Smartphone, Tablet, Duty Free, Thai Prices

[jesseventurer]

Hi, I'm about to visit Thailand from UK on a holiday for a month.

I have a Samsung Galaxy Y and really want to upgrade. So, I'm on the hunt for a new smartphone and also in the market for a tablet if there are any savings that could be had over in Thailand.

My current phone is locked. If I fail to find a suitable phone replacement after I land in BKK, where is the best place to have my phone unlocked for a Thai sim card. I went to BKK back in 2006 and remember a big tech place where all the computing business was done; I can't remember the name of it but I'm guessing I need to go there to get the best prices.

Obviously, the Chinese or Korean made stuff would be cheaper out there; LG, Huawei, HTC, Lenovo. Not sure I want to experiment with the unbranded varieties as I don't want to spend time on holiday smartphone problem solving.

I want to be able to call both internationally to the UK and local to Thailand. I read on this forum that the 'Happy sim card' is best for international?

Another question I have is what about the duty free at Heathrow, London; are there likely to be any savings to be had there? My sense is that it's not really worth buying anything from there because the prices on tech are initially inflated anyways and they'll only be stocking the very latest products!

Thanks in advance.

[tingtong]

you can check some prices for comparison here:

http://www.lazada.co.th

but i dont think Thailand offers that good deals as used to ( stronger baht than some yrs back)

and i would forget Heathrow. the duty free there seem to be as pricey than some place the regular tags.

[jesseventurer]

Thanks but my Thai is not so good. Is lazada an online company only or do they have a big dept store? Thanks.

[Bpuumike]

You have to pay full price, contract or pay as you go.

I suggest you buy on contract in the UK, much cheaper way to go.

If you have an unlocked phone you can buy a DTAC SIM (which is Happy) in Arrivals, after Customs, for around £10. Buy top up cards at any 7/11.

I think dialling 00944... gives you a cheaper rate, but not expensive to the UK.

I guess the place you were trying to remember is Pantip Plaza but look out for copies. You can buy a Galaxy S4 Mini for Thb3,000 or 13,000

PS: Don't change any money in the UK, get your Thai Baht when you get here. Slightly better rate in town than the airport.

Edited August 26, 2013 by Bpuumike

[stoli]

I think the place you are thinking of in Bangkok is MBK. 4th or 5th floor is all phones, and it is several football fields in size. Beware though, I took a friend there last year to have her iPhone unlocked. The shop wanted to buy it, but she paid to have it unlocked. The next day we had to go back because the battery would only stay charged for 15 minutes at a time. He then offered her half of what he offered the day before, because he would have to buy a new battery. I often wonder if during the unlocking process he put in a battery that he knew not to be any good, and kept her good one. Who knows?

[jesseventurer]

OK, I might avoid the hassle and just buy a budget phone for calls and texts.

[Chicog]

What phone have you got? Usually you can find a way of unlocking it online. That's all the shops usually do.

[jesseventurer]

Tried rooting it a while back and ended up bricking it, and had to take it to the service centre to be sorted out. Not sure I want to try again. I was hoping I could find somewhere in BKK that could unlock it - it's the Samsung Galaxy Y..most popular phone in Asia.

[Bpuumike]

OK, I might avoid the hassle and just buy a budget phone for calls and texts.

I don't know about the YUK nowadays but you can usually get a phone unlocked easily anywhere.

If not, then just buy the cheapest Nokia from DTAC in Arrivals if all you need is calls + SMS.

I am not particularly pushing DTAC/Happy, just used them for the last 15 years out of habit, and never a prob.

Edited; Well, it's that time of night!

If you want to buy (but why in your case?) go to Fortune IT Mall - most reliable sellers. Avoid MBK and at Prantip only buy on the Ground Floor from the obviously authorised retailers. Trying to steer you clear of copies/rip-offs.

Edited August 27, 2013 by Bpuumike

[jesseventurer]

I went to MBK and got the phone unlocked as suggested - fairly straightforward and the woman in the shop was very helpful. I probably overpaid slightly but was in a rush.

Yes, it was surprisingly cheap phoning the UK from Thailand but all the profit's made on the data now anyhows.

Cheers.