Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is region-locked: Reports

Multiple online reports are suggesting that Samsung’s latest Note-series smartphone Galaxy Note 3 is region-locked and will only work with a locally-issued SIM card. The region locks are quite broad but still Note 3 buyers won’t always be able to get a local SIM card when travelling to a foreign country in order to avoid huge international roaming charges.

What are these regions and which Note 3 models will work in these regions?

American Model: Works only within Americas: North, South, Central Americas and Caribbean

European Model: Works in EU countries, Switzerland, Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, FYROM, Monaco, Montenegro, San Marino, Serbia and Vatican City.

There is no confirmation on the Asian models and the region lock at this time but according to Ausdroid, at least the 16GB model being sold in Hong Kong (it is the only country, which is getting the 16GB model at this point) is not region-locked.

So, if you were planning to get the new Note 3 in one region and using it in another, you are out of luck. Samsung is yet to say anything on the matter but we hope to hear from the company soon.