Looking at buying a Chinese version android phone, but I live in the uk

jav123

Hello all,
Need help from “phone expert”

I’m looking at buying a Oppo phone that is a Chinese version (not made for Europe)

How can I check to see if this phone will work properly on uk networks, and also with my provider (vodaphone / VOXI) for
3G and 4G ?

I know all google related apps including google play store is blocked but you can install it,  plenty of YouTube videos out there.

I assume I will have no probs installing..
Facebook, YouTube, google chrome,

Will I be able to use “OK google” voice ?

Hope you guys can help
Thanks

Dave X

if it’s a China specific model it’s quite likely not to have Band 20 LTE so will not work properly for 4G on Vodafone/Voxi or O2/Tesco/Giffgaff and will likely also not have NFC.

dts197

See if the phone you want is on here. They sell all imported phones. And plenty of questions are answered by the site owners about compatibility.
Wonda Mobile - Buy Sim Free Smartphones Deals with Free UK Delivery No VAT | Wonda Mobile - Your Mobile Expert | Buy Mobile

jav123

Does have band 20 LTE and also NFC
I did further research and the phone I was looking at does work absolutely fine in uk
It is compatible with all the network frequencies we have here in the uk

jav123

Thanks for that
In the end I purchased one off eBay
Uk version same price as the Chinese version
And it’s 2 months old still under warranty
And has 256gb memory

So I think A win situation for me

Dave X

Are you sure it wasn’t available in the UK then? a number of Oppo handsets are now.

what model was it?

jav123

Yes and yes it’s available in the uk
But cost an extra £200!!

Oppo Reno 10x zoom

But like I said earlier I purchased a uk spec of eBay from someone who’s only had it for 2 months , so still under warranty and it cost me the same price as a Chinese version

Dave X

ok, that isn’t quite the same as the question you originally asked.

As it’s not actually a Chinese version (made for the Chinese market and not for Europe) the answers you got wouldn’t have been correct.

It’s always best to get the info correct when you’re asking a question about technical aspects of phones

jav123

I think you will find my info was correct and my question was correct!!!

As per amazon advert Oppo Reno 10x zoom
Was advertised as Chinese version.
Meaning no google play store,
No fb, messenger installed as standard

The phone is specifically made for China
And not for European market! The skin are different
Has Dedicated Chinese apps!

At the time of posting my original question - I also started looking deeper into it, and further looking into technical specification
For the phone and also uk network providers.

And what I had found was-
The technology they use for China and European market is exactly the same.
They don’t remove certain technology or add technology dependent of country region.
Like certain manufacturers xiaomi who does this and also rebrand it a different name

It’s a case of different software for different country regions.

If u buy a European spec
The phone is pre installed with google play.
Comes with uk plug
Phone updates are related to European
No dedicated Chinese bloat ware

You buy a Chinese version  
No google play on the phone (but plenty of YouTube videos to show you how to install it)
Then you can add fb, messenger etc
No uk plug
Phone updates are for Chinese
Chinese bloat ware apps


So I think you would find my information was current
And so was my question

I rest my case
(A wink back at you , pal)

Dave X

That isn’t true for a lot of Chinese specific versions of phones, it just so happened not to be for the Oppo you’re looking at as there doesn’t seem to be a China specific model (hardware wise). Many China specific handsets omit band 20 as it isn’t used there. Many China specific versions don’t both with NFC as it isn’t used in China either.


Quite a passive aggressive, aren’t you? Remember you were the one asking for advice...