Comparing Rostest and Eurotest phones | Important differences

In this topic we will analyze the differences between Eurotest and Rostest.

Modern online stores provide their customers with a huge selection of telephone equipment and smartphones. And almost each of us, starting to study the pricing policies of different Internet sites, noticed that the price of the same product in different places can differ significantly.

Sometimes this difference is so significant that we involuntarily find ourselves at a loss, trying to understand the reason. After all, maybe where the price is lower, they sell us something that is not original or used, or maybe a fake. And in order not to guess, we suggest holding a “battle” between two certifications - Rostest and Eurotest.

What is Rostest?

Rostest is the largest testing and certification center in the Russian Federation. It is accredited by the government of our country to issue certificates. To obtain such a document, according to the law, the product must comply with a considerable number of technical regulations, safety standards, environmental protection and human health.

Therefore, manufacturers, in order to obtain the Rostest mark on their products, must put their products through the certification procedure. If the goods have passed it, then the company has the right to put the Rostest logo on them. This will mean that, for example, the smartphone meets Russian quality and safety standards.

We recommend that you remember the Rostest mark, since there are many sellers of illegal, counterfeit, and therefore low-quality goods on the market, which are passed off as original, branded and sold at a rather high price. Naturally, its packaging will not contain the logo of this large Russian certification center.

And we continue to figure out how Rostest differs from Eurotest.

Eurotest and Rostest - what's the difference?

We often try to find out the differences from the sellers themselves. But, trying to dispel our doubts, they mislead even more. After all, such products, according to them, simply meet the requirements of Eurotest. And a simple mental paradox arises. Since we often assume that goods with European markings, accordingly, must be of European quality, and therefore cost more. But it is impossible to say unequivocally that Rostest or Eurotest wins, because a thorough analysis of each point is needed.

We want to surprise you a little more - officially there is no such definition as “Eurotest”. This is all just a clever marketing ploy. No, no, this does not mean that such equipment is of poor quality! It was simply brought into the country bypassing official supply channels. And there are certain nuances associated with its acquisition and use.

But first, let's look at the procedure for monitoring the quality and safety of products sold on the territory of the Russian Federation. And we will define the terms that affect the terms of the guarantee for the purchased product and the legality of its import into the country - Rostest and Eurotest.

Russian quality confirmation mark

• Rostest is a product testing and certification center accredited by the Russian Federation to issue certificates of conformity. All goods sold on the territory of the Russian Federation, both imported into the country and produced in it, must undergo mandatory certification, which helps the manufacturer confirm the declared quality of the product and guarantees the consumer its safe use. Any product that has passed certification is accompanied by a special Rostest brand name, which is placed on the packaging. And the product itself is a guarantee that the product was imported into the country legally, has a certificate of conformity and the right to service, including warranty, in all service centers of this manufacturer throughout the country. Of course, the price for such a product will be slightly higher.

Important: European product labeling still exists. This is the CE mark - Conformite Europeenne, which means “European conformity”. And not Eurotest.

This is what a real European quality mark looks like, but it has nothing to do with Eurotest

• But due to the fact that the presence of CE marking allows the free movement of goods within the entire territory of the European Union, the procedure for assigning such marking is very complicated, and control over its use is very high. But the issue of its illegal use does not disappear. Therefore, the term “Eurotest” has taken root so much that, even knowing about its origin, many continue to use it. It is also worth noting a few words that all smartphones are not manufactured in Russia. That is, they are produced from the same factory as the candidates for the American showcase. Yes, perhaps the firmware will not be in Russian. But now you can easily download it or change it in the settings.
• It is a myth that such a smartphone will not support a SIM card. The fact is that when crossing the border of any country, you only need to change the operator, but not the phone.
• But there are some small “joys” in using it. For example, some unscrupulous sellers even forget to replace the adapter with two rather than three plugs. Remember that Eurotest does not mean poor quality. It’s just that a product can be “manufactured” for a specific country. But Rostest will put a stamp on the appropriate adapter during inspection. Although buying it today is far from the last problem.

Important: Cases have been recorded where CE is listed in the same place as “Made in China”. In such cases, we are no longer talking about “gray”, but “black” smartphones. And this directly indicates that the product is counterfeit.

But be prepared for such minor surprises

What is Eurotest?

First of all, we need to know that there is no Eurotest! The term was invented by sellers by analogy with Rostest. This most often means Conformité Européenne - European conformity with a CE mark.

If we consider Rostest or Eurotest, what is the difference? The latter term may mean that the device in front of you meets European environmental, safety and health standards.

However, we still advise asking the seller what he means by the Eurotest definition. If this is CE (European compliance), then there is no reason to worry. And sometimes counterfeit gadgets are also called the mysterious Eurotest in order to deceive the buyer. Such a device can come from Asia or America, or from handicraft production.

Rostest

Rostest is a sign that is placed on mobile phones legally imported into the country by the manufacturers themselves or their authorized distributors. This means that the device has the necessary certificate of conformity, is safe for use and can be serviced in all service centers of this manufacturer throughout Russia. Having bought a phone, for example, in Yekaterinburg, you can service or repair the device in Moscow or Volgograd and in any other city.

Rostest and Eurotest: similarities

Those who are looking for the difference between Rostest and Eurotest are primarily concerned about the quality of the devices. But there are no differences regarding this parameter - manufacturers are trying to produce universal products for the entire spectrum of consumers. Therefore, for example, a phone with a Rostest certificate will be similar in quality to a device that has a European conformity mark.

Owners of gadgets marked by both Rostest and Eurotest can also equally qualify for full warranty service. The presence of a particular certificate does not in any way affect the authority of the warranty coupon. It doesn’t matter what is indicated there: Eurotest or Rostest.

What is the difference? Many people think that the differences are in the location of the manufacturer: products bearing the CE mark are produced in a European country, while Rostesta is produced in third world countries. But this is also a false statement - gadgets in most cases are manufactured at the same factory.

How does Rostest differ from Eurotest?

In conclusion, we can probably allow ourselves to more specifically formulate the differences in goods with one label or another, as well as the pros and cons of purchasing them.

Thus, everyone has the right to decide for themselves what to give preference to and what to risk when purchasing equipment. Eurotest will allow you to save a certain amount of money, but Rostest gives more guarantees in the event of a malfunction. If you're not going to experiment with your phone, then there's no point in paying more. But if you feel safer with a warranty card, then you shouldn’t tempt fate.

Rostest and Eurotest: differences

So what is the difference between Rostest and Eurotest? From all that has been said, several points can be highlighted:

• Rostest is a Russian certification, and Eurotest is a fictitious concept. It can mean both CE - European conformity, and a “candy wrapper”, under which they hide a counterfeit product that does not have any document at all.
• As a rule, prices for products with the Rostest logo should be higher. If an ordinary fake is hidden under the Eurotest, then its cost, naturally, will be significantly lower than the price of a certified product.
• If you buy a gadget with the CE mark, then there is a high probability that its documents and instructions are not Russified, and the charger for the device will not fit into a Russian outlet.

Comparison

There is virtually no difference between Rostest and Eurotest for the buyer and user. Customs matters and taxes paid into someone's bottomless pocket by the manufacturer and seller do not worry a person looking for the most convenient smartphone. Recommendations from sellers in this regard are often polar: some present the CE badge as an advantage, others - the PCT badge. If seven or eight years ago electronics certification was mandatory, today it is voluntary. If seven or eight years ago, electronics certification meant mandatory support for the Russian language in the menu, then today, even without it, most smartphone models support our great and mighty one, and Rostest itself does not guarantee this. It all depends on the operating system, and all of them are familiar with Russian.

For the consumer, the essential aspects regarding certification can be considered the presence of a manufacturer’s warranty and instructions translated into Russian (and partly the text on the packaging). True, the issue has lost relevance with the widespread availability of manufacturers’ websites and disgusting Russian service. Eurotest smartphones may have a warranty, and quite a long one, from the store; Rostest smartphones are required to be serviced by the company center.

When “Eurotest” is mentioned in a negative way, one may get the impression that “gray” phones are either counterfeits or criminal loot. However, these smartphones are technically absolutely identical, except for test stickers, to the original. They are assembled on the same conveyors from the same materials, but they got to Russia bypassing Russian officials. “Eurotest” ones are intended for the European market - is it possible to imagine that the requirements for electronics there would be softer than ours?

A remarkable advantage of Eurotest smartphones is that they receive software updates earlier than Rst. However, for Russified software, new firmware may not be released at all - this is at the request of the manufacturer.

Another difference between Rostest and Eurotest is the cost of the devices. The PCT sticker will cost much, almost a quarter of the price, more than the CE.

Not significant, but in some cases an important point: Eurotest smartphones can be equipped with accessories intended for the European market. But the only inconvenience is the charger’s Euro plug, adapters for which are either included in the kit or can be purchased for pennies at any hardware store.

Rostest, Eurotest, iPhone

How to determine whether your iPhone is certified by Rostest or Eurotest? Apple gadgets on the domestic market are generally divided into 4 categories:

• "White" - Rostest.
• "Grey" - Eurotest.
• American.
• “Black” are fakes from China and others like it.

We do not recommend purchasing the last two groups. “Black” - for obvious reasons. And American ones - because the device can be blocked for service only by a specific operator, and also because official service centers still do not always agree to repair it free of charge under warranty.

The “whitest” ones are iPhones with Rostest certification. They have passed all the necessary checks, comply with the requirements of the legislation of the Russian Federation, and there will be no problems with their warranty service. Don’t worry if instead of the familiar PCT sign there is an EAC. The latter is a symbol of Eurasian correspondence (Russia, Kazakhstan and Belarus). It is similar to Rostest.

“Gray” ones are all other iPhones. They can also be called Eurotest. Their main difference is that they were imported bypassing official supplies from Europe. That's why they stand out for their lower price - the reseller saved noticeably on duties, certification, taxes, etc. Is this iPhone worse than Rostest's? Hardly. One thing: the device can be “tailored” to the country in which it is intended for sale. Hence the conflict with SIM cards of the Russian operator, the inability to turn off the camera sound, the limitation on the maximum volume of music and other small but unpleasant moments.

So which is better - Rostest or Eurotest? Still the first. When purchasing a gadget marked PCT, you are buying a “white” device. And Eurotest may turn out to be both counterfeit products and a fake.

How to find out whether an iPhone is labeled Rostest or not?

Phones sold in official Russian stores have a Rostest certificate. The first sign of this, as we have already written, are the letters PCT or EAC on the sticker with information about the smartphone. However, a piece of paper can be easily faked, and if you buy a phone secondhand or from an unknown store, it would be a good idea to check the model code in the settings of the phone itself. Models intended for Russia receive appropriate markings from the manufacturer. The model code is present on a sticker (in the upper left corner) in the properties of the phone itself and should look something like “ME432 RU /A”. The numbers on the sticker and in the phone settings must match and have the letters RR, RU (as in the example), RP, RS, RM before the slash. Models with this marking are uniquely certified by Rostest.

Chinese version (China, CN)

As is obvious from the name, smartphones with this marking are produced exclusively for the Chinese market. Devices with this firmware support only Chinese and English languages ​​(optional).

Android devices with Chinese firmware do not have Google programs installed, including the Play Store. In order to install them, the user will need root rights and certain knowledge and skills on the topic.

All documents included with the mobile phone are in Chinese. The charger has a specific “plug” used only in China. Warranty obligations are assumed by the store where you buy the device.

It is important to note that devices for China support LTE frequencies according to the Band 1, 3, 5 and 7 standard, while for European countries the standards are Band 1, 3, 5 and 7, as well as B4 and B20. The same Band 20 standard in our country acts as an auxiliary frequency in small cities and other sparsely populated areas.

iPhone Eurotest or Rostest: which is better to choose

What is better to choose can be determined by the criterion of whether it is important for the buyer whether the gadget is officially imported or not. The only argument against is the desire to save money, since performance and content will always be the same. But you need to understand that gray models are usually sold by unscrupulous sellers, bypassing all verification services.

Experts recommend choosing American iPhone models with PCT marking, and a small overpayment will be justified by guarantees.

Advantages and disadvantages of iPhone RosTest

To assess how justified the purchase of an iPhone EuroTest or a model with domestic markings will be, it is worth highlighting the significant advantages and disadvantages of a smartphone with RosTest. Evaluating the design, quality, and functionality of the two phones being compared, they will be identical.

The advantages of the device will be the following:

1. Authenticity - the marking proves that the device being sold is not a copy or a counterfeit, but is officially supplied to the country by the original manufacturer. For most connoisseurs of the Apple brand, confirmation that this is an original device is important.
2. Support for Russian and foreign network operators - many imported mobile phones do not always synchronize with mobile operators; they are called “locked”. An American and European manufacturer draws up contracts for specific communication service providers. And only PCT acts as a guarantor that domestic SIM cards will be comparable to devices.
3. Service guarantee – together with the PCT, the device is supplemented with a warranty. It is known that Apple offers all its users a deal according to which the buyer receives warranty service in the country where the phone was purchased. If any damage or defects are found, there will be no problems with repair or replacement. Otherwise, services will be denied.

Finding cons in a phone with a PCT mark is much more difficult. We can say that there will be only one flaw - an increase in price. Deciding whether the choice towards a European smartphone or one aimed at the Russian choice is justified is a personal matter for everyone.

"Gray" products

If we talk about mobile devices imported into the country illegally and not undergoing checks, then the situation with them is more complicated. “Gray” smartphones can be produced on the same basis, but at the same time have certain differences, usually in the firmware, if they are aimed at another country.

For example:

• Devices in Asian countries do not have the option to mute the camera shutter sound. This is connected with the phenomenon of “sköthantin” (skirt hunting);
• The maximum permissible headphone volume may vary in some countries;
• The UAE has banned the installation and use of the FaceTime application;
• In Japan, Apple Pay uses FeliCa and SuiCa standards for contactless payments. In Russia there may be problems with them;
• In some countries, the smartphone is tied to a specific mobile operator, for example, in the USA. Such a smartphone will not work with Russian operators. So you need to beware of products aimed at the American market.

Most of these problems can be solved with the help of Jailbreak, which allows you to gain access to the file system of the device. But it doesn't work on all devices. Therefore, most likely, you will have to contact a specialist and pay a tidy sum.

Why should I overpay for some emblem?

Imagine: you come to a company store to buy an iPhone, Samsung, Huawei or another smartphone of the latest model, look at the price and see that it is much higher than at the kiosk around the corner. Here and there they sell new, original devices, but the “shop” ones have an EAC badge, and the ones from the kiosk have nothing on them.

The temptation to save sometimes clouds your mind, but don't let it override your common sense. The absence of a Russian Rostest or EAC certificate (their differences will be discussed further) indicates that the smartphone was smuggled into the country, which is also called gray or black import.

For the buyer this means:

• In case of defect or breakdown - repair at your own expense. There is either no guarantee for such phones at all, or there is, but only from a store that may close tomorrow. Only owners of devices with a worldwide manufacturer’s warranty, like Apple, can sleep peacefully.
• Non-zero probability of linking the phone to a mobile operator in another country. To divert attention, it can be removed by software, which will stop working after updating the firmware or changing system settings.
• Putting your own health at risk, since smartphones are sources of electromagnetic radiation, and if it exceeds the norm, it has a bad effect on the body.
• A chance to receive a device with a hidden defect due to violation of transportation and storage rules. Legal shipments of smartphones are transported in factory packaging and stored in specially equipped warehouses. Illegal - no one knows how.
• Possible problems with usability and functionality. Some manufacturers, for example, Xiaomi and Meizu, produce smartphones with two types of firmware: global - multilingual worldwide, and Chinese - for use within the manufacturing country. The latter are cheaper, but attempts to Russify them or reflash them usually do not end in anything good. At best, the interface of such a gadget will be semi-Chinese, and the functionality will be semi-accessible. At worst, it will become a “brick”.
• Lack of instructions in Russian. Compared to the rest, this is a mere trifle, but translating from “Wenyan” and “Pinyin” is definitely not a pleasure for everyone.

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