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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.
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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
Next week i am gonna be in Vancuver Canada.
I saw in Bell store , they sell the galaxy S6 Edge with contract but you can buy it without contract in regular price.
my question is if i buy the phone there its sim free and can i use it in other country?
and the second question is what is the version there? i need the international version (SM-G925F) i think because i am from europe
and if not where can i buy there the international version?
Thankk you all
ronran said:
Hi All
Next week i am gonna be in Vancuver Canada.
I saw in Bell store , they sell the galaxy S6 Edge with contract but you can buy it without contract in regular price.
my question is if i buy the phone there its sim free and can i use it in other country?
and the second question is what is the version there? i need the international version (SM-G925F) i think because i am from europe
and if not where can i buy there the international version?
Thankk you all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should be able to purchase it and use it in another country. However, the Canadian variant is a special variant based on the T-Mobile version. The Canadian version may not support all LTE bands with your carrier so you may want to research that. Also, I'm assuming there is the Regional SIM-Lock built in for first activation. After that you'd have to get an unlock code from any online vendor (around $15) and enter it.
Canadian Model : SM-G925W8
T-Mobile: SM-G925T
If you're from EU, you're probably better off buying the 925F factory unlocked from there itself if it supports the bands. The kernels for 925F and 925T/W8 are not interchangeable so you'd be waiting for TMO/W8 development if you're into flashing custom roms/kernels.
evonc said:
You should be able to purchase it and use it in another country. However, the Canadian variant is a special variant based on the T-Mobile version. The Canadian version may not support all LTE bands with your carrier so you may want to research that. Also, I'm assuming there is the Regional SIM-Lock built in for first activation. After that you'd have to get an unlock code from any online vendor (around $15) and enter it.
Canadian Model : SM-G925W8
T-Mobile: SM-G925T
If you're from EU, you're probably better off buying the 925F factory unlocked from there itself if it supports the bands. The kernels for 925F and 925T/W8 are not interchangeable so you'd be waiting for TMO/W8 development if you're into flashing custom roms/kernels.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is there any place there that i can buy the international model?
ronran said:
is there any place there that i can buy the international model?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At a store in Canada, most likely not. You'd have to look at online stores (Amazon, E-bay, Expansys). NCIX Canada is selling unlocked S6(E) but it doesn't state what model it is, and it is marked up severely. Considering you're already in EU, it's probably easier for you to import one from a neighbouring country that is selling them or buy one at a store nearby.
Thread moved.
evonc said:
The Canadian version may not support all LTE bands with your carrier so you may want to research that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
W8 version supports all worldwide LTE bands except for a few bands in some asian markets. I took my Rogers W8 Edge to Morocco, spain, portugal, poland and germany just a few weeks ago and had LTE in all those countries
evonc said:
You should be able to purchase it and use it in another country. However, the Canadian variant is a special variant based on the T-Mobile version. The Canadian version may not support all LTE bands with your carrier so you may want to research that. Also, I'm assuming there is the Regional SIM-Lock built in for first activation. After that you'd have to get an unlock code from any online vendor (around $15) and enter it.
Canadian Model : SM-G925W8
T-Mobile: SM-G925T
If you're from EU, you're probably better off buying the 925F factory unlocked from there itself if it supports the bands. The kernels for 925F and 925T/W8 are not interchangeable so you'd be waiting for TMO/W8 development if you're into flashing custom roms/kernels.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
evonc said:
At a store in Canada, most likely not. You'd have to look at online stores (Amazon, E-bay, Expansys). NCIX Canada is selling unlocked S6(E) but it doesn't state what model it is, and it is marked up severely. Considering you're already in EU, it's probably easier for you to import one from a neighbouring country that is selling them or buy one at a store nearby.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and if i will buy the canadian version. do you know if i will can transfer it to hebrew? with morelocal?
Amazon and Best Buy have the Moto E in stock, but nowhere can you find the model number as provided by Moto. Some of the phones are listed at 4G, but people write that they are only 3G in comments/review, getting a European version instead of an US one, etc.\
Is there anywhere reliable that actually sells the 4G LTE phone??? Why on earth are there so many models of the same silly phone?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00TFAVFL4
Under the "Style" you can select "4G LTE - 8GB".
If you order from Amazon.com directly ("Shipped and Sold by Amazon.com", not "Sold by <3rd party> and Fulfilled by Amazon", you'll have to look under the seller list since they aren't the cheapest), you'll get the Moto-factory-unlocked model of the XT1527 that qualifies for the Moto bootloader unlock program.
Looking at some of the other sellers, it looks like they're selling the AT&T GoPhone verison (also with model number XT1527, because they have the same radios/bands) with SIM unlock codes, but the AT&T/GoPhone/Cricket models do not have unlockable bootloaders.
The GoPhone ones won't tether either. I bought one through eBay and sent it back. Bought from Motorola for $150, works great.
Sent from my MotoE2 using Tapatalk
I'm planning to buy the LG G5 but I really want the H850 variant so I can have an unlocked bootloader. I understand it's only the European variants that have this, but I can't find any information about the model numbers of the Canadian carriers (specifically: Telus and/or Koodo). I suspect they'll be similar to the US models, but I'm holding onto hope that us Canucks might have H850's too!
My question: Are any of the Canadian carriers selling the LG G5 H850?
If that's not the case, is it possible to use an H850 on a Canadian network? (I'll probably have to do my own homework on this question).
The Canadian Model is H831
I hav not seen any other model for sale in Canada.
Hi guys, i am from Mexico and im gonna buy a lg v60 from Aliexpress, but there are a lot of versions of the same device: Tmobile, Verizon, ATT even japanese version. All of the phones are unlocked but i want to buy a the cleanest version of the phone and root it, if possible. Any suggestion or any model is okay?
Tmobile or ATT, do not buy JP variant, verison with some hardvare problems