Where to buy Xaiomi redmi 4x - cheap introduction to android?

Varwen · 9 Nov 2017 at 13:07

Hi all,

Life long iPhone user unimpressed with their latest regurgitations - love the look of the Galaxy S8, but wary of tying myself in to a two year contract with an unfamiliar OS. What I'm looking for is a cheap introduction to android to see if I get on with it, with a view to upgrading to an S8/S9 at some point in the future.

Looking to spend ~£100, but don't want something so low-end that I'm put off by shoddy hardware. Strong used values of well known brands (samsung S6/7, LG etc.) have lead me to look at chinese grey tech imports, and so far I'm really keen on the Xaiomi redmi 4X global edition.

https://goo.gl/R625eF (shortened aliexpress link).

Is there anything else you guys can think of that I haven't considered? If not, xaiomi isn't sold in the UK - have you guys had any experience buying this kind of thing from aliexpress/gearbest, and which one would you guys buy from?

Thanks in advance for any help/advice!

reflux · 9 Nov 2017 at 14:16

I can't help specifically but there is lots of info about buying and using Chinese phones here - https://forums.overclockers.co.uk/threads/chinese-phones.18669811/page-245

Big Elf · 9 Nov 2017 at 14:21

One thing to bear in mind is that unless you root it you won't get the full Android experience with a Note 4X. While Xiaomi's MIUI is good in parts it's subtly different from stock Android. From my limited experience the Settings option are far better in MIUI but the handling of some notifications is non-standard and in my case annoying.

Hawk Tuah · 9 Nov 2017 at 14:21

I use BangGood for Chinese import stuff. They have the phone you're after.

https://www.banggood.com/Xiaomi-Red...-p-1124772.html?rmmds=search&cur_warehouse=HK

ZXSpectrum · 9 Nov 2017 at 15:04

As stated above, Banggood sell them as do DealXtreme and Gearbest, I am considering a Xaomi Mi Mix 2

Varwen · 9 Nov 2017 at 15:24

Thanks guys - really appreciate the help. Will bear in mind that it's not identical to vanilla android, but figure it'll be close enough to get the general feel of things. May well root it as I love to tinker with things and I still have my iphone around in case I brick the thing!

Checked some youtube reviews and heard good things, so took the plunge and bought from geekbuying (they had one in stock at a german warehouse, so hopefully no import duty to pay).

Columbo · 9 Nov 2017 at 19:28

If you are looking for a cheap introduction to Android get a Moto E for less than £100.
Stock Android, no bloat, full Google apps, UK handset etc etc.

RaV · 9 Nov 2017 at 21:39

I can recommend https://thesolutionshop.global/ - no need to worry about any possible import tax issues, and they are quick!

memyselfandi · 9 Nov 2017 at 21:52

Although that solutionshop doesn't appear to be the Global edition given it's frequency list (no B20/800) unlike this

And the Banggood link is to a Redmi Note 4X rather than a Redmi 4X (the former being a 5.5" screen compared with the latters 5.0" and the former not having B20, unlike the global Note 4)

I would say the MIUI is really not stock Android ....