topic Re: Phone advice in Get Support

Phone advice

Ultrahub — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 21:17:07 GMT

I'm replacing an Asus Zenfone Laser. I'm looking for the best phone under $500.

Any advice is appreciated.

Re: Phone advice

will13am — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 16:47:10 GMT

@Ultrahub , I purchased the OnePlus 7t yesterday from B&H. I think this is a stellar deal. All in you are looking at around $450-460CD depending on exchange.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1600545-REG/oneplus_610214661838_7t_t_mobile_smartphone_glacier.html

If you want something less expensive, I think this is a good option. This is a mid range phone which is comparable to the zenphone laser.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1567410-REG/tcl_t770b_2alcus11_10l_unlocked_smartphone_64gb.html/specs

Re: Phone advice

Ultrahub — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 16:50:49 GMT

Thanks will13am.

No issues coming across the border? Any duties charged?

Re: Phone advice

CFPartDeux — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 17:35:03 GMT

@Ultrahub wrote:

No issues coming across the border? Any duties charged?

It would be taxes, on the Canadian dollar value of the item, and depending on how they ship it, it MIGHT also have a "brokerage fee" added on. Typicially, if shipped via the lowest level of service, UPS & FedEx charge a brokerage fee. The other courier companies might also add that on the total. If shipped via the postal system, it's the taxes, plus a low, flat fee, to collect those taxes(it's been so long, I don't know what that fee is anymore), IF they even decide to charge those taxes...... sometimes CP doesn't, but at the price of that phone, they probably would.

Having said that, it would probably be wise to check out their shipping info, because for some reason, it seems to me that I've read it somewhere, that B&H actually makes the purchase process easier for Canadians than many other U.S. retailers.

Re: Phone advice

will13am — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 18:42:07 GMT

@Ultrahub wrote:
Thanks will13am.
No issues coming across the border? Any duties charged?

B&H does a lot of business in Canada. Their shipping process across the border is super trouble free. For $1USD service charge, they will remit the HST to the Canadian government on your behalf so the item crosses the border seamlessly. During checkout, you can opt to not have them process the taxes in which case you can do the paperwork to get the item through customs and pay taxes yourself. Electronics do not have duty.

Re: Phone advice

will13am — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 18:46:28 GMT

@CFPartDeux wrote:
@Ultrahub wrote:

No issues coming across the border? Any duties charged?
It would be taxes, on the Canadian dollar value of the item, and depending on how they ship it, it MIGHT also have a "brokerage fee" added on. Typicially, if shipped via the lowest level of service, UPS & FedEx charge a brokerage fee. The other courier companies might also add that on the total. If shipped via the postal system, it's the taxes, plus a low, flat fee, to collect those taxes(it's been so long, I don't know what that fee is anymore), IF they even decide to charge those taxes...... sometimes CP doesn't, but at the price of that phone, they probably would.

Having said that, it would probably be wise to check out their shipping info, because for some reason, it seems to me that I've read it somewhere, that B&H actually makes the purchase process easier for Canadians than many other U.S. retailers.

B&H is almost like a Canadian online retailer with their hassle free process. I have bought from them a number of times without issue. The last time I ordered from them, it took 4 days for the item to be received.

Re: Phone advice

Jb456 — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 18:55:17 GMT

@will13am Black Friday deal? That's a good price for that OnePlus.

Re: Phone advice

Triguy — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 19:08:30 GMT

OnePlus are great phones as they usually provide three OS updates and also offer security updates.

Re: Phone advice

will13am — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 19:26:13 GMT

@Jb456 wrote:
@will13am Black Friday deal? That's a good price for that OnePlus.

Yes it is. The promo ends at midnight today. Only 9.5 hours to go.

Re: Phone advice

Jb456 — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 20:44:13 GMT

@will13am Hmmm may just have to get one 🙂. Do you know if they ship to ship it shops at the border? Cause I can still get over border to pick it up if that's the case.

Re: Phone advice

hmph — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 21:59:17 GMT

Huawei offers pretty suitable and affordable options, like the P30 Lite or P20 lite. Their phones last surprisingly long, and nothing is optimized.

https://www.amazon.ca/Huawei-P20-Lite-ANE-LX3-International/dp/B07C5HH17G

Re: Phone advice

Ultrahub — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 22:18:51 GMT

I've noticed on the B&H site:

"The phone is also dependent on T-Mobile for software updates."

Does that mean I won't get any updates on PM???

Re: Phone advice

will13am — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 22:43:29 GMT

@Jb456 , no idea if they ship to border sites. I only ever have it shipped direct to me. Do a live chat and see what they say.

Re: Phone advice

will13am — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 22:47:35 GMT

@Ultrahub , I think there's a possibility of update limitations. I intend to unlock the bootloader and run lineage OS.

Re: Phone advice

Ultrahub — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 23:06:34 GMT

Yeah ... unlocking bootloaders is not for me. Too bad because it really is a GREAT deal for the Oneplus 7t 😞

Re: Phone advice

gpixel — Sat, 28 Nov 2020 23:20:00 GMT

I didn't think OnePlus had carrier lock restrictions. I thought OnePlus send their own updates like Google does

https://www.oneplus.com/global/support/softwareupgrade

Re: Phone advice

Ultrahub — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 00:11:37 GMT

OK then.

The Oneplus support site says:

"After the .zip file is copied to your phone, go to 'Settings' - 'system update', click the 'settings' icon on the top right corner, choose 'Local upgrade', find the .zip file and click on 'Install' to confirm."

Is there any chance that the T-mobile version does not have the 'Local upgrade'???

If I could be sure I'd order right now!

Re: Phone advice

will13am — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 00:51:39 GMT

@Ultrahub wrote:
OK then.
The Oneplus support site says:
"After the .zip file is copied to your phone, go to 'Settings' - 'system update', click the 'settings' icon on the top right corner, choose 'Local upgrade', find the .zip file and click on 'Install' to confirm."
Is there any chance that the T-mobile version does not have the 'Local upgrade'???
If I could be sure I'd order right now!

No idea as I don't have phone in hand yet. The folks at xda do 99% of the heavy lifting. We just have to follow the steps provided. I am not the least bit worried that I won't be able to get the phone working with routine updates. If I cannot do it on my own, I will find a geeky friend to help out. Only a few hours to go on the sale and the blue color model is sold out.

Re: Phone advice

will13am — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 00:55:50 GMT

@gpixel wrote:
I didn't think OnePlus had carrier lock restrictions. I thought OnePlus send their own updates like Google does

https://www.oneplus.com/global/support/softwareupgrade

I think this applies to the "oem" version only. In the US, it looks like OnePlus has licensed carrier versions which allow the carrier to customize the software with their custom bloatware. Anyway, the xda forum has a solution for how to transform the phone into a regular model. That is what I will do although I won't be using the oxygen OS. I much prefer lineage OS.

Re: Phone advice

Jb456 — Sun, 29 Nov 2020 00:59:59 GMT

@will13am Thanks William! I'll try tomorrow. Live chat is closed now.