Trying to figure out whether a USA phone will work here

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CycleTourer

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#302207 7-Nov-2022 13:20

Hi all,

I'm looking at a phone on Amazon and having trouble figuring out whether it will do 4G. I don't care about 5G and in fact will only be using the phone for voice and texts (it'll be my first smartphone and I'm only buying it because it seems the best way to get a decent MP3/podcasts player to replace my iPod), so in a sense I don't really care about 4G either but I know as soon as I buy it, 2degrees (who I want to stay with) will announce their sunsetting of 3G!

So......what I have for the phone is this: FDD 2/4/5/12/13/17/66

and for 2degrees (from https://teletronics.co.nz/index.php/nz-mobile-info/ -- please let me know if this page is incorrect!) is this: LTE 700MHz, 900 MHz and 1800 MHz

😬

Can some kind person please help me to translate one to the other? Thanks very much! 😀

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meow
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#2993035 7-Nov-2022 14:01

I would recommend just grabbing a phone directly from 2degrees.

If you want simple, and something that'll last then consider buying an iPhone SE. Else there are many other cheaper options too such as the Samsung Galaxy A series.

There is no point buying a phone off Amazon as our pricing is similar. Also, you'll likely get scammed with a phone that doesn't have the specs advertised.

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Linux

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#2993037 7-Nov-2022 14:06

You are asking for trouble as above buy local

freitasm

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#2993052 7-Nov-2022 15:10

It's missing band 28. Don't bother.

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WyleECoyoteNZ

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#2993056 7-Nov-2022 15:16

Also, remember to factor in the 15% GST on the price.

If it's going to be for MP3's why not just get a Galaxy A Series as suggested above then put in a Micro SD card?

johno1234

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#2993156 7-Nov-2022 15:52

Wot they sed.

Most of the telcos have deals if you commit to a plan. 2D have the Galaxy A03 interest free so $4.72/month on top of $35/month plan. Hardly worth the bother of importing especially when you consider the difficulty of any warranty or return process that might occur.

nztim

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#2993176 7-Nov-2022 16:20

Other than iPhones DO NOT buy phones overseas, iPhone contain all the profiles for VoLTE for all networks around the world, however Android unless but in NZ you have no way to be sure VoLTE will work which means a 111 risk on VoLTE Towers

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CycleTourer

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#2993183 7-Nov-2022 16:42

Wow, thanks for all the replies guys! (even if it's not the answer I wanted to hear) Basically I want the simplest, smallest, lightest phone I can get away with. It seems to be rocket science to produce an MP3 player that can remember where you left off in an audio file, so I figured if I bought an android at least I'd be able to try a bunch of podcast player apps and hopefully get something usable. I don't mind paying a bit but absolutely refuse to pay iPhone type prices. This one: https://www.gsmarena.com/palm_palm-9290.php seeemed to be ideal for me, I found it in a review of the smallest smartphones.

Guess it's back to the drawing board for me.....darn!

Thanks again :)

xpd

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#2993187 7-Nov-2022 16:45

If you just want a MP3 player, then pretty much any Android phone will do the trick for minimal $$. AS for playing where you left off, thats down to the app you use.

XPD / Gavin

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WyleECoyoteNZ

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#2993191 7-Nov-2022 16:53

For a App that remembers, try Musicolet on Android.

Free, no ads.

freitasm

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#2993193 7-Nov-2022 16:56

That Palm is so old now - and won't work here.

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CycleTourer

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#2993195 7-Nov-2022 17:04

WyleECoyoteNZ:

For a App that remembers, try Musicolet on Android.

Free, no ads.

Thanks -- noted :-)

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CycleTourer

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#2993196 7-Nov-2022 17:05

freitasm: That Palm is so old now - and won't work here.

Yeah, I knew it was out of date, but that doesn't bother me at all. My current phone is a Nokia C2! (and it does all I want) The not working bit is a problem, though...

Basil12

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#2993256 7-Nov-2022 18:47

A great site to see if your phone will work elsewhere and, to a lesser extent, if a phone from elsewhere will work here is willmyphonework.net

Quik internet referral link

nztim

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#2993259 7-Nov-2022 18:58

Basil12:

A great site to see if your phone will work elsewhere and, to a lesser extent, if a phone from elsewhere will work here is willmyphonework.net

That site is pretty cool, but it doesn't state if the phone will work with VoLTE which is extremely important while you may be able to use data on VoLTE only sites you won't be able to make/receive calls

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CycleTourer

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#2993267 7-Nov-2022 20:03

Basil12:

A great site to see if your phone will work elsewhere and, to a lesser extent, if a phone from elsewhere will work here is willmyphonework.net

That is an awesomely cool site, thanks so much!

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