So, where do you guys buy phones made for elsewhere?

[Dari]

I've settled on getting the Xperia Z Ultra (XZU). The LTE version compatible with T-Mobile and AT&T is coming soon but I'm not sure if it's worth it since many here seem to love HSPA+. I want to get the phone soon. Should I wait for LTE or get the HSPA+ version now. HSPA+ version is cheaper but people say that it'll go the way of the dodo in the next couple of years. Also, I use Time Warner Cable's free wifi that has somehow blanketed NYC. Not sure which is faster in real world usage (HSPA+, LTE or TWC wifi). In addition to which model, where would be a good place to purchase this phone? Negri Electronics? Expansys? Somewhere else? Any advice is appreciated.

Reasons for getting the XZU:

1. It's a SONY!!!

2. Large screen makes it easy to read books and watch videos without having to carry multiple devices.

3. It'll be my backup navigation device since I'm getting a new car soon and heard horror stories about BMW's navigation.

4. Heard great things about the display.

5. Not interested in waiting for SONY's "Honami" superphone.

 

[magomago]

i don't think it is going anywhere; i think tmobile was going to refarm everything to be hspa+/LTE

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

I bought my Moto Milestone off Negri Electronics and my SGS2 off Expansys. Both are great.

 

[Joe1987]

I'd hold off a bit, will these retailers give you a warranty?

Are you going to carry a man bag everywhere?

I do agree though, I want one too but will wait for a VZ branded mega phablet to replace my Note II

 

[Dari]

I'd hold off a bit, will these retailers give you a warranty?

Are you going to carry a man bag everywhere?

I do agree though, I want one too but will wait for a VZ branded mega phablet to replace my Note II

These don't come with a standard warranty? Expansys and Negri electronics are not authorized dealers?

As for carrying the devices, I already have a backpack and suitcase so it should not be an issue.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

These don't come with a standard warranty? Expansys and Negri electronics are not authorized dealers?

As for carrying the devices, I already have a backpack and suitcase so it should not be an issue.

Remember these are international devices. You get warranty through the manufacturer. Expansys will help you out though, and IIRC Negri does too. Expansys sent my phone back to France (GS2) for repair.

 

[Midwayman]

Amazon sells some of them directly. They're much easier to deal with if you get a DOA unit. Hear plenty of horror stories about DOA gray market phones that the seller takes a couple months to send out for repair. Where-ever you buy you should make sure you can return/exchange early on.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Amazon sells some of them directly. They're much easier to deal with if you get a DOA unit. Hear plenty of horror stories about DOA gray market phones that the seller takes a couple months to send out for repair. Where-ever you buy you should make sure you can return/exchange early on.

I'm pretty sure Negri and Expansys also have 30 day return policies or whatever to cope with DOA phones. With Amazon, I've noticed that a lot of international phones (this may have changed since I bought my GS2) say [NO WARRANTY] in the item description. So you may have Amazon's return policy but after that you're SOL. With Negri and Expansys, they might not have the most glorious return policies like Amazon, but at least there's something. They also help you work with the manufacturer for warranty repairs.

 

[Dari]

Sounds like a lot of hassle. Maybe I'm just better off either waiting for them to show up on SONY's website or buy the LG Optimus G Pro instead...

 

[zerogear]

These don't come with a standard warranty? Expansys and Negri electronics are not authorized dealers?

As for carrying the devices, I already have a backpack and suitcase so it should not be an issue.

It doesn't. Most manufacturer's warranty is by region. Though if you buy it from Expansys and Negri, people say that you can get warranty through them (send them your phone, and they'll send it to Samsung/Sony, etc).

 

[dawheat]

If you can wait, you might as well wait to compare the Z Ultra, the One Maxx, and the Note 3. Otherwise the OGP is still a screaming value - I think something like $440 off contract at AT&T.

 

[Dari]

If you can wait, you might as well wait to compare the Z Ultra, the One Maxx, and the Note 3. Otherwise the OGP is still a screaming value - I think something like $440 off contract at AT&T.

Yeah, that price is hard to ignore. I love SONY but not for $250+ more AND questionable warranty...

 

[Dari]

So, will this phone work at HSPA+ speeds with US carriers? I think it's a GSM phone made for Hong Kong.

http://negrielectronics.com/lg-e988-optimus-g-pro-unlocked-black.html#.Uhiu4RbOeAE

I'm going to check out AT&T stores but their $440 for a similar phone may be too good to be true so this is a backup.

 

[evident]

Hspa+ isn't going anywhere. It's plenty fast for everything and I think carriers like tmo are upgrading their edge to h+. And in some places tmos h+ is faster than att lte

 

[Trombe]

So, will this phone work at HSPA+ speeds with US carriers? I think it's a GSM phone made for Hong Kong.

http://negrielectronics.com/lg-e988-optimus-g-pro-unlocked-black.html#.Uhiu4RbOeAE

I'm going to check out AT&T stores but their $440 for a similar phone may be too good to be true so this is a backup.

This specific model? No

Look for the following frequencies for 3G for US usage: ATT = 850 and 1900, TMobile = 1700/2100 (need both), select regions also compatible with 1900

 

[Dari]

This specific model? No

Look for the following frequencies for 3G for US usage: ATT = 850 and 1900, TMobile = 1700/2100 (need both), select regions also compatible with 1900

Thanks. I managed to buy the LG Optimus G Pro at an AT&T retailer today for $440 plus tax. I wasn't asked to sign up for a line or anything. What do I have to do to get it to work with Straighttalk? Does it come unlocked?

 

[cronos]

Thanks. I managed to buy the LG Optimus G Pro at an AT&T retailer today for $440 plus tax. I wasn't asked to sign up for a line or anything. What do I have to do to get it to work with Straighttalk? Does it come unlocked?

It will come locked to AT&T but you don't have to unlock it for AT&T-based Straight Talk SIM card.

 

[Dari]

It will come locked to AT&T but you don't have to unlock it for AT&T-based Straight Talk SIM card.

Good to know. Thanks. I can call them to have it unlocked, right?

 

[dawheat]

I think if you're decently far into a contract, AT&T will give you the unlock code. If you're out of contract they should give it to you. Or there are a bunch of services online you can pay $5 to get the code somehow. Used it for my wife's iPhone without an issue.

Also I held a Galaxy Mega 6.3 and I think you would have been very surprised just how non portable it is. No way it fits into pants pockets and let's you sit or bend. I can't imagine an even taller and wider Z Ultra as a daily user.

 

[Dari]

I think if you're decently far into a contract, AT&T will give you the unlock code. If you're out of contract they should give it to you. Or there are a bunch of services online you can pay $5 to get the code somehow. Used it for my wife's iPhone without an issue.

Also I held a Galaxy Mega 6.3 and I think you would have been very surprised just how non portable it is. No way it fits into pants pockets and let's you sit or bend. I can't imagine an even taller and wider Z Ultra as a daily user.

Haha. Yeah, my wife talked me out of it too. Not sure what I was thinking.

 

[Dari]

Ok. I got the OGP. Rooted it to get rid of social apps that I never use (but still using stock launcher) and set everything up. However, I'm having one problem. On my other phones, when someone sends me an email I get it automatically. However, that is not happening on this device and I have no idea where to go to fix it. Anyone has a clue? I trued the setting in Gmail but there is nothing for how fast you want to sync Gmail.

 

[desiplaya4life]

ZU is a great device. I switched from HTC OneX LTE and I do not see a real-world difference in speed what.so.ever. all my web, music, videos load fast as they use to on my LTE device. so my recommendation, save your money, just purchase C6802. On plus side, it surely will save you ALOT of battery life

I upgraded to latest firmware last night, and it is smooth as ever. Slim, attention grabbing, most folks think of it as alien, but give them few months, and public will get adjusted. i remember when i purchased streak 5 and everyone gawked over it. now its just a norm.

I also recommend purchasing from an Amazon seller for protection and also they are cheapter than ebay.

Goodluck. you'll love this phone!

p.s it fits in my work trousers perfectly fine. some of my designer jeans, you will have problem bending or phone sticking out a little bit.

 

[dawheat]

ZU is a great device. I switched from HTC OneX LTE and I do not see a real-world difference in speed what.so.ever. all my web, music, videos load fast as they use to on my LTE device. so my recommendation, save your money, just purchase C6802. On plus side, it surely will save you ALOT of battery life

I upgraded to latest firmware last night, and it is smooth as ever. Slim, attention grabbing, most folks think of it as alien, but give them few months, and public will get adjusted. i remember when i purchased streak 5 and everyone gawked over it. now its just a norm.

I also recommend purchasing from an Amazon seller for protection and also they are cheapter than ebay.

Goodluck. you'll love this phone!

p.s it fits in my work trousers perfectly fine. some of my designer jeans, you will have problem bending or phone sticking out a little bit.

Honest question - do you wear baggy pants? My work pants are tailored to be not very slim, but not loose. Carrying my Note 2 is somewhat noticeable, but you get used to it since it mostly sticks to one dimension of your leg (e.g. side or front).

http://www.technobuffalo.com/wp-con...ize-Comparison-With-Galaxy-Note-II-Nexus.jpeg

After playing around with the Mega 6.3, I couldn't get comfortable with it at all - it's always visible through suit pants and it starts spanning two dimensions of your leg- side and front in a uncomfortable diagonal. As the Z Ultra is even taller and wider, I have a tough time imagining someone carrying it in pants outside of construction worker type huge pockets. I had assumed it would be for the bag carrying crowd.

Can you shed more light in how it feels to carry on a daily basis?

 

[desiplaya4life]

I dont wear baggy pants, but most of my pants will hide the ZU just fine.
It feels great. the weight is just fine for its size. in car, i have a holder that i use to navigate the screen while driving.

 

[Dari]

Which prepaid service would you guys recommend, Straight Talk (ATT), Straight Talk (T-Mobile) or Simple Mobile? I live in midtown Manhattan so coverage is not an issue and CableWifi is easily available. But I was wondering if any of these are faster than the other. Simple Mobile is $5 cheaper and I think they use T-Mobile. Also, if I am in the boondocks where service is horrible or nonexistent, will I be left out in the cold with any of these?