Hi!
This thread offers a great overview table: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1756338
I really don't understand the specs well. I'm not very knowledgeable when it comes to these things.
However, to me it seems that the Docomo version offers the better deal compared to the international version.
I have to decide within today which version I am purchasing.
So, I'd like to get advice from others living in Japan with this device!
I live in the deepest countryside, so I won't be using LTE / 4G unless I'm traveling, but I guess it's nice to have it anyways.
Other than that, I'm also concerned about pricing!
The Docomo version seems more expensive to me:
71,400円 (docomo version) + 3150円 unlocking + 10.000円 cancellation of contract = 84550円
- 47,358円 (international version) = 37192円
That's almost 40.000円!
I know that Docomo is offering several discounts, but they're only having the campaign until TODAY!
So I need to decide quickly.
Apart from the price for the phone I'm also worried about the plan / monthly fees.
If I go with Docomo I think I have to stick with them. Can anybody let me know what you roughly pay per month with this device?
If I purchase the international version then I could use Softbank, Docomo or b-mobile.
B-Mobile looks cheap at first sight, but I have difficulties understanding their SIMs and plans.
Does anybody use b-mobile with a smartphone and can tell me more about it?
Thanks so much in advance!!
Related
Hi guys,This is my first post here, this is an excellent forum, keep up the good work2! I am living in the UAE where it looks like the SGS2 wont see the light of day till Q3 2011, I cant wait till then so I am looking at my options. I am not very comfortable with ordering it online from sites like Expansys or Handtec, so would prefer getting it from a physical store.
I will be visiting South Korea very soon and have heard that the SGS2 is already on sale there. My questions are:
1) Are the Korean models (sold exclusively through the carriers I hear) fully unlocked?
2) I will be going to study in Manchester for the next two years, so would like to use the SGS2 there. Seeing that S Korea, UK (and the UAE) use the same GSM and 3G bands - 900/1800 and 3G 2100, I understand its possible but are there any other problems that could crop up? I cant find any specs online for the Korean SGS2.
Thank you!
[EDIT]
Guess noone knows or must be thinking that I didnt search before starting a new thread. Thanks to those who did help! Found the answer from a variety of sources, just listing here in case anyone needs it:
The Korean SGS2 are not quad-band, and are physically thicker due to the inclusion of NFC and a TV tuner. Some carriers have different (non global) MMS standards as well. I have been informed that they are probably locked as well and available on contract to locals only. Also the Indian SGS2 has NFC and costs just 675$ to 700$, guess I will just get it from India!
I will tell you what i know.(it is not 100 sure.)
You are correct that there are three different models of SGS2 in korea.
If you want to use the phone in UK,
You should buy SHW-250K( from KT, one of the service provider)
it meets the mms standard of other countries.
Once again this information is not sure.
I need someone's confirmation for this.
Thanks.
If you're going in on a standard tourist visa then you will NOT be able to buy a phone, even outright. Phones are only available to locals and people on long term visas.
Yeah, get it from India.
Hey guys. After researching many possible smartphones in the market right now, I am going to go with my first smartphone ever and possibly the best one right now (in my opinion): the Samsung Galaxy S2.
However, I live in the U.S. in which I do not think the SIM-capable unnerfed galaxy S2 will ever be coming out here.
Anyhow, I was hoping people who have bought the unlocked version of the S2 would be able to help me. My questions are as follows:
1) Which online vendor is the best place to buy an unlocked version of the S2? I have been researching many possible sites for the past few months. It seems NewEgg.com, Amazon.com, and Expansys-usa.com are most mentioned contenders. The question then becomes… which one to buy from? Who to trust? Anyone have experience in this arena?
2) From several reviews online, it seems people worldwide have been getting unlocked S2s with different starting languages/manuals. Are they all the same? Are there any fundamental differences in hardware or settings? If so, which one is best? It seems there are different versions with various configurations, such as with/without NFC. Hmm...
3) My main carrier in the U.S. is AT&T. What would I need to do to experience compatibility with this network? I would like to get HSPA+ (~ 4G speeds as claimed by AT&T, so to speak). Is there a special SIM from AT&T or tweaking within the phone I need to do to achieve this? Do I have to tell notify AT&T as well? What do I need to do to ensure compatibility with that network & the speeds I would like to achieve?
Phew. That is all. Thank you!!!!
As far as I know, the international version of i9100 is quad-brand 3G which matches AT&T. You can get 1 on amazon for around $700 USD
OR
you can get a LOCKED i9100m from Bell or Virgin Canada, then unlock it. This phone is 599.99 in Canada.
Isn't the Bell version CDMA-only? Does it offer SIM?
Anyhow, I'll try my hands on an international unlocked version. Now, the question still remains... which one to buy from? Amazon.com has many resellers. NewEgg and Expansys-USA are single resellers, but I would probably have to ask where they get theirs from.
Are there any differences in getting it via from the UK, Korea, India, etc? I would also need an adapter that can be plugged in the US.
Ok there lots of information if you used search feature
Cheapest place to buy currently is www.expansys-usa.com, you get it for 658.99 and you get additional $10 off with lsjuly10 voucher.
You get hspa+ speeds with att and you can also use $15 unlimited non smartphone plan with sgs2.
Search around and you can find lots of info on this. Hope this helps
Edit : just to answer your other question, you get us adapter along with the phone from expansys, amazon. You might mostly get a phone with uk firmware but it shouldn't really matter. Once you get the phone you can flash whatever firmware you want thru odin.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Thank you very much for the coupon!!!
Searching around, it seems like Expansys-USA might be the best bang for the buck to purchase the unlocked version.
I also tried e-mailing NewEgg.com and some Amazon.com vendors. NewEgg.com said their S2 was "made in China." Hmm. I am unsure if it means it is a Chinese version. One vendor from Amazon.com said it was "unsure of where the device came from."
I'm assuming since there's an Expansys-UK, the Expansys-USA may be coming from UK. Is the UK version good? I guess UK (since it's in English) would be best for me...
I've also heard some versions do not have NFC. Does the UK version have NFC or working NFC in the states?
Just get the bell one from canada and save yourself some money, its full hspa+ , meaning it will work with att 3g in the states. If you buy the european ones you'll likely pay upwards of 800$ I'm thinking...
Are the Bell ones unlocked? Where would I be able to find one? Any online resellers that are selling them? I thought the Bell ones were CDMA-only? Or do they also have SIM-card capabilities?
Driving up to Canada and purchasing one is not too feasible for me.
Alazarin said:
Are the Bell ones unlocked? Where would I be able to find one? Any online resellers that are selling them? I thought the Bell ones were CDMA-only? Or do they also have SIM-card capabilities?
Driving up to Canada and purchasing one is not too feasible for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The bell ones are locked. Can be easly unlocked. They are sim ones. I using the one i bought with bell on telus
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Alazarin said:
Are the Bell ones unlocked? Where would I be able to find one? Any online resellers that are selling them? I thought the Bell ones were CDMA-only? Or do they also have SIM-card capabilities?
Driving up to Canada and purchasing one is not too feasible for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, bell has been ditching its CDMA network for well over a year... All their new phones are gsm. Well not just driving up I'm saying ordering online from canada would probably even be cheaper than buying a european phone, and they are the same phone, no nfc, same model.
I`m living in UK and I bought my SGS2 1 month ago from ebay. was sealed and is factory unlocked. It`s 100% original, not a fake. As far as I now if is factory unlocked it`s working in USA on At&t H+ speed, and you don`t need to unlock. If you want you can order from UK or wait when will be release in USA. Hope this help. Good luck!
unleashed12 said:
Nope, bell has been ditching its CDMA network for well over a year... All their new phones are gsm. Well not just driving up I'm saying ordering online from canada would probably even be cheaper than buying a european phone, and they are the same phone, no nfc, same model.
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Do you have any recommendations to reliable online Canadian resellers?
The hard part is that I'm still deciding whether to buy from Expansys-USA (cheaper), Clove (great reviews + most reliable), or from an online Canadian reseller (could be even cheaper + more reliable since I live in the U.S.?). My main criteria is that:
I would like to buy the phone that was made in Korea, but for the UK/CA market (thus, factory sealed) and comes with a US adapter (not add-on). That seems to be the best one, but I am unsure which one would provide that.
Hi all,
I'm looking for a successor to my N1, and either the Galaxy Nexus or the SGS2 will probably be it.
I'm on T-Mobile, on a grandfathered T-Zones plan. It's nice, I'd like to keep it if possible. Getting the T-mob branded SGS2 will require an upgrade of my data plan (IMEIs are logged). Not the biggest deal, but $5.99/month for unlimited data is not going to ever happen again.
From what I've read, the Telus Canadian SGS2x is compatible with the T-Mob bands, at 4g, and the IMEIs are not registered with T-Mob US.
4g speeds are actually not that big a deal for me. But having at least 3G is!
1. Haven't been able to find the SGS2X anywhere respectable. Maybe a few craigslist-like sites in Canada. Anyone know of other retailers?
2. Alternate international versions of the SGS2 which would have the 1700/2100 AWS band?
3. Similar to the Nexus S, is the IMEI info in a EFS folder, which can be accidentally deleted?
Try www.kijiji.ca plenty of telus sgs2 phones there.
Thanks, it does have some for sale, but the site is basically a Canadian craig's list, full of sellers wanting to meet face to face, in Canada! Which is just 1 state north of me, but still!
I'm thinking of something more like expansys USA, or some other reseller.
waylo said:
Thanks, it does have some for sale, but the site is basically a Canadian craig's list, full of sellers wanting to meet face to face, in Canada! Which is just 1 state north of me, but still!
I'm thinking of something more like expansys USA, or some other reseller.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
go here:
http://www.basatne.com/Samsung-Galaxy-S-II-X-16GB-T989-Black-p/sam-t989-16gb-blk.htm
He sells them on ebay too but more expensive. But you can read his feedback from ebay... seems fine. I got the phone and have tzones (not from him) well worth it!
I'm in England. If I were to purchased a MediaPad in Germany, change the UI language to English, and bring it back to the UK. Would I be able to use it here without problems, or might there be issues with updates later on? Any thoughts/tips would be much appreciated, thanks.
I think there should be no problems since the region falls under Western Europe, and the Germans seem to get good updates.
Officially it should be the 7D-501L.
Sent from my SM-N910C using Tapatalk HD
LTE might not work with all UK providers.
Many thanks, guys. Hmmm ... the LTE comment worries me slightly. Part of the reason for my considering buying in Germany (as well as that it's cheaper than in the UK), is that I've read on a couple of threads about people buying the English model and having trouble with telephony, saying that for some reason that the UK version is not good as others. Can anybody speak for that? I want to buy the M1 to use as a hold-to-your-ear phone, so this is a critical factor for me to sort out before purchase.
There was a thread he discussing that pretty much all work except xyz?
Found it: forum.xda-developers.com/huawei-mediapad/general/honor-x1-uk-sim-data-access-t2853362
Wherby the TO has a 503L. But the discussion contains all needed data. The 501L has mor european frequencies if I recall correctly. But pls do check.
Apologies for the delayed reply, I'm already abroad and had trouble logging in. Many thanks for the help, but I'm afraid you're over my head, and I need some guidance. I don't understand the terms "xyz", "TO", "503L" or "501L". Any chance of layman's language please?! If I'm going to purchase an M1 I'll have to do so Friday latest. Thanks.
xyz=anything or whatever
TO = thread opener = you
Sometimes called OP = opener.
503L short for Huawei Honor X1 7D503L = chinese 4G/LTE version
501L is the international 4G / LTE version.
I would not get the M1 unless 8" is a desired factor.
Many thanks for that, I'm grateful. Yeah, 8" is very much desired over 7", otherwise I would certainly go for the X1. I think I'll chance it with a German M1 then. It sounds as though even if I do have telephony issues they should be solveable, so I won't end up with a useless device. I'll get one on Friday then, unless anyone posts anything here to the contrary...!
It will work. You just may not be able to select a specific LTE provider due to the frequency it uses.
For what its worth I have a Chinese 501u in the UK, and it works great on Giff Gaff (but 3 think its a tablet )
Thanls. What worries me now is that I'm currently with 3 so fear I may have to change to GiffGaff.
I'm afraid so.
I'm pretty certain the 7D-501L supports all three LTE bands used in the UK (3,7,20 or 800, 1800, 2600). The simple reason is that these are the same three bands used in Germany and across Europe: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_LTE_networks
Also, see here:
http://www.devicespecifications.com/en/comparison/11b918f9
Hope that helps.
Many thanks for that. The M1 had been on sale in Mediamarkt Germany for EUR 209, but incredibly on Thursday, the day before I was going to buy one, it was withdrawn from sale in favour of the X1 - grrrr! Consequently I've returned home without one and so have decided to give the whole purchase a bit more thought.
I have been buying the AT&T versions for years now, extending my contract term and trying the NEXT plan. But with the bigger carriers locking the software down I want to buy an international version, but I'm unsure where to get one.
interesting, I was looking at us version of Samsung site and realize they do not sell latest smartphones provider free and unlocked;
you have to try the Canada site, looks like up north here, we can buy Samsung phones unlocked, even the newest ones
There are a number of sites that deal with overseas international phones. You can also find them on Amazon.com quite easily. Here is one http://welectronics.com/gsm/SAMSUNGSMPHONES.shtml take note they are selling a 32GB & 64GB only version, not sure if they can't get the 128GB option, or it will come later.
Order Directly from Samsung or Use eBay Amazon Walmart Best buy or this super place swappa.com
Buying an international version sounds like a good idea.
biggstkk said:
I have been buying the AT&T versions for years now, extending my contract term and trying the NEXT plan. But with the bigger carriers locking the software down I want to buy an international version, but I'm unsure where to get one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the same boat. Just need to make sure the international version will support AT&T's LTE bands. If they do, I'll be going this route as well.
Try GSM Nation. Thet have the unlocked and at&t compatible version. Pre-Ordered mine.
Do not even try Canada. Yes we have stuff that work on pretty much all GSM carriers, but never can you buy an unlocked phone unless it's Google, Chinese made or bought overpriced on Sony's website. Samsung Nevers sells unlocked here. Got to use typical methods
Canada is not really international per se, Its networks are set up almost if not identical to those in the US, hence almost all devices are identical to those available in the US market.
There are however, few retailers that sells international versions of devices here in Canada. NCIX.com and Expansys Canada are the first 2 that come to mind. Its just a little more tougher to find as some retailers either don't post the complete information or don't even know their own inventory as some may carry the international versions without even knowing it.
Any other suggestions?
Buy an unbranded one off eBay.