Which phone to take to India.....??? Help me!

[vEEP pEEP]

Hello,

I am going to a trip to India. I think most of India is 3G..but getting 4G

Should I take my HP Elite x3 Or Alacatel Idol 4s?

Elite
Pros - better features, size, build quality, dual sim, more LTE bands
Cons - size (can be too big), don't have a grippy case

Idol
Pros - better camera, have grippy case, size, front flash
Cons - slower camera, fewer LTE bands.

Love to hear your suggestions to those who have traveled there or who have these phones.

FYI - I used to take my Nokia's (95, N8, 930) on trips but my 930 died. Excellent build (tough) GREAT cameras, and perfect size. Worked on all networks...but alas...I have new phones...

Thanks,

Mr. V

 

[techiez]

Hello,

I am going to a trip to India. I think most of India is 3G..but getting 4G

Should I take my HP Elite x3 Or Alacatel Idol 4s?

Elite
Pros - better features, size, build quality, dual sim, more LTE bands
Cons - size (can be too big), don't have a grippy case

Idol
Pros - better camera, have grippy case, size, front flash
Cons - slower camera, fewer LTE bands.

Love to hear your suggestions to those who have traveled there or who have these phones.

FYI - I used to take my Nokia's (95, N8, 930) on trips but my 930 died. Excellent build (tough) GREAT cameras, and perfect size. Worked on all networks...but alas...I have new phones...

Thanks,

Mr. V

carry both

4G supported bands are TD-LTE - 2300-2400, I think few networks also launched FD-LTE 1800.
If ur Idol doesnt support the LTE band here still HSPA+ is good enough.

 

[RumoredNow]

As a business phone, the X3 has better "legs" for traveling. It would seem to have all the frequencies you need on GSM (Edge), UMTS (H+) and LTE (4G) for India.

Check networks in India here and cross reference X3 radio here. You can also get a breakdown of what LTE Bands are used in India here (including how broadly each is deployed by carrier). I see a 100% match for all data speeds with the X3.


If you have the T-Mo branded 4S Windows it misses the most prevalent UMTS (H+) Band, 2100/Band 1. Don't confuse that with Band 4 AWS which uses 1700 up and 2100 down, they are not interoperable. It also misses all the LTE Bands needed for India. You could be stuck on 2G/EDGE for much of your time there if you take the 4S. Cross reference the 4S radio here.

 

[vEEP pEEP]

Holy Crap! Thanks for the info!

Take both...I am tempted. I would take the HP Elitex3 but I don't have a shock proof case, and it is big and slippery.

The Idol has a better spec'd camera (21 MP) but it is slow and takes bad low light photos - with a flash (I miss my Nokia 930). But I will probably take it because it's cheaper if I lose it. Looks like I am screwed for LTE

Here are the network specs:

GSM:
850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
UMTS:
[+]
850, 1700/2100, 1900 MHz
LTE (FDD):
[+]
Bands 2, 4, 12
Data:
LTE-A Cat 6 (300/50 Mbit/s), HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s, HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s
Nano SIM:
Yes
HD Voice:
Yes

 

[RumoredNow]

GSM:
850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
UMTS:
[+]
850, 1700/2100, 1900 MHz
LTE (FDD):
[+]
Bands 2, 4, 12
Data:
LTE-A Cat 6 (300/50 Mbit/s), HSDPA+ (4G) 42.2 Mbit/s, HSUPA 5.76 Mbit/s
Nano SIM:
Yes
HD Voice:
Yes

Yep, that's the T-Mo branded.

Dude, if you get stuck on a carrier or in an area that uses 3G/UMTS/H+ on 2100, you will be stuck on EDGE speeds. That is painful.

Can't you just get a case for the X3?

 

[vEEP pEEP]

Yep, that's the T-Mo branded.

Dude, if you get stuck on a carrier or in an area that uses 3G/UMTS/H+ on 2100, you will be stuck on EDGE speeds. That is painful.

Can't you just get a case for the X3?

T-Mobile - really?
I got this from the Microsoft Store....and for this trip - if I lose it or something happens - I am not totally screwed out of money.

The HP Rugged case is over $50 and the review are BAD. I can't find another case. To make it worse - being in Canada - a lot places own't ship here. Amazon.ca - has nothing. MS Store did not have a case...

So I did order from AlibabaExpress - 60 DAYS TO SHIP!!!!!

 

[RumoredNow]

T-Mobile - really?
I got this from the Microsoft Store....and for this trip

Let me see if I can find a good source for radio on the NA Factory Unlocked then. Most places just print the T-Mo radio spec (if any).

 

[vEEP pEEP]

Let me see if I can find a good source for radio on the NA Factory Unlocked then. Most places just print the T-Mo radio spec (if any).

I got that info from GSM arena...what other info can I provide you?
Thanks!

Edge speeds...oh god...and I bet their Wi-Fi won't be stellar either...

 

[RumoredNow]

OK...

That didn't take long. Went right to the source. Alcatel is actually pretty good about listing radio spec in the user manual. Went to Alcatel's US site. Found a link to download the manual on the warranty page for the NA Unlocked. https://support.alcatelonetouch.us/...10-TCT-Mobile-North-American-Limited-Warranty



So that's a bit clearer... You have the more prevalent 2100 needed for 3G/UMTS/H+ in India, but the 900 MHz has dropped out. LTE isn't a better match. Possibly Jio, but they have LTE only on 3 different Bands and you match just one. So if you are in the wrong area no H+ to fall back on.

If you take the Idol 4S, expect and plan on 3G/H+ only and avoid carriers that use 900 MHz for 3G.

The following have only 2100 MHz 3G/H+ which matches your Idol 4S:

• BSNL
• Aircel
• RCom
• Tata Docomo
• MTNL

 

[vEEP pEEP]

OK...

That didn't take long. Went right to the source. Alcatel is actually pretty good about listing radio spec in the user manual. Went to Alcatel's US site. Found a link to download the manual on the warranty page for the NA Unlocked. https://support.alcatelonetouch.us/...10-TCT-Mobile-North-American-Limited-Warranty

View attachment 138219

So that's a bit clearer... You have the more prevalent 2100 needed for 3G/UMTS/H+ in India, but the 900 MHz has dropped out. LTE isn't a better match. Possibly Jio, but they have LTE only on 3 different Bands and you match just one. So if you are in the wrong area no H+ to fall back on.

If you take the Idol 4S, expect and plan on 3G/H+ only and avoid carriers that use 900 MHz for 3G.

The following have only 2100 MHz 3G/H+ which matches your Idol 4S:

• BSNL
• Aircel
• RCom
• Tata Docomo
• MTNL

RumoredNow - you are a Prince!
I pretty much knew I would be screwed on LTE with the Idol 4s. But the X3 is big and I still don't have a case. Take both...hmm...
Probably go with Aircel...

Hoping Wi-Fi is good.

Thanks for your help....going back to 2000....time travel...yay.

 

[vEEP pEEP]

I just got a case for my HP Elite x3
Network specs:
Technology
GSM / HSPA / LTE
2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)
3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands LTE - Bands 2, 4, 5, 13
Speed HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
GPRS Yes
EDGE Yes

Pretty much the same. Will take the cheaper Idol 4s....and live with the slowness...

 

[beman39]

I just got a case for my HP Elite x3
Network specs:
Technology
GSM / HSPA / LTE
2G bands GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SIM 1 & SIM 2 (dual-SIM model only)
3G bands HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands LTE - Bands 2, 4, 5, 13
Speed HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
GPRS Yes
EDGE Yes

Pretty much the same. Will take the cheaper Idol 4s....and live with the slowness...

nice! now go take ur X3 and have fun! x3 is awesome to use on any trip!