Need to buy a phone while in China. Nexus? GS3?

[fuzzybabybunny]

I'm in China right now (Xian) and I just lost my Nexus.

What do you guys recommend I get now that I'm in China? Is the Samsung S3 in China going to work on US TMobile or AT&T? I have TMobile at home. Would like to get as close to a world phone as possible since I'll be traveling a lot.

Is it easy to unlock a GS3? China does not have phones tied to plans. They are always bought seperately so I assume they will always be unlocked?

I have a feeling the warranty will not work in the US should it break after coming back.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

Do you "need" to get a new phone now? Is it possible to just get a cheap phone for the purposes of calling and then get a Nexus 4 that comes out in 2 weeks?

 

[ImDonly1]

Do you "need" to get a new phone now? Is it possible to just get a cheap phone for the purposes of calling and then get a Nexus 4 that comes out in 2 weeks?

This.
If you do buy one, watch out for fakes.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Do you "need" to get a new phone now? Is it possible to just get a cheap phone for the purposes of calling and then get a Nexus 4 that comes out in 2 weeks?

The original question remains. I need to see if I can even get a Nexus 4 in China (I think not) plus I'm not thrilled with the 4 either. Sealed battery is a dealkiller for me. I've had to swap batteries on numerous occasions while traveling just on this China trip alone.

 

[jpeyton]

GS3 is your best current option. Or Note 2.

 

[Ns1]

Nm

 

[zerogear]

You will only get EDGE with T-Mobile with China SGS3

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

You will only get EDGE with T-Mobile with China SGS3

F*ck! So the Chinese phones, regardless of Note 2 or SG3, are like the US equivalent of AT&T phones that only support T-Mobile edge?

 

[Strk]

You will only get EDGE with T-Mobile with China SGS3

It should get 3g if you're in an area that has had the 1900mhz switched on though, I believe. Personally, I wouldn't bother until I got home.

Why not get a cheapo throwaway?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

GS3 is your best current option. Or Note 2.

I'm thinking the Chinese Note 2 only supports edge on T-Mobile? What specs do I look at to confirm?

The prices in China for the Note 2 are around $875 USD..
Seems really high to me. In the US its supposed to be around $675 right?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

It should get 3g if you're in an area that has had the 1900mhz switched on though, I believe. Personally, I wouldn't bother until I got home.

Why not get a cheapo throwaway?

I need it for work. Im currently using a crappy at&t captivate which I don't even know.yet if it works in this country
Tpyign emails on Thai thing is a pissing in the ass

 

[zerogear]

The previous Note allows for firmware flashing for the modem to switch between T-Mobile and AT&T, you may want to look into that to see if it's possible for Note 2

 

[s44]

I'd actually consider one of those crazy China-only phones using Exynos 4... just for something new. And they should be cheap.

Nexus 4 isn't out yet, so you can't get it. Make sure whatever you get has 850/1900 WCDMA/HSPA for AT&T, 1700/2100 for T-Mo.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

sure get a new phone. Nexus. Just watch out for fakes. But honestly, if you know what you're doing, it's fine. Just don't act like an idiot. The fakes are overrated. It's pretty obvious to spot the fakes. They're designed as copycat phones. I don't see this as much in Hong Kong or Taiwan, but they have the "lookalike iPods." You can easily spot those and identify them. IF you know what you want in that case, it's pretty hard to get mixed up unless you're stupid and don't even know what the real iPod nano lookes like.

As for the SGS3, you *can* look for them. Just make sure it's the i9300. I'm not sure how popular those are, but in Hong Kong and Taiwan, you can either get the HK or TW version respectively, or you can opt for the cheaper "SE Asia" one which typically refers to Singapore, Philippines, Indonesia, etc.

And also why bother with a cheapo phone when you can buy a real phone? Just remember about warranty though, so that's one thing to be careful of.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

The previous Note allows for firmware flashing for the modem to switch between T-Mobile and AT&T, you may want to look into that to see if it's possible for Note 2

Holy Shit. You mean the previous Note had a chip that was actually pentaband and could be unlocked via firmware?

 

[zerogear]

I'm thinking the Chinese Note 2 only supports edge on T-Mobile? What specs do I look at to confirm?

The prices in China for the Note 2 are around $875 USD..
Seems really high to me. In the US its supposed to be around $675 right?

Most importantly you need it to conform to T-Mobile AWS spectrum (1700/2100) -- The problematic part is most phones support 1900 and not 1700. Only certain areas for T-Mobile has 1900 since the failed AT&T merger. (Las Vegas and a few parts of Cali)

Holy Shit. You mean the previous Note had a chip that was actually pentaband and could be unlocked via firmware?

That's what I was led to believe on XDA forums. I don't actually own the phone, so I don't know it 100% for sure.

 

[ImDonly1]

Holy Shit. You mean the previous Note had a chip that was actually pentaband and could be unlocked via firmware?

They had a modded radio for it that allowed it to work on T-mobile. Not sure if it was the most reliable thing ever though, I think data drops were frequent. Not 100% on it though, since I never really looked into it.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Most importantly you need it to conform to T-Mobile AWS spectrum (1700/2100) -- The problematic part is most phones support 1900 and not 1700. Only certain areas for T-Mobile has 1900 since the failed AT&T merger. (Las Vegas and a few parts of Cali)



That's what I was led to believe on XDA forums. I don't actually own the phone, so I don't know it 100% for sure.

I see. So I need to search for 1700. 1700 1700 1700.

I the pentaband thing is true Ilim getting a note.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Will this work on T-Mobile?

http://www.samsung.com/cn/consumer/mobile-phones/galaxy-note/galaxy-note/GT-N7100RWDCHN

GSM 850/900/1,800/1,900 MHz
WCDMA 850/900/1,900/2,100 MHz

http://www.samsung.com/cn/consumer/mobile-phones/galaxy-note/galaxy-note/GT-N7102RWDCHN (2 SIM card version)

GSM 850/900/1,800/1,900 MHz
WCDMA 850/900/1,900/2100 MHz

 

[zerogear]

No 1700 on either of those phones, they will work, but you will have EDGE speeds.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

No 1700 on either of those phones, they will work, but you will have EDGE speeds.

F*ck! Pentaband means 850, 900, 1700, 1,900, 2,100 MHz right?

So who uses 1700 really? Just T-Mobile? If only T-Mobile uses 1700 then I'm guessing that NO phone in China will be usable by me.

 

[s44]

If you can't find the Galaxy Nexus, the Meizu MX4 supposedly has penta.

 

[Necrolezbeast]

You'll want to get something cheap and stupid as a temporary phone... or find the electronics stores in the area and locate the imported phones from HK or Taiwan.. I have a Tawianese One X that I got for relatively cheap due to them taking the beat by dre headphones out and selling em

 

[ImDonly1]

F*ck! Pentaband means 850, 900, 1700, 1,900, 2,100 MHz right?

So who uses 1700 really? Just T-Mobile? If only T-Mobile uses 1700 then I'm guessing that NO phone in China will be usable by me.

USA and Canada pretty much. I don't think you will find a 1700mhz 3G phone unless it is pentaband which is rare also.

 

[Necrolezbeast]

taobao has nexus phones... I'm sure at said electronics stores with imported phones you can find another one.. just ask around about the stores