charliebadenhop Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 (I looked for a tech forum to post in, but did not find one, so I am posting here.) I am considering buying two Thai friends a simple, inexpensive Smartphone. Mainly I just want a phone that can handle Line so that I can text to them as needed. Something dependable, and after that, the cheaper the better. Any and all suggestions welcome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieH Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 MOVED to Tech forum Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhunBENQ Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 (edited) Just giving an idea of the price range: http://www.invadeit.co.th/category/smartphones/sort/price/asc/ In the family they are brand aware, everyone wants at least a Samsung So in the 5000 Baht range you will easily find decent stuff. 3590 for a Samsung 4" thing. Good enough for the purpose. If you want to go lower, look for a Huawei thing. Just make sure your Thai friends are prepared to get a "cheap" thing Edited May 26, 2015 by KhunBENQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
totally thaied up Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 Just giving an idea of the price range: http://www.invadeit.co.th/category/smartphones/sort/price/asc/ In the family they are brand aware, everyone wants at least a Samsung So in the 5000 Baht range you will easily find decent stuff. 3590 for a Samsung 4" thing. Good enough for the purpose. If you want to go lower, look for a Huawei thing. Huawei, Asus or OPPO is all that is needed. Everyone wants a Samsung or a Apple but they are a different league of their own... and price range... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
agogohome Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 Just how cheap? Cheap smartphones are available everywhere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KhunBENQ Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 (edited) "i-mobile" is a popular cheap "brand". No idea whos behind. You find them about everywhere (also in the chain markets like Tesco). http://www.lazada.co.th/shop-smartphones/imobile/?sort=priceasc&dir=asc&setLang=en One of our granddaughters has a thing similar (or same) to this and seems happy with it: http://www.lazada.co.th/i-mobile-iq-57-black-425883.html A 5.7" does not make you look cheap Edited May 26, 2015 by KhunBENQ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpinx Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 I managed to find a second hand Xperia for 1500 baht Smart enough for the basics Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dddave Posted May 26, 2015 Share Posted May 26, 2015 (edited) I've purchased 2 TELEGO 408's from Lazada in the past year for GF's family members. B1699 each, new. They are solidly built, have a decent 4 1/2" screen and do everything they are supposed to do. Android 4.2, 512K RAM/4G ROM which is certainly enough for general use. LINE works fine http://www.lazada.co.th/catalog/?q=Telego%20W408%20-%20Black%20(3G%2F2G%2FWi-Fi)%20 If you are reluctant to use an unknown manufacturer, LENOVO has several models in the under B2500 range with all the features you need, Both the A316 and A369 are under B2000 on Lazada. http://www.lazada.co.th/lenovo-a369i-4gb-black-962200.html You can usually see them at JayMart or TG Phone in most larger shopping malls. I think Tesco and Big-C also stock some of the cheaper Lenovo's One more option is both AIS and TRUE offer some very inexpensive smartphones with service included. The phones are locked to that provider. One advantage is that these providers are much more likely to replace a defective phone than a retail seller. A friend took a nearly year old LAVA smartphone with a non-functioning display to AIS where she had bought it and they replaced it without charge with a newer model. Edited May 26, 2015 by dddave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliebadenhop Posted May 27, 2015 Author Share Posted May 27, 2015 Thanks to all! Just the kind of info I wanted. I want as cheap as possible, ALONG WITH dependability. A phone that breaks soon after buying it or is otherwise defective, isn't "cheap" no matter what. Getting a phone locked to a provider can also be of interest. Are TRUE an AIS both considered good companies when it comes to overall service and prices for the service? (And now I need to go and look on the site again to find the Tech forum, which eluded me before! Thanks for moving this thread to the proper place.) Charlie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casualbiker Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Ais do a range of phones Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BudRight Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Why don't you let them buy their own phones? It's 2015, you don't really think these are the first phones they've owned do you? They'll be "lost" (sold) in days if not hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balo Posted May 27, 2015 Share Posted May 27, 2015 Maybe they need extra phones ? I am sure they already own one ? Or maybe OP is being tricked into buying expensive smart phones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliebadenhop Posted May 28, 2015 Author Share Posted May 28, 2015 I have two hard working Thai people who come whenever I call them, and regularly exceed my expectations. Neither one has a phone that can handle Line. I like to use Line because my speaking skills are still limited, but I can construct a message with an online translator, and then send it to them. I would take them with me, and ask for what they liked best in the price range I am willing to spend. BTW- Is there any one online translator that is better than another? Google is not all that good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dddave Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 (edited) You're going to have to wait a while for anything better than Google Translate. Even a human fluent in both Thai and English has difficulty doing contextually accurate translations between the two...Still a long way to go for computer translation. It's just not a case of word for word translation; usages and idioms are so very different. Edited May 29, 2015 by dddave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliebadenhop Posted May 29, 2015 Author Share Posted May 29, 2015 Thanks Dave, that is what I thought. I speak Japanese and I am amazed at just how bad Google Translate is. Seems to me like they should call it Google Translate BETA And in Thai, a huge weakness that you can't signify whether it is a man or woman who is communicating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lostinisaan Posted May 29, 2015 Share Posted May 29, 2015 There're "Telewiz" shops in all provinces. You'll get a good deal and a good service there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charliebadenhop Posted May 30, 2015 Author Share Posted May 30, 2015 Thanks Lost. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhythmworx Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 (edited) The Motorola G 4G 2nd generation is the best phone on the market for the price.The 3rd gen is out in India so I guess will soon be out soon everywhere else.Your looking at about 7000 baht though. Best with something cheap they will only sell it on once someones bought then an iPhone. Edited May 30, 2015 by rhythmworx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
casualbiker Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 The Motorola G 4G 2nd generation is the best phone on the market for the price. The 3rd gen is out in India so I guess will soon be out soon everywhere else. Your looking at about 7000 baht though. Motorola aren't officially available here in Thailand. CSCi ( http://www.csci.co.th/ ) are doing a clearance sale on the Lenovo Vibe Z @ 5,700baht. ( you have to ask) the specifications beat the Moto G. I replaced my Moto with a Vibe Z. Anyone want a 2nd hand MotoG 2,300b PM ME. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhythmworx Posted May 30, 2015 Share Posted May 30, 2015 ^^^ Ignore my previous post I got that all mixed up. Was thinking of something else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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