Where to buy phones and gadgets in China

[Guest Coolbox]

Hi

I am very sorry if I should ask about this in another group(fx. the asian group).

At the moment I am staying at Chengdu, China. I think that most electronics seems to be very cheap here and I therefore would really like to know where to buy a nice smartphone here in Chengdu og in Beijing if anyone knows.

Maybe some of you have been here and can sugest a cheap store.

Also which model is good?

I am really sorry if this is an anoying post :)

[Guest Phonz]

Dont know any stores in Chengdu but I am familiar with the Chinese smartphone market. The best phone IMHO in the dopod series of smartphones (565, 575 and 585) The 575 and 585 are upgrades the popular 565 (spv c500) with faster internet modem, memory and better pixel camera (not much difference really). They are small, functional and the later ones quite good looking. Expect to pay 3600rmb for the 565 and about 4000-4500 for the 575 and 585. They have been out a few months now so the price should be dropping fast.

There is also the mini pocket pc avaliable (dopod 818) in english now in mainland china and an upgraded version 528 will be out soon. Its also likely HTC will release a qvga version smartphone in china under dopod that matches spv c550.

Other phones worth a look are the new nokia N series, Doeasy, Lenova and motorola mpx220's are dirt cheap here (cuz they're crap!) Sony Ericsson phones are no cheaper here than elsewhere and while I love their style and screens, they can't match the flexibility and internet capabilites of windows based devices. If only Sony could cram windows operating systems into their K750! I mean they make Viao's for christs sake.

In shanghai there is an electronics district where you can trade in mobiles easily and they often give you a reasonably good price. Look for a similar place in chengdu and you'll get some cash for your old phone. Also use all your chihnese haggling skills to get them to throw in a cheap mini SD 1 G card - this is china - haggle your ass off!

Cheers

[Guest Phonz]

I'll add that in china the smartphone has saved my boredom so many times while travelling on business. Im suprised more phones dont have good nternet access like the smartphones because its something I use constantly to look up something, surf while in a car, watch movies on a plane, chat on msn to friends across the world while waiting in a terrible chinese que...

Thanks to HTC/dopod I have a parallel universe to explore in the palms of my hand.... until the battery runs out of course. Then I switch on my psp :)

Also I know a few people who have that pda style motorola (e680 or something) and it has a wonderful screen, some nice speakers and games but thats about it. Camera sucks and internet explorer is lousy and doesn't utilise the whole screen.

I've been able to access 98% of explorer sites on my dopod through china mobile. The plan costs me 100 rmb for gprs and 100MB download. 200rmb a month gets you 500MB.

[Guest Coolbox]

Thank you very much for your answers. I went to a big computer center today but the prices seams to be a bit high there. The qtek like c500 costs 3400rmb there.

On my way to the center I passed a road full of cell phone stores so I think I will go there one of the days.

Do you have any experience about buying smartphones over the internet in China....a Chinese friend of mine told me that many things are much cheaper that way.

[Guest Phonz]

No experience buying from internet in china but if you are going to try internet look at HK sites also. they may be able to ship it from there cheaper than a mainland company.

3400rmb too high for you? You won't get a better smartphone for less unless you want the motorolla mpx220...

Hmmm maybe I should sell you mine and upgrade :)

[Guest Coolbox]

Well I don't need camera in the phone and it does not have to be the newest model.

What model do you have and are you in China.....maybe I am interested then.

I don't need to buy it from new as long as it works.

I have had a spv100 and motorola mpx200 but sold it because I needed som money. Now I really would like to have a smartphone again to play with while I am here. I liked the mpx200 but haven't tried the mpx220 yet. I have also been looking at those palm smartphones with keyboard....I don't remember the name. They look very cool but are propably very expensive. Also I have thought of just buying one of those small Chinese phones that look very cool but does not have many functions....they are much cheaper but not as much fun.

[Guest Coolbox]

I went to at big street full of phone shops yesterday. I don't see many smartphones here.

I did however find some dopods but I think the prices are very high...about 4400 yuan. Thats more expensive than in Denmark.

Do you think it is possible to get a smartphone for about 2000-2500 yuan?

As I said before it does not need camera and so. I have been looking at the ngage too. There are a lot of software to them too and they are a bit cheaper.

[Guest Coolbox]

Phonz is it a motorola mpx220 you have that you might want to sell?

[Guest Phonz]

Phonz is it a motorola mpx220 you have that you might want to sell?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[/q

Sorry I didnt check this thread in a while - hope you have a new phone by now. I still have the dopod 565, not the mpx220. I dont like the motorola small screen and boring looks...

Im still waiting for all the new qvga mobile 5 phones to come out end of the year - if you haven't got around to a new phone, buy a cheap one and wait until the current dopod prices come down or get a new whiz bang qvga phone.

cheers

[Guest Coolbox]

Yes I just bought the TCL Genesee two days ago. Its like the mpx220 with bigger screen. Its very nice. I tried some software on it and it runs perfect.

Thanks for answering hehe;-)