iPhone 14 will be sold in Russia despite Apple's departure

Russians will still be able to buy the iPhone 14 when it ships despite Apple halting the sale of new products in March, performed via a parallel import scheme.

Like many other companies, Apple pulled out of Russia in March, following Russia's continued invasion of the Ukraine. While services like Apple Pay aren't usable in the territory, Apple also ceased the export of products to sales channels in the country.

However, while Apple isn't going to ship the iPhone 14 to Russia itself, potential customers in the country still have the chance to get hold of the newest smartphones.

Russia has a scheme in place that allows retailers to import products from overseas without needing permission from the trademark owner, A senior government official confirmed that the iPhone 14 would be covered by the program, reports Reuters.

"Why not?" answered Trade and Industry Minister Denis Manturov when asked about iPhone 14 imports. "If consumers want to buy these phones, yes. There will be the opportunity."

The latest models are already on sale in the country, despite no official Apple-sourced imports.

Carrier MTS launched preorders on Thursday morning, with the 128GB iPhone 14 starting from 84,990 roubles ($1,398). However, MTS warned that delivery of orders could take up to 120 days to complete, and it could cancel orders if it has trouble importing them into the country.

41 Comments

boxcatcher 9 Years · 275 comments

About 2 years ago

Wait, that country that just had to retreat and abandon a ton of equipment?

rob53 13 Years · 3312 comments

What people need to realize is that the majority of a country's population generally wants to be friendly to other countries. It's the politicians and government along with the fringe that ruin everything. I don't have any issues with Russians, in fact I ran into a Russian student who was doing post grad work in the US. She was nice. Putin is the face of Russia but I really don't think he's the embodiment of Russian citizens.

elijahg 18 Years · 2842 comments

rob53 said:

What people need to realize is that the majority of a country's population generally wants to be friendly to other countries. It's the politicians and government along with the fringe that ruin everything. I don't have any issues with Russians, in fact I ran into a Russian student who was doing post grad work in the US. She was nice. Putin is the face of Russia but I really don't think he's the embodiment of Russian citizens.

Pressure on citizens via things like blocking exports to a country is supposed to put pressure on the political classes. Of course if the political classes couldn't give a shit then it doesn't really work as well, until there is an uprising like the Arab Spring. (Though that wasn't due to sanctions, obviously)

AlexeyV 3 Years · 21 comments

Don’t believe mass media. There’s no pressure on Russian citizens, so, there can’t be any kind of revolution. Everything is quite different from what they’re telling you.

Madbum 2 Years · 536 comments

Russian people are not Putin

also Ukraine Government bans males 18-60 from leaving country and separate Families

Makes you wonder if everything your head in the media is true about how Ukrainians are so eager to fight Russians forever, why they would need thAt rule?🤔