Has anyone bought a phone via Singapore stop over? Wondering if a non connected phone will work in NZ.

Forums › Android › Has anyone bought a phone via Singapore stop over? Wondering if a non connected phone will work in NZ.

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6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3360822 4-Apr-2025 16:29

MaxineN:

Edit: TeaLeaf. No offense...

None taken, appreciate the help. We shuffle phones around a lot, for work and for personal use. I saw the prices in Singapore and thought why not look into if they will work in NZ. This one is mostly looking at the camera so we can leave the big mirrorless camera at home often when hiking, my partner has got me into the wildlife/biology type images. But its pointless with my current personal phone. All of the phones have good cameras now for the most part. The Iphone 16 Pro is actually better than I expected.

Kimovil provides a little help with the Phone region and Coverage region. Im expecting Singapore may have its own phones, as often they list HK phones.

Will Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra work in New Zealand?

mudguard

2113 posts

Uber Geek

#3360823 4-Apr-2025 16:29

I think there's a whole thread on this issue.

Apple. Buy anywhere in world.

Android. Only buy from NZ main retailers.

There's a real risk of having wonderful signal in one place and then nothing in another.

I probably won't buy another Pixel after the Google's recent battery update.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3360825 4-Apr-2025 16:34

mudguard:

I probably won't buy another Pixel after the Google's recent battery update.

What is the issue there? They improved the 5g modem at least. I was just look at the P8P to use until the 11 comes out and see how good the new 10s google CPU/SoC etc, it might take a Gen to iron out some creases.

Yep going by that Kimovil tool it looks like the Iphones work from the regions specified. It suggests the s24U works with the Global Model, Korean and International model.

MaxineN

Max
1772 posts

Uber Geek

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#3360828 4-Apr-2025 16:38

TeaLeaf:

MaxineN:

Edit: TeaLeaf. No offense...

None taken, appreciate the help. We shuffle phones around a lot, for work and for personal use. I saw the prices in Singapore and thought why not look into if they will work in NZ. This one is mostly looking at the camera so we can leave the big mirrorless camera at home often when hiking, my partner has got me into the wildlife/biology type images. But its pointless with my current personal phone. All of the phones have good cameras now for the most part. The Iphone 16 Pro is actually better than I expected.

Kimovil provides a little help with the Phone region and Coverage region. Im expecting Singapore may have its own phones, as often they list HK phones.

Will Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra work in New Zealand?

That is not a good website to use as sure it solves the "will x phone have y bands" but will it actually support VoLTE, VoWiFi and 5G?

That's why my post before this one was phrased the way it is, because no one can guarantee it unless they've got the handset themselves, and again Samsung variants beyond what NZ actually ranges are not fun to handle.

If you specifically want a Samsung now. Please at all costs avoid the U,W,0 variants. Refurbed Sammy's will have a CSC burnt, and whilst it can load additional CSCs, Samsung's ranged in NZ are agnostic and use XNZ. But again, it's an overseas phone, there is no guarantee. This is the risk you take for trying to buy a cheaper phone overseas.

I think I need to take my leave from this thread because I don't think repeating ourselves is productive.

Ramblings from a mysterious lady who's into tech. Warning I may often create zingers.

mudguard

2113 posts

Uber Geek

#3360829 4-Apr-2025 16:40

They pushed out an update to the 4A which killed the battery forcing users to send it in to be replaced or get a $50US credit.

My partner's phone which which got through a day, was going flat within 2-3 hours with no use.

So it effectively bricked it. This was earlier this year. I've resigned myself to only using NZ Samsungs from now on.

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=97&topicid=318870

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3360830 4-Apr-2025 16:44

MaxineN:

I think I need to take my leave from this thread because I don't think repeating ourselves is productive.

Its all good, I hear what you are saying, its impossible to know.

But I thought that is why people bought the International or Global models because they are meant to work as described, but if thats not the case then its not worth the risk. Easier to buy a used phone from someone on FB etc for the same price with maybe a few months of warranty left. OR just go with an Iphone. Its camera seems to be getting good reviews.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3360832 4-Apr-2025 16:47

mudguard:

So it effectively bricked it. This was earlier this year. I've resigned myself to only using NZ Samsungs from now on.

Yeh thats sucky, as has been the 5g on the models up to the 8. The 9 has been tested to show it can handle 5g. Im expecting the 10 with a better SoC might be the break through of finally heading in the right direction, maybe just keep an eye on gsmarena to see how things turn out etc.

Edit: Apple using a lot of new Sony sensors it appears, https://www.kimovil.com/en/where-to-buy-apple-iphone-16-pro-256gb#sec-camera

I think I could handle a 6.3" screen, Id like the bigger model but cant justify the extra cost.

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TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3360836 4-Apr-2025 17:02

MaxineN:

I don't think repeating ourselves is productive.

What exactly is your job in Telco? Is it a mobile support role or network engineer etc?

Thanks for your help Maxine.

djtOtago

1149 posts

Uber Geek

#3360837 4-Apr-2025 17:03

I'm simplifying it a bit here, but whether a phone supports VoLTE, VoWiFi for a Carrier in NZ is more to do with software and configuration than it does with what Bands the phone supports. So just because a phone supports all the Bands it doesn't mean VoLTE, VoWiFi will necessarily work here.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3360843 4-Apr-2025 17:16

djtOtago:

I'm simplifying it a bit here, but whether a phone supports VoLTE, VoWiFi for a Carrier in NZ is more to do with software and configuration than it does with what Bands the phone supports. So just because a phone supports all the Bands it doesn't mean VoLTE, VoWiFi will necessarily work here.

Yeh that makes sense. So there is no way to know if a phone will work, even with Global variants that cover all the bands etc, due to software? What is loaded in the software that controls whether a phone works or not?

I can see why apple sucks up 11GB of space in this scenario.

thermonuclear

600 posts

Ultimate Geek

#3360919 5-Apr-2025 09:26

TeaLeaf:

Nah, I have a wedding in to attemd. And a lot of monastery beer to drink :-)

Best I dont mess this cheap phone thing up ;-p

Edit: that tour gets 4.7/5 on Tripadvisor.

Aaahh, okay. Well it will be a shame if you can't make it that way, given you're in the relative vicinity. Unless of course you're a regular traveller to Europe, in which case there will be plenty of opportunities to make the pilgrimage to the Home of Cricket. Only a 4.7 rating on Tripadvisor, clearly a few non-cricket tragics have buggered up the stats there, the tour is 10/10 all day everyday. Seeing the actual Ashes, walking through the Long Room, sitting on the away team balcony and imagining you've just come in from scoring a rapid 175 to win a test for NZ. Can't be beat!

Sorry, no advice on phones though except to say make sure you get one with a great camera, you'll be wanting to take a few.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3360935 5-Apr-2025 10:35

thermonuclear:

clearly a few non-cricket tragics have buggered up the stats there

except to say make sure you get one with a great camera, you'll be wanting to take a few.

Yes was my thinking too, maybe partners forced along to a museum of a game they have no interest in. I saw you get to touch some pretty incredible historical pieces of kit. I should have done this a long time ago, I could be living there within the next 5yrs though.

This is the reason Im considering the Pixel Pro, the Sammy 24Ultra and possibly now the Iphone 16 Pro which is getting some good reviews on those Sony sensors. The images on all of them are plenty good enough for travelling and hiking etc. Of course if I know we are going to look at a specific piece of Fauna or Flora I will take the mirrorless Sony FF and a macro lens, so it still gets used. If I had more cash (that I could justify spending) Id go for one of the 1" sensor models, something like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3360945 5-Apr-2025 12:03

Just curious if the Samsung Box stickers contain the full CSC including the Model code, Samsung CSC, Bootloader version?

They do have some "open" CSC's for the Global variants. But there is the secondary CSC, from what I can work out, that can change feature specific to that CSC ie Samsung Pay. But possibility to switch the secondary CSC post purchase.

But still have the bootloader to worry about.

If the box stickers dont have the full model, csc, bootloader codes etc, that ends the research.

TeaLeaf

6325 posts

Uber Geek

#3360962 5-Apr-2025 13:25

Interesting the S25U is ranked all the way down at 30th on DXOmark, not that it means a lot but it is consistant in its method. The Pixel 9 Pro XL is ranked 2, and the Iphone Pro and Pro Max 16 essentially the same camera wise at 4th/5th. Again doesnt count for a lot, the Galaxy is clearly still a good Camera.

But if the Google and the Apple are likely to have less dramas being used back in NZ, thats prob just the easiest and safest way to go.

JetA1

63 posts

Master Geek

#3361798 7-Apr-2025 19:37

Not sure if anyone else has posted this but it could be of help:

https://www.frequencycheck.com/countries/new-zealand#google_vignette

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