Carrier Can someone explain to me the difference between buying an cellular iPad in another country

[LedRush]

I live in China, spend a few months of the year in the US, and travel frequently.

Is there a difference between cellular ipads in different countries which would make it better for me to buy my ipad in one country rather than the other? I am most likely to use my cellular service in the US, but I would also like to use it when traveling, and sometimes, perhaps, even in China. Does it matter if I buy one in China, the US, or Taiwan (where I am thinking of buying one on Wed)? If so, how can I look up exactly what the difference is?

 

[klasma]

I live in China, spend a few months of the year in the US, and travel frequently.

Is there a difference between cellular ipads in different countries which would make it better for me to buy my ipad in one country rather than the other? I am most likely to use my cellular service in the US, but I would also like to use it when traveling, and sometimes, perhaps, even in China. Does it matter if I buy one in China, the US, or Taiwan (where I am thinking of buying one on Wed)? If so, how can I look up exactly what the difference is?

Yes, there are differences, see here: https://www.apple.com/ipad/cellular/networks/

 

[LedRush]

Yes, there are differences, see here: https://www.apple.com/ipad/cellular/networks/

Thank you for that reply. What does this page mean? If I choose the country on the top, it will show me in which countries the iPad cellular from that country will work?

 

[Shirasaki]

Thank you for that reply. What does this page mean? If I choose the country on the top, it will show me in which countries the iPad cellular from that country will work?

To offer cellular coverage, the modem chip would have to support the band/frequency the destination country would typically use for their mobile network. If your cellular iPad bought somewhere does not support band/frequency that other region uses, you will likely encounter coverage issue or loss of signal when locally bought device works just fine. What that page does is offering you the band/frequency selected country uses. If you travel to several countries fairly often, you need to buy the device from the region that offers as many common bands/frequency as possible to maximise cellular coverage.