In the market for a slighter higher end Samsung android phone ...

[kevc]

New phone Galaxy Win about the same size as the s4 I just bought one for my wife for Xmas and after a little play with it it seems very good, 8,900 in the shops but found it in MBK for 7,800 baht.

Sent from my GT-P5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Chao Lao Beach]

Regarding AIS above, I do not know, but, if you loose a sim, you can go into a Telewhiz shop and get the same number on a new sim if you show ID.

So they can issue new sims with you old number, one would think they called do it to the tiny ones too, (but I am not 100% sure)

[Jingthing]

New phone Galaxy Win about the same size as the s4 I just bought one for my wife for Xmas and after a little play with it it seems very good, 8,900 in the shops but found it in MBK for 7,800 baht. Sent from my GT-P5100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Galaxy Win is one of the phones on my list. Also the Galaxy Ace 3 and the Galaxy Core. But I'm really looking at other brands too. Not sure if I'll buy a new phone today or six months from now at this rate!

[Jingthing]

Regarding AIS above, I do not know, but, if you loose a sim, you can go into a Telewhiz shop and get the same number on a new sim if you show ID.

So they can issue new sims with you old number, one would think they called do it to the tiny ones too, (but I am not 100% sure)

Yeah I reckon they can do something. In any case, it would be silly to pick a phone only based on the size of the sim card.

[sustento]

Yes, check out the imobile range in Tesco Lotus. The IQ 6 looks great value for 5K reduced from around 8-9K. I think it has a 5" screen & does all the usual smartphone stuff pretty well

The imobile phones mentioned, are their menus in English as well?

I presume they are Android, so they can run all the same Android Apps that Samsung can right?

Do they have GPS?

Yes

Yes

Depends on the model.

[FiftyTwo]

Yes, check out the imobile range in Tesco Lotus. The IQ 6 looks great value for 5K reduced from around 8-9K. I think it has a 5" screen & does all the usual smartphone stuff pretty well

The imobile phones mentioned, are their menus in English as well?

I presume they are Android, so they can run all the same Android Apps that Samsung can right?

Do they have GPS?

The 5.3 has everything, GPS, magnetometer (compass).

But beware some other i-mobile models (IQ 6) are missing the magnetometer.

[MB1]

Regarding AIS above, I do not know, but, if you loose a sim, you can go into a Telewhiz shop and get the same number on a new sim if you show ID.

So they can issue new sims with you old number, one would think they called do it to the tiny ones too, (but I am not 100% sure)

Yeah I reckon they can do something. In any case, it would be silly to pick a phone only based on the size of the sim card.

Same same as picking a man for the size of his dick or someone picking a woman for the size of her breasts..

Anyway jing have you decided which one you fancy yet..???...

Oh and to avoid any confusion I am talking about phones now....:p

[Jingthing]

I seem to be getting a lot closer. I might have even done the dirty tonight but I was in a shop that was closing, didn't quite have the exact models I wanted to look at, and as I am finding is usual here, amazingly SURLY so called service. I mean I literally had the hot wad of cash in my wallet ... but where is the love?

I am trending towards:

lower end 4 to 7 K

I don't feel I even need quad core, gaming isn't my thing.

I don't need a superb camera ... I barely need any camera

The music features, size, feel, and design on the Oppo Find Clover appeals but I'm not crazy about the user experience and concerned about support if needed. This might be a smart buy because I don't own any other decent music device so it would be a twofer.

I've narrowed the size. 5" too big, 4" too small, so 4.3" or 4.5".

I did see the I-mobile 5.3 today and I did love it and it does seem great value but it just feels too BIG for me to comfortably lug around town (I'm the baht bus and walking dude). So I don't think I'll buy that.

I'd like to see a wider range of I-mobiles but haven't found them on display yet.

On the lower end the dual core Lenovo A 516 4.5" sounds good to me on paper (cheap and probably really has all I need) but I haven't handled yet.

I also like LG and HTC, so many models, so much wasted time!

Oddly, I've pretty much ruled out SAMSUNG. No logical reason. Just want a fresh start and change.

Edited December 14, 2013 by Jingthing

[kkerry]

I'm not a smart phone expert my any means but I went through the same research you have been doing. There are lots of smart phones now in the 4-7k bracket but one thing I found to be important was the RAM. I settled for a 4.5" screen and my wife went for a 4" screen, both i-mobile, both running Jellybean but only 512 RAM for her. Using both we have noticed a real difference with the lower memory model being noticeably slower so I would not buy anything now with less than 1GB RAM. In my local Tesco yesterday and they had a number of i-mobile phones and quite a few with substantial mark downs, probably because i-mobile seem to never stop releasing new models...

In the i-mobile range, if you are looking at 4.5" then I think maybe only the quad core IQ 1.1 comes with 1GB RAM, about 5k or less if you are lucky. Just be aware there are different versions for AIS and Dtac. Also, if looking at Oppo then another big Chinese brand is Cherry Mobile, now starting to have a presence in Thailand but i-mobile seems to be the most popular second tier brand in Thailand at the moment.

Edited December 14, 2013 by kkerry

[Jingthing]

Yeah, thanks for that.

I agree the 512 RAM is definitely too low.

Not an issue with the Oppo Clover but is with the Lenovo model I mentioned.

So I'm off on a tangent again.

I also don't like only 4 GM of ROM but maybe that will be OK for my predicted lower use of apps, but not sure.

On the i-Mobile phones, I haven't seen an IQ 1.1 yet.

Does anyone know if they include user manuals with ENGLISH and/or online PDF user manuals in English?

Edited December 14, 2013 by Jingthing

[sustento]

Yeah, thanks for that.

I agree the 512 RAM is definitely too low.

Not an issue with the Oppo Clover but is with the Lenovo model I mentioned.

So I'm off on a tangent again.

I also don't like only 4 GM of ROM but maybe that will be OK for my predicted lower use of apps, but not sure.

Most apps on the new versions of Android can be moved to an sd card. I have the I-mobile 6.1 which has 4gb of ROM. It also came with a 'free' 16gb micro sd card which all the apps I've downloaded have been moved to without problem.

[Jingthing]

OK, this is getting granular now.

http://www.siamphone.com/en/lenovo/a706.htm

Quad core, 1 GB Ram, 4.5 screen, 6K baht, acceptable design. Getting warm now.

Edited December 14, 2013 by Jingthing

[kkerry]

The Lenovo is very similar to the IQ 1.1 and others in specs. If you Google 8225Q, the processor shared by a number of entry level smart phones you will find a good selection of current phones for the average user who doesn't require high end performance but who doesn't want a dud either.

Like many people I move the apps to the SD card. If the phone you end up buying doesn't come with a decent sized micro SD card then I would suggest getting one rated class 10 like the San Disk Ultra. The price difference between class 4/6 and class 10 is now minimal so go for the better class. It may not make much difference in the phone but if you have say a 16GB card then transferring music or movies on to it from your computer I find faster, and if you ever upgrade to a better phone than you can always re-use the card.

[Jingthing]

Have yet to actually locate a Lenova A-706.

Even quite better is the Lenova-S820 but the price I saw seems high compared to what Siam phone says the market is. (10 asked vs. 9 which I think it should be.) Yes the screen is a bit bigger than 4.5 but the overall package is still just compact enough for me and also high res. Very nice phone!

Definitely strong interest in both but want to see an actual A-706.

Played around some more with a Oppo Find Clover and disliked the user experience even more. Could be user error but that one is falling off my radar.

Have yet to find an I-mobile IQ 1.1 on display but found for sale in box.

I'm now confused about the spec for this phone. None of the online specs I've seen mentioned any MEMORY CARD expansion option at all.

That would rule out that phone if there is no memory expansion.

Yes I'm starting to get burned out. I even looked at Samsungs again.

Deep down the black hole of phone shopping.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Jingthing

[Thai at Heart]

Not Samsung. Go nexus

[Jingthing]

Not Samsung. Go nexus

I think over my budget.

[sniffdog]

Best thing:

Forget all the posts above and stroll down to MBK and/or Tucom and/or Central Festival (preferred are the guaranteed original shops like Powerbuy and/or Samsung) and see all the models which you like. Write down their model numbers and research the Internet.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

OK I got sucked into researching this a little bit, and surprisingly I am drawn to the Nokia Lumia 520 which I haven't even seen in person yet. I think the local market price is about 5500 baht. Yes its a Windows 8 phone. Yes I know not popular in Thailand but somehow that appeals to me.

http://www.engadget.com/products/nokia/lumia/520/

Any reason against it for my minimalist purposes?

That series of Lumia phones are getting popular in many countries, mainly because of the Nokia brand reputation outside the U.S. and the relatively low price. I believe I've seen them for under $150 unlocked and under $100 locked to a carrier in the U.S.

The phone has gotten pretty good reviews. But in terms of some cautions, I believe it has no front facing camera, meaning hard to use for video calls or video chats like with Skype, Viber, etc.

Also, MS continues to tinker with its Windows Phone platform, so it's not exactly the most stable ecosystem moving forward and Win Phone 8 has a more limited range of apps available compared to Android and Apple... But for a simple user, that difference might not matter too much.

If you're a big Google/Gmail etc user, then it probably makes more sense to go with Android. But if you're a Windows/Hotmail/Skydrive type user, then a Windows phone fits into that arena.

IMobile probably has good offerings on the Android side of things in a comparable price range.

Edited December 15, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Yeah, thanks for that.

I agree the 512 RAM is definitely too low.

Not an issue with the Oppo Clover but is with the Lenovo model I mentioned.

So I'm off on a tangent again.

I also don't like only 4 GM of ROM but maybe that will be OK for my predicted lower use of apps, but not sure.

Most apps on the new versions of Android can be moved to an sd card. I have the I-mobile 6.1 which has 4gb of ROM. It also came with a 'free' 16gb micro sd card which all the apps I've downloaded have been moved to without problem.

In the Android world, it's usually not the third-party apps you yourself download that CANNOT be moved to a SD card, although there are some of those.

It's more often the Google ecosystem apps, and there are many of them, that have to be run off your phone's internal storage space. Also some apps that can be moved to SD still advise that you NOT do that because they'll run better if stored direct on the phone. So for me, having sufficient internal storage on the phone to hold my various apps continues to be an important consideration.

These days, I wouldn't buy an Android phone with anything less than 1 GB of RAM (random access memory) and at least 8 GB of internal storage (a fair portion of which will be utilized out of the box by the Android OS and related files).

On the Windows side of things, though, I've heard from Win Phone 8 types that the various 512 MB RAM models run fine. Supposedly, Win Phone 8 is less memory intensive as an OS compared to Android.

BTW, on my Samsung Android phone, some of the apps that show up as being able to install only on the phone itself, and not an SD card, include:

Google+, Amazon Kindle, Outlook.com, Google Drive, Google Hangouts, Google Play Music, Dropbox, TuneIn Radio, Google Maps, Gmail, YouTube, Google Voice, MS Skydrive, etc etc.

Edited December 15, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[manarak]

JT, have a good look at the Samsung Galaxy Core.

I own its bigger brother, the Galaxy Grand, and I'm quite happy with it.

[kkerry]

 

Have yet to find an I-mobile IQ 1.1 on display but found for sale in box.

I'm now confused about the spec for this phone. None of the online specs I've seen mentioned any MEMORY CARD expansion option at all.

That would rule out that phone if there is no memory expansion.

 

It has a SD micro card slot. I'm using a 16GB in one at the moment. Online specs for i-mobile aren't always up to date so check the side of the box to be sure.

[sustento]

I seem to be getting a lot closer. I might have even done the dirty tonight but I was in a shop that was closing, didn't quite have the exact models I wanted to look at, and as I am finding is usual here, amazingly SURLY so called service. I mean I literally had the hot wad of cash in my wallet ... but where is the love?

I am trending towards:

lower end 4 to 7 K

I don't feel I even need quad core, gaming isn't my thing.

I don't need a superb camera ... I barely need any camera

The music features, size, feel, and design on the Oppo Find Clover appeals but I'm not crazy about the user experience and concerned about support if needed. This might be a smart buy because I don't own any other decent music device so it would be a twofer.

I've narrowed the size. 5" too big, 4" too small, so 4.3" or 4.5".

I did see the I-mobile 5.3 today and I did love it and it does seem great value but it just feels too BIG for me to comfortably lug around town (I'm the baht bus and walking dude). So I don't think I'll buy that.

I'd like to see a wider range of I-mobiles but haven't found them on display yet.

On the lower end the dual core Lenovo A 516 4.5" sounds good to me on paper (cheap and probably really has all I need) but I haven't handled yet.

I also like LG and HTC, so many models, so much wasted time!

Oddly, I've pretty much ruled out SAMSUNG. No logical reason. Just want a fresh start and change.

My 6.1 has (allegedly) an 18MP camera. If you got one you could post HD photos of all the altercations you have with baht bus drivers

[Jingthing]

Best thing:

Forget all the posts above and stroll down to MBK and/or Tucom and/or Central Festival (preferred are the guaranteed original shops like Powerbuy and/or Samsung) and see all the models which you like. Write down their model numbers and research the Internet.

Central Festival does NOT have all the models I want to see. I've been in every possible place there MULTIPLE times. It's kind of funny because the staff in those places is getting that I'm either a real hot buyer or a phone shopping junkie who will never buy anything new (I'm guessing there are people like that). So far only checked out the DTAC store (I think) in Tukcom. So I'll go there and perhaps also Big C and Old Carrefour not Carrefour.

I totally agree 8 GB set memory would be MUCH better than 4. Considering I might spend 10 for the Lenovo (which is 4) I should probably look at other options that have the 8. Perhaps LG models. I like the Galaxy Core but for now I'm sticking with the change it from Samsung agenda. I've ruled out Sony, I think those are for camera fetishists, not that there is anything wrong with that.

If I do settle for 4 GB memory which seems probable, it might be wiser to go lower end price-wise with the idea that the next phone will be more serious IF I get more into Android apps (which I haven't as yet). The Lenova a-706 might be perfect for that space but haven't located one yet.

Thanks for the info about the memory slot for the IQ 1.1. That makes sense. I haven't ruled it out but if I can never actually handle one before purchase, that might stop me from choosing it.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Jingthing

[kkerry]

Lenovo as yet don't have a big presence in Thailand for smart phones compared to somewhere like the Philippines where Kobe Bryant advertises them and where they have a dozen different models. There will be a sales contact on the Lenovo Thai website so see if you can contact them to help you locate a A-706 which spec wise is pretty close to the IQ 1.1 4GB is standard for most lower priced phones, it's not something I would worry about too much. I found while I downloaded heaps of apps when I first got my phone, after a while I deleted a lot because I wasn't using them. I re-set my phone to factory settings last week and now have only two screens of apps compared to 5 screens before.

IT City and JIB would be worth checking out for Lenovo but it may simply be there isn't stock as even three months ago there were only three Lenovo phones readily available in Thailand. There are more now on the Lenovo Thai portal but as you are finding out, distribution might be a problem.

[Jingthing]

Thanks!

Some more choices are now on my radar --

Acer Liquid E2, a quite remarkably UGLY phone but good feature set for a low end and quite low priced. I like an internationally known brand like Acer, Lenova, or LG compared to I-mobile.

HTC Desire 500 (4 GB) or 500a (8 GB), nice design, reportedly a great UI, the 500 has the lower end features I want, but higher priced, and don't have the price yet on the 500a.

At this point, I think probably any of the choices on my list will be OK and now it could be a matter of my mood in the store and whether I can actually find and test the models I'm interested in or not.

I've already rejected models that I liked on paper, but didn't like in person. All the lower end Sonys and surprisingly the Oppo Clover.

I'm pretty shocked at my strong interest in the Acer which I have played with multiple times now, such an UGLY phone! In a way I kind of like that, lower theft risk and the opposite of a status symbol.

Edited December 16, 2013 by Jingthing

[Jingthing]

It's done!

http://www.unbox.ph/gadget/lenovo-s820-unboxing-super-slick-quad-core-smartphone/

After getting it home I find out the phone (especially the RED color version which I didn't get) is being marketing specifically to Chinese LADIES.

I don't care. I'm secure in my sexuality and my phone purchase.

Not to say I didn't experience buyer's remorse and the realization that the shopping "fun" was over once I handed over the dough.

Edited December 16, 2013 by Jingthing

[kkerry]

Looks a decent phone with a good screen and slightly better battery life than a lot of other smart phones out there. Would be hard to misplace the red one

[sustento]

lenovo-S820-reviews.jpg

It's done!

lenovo-S820-a.jpg

http://www.unbox.ph/gadget/lenovo-s820-unboxing-super-slick-quad-core-smartphone/

After getting it home I find out the phone (especially the RED color version which I didn't get) is being marketing specifically to Chinese LADIES.

I don't care. I'm secure in my sexuality and my phone purchase.

Not to say I didn't experience buyer's remorse and the realization that the shopping "fun" was over once I handed over the dough.

Just don't look at the prices of that phone over then next 3 months. It's bound to plummet like a stone and make you unhappy. Just close your eyes and DON'T LOOK!

[55Jay]

lenovo-S820-reviews.jpg

It's done!

lenovo-S820-a.jpg

http://www.unbox.ph/gadget/lenovo-s820-unboxing-super-slick-quad-core-smartphone/

After getting it home I find out the phone (especially the RED color version which I didn't get) is being marketing specifically to Chinese LADIES.

I don't care. I'm secure in my sexuality and my phone purchase.

Not to say I didn't experience buyer's remorse and the realization that the shopping "fun" was over once I handed over the dough.

Horray!

Buyer's remorse will kick in when you realize your ultra-mini laptop isn't capable of making and receiving telephone calls. Just kidding, enjoy your new phone.

[tw25rw]

I was going to say I had decided to move away from Samsung next time, but it looks like you already did.