Visiting HK and buying an Iphone (SE 64 Gb)

[FF101]

Posted originally in the shopping forum but I did not get much of a response :-

I am visiting HK and want to look at the options to buy a new fully unlocked Iphone SE 64Gb (therefore not a new short supply model).

First question is what unlocked means on Iphones sold in HK. Here in the UK, there are only a relatively few suppliers (inc the Apple store) which sell Iphones which are truly unlocked. Many brand new 'unlocked' Iphones sold in the UK by authorised resellers are unlocked, but then automatically lock themselves to the network of the 1st SIM put into the phone and can then only be unlocked by that network. Is that how things work in HK, and if so, are there places other than the Apple store which sell truly unlocked phones ?

Should I expect to haggle, or are there pretty much fixed prices for new Iphones ? I assume some discount is available, but can anyone give me a clue as to the level and where I should be looking to be sure of not being ripped off with fakes, scams etc. ?

[imparanoic]

Posted originally in the shopping forum but I did not get much of a response :-

I am visiting HK and want to look at the options to buy a new fully unlocked Iphone SE 64Gb (therefore not a new short supply model).

First question is what unlocked means on Iphones sold in HK. Here in the UK, there are only a relatively few suppliers (inc the Apple store) which sell Iphones which are truly unlocked. Many brand new 'unlocked' Iphones sold in the UK by authorised resellers are unlocked, but then automatically lock themselves to the network of the 1st SIM put into the phone and can then only be unlocked by that network. Is that how things work in HK, and if so, are there places other than the Apple store which sell truly unlocked phones ?

Should I expect to haggle, or are there pretty much fixed prices for new Iphones ? I assume some discount is available, but can anyone give me a clue as to the level and where I should be looking to be sure of not being ripped off with fakes, scams etc. ?

Didn't you all the same question on Facebook bbc group?

[FF101]

Sorry but not on Facebook ! Not sure what / where the Facebook bbc group is.

[Claire ex-ax]

iPhones sold by Apple in Hong Kong are unlocked. I have one, which I have used with two network operators. I've also used it overseas without issue.

If a UK network operator's SIM somehow automatically locks the phone to that network, I would have thought it has nothing to do with the phone but with the network operator (and some fucking shady practice IMO). It doesn't happen with pay-as-you-go SIMs so is this SIM locking for contracts or something out of the ordinary?

[FF101]

No, its actually the way that the phones are sold in the UK and is completely normal. Only Iphones sold by Apple (and more recently John Lewis) and 1 or 2 other outlets do not self-lock.

[Mrs. Jones]

The phones are truly unlocked here.

Cannot haggle, fixed prices.

[Claire ex-ax]

No, its actually the way that the phones are sold in the UK and is completely normal. Only Iphones sold by Apple (and more recently John Lewis) and 1 or 2 other outlets do not self-lock.

So if you buy a phone (outright) from network operator A but decide to go with a data plan with network operator B, you can't because the phone is locked to A?

(I'm from the UK but have never bought a phone there or looked into buying one there. So my knowledge on this is zero.)

[matths]

Make sure you buy direct from Apple in HK. Be wary though, I think that the camera when taking photos you cannot turn the shutter sound off. It's hard coded into all phones sold in Asia as far as I'm aware.

Last I checked, it was cheaper to buy Apple products from the UK due to the extremely poor exchange rates currently around.

[hullexile]

So if you buy a phone (outright) from network operator A but decide to go with a data plan with network operator B, you can't because the phone is locked to A?

(I'm from the UK but have never bought a phone there or looked into buying one there. So my knowledge on this is zero.)

Yep. PITA.

[FF101]

The networks can and will unlock, but they have different policies on charging for ding it.