Samsung Galaxy S4 question

[JenSop]

I noticed that the thread about the S4 was up to over 1600 replies (EEK!)

I just had a quick question....

When buying one here (unlocked) will it be usable with any SIM card in Europe?

I'm getting one for my boyfriend and taking it over to Europe for him. He needs it to be completely unlocked - to be able to insert a Croatian SIM card (or his German one when he is traveling). So I wanted to make sure that what I buy will work for him. (Amazon is selling unlocked versions.) Also - does one NEED the Samsung SD card to increase its memory, or will any micro SD card work?

(Unlike my bf, I happen to be a Mac person, and am going to hopefully upgrade my iPhone 4S to the 5 soon, but am doing research on the ability to use it in Europe, as I am there for long periods of time and want to switch to a SIM that will work in both Austria and Croatia. Worried about the Austria part based on Apple's website - they are not listed, but Croatia is at least. Perhaps I will have to wait and buy an iPhone 5 in Austria? And hope that it will also be able to accept Croatian SIMs?)

This all gets so confusing. I don't consider myself to be a complete idiot when it comes to technology, but I've got two degrees in music - which obviously does not help me with any of this stuff....

Thanks in advance for any information you can pass along. I'm kind of overwhelmed with everything I'm finding during my google searches.

 

[PingviN]

Croatia (like most of Europe) uses the GSM standard for communication, so you'll need a GSM-compatible phone. Most of american cell service providers use CDMA, so make sure you get the right one or you wont be able to connect in Croatia to anything but WiFi.

Any MicroSD card will work, you don't need one with Samsung branding.

 

[s44]

When buying one here (unlocked) will it be usable with any SIM card in Europe?

I'm getting one for my boyfriend and taking it over to Europe for him. He needs it to be completely unlocked - to be able to insert a Croatian SIM card (or his German one when he is traveling). So I wanted to make sure that what I buy will work for him. (Amazon is selling unlocked versions.) Also - does one NEED the Samsung SD card to increase its memory, or will any micro SD card work?

Easy question first: any micro SD is fine. I'd stick to Samsung, Sandisk *direct from Amazon* (other sellers may be counterfeit), Transcend (not fastest, but reliable)...

Any unlocked phone will accept any Euro micro-SIM. Only issue is the bands. Both Germany and Croatia have 3G on the 2100mhz band, which literally every single Galaxy S4 you can buy (including Sprint and Verizon) will support. For 4G (LTE) Croatian carriers use bands 3 and 7, and German carriers use bands 3, 7, and 20. This means you should get the i9505 version of the S4, because it will work on all of these LTE bands. (The i9500 doesn't have LTE at all.)

Of course, if he is going to be in the US later more than Europe, you may also consider the T-Mobile S4 (M919). This only supports one of the European 4G bands (band 7 -- 2600mhz), but supports 3G and 4G on both AT&T and T-Mo in the US. The i9505 supports 3G on AT&T and *some* US T-Mo and no US 4G.

Not every M919 comes unlocked (they should give you the code when you buy it outright, but some stores are jerks), but there's an easy DIY method.

 

[s44]

As far as the iPhone part of your question, it depends what your carrier is in the US.