Unlocked phones to use overseas

[desura]

Anything to look out for? So cdma (Verizon and sprint) unlocked phones are just fine for use overseas? Same at GSM att?

 

[paperwastage]

depends where?

for 2G, you typically need quadband 2G to get full worldwide support. almost all recent phones would have this - 850/900/1800/1900 MHz

for 3G, you typically need pentaband 3G to get full worldwide support. a lot of phones don't have pentaband support, only quad band... typically missing one european band (2100 IMT band 1)

(you need band 1/2/4/5/8)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTS_frequency_bands#Deployments_by_region_.28UMTS-FDD.29

for LTE - you need a lot of LTE bands... best "global" support i think is the iPhone 6, and it's missing a few bands used by niche systems.

I can almost guarantee that CDMA-branded phones (Verizon/Sprint) will not have LTE support outside of iPhone/Nexus.... Verizon phones typically only have LTE 2/4/13, Sprint phones only have 25/26/41/12(maybe 2/4)...

 

[desura]

Okay, specifically I'm looking at a Verizon HTC one m7 for international use traveling through Asia. How would it fare? Would any phones work out better?

 

[paperwastage]

Verizon: 800/1900MHZ
UMTS/HSPA 900/2100MHz
GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900MHz
LTE 700MHz (Band 13)

http://www.htc.com/us/smartphones/htc-one-m7/#/

as you can see - GSM/GPRS/EDGE = 2G = full quad band support
UMTS/HSPA = 3G = only 2 bands... asia uses 3G 900/2100 (except japan)
LTE = band 13 - only used by Verizon... bad

so you'll get basically only 2G, probably 3G support in asia

(see teh asia column)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTS_frequency_bands#Deployments_by_region_.28UMTS-FDD.29





as I said, iPhone 6S is probably the best if you care about LTE...

nexus 6P/5X/moto x pure comes next
(6P/5X global version is good if you want FULL 3G support, but unsure if it supports Verizon CDMA - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=63090693&postcount=5)

iPhone 6S
LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41)
TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A)
CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz) --> pentaband support
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz) ---> quadband support

http://www.apple.com/iphone-6s/specs/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-UTRA#Deployments_by_region

asia typically uses LTE band 3/7...

 

[Amol S.]

Anything to look out for? So cdma (Verizon and sprint) unlocked phones are just fine for use overseas? Same at GSM att?

Both LG G2 and Nokia Lumia Icon work well overseas, and are unlocked.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I'd start looking for LTE compatibility if I were you. HSPA already sucks on AT&T as its overloaded in most places. I'm seeing the same trend in Hong Kong and Taiwan as HSPA is overloaded, and LTE is where you will get decent service.

 

[paperwastage]

Both LG G2 and Nokia Lumia Icon work well overseas, and are unlocked.

LG G2 Sprint (LS980) only has 2100 (band 1) 3G/UMTS
and 25/26/41 LTE which only sprint+some japanese provider use, so nope
http://www.lg.com/us/cell-phones/lg-LS980-g2

(Verizon LG G2 is slightly better - quad band 3G)


Lumia Icon has 1/2/5/8 quadband 3G/UMTS and LTE 4/13... better for 3G, but still bad for LTE
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/mobile/phone/lumia-icon/specifications/#head_connectivity

I'd start looking for LTE compatibility if I were you. HSPA already sucks on AT&T as its overloaded in most places. I'm seeing the same trend in Hong Kong and Taiwan as HSPA is overloaded, and LTE is where you will get decent service.

it really depends... if you are going prepaid, some of the providers don't give you LTE access

go check. prepaid wikia is a good place to start.

http://prepaid-data-sim-card.wikia.com/wiki/Prepaid_SIM_with_data

 

[mikeford]

Look at where you are going, pick providers that have the coverage you need, get a phone that works with their networks, not get a phone first.