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iPad 2 from the US
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Lululamb
24-04-2011
I'm off to the US soon and was wondering how it works if i bought an ipad 2 out there and bring it back to the UK.

Would it still have a warranty? Could i put a UK sim card in it? The exchange rate at the moment makes it an attractive deal.
irishguy
24-04-2011
The exchange rate was a lot better 2 years ago - $2 for 1GBP.

But in answer to your question, yes, you should have no problems running it here. Micro-sims are the same here and in the US. And any Apple store will repair it if it breaks under warranty. Your only issue will be that the plug for recharging will be a 2-prong plug but you can buy a 3-prong one converter in most electrical stores.
Roush
24-04-2011
If you're looking at 3G models then avoid the Verizon models as they are not compatible with UK mobile networks.
Matt D
24-04-2011
Would it definitely still be covered under the warranty in the UK if bought in the US?
irishguy
24-04-2011
Originally Posted by Matt D:
“Would it definitely still be covered under the warranty in the UK if bought in the US?”

Yep - registration is centralised in a single location so the techs in the store just type in your serial number and confirm when you bought it. If its in warranty they'll repair it.

See this - http://images.apple.com/legal/warran...d_warranty.pdf

Didnt know about the Verizon thing though... I thought all iPads were fundamentally the same regardless of 3g provider
Matt D
24-04-2011
Originally Posted by irishguy:
“Yep - registration is centralised in a single location so the techs in the store just type in your serial number and confirm when you bought it. If its in warranty they'll repair it.

See this - http://images.apple.com/legal/warran...d_warranty.pdf

Didnt know about the Verizon thing though... I thought all iPads were fundamentally the same regardless of 3g provider”

That's good to know about the warranty.

Re. 3G... AT&T uses UMTS, which is what Europe & most other places use, but Verizon uses CDMA, which is the main type of 3G in the US and not compatible with our 3G networks in the UK/Europe.
irishguy
24-04-2011
Originally Posted by Matt D:
“That's good to know about the warranty.

Re. 3G... AT&T uses UMTS, which is what Europe & most other places use, but Verizon uses CDMA, which is the main type of 3G in the US and not compatible with our 3G networks in the UK/Europe.”

Ahh okay. Good thing I went with the wireless only then otherwise I might well have bought a verizon and that would have been more than a bit annoying!
psionic
24-04-2011
Originally Posted by irishguy:
“Ahh okay. Good thing I went with the wireless only then otherwise I might well have bought a verizon and that would have been more than a bit annoying!”

The iPad 1 didn't have a Verizon/CDMA version.
irishguy
24-04-2011
Cheers for that. BTW, any 1 owners notice that iOS4.3 seems a lot more process hungry than the previos ones? The experience doesnt quite seem as smooth any more... or maybe I'm just imagining it?
psionic
24-04-2011
Originally Posted by irishguy:
“Cheers for that. BTW, any 1 owners notice that iOS4.3 seems a lot more process hungry than the previos ones? The experience doesnt quite seem as smooth any more... or maybe I'm just imagining it?”

I'd agree with that. Every iOS upgrade puts more demands on it. I guess they want people to upgrade to the iPad 2.
zapod
24-04-2011
Originally Posted by irishguy:
“Cheers for that. BTW, any 1 owners notice that iOS4.3 seems a lot more process hungry than the previos ones? The experience doesnt quite seem as smooth any more... or maybe I'm just imagining it?”

Hmm 4.3 seems quicker to me, well... it is quicker - measurably so... I'll tell you why.

One game I have on my iPad is Geometry Wars: Touch. The first of the many game modes is basically a 3 minute countdown - score as much a possible in that time frame. Except that pre 4.3 the 3 minutes was closer to 4 in realtime. Now, with 4.3 installed, the game runs noticeably quicker. The timer now runs to 3 minutes exactly. A consequence of this, is that I can never attain the high scores of before because of the reduced time.

Now read into that what you will, but Apple did something to speed up some underlying processes in iOS and, to me at least, it's visible ie Google Earth renders a bit quicker, web pages appear faster etc.

I've found it helpful to clear down the fast application switching app list - ie double press home then kill all the apps that appear - they may not be multitasking but it seems they take up resource. Too many, I've found, and Garageband won't load. Soz for being soo off topic.
Sorilla
26-04-2011
I have an iPad2 without 3G and my Google Nexus-S Android phone with unlimited Data plan can create a HotSPot for the sharing the Data with my WiFi iPad - I use on the go
Lululamb
27-04-2011
I have an iphone 4 with a 750mb data allowance per month. Is there anyway of using this with a wifi only ipad 2?

Or if i got an ipad 2 from the UK with 3g could i use my iphone allowance for it?
Matt D
27-04-2011
Originally Posted by Lululamb:
“I have an iphone 4 with a 750mb data allowance per month. Is there anyway of using this with a wifi only ipad 2?

Or if i got an ipad 2 from the UK with 3g could i use my iphone allowance for it?”

Two options:

1) Set up "Personal Hotspot" on the iPhone (Settings > General > Network). This lets you share the iPhone's 3G connection with another device over WiFi/USB/Bluetooth. However, it may require activation by your network and may require an additional monthly fee (some networks charge extra for tethering).

2) Jailbreak the iPhone, and purchase "MyWi 4.0" for a one-off fee of $19.99. This also lets you share the iPhone's 3G connection over WiFi/USB/Bluetooth, but without any network controls like the "Personal Hotspot" has, & so enables tethering without paying an additional monthly fee. However: Using this to tether without permission from the network, and without paying an additional fee, may be a violation of your contract with your network.
neo_wales
27-04-2011
Don't forget the import duty PLUS VAT when the customs chap asks where you got it and prove purchase in the UK or EU.

Not such a good deal now is it.
myromeo
27-04-2011
Originally Posted by neo_wales:
“Don't forget the import duty PLUS VAT when the customs chap asks where you got it and prove purchase in the UK or EU.

Not such a good deal now is it.”

If you chuck the packaging and carry the device onboard with you there's little chance of being asked by anyone. Our recent trip didn't see any such checks
pfgpowell
27-04-2011
Originally Posted by Lululamb:
“I'm off to the US soon and was wondering how it works if i bought an ipad 2 out there and bring it back to the UK.

Would it still have a warranty? Could i put a UK sim card in it? The exchange rate at the moment makes it an attractive deal.”

No one seems to have mention import tax. The taxman might charge it, tho' I don't know. On the other hand they might not come across it if you bury it deep in your luggage.
denzil28
27-04-2011
Originally Posted by neo_wales:
“Don't forget the import duty PLUS VAT when the customs chap asks where you got it and prove purchase in the UK or EU.

Not such a good deal now is it.”

I had a friend bring me one back from the US the week of launch. It was a 64gb 3G (AT&T) model. She managed to bring it back in sealed packaging and even in the carrier bag from the Apple store, in her hand luggage.

There were no checks so no import duty or VAT.

The one thing you will need to consider is the Sales Tax depending on what state you buy in. This is on top of the published price so it will cut into your savings (unless you can buy it in one of the two states that have no sales tax).
neo_wales
27-04-2011
Originally Posted by pfgpowell:
“No one seems to have mention import tax. The taxman might charge it, tho' I don't know. On the other hand they might not come across it if you bury it deep in your luggage.”

See post 15, you all assume you will just walk through with it and you may well do, but make sure you have a couple of hundred pounds on you to pay up when stopped, it does happen every day.
Supercell
21-05-2011
Just jumping into this thread as I am thinking about doing something similar... the ipad 2 16GB wifi only is about $500 and with sales tax of around 4 or 5% this takes it up to around 525...converting this into pounds takes it to about £320 so this would mean it comes in below the customs amount of £390....so just to check I am not missing anything - If I bought one I can use it over in the UK - also would I have to wait to set it up in the UK so it works on the UK itunes?

I wouldn't have to pay anymore import tax etc if its under the £390 limit?

Thanks in advance
rottweiler
21-05-2011
A friend bought one a few weesago from usa.
He posted all the packaging to himself in uk and bought a cheap case over here before he went over.
Just put it in his case on thebway back, no problems at all
Matt D
21-05-2011
Originally Posted by Supercell:
“Just jumping into this thread as I am thinking about doing something similar... the ipad 2 16GB wifi only is about $500 and with sales tax of around 4 or 5% this takes it up to around 525...converting this into pounds takes it to about £320 so this would mean it comes in below the customs amount of £390....so just to check I am not missing anything - If I bought one I can use it over in the UK - also would I have to wait to set it up in the UK so it works on the UK itunes?

I wouldn't have to pay anymore import tax etc if its under the £390 limit?

Thanks in advance”

You can use it here, so long as it's not a Verizon 3G model (CDMA instead of UMTS). My boss bought his iPad 1 in the US last year & uses it here without problem.

I think the £390 limit is just for duty... surely you'd still be liable for VAT if caught out?
Supercell
21-05-2011
Originally Posted by Matt D:
“You can use it here, so long as it's not a Verizon 3G model (CDMA instead of UMTS). My boss bought his iPad 1 in the US last year & uses it here without problem.

I think the £390 limit is just for duty... surely you'd still be liable for VAT if caught out?”

OK thanks - would only be getting a wifi one anyway - I will have a deeper look into the VAT thing.
neo_wales
31-05-2011
About £64/$100 VAT would be due so taking you to about $625.
JohnBoy Walton
01-06-2011
I bring things like that back every week, both for me and people in work/family/friends and I have never been charged. Best way is just to carry it through in your hand luggage, or even your hand. The packaging can be binned or stuck in your case. Yeah, there is a risk and they could charge me one day. But the money I have saved so far makes it worth it.
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