Alcatel does not believe in money for quality – for the sole reason that everyone deserves a good phone. This is why Alcatel OneTouch Fierce 4 has been designed. It is a perfect fit for the users’ everyday tasks, giving them good battery life and definitely. Certainly, this phone is one you should go for.
Design
Purposely big in size, Alcatel OneTouch Fierce 4 aims to provide a beautiful viewing experience with its 5.5-inch HD IPS display carrying a 720p resolution. In great consideration for its users, Alcatel designed the unit with utmost simplicity. Its undeniably sleek design which appears with chrome trims and aluminum-brushed back panel perfectly displays a premium look and feel to the handset. Also, the phone gives users a comfortable hold to the phone as it only weighs 5 ounces and measures to 5.94 by 3.03 by 0.32 inches overall; slim enough to slide into a user’s pocket. Notably, the power and volume buttons also come off as slim – perfectly blending with the phone’s overall design.
Camera
Alcatel OneTouch Fierce 4 offers its users an auto-focus 8MP rear camera that takes well-lit outdoor shots, and a good 5MP front camera for selfies. Moreover, it allows users to take gorgeous HDR and panoramic shots from a shortcut key on the lock screen for quick access, and similar to most phones today, it also has a Beauty Mode setting that users can use to take gorgeous selfies through its front camera. For video recording, the handset can provide a good 720 at 30fps quality shoot.
Connectivity and Network Performance
With regards to connectivity, Alcatel’s handset boasts a 4G LTE connectivity that’s good for an everyday casual use at an affordable price. Aside from its blazing fast LTE connectivity, it also has good connectivity protocols such as Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi 802.11, and an A-GPS that provides good sharing connection and an improved startup performance.
Power and Battery
Impressively, Alcatel OneTouch Fierce 4 is powered with a quad-core 1.1GHz CPU and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 210 chipset allowing basic tasks to run smoothly, and occasional games to be played.
Additionally, the phone boasts a 2500mAh battery that’s perfect for a casual everyday usage.
Software and Memory
Pre-installed with an Android 6.0 Marshmallow, this Alcatel handset provides a clean set of app icons, a convenient drop-down menu comprising common settings such as the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and brightness adjustment, and a lot of customization options completing the phone’s essentials. It also comes with a built-in 16GB internal storage running on 2GB RAM, and a MicroSD slot that supports 32GB additional storage allowing users to enjoy the phone at its best.
What’s New with Alcatel OneTouch Fierce 4
Taking pride in its key features, Alcatel OneTouch Fierce 4 allows users to enjoy entertainment on-the-go with its bright 5.5-inch HD IPS display and crystal-clear audio, undeniably perfect for watching movies while on a trip or chilling at home. Additionally, it provides users an enhanced message sending with special text formatting, graphics, animations, and ringtones, and easy access video calling that is convenient for everyday communication without installing extra apps.
Unlock Your Alcatel OneTouch Fierce 4 with UnlockBase
With all the good points that the Alcatel OneTouch Fierce 4 can offer its users, it wouldn’t be as much useful without a good service provider. So what better way to solve this problem than to get help from UnlockBase – the best web unlocking service with the widest range of smartphone brands and units to unlock! The process will be easy as 1,2,3; just request and apply through the Device Unlock APP and it’ll be possible in your phone, no need for external communications – try it now!
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
Widely regarded as the pinnacle of budget smartphones, while some brands have added more specs and a lower price point, only Motorola has managed to produce a phone that works like one that is worth twice the price.
The Motorola G5 Plus features a metal build this time around and measures 150.2 x 74 x 7.7mm and weighs 155g.
The phone has a front-mounted fingerprint sensor built into the oval capacitive home button as well as a large circular camera housing on the rear, giving the phone a more premium feel. It also has a water-repellent coating.
The G5 Plus features a graceful curve to the back and comes in Lunar Grey or Fine Gold, and will also be available in an O2-exclusive Sapphire Blue in the UK.
The G5 Plus has a pixel density of 423ppi, making it sharper and crisper than predecessors thanks to the size reduction. The displays are also flat based and for protection, the G5 Plus is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 3.
As for cameras, the G5 Plus has a 12-megapixel sensor with Dual Autofocus Pixels, claimed by Motorola to be best in class, offering 25% more light thanks to its f/1.7 aperture, which is the same as the Samsung Galaxy S7 and S7 Edge. The phone also has the same 5-megapixel front camera as the Motorola G5.
According to Motorola, the Dual Autofocus Pixels is designed to improve focusing time because there are ten times more pixels on the sensor.
Running on the Android Nougat platform, the G5 Plus offers 32GB as standard, with microSD expansion available. The phone comes with a fingerprint scanner on the front, and a 3.5mm headphone socket Powered by 3000mAh battery that offers TurboPower charging. It’s compatible with Motorola’s Rapid Charger, offering six hours of battery life in 15 minutes. The G5 Plus also has NFC on board.
For example, you can own the G5 Plus for £39.99 down from EE with a 24-month contract. Monthly payments amount to £17.99 per month with 1 GB of data per month as well as unlimited calls and texts with a lifetime total to pay of £471.75.
At the other end of the scale, Vodafone offers the Motorola G5 Plus for FREE but you pay £34 per month for a 24-month contract with 16GB of data, unlimited calls and unlimited texts. Total price to pay would be £816 in total. There are several other Motorola G5 Plus deals from other service providers, so you need to take the time to work out which best suits your needs.
Unlock Your Motorola G5 Plus With UnlockBase
Can UnlockBase unlock the Motorola G5 Plus from EE UK or Vodafone UK (or any other networks)? Of course, we can! We offer the largest database of global service providers and smartphones on the web. The device requires a code to insert when it asks for “SIM Network Unlock PIN“. This can be done online fast and economically, you never need to be stuck with a contract you don’t like.
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
Powerful, practical and precise, the Huawei Mate 9 offers revolutionary battery life of two days via a large 4000mAh battery as well as smart power-saving technology. Yet Huawei’s SuperCharge technology safely charges the device for a full day’s use in just 20 minutes. Huawei SuperCharge is among the world’s fastest rapid charging systems, charging at up to 50% faster than the Mate 8. Each of the 5-layer controls for voltage, current, and temperature provides an ultra-safe charge that keeps the Huawei Mate 9 fast.
The phone features a Leica second-generation Dual Camera which offers unprecedented detail for images that take you from mere photography to photographic artistry. Equipped with a 12MP RGB sensor and 20MP monochrome sensor, the RGB sensor captures vivid colors, while the monochrome sensor picks out the finer details. The Huawei Mate 9 Pro also comes with a wider range of shooting capabilities, enabling you to take professional-quality shots in a number of different scenarios. Hybrid Zoom enables close-up shots in from greater focal lengths.
The Huawei Mate 9 has an 8MP Selfie camera with automatic face detection with custom beauty settings making it practically impossible to take a poor selfie.
In addition, the Huawei Mate 9 features 4k video recording with optical image stabilization. It also uses the H.265 video compression standard, allowing for video file size compression of up to 50%.
Running on Android 7.0 fresh out of the box, and powered by a Huawei Kirin 960, Octa-core CPU, the Huawei Mate 9 has a 5.5 inch curved AMOLED display screen, and has 6GB of memory and 128GB of ROM.
About Huawei
Headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong, Huawei was founded in 1987 with just $5000 start-up capital by 72-year-old Ren Zhengfei, a former engineer in the People’s Liberation Army. From scratch, he has built Huawei to a point where it is a key world telecoms player with a presence in 45 of the top 50 most important telecoms markets worldwide, and with annual profits exceeding US$5.5 billion.
Can UnlockBase unlock the Huawei Mate 9 from Globe Philippines or Smart Philippines? Of course, we can! We offer the largest database of global service providers and smartphones on the web. The device requires a code to insert when it asks for “SIM Network Unlock PIN“. This can be done online fast and economically by ordering your unlock code now!
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
Budget versions of higher priced phones are proving incredibly popular with many phone fans willing to sacrifice a little less performance for a significantly lower price. With this in mind, Samsung has released the budget minded Galaxy J3 Prime, and while you have to accept it’s not going to be top of the range, it’s certainly a lot of phone for the money. This Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime was launched just last month, April 2017, and comes with a 5.00-inch HD touchscreen display with a resolution of 720 pixels by 1280 pixels.
An ideal economy choice, the phone measures 139.70 x 69.85 x 8.89 (height x width x thickness) and weighs 148.00 grams. The Galaxy J3 Prime is powered by a 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos 7570 processor and it comes with 1.5GB of RAM. It also has a removable battery, which can be extremely useful in the event the phone stalls or the battery needs replacing. It runs the latest version of Android, Android 7.0 (Nougat), and has 16GB of internal storage that can be expanded up to 128GB via a microSD card. As for cameras, the Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime has a 5-megapixel primary camera on the rear and a 2-megapixel selfie shooter on the front. The streamlined layout of Easy Mode enables you to find everything quickly and, as the name suggests, easily.
The Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime is a single SIM (GSM). Connectivity options include Wi-Fi, GPS, Bluetooth, 3G and 4G. Sensors on the phone include Proximity sensor, Accelerometer and an Ambient light sensor.
Samsung describes the phone as doing everything you love and yet it still fits your pocket. That’s because it’s slightly smaller than the 5.5-inch screen phones, and, of course, is set a budget price.
Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime (SM-J327T1) from MetroPCS USA
Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime (SM-J327T) from T-Mobile USA
T-Mobile offers the phone for $150, along with a package that includes a SIM Starter kit $10 and a $50 Prepaid Refill Card, these extras boost the package to $210.
The J3’s size, capability and low cost could make it the perfect travel phone.
Unlock the Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime with Unlockbase
If you prefer another service provider or you have found a better SIM deal, UnlockBase can instantly and economically unlock your Samsung Galaxy J3 Prime for you with the “Device Unlock” APP an Android app that allows you to request and apply a mobile device unlock directly from the device. This allows you to automatically apply Mobile Device Unlock to the device without using a manual code. When your phone is locked with “Device Unlock” APP it’s totally useless to order an unlock code. Unlockbase is the longest establish and the web’s largest online remote cellphone unlock service. We stand ready and able to unlock the widest database of cellphones from a vast list of global service providers, 24/7.
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
The LG K20 Plus is now available at both T-Mobile (LG TP260) and MetroPCS (LG MP260). The new budget priced smartphone provides LG fans with a cheaper alternative if the G6 is beyond their means.
LG K20 Plus ships with Android 7.0 Nougat right out of the box. The smartphone sports a 5.3-inch display with HD (720p) resolution and a 13-megapixel camera on the back. The phone also features a 2.5 Arc Glass Design with skillfully curved edges, and a slim and light design in a metallic frame enhanced with the latest fingerprint print sensor security.
This new phone is part of LG’s mid-range and comes complete with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 425 processor, 2GB RAM, and 32GB expandable storage. The K20 Plus comes with a secondary 5-megapixel selfie camera with selfie light and a rear-mounted fingerprint reader as well. Usefully, the LG K20 Plus comes with a removable 2,700 mAh battery, bucking the trend for batteries that are integrated into the phone therefore non-replaceable in the event of a problem.
The device weighs a mere 142 grams, and measures 149mm in length, 75mm in width and 7.9mm in thickness. Overall, the LG K20 Plus is a capable, on trend smartphone for the price, and should fare well in the increasingly competitive mid-range segment.
With global annual sales in excess of USD 55.91 billion, LG comprises four business units: Home Entertainment, Mobile Communications, Home Appliance & Air Solution, and Vehicle Components. It’s one of the world’s leading producers of mobile devices, as well as electrical goods including TV’s, air conditioners, washing machines and refrigerators.
LG K20 Plus Key features
4G LTE enabled
Android 7.0 Nougat
5.3” HD In-Cell Touch Display with 2.5D Arc Glass
13 MP rear-facing autofocus camera with LED flash
5 MP front-facing camera with Gesture Shot & Selfie Light
32GB ROM / 2GB RAM
1.4 GHz Quad-core processor
Unlock your LG K20 Plus with UnlockBase
Can you get out of a tiresome or poor value 24-month contract for the LG K20 Plus? That’s what Unlockbase is here for. UnlockBase can instantly and economically unlock your LG K20 Plus for you with the “Device Unlock” APP an Android app that allows you to request and apply a mobile device unlock directly from the device. This allows you to automatically apply Mobile Device Unlock to the device without using a manual code. When your phone is locked with “Device Unlock” APP it’s totally useless to order an unlock code. Unlockbase is the web’s largest online remote cellphone unlock service, able to unlock the widest database of cellphones from service providers the world over, 24/7.
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
Imagine a phone with a whole world inside it. It opens when it sees your face, learns from you and erases barriers between you and the world on an expansive, beautiful Infinity Screen.
The new Samsung Galaxy S8 (SM-G950T) and S8 Plus (SM-G955T) brings with it a raft of cutting edge new ideas and features designed to help you live life the way you want to live it. The Galaxy S8 expansive display stretches from edge to edge, giving you the most amount of screen in the least amount of space.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus is the bigger brother of the Samsung Galaxy S8. The S8 is a 5.8-inch phone while the S8 Plus is a sizeable 6.2 inches. They both feature a new design in which the “infinity display” wraps around the device, meaning that the large screen takes up almost all the front of the phone.
The new larger screen is a real turning point in flagship phone design and should usher in the end of large bezels, and the camera and slick performance work brilliantly at fingertip control. These new models may command a premium price, but make no mistake: they are truly premium phones. The screen is the clearest, sharpest offering from Samsung yet and delivers superior color reproduction to make movie watching a near cinematic experience.
Introducing Bixby
When you press the new Bixby button to access the Bixby Home screen, it learns from your routine to serve up the right apps and content at the right time, and makes it easy to ask Bixby a question or make a command. You can use Bixby, Samsung’s new intelligent interface for all sorts of daily needs including as a reminder to keep track of your to-do list, to pick up milk on the way home, or even keep track of your place in an article online.
For enhanced security, both the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus are equipped with the latest in iris scanning and face recognition for unlocking your phone right away. There’s also defense-grade security that stands guard around the clock.
Better camera
As for one of the most popular devices of all on any Samsung Galaxy, the 12MP Dual Pixel Rear Camera still takes amazing photos in low light, but now comes with an enhanced 8MP front-facing camera so you can take even better, clearer selfies.
Then there is Bixby Vision. It’s built into your camera to give you a deeper understanding of what you’re looking at. For example, you can focus on an object through your viewfinder, tap the Bixby Vision icon, and instantly launch into an intelligent mode to identify landmarks or translate foreign languages just by pointing the camera at the message you want to interpret. Or you can take a picture of an item you want to buy, and find the best place to buy it.
Better control
In addition to all this, the new Samsung S8 and S8 Plus keeps track of every area of your daily activity.
Samsung Health enables you to monitor everything from your steps each day to sleep to nutrition, live chat with a doctor and stay motivated with notifications.
Samsung Pay lets you carry all your cards on your devices so you can pay in-person or in-app. Plus get extra rewards for the same purchases you make every day.
Samsung Connect lets you control hundreds of devices and appliances, whether you’re at home or out and about.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 is available at MetroPCSfor $729 or for $750 from T-Mobile, T-Mobile also offers monthly contract terms of $30 per month over 24 months.
The Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus from MetroPCS is $835 and $850 from T-Mobile, T-Mobile also offers monthly contract terms of $130 down plus $30 per month over 24 months.
Unlock your Samsung Galaxy 8 and 8 Plus with UnlockBase
If you don’t want to be tied down to a contract, UnlockBasecan instantly and economically unlock your Samsung 8 or 8 Plus for you with the “Device Unlock” App an Android app that allows you to request and apply a mobile device unlock directly from the device. This allows you to automatically apply Mobile Device Unlock to the device without using a manual code. When your phone is locked with “Mobile Device Unlock” it’s totally useless to order an unlock code.
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
As the old saying goes, once the genie is out of the bottle, there’s no way to put him back. That’s how creator of the internet, Sir Tim Berners-Lee, has recently stated he feels about the worldwide web which he gifted to the world.
He has warned that the potential for mobile phones and other devices to be tampered with in far reaching and damaging ways is high if proper protection is overlooked. “When people are thinking about the security of their systems, they worry about people discovering what they are doing,” Tim Berners-Lee said. “What they don’t think about is the possibility of things being changed.”
Citing an example, he said: “If you disrupted traffic data to tell everybody that all the roads south of the river are closed, so everybody would go north of the river, that would cause gridlock and disable the city,”
With iPhones and Androids rapidly becoming more advanced, there’s a growing trend in the number of smart phones being hacked, leaving users extremely vulnerable to compromised personal information. But what are the tell-tale signs your mobile phone has been compromised? If you notice any of the following occurrences over the course of a few days, the chances are your device has been hacked or compromised.
1. You have recently noticed your smartphone is slow and clunky
If your mobile feels like your phone is working reluctantly, almost against your will, and is slow, unresponsive, and typing is difficult, it may have become infected with malware. There are a number of free apps out there that can slow down your phone’s performance, and quickly fill the memory on your phone. Review your apps carefully, and if there are any you don’t need, or are not sure about, delete them.
2. You’re sending or receiving unusual text messages
If friends start telling you they are receiving unusual and unwanted text messages from you, or if you are receiving such messages, you could have had a security breach. It’s time to run a reliable anti-malware app to check if there is a problem.
3. New apps have been added to your phone and you didn’t install them
There are several vulnerabilities in operating systems that may let Android or iOS malware escalate privileges and gain the ability to circumvent security features. This can result in apps being installed without your permission. These apps can potentially steal your data, record your calls and text messages. They can even hijack your social-media and online banking sessions. Immediately delete any apps you did not install.
4. The battery is draining much quicker than it used to
Malware chews up battery time as it works on code in the background. If you find your battery draining faster than it used to, check your apps to see how much memory they are consuming. If necessary delete them and install again, or just do without them. A clean fast phone is one that is not overloaded with apps.
5. Certain apps have stopped working properly
When apps that were working perfectly well, start to misbehave, delete them, run a virus and malware check and install again from a trusted third party.
6. Data or text messaging (SMS) is greatly increased but your usage remains the same
You know your monthly data usage, but lately it has been considerably higher than you expected. Beware of text messages that can arrive in your inbox inviting you to click on them. Some of these seemingly innocent texts can charge you for every text you receive, and you can receive several a day, which will massively affect your charges as these are premium rate texts. Delete any texts you do not recognize.
7. Charges you do not recognize are displaying on your phone
Criminals love nothing more than to exploit an infected device. They make expensive overseas phone calls via remote party proxying through your device. They can also send SMS messages to international numbers, or ring up charges in other ways.
8. Your phone has been accessing dodgy sites you never tried to view
Many business mobiles operate on private networks that ban dubious sites of a certain nature such as porn sites or pirated content sites. If you notice that your phone has been trying to access such sites and has been blocked, when you yourself have not attempted to visit them, it is more than likely your phone has been infected, and you should report it to the company’s IT Department before the finger of suspicion falls on you.
9. An acquaintance seems strangely well informed about your schedule/activities
If you feel someone knows more about you than they should, such as what time you will be at a certain venue, or certain comments you have made to other friends, you may be being cyber stalked. This means a piece of malware has been introduced to your phone for the purposes of discovering everything about your personal, and quite possibly your financial life, too. Again, this you need to protect yourself by running anti-virus and malware software from a trusted source. It may also be necessary to go the whole way and restore the phone to factory settings, but make sure you back up valuable information, music and pictures to the cloud before doing so.
10. Your phone number is all a hacker needs
While it is important to take precautions by regularly checking your phone for malware and viruses, it is also worth bearing in mind that all a determined hacker needs to access your phone is your phone number. We are all guilty of giving away our mobile number too freely. How many business cards do you give to little known acquaintances during the course of the day?
Did you know an experienced hacker can use a network interchange service called Signalling System No. 7 (SS7), also known as C7 in the UK or CCSS7 in the USA.
CCSS7 acts as a broker between mobile phone networks. As calls or text messages are made across networks, CCSS7 handles details such as number translation, SMS transfer, billing and other back-end duties that connect one network or caller to another. By gaining access to the CCSS7 system, hackers can track a target’s location based on mobile phone mast triangulation, read their sent and received text messages, and log, record and listen into their phone calls, simply by using their phone number as an identifier. For this reason, it’s important to be extremely careful to whom you give your number.
How do you protect your mobile device when it has also become your mobile bank, your wallet, social network and more?
The truth is, you can never be fully protected, but an awareness of what hackers might try to do, and what happens when they have successfully hacked your phone will give you the awareness to do something about it quickly.
How can you change your service provider if you’re not happy with the service you’re getting?
That’s much easier to answer. Just contact Unlockbase. We have the largest database of mobile phones and service providers internationally. We can quickly, easily and securely unlock your phone and set you free to choose the best provider for your needs.
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
We have updated the HTC unlocking code Database with 5,479,470 new IMEI entries, last update was in October 2016. With this update, we are now able to deliver instantly the Unlock Code of no less than 228,424,845 HTC Cell Phones. Almost 99% of latest HTC phone models are available in our Database, including the last models from the brand:
– HTC U Ultra, U Play,
– HTC Desire 10 Pro, Lifestyle,
– HTC One A9s,
– HTC Desire 627, 628, 630,
– HTC Desire 728 Dual SIM
– HTC Desire 820G+ Dual SIM, 820s Dual SIM,
– HTC Desire 825, 828 Dual SIM, 830,
– HTC One E9s Dual SIM
– HTC One M9+, One M9+ Supreme Camera, One M9s,
– HTC One ME and One X9.
Don’t want to waste time? You can check for free whether the Unlock Code of your HTC phone is available or not in our Database by using our Free Widget to get real time availability! Just have your unique IMEI ready and visit the widget page to do this: http://www.unlockbase.com/widget/htc.php
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
If you’re in the market for a new smartphone but don’t want to pay the, let’s be frank, not so advantageous monthly price of a service provider contract phone, you could decide to look for a “behind the curve” model. That is a secondhand smartphone that’s perhaps a year or two old, but still functions perfectly adequately.
There are several good sources for ‘behind the curve’ phones including Mobile-Base and Amazon. These sites often have deals on newish phones at close to used prices. But if you do decide on a second-hand smartphone, it’s vital to bear in mind some of the potential phone buying pitfalls.
The first thing to consider is what type of second hand phone option you want.
Save money on a popular brand second hand phone from a previous owner.
Or pay more for a refurbished phone. A refurbished phone is one that has been tested, fixed and made serviceable by a retailer. If you opt for this route, make sure you get a guarantee, even if it’s for a warranty of only six months.
Buying second-hand
Check the IMEI
If you decide to go the second-hand route, it’s vital to check that the smartphone works correctly, and above all, that it isn’t stolen. If it is and you buy it, your mistake will be discovered as soon as you try to fit a new sim card into it. The phone will die on you, not only that, you could be held responsible for handling stolen goods. 1 in 4 mobile devices checked has a significant used history.
To check if the phone is clean and not stolen you need to run a check on the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) number. To find the IMEI on the phone check under Setttings/About Device on Android, or punch in *#06#. The IMEI will instantly appear on the screen.
You can then check the phone’s status at sites such as IMEIPro or CheckMend, said to be the world’s largest data resource on smartphones. While there is a small charge to check on this site, it’s well worth the price. Equipped with the IMEI number you can quickly find out the phone’s full specifications and its history, whether or not the Seller wants you to know about it. It’s like a VIN check for vehicles.
As soon as dodgy sellers realize you know about the requirement of checking for the IMEI, they may well quickly back off and try their luck with a less savvy buyer.
Meet face to face when possible
Whenever possible it’s always best to meet the seller face to face. Buying sight-unseen from eBay or sites that are not rigorously monitored can quickly lead to buyer’s remorse. Sites such as Mobile-Base are monitored, and in the event there is a provable problem they will intercede on your behalf, because all Sellers are vetted.
Consider sim size
Another important point to check is whether you have the right size sim right size sim for the phone you want to buy, but you can always pick up a cheap one.
Check for damage
An important advantage in viewing a phone face to face rather than online is that you can check for scratches, dents, screen cracks and full functionality. Don’t forget to check the camera lens for scratches or misting. If the back opens, open it: the smartphone should be clean inside, and the battery still serviceable.
A fair price
Getting the best bargain for your purchase of course involves several factors including the age of the phone, the condition, the model, whether it’s brand new in box, all the usual variables, however, before you start discussing price, have a good idea in your mind as to what the same model is selling for elsewhere. It makes it much easier to spot a bargain price, but then is a bargain price truly a bargain. Only homework can help you decide.
Buying refurbished
Across the States there are dozens of sites that cater to refurbished phones including Mobile-Base, BestBuy and Overstock. Then of course there is eBay and Amazon. With the exception of eBay, you can spread the cost of your purchase with a credit card and even opt for added protection to guard against any technical or hardware problems.
Buying in-store
If you decide to buy from a bricks and mortar store, remember to bring along a laptop, a charging cable, earbuds or headphones, and even a microSD or SD card. Check the smartphone charges by plugging it into your laptop to make sure it charges. Check the headphone jack and card slot. Place your own sim in the phone and make a phone call.
Locked or unlocked
If the smartphone is locked to a certain network provider which you don’t want, you can quickly, easily and cost effectively unlock it with UnlockBase, the leading online remote unlock service. You can also bargain down the seller as it should be cheaper than an unlocked phone. An unlocked phone gives you complete freedom to choose your own network at a price you want to pay.
Secret codes and apps
Smartphones usually have hidden codes that provide access to extra information and self-test routines. As an example of this, Android phones, *#*#4636#*#* will provide usage statistics and battery information, while *#*#0*#*#* will run an LCD display test. A useful site for checking out codes is Redmond Pie. You can also research the phone you’re after on a YouTube. You can alternatively run an app test such as Phone Tester for Android or Phone Doctor Plus for Android and Apple’s iOS. These apps will give you a quick gauge of the smartphone hardware and the state of the battery. There’s no excuse for not doing your homework, it takes just a few minutes to save yourself a lot of hassle down the line.
Armed with this information and plenty of due diligence, you should be able to find a good quality second-hand or refurbished phone at a good price.
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
Think about it. Would you rather go back to the good old days when you couldn’t carry a phone around with you? It had certain advantages. People accepted the fact that there would be whole hours of the day when you simply could not be contacted. Nowadays we get jumpy if we can’t get hold of someone inside of an hour, often half an hour.
Being unable to get hold of people in an emergency was a frustration, but it’s a frustration that has now been largely overcome. But now there’s a new source of frustration and exasperation. It’s called poor cell phone reception. It affects everything that governs modern life; phone calls, instant messaging, text messaging, email, internet, apps, social media, and plenty of other real-time services.
We’ve become so accustomed to an always on, always working world, that our levels of patience have greatly decreased. When there is no cellphone reception it’s almost enough to throw your phone out of the window.
Our service providers ensure we pay handsomely for the privilege of such convenience, so it’s only fair we should expect reliable 3G & 4G LTE signals, but do we always get them? No. However, there are a few tips and tricks you can use to help boost your cell phone strength.
1) Let nothing come between you and your cell tower
Your cellphone works best when there’s an uninterrupted signal between you and the cell tower. Your phone should also work well when it’s right in front of the router, but if you’re in another room there are objects and obstructions in between. The trick is to reduce interference between the cell phone and the cell tower. To do this you can go outside or stand by an open window, away from thick walls and insulated interiors.
If a good signal really matters to you, look out for tall trees, hills, mountains, metal structures, and high buildings before you settle on a place to live, all these will contribute towards a poor signal. You can also check with your service provider what the signal is like in any particular area. And the higher your apartment, the better as high rise apartments get the best signal.
Then there’s the weather. Unfortunately, we can’t control it, but it may also affect service. Rain, snow and thunderstorms can all reduce reception, but sometimes, just shifting your position a few feet can reduce the problem.
2) Know where your nearest cell tower is located
Finding out where your nearest cell phone tower is located can really help in your battle for better cellphone signal. If you want to know where your nearest cell tower is, go online, enter your zip code or city and state and you can quickly find out. You can discover cell tower locations by all the major carriers including Verizon, AT&T, Sprint, & T-Mobile. The reviews from other users will give you an honest appraisal as to cell signal strength.
– Check websites:
OpenSignal ranks the top carriers and their signal with a cell phone coverage map and then further compares your area cell phone signal nationwide and even worldwide. You can also refine the type of cell phone signal by 2G, 3G, and 4G.
Your smartphone is a great way to find signal strength. Cell phone signals are measured in dB (decibels). Similar to radio waves, such as AM/FM. All cellular devices operate within this standard:-50 dB to -120 dB signal level.
-50 dB is considered full strength (full bars). -120 dB is considered signal Death Valley.
So, while the bars on your phone are supposed to indicate signal strength, you can’t truly rely on it. Why? Because there’s no industry standard and practice to label dB values in relation to the number of bars. For example, 1 bar on Verizon is 2 bars on AT&T and 3 bars on Sprint, even though it could be the exact same signal and performing at the same speeds.
You can check the Db readings like this:
For iPhone Users:
Go into Phone Mode
Dial and Call *3001#12345#*
You know enter in “Field Test Mode”
Drag down your notifications bar and you will see your dB reading in the left-hand corner.
For Android Users:
Go to Settings > General > About Phone
Then “Network” (or “Status“)
You should see your dB Value
Now try walking around the house to find out where you receive the best signal. The number closest to -50 dB is where you get your best signal.
3) A full battery means a better signal
Connecting to a cell tower takes a constant supply of power, so if you’re low on battery, your phone might not be able to identify the best signal. Options like Bluetooth and NFC should be switched off when not in use. Close unnecessary or unused apps working in the background. Turn off push notifications, and always update to the latest firmware.
4) Use your Wi-Fi Network
If you keep your WiFi signal on your phone switched on when you are outside, remember to switch it off when you get home and use Wi-Fi Calling, using your broadband landline WiFi to make
calls and connect to the internet. T-Mobile and Sprint offer full WiFi calling support, while AT&T and Verizon only support WiFi calling on select phones. If you already have landline internet, connecting your cell phone should help boost reception service.
5) Cell phone signal boosters
These are powerful FCC-certified devices that harvest your 3G & 4G signals and amplify them by up to 32 times and then rebroadcast it to your home or car.
Cell phone boosters are one-time purchases with no monthly fees. They come with 2-year manufacturer’s warranty and lifetime technical support. They are fully legal and approved by all US and Canadian carriers, and they work for any cellular device on any US or Canadian network.
6) Unlock your phone and find another carrier
If you’ve done everything you can and you’re still not happy, you can complain to your service provider. It’s their duty to ensure as much as possible that you get good reception. Competition for your business is keen. Sprint offer a 50% cut on bills if customers switched carriers, while T-Mobile will pay for any early termination and old payment plan fees. Good carrier deals are out there waiting to be discovered.
But if you decide you want to change your service provider, UnlockBase is here to help. We unlock the widest range of phones from the longest list of service providers, and we can free your phone, quickly, conveniently and economically.
All products, and company names, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed are registered® and/or unregistered
trademarks™ of their respective owners.
The authors of this web site are not sponsored by or affiliated with any of the third-party trade mark or third-party registered trade mark owners,
and make no representations about them, their owners, their products or services.
