Umi Super Euro Edition

[JetFury]

Hi all, I'm looking into buying my first phone but dont understand bands and all that. From the reviews I was able to read the Umi Super looks like a good buy for the price(under 200). According to the articles Ive googled the latest release(Euro Edition) was supposed to solve the issue and marketed towards America. But i've had no luck confirming this, as most articles redirect me to that 2016 headline. How would I be able to tell if its compatible with a carrier here in North America? I think its at least compatible with 3g, should I just bite the bullet and go with that anyway?

https://www.androidheadlines.com/2016/06/new-umi-super-model-ship-4g-bands-us-canada.html

I found the website http://willmyphonework.net/ but the euro model doesnt seem to be listed.All the articles ive found suggest that model was specifically created to bring it in 4g lte to america though...

 

[canadianvice]

Gsmarena.com is usually a good place to find out what bands are supported. NA standard is 850/1900 or 1700/2100. There's also some alternative names under FDD Band (x). For instance, as I understand 1700/2100 == Band 4.

You'll need to look up the carrier(s) you want to be able to use it with to be assured that it will work. One heads up, however: Chinese phones DO NOT GET UPDATES. It's just a thing that doesn't happen, so make sure you're happy with the version of software it's currently running.

Using Canada as an example:

I'm currently on Freedom Mobile (Formerly Wind Mobile). One of Canada's AWS/Band 4/(1700/2100) carriers. So, any phone I buy I want to use with them will require that it works on that/those frequencies. It's not exclusive, if it supports more, well and good, but it has to have those. If I wanted, however, to use it with say, Telus, I would have to ensure the phone is able to support 850/1900.

Can you elaborate on your situation? That's the best way for someone to give you firm confirmation. Which carrier(s) are you going to use it with, and what country? Any travel plans/needs?

 

[JetFury]

Yeah i think im gonna cancel my decision to go for the Umi, as it can only handle 3g. Really annoying since these chinese phones are topping out great specs for low prices but no decent coverage in america. I was just wondering if the euro edition ha gotten 4g lte coverage since it was advertised in those articles last year. Couldnt find anything to confirm. Maybe the chinese company Umi was just trying to drum up business and lied about it.

Right now im trying to get something under 200, and im looking at the blu volvo 5, since battery is the most important thing for me. The carrier im looking to get is metropcs, and eventually, upgrade to tmobile since they bought them out so use the same towers. However while it does get full coverage with metropcs, it only gets some coverage with tmobile according to http://willmyphonework.net/. Bands: Band4-AWS, Band2-1900MHz Im guessing this means im good with tmobile in the city, not in more rural areas?

Whats also troubling though is going to metropcs bring your own phone page(https://www.metropcs.com/phones/details/610214639998.html) doesnt show the blu volvo as compatible. This is different than checking for coverage right? Dunno if they just havent added the volvo to be listed or if its legitimately incompatible under BYOP service. It would seem odd though, that it can get lte coverage but not compatible otherwise no?

 

[canadianvice]

Yeah i think im gonna cancel my decision to go for the Umi, as it can only handle 3g. Really annoying since these chinese phones are topping out great specs for low prices but no decent coverage in america. I was just wondering if the euro edition ha gotten 4g lte coverage since it was advertised in those articles last year. Couldnt find anything to confirm. Maybe the chinese company Umi was just trying to drum up business and lied about it.

Right now im trying to get something under 200, and im looking at the blu volvo 5, since battery is the most important thing for me. The carrier im looking to get is metropcs, and eventually, upgrade to tmobile since they bought them out so use the same towers. However while it does get full coverage with metropcs, it only gets some coverage with tmobile according to http://willmyphonework.net/. Bands: Band4-AWS, Band2-1900MHz Im guessing this means im good with tmobile in the city, not in more rural areas?

Whats also troubling though is going to metropcs bring your own phone page(https://www.metropcs.com/phones/details/610214639998.html) doesnt show the blu volvo as compatible. This is different than checking for coverage right? Dunno if they just havent added the volvo to be listed or if its legitimately incompatible under BYOP service. It would seem odd though, that it can get lte coverage but not compatible otherwise no?

STAY. AWAY. FROM. BLU.

Trust me. The ones we sell where I work have an almost 100% return rate and a high incidence of defects, and the high end one I purchased ended up getting no support at all beyond the OS it came with. BLU puts out like 50 phones a year, so let that inform the experience.