Hi guys,This is my first post here, this is an excellent forum, keep up the good work2! I am living in the UAE where it looks like the SGS2 wont see the light of day till Q3 2011, I cant wait till then so I am looking at my options. I am not very comfortable with ordering it online from sites like Expansys or Handtec, so would prefer getting it from a physical store.
I will be visiting South Korea very soon and have heard that the SGS2 is already on sale there. My questions are:
1) Are the Korean models (sold exclusively through the carriers I hear) fully unlocked?
2) I will be going to study in Manchester for the next two years, so would like to use the SGS2 there. Seeing that S Korea, UK (and the UAE) use the same GSM and 3G bands - 900/1800 and 3G 2100, I understand its possible but are there any other problems that could crop up? I cant find any specs online for the Korean SGS2.
Thank you!
[EDIT]
Guess noone knows or must be thinking that I didnt search before starting a new thread. Thanks to those who did help! Found the answer from a variety of sources, just listing here in case anyone needs it:
The Korean SGS2 are not quad-band, and are physically thicker due to the inclusion of NFC and a TV tuner. Some carriers have different (non global) MMS standards as well. I have been informed that they are probably locked as well and available on contract to locals only. Also the Indian SGS2 has NFC and costs just 675$ to 700$, guess I will just get it from India!
I will tell you what i know.(it is not 100 sure.)
You are correct that there are three different models of SGS2 in korea.
If you want to use the phone in UK,
You should buy SHW-250K( from KT, one of the service provider)
it meets the mms standard of other countries.
Once again this information is not sure.
I need someone's confirmation for this.
Thanks.
If you're going in on a standard tourist visa then you will NOT be able to buy a phone, even outright. Phones are only available to locals and people on long term visas.
Yeah, get it from India.
This might be an odd question in a wrong forum but I couldn't think of anywhere else to ask it!
My sister studies in Spain and she's going to return home 3 weeks from now.
I have the fabulous SGS and wanted to upgrade to SGS II and since SGS II won't be available in out country anytime soon, I thought it would be better if my sister bought it for me there.
I want my phone to be equipped with SAMOLED+ screen and the Exynos chipset. I don't really care about NFC.
The thing is I Googled but I didn't come across any retailer that distribute in Spain, and frankly I don't know how thing work over there.
I even looked for online shops but since I don't really know about any of them, I wasn't so lucky and in fact there are quite a lot of them and I don't really know which one is better!
She could order one online but there is another problem. Since my sister is not a citizen in there, she said she could get back the VAT tax on her way back if there was a proof of purchase for the product. However I don't know if she could do the same thing if the product was ordered online.
So I'm totally lost and don't know what my options are...
I would really appreciate it if you guys could help me out here.
Thanks a lot in advance
Hi Guys,
I'm currently in Singapore and found some shops in the Sim Lim Square Computer Center that sell the Galaxy S2 at real rock bottom prices: less than 800 S$ (about US$630).
They come without a warranty card in it and with a Spanish/English User manual and a charger with a US plug, instead of the local Singaporean plug.
There is definitely something shady about these phones but as long as it's only the plug difference and the absence of warranty I wouldn't be concerned as even the official Samsung Singapore warranty wouldn't be valid outside of Singapore (and as I said, I'm just visiting here).
My big doubt started when I saw the sticker inside the phone under the battery that says: Made in China
My current phone, the old Galaxy S is made in Korea!
I'm afraid that these phones might actually be complete fake ones... I've seen that once in the Philippines: they sell fake Nokia phones that look like Nokia and even have the first menu level of the firmware look like Nokia's Symbian and only on level 2 deep everything changes to chinese garbage.
Could anyone help me out with my doubts as soon as possible? I'm here in Singapore only until tomorrow so I have to make a fast decision.
Thanks a lot
I'm Korean. Samsung Electronics is Korean Company. Every flagship samsung mobile phone made in Korea in Gumi city. Samsung mobile factory located Gumi city in Korea. I have galaxy s and galaxy s2 uk unlock version. My phones made in Korea.
There are units made in China too. You just gotta find out if they are original Samsung products
itenos said:
My big doubt started when I saw the sticker inside the phone under the battery that says: Made in China
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine has Made in Korea on the sticker under the battery...
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
FFS! Don't go to Sim Lim Square. It's the shadiest tech town in the world. I once bought a 128GB thumb drive there. It was faaaake.
On another occasion, I bought an N8 with no warranty cuz it was going for cheap (and was told it was the last one in stock). It died within a week.
You get what you pay for.
If it's too good to be true, then it's not Beyoncé kneeling before me.
itenos said:
Hi Guys,
I'm currently in Singapore and found some shops in the Sim Lim Square Computer Center that sell the Galaxy S2 at real rock bottom prices: less than 800 S$ (about US$630).
They come without a warranty card in it and with a Spanish/English User manual and a charger with a US plug, instead of the local Singaporean plug.
There is definitely something shady about these phones but as long as it's only the plug difference and the absence of warranty I wouldn't be concerned as even the official Samsung Singapore warranty wouldn't be valid outside of Singapore (and as I said, I'm just visiting here).
My big doubt started when I saw the sticker inside the phone under the battery that says: Made in China
My current phone, the old Galaxy S is made in Korea!
I'm afraid that these phones might actually be complete fake ones... I've seen that once in the Philippines: they sell fake Nokia phones that look like Nokia and even have the first menu level of the firmware look like Nokia's Symbian and only on level 2 deep everything changes to chinese garbage.
Could anyone help me out with my doubts as soon as possible? I'm here in Singapore only until tomorrow so I have to make a fast decision.
Thanks a lot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd avoid buying high-end stuff from Sim Lim if I were you. Which shop are we talking about?
While it's definitely possible that these are original(given the price), these could be refurbished/stolen(although this is less likely in Singpaore).
If $630 is a lot for you, I'd suggest you pick a unit with warranty. If that's not an option, at least shell out a few extra dollars to get it from an authorized retailer.
For the record, my Indian phone says 'Made by Samsung in Korea'.
In India first batch s2 phones were made in Korea whereas the second batch is made in China(which is now in stock)
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
My SGS2 says "Made in China". I checked like a dozen other handsets at various reputable retailers (including Samsung's distributors, authorized retailers and repair centres) last week (I was vacationing). All had "Made in China" labels under the battery.
I guess there are at least two factories making these devices.
My Packaging says it is made in Korea. Even the sticker under the battery in the unit says made in Korea. But the battery itself is made in China. LOL.
Oxymoron or Conundrum?
Beautyspin said:
My Packaging says it is made in Korea. Even the sticker under the battery in the unit says made in Korea. But the battery itself is made in China. LOL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine is same as yours.Got it from Letsbuy in the 2nd week of June.Actually the battery says"Made in Korea but finished in China".
ROF!LOL!!
I'm from Singapore and purchased my SGS2 from a local teleco last weekend. The battery says Made in Korea finished in China. The sticker underneath says Made by Samsung with no indication of country. The box doesn't state the country either, though there's a sticker that says do not accept if seal is broken. Caution sealed package plus one paragraph of text. A round light orange sticker says No Chinese menu and the quick start guide was printed in China.
While I seldom go to Sim Lim Square, I've read of tuggish salespeople and their tactics to rip off the unsuspecting. But there are some "clean" shops too. If you see quite a number of local customers examining the products and paying, it should be fairly safe. Do the salespeople answer your questions well or are they evasive? Ask if the phone is grey market or parallel import and watch their response. I wouldn't use the work "fake" in case I get "hammered". My ultimate advice is if you feel uncomfortable and don't want to risk getting a fake, you shouldn't get the phone from non-telcos such as M1, Singtel or Starhub.
BTW, the phone is ridiculously popular in Singapore and is sold out in many shops. Just check the Samsung Mobile Singapore page. If you know the shop name and number, you may want to ask on Facebook, telling them you're a tourist, and hopefully someone familiar with the shops there will respond. Wishing you good luck in getting the phone.
Thank you my friends, even though it comforted me that there are apparently legitimate models out in the market that are made in China, I follow your advice and will not buy the phone in Sim Lim. I better wait till I'm back home and spending maybe 50 Euros more, I will have at least some peace of mind.
Thanks a lot again
now here's a puzzle:
- my packaging says nothing about the country of origin.
- underneath the battery it just says made by samsung
- on the battery it says made in korea, finished in china (in english and french) BUT: in spanish it says, it was made and finished in china.
so the only things i can say with certainty is that the battery is finished in china, where it was made varies on what language you speak and the device itself is apparently made in the kingdom of sam sung, must be one of those new countries i've been hearing about.
Mine says made in Korea. I wonder if there is a build quality difference between Chinese and Korean SGS2?
Chef_Tony said:
now here's a puzzle:
- my packaging says nothing about the country of origin.
- underneath the battery it just says made by samsung
- on the battery it says made in korea, finished in china (in english and french) BUT: in spanish it says, it was made and finished in china.
so the only things i can say with certainty is that the battery is finished in china, where it was made varies on what language you speak and the device itself is apparently made in the kingdom of sam sung, must be one of those new countries i've been hearing about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here, under the battery it says made by samsung.
According to news on Korea at 01/2011, Mobile phone for asian market made in China. So i think differ from region that be selled.
I saw my sgs and other sgs bettery. One made in Korea. Other one made in China finished in Korea. Rest one made In Japan. Region of bettery differ from date of rollout.
Got mine from Singapore as well. Made in korea and everything. What's strange is that my phone was actually destined for chile (ukbd1 rom)
You might wanna try Funan digimall. Thats also where i got mine. Most of the people i talk to say the sellers there are more honest. Although I'm not a local.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Nothing on phone itself, but battery says made in Korea, finished in China
Mine is from T-Mobile and is Made in China !
Mine is Made by Samsung without stating either country Korea or China. The battery though was Made in Korea/ Finish in China
Sent from my GT-P1000 using XDA App
Hey XDA,
I rarely post on here, because I am usually pretty good and finding everything I need to know without posting. But I cannot find an answer to this question.
My wife and I are moving to South Korea as ESL teachers in 3 months. But both of our current Verizon Android phones are on their last leg.
Obviously, we do not want to sign another 2 year agreement with them. So I was looking into getting us unlocked Galaxy S III's that we can use for the next few months here and then activate when we get over there.
Korea uses HSPA+ and LTE (SK Telecom).
This is what I am looking at: Factory Unlocked GSIII
By all accounts this should work, correct? If anyone knows, I would be super grateful.
Thanks all the same. And if I missed a thread talking about this, please just point that out to me.
Aedan762 said:
Hey XDA,
I rarely post on here, because I am usually pretty good and finding everything I need to know without posting. But I cannot find an answer to this question.
My wife and I are moving to South Korea as ESL teachers in 3 months. But both of our current Verizon Android phones are on their last leg.
Obviously, we do not want to sign another 2 year agreement with them. So I was looking into getting us unlocked Galaxy S III's that we can use for the next few months here and then activate when we get over there.
Korea uses HSPA+ and LTE (SK Telecom).
This is what I am looking at: Factory Unlocked GSIII
By all accounts this should work, correct? If anyone knows, I would be super grateful.
Thanks all the same. And if I missed a thread talking about this, please just point that out to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From the info I have seen floating around the web, it seems South Korea will get it's own variant of the Galaxy S3. It'll be similar to one coming to the states. It'll have 2GB RAM, LTE, although it will be quad-core like the international model (US model is dual-core). You can Google "Galaxy S3 in South Korea" and you can find this info. I'm not sure if this will work over there but I suggest you get the Korean S3 when it is released over there. It will have the best of the US version and the International version.
wire eemobas
Both Korea and Japan use CDMA technology similar to Verizon and Sprint - the model you're currently looking at appears to use GSM technology, so it probably won't have very good data coverage. (I'm not sure if a CDMA version is available yet - readers: correct me if I'm wrong here.)
If you're planning to be in Korea for a while, I would definitely recommend waiting and purchasing the local version of the SIII when it's released and getting a cheap phone in the interim.
Depending on what your commute is like, you may also want to consider the Note. When you're spending 2-3 hours/day on the train, the bigger screen comes in handy, and with a pair of mic headphones, you won't look like an idiot holding it up to your face to take a call.
Best of luck with your new assignment - Korea is a terrific place to live, and ESL jobs there should be a great way to pad your savings.
Thank you both for the replies. I guess it would be best just to hold off until we are there and settled in. I have Android tablets and I like the Note, but already a little old for my tastes.
I am just super bummed out I have to lose my Unlimited plan from Verizon after we move... oh well...
Hi guys
I recently purchased a phone off amazon from a company called NGP store. The phone came from HK and after it came in today, it was either fake or a knock off or just not real. The languages didn't have english, there was a black charger WITH the white one inside, the box coat opened vertically instead of horizontally, and everything else I just didn't bother checking because at that point everything was pointing to fake.
I really love this phone because I bought an ATT version from best buy and it was amazing aside from the ugly company branding on the back + preloaded apps + deleting samsung's original apps including the freaking 100gb 1drive. I watched the first look video from android authority and the video "samsung galaxy s6 edge tips and tricks" from android authority on youtube. (cant post links :\ )
The link in the first look description takes me to a bunch of amazon sellers but I really don't want to deal with returning it after getting all excited and quickly disappointed after opening the box. I've never bought a phone online before so I guess I'm clueless. If anyone knows which company the guy in tips&tricks video bought his from, I'd appreciate it IMMENSELY. If not, a legit seller would be nice too. I'm looking for a white 32gb factory unlocked GSM galaxy s6 edge international version. There's another post that links me to a site called nevermsrp or something but it has no reviews so I have no clue if it's legit.
Thanks!
HONG KONG or TAIWAN
That doesn't help