Need Advice On Buying A Smart Phone

[tjansen]

I am on a short trip to the US, and someone here told me they bought an htc Evo Android smart phone for $200. Their provider is Sprint. Not sure if there was a contract.

Someone in Thailand told me the best value in a phone would be a Samsung S3, which, from my brief search on the Internet, seems to cost 21,000 baht.

I have heard of an application with which you can speak into the phone in English or Thai, and the application translates it and displays it in text in the translated language. I would like that application. I would also like to have a good Thai-English English-Thai dictionary.

I know extremely little about this whole world of smart phones, but I know that I would rather spend $200 than $700 if either one would get me what I want. Of course, monthly operating cost would figure into the picture.

I currently have DTAC as my provider in Ratchaburi Province.

Thanks for any guidance and explanation on this matter.

Tom

[lomatopo]

I can guarantee that any phone you buy from Sprint will be subsidized and require, at a minimum, a two-year contract, perhaps even with a data plan.

I see an HTC Evo at BestBuy for $99 if going with Sprint, or $599 if unlocked.

I'm guessing you spend most of your time in Thailand? So maybe best to buy a phone here when you return?

There is a Google Translate application, and one can use speech or text as input - you can also translate SMSes. I think this does require a data connection, and it can go from any/many to any/many. Not sure how good it is for Thai English? Note that you can play the phrase in audio by pressing the speaker icon. Not sure if we can attach sound files here?

You may want to choose a service provider who can provider 3G services in your locale, not sure DTAC/Happy can? And you'll want to choose a phone which works on whatever service provider's network you choose.

Edited August 10, 2012 by lomatopo

[lomatopo]

FYI, Newegg has a three-day sale with the Samsung Galaxy S III (unlocked) available for $589.99, no sales tax, free shipping.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16875176348&nm_mc=EMC-IGNEFL081012&cm_mmc=EMC-IGNEFL081012-_-EMC-081012-Index-_-UnlockedCellphones-_-75176348-L010B

$614.99 before the promo code, you can pick the promo code off the attached picture.

[JakeBKK]

I'm using HTC phones for quite a while, you can flash custom firmware on them. So provider lock shouldn't be a problem.If you need to use the phone here and in the us, the issue will be a bit more tricky. To get high speed data on both sides of the pond you will need a quad-band mobile like the SIII.

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[lomatopo]

I'm using HTC phones for quite a while, you can flash custom firmware on them. So provider lock shouldn't be a problem.If you need to use the phone here and in the us, the issue will be a bit more tricky. To get high speed data on both sides of the pond you will need a quad-band mobile like the SIII.

This assumes you are comfortable paying the $36 line activation fee, and fulfilling a 24 month contract at a minimum of $30/month.

And oh, it (The Sprint HTC EVO 4G LTE) doesn't take a SIM card, and it doesn't support GSM or 3G here in Thailand. Other than those minor details it shouldn't be a problem.

[apetley]

I tried that translation app and it was hopeless. Maybe needed a better connection? Or maybe just hated my English accent but for anything other than the most basic single words it was next to useless.

Sent from my GT-I9003 using Thaivisa Connect App

[IsaanUSA]

Sprint is a CDMA telecom provider. Apart from a couple of world phones, none of their phones will work in Thailand on the GSM networks. I've been a Sprint mobile customer for about 12 years now.

I'm a big HTC fan, so I'm thinking HTC Desire S or HTC One V. They are both lower priced and will run ICS.

Edited August 14, 2012 by IsaanUSA

[happysanook]

no way you need to spend $600 on a smart phone. it's not clear if you want to buy a phone in US or Thailand? Regardless, I recommend this Lenovo a789 <$200 shipped http://www.aliexpres...atId=0&manual=y or this Zopo zp100 with a better LCD and camera, but only single core CPU...either one will be more than enough for you and run any app you need. http://www.aliexpres...atId=0&manual=y ...They're both DUAL-SIM and have front cameras as well for video chat (skype etc..), and all the sensors (gravity/light/compass etc etc..)

If you're nervous about ordering from China (which you shouldn't be, assuming you go with a well reviewed vendor on Aliexpress), I'd suggest one of the Wellcom models in Thailand.

Edited August 16, 2012 by happysanook

[tjansen]

no way you need to spend $600 on a smart phone. it's not clear if you want to buy a phone in US or Thailand? Regardless, I recommend this Lenovo a789 <$200 shipped http://www.aliexpres...atId=0&manual=y or this Zopo zp100 with a better LCD and camera, but only single core CPU...either one will be more than enough for you and run any app you need. http://www.aliexpres...atId=0&manual=y ...They're both DUAL-SIM and have front cameras as well for video chat (skype etc..), and all the sensors (gravity/light/compass etc etc..)

If you're nervous about ordering from China (which you shouldn't be, assuming you go with a well reviewed vendor on Aliexpress), I'd suggest one of the Wellcom models in Thailand.

Thanks for all of the useful answers. I think I should determine the best plan from these ideas, then run it by the forum again to make sure I didn't miss something.

Tom