Still cannot believe it’s this cheap 😭 F in the chat for my bros (or sisses) who bought from banggood. I think this may be the lowest price for the 8/256 model. Was contemplating upgrading myself but I’m too deep in the 🍎 ecosystem. Enjoy!
9/3 update: small price drop from $421.29 to $416.59.
CamelCamelCamel.
Got it back in November, delivered December from banggood for 380. Charges in about an hour, nice screen and sound. Camera I would say doesn't take as good pictures as my 3/4 yold p20 pro.
My Mate 10 Pro is getting old now but still does a decent job…
I wish they didn't have all the blocks on the newer versions…
I've got a mate 20 and it's a great phone. In the same boat about the blocks. Not many phones get near the same screen and battery size. If thehly do, they're generally flagships. Plus after 3 or so years it's still going strong, for the most part.
Lol op if someone bought it for $435 I'm sure they won't be too upset seeing it at $421.
Damn it i bought the 6gb version last week at 370 still to be delivered.. Really wanted the bigger memory version still tempted to and resell old
why makes this phone has this much comments?
correct
Cheap.
and powerful.
sd870 will bring an 'acceptable' 60fps genshin experience. cant ask for more in a sub 500 phone
42
Yes
yes
Why does the image have ear phones? It doesn't even have a jack lol.
Still dunno if I want one. I still really like my lg v50, but cracked screen is an issue.
Could be USB-C earphones, though not sure if they're included or not
USB C to headphone adapter is included and depending on where you order from headphones may be included
These phones are cheap, offer great specs and amazing value for money. But there is one thing that you compromise on the most and that is the camera quality, which is sh*t when compared to some of the known brands flagship phones e.g. pixel 6 etc. The difference in picture quality is day and night but yeah mindful of the price difference we are not comparing apples with apples.
The camera quality, the bad software, the truckloads of bloatware, the virtual proximity sensor issues…
Lack OF VoLTE is a big one for me (though it seems from the comments that works on Optus).
Ye that sucks, what could compete at this level?
@Spennyrich: Samsung A52s 5G has been in the mid to low $400s often. The SD778 may be weaker than the SD870 in the F3, but you get 2yrs local warranty, much better software & updates, a better camera with OIS, headphone jack, SD card, IP67 rating, with similar 120HZ AMOLED screen and battery.
How does this compare to X3 Pro?
https://www.pocket-lint.com/phones/news/xiaomi/156221-poco-x…
X3 Pro: 860, 4G, has audio jack
F3: 870, 5G, brighter screen
Got mine 8gb 256gb ages ago $375.57 au from banggood.com, doubt that price come around again
Although with the release imminent on below may well
[AU$734.90 29% OFF]Xiaomi 11T Pro Global Version 120W Fast Charge 108MP Triple Camera 8GB 128GB Snapdragon 888 6.67 inch 120Hz AMOLED NFC Octa Core 5G Smartphone Mobile Phones from Phones & Telecommunications on banggood
https://ban.ggood.vip/11fUC
What's different about the UK version? Will it work here in Aus?
EU Frequency bands (meaning more likely to work better in Australia). Compare the phones on gsmarena.com
Need a UK adapter to plug into Australia points as well
I understand people may not have 1-2k to drop on a new Pixel or iPhone, but if you’re churning through $400 phones each year it maybe better for your pocket and the environment to invest into a better device instead.
You may well be right but as electronics repairer, which includes all phones, I simply will not buy anything Apple due to their extremely bad business practices. Atleast I know I can buy parts for these phones. I can't buy anything from Apple.
I've had my $400 phone (Snapdragon 845) for over 2.5 years now and it's still going strong without a single issue. To this day I'm still amazed at how blazing fast the thing is.
what makes you think a $400 phone can only last for 1 year and a $2k phone will last longer? They last just the same if you drop them on the floor.
And for the environment, maybe that's the reason I see people with broken screen iPhones all the time, because they care more about the environment but not their pockets.
Just an observation from some of the comments here, obviously doesn’t apply to everyone
My Poco F1 still going strong
In for one. Bit of an impulse buy as I already have a Pixel 4a 5g, but one of the two will either become a spare phone or my partner's phone. At this price for an 8GB RAM phone to ROM I couldn't resist.
(The two year warranty through Amazon may have been what clinched it)
I'm on the same dilemma… 4a5g is still going strong (touch wood) and I know that it's camera will sh*t on this… Would miss it too much…
GCam makes it better but makes it good not great like the Pixel
I've gone back to the 4a5g for a few different reasons but the main one was due to the camera quality
Cheap Xiaomi phones don't have optical image stabilisation (OIS). While GCam makes the camera very usable, it's no match for even Google Pixel 2.
I have:
1. Xiaomi Poco X3 NFC with Pixel Experience Android 12 custom ROM + GCam
2. Pixel 3 XL with Pixel Experience Android 12 custom ROM + GCam
3. Pixel 2 XL with DotOS custom ROM + GCam
Pixel 2 & 3 beat Poco X3 in image quality under all conditions.
Camera-wise it's a massive downgrade.
"Oh, look, honey, I bought you a phone!" :P
Is it worth upgrading from a Huawei mate 20 pro?
What's the biggest drawback with the lack of software updates? Realistically, how long will this phone last with good functionality and security?
It's not so much the lack of updates, but the quality of the updates. Xioami do guarantee OS and security updates for a few years, but they can be slow in delivering them, sometimes only quarterly and often in an adhoc manner.
If you go for cheaper Xiaomi phones, you should seriously consider installing Lineage Android OS (custom) ROM. You'll get regular updates and a proper Android experience.
Is it easy to install a custom ROM for an average person?
If you're not afraid to flash firmware, you can check out XDA and won't really have to worry about lack of software updates
No microSD, no waterproof, no buy.
Samsung S21 is much better buy,cheaper with better spec just same need wait for a deal
When has it been cheaper than this?
Almost every months last year for $250-$400 for basic one
For an S21? I think you might be thinking of the trade in deals? The lowest I've seen an S21 is mid 600s on Telstra day (and even then you might have needed a plan).
@reloxation: I cant see any difference between trade in or whatever,you get the brand new phone and warranty from Samsung website so?
Can't see an S21 that low. You'll have to send us a link.
@Clear: You can choose to send your phone back or not,if anyone that stupid this site may not for them because have much more deals that are not just click and buy.
PS:If you dont know how to use search posts $100 none smart phone should be good enough.
@yuisakas: That deal assumes one already has a Samsung though. How would someone get their FIRST Samsung device (S21) if they've never had a device from them before? The $250-$400 price assumes you have first spent a larger amount or know someone who has.
@reloxation: The trade in deals doesn't require you need a Samsung phone to trade in most brands can be trade in as well(eg google,apple etc),thats the point.
@yuisakas: If you're going to make claims about something being dirt cheap then it's your job to share a link to backup your claims. That's not my job.
So what have we found? The S21 is cheaper only if you trade in a phone and that phone has to be a Samsung. That's very specific criteria. While with the Poco F3 anyone can get it at this price.
@Clear: Some deals are for smart people,everyone can buy an outright with no deal some people can spend extra 5 mins buy it 1/3,1/4 of the price
@Clear: I bought couple S21 and S21+ for $199-$250,also have people bought it around$100 or less,but most people bought it $300-$450,good deal need patience and smart,Good deals are not for everyone,deals for everyone most aren't good.
@yuisakas: The lowest price for a new s21 ever (with no trade ins, quirky offers, etc.) was $624 during a Telstra Day sale last year.
Be careful when you infer that people here are not "smart", particularly when most of your "smart" comments are illegible.
@sinners007: So why?Some deals require codes or cashback or whatever,are you going to say these deals aren't deal?If you want with no trade ins, quirky offers, etc and dont want wait why use this site,doesnt make any sense.
Also thats why I said some people aren't smart at all,why dont use search tools and read the posts that upvotes >200,300 with /comments
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/product/samsung-galaxy-s21
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/search/node/samsung%20trade%20i…
Is that really hard?
@yuisakas: Your link is irrelevant… NO evidence of an s21 for $200… Just a general link to Samsung deals.
@sinners007: Just showed you how to find it and waste you own time to find the comments mentioned,because I dont earn money from the work so not going to waste the time.
Except if you need to take a decent photo.
Thanks .. Placed the order. Can you suggest a better OS that supports NFC payments as well ? I m not a big fan of MIUI .
Evolution X is pretty sweet and works with Google Pay at least on my Mi 9T Pro. Not sure if it's on Poco F3 though
Pixel Experience Android 12 custom ROM.
PixelOS. Currently best rom for this phone after testing many different ones
Just my 2 cents, I bought the Poco X3 Gt, and when I compared it (GSM arena) with the F3 it looked better on paper. I'm not super impressed with phone (coming from a Sammy Note 8) I'll give it another go with a ROM, anyone has good instruction on how to do it (step by step), the one that I found are not clear on where you have to load the various components (pc or specific folder on the phone, I'm no tekkie). I wouldn't recommend a Xiaomi, a colleague of mine had an OPPO an super happy with it, so next phone will be probably an OPPO. Any help really appreciated
Poco X3 GT has a Mediatek CPU (Chipset). Do not expect many custom ROM's, if at all. If you want to run a custom ROM, it has to be on Snapdragon CPU.
https://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=10949&idPhone…
crappy camera and no sd card slot
This or Oppo X3 Neo assuming X3 Neo drops in price to the $500-600 mark in a month or 2 with the new X5 coming out?
Thank you OP, just bought a spare one, as I already have one very happy with, I build my own Lineage rom for mine with Micro-G, got all the apps that I need running :-), I have a feeling very soon they will make it against the law to unlock bootloaders, so will unlock the bootloader and stash it in my drawer as a reserve just in case.
I get 11+ hours SOT with 20% battery left on regular bases. excellent phone.
I have a feeling very soon they will make it against the law to unlock bootloaders
…where and why are you hearing/thinking this?
Lmao, why would unlocking bootloaders be against the law?
did you think that you would need a passport (the green kind) to go to the Gym couple years ago? if someone told you couple years ago that this is going to happen you would have reacted the same way you are reacting right now, I guess let's wait and see……..
Are you seriously drawing parallels between showing vaccination status and unlocking a bootloader?
@reloxation: yes it is very far fetched, you are right and correct, not the right place to be talking about this…. bye
I lost IQ points just reading this.
Wow fanatasic price. This phone is truly top notch (but without a notch!)
And there're so many custom ROMs to choose from!
Is it easy to install a custom ROM for the average person?
Should be OK for someone who's "good at computers", can tinker with PC / windows.
There're many youtube tutorials for reference.
Is anyone else weighing up this against Poco F4 Pro/Pro+, which is expected to be released this or next month?
I'm leaning towards waiting for the F4 as there's normally a discount on launch date.
A few dollars more for blue
https://www.amazon.com.au/Poco-F3-Smartphone-DotDisplay-Snap…
BTW, is it OK without custom ROM? Don't want to play with custom ROM anymore.
As someone not tech-savvy and unfamiliar with Xiaomi family of phones, is this ready to use out of the box without having to "root", "flash", "brick", or installing "custom ROMs", etc? Whatever these terms mean! For example, can Google Play Store easily be installed? And Is the phone going to be swamped with unwanted advertisements? Or are there other unwanted features that will need to be somehow removed? Constructive replies are appreciated.
Yes the operating system is already installed and comes with Google Play store to get other apps you may want.
Yes there is ads unless you install some like adguard to block ads. Of course custom ROMs will run smoother cause of no bloatware or ads but that requires some mucking around which may be hard for you as you stated you are not tech savvy. Hope this helps
You can disable ads. It needs you to look at a guide cause it's deliberately convuluted, but you can do it in a few minutes. There's also alot of trash apps designed to mine for your data, but you don't have to open them, and if you want to, you can go to the xiaomi sub reddit and get a debloater. Takes 10 minutes with a guide.
And even then, be wary that you might just need to flash a custom rom at some point after a few updates. Some updates can just screw up certain pages or functions. Again, not hard to do, but very tedious.
Been using mine now for the past month or so without any custom rom and am perfectly happy with how the phone performs. There are some garbage apps that come pre-installed, but they take seconds to remove (press and hold on the app, click uninstall). Im yet to see any ads that bother me, and they're usually in the manufacturer's apps (if you decide to use them) . Otherwise they're 100% avoidable and able to be turned off. As far as I'm aware, because this is the UK version, it shouldn't get ads. (?)
Google play is pre-installed and Google pay works flawlessly. Everything has worked perfectly for me since day 1.
Thank you goose25, Wonderfool and HeyPapito.
Good specs and the amoled 120hz screen is great but MIUI is one of the worst things ever and the camera is meh. This may be my last Xiaomi phone in a while, not a fan of MIUI.
I've bought it with every intention of flashing Lineage OS on it.
I realise this isn't for everyone and people want something fully functional out of the box, but if you want a phone that works fantastically and is supported almost indefinitely it's the way to go.
I find the OS better then pixel 6 and samsung One UI(S10). I must use a phone differently to others.
That can be fixed with a custom rom like pixelos. MIUI software has always been buggy and can make the camera a bit better by installing a custom gcam apk