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HTC Incredible S $299 Optus Prepaid @ Kmart

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Page 7

Optus Prepaid HTC Incredible S
Android 2.4
4" Screen
8mp Camera

Starts 27/10/2011

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closed Comments

  • is it locked ?

    • To the Optus network I believe.

    • optus

  • +6

    Android 2.4, that's good to know

    • There is no 2.4 yet! 2.3.7 is the latest phone version…

  • +3

    Awesome deal. Get the Optus sim, activate it, put it away and use your LiveConnected sim. After 6 months call Optus and they'll unlock it for free :D

    This deal should do well. I say 30 +ves by the end tonight.

    • +3

      I bought a prepaid phone from optus and I called them to unlock it right after I got the phone.
      Juz told them u r going oversea!

      • and they'll do that for free?

        • Yes I have done this before and it works :)

      • do they ask you for more details?

    • already 60+ves …
      and i am +veing it too…and really thinking of getting one too to replace the CRACKED Legend screen.
      Legend's screen is a bit too vulnerable!! drop - dead

    • Don't you have to recharge a minimum number of months? Otherwise unlocking fee applies?

  • +17

    Indeed an Incredible phone at that price point. Thanks for posting!

    • +9

      INCREDIBLE PUN, SCOTTY!

  • This one or Nexus S is better?

    • +3

      This one is far better.

      • Just curious, why is this better then the Nexus S?
        Specs are very similar, but the Nexus S will get updates sooner

        • +1. I'd rather have the Nexus S, considering Ice cream sandwich is right around the corner :)

        • +2

          more ram, better camera, but less storage (1.1Gb vs 16gb on the nexus s), but it supports up to 32gb, where nexus s doesn't support external storage (micro sd)

          the only downside for me, is its sense UI (not really a fan of sense), but if you like sense, then it should be a plus for you.

          also, with nexus s, you'll get the latest android os first.

        • Htc are actually not that bad regarding updating android as well

        • will this be able to be updated to ICS when it comes out?

        • You dont have to use sense you can install and switch to any other launcher

    • they are both good phones, depends on who you trust more, HTC or Sammy

      • +1

        HTC Sense is a major bonus if you like their UI; I can't stand TouchWiz.

        • i never use stock ui on both phones, I have stuck to LauncherPro Plus for god knows how long, maintaining my set up and placement of widgets since day 1 ;p

        • the nexus doesn't have samsung's touchwiz - the whole point of the nexus line is to have a 'vanilla' experience so there is no manufacturer UI, just the stock android one (samsung only manufactures the hardware)

  • +9

    Android 2.4. Thats awesome. Must be the only phone with 2.4

    • -1

      Not awesome, just a minor update if anything. Perhaps you are confusing it with Icecream Sandwich?

      • +15

        I think he was being sarcastic.

        The phone probably comes with 2.3.4, as opposed to 2.4 which doesn't exist.

        • +1

          ^^This one ^^

          :p

        • Probably comes with 2.2.

        • I read there is supposed to be a 2.4, which is the same as 2.3 except it runs apps compiled for a dual-core phone/tablet. Seemed a bit odd.

        • 2.4 was supposed to be the version no. for Ice Cream Sandwich if it's not 4.0.

        • I bought mine outright from TeleChoice, Virgin Mobile's stock which is without bloatware and the latest version is 2.3.3. 2.3.4 and above seem unlikely to come anytime soon at all, let alone ICS..

        • I'm running 2.3.7 on my HTC Desire using CyanogenMod 7.1 - recommended for any Android phone

  • To the OP, it'd be android 2.3. No such thing as 2.4. Great deal btw

  • it is a damn good phone. bought it a few months ago and i don't expect to want to change for…at least a year hahahahahha (considering the rate at which new androids are coming out !!!)

  • Also, it's safe to assume this won't work on Telstra due to no 850MHz HSPA.

  • -8

    Knowing HTC it would probably be 2.2 or maybe even 2.1

  • +5

    I have this phone on Optus and its running 2.3.3 build 2.34.980.1

    • Mine which is the Virgin Mobile stock is 2.34.981.1

  • +1

    I used Optus prepaid for exactly 1 month. Then I didn't. Their Facebook page is full of complaints (those they haven't deleted)

    Their Network is worse (gasp) than Vodafone's in many areas - even in the CBD the 3G will not connect or connect at less than dial-up speeds.

    • So Optus is still having the network congestion issues then. I was using Virgin Mobile until end of March when I changed to Vodafone and haven't looked back.

  • +1

    will it be full of optus branded stuff? i have some gift vouchers which would make this only $199 for me :)

    • That's right, all locked phones comes with bloat-ware. You just have to root it and install Titanium Backup to remove the programs you don't want

      • which would obviously void the warranty. but still.

        of more concern is the locked to optus thing, i'm with 3! although i honestly am going overseas in a little bit ;)

        • +1

          I am with TPG,the biggest concern isthat they dont unlock it for me, If so, This phone will be useless.

        • Phone will work on TPG…

          As for unlocking the phone… Ask a mate who's been with Optus prepaid for 6 months+ to help you out (to unlock it for free). It could be hard for new phones though… Optus system may not have the unlock code handy yet.

        • Bugs is right. Just un-root it before you return it for warranty.

        • looks like from the discussion here it is not too easy to unlock….hm. i'm keen on the phone (my current one is pretty much gone, barely get coverage anywhere) but i need it to be unlocked obviously.

          hm more reading i guess

        • @kenmizuki - You won't have to unlock the phone for TPG. TPG uses Optus networks, so it will work straight away. I have used a couple of prepaid Optus locked phones straight out of the box with a TPG sim in it :)

        • Someone mentioned further up there that it works by just telling them that you're going overseas and they'll unlock it for you. Other than if it doesn't work, just ask them how much to unlock. For e.g. Vodafone's is $75 if you do it online within the first six months.

  • this or the lg optimus 2x for $378????

    • LG optimus 2x for 378? Is this the HN deal or another deal? I thought the HN deal was over.

      • yeah i believe it's expired.

        as an owner of the 2X.. if you don't like putting custom roms.. get the HTC.. LG have been almost a year late with 2.3 update.. and even til now it hasn't been released

        and the battery is heaps fail when data is enabled. on stock 2.2 ie. i get like 8 hrs max LOL!

  • wow thats a good price for this phone.

  • +14

    For AMEX cardholders - don't forget you can use this promotion to easily reach the $300 threshold in order to receive a $30 Westfield Gift Card effectively making the phone $269!

    http://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/54262

  • Will it work on Virgin?

    • Yes, Virgin uses Optus' phone line so the phone will work without any unlocking.

      • Forgive the stupid question, but I don't buy phones terribly often (about every 5 years or so).

        My beloved currently has a post-paid Virgin account with an old Nokia handset, and is well out of contract. She's sick of the current handset, and wants something with an easier to read screen. Is there anything stopping her from buying this as a handset and inserting the Virgin post-paid SIM into it? Or can it only be pre-paid Virgin? I imagine the pre-paid / post-paid clash might prevent just buying the handset and continuing to use her current SIM.

        • +1

          Virgin Mobile uses Optus' network so technically the current SIM card should still work on the new phone.

  • There won't be an issue with buying this, rooting it and using a TPG sim will there?

  • Nope, and yes it'll work on Virgin.

  • Just worry about if porting to Telstra after unlock, 3G 850Mhz is not supported.

  • +2

    AFAIK rooting the Incredible S is not possible (except for S-Off devices, which were only a few when they were first released)
    eg. http://androidadvices.com/how-to-root-htc-incredible-s-tutor…
    notice nobody getting it to work?

    • Apparently unlocking it through the HTC Dev website works and will allow you to install custom ROMs even though it will still say that your phone is S-On and that Incredible S is not listed in the HTC Dev site.

      I've gotten this info from one of the people from the HTC S-Off root team (forgot their names). His Twitter handle is attni.

      • so would doing that void the warranty ?? i really want to get all the optus crap off my phone, i don't even want custom ROMS i just want to be rid of the optus stuff but don't want to void !

  • It is good to see Optus starting to lower the price of single core Android phones (this one should be considered mid-range Android phone by today's standard). iPhone 4S is out so we should expect single core phones to be cheaper.

    Phone unlocking on Optus is more reasonable. After 6 months, it is free unlock - so worst case, buy a $30 recharge and use it for 6 months then ask for the unlock code.

  • +5

    The Incredible S is rootable, you need to gain S-Off access. Warning: Rooting won't void your warranty, but gaining S-Off will.

    Heres the tutorial:
    http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/HTC_Incredible_S:_Full_Upda…

  • Is this phone better than Samsung Galaxy S2?

    • +1

      Nope, buy if you're not willing to spend $500 than this is one of the phones out there in the $300 mark.

    • I think this one is on par with the Samsung Galaxy S1 or a bit better. The S1 is round 350-400 bucks though.

    • Galaxy S2 is better

    • -1

      Thought so as well but after trying the Evo 3D I was not so sure…

    • +4

      HTC IMHO are more rugged . My desire is now quite old but I have had no problems with updates and I really like sense . I guess it comes down to your preference between sense and touchwiz . Although with the the HTC phones you are spoilt for choice with custom roms if your prepared to root your phone .

  • So this or Acer Liquid Metal for $128?

    • +3

      If you are happy to "root" and spend time tweaking things to deal with the limited memory, then the acer is a good way to save a lot of $$$. Personally I would prefer the better materials of the incredible S, but I got the acer as it is a fantastic phone for an absolute bargain price.

  • +6

    I like HTC over the Samsung. Also you shouldn't compare this phone to the Galaxy S2 as its a different class. For 300 bucks, this is probably the best phone you can get. Samsung phones tend to have more bloatware compared to HTC, also HTC phones tend to have the backing of xda-developers. Also the benefit of Sense is good. I guess performance wise, its similar, except this phone has a 8 megapixel camera. Software wise, Samsung gets navigon which is quite a decent gps program. To each to his own:P However this is a very good price

    • +1

      Yes this is a good price but I beg to differ about the bloatware because neither came with any. It's the carriers that are at fault. And Optus' Incredible S has a lot that keeps running in the background taking up the RAM. I managed to change to Virgin Mobile's which is the stock version.

      And HTC hasn't been keeping their promises about their bootloaders, unlike Samsung who even sent an S2 to the CyanogenMod team to help them give support for S2. It's Samsung that has the developers' backing. Latest firmware for Incredible S has sealed its bootloader, making Revolution's method of getting S-OFF useless. HTC which is likely to not support this phone beyond 2.3.3 with future firmware updates tried to prevent us from getting 2.3.7 to the phone via CM7.1.

      • +1

        Samsung really is more rooting and hacking friendly because they don't lock their bootloaders. That's the truth. I don't know why you would want to neg me just because of that. I'm using my Incredible S to write all these comments. I have owned this phone for almost 5 months now so I know what I'm saying because I've been through it.

        • Sorry I shouldn't have entertained the troll(s)..

      • I bought an Incredible S a few months back with Froyo installed, and phone was S-ON. On XDA i found a way to get temp root, and then installed gingerbread. Last week, I followed the instructions on this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1137008, was able to obtain S-OFF, permanent root, and install any ROM I could get my hands on. Currently have 2.3.5 with sense UI 3.5.

        So there definitely is a way to root and change ROM, but AFIK, the alpharevx app wont remove network lock. Just head over to youtube or XDA, and search on how to unlock Incredible S. There are plenty of places on the net that will unlock network for about $25

  • This looks like a good bargain.

  • +6

    Wow! $299 for prepaid Australian stock, that's Simply Incredible. I'd to read the title twice to confirm the price vs model. Cheapest ATM is $479 unlocked.
    Here's a very comprehensive review on the phone:
    http://www.techradar.com/reviews/phones/mobile-phones/htc-in…

    • +1

      none will get a S for 479, as samsung S2 is selling at 500aud

    • +2

      Techradar says:
      Poor battery life

      Engadget says:
      Returning to the aforementioned battery life on the Incredible S, it's pretty darn impressive.

      Go figure!

  • umm … samsung galaxy s2 vs incredible s

    any comments ?

    not wanting a flame war .. but opinions ..

    i wanted a droid phone so i got one that was suppose to have like 10 days long standby and hours of talk time .. and i barely get a whole day outta it :( so yeh battery life between the two is going to be important

    • s2 battery life is piss poor. Not sure about the incredible s.

      • from my experience with the incredible, i haven't had one day where i've run out before i went to sleep. cannot give you figures on usage times but it wasn't just sitting there.

    • different price points so irrelevant, $500 v $300

  • anyone have any thoughts on how much stock they'll have? and will other places honour a price match?

    • Maybe they can do a rain check if it's out of stock.

    • its new optus prepaid handset coming in for the xmas period. not exclusive to k-mart or anything. expect to see it at pretty much any store that sells optus pre-paids at the same $299 price in the coming weeks…

  • I bet in couple of days mobilecity and the like will start an incredible war.. on price it is

    • +2

      With the recent release of dual-core smartphones, prices of single-core units are under pressure.
      The fact that Kmart/Optus are able to offer this phone at such a price point just goes to show how much excessive profit the local dealers are fleecing off oz consumers.

      • +2

        nothing unusual there, move along !!! hahaha

  • +1

    I think the expiry date can be removed. This is an Optus' normal offer and should be available on all OptusWorld Stores and all Optus agents/resellers until sold out.

  • lol nice deal. i just got a sony xperia arc the other day (on voda 29 cap o/ 24 mnths, no repayments, 3 month free), otherwise i would have considered this deal.
    how does the incredible S compare to the arc?

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