Purchasing iPhone in Japan

[stanlawj]

Anyone have experience buying iPhone in Japan?

Are you able to turn off the camera shutter sound after departure from Japan?

Don't do it.
The camera shutter sound is baked into the firmware. Although it is disabled by inserting a foreign network SIM, this is a software disable.
On the other hand, international Iphones have camera shutter sound disabled in the firmware by default.

 

[Lighthand]

Don't do it.
The camera shutter sound is baked into the firmware. Although it is disabled by inserting a foreign network SIM, this is a software disable.
On the other hand, international Iphones have camera shutter sound disabled in the firmware by default.

Considering the savings, I can live with having shutter sound whenever I'm in Japan.

 

[ApeTruelove]

Considering the savings, I can live with having shutter sound whenever I'm in Japan.

Is not like you will be taking photo 24/7

 

[CheapColaCo]

Don't do it.
The camera shutter sound is baked into the firmware. Although it is disabled by inserting a foreign network SIM, this is a software disable.
On the other hand, international Iphones have camera shutter sound disabled in the firmware by default.

In SIngapore you using Japan sim meh?

 

[stanlawj]

In SIngapore you using Japan sim meh?

I read the reviews.

 

[Lighthand]

I read the reviews.

Could you expand on the reviews?

I've physically tested my Japanese colleague's iPhone from Japan in Singapore and can confirm there's no shutter sound in silent mode.

 

[stanlawj]

Could you expand on the reviews?

I've physically tested my Japanese colleague's iPhone from Japan in Singapore and can confirm there's no shutter sound in silent mode.

Ok, then go ahead to buy it.

 

[stanlawj]

Could you expand on the reviews?

I've physically tested my Japanese colleague's iPhone from Japan in Singapore and can confirm there's no shutter sound in silent mode.

Proof of what I said:
https://grok.com/share/c2hhcmQtMg==_c1e4253f-3e34-4d56-bf55-838a22b28c5f

 

[ragnarok95]

If you buy a japanese iphone, the moment you are out of japan with a non japanese sim, it will mute the camera sound. back in singapore it will just be like any other iphone, just that you purchase in japan.

In case you need to service, apple singapore will still service your phone, but if need replacement, apple singapore will not replace a local set with your japan set. Instead, they will ship the replacement phone over so you need to wait.

 

[sacar101]

Will applecare + covered in sg?

 

[ragnarok95]

Apple care+ cover world wide.

 

[CheapColaCo]

Think trying to buy in store no hope. Thinking whether should order from apple JP site and deliver to hotel. Wonder if that website accept SG credit card

 

[reddevil0728]

Think trying to buy in store no hope. Thinking whether should order from apple JP site and deliver to hotel. Wonder if that website accept SG credit card

Can test. And see if will go through

 

[discoburg]

Think trying to buy in store no hope. Thinking whether should order from apple JP site and deliver to hotel. Wonder if that website accept SG credit card

Was at the Apple Store in Shibuya 2 weeks ago. Have ready stock.

 

[Ronaldo88]

So the savings is about 400sgd

 

[CheapColaCo]

Totally cannot find sim free stock in the big electronic retailers like BIc Camera, Yodabashi camera etc

the only place I found stock was at Edion Akihabara but they only had the black base model 256gb. I wanted Sage colour, so did not buy it

 

[Lighthand]

Managed to get 17 Pro Max 256GB Orange at Yokohama Apple Store. Price was 194,800yen (about S$1615) as Apple Store Japan does not do tax free. Still significant savings considering in Singapore it'll cost S$1899.

Everything is as it should be and confirmed no camera shutter sound as soon as I inserted my Singapore SIM card upon arrival in Singapore.

But do take note that BIC and Yodabashi in Akihabara are all sold out as of 3rd Dec 2025. The shop staff at Yodabashi helped me check in their system, but unfortunately there are no stock for Pro and Pro max (any size or color) within Tokyo area. They are not sure when new stock will arrive.

They do have iPhone Air 1TB in stock (no idea about color), but I was not interested in it.

Hope this info helps.

 

[Lighthand]

I forgot to mention a very important detail regarding iPhone 17.

Please note that Japan follows USA iPhone design, whereby they are phasing out physical SIM. So the iPhone you get in Japan does NOT have a physical SIM card slot. Only eSIM is used.

 

[ApeTruelove]

Can go take a look at LABI.

 

[CheapColaCo]

after many days of no stock in all the major electronic retailers, on second last day of trip managed to find iphone 17 Sim free in Yodabashi Kyoto.

They had all colors except green so guess a fresh batch of stock just arrived that day. Quickly bought one with tax free before it got snapped up