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Chinese Android Phones 3 - Read First Post!

  • 17-07-2018 7:41pm
    #1
    Thargor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,964 ✭✭✭✭Thargor


    10k posts on the old one so making a new thread :D

    I think people are a lot more familiar with Chinese phones these days than when we first started doing these threads 5 or 6 years ago. Buyer beware but generally the quality level of phones like Xiaomi are on a par with the traditional flagships nowadays.

    Most people buy from the following but there are many others:

    Aliexpress (Check each sellers feedback) - http://www.aliexpress.com/

    Honorbuy - https://www.honorbuy.com

    Banggood - http://www.banggood.com/

    Pandawill – http://www.pandawill.com/

    Dealextreme – http://www.dx.com/

    and of course most of these phones are on Amazon aswell, check Amazon.fr, .es, .de etc for better deals. Also a lot of stores have European warehouses for quick delivery/no customs fees:
    GBX wrote: »
    Honorbuy EU store being one of the more favoured sites of late for quick delivery. https://www.honorbuy.com/28-eu-direct

    Xiaomi is probably the king of high quality Chinese bargains but there are a lot of tempting options at the minute from Huawei, Lenovo etc.

    https://www.gizchina.com/ is a good place to see whats being released currently, every month they do a Top 5 Chinese phones under $500/$250/$100.

    https://www.gsmarena.com/ is a great resourse for comparing specs between models or just ask here, enjoy.

    EDIT:
    GBX wrote: »
    Does it come with band 20 :D
    Oh yes, make sure it has Band 20 if you want full 4G coverage all over the island and not just in urban areas.

    Anything else to add while I can still edit the OP?

    EDIT2: Good call Corkie:
    corkie wrote: »
    You forgot to mention https://www.kimovil.com/en/ in the op?


    https://www.kimovil.com/en/

    ^^^ Another good site to compare phones, you filter for things like snapdragon, LTE bands and whole lot of other things.


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Comments

  • #2
    GBX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,015 ✭✭✭✭GBX


    Does it come with band 20 :D


  • #3
    GBX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,015 ✭✭✭✭GBX


    Honorbuy EU store being one of the more favoured sites of late for quick delivery. https://www.honorbuy.com/28-eu-direct


  • #4
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,631 ✭✭✭corkie


    You forgot to mention https://www.kimovil.com/en/ in the op?


    https://www.kimovil.com/en/

    ^^^ Another good site to compare phones, you can filter for things like snapdragon, LTE bands and whole lot of other things.





    Warning! Xiaomi MIUI 10 Oreo's Anti-Rollback Protection!
    ^^^ Xiaomi has started to implement this, Be careful updating Xiaomi devices.
    There is methods to check the rom, before updating to see if it has been implemented.
    Check the Redmi Note 5 thread for more information.


  • #5
    fixXxer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,330 ✭✭✭fixXxer


    Welcome back everyone :)


  • #6
    dougm1970
    Registered Users Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭dougm1970


    xiaomi mi max 3 gets official unveiling today. really excited by thought of it. might be a while before global version though.


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  • #7
    fixXxer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,330 ✭✭✭fixXxer


    Not phones, but Chinese and phone dependent.

    Has anyone tried the Mi Band 3 or the Amazfit Bip?

    The Bip looks almost Pebble like and has 30 days on a single charge. The Mi Band only gets 20 days but looks more unobtrusive.


  • #8
    Bahanaman
    Registered Users Posts: 1,180 ✭✭✭Bahanaman


    Got the Bip a few weeks ago for the wife. She loves it. Small, light and has an unbelievable battery life. Has a few basic smart notification features. Decent app with it and GPS also. Got it from geekbuying for something like €65. For what you get it seems to be great value.


  • #9
    LJ3103
    Registered Users Posts: 101 ✭✭LJ3103


    Just wondering if anyone is using a Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 with the Virgin mobile network and if they have experienced any coverage issues

    thanks


  • #10
    TheMilkyPirate
    Registered Users Posts: 6,017 ✭✭✭TheMilkyPirate


    Girlfriend coming back to Android from iPhone and I'm a bit out of the loop so looking for some recommendations. Budget is -E500 wants a fast good looking phone with good memory fingerprint sensor and facial recognition if possible and also fast delivery so nothing that will take 2-3 weeks from China. Also a good camera.


  • #11
    fixXxer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,330 ✭✭✭fixXxer


    TheMilkyPirate wrote: »
    Girlfriend coming back to Android from iPhone and I'm a bit out of the loop so looking for some recommendations. Budget is -E500 wants a fast good looking phone with good memory fingerprint sensor and facial recognition if possible and also fast delivery so nothing that will take 2-3 weeks from China. Also a good camera.

    Kimovil for comparing specs in your price range.


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  • #12
    GBX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,015 ✭✭✭✭GBX


    fixxxer wrote: »
    Kimovil for comparing specs in your price range.

    And Honorbuy EU store for quick delivery. 2-3 days.


  • #13
    fixXxer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,330 ✭✭✭fixXxer


    If she's willing to spend €500 then a Oneplus 6 might be the most pain free option.


  • #14
    Thargor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,964 ✭✭✭✭Thargor


    fixxxer wrote: »
    If she's willing to spend €500 then a Oneplus 6 might be the most pain free option.
    Check out the Samsung S9 thread in Bargain Alerts aswell, people were getting them for around 500 from Spain.


  • #15
    corks finest
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,707 ✭✭✭corks finest


    dougm1970 wrote: »
    xiaomi mi max 3 gets official unveiling today. really excited by thought of it. might be a while before global version though.
    Have the old mi Max 2 going strong,never misses a beat


  • #16
    Hitman3000
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,596 ✭✭✭Hitman3000


    My wife's Samsung j3 is giving up the ghost. Heard good things about the Xiaomi brand. So I jumped and bought the Red Mi 5 32 gb off Honourbuy . Hopefully someone knows if I made a good decision.


  • #17
    Iseedeadpixels
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,565 ✭✭✭Iseedeadpixels


    Hitman3000 wrote: »
    My wife's Samsung j3 is giving up the ghost. Heard good things about the Xiaomi brand. So I jumped and bought the Red Mi 5 32 gb off Honourbuy . Hopefully someone knows if I made a good decision.


    Really cant go wrong with Xiaomi tbh.


  • #18
    Hitman3000
    Closed Accounts Posts: 5,596 ✭✭✭Hitman3000


    Iseedeadpixels wrote:
    Really cant go wrong with Xiaomi tbh.


    Thanks for the reply. Hopefully herself agrees.


  • #19
    sleepysniper
    Registered Users Posts: 472 ✭✭sleepysniper


    fixxxer wrote:
    The Bip looks almost Pebble like and has 30 days on a single charge. The Mi Band only gets 20 days but looks more unobtrusive.


    Had the Mi Band 2, ended up leaving it behind me in the gym last night so decided to order the Bip. Hearing good things about the battery life, and was very happy with the Band 2, especially the alarm.


  • #20
    fixXxer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,330 ✭✭✭fixXxer


    Re: ordering the Bip, I see a regular version, a Youth version and a Lite version...

    Yet they all seem to be the same device.


  • #21
    allthedoyles
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,893 ✭✭✭allthedoyles


    sleepysniper wrote: »
    Had the Mi Band 2, ended up leaving it behind me in the gym last night so decided to order the Bip. Hearing good things about the battery life, and was very happy with the Band 2, especially the alarm.

    I have the Mi band 2 and love it. Use the app on a Mi phone and it works brilliant - Lots of info in there .
    My favourites are the alarms , the alert to start walking , the sleep pattern , and the heart rate .
    I get at least 2 months out of a full battery . Mine might be a basic model as I only paid 27 dollars for it on Ali .


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  • #22
    GBX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,015 ✭✭✭✭GBX


    fixxxer wrote: »
    Re: ordering the Bip, I see a regular version, a Youth version and a Lite version...

    Yet they all seem to be the same device.

    They only have one bip listed on their site - https://us.amazfit.com/shop


  • #23
    fixXxer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,330 ✭✭✭fixXxer


    GBX wrote: »
    They only have one bip listed on their site - https://us.amazfit.com/shop

    Must be a translation issue then, cheers.


  • #24
    sleepysniper
    Registered Users Posts: 472 ✭✭sleepysniper


    I know they're not held in the highest regards round these parts but I bought mine (Bip) from GearBest based on an offer I found on HUKD...got it for E53.50 all in.


  • #25
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,631 ✭✭✭corkie


    Is https://www.kimovil.com/en/ broken for anyone else?

    Can not seem to filter by price or anything else at present. Tried desktop chrome and firefox.


  • #26
    fixXxer
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,330 ✭✭✭fixXxer


    None of the sliders or option boxes are working for me either.


  • #27
    GBX
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 12,015 ✭✭✭✭GBX


    Yeah. Filters are not working. Searched Xiaomi and many others thrown in the results.


  • #28
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,631 ✭✭✭corkie


    Must have been a hiccup with Kimovil, back working again.


  • #29
    allthedoyles
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,893 ✭✭✭allthedoyles


    Was looking at the Meizu M6 and it looks a decent phone . Anyone have one ?


  • #30
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,631 ✭✭✭corkie




    This is the Ulefone Power 5. It's a 13,000 mAh smartphone
    capable of close to a week of battery life.
    It's the highest capacity smartphone I've ever featured on Unbox Therapy.


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  • #31
    allthedoyles
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,893 ✭✭✭allthedoyles


    I cant understand how apple still manufacture phones with 2,600 battery when this is such a crucial feature nowadays .


    For me battery capacity is ahead of camera .


  • #32
    massy086
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,846 ✭✭✭massy086


    allthedoyles wrote: »
    I cant understand how apple still manufacture phones with 2,600 battery when this is such a crucial feature nowadays .


    For me battery capacity is ahead of camera .
    ITS APPLE


  • #33
    allthedoyles
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,893 ✭✭✭allthedoyles


    massy086 wrote: »
    ITS APPLE


    even the Samsung S8 is 3000mah - it doesn't make sense to me


  • #34
    august12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,275 ✭✭✭august12


    I am coming to this thread for help as failed to get replies on my other threads, does anyone know how to transfer all data/apps etc. from a Xiaomi mi phone to Google Android Mi A1 phone, the option to back up to Google is not available and everything is backed up to mi cloud, I can't seem to do a backup to mi pc suite, seems there are lots of people who have failed to do this going by Google searches, I tried Cloneit app for transfer but the apps i have used on old phone are listed on new phone but I have to install all.


  • #35
    Thargor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,964 ✭✭✭✭Thargor


    Anybody going for the Mi Max 3? Its an absolute beast, a lot of phone for ~€300:

    https://www.banggood.com/Xiaomi-Mi-Max-3-6_9-inch-Big-Display-6GB-RAM-128GB-ROM-Snapdragon-636-4G-Smartphone-p-1326980.html?rmmds=search&admitad_uid=1f716767fc08a97290adfa003b6aa55b&cur_warehouse=CN

    Im doing a lot of travelling these days and it would be nice to have a cross between a phone and a tablet for browsing and tv, plus Ive been reading so much comics and graphics novels lately on my phone that again it would be nice to have the big screen and big battery, not sure about that resolution though.

    Ill wait for a few reviews, 6.9" screen is making me nervous though, my first tablet was 7" :eek:

    As long as the reviews are good Ill go for it I reckon, my Oneplus One is starting to die and you cant get replacement batteries anymore but the offerings at the minute arent really that great across the board, just minor updates to last years stuff from what I can see.

    Im going to try it when it comes in stock, I can always sell it on Adverts if I dont like it.

    UWy8Bxr.jpg


  • #36
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,631 ✭✭✭corkie


    august12 wrote: »
    I am coming to this thread for help as failed to get replies on my other threads, does anyone know how to transfer all data/apps etc. from a Xiaomi mi phone to Google Android Mi A1 phone, the option to back up to Google is not available and everything is backed up to mi cloud, I can't seem to do a backup to mi pc suite, seems there are lots of people who have failed to do this going by Google searches, I tried Cloneit app for transfer but the apps i have used on old phone are listed on new phone but I have to install all.


    The problem is that your running two different and conflicting OS.

    If your first MI Device was rooted, there is apps you could use to backup apps (and there associated data). But to root, you would need to unlock the bootloader, which would wipe your data in the process.

    Even if you got Mi PCSuite (update beta versions available) working for your first device, I don't believe that tool would work on the Android One device.

    When setting up the Mi A1, you could have used google play to download apps (used on prior device) and install them. But you probably connected to google as new device, instead of restoring.


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  • #37
    august12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,275 ✭✭✭august12


    corkie wrote:
    When setting up the Mi A1, you could have used google play to download apps (used on prior device) and install them. But you probably connected to google as new device, instead of restoring.


    Thanks for the update, I actually used restore option, but it seems to only have brought in the Google apps, like Google maps, calendar, etc, no apps restored from my old device, maybe because when I purchased this phone about 3 years ago, I had to install Google play services, looks like I will have to install all individually, not sure if Viber and what's app historic messages will be available, my Gmail data seems fine, photos and videos came across with Cloneit, will try again later, it's a bit head wrecking,


  • #38
    Thargor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,964 ✭✭✭✭Thargor


    august12 wrote: »
    Thanks for the update, I actually used restore option, but it seems to only have brought in the Google apps, like Google maps, calendar, etc, no apps restored from my old device, maybe because when I purchased this phone about 3 years ago, I had to install Google play services, looks like I will have to install all individually, not sure if Viber and what's app historic messages will be available, my Gmail data seems fine, photos and videos came across with Cloneit, will try again later, it's a bit head wrecking,
    Sit down at a desktop pc, log into your google account and tell all the apps on your account to install from the desktop play store, it will be one click each, you'll be done in 10 minutes.


  • #39
    Thargor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,964 ✭✭✭✭Thargor


    Damn got to wait a couple of weeks to see what the Honor 10 is like compared to the Mi Max 3:

    https://www.androidauthority.com/honor-note-10-china-launch-888033/


  • #40
    dougm1970
    Registered Users Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭dougm1970


    they honor probably wont have sd card support, and will likely be 19:9 ratio so a touch thinner than the mi max 3...but i bet it'll have a good camera.

    i am smitten and excited at the thought of the mi max 3, but i am waiting for good youtube reviews...i am curious mainly about the camera, but i expect it to be same as redmi note 5 as specs are same...also, when a global version will be released...although theres an english version which you could put on play store and services on, i think.

    my only other concern, as someone who walks a lot of the year in rain (with earphones plugged in), is no level of waterproofing on these.

    but i love HUGE screen phones...ever since the samsung note series started out.


  • #41
    august12
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,275 ✭✭✭august12


    Thargor wrote:
    Sit down at a desktop pc, log into your google account and tell all the apps on your account to install from the desktop play store, it will be one click each, you'll be done in 10 minutes.

    Great, thanks for this, I have spent all of yesterday trying to figure out how to do this, this forum is such a help, will update later on this.
    Just one other thing, I have three options on new phone for restoring, backup from Android phone, backup from cloud, an iPhone device, which should I select after completing the above, or am I selection setting up from new and adding my Google account? Apologies if this sounds silly but I'm not technical minded.


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  • #42
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,631 ✭✭✭corkie


    august12 wrote: »
    Great, thanks for this, I have spent all of yesterday trying to figure out how to do this, this forum is such a help, will update later on this.
    Just one other thing, I have three options on new phone for restoring, backup from Android phone, backup from cloud, an iPhone device, which should I select after completing the above, or am I selection setting up from new and adding my Google account? Apologies if this sounds silly but I'm not technical minded.

    You can only restore google backups to Mi A1. The MIUI backup cannot be restored in non MIUI devices.
    Use Titanium backup to backup data from MIUI Device, and restore with TItanium backup in Mi A1.
    But remember to backup and restore app data also, you need to have both device rooted.


    http://en.miui.com/thread-1436456-1-1.html


    So the backup and restore options your possibly seeing on your Mi A1 or for restoring backups created with the Mi A1


  • #43
    corkie
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,631 ✭✭✭corkie


    Honor and Huawei bootloader unlock codes will stop being provided as of tomorrow

    On May 24, the message below was annoucing users that Honor and Huawei bootloader unlock codes will stop being provided in 60 days. This means that if you have a phone made by Huawei or Honor, today is your last day to request one.

    Of course, you should only do that if you intend to do some real tinkering with your device, like gaining root access, flashing a custom ROM, custom kernel, and alike. If you consider doing these extreme customizations, you should also know that you are doing it at your own risk. Ceasing to supply Honor and Huawei bootloader unlock codes is explained by the manufacturer as a means to “provide better user experience and avoid issues caused by ROM flashing”.

    The service will be stopped for all products, so, again, if you really need to, today is your last chance.


  • #44
    ImARebel
    Registered Users Posts: 793 ✭✭✭ImARebel


    august12 wrote: »
    Thanks for the update, I actually used restore option, but it seems to only have brought in the Google apps, like Google maps, calendar, etc, no apps restored from my old device, maybe because when I purchased this phone about 3 years ago, I had to install Google play services, looks like I will have to install all individually, not sure if Viber and what's app historic messages will be available, my Gmail data seems fine, photos and videos came across with Cloneit, will try again later, it's a bit head wrecking,

    You can definitely backup whatsapp, I just did it before switching to my note 5. Not sure about Viber don't use it


  • #45
    sydthebeat
    Subscribers Posts: 41,830 ✭✭✭✭sydthebeat


    Mi A2 and mi A2 lite out today.

    Thinking of punting for the lite as a replacement for my A1


  • #46
    Thargor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,964 ✭✭✭✭Thargor


    sydthebeat wrote: »
    Mi A2 and mi A2 lite out today.

    Thinking of punting for the lite as a replacement for my A1

    Was looking at them as well, I need a new phone sorted for a holiday in September so need to decide this week really, what are people thinking? Global Rom showing on alliexpress for the Mi Max 3 now, where are the reviews?

    https://www.aliexpress.com/premium/Mi-max-3.html?site=glo&g=y&SearchText=Mi+max+3&tc=ppc&CatId=5090301&initiative_id=SB_20180723061848&needQuery=n&isrefine=y


  • #47
    dougm1970
    Registered Users Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭dougm1970


    Thargor wrote: »
    Was looking at them as well, I need a new phone sorted for a holiday in September so need to decide this week really, what are people thinking? Global Rom showing on alliexpress for the Mi Max 3 now, where are the reviews?

    https://www.aliexpress.com/premium/Mi-max-3.html?site=glo&g=y&SearchText=Mi+max+3&tc=ppc&CatId=5090301&initiative_id=SB_20180723061848&needQuery=n&isrefine=y

    surprised to see that (could that be a store adding languages and play store and google services to sell as their version of a global rom ?).
    anyway, aside from global rom listing, a couple of other things i'd like to see covered in reviews, when the reviews come....
    that aliexpress listing shows a single speaker but i seen it advertised as having stereo sound.
    also, i read it has fm radio but that listing says no fm radio.


  • #48
    Thargor
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 17,964 ✭✭✭✭Thargor


    Definitely stereo speakers(on the bottom) and fm radio anyway, that was in Xiaomis reveal the other day, plus a 3.5mm headphone jack, I'm struggling to come up with anything that competes with it tbh, on paper anyway, especially when you throw in the 5500 mAh battery and the 128 GB Rom.


  • #49
    dougm1970
    Registered Users Posts: 1,134 ✭✭✭dougm1970


    Thargor wrote: »
    Definitely stereo speakers(on the bottom) and fm radio anyway, that was in Xiaomis reveal the other day, plus a 3.5mm headphone jack, I'm struggling to come up with anything that competes with it tbh, on paper anyway, especially when you throw in the 5500 mAh battery and the 128 GB Rom.

    is it wrong of me to consider going from my samsung s8+ to this ?

    i adored the redmi note 5 i got for my lad, double tap to wake, fm radio (which i would use), good screen and decent camera (even if neither samsung s8 level)...but i just really liked it.
    ...and i love huge screens on phones, bigger the better.


  • #50
    Snake Plisken
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,015 ✭✭✭✭Snake Plisken


    Thargor wrote: »
    Was looking at them as well, I need a new phone sorted for a holiday in September so need to decide this week really, what are people thinking? Global Rom showing on alliexpress for the Mi Max 3 now, where are the reviews?

    https://www.aliexpress.com/premium/Mi-max-3.html?site=glo&g=y&SearchText=Mi+max+3&tc=ppc&CatId=5090301&initiative_id=SB_20180723061848&needQuery=n&isrefine=y

    Chris from TechTablets will have one Thursday Friday this week he always does great in-depth reviews
    https://twitter.com/TechTabletscom/status/1020958825740931074?s=19


  • #51
    Snake Plisken
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,015 ✭✭✭✭Snake Plisken


    dougm1970 wrote: »
    is it wrong of me to consider going from my samsung s8+ to this ?

    i adored the redmi note 5 i got for my lad, double tap to wake, fm radio (which i would use), good screen and decent camera (even if neither samsung s8 level)...but i just really liked it.
    ...and i love huge screens on phones, bigger the better.
    I'm the same got the Mrs a Redmi Note 5 last week really like it. The Max 3 will be basically be a Note 5 with bigger screen and bigger battery. I have a One Plus 6 at the moment but might decide to buy Max 3 just for the bigger screen and battery


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