New Phone Suggestions

[HeijoshinCool]

I'm about to buy a new cell. I'll be using it here, and in the States (and elsewhere).

 

Looking at the Samsung Galaxy "Pocket."

 

Anyone have experience with this model? Godd, or bad?

 

Suggestions of some other brand/model? Price range 2500-4000. 

[casualbiker]

What networks in the States?

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[lomatopo]

Yea, I think you need to define "here", "elsewhere" and "the States" with a lot more clarity, specifically: which service providers, and and what services (just voice, GSM data, 3 G data).

 

You need to identify phone specs which meet your requirements, then look for phones which meet those specs in your price range.

 

 

[HeijoshinCool]

Guys-

 

I was told that I would need a GSM provider in the States. T-Mobile pre-paid was suggested. 

 

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/719045-taking-cellphone-to-the-states/

 

 

As for specs: a camera, video, and compact/lightweight. Beyond that, I just want dependable. I don't buy a new phone every year like some. More like every five years. 

[lomatopo]

So you just need to be able to make voice calls? Here, there, elsewhere, in the States? No need for data?

 

Any phone which is unlocked, can accept a SIM and support GSM 1900 MHz would work in the U.S. on T-Mobile, for voice, text and low-speed data.

 

If you need 3G then it gets a bit more complex.

 

You could get a SIM and service, from a T-Mobile MVNO like StraightTalk or Simple, or from T-Mobile directly.

 

 

http://www.simplemobile.com/wps/portal/home/!ut/p/b1/04_SjzS0NDc2MTAwtNSP0I_KSyzLTE8syczPS8wB8aPM4l0MvHyNAx09jII8zE0NPAM8nIPdzf0M_N2M9MP1o8BKDHAARwN9P4_83FT93CgvCwCDDzYl/dl4/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/

 

http://www.straighttalk.com/wps/portal/home

 

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans

 

[casualbiker]

Are there ANY US service providers using 3g 850/900 or 2100????

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[lomatopo]

AT&T has some 850 MHz 3G, StraightTalk is both an AT&T and T-Mo MVNO.

 

T-Mo has some re-farmed 1900 MHz 3G (from AT&T); most phones support 850 and or 900/1900/2100 MHz 3G.

 

T-Mo has some AWS, which is unique and uses 1700 and 2100 (one for the uplink, one for the downlink), but most phones do not support AWS. 

 

 

[HeijoshinCool]

So you just need to be able to make voice calls? Here, there, elsewhere, in the States? No need for data?

 

Any phone which is unlocked, can accept a SIM and support GSM 1900 MHz would work in the U.S. on T-Mobile, for voice, text and low-speed data.

 

If you need 3G then it gets a bit more complex.

 

You could get a SIM and service, from a T-Mobile MVNO like StraightTalk or Simple, or from T-Mobile directly.

 

 

http://www.simplemobile.com/wps/portal/home/!ut/p/b1/04_SjzS0NDc2MTAwtNSP0I_KSyzLTE8syczPS8wB8aPM4l0MvHyNAx09jII8zE0NPAM8nIPdzf0M_N2M9MP1o8BKDHAARwN9P4_83FT93CgvCwCDDzYl/dl4/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/

 

http://www.straighttalk.com/wps/portal/home

 

http://prepaid-phones.t-mobile.com/prepaid-plans

 

.

 

I don't want a contract, I'll be coming and going too much, so just a SIM and prepaid. I will be going to South America, LOS now and then, and Japan and Europe. 

 

I don't have any overwhelming need for wi-fi, but the Galaxy Pocket does support it, so I'd send an email or Google something, but no movies and such. So I take it I don't really need 3G?

 

Thanks.

[casualbiker]

South America is predominantly 850mhz I believe .. Japan .. has strange networks ..Europe would be ok with 850-900-2100 3G.
That's the minimum I would look for personally.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Edited May 11, 2014 by casualbiker

[casualbiker]

The upcoming Motorola Moto E may be just what your looking for released 14th of this month .. not sure if or when in Thailand .. or the Asus zenfone 5

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[tw25rw]

I'm waitingfor the Oneplus One to come out so I can ditch Samsung. Expect it is too big for you though.

[HeijoshinCool]

The upcoming Motorola Moto E may be just what your looking for released 14th of this month .. not sure if or when in Thailand .. or the Asus zenfone 5

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looks interesting.

[Carmine6]

Probably best to buy a quad band phone.  One that can do all the GSM frequencies 850, 900, 1800 and 1900.  That'll give the highest chance that you can at least use it as a phone, and send text messages, since most countries have a GSM provider and the networks even in the Americas are mixed.   3G and 4G is more dicey as you'll need to figure out which networks use what frequencies in the countries you are going to.

 

Higher end phones tend to have all 4 GSM bands, and cheaper ones may not.  Pay attention to the model number, as some phones are actually different depending on where you buy them.  The Galaxy SIII as an example, is a different model number if you buy it in the US from ATT (I-747), Tmobile (T-999), other countries (I-9300).  Slightly different specs on the network capabilities, particularly for 3G and 4G.

 

http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s_iii_t999-4804.php

http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s_iii_i747-4803.php

http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i9300_galaxy_s_iii-4238.php

 

Galaxy "Pocket" seems to be used for several different models. S5300, S5301, S5302, S5310

http://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?sQuickSearch=yes&sName=pocket

 

Though all seem to be GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900, and 3G Network HSDPA 900 / 2100.

[HeijoshinCool]

Cool, thanks.

[build6]

South America is predominantly 850mhz I believe .. Japan .. has strange networks ..Europe would be ok with 850-900-2100 3G.
That's the minimum I would look for personally.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

 

for frequency information before I travel, I look at this table:  

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMTS_frequency_bands#Deployments_by_region_.28UMTS-FDD.29

[build6]

The upcoming Motorola Moto E may be just what your looking for released 14th of this month .. not sure if or when in Thailand .. or the Asus zenfone 5

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Moto E announced just today (starts shipment in the UK end of the month, don't know about rest of world...) and the G has been refreshed as well.  

[casualbiker]

The upcoming Motorola Moto E may be just what your looking for released 14th of this month .. not sure if or when in Thailand .. or the Asus zenfone 5

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

 
Moto E announced just today (starts shipment in the UK end of the month, don't know about rest of world...) and the G has been refreshed as well.  

The G with LTE and SD card is a killer .. excellent phone .. I may upgrade from my standard G in a few months.

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[HeijoshinCool]

 

 

The upcoming Motorola Moto E may be just what your looking for released 14th of this month .. not sure if or when in Thailand .. or the Asus zenfone 5

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

 
Moto E announced just today (starts shipment in the UK end of the month, don't know about rest of world...) and the G has been refreshed as well.  

The G with LTE and SD card is a killer .. excellent phone .. I may upgrade from my standard G in a few months.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

 

 

 

 Specs show it's nice and small, and has all I want.

 

Is this phone available here in LOS?

[casualbiker]

 

 

The upcoming Motorola Moto E may be just what your looking for released 14th of this month .. not sure if or when in Thailand .. or the Asus zenfone 5

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

 
Moto E announced just today (starts shipment in the UK end of the month, don't know about rest of world...) and the G has been refreshed as well.  

The G with LTE and SD card is a killer .. excellent phone .. I may upgrade from my standard G in a few months.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app
 

 
 
 Specs show it's nice and small, and has all I want.
 
Is this phone available here in LOS?

The LTE version has just been released in the Uk and India. The 3G is available now from "hatyai4g "

http://www.hatyai4g.com

They will have the 4g (LTE) as soon as released in Malaysia.

I may get the LTE version myself and then sell my 3G one.

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app Edited May 15, 2014 by casualbiker

[HeijoshinCool]

Okay, so can I assume that all phones (except i-phones) sold in Thailand are unlocked?

 

[casualbiker]

Okay, so can I assume that all phones (except i-phones) sold in Thailand are unlocked?
 

All phone's are. Including I -phones.

True had a few own brand phones that were locked but I believe not now.

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[IsaanUSA]

One phone to rule them all?  I vote Nexus 5 due to the radios.

Don't spend too much, because 4G is changing fast....in Thailand and the USA.

[HeijoshinCool]

Okay, thanks guys.

 

Does "4G changing" mean whatever I buy won't work then?

 

Nexus 5 looks nice, but is pricey and I'm too technologically stupid to use a Smartphone.

[casualbiker]

Okay, thanks guys.
 
Does "4G changing" mean whatever I buy won't work then?
 
Nexus 5 looks nice, but is pricey and I'm too technologically stupid to use a Smartphone.

Just get a 3g enabled normal phone then ..

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[lomatopo]

One phone to rule them all?  I vote Nexus 5 due to the radios.

Don't spend too much, because 4G is changing fast....in Thailand and the USA.

 

OP's price range  as stated in the thread's first post is 2,500 - 4,000, baht presumably, so a GNEX 5 (12,500 - 16,900) might not be appropriate?

[IsaanUSA]

 

One phone to rule them all?  I vote Nexus 5 due to the radios.

Don't spend too much, because 4G is changing fast....in Thailand and the USA.

 

OP's price range  as stated in the thread's first post is 2,500 - 4,000, baht presumably, so a GNEX 5 (12,500 - 16,900) might not be appropriate?

 

 

True.  In that case I would just get one of those new Motorola phones.  $125 / 4000 baht doesn't go far.

[IsaanUSA]

Nexus 5 looks nice, but is pricey and I'm too technologically stupid to use a Smartphone.

 

Oh, this is a HUGE point that I missed.  Just buy a good feature phone and forget a smart phone.  4G is basically only needed for data for features such as web surfing, email, etc.

 

I can't reccomend you a phone or a brand...I have not looked at those types of phones in years!  Sorry.

[tw25rw]

Okay, thanks guys.

 

Does "4G changing" mean whatever I buy won't work then?

 

Nexus 5 looks nice, but is pricey and I'm too technologically stupid to use a Smartphone.

 

The Samsung Galaxy "Pocket." is a smart phone. Doesn't take a lot of brain power to use one.

[HeijoshinCool]

Well, I got the Samsung Galaxy Pocket.

 

It's a decent phone for the money, but the ring tones and alerts can not be heard when it's in my pocket, nor can the vibes be felt.

 

I'm posting today because one thing I learned after purchase that some of you might not know either, is the warranty is not worldwide. Only Thailand. So if it goes bad while I'm visiting the States for a couple of months, my Pocket is out-of-pocket. 

 

[IsaanUSA]

I predict by 2016 you will have a shiny new phone due to catching upgrad-itus.

Looks like a decent cheap little phone.  It retails for the equivalent of 3000 baht in the USA.

 

If you get bored of that phone, but get the knack of how to use it, I would suggest a secondhand Samsung Galaxy S3 or S4 for your next phone.