Official iPhone Warranty in Pakistan: Mercantile, Apple Stores and Imported Phones
02 Oct 2026 · 2 min read
More iPhones are now sold officially in Pakistan, with a local warranty and PTA tax already paid. But many iPhones in the market are still imported. Here is how to tell them apart.
Official iPhones
Official iPhones are sold by Apple's authorised partners in Pakistan, such as Mercantile and stores run by retailers like AirLink, which has opened an Apple mono store and plans more in big malls.
An official iPhone comes with:
- PTA approval already done. It works on every Pakistani SIM from day one.
- A 1-year local warranty from the official seller.
- A Pakistani bill, which helps a lot when you sell it later.
The new iPhone Duo launched officially through Mercantile with PTA approval and a 1-year warranty.
Imported iPhones
Imported iPhones come from Dubai, the USA, the UK and other countries. They can be:
- PTA approved (someone paid the tax). Works on any SIM, but there is usually no local warranty.
- Factory Unlocked (non-PTA): cheaper, but only works on Wi-Fi after the free period. See PTA tax on iPhone.
- JV or patched: avoid these. They can stop working after an update.
How to check what you are buying
1. Ask for the bill and the box. Official sets have a Pakistani invoice.
2. Check the IMEI on the PTA website.
3. On the iPhone, go to Settings, General, About and tap the serial number to check the warranty on Apple's website.
4. Look at the model number in Settings. Some models from certain countries are eSIM only or have different bands.
Is official worth the extra money?
If you want peace of mind and plan to sell later, yes: official iPhones are easier to sell and get better prices. If you want to save money, a used PTA-approved iPhone in good health is a good alternative. Read second hand iPhones in Pakistan and iPhone price PTA vs non-PTA.
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