Galaxy S4 Telecom and 2degrees differences?

Forums › Android › Galaxy S4 Telecom and 2degrees differences?

Strax

1 post

Wannabe Geek

#138233 26-Dec-2013 12:17

I am looking at getting a Galaxy S4 during the boxing day sales (I am currently on 2degrees), but I am finding that in some cases the Telecom versions are significantly cheaper than the 2degrees ones.

Two questions: Is there any difference between the two? Can I buy a telecom one for the cheaper price and stick a 2degrees sim in it?

I will be my first smartphone, so I am finding it all a bit confusing. Any help would be much appreciated.

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#957533 26-Dec-2013 12:22

Network customisation and settings such as fast dormancy.

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 2526
Inactive user

#957539 26-Dec-2013 12:41

Quite a bit

sbiddle

30853 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 9996

Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#957542 26-Dec-2013 12:50

You can just reflash it with the software for another network but that always carries a risk of bricking your phone, which isn't going to be covered by your warranty.

old3eyes

9158 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1364

Subscriber

#957602 26-Dec-2013 15:39

Buy it. It should work fine..

Regards,

Old3eyes

nzgeek

619 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 52

#957797 27-Dec-2013 08:23

There are zero differences at a hardware level. All of the S4 models sold by the local carriers are LTE-enabled and are capable of running on all of our cellular networks.

The differences between the phone are at a software level. The 2degrees version has no visible customisation, but the Telecom version (I believe) has custom boot and shutdown logo screen, and might change the name and/or icon of some standard apps.

There could also be some difference in how the phones access the network. As mentioned above, there's a network feature called fast dormancy that can cause some additional battery usage of your phone's setting doesn't match the network's. However, the phone has a database with a bunch of networks and their settings, so it's possible that it has settings for all the main local carriers.

In short: don't worry too much about the differences.