Buy iPhone from Kogan/Dick Smith Specifically for International Model?

Ljemas on 22/09/2025 - 12:05

I'm currently eyeing an iPhone 17 Pro to finally upgrade from my old iPhone 12 mini and I'm looking to buy it from Kogan/Dick Smith to potentially receive a specific international variant I'm after.

It seems the eSIM-only variant of the iPhones this year being sold in select regions have a few more hours of battery life than their nanoSIM-enabled counterparts. The A3522 model of the iPhone 17 Pro specifically, in addition to being eSIM-only, also includes support for all of the 5G/LTE bands of the A3523 model (intended for the Australian market) and many more international ones.

Kogan and Dick Smith have always proudly proclaimed their stock is imported to "negotiate a better price" but I'm wondering if it's possible that anyone knew where they import from?

The model I'm after (A3522) is being sold in the following countries:

  • Bahrain
  • Canada
  • Guam
  • Japan
  • Kuwait
  • Mexico
  • Oman
  • Qatar
  • Saudi Arabia
  • United Arab Emirates
  • US Virgin Islands

Both of the battery and band-support factors are important to me as I plan to be travelling across all 6 inhabited continents over the next 18 months and don't plan to take any other tech besides the new phone, my camera and WiFi-only iPad.

I understand the phone won't really have a warranty nor will I be able to take advantage of Australia Consumer Law but considering I'll be away for a year and a half anyway, and also considering I may also end up just buying the phone in person when I'm in one of those countries should I decide the above factors are a necessity, I'm not too concerned about that. I'm just hoping I may have a way to buy the phone here so I can set it all up before I leave

I've reached out to both of Kogan's and Dick Smith's respective support teams (yes, I'm aware they're both operated by Kogan, but a quick copy/paste into a support form hurts no one) but on the interim I thought I'd post here to get any other thoughts and/or crowdsource other opinions I may have missed during my thought process.

Cheers!

Mobile Apple Mobile Phone

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Comments

  • Ocker on 22/09/2025 - 12:13
    +1

    Buy anything from Koan at your peril

    • GordonD on 22/09/2025 - 12:32
      +1

      I don't repeat my mistakes. Like buying the "international" model phone from Kogan.

      The one I got from them is an expensive high-spec'd bedside alarm clock that I can't use to make phone calls.

      • neoleo on 22/09/2025 - 15:06

        You chose the wrong phone. I still use OnePlus Nord CE3 Lite 5G that I bought through Kogan from a third party seller in Melbourne. No problem with the phone, still gets software update, and can use Telstra, Optus, or Vodafone network. The phone has Dolby Atmos that can be detected by Amazon Music even though it is not in the phone spec. I like its much faster charger (65 W, full in 37 minutes from 0) if compared with Pixel phones, Samsung, iPhone, etc. Longer lasting battery with 1600 cycles, better than most phones with 1000 or even 800 cycles. Better phone signal than flagship phones, I reckon.

        Recently I bought a new Pixel 10 Pro 256 GB with total cost under $900 (with postpaid plan cancellation method and other ways). But, the recharging time is way too slow and the phone signal is weaker, maybe because of metal phone case (iPhone and Samsung flagship phones have metal phone case too).

        @Ocker too

  • veridianfive on 22/09/2025 - 12:21

    It will still have a warranty. Not sure if apples warranty is international. But either way Kogan needs to provide warranty regardless if they import the item or not. But as you say you won’t be around to use it so it’s irrelevant somewhat. I would expect you’d be able to get some kind of support from apple regardless of where in the world you are.

    • 87percent on 22/09/2025 - 12:38

      I believe Apple CAN direct you to the country of purchase for warranty, but they never do

    • Hybroid on 22/09/2025 - 17:38
      -1

      Kogan needs to provide warranty

      No, they don't. The typical '1-year warranty' we're all used to on most products is a voluntary warranty and no retailer or manufacturer is obliged to provide it at all in the first place.

      They are, however, legally obliged to provide 'consumer guarantee' by Australian Consumer Law. Though it has no defined time period and can be tricky navigating.

      These coverages are not the same thing and people often confuse them. It does matter becase you should never mention 'warranty' when applying for consumer guarantee support. It's an easy way for them to fob you off. You need to specifically cite 'consumer guarantee'.

  • djsweet on 22/09/2025 - 14:37

    The product page says Nano Sim + eSim, so I doubt its the model you want.

    • jemas on 22/09/2025 - 17:41

      This is actually an excellent catch and almost certainly confirms it won’t be the model I’m looking for. Thanks!

  • neoleo on 22/09/2025 - 15:35
    +1

    https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/1ne7a2j/why_cant_we…

    After reading the comments, I am not sure if esim only is a good idea for travelling across all 6 inhabited continents. Read the comments from the link above. For me, it's better to have both options just in case we need the physical sim card in certain countries, even in Europe.

    Both Kogan and Dick Smith sell the same phone for Australia market (nano sim + esim). If you want to buy it from overseas like from USA or Canada, make sure it is not locked to certain carriers.

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