Europe may come with different power adapters.

The warranty conditions for the iPhone 14 Pro models in Europe and the United States might also be different.

Final thoughts 

Keep in mind that these are merely a few potential variations and might not apply to all models of the iPhone 14. Before making a purchase, reviewing the model’s specific information, specifications, and price before making a purchase is always a good idea.