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Latin America or International Cell Phones
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tailgater Offline
#1 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 12:54 PM EST
Joined: 06-01-2000
Posts: 26,185
The Mrs. wants a new cell phone.
Won't let me spend more than $400, although I think I can tweek that up to $450 if needed.

She uses the phone for 2 things: Texts and photos.
Sure, a few calls here and there, but mostly from me. And Frank. But that's for another day.


Texts are easy. All phones do it well. iPhone does it best for group texts. But she favors Android, mostly so I can assist with any future issues.

So...Android it is.

Photos.
Forget MP's. She isn't printing photos, just collecting them in her gallery.
But likes the new phones with good low light or portrait features.

I've found some phones that say they're unlocked and built for International or Latin American market. They work in the US, and she has T-Mobile so most are compatible.

Is there any downside? The savings over US phones is huge.

thanks.
frankj1 Offline
#2 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 12:59 PM EST
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,221
I'm no expert but when she calls me I answer with Hola!
DrafterX Offline
#3 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 1:05 PM EST
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,546
you should prolly ask Ram.... Mellow
ZRX1200 Offline
#4 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 1:10 PM EST
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,587
Does the phone habla englais?
ZRX1200 Offline
#5 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 1:10 PM EST
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,587
Where is it hecho?
Buckwheat Offline
#6 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 1:17 PM EST
Joined: 04-15-2004
Posts: 12,251
Didn't you get your free Obama Phone? I guess you're either in the circle or out of the circle. Sarcasm

No experience with either LA or International phones. I'd double and triple check that they work with whatever carrier you have. I'd be surprised if any of the carriers are going to make it easy to use these phones on their networks. YMMV

Best of luck with your search. fog
Ram27 Offline
#7 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 1:25 PM EST
Joined: 04-30-2005
Posts: 49,005
Oy vey simple check with present or local service providers for any deals.

Buy American. 😉
Buckwheat Offline
#8 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 1:30 PM EST
Joined: 04-15-2004
Posts: 12,251
Ram27 wrote:
Oy vey simple check with present or local service providers for any deals.

Buy American. 😉


Aren't they all made in Asia/China? fog
MACS Offline
#9 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 1:35 PM EST
Joined: 02-26-2004
Posts: 79,769
I've got an iPhone SE. Pretty much the same as an iPhone 8 with a faster processor. I know you said android... but I only paid $350 for a new one, so it damn sure fits the budget.
Mcdanielsamuel Offline
#10 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 2:34 PM EST
Joined: 04-28-2020
Posts: 611
You need to make sure that lte bands match up with your provider. Also, you will have no support from your provider with a Latin American phone. I usually find that amazon warehouse has some decent prices.
tailgater Offline
#11 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 3:03 PM EST
Joined: 06-01-2000
Posts: 26,185
With T-Mobile the phones I saw are compatible up to 4G LTE.
No 5G, but she isn't gaming or downloading big files.

So I'm told it will work.
Just want to hear drawbacks.
HockeyDad Offline
#12 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 4:06 PM EST
Joined: 09-20-2000
Posts: 46,128
You don’t want 5G. It caused the ‘Rona.
rfenst Offline
#13 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 4:21 PM EST
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,278
MACS wrote:
I've got an iPhone SE. Pretty much the same as an iPhone 8 with a faster processor. I know you said android... but I only paid $350 for a new one, so it damn sure fits the budget.

I agree 100%.
HockeyDad Offline
#14 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 4:33 PM EST
Joined: 09-20-2000
Posts: 46,128
The biggest drawback to being a cheapskate and buying some Latin American phone and it doesn’t work is we are going unmercifully pick on you and tell you to PM CelticBomber for help.
frankj1 Offline
#15 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 4:42 PM EST
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,221
looks like we're done here.

oh, and have her give me a call after dinner.
Mcdanielsamuel Offline
#16 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 5:02 PM EST
Joined: 04-28-2020
Posts: 611
tailgater wrote:
With T-Mobile the phones I saw are compatible up to 4G LTE.
No 5G, but she isn't gaming or downloading big files.

So I'm told it will work.
Just want to hear drawbacks.

LTE bands are radio frequencies. There are 30 or more frequencies. You will likely need more than 1 to match depending on which tower you are using. Just make sure that you have free returns. I would say you are taking a risk of it not working at all.
BuckyB93 Offline
#17 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 5:08 PM EST
Joined: 07-16-2004
Posts: 14,183
All modern phones will run on 4G LTE. Service providers are phasing out their 3G service and only keeping it alive to support low band width legacy equipment.

If it's unlocked, she's not obligated to use any particular provider. If you want to switch from T-Mobile to whoever else, you just need to swap out the SIM card and replace it with one for the new provider. Providers "lock" the phones to hold you hostage to their network so you have to use their phone plan. Its a software lock that won't let the phone use any other provider than the one it's assigned to. This is how they recoup the cost of the "free" phone they give you - they make the $ back by charging you more per month with the contract you sign up for. If you don't hack it yourself to unlock it you can call them and tell them to unlock the phone (software update to remove the chains). They have to do that by law.

As long as the specific model of phone works with your service providers system I don't think you'll have any issues with using an "International" phone. That said, we still reserve the right to do what HD brought up in post #14.
tailgater Offline
#18 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 7:10 PM EST
Joined: 06-01-2000
Posts: 26,185
I"m not talking about some shady deal in a dark ally.
Amazon sells new phones and it's only in the details that you learn it's international and not US.
Sounds like the biggest issue is receiving timely software updates, but that's not a problem for her.

https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-SM-A715F-Caribbean-Cameras-Android/dp/B084GBC1KH

But it's good to learn that we'll be 'rona free with the 4G.
Stogie1020 Offline
#19 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 7:10 PM EST
Joined: 12-19-2019
Posts: 5,317
HockeyDad wrote:
The biggest drawback to being a cheapskate and buying some Latin American phone and it doesn’t work is we are going unmercifully pick on you IN SPANISH and tell you to PM CelticBomber for help.


Seems appropriate.
Mr. Jones Offline
#20 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 7:20 PM EST
Joined: 06-12-2005
Posts: 19,421
I never got my free phone from OBAMA...

JUST GREENLIGHTED.
DaQueenBeez Offline
#21 Posted: Wed, Sep 16 2020, 9:47 PM EST
Joined: 01-26-2007
Posts: 20,837
iPhone FTW
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