Dual SIM Smartphone

[Hvr]

I need to purchase a new Smartphone and want an unlocked Dual Sim about 6-7".

While there seems to lots of single SIM phones I thought it would be good to ask people who understand why we need a Dual Sim.

Oh and 4G would be good as well.

 

[wooley]

If only there was a twin SIM iPhone

 

[medhead]

I have a dual sim case for iPhone (5 I think). Not sure if it works. Since it was a present when I had a 4S and I've skipped iphone 5 entirely.

 

[Colin 2905]

.... Smartphone .... about 6-7".

That's not a 'phone, it's a small tablet.

I currently carry two or three mobiles at any given time, and one of those is a dual SIM. I can't help you with the size (6-7" is way too big for what I'd want, so I've never looked for something that size), but some general considerations.....

AFAIK, there still isn't a dual SIM 'phone that doesn't relegate the second SIM to 2G-only. Even with the relatively few 4G dual SIM 'phones now available, only one SIM gets to do (up to) 4G; the other is stuck on 2G. As carriers start ditching 2G (and some overseas already have, or never had 2G in the first place), this is going to become more of a problem. Even in many places in Australia where there's good 3G and 4G coverage, 2G can be patchy or non-existent, so it's already a problem here for some.

Most dual SIM 'phones are "dual standby"; when you're talking on one SIM, the other is effectively off the air. If you want the other SIM to remain on air whilst you're on a call you need "dual active".

Make sure you get one with all the bands you need, or think you might need. Availability is much better these days, but when I bought my first two dual SIM 'phones (I'm currently up to my third), multiple bands weren't common or even available.

 

[moa999]

Plenty of chinese brands are dual sim, along with a select bunch of Samsung's etc.

If you can find one in Australian store not much choice.

My current phone is a ZTE v5 Max which I bought from Etotalk.com pre-rooted and with English and Google App Store installed for under $200. The stock ROM hasn't given me any issues so far but is only KitKat. Bands are more applicable to Optus in Oz

A few of these Chinese phones are now shipping with Lollipop 5.0.

To date I haven't had an issue with 2G coverage internationally.

 

[serfty]

I purchased a dual sim 5.5" "Bahn" from Aldi for $229 a couple of months ago to uaewhen I travel.

As indicated it's 2G/3G and I put my Oz SIM (Virgin) in the 2G slot and the local SIM for Data in the 3G side.

Worked ok in the USA and Hong Kong but had issues in Japan (which is wierd for phone jn any case).

I plan to fire it up in NZ late this month

 

[Colin 2905]

I plan to fire it up in NZ late this month

I'm doing a trip to NZ in late December, so I've been looking at my options. Spark (which used to be Telecom NZ) doesn't have 2G, so keep that in mind.

 

[slc767338]

If only there was a twin SIM iPhone

I have a dual sim adapter for my 5S. Works well with my UK and AUS sims.

 

[Chrisd26]

Have a look at

Samsung Galaxy S Duos | SAMSUNG Australia

 

[serfty]

I'm doing a trip to NZ in late December, so I've been looking at my options. Spark (which used to be Telecom NZ) doesn't have 2G, so keep that in mind.

2G is fine as data will be switched off ... mainly recieve Texts on that one ...

 

[wooley]

I have a dual sim adapter for my 5S. Works well with my UK and AUS sims.

which brand did you go with?

 

[Colin 2905]

Have a look at

Samsung Galaxy S Duos | SAMSUNG Australia

I had the 3G 850 version. I bought it at a time when you were forced to decide whether you wanted 3G 850 or 3G 900.

Now that dual SIM 'phones with both 3G 850 and 3G 900 are more readily available, there's no way that I'd buy another Galaxy S Duos, or any other dual SIM 'phone that didn't have both.

 

[Colin 2905]

2G is fine as data will be switched off ... mainly recieve Texts on that one ...

I assume you'll either be using a Vodafone NZ SIM, or roaming to Vodafone NZ, for the 2G-only SIM?

 

[serfty]

Not at all .. it will be my virgin (oz) mobile SIM (with data switched off) ... saves on call fowarding.

I'll be using, in all likelyhood, a Vodaphone NZ$39 prepaid SIM in tbe 3G slot and using that for any calls as well as data.

 

[moa999]

Same as my usage... Its data that's important so local Sim for that with/without calls with data roaming disabled on Aussie sim

My Aussie Sim for SMS/ receiving calls only so 2G is fine.
Depending on rates and who it is I will often call/Skype the caller back.

 

[Colin 2905]

it will be my virgin (oz) mobile SIM (with data switched off)

That's what I was getting at re roaming. Since Spark doesn't have a 2G network, your Virgin AU SIM will only have coverage wherever there's 2G Vodafone coverage (assuming that there's a roaming agreement in place..... I don't know).

There's also another player in NZ called 2degrees, but from what I've read they don't have much of a network, and rely on roaming to Vodafone.

 

[serfty]

That's what I was getting at re roaming. Since Spark doesn't have a 2G network, your Virgin AU SIM will only have coverage wherever there's 2G Vodafone coverage (assuming that there's a roaming agreement in place..... I don't know)...

Around AKL I should be fine and don't expect any issues around Paihia (Bay of Islands) where I'll be spending most of my other time.

 

[narx]

I just brought a Asus Zenphone 2 Taiwan edition for about $350AUD delivered and arrived in Perth from TW in 2 business days. It's dual sim and supports LTE.

I needed a new phone anyway, and while dual sim wasn't my primary purchase reason it was a nice bonus for travel and as we're heading to the US soon. Have picked up a T-Mobile sim for local data while there.

I bought from an Ebay seller (I can't post links as a new poster, search ebay for item number : 161732262654 )

Stuff you'll care about
*Dual sim. First sim 2G/3G/4G LTE. Second sim 2G only (SMS/Calls) so stick your local data sim in slot 1, and your home sim for those calls you don't want to miss in slot 2. Both active at the same time.
*Android 5
*All the other usual stuff (GPS, GLONASS, fast charging and decent battery life for a smartphone)
*Good price!

In Australia you'll really want 4G/LTE 700mhz band 28 (not band 17!) which means the Taiwan model is the one you want. TW model covers these bands:

2G :
EDGE/GPRS/GSM : (WW version)
850MHz/900MHz/1800MHz/1900MHz

3G :
WCDMA WW version)
850MHz/900MHz/1900MHz/2100MHz

4G :
FDD-LTE: (TW version)
2100MHz(1)/1900MHz(2)/1800MHz(3)/1700MHz AWS(4)/850MHz(5)/900MHz(8)/1800MHz(9)/800MHz(18)/850MHz(19)/700MHz(28)

 

[Hvr]

The problem with buying any phone with 2G is that it will be obsolete come Dec 2016 when the network is closed.

 

[serfty]

The problem with buying any phone with 2G is that it will be obsolete come Dec 2016 when the network is closed.

Telstra is closing their network to 2G - the other carriers I believe are continuing with 2G for now.