Which Mobile Phone?

[Homer]

Some rise to the challenge of replacing an 'unrepeatable' battery. Then they document it on youtube. You'll need a set of simple special tools, containing such things as spudgers. Link to google images: https://tinyurl.com/ya7hn7ud Lazada has them for around 300b IIRC.

Some replacements are fairly easy, with low likelihood of damaging the phone. Others, not so easy or safe. But if the battery is dead, why not give it a try?

[Big Boy]

My family and I have had several phones where the battery has died. Replacements have rarely helped, and we've ended up buying a new phone anyway.

This could be because the software is draining the battery, so not a problem with the battery itself as a replacement one behaves the same.

Yes, I realise that, but posters are talking about the stupidity of buying a phone without a replaceable battery. However, regardless of the reason for failure, it has been my experience that when it happens, replacing the battery is futile anyway. So is the stupidity wasting money on a replacement battery?

[STEVE G]

Judging by my younger colleagues, the reason they make phones with non-replaceable batteries is because the average user breaks, looses or upgrades the things about three times a year.

[laphanphon]

Geez, what phones are you buying and what are doing to them. Had my present one for about 2 years, and can't see buying, needing another, for at least 5 more years. If the batteries are still available, I keep using it till they're not. Have 3 now, that I rotate weekly.

2 phones before, one, had for years, but simply obsolete, so bought a Nokia w/windows on, and only bought the present one, as windows, well, sucks, and useless, as need Android for apps I use, and my drone app.

[egiljohann]

especially the cameras (it's three of them)
What is the purpose of 3 cameras?

It's a front camera for selfies and two cameras on the back, one color and one B/W which are merged together and makes exellent pictures. This is provided on most of the Huawei models.... on the more expensive models the cameras on the back are made by Leica. And by the way, the newer Samsung models are adopting the idea.

[handdrummer]

especially the cameras (it's three of them)
What is the purpose of 3 cameras?

It's a front camera for selfies and two cameras on the back, one color and one B/W which are merged together and makes exellent pictures. This is provided on most of the Huawei models.... on the more expensive models the cameras on the back are made by Leica. And by the way, the newer Samsung models are adopting the idea.

Thank you.

[Nereus]

I will put this here as it is current and relative to new phones:
.........................................................................................................
Smartphone market cut-throat as Chinese rush in

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/ne ... recent_box

The sluggish economy has caused fierce smartphone competition as Chinese phone makers flood the market and mobile operators offer longer payment instalments of up to 36 months at the Thailand Mobile Expo.

After Advanced Info Service received an 1800-megahertz licence, its slashed its iPhone X 256GB price from 45,000 baht to 24,000 baht to subscribers who switch to AIS.

Total Access Communication Plc offers a 5,000-baht discount for its iPhone X with a free Apple Watch worth 15,000 baht. True Move sells the iPhone X (256GB) at 29,000 baht and the 32GB iPhone 6 for 1,500 baht.

"In the first three quarters, local smartphone sales performed poorly as consumers were reluctant to purchase new phones, but the market will rebound this quarter," said Opas Cherdpan, managing director of M Vision Plc, the organiser of Thailand Mobile Expo.

The event is being held at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center until Sept 30 this year. Next year it will move to Bitec.

Fierce competition was evident at Thailand Mobile Expo as Android smartphone makers offered complimentary products with the purchase of new phones such as free air purifiers.

There were discount campaigns for those who purchased larger mobile data packages from operators, as well as 3,000-4,000-baht price reductions for iPhones.

Phone distributors also extended their payment instalment programmes from 24 to 36 months.
The four-day show aims to reach 2 billion baht with 700,000 visitors.

The greatest sales band during the expo is expected to be devices priced over 10,000 baht.

Dusit Sukhumvithaya, co-chief executive of Jaymart Mobile, said in the past nine months, local smartphones sales contracted 10% in term of units and saw a 5% contraction in value as buyers put off purchases from 18 months to 24 months.

However, in the fourth quarter local smartphone sales are expected to be flat in terms of value, with units contracting to single digits to tally 18 million total units in 2018.

"New Chinese phone makers who just entered the Thai market might be pushed out of the market within 1-2 years if they do not have any hero products to win over customers," said Mr Dusit.

Chanon Jirayukul, executive vice-president of Thai Oppo Co, said the market leader will have around a 25% market share and there will be no dominant player with 35-40% as more players rush in.

Wichai Pornpratang, vice-president of Thai Samsung Electronics, admitted Chinese brands are quite strong in the middle bracket. Samsung plans to launch new mid-range products by year-end.

The smartphone market is expected to reach 15 million units this year, and remain flat in 2019 because of saturation.

[Nereus]

The event is being held at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center until Sept 30 this year. Next year it will move to Bitec.

Just a word of warning about this event. If you think that it may be worth attending, DON'T!

I arrived there just after 10-00 am and there was absolutely NO parking space left, just a huge traffic jam. After I managed to extricate myself I eventually found one of only 5 or 6 disabled bays. And for anybody that qualifies they are accessed through gate # 4, NOT the main gate.

In the posted article 700,000 visitors are mentioned, and I think that every last one of them was there this morning!
If you can negotiate the throng, then better wear some earplugs, as the NOISE is deafening. The Chinese brands have dozens of booths, complete with aggressive sales types pushing crap into your face.

I did find the Motorola booth, only to be informed the usual "no stock" of the phone that I was interested in! Never did find the Nokia booth, if there was one.

The coffee shop(s) are good.

[Nereus]

More technical BS! I bought a base model Nokia 1 from Lazada, delivered to the my door for Baht 1,990. Tried to change the Sim card over from my old phone and it WILL NOT FIT! From what I can discover it only takes a "Nano" Sim, and my existing Sim is a "micro". This despite the blurb saying it uses a Micro Sim and a Nano.(it is dual Sim + SD card)

I know it is possible to cut the card down a bit, but what is the "proper way" to do this. It is with AIS, so can they supply a new Nano Sim with the same number, or is just getting it cut to fit the way to go?

Old style sim cards: 25 x 15 mm
Micro sim card: 15 x 12 mm
Nano sim card: 12.3 x 8.8 mm

[Big Boy]

Any of the phone shops will sort it for you. Not sure if they charge (we've never been charged, but we have a family friend).

[hhinner]

It's free. I just did it with DTAC. I was a bit puzzled when they gave a full size SIM until I realized you can just press out the required size: micro or nano.

[Nereus]

Any of the phone shops will sort it for you. Not sure if they charge (we've never been charged, but we have a family friend).

Ok, thanks. The AIS shop at BigC where I go shopping is inhabited by several rude arrogant "Toms". I have already threatened one of them with giving her a thrill like she has never had before with my walking stick!

[Nereus]

It's free. I just did it with DTAC. I was a bit puzzled when they gave a full size SIM until I realized you can just press out the required size: micro or nano.

Yes, already have 2 phones with those adapters, but my old Sim card is a Micro, so nothing to push out.

[Big Boy]

They have a tool similar to a hole punch - done in 1 second.

[hhinner]

It's free. I just did it with DTAC. I was a bit puzzled when they gave a full size SIM until I realized you can just press out the required size: micro or nano.

Yes, already have 2 phones with those adapters, but my old Sim card is a Micro, so nothing to push out.

Not an adapter. It's how the SIMs are provided. You easily press out the micro or nano size as required. Or leave it full size.