Vodafone Smart ultra

Forums › Android › Vodafone Smart ultra - $299

1 | ... | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | ... | 32

7415 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2850

ID Verified

Trusted

#1471885 15-Jan-2016 12:57

Oubadah:
TeaLeaf: I think you can do better for the money if you are willing to go chinese. The Redmi note 3 is far superior and even the meizu note 2 should perform better.

What's the software situation like on those phones? The SU6 is comfortably close to stock android. Do they even have the google play store?

I think it depends on the version one buys; a newly released phone appears to sometimes only come with a Chinese-specific ROM, so no Google Play, but international ROMs for phones like the Xiomis are easily available (if not not so easy to install!). The Redmi Note 2 I got my wife came with an international ROM which has Google Play as well as many other Google apps; apart from seeing some occasional Chinese script in the settings (and problems with updates), there's little that gives the phone away as a cheap Chinese device.

(Personally, I'd have bought the Smart Ultra if it had supported Spark frequencies - but it wasn't shifting networks just for the phone...)

TeaLeaf

6437 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1241

#1471922 15-Jan-2016 13:27

yeah same, if it was a telecom product id buy it. although like i said im considering vodafone on one my prepays due rollover calling and data. i wonder how soon telecom will take to catch up.

to answer the previous queston re roms and UIs, it depends on the device, the redmi at this stage is one of the harder ones but its not really hard at all going by the instructions. also i think 7.0 is an international UI.

the meizu as an international flyme.

i think the UI scares a lot of people of asian market phones. totally understandable.

ZTE, and people saying the quality control is not so good, that surprises me.

the redmi note 3 looks outstanding quality in metal. pop across to their forum to read what people have to say. also go to gearbest.com, its gotten 4.8/5 from HUNDREDS of buyers. definitely the 32GB/3GB/Higher CPU speed is the model to get though

Oubadah

676 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 12

#1471929 15-Jan-2016 13:37

That redmi note 3 isn't even remotely in the same price bracket. The SU6 has a $300 RRP, but it's $250 or cheaper on sale and it's always on sale.

Redmi note 3 looks more like Zenfone competition.

Even the MEIZU M2 (presumably the phone you meant) is $270, and that's without shipping.

Nil Einne

469 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 35

#1472340 16-Jan-2016 00:30

The Note 3 16GB ROM/2GB RAM is ~USD$175 with shipping from a decent seller so about NZD274. So it's more expensive, but not a lot more. It's true you're cheating on GST but can't be helped I guess. And even if you were paying GST, it pushes it a fair bit higher, but I wouldn't say a completely different price backet from the SU6. And actually it was USD160 a day or two ago from Goldway, I haven't paid that much attention but I suspect you could get similar price from a decent seller if you aren't too rushed and pay attention to deals.

The 32GB ROM/3GB RAM is about USD205 or NZD320 so I guess starting to be a bit more, but I wouldn't say it's extremely different price range. Particularly if you don't compare the price if you were paying GST. I believe the 32GB was $195 from Goldway when the 16 GB was 160 (didn't really look since wasn't interested in buying).

And regardless of whether it's worth taking the upgrade to the 32GB, the SU6 is 16GB after all albeit with a microSD card slot so it's the fairer comparison. You do run the risk of warranty issues which you don't if buying the SU6.

BTW, I got a Doogee X5. It's not a great phone (perhaps comparable to the 2nd gen Motorola G albeit lower build quality and firmware support) but I got it for $1 on the 11.11 flash sale so can't complain. It has Play Store and the UI is fairly similar to stock Android. While it's true phones only targeted at the Chinese market can lack the Play Store and perhaps have UIs people will find weird; I think even many of the crappier brands often at least target some part of the South Asian, South East Asian, Eastern European or South & Central American markets where the Play Store and more standard UIs tend to be in more demand so do often produce some semi international version.

Nil Einne

469 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 35

#1472349 16-Jan-2016 02:00

Left it too long to edit, sorry. Anyway I had a quick look at the Meizu M2 Note. International 16GB seems to be USD144 from a decent seller (Goldway) so NZD225. Not sure what sellers you're looking at. 90% of Chinese sellers nowadays tend to be free standard shipping to NZ for stuff like phones whether AliExpress or seller own sites like GearBest or even eBay. (Phone price range would likely be registered airmail with some carrier.) I didn't find the 32GB from a reliable seller for a decent price, perhaps it's been abandoned or is only sold in certain markets and not China? It helps that the NZD has improved from the lows of past months.

As with the Xiaomi Note 3 and Note 2, I strongly suspect you can get cheaper particularly if you don't need the international version and are willing to wait a few weeks to look out for deals or spend a bit more time looking for reliable sellers. (I've never looked much myself so only know a few.) Not sure if international is actually any different other than ROM, sometimes they don't seem to be although have heard it means even more likely to have warranty issues (when you flash it yourself I mean). Mind you, you do need to pay attention to what you're buying. Even some of the better sellers aren't always clear on whether they're selling the international version or Chinese version flashed with international ROM. (But at least it's hard for them to complain about you flashing international ROM if they are the ones who did it.)

TeaLeaf

6437 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1241

#1472748 16-Jan-2016 17:43

Oubadah: That redmi note 3 isn't even remotely in the same price bracket. The SU6 has a $300 RRP, but it's $250 or cheaper on sale and it's always on sale.

Redmi note 3 looks more like Zenfone competition.

Even the MEIZU M2 (presumably the phone you meant) is $270, and that's without shipping.

circa ~$50 diff id say is direct competition. you cant take whats something on special for as a marker. be logical.

keep in mind build quality as well. the smart ultra looks like a $250 phone. the redmi 3 is an all metal body, finger print reader, i wont go on but the specs are far better.

and any phone can be had on special at various etailers.

Zte is a very similar phone maker to the other two.

any of these phones can be bought in nz.

nil your onto it, thats the hardest part when buying chinese market phones, knowing which rom you are getting and it its actually a none chinese market phone. asus zenfone is a good example.

for $300 there are a LOT of phones with higher specs than the ZTE Vodafone SmartUltra imo. Not saying its a bad buy, each to their own.

Lego

Shop now for Lego sets and other gifts (affiliate link).

Hils

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#1478010 25-Jan-2016 07:48

QR code reader - which app do you recommend? Thanks for advice.

GregM

87 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 22

ID Verified

#1489829 10-Feb-2016 16:25

I see this is on the support list for Semble now.

NikT

1710 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 730

Trusted

#1489854 10-Feb-2016 16:31

GregM:

I see this is on the support list for Semble now.

Neat. I spent a fair amount of time trying to make that happen, and it was still a work in progress when I moved on. Glad to see they've got it approved.

Product Manager @ PB Tech

Smartphones @ PB Tech | Headphones @ PB Tech

dylanp

842 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 392

Trusted

#1489857 10-Feb-2016 16:37

NikT:

GregM:

I see this is on the support list for Semble now.

Neat. I spent a fair amount of time trying to make that happen, and it was still a work in progress when I moved on. Glad to see they've got it approved.

Sweet - and the Smart prime is on the list too.

NikT

1710 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 730

Trusted

#1489858 10-Feb-2016 16:38

VodafoneDylan:

Sweet - and the Smart prime is on the list too.

Ahh, long time coming! That OTA rollout must have resumed then - now to repeat the process this year when the next batch of VFDs hits. ;)

Product Manager @ PB Tech

Smartphones @ PB Tech | Headphones @ PB Tech

AliExpress

Shop now on AliExpress (affiliate link).

GregM

87 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 22

ID Verified

#1489861 10-Feb-2016 16:55

VodafoneDylan:

NikT:

GregM:

I see this is on the support list for Semble now.

Neat. I spent a fair amount of time trying to make that happen, and it was still a work in progress when I moved on. Glad to see they've got it approved.

Sweet - and the Smart prime is on the list too.

I hadn't bothered getting a Semble sim due to how long it was taking, but just ordered one now.

Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 373

#1495727 19-Feb-2016 15:40

I see this phone has dropped to $249 now (or $216 @ NL on special), I'm kind of hoping this is a stock run-out before a replacement model, any rumours or speculation floating about?

Wade

2225 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 373

#1495728 19-Feb-2016 15:40

I see this phone has dropped to $249 now (or $216 @ NL on special), I'm kind of hoping this is a stock run-out before a replacement model, any rumours or speculation floating about?

jonathan18

7415 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2850

ID Verified

Trusted

#1495750 19-Feb-2016 15:52

Wade:

I see this phone has dropped to $249 now (or $216 @ NL on special), I'm kind of hoping this is a stock run-out before a replacement model, any rumours or speculation floating about?

Yep, my sister picked one up for $216 to replace her Moto G which had stopped working - but it wasn't quite the bargain she thought it was as she wasn't aware of its Spark/Skinny incompatibility! (And didn't think to ask me before buying...) So now she's having to switch back to 2 Degrees.

1 | ... | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | ... | 32