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I’m moving the Chengdu from the UK in August but I need a new mobile phone. I don’t want to sign up to a 24 month contract as you have to do here to get a good phone so I need to buy the handset outright. Does anyone know if it’s better to buy one in the UK or should I wait until I get to China or even the pros and cons of both ways? I want a Samsung Galaxy S4, or a Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Does anyone know how much they cost over there? The Note 2 is about 3230 Yuan and the S4 is about 4150 Yuan in the UK brand new in the box and unlocked on ebay.
Thanks Rob
It’s easy to get unlocked phones here, from a quick Taobao check it looks like Galaxy S4 sells for about 4,500 rmb here so you might save a bit by purchasing in the UK. I’m not sure about the specifics of the S4, but make sure you get a phone that works with the cell phone band that China uses (this is generally not a problem with modern phones).
I know a place in Chengdu selling Note 2 for around 2800rmb S3 around same price. S4 around 3600. They also sell ipads and iphones. One year return policy. Imported for HK. Also they will add any apps onto the phone for free. PM for the phone number.
hi, Rob , welcome to chengdu , these are many cellphone shops in the street , also u can buy it in Tmall of taobao , enjoy u life in Chengdu !
Rob, depending on your path to get from UK to Chengdu – if it’s not direct or you’re stopping over somewhere, probably cheaper to pick one up somewhere else — if you’re going through HK, I’d imagine it’s cheaper there…and HK ain’t a bad place to stop off anyways.
I fly via HK, but I’m only in the airport for 2 1/2 hours. I’ll have a look there though. I’ll ask my friends in HK home much phones are there. Thanks for the advise.
http://www.expansys.com.hk/samsung-galaxy-s4-i9500-3g-octa-core-unlocked-16gb-black-mist-240604/
4600 HKD is about 3600 CNY
Ian: if TaoBao is slangin S4’s for 4500 or so, you really think the 3600 the place you know is legit? If they really ‘imported from HK’ and sold at the same price as they go for in HK from somewhere cheap like expansys, I’d imagine they’d *own* TaoBao market since they clearly trump the average price point 😀
Rick What do you mean by “legit”? Do you mean stolen, or fake? I’ve heard the China has fake everything, but are fake phones a big problem as well? If so have can you tell when you are buying a fake handset?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoMvNkYTl8Y
Here’s the outer shell of a ‘fake’ vs the real thing. Clear differences are mostly logos, which China has no problem printing and selling with the fake logo up in there. There are TONS of fake everything available here….some higher end fakes are quite expensive – for example, can get a really high quality fake hermes bag for 3000+ RMB, upon inspection, it’s extremely accurate and high quality…leather really nice, etc – could absolutely not tell the difference. With bags and shit that’s fine I guess, but – with phones? Sure it’ll run the same OS/software, but the internals will be ultra cheap shit low quality, and usually the externals will be of lower quality mold/glass/etc as well. Cautious of fakes, when the price seems way lower than what it should be or is online, chances are it’s not *legit* 😀
Rick you can go to the shop for yourself and have a look. They don’t sell fakes.
http://www.expansys.com.hk/samsung-galaxy-s4-i9500-3g-octa-core-unlocked-16gb-black-mist-240604/
4600 HKD is about 3600 CNY
Ian: if TaoBao is slangin S4?s for 4500 or so, you really think the 3600 the place you know is legit? If they really ‘imported from HK’ and sold at the same price as they go for in HK from somewhere cheap like expansys, I’d imagine they’d *own* TaoBao market since they clearly trump the average price point
Coolpad 5930 (Android) – This phone is currently on offer as a startup package with China Telecom. Is it possible to get a map application in English (or pinyin at a push) for this phone (950 x 540 display) that will operate as a GPS and provide bus numbers (and associated info) to operate in Chengdu?
Coolpad 5930 (Android) – This phone is currently on offer as a startup package with China Telecom. Is it possible to get a map application in English (or pinyin at a push) for this phone (950 x 540 display) that will operate as a GPS and provide bus numbers (and associated info) to operate in Chengdu?
Does something like that exist? I’m sure there must be bus route apps, but I haven’t seen or used one before. That would be pretty handy.
Ran around looking for an LG/Google Nexus 4 phone. No luck. Anyone know a SHOP (not website) that sells ’em here?
@ Charlie – yes map apps exist – for iphones and pads (typically free) but English versions come at a premium. Android also do map apps but they seem to focus on the English speaking markets while ignoring Chinese maps. AAARGH!!! I have a map app on my old iPad but unless I happen to be in an area where I can connect to wifi then it doesn’t work. I was interested in the coolpad because it’s a small fraction of the Apple prices and has 4G connectivity.
@ Ray – there is a large area of Chengdu just to the north east (10 minutes walk) of Tianfu Square that specialises in phones that migh help. Computer City isn’t that wonderful.
@ray – I know someone that picked up a 16gb Nexus 4 from computer city for a really good price. He passed the business card to me since I was interested in getting one too.
成都楼吗广场 3F-E5
成都楼吗广场 2F-F2A
13880036828
@Merior – I don’t know if getting that Coolpad is a good idea especially if you’re looking for something that will last in the long term (which I guess at today’s technology pace is 2+ years.) China Mobile is in the process of rolling out with their 4G network later this year but it doesn’t necessarily cover Chengdu and it’s their own proprietary TD-LTE network. Telecom’s FDD-LTE network will probably take a few more years to reach us if they get the license at all, and by then the Coolpad will be pretty much obsolete, since its specs are already 2 years behind.@Merior: no man, i hit that cell phone area. LG have no presence at all. And the salespeople drove me crazy…..
@Ziich: let me know if you hit that place. We can go together and i can share my extensive knowledge of cellphones with you. (salesman today said “you want a jellybean or an ice cream sandwich” WTF?? Confusion reigns…)
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