DIGIT-ARC read-only archive · snapshot: July 23, 2026

DIGIT-ARC / Mobile Monsters / Buying Advice

Buy iPhone 4 from US or Singapore?

7 posts · originally from https://geek.digit.in/community/threads/buy-iphone-4-from-us-or-singapore.133263/

cool.aquarian
cool.aquarian Original post #1
Oct 25, 2010 at 12:19 AM
Which is preferable?

My close relative is in US, who is returning to India very soon.
He enquired about iPhone in US without contract. The Customer Sales Rep kept insisting that even if he buy without contract, he cannot use at other place by any means. Also said that latest iPhone IOS cannot be unlocked like older iPhone models/OS.

Another distant friend is in Singapore, who will return India at later time. He enquired that iPhone is available in singapore factory unlocked with no hassles, but at a higher price than in US.

So, my question is: Is it worth getting it factory unlocked from Singapore at higher price (about 4200INR) from distant friend, or should I get it from US through close relative by assuming that even if Apple Rep says it cannot be unlocked, it can be done and used freely in India?
Is spending 4000 extra rupees to have factory unlocked iPhone and freedom to install apps/upgrade Apple IOS in future worth it ?

Please advice..
A
amritpal2489 #2
Oct 25, 2010 at 1:23 PM
how much r u paying for this (in INR) ????
jain_pranav
jain_pranav #4
Oct 25, 2010 at 10:29 PM
Price of iphone 4 in singapore is 888 S$ which comes out to 31k INR for 16gb model (factory unlocked).
At what price r u getting it in US?
cool.aquarian
cool.aquarian #5
Oct 25, 2010 at 11:03 PM
jain_pranav said:
Price of iphone 4 in singapore is 888 S$ which comes out to 31k INR for 16gb model (factory unlocked).
At what price r u getting it in US?
Click to expand...

yes, that price is without taxes. with tax, it should be close to 1000 S$.
In US, I am getting locked one for 599USD+Tax.
azzu
azzu #6
Oct 26, 2010 at 7:00 AM
get the unlocked one ,
It will be worth it if the differenceis less the 5k
jain_pranav
jain_pranav #7
Oct 26, 2010 at 10:18 AM
Factory Unlocked Phones have an advantage over locked ones.
U can immediately update the new firmware & no need to wait for the unlock.
Now the phones are coming with 4.1 firmware which is though jailbreakable but not unlockable.
That means u cant use it with any carrier at the moment.
Unlock is definitely expected when the new 4.2 firmware releases next month.
But nothing sure can be said.

So u the decision is yours :)