11 hours ago, Chris GB said:

Pocophone F1 looks interesting!

It's certainly kicking up a storm. Xiaomi are on the brink of releasing some new devices, namely the Mix 3 which is expected to be the best smartphone n the market. This remains to be seen as the Mix 2 was underwhelming IMO.

I've just ordered a Hauwei P20 Pro from Amazon Italy (~£550) lots for a phone  but much cheaper than a new iPhone.

 

I'll let you know what it's like.

 

(although I've just found out there is a new Hauwei Mate out tomorrow so the Pro will probably be £50 in three days).

haven't got a Chinese phone but do have an old Chinese Tablet (a Momo Bird) amongst a number of Archos tablets and have just bought another Chinese tablet - a Huawei T5 10.1".  Will be interesting to see how the latter performs as the old Momo has been pretty reliable until lately and I think the recent issues have actually been related to Google Play Services updates rather than the tablet itself or the older version of Android.

The meizu 16th phone looks like it could be OK. But I don't think I'd risk £400-£500 on a order from China.

My P20 has just been dispatched from Italy.

 

Next day delivery Italian style, 2 days to leave the warehouse

Got my Huawei P20 Pro through.

 

I'm struggling a bit with Android, there are just so many knobs and toggles to get the damn thing working in a way I would like.

But it's fast enough, screen nice enough but yet to get into using the camera which was the main point for getting this modle however the night mode stuff is really impressive.

 

One thing...

 

I ordered from Amazon Italy because it was £200 less than amazon UK and it has come with the Huawei supercharger, with an EU plug, non-changable.

 

but also switching to USB C and no 3.5mm phono jack is a PITA. It comes with an adapter and extras and new cables are not a fortune but it's still a pain.

Edited 25 October, 20187 yr by Aspman

I've used a travel adapter to run the EU chargers. The Huawei charger is quite specific to the phone on the 6P. Charges pretty quickly.

I tried a shaver adapter but that wouldn't work. I didn't think about a travel adaper. Doh. I've a couple of good quality ones as well. In my kitchen I had a one of the wall sockets put in with USB charging points (v handy btw) it actually charges quickly from that as well.

Edited 26 October, 20187 yr by Aspman

Really, nearly all smartphones are Chinese smartphones when you think about it.

 

My Huawei built Nexus 6P has superb hardware and it has served me well for the last 30 months or so. Battery  life seems to be falling off now though, it'll only go one full day from a charge and it has slipped off the end of Google's update support. It wont be seeing Android Pie or future monthly security patches. I think it's time for a new phone.

 

Much as I've loved having a 2K screen on my last two phones, the newer phones with this resolution are all silly money. I really like the Huawei hardware and the P20 Pro / Mate 20 Pro where very tempting. Thinking about why I bought the last two phones (Nexus 6 and Nexus 6P), software and a large screen where probably the biggest factors. I've  had a look at the Huawei phones and the hardware is lovely, but the software looks a bit cluttered for my tastes. Pixel XL is way too expensive. So far, Oneplus 6T is looking like the front runner. The skin on the OS looks almost non existent and it seems that most of that skin is about improving customisation, not clutter. Could be an expensive week!

Hello again 

Well since I started this post I've only gone and smashed my phone to smiteerines.

(dropped an entire Micra engine on top of it). So uncharacteristically for me I went out and spent a load of money,315euro on

 

A pocophone F1 6gB/128gB version.

 

IT IS SUBLIME

 

Only drawback no NFC and I actually like the plastic build,it's grippy and not s fingerprint magnet.

The F1 is just so much phone for the money. How's the software side?

Nubia X looks interesting too.

Pretty close to stock android to be fair,lots of added gesture control,Ive turned it off,has an app drawer if using the Poco launcher,some icons a bit cartoonish.

If you're really hardcore just flash pixel o/s straight on.

 

 

Xiaomi have officially launched in the UK on Three so I expect things to rocket for them soon. That said the F1 is an astonishingly good value for money device. Maybe the official launch will bring the prices down on the rest of the manufacturers; as part of Xiaomi's business model they take 5% margin's so in theory should alway offer this price:spec ratio. 

On my last comment the Mi mix 3 actually looks amazing, and is said to be the first 5G device offered in the UK. They are doing a limited edition Forbidden City edition with 10gb ram, 256gb memory, Snaodragon 845  which is expected to be less than £600.

But £600 .......    

That's a whole lodda sommat else though.

Have to agree, the Mix 3 looks like a really nice piece of kit. 

 

I went for the OnePlus 6T. Hardware wise, it feels well made, 8GB RAM and Qualcomm 845 makes everything instantaneous. I've yet to use the camera. The software is the highlight. Bloatware is conspicuous by its absence, but delve into the settings menus and the customisation options are plenty and useful.

 

Reception seems to be noticeably better than the Nexus 6P. I'm getting signal in places that I never did before. Data speeds are good also, connects to the house WiFi at 200Mb/s and gets 90+Mb/s from the 4G network from indoors, both these being close to double the rates I got on the. Nexus 6P.

 

So far, well impressed!

hello!

what markets do you usually use for smartphones without google services?

33 minutes ago, USERN4ME said:

hello!

what markets do you usually use for smartphones without google services?

Just install Google play,services,play store

Bit of a random forum to register and ask that question on when there's dozens of dedicated forums for such queries. 

As 181ce says just install GAPS, or order a global version which comes with it installed. However if it isn't installed the Chinese version is fine to use, i forget the name but it is essentially the same as the play store for the anti-Google Chinese market. 

On 19/12/2018 at 13:47, 181ce said:

Just install Google play,services,play store

Thank you, but I can't, need to install Gaps, for this I need to root my phone, but I don't want to do this

13 hours ago, USERN4ME said:

Thank you, but I can't, need to install Gaps, for this I need to root my phone, but I don't want to do this

Have you set the phone to allow installing apps from unknown sources?

thanks for everyone I've find alredy  http://www.uptrivial.com/en/

I've just upgraded to a Pocophone F1 (from a Blu vivo 5r). It's got 6gb Ram and 128gb storage and snapdragon 845. So far so good - it was a bit over £300. The comprise is that the case is polycarbonate, it's Not waterproof and camera is "ok".  The Vivo was Ok but hadn't had a security update since 2017.