Buying an iphone in Thailand

WH BONNEY

Excuse my ignorance, but if I buy an iphone in Thailand will it work on my network at home in Ireland.

WH

cojomo2

Yes but they are only available on contract there, unless u go to mbk (3rd floor)and buy one from the traders there, but if u choose this option u will want to make sure it's factory unlocked, don't just take their word!

WH BONNEY

My Dad is in Thailand at the moment, as you know there are guys going around the beachs selling everything.

One guy offered him an iphone, he put his sim card in and he was able to access his numbers etc. From that can I assume it is unlocked ?

aidan_walsh

When you say he was able to access his numbers, what did he do to be able to see them?

WH BONNEY

He put his sim card in the iphone and was able to read them

FearDark

WH BONNEY wrote: »

He put his sim card in the iphone and was able to read them

I would seriously doubt theyre real iPhones...

Frisbee

thebanana wrote: »

I would seriously doubt theyre real iPhones...

This.

I was in Thailand last year and had a look at one or two of these 'iPhones' the lucky lucky men sell on the beach and not one of them was real, if you want an actual one in Thailand you really have to go to a proper store and then sign a contract for it.

your better off just getting one here tbh.

biko

There's Chinese copies floating around. Probably one of those.

whiterebel

About as genuine as Jordan's knockers......

cojomo2

if your getting it a silly price you can be sure its fake, not to mention the fact you are being offered it by a lucky lucky man on the beach.

Like I said, you can buy them in MBK, here they sell both genuine and fake iphones, most sellers will be honest and tell you if its a fake or not, but the real ones will still cost you up around the 5-600 euro mark.

Thailand isn't a good place to buy an iphone unless you are buying it on contract, or you manage to get a good deal on a 2nd hand one from MBK.

keane2097

If you want a baller phone you have to pay a baller price tbh

majiktripp

I was there in Janurary of '09 and went to MBK as well as Pantip Plaza, looking to buy a Canon G10. I saw quite a few iPhones and the fakes ones also in MBK. I would advise your dad to see if he can get to Pantip Plaza as it's where the Thai's go to shop, very few Europeans, where as MBK was crawling with English and Ex-Pats so they can spot a tourist.
If he's getting you an legit iPhone, get him to check Settings->General->About and it will give the iPhones details and firmware etc. I doubt the fakes would have that level of detail in their OS.

WH BONNEY

whiterebel wrote: »

About as genuine as Jordan's knockers......

Not really a good example because these are actually better than the real thing

whiterebel

WH BONNEY wrote: »

Not really a good example because these are actually better than the real thing

Eeewww, maybe you should get the fake iPhone after all.......

Pulse8

When I was there in October last year there was a shop on Khao San Road selling unlocked ones, not your normal dodgy little shop but a proper Hi-Tec looking gaff....cant remember the exact name, it was on the left as you walked up towards the Burger King end, black storefront with a big silver sign & "authorised apple reseller" signs

They were selling unlocked 16gb's for about 520 euro & 32gb's for about 615 euro from what I can remember, had Macbooks & loadsa Mac software for sale also

I remember reading signs etc in the shop saying how they werent on contract over there & could be purchased sim free from them, now obviously you guys say different so maybe your right but these were definitely the genuine article