Is Importing an Xperia XZ1 from Hong Kong a Good Idea?

• 

  [Deactivated] on 10/04/2018 - 07:10

  No

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 10/04/2018 - 08:04

    :(

• 

  micbrc on 10/04/2018 - 07:10

  Well the xz2 is out now so if look at that one to be honest it has considerable improvements over the xz1 which had a lot of issues on WiFi.

  But the xz1 had all the radios required for Aus so you won't have any issues with it here.

  I have previously imported the xz1 compact works quite well

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 10/04/2018 - 08:00

    I honestly prefer the design of XZ1 to the XZ2 (weird, I know). But thanks, I didn't know about the WiFi issues, will look into it.

• 

  jerjergege on 10/04/2018 - 07:22

  Yes and no, their service and repair is far better than Sony Aus, but if you do, you need to know someone from HK to send it back to for repair if you ever need it to.

  I bought an XZ dual hongkong Silver, cause Australia doesn't sell in that colour. Luckily I have had no issues so I have not needed to send it back.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 10/04/2018 - 08:04

    Well, that's encouraging.

    And yeah, the seller does say that if you have any issues, you can send them the phone and they'll handle warranty claiming, at least that's what they say.

• 

  Innately Incognito on 10/04/2018 - 07:52

  I believe I grabbed my Xperia XZ from a Singaporean eBay seller with a discount code and it arrived within a few days (DHL Express). Similar story to you, where the model wanted (Dual SIM) wasn't available in Australia and importing it was the only way.

  I actually tend to use the stock charger, but with an adapter attached. Otherwise I just charge it while I'm driving.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 10/04/2018 - 08:02

    Oh, so it came with the stock Adapter? That's interesting, cause I thought they opened the box, removed the stock charger and put in a 3rd party charger with an Australian plug. Today I learned

    • 

      goosmurf on 10/04/2018 - 08:51

      Sometimes they open the box for "inspection" purposes but they generally don't do it to replace the charger. In my experience they usually just throw a 2 prong Aus adapter into the shipping box.

      I've bought 3 Sony phones via grey shipping.

      2 Xperia Vs from Expansys, and a Xperia XZ from ShoppingSquare.

      I actually had a really good warranty experience with Expansys. After sending them a YouTube video of the problem (Wi-Fi was faulty) they authorised return shipping via FedEx. I had to take it to the FedEx shipping centre (about 20 minute drive from me) but Expansys paid all costs. Because it was essentially DOA they replaced it with a new unit so I didn't have to wait for repair time.

      I've not had issues with my XZ so no comment on ShoppingSquare's warranty service.

      I've also owned an Australian-stock Xperia Z3 Compact which I had to take to Sony for service. Unless things have changed there is only one warranty centre for Australia, and it's in Sydney. Even dropping off and picking up my phone it took about a week for them to fix a faulty headphone jack and failing digitiser.

      So overall I'm not sure that buying AU stock is really much better than HK stock in terms of warranty for Sony phones. Either way you'll need to have another phone as a backup.

      The main risk I see with HK stock is that you do hear of shitty service from all of the HK dealers (including the ones I mentioned above). I think it's a bit of a lottery whether you get adequate service or not, whereas if you purchase AU stock at least you have Aus consumer law on your side.

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 10/04/2018 - 11:21

        Having lived in another country, I've heard the same horror stories about Sony's Service Centres.

        I'm really starting to consider the XZ now as that's available in brick and mortar stores like JB but it's kinda old and not as refined as the XZ1.

        Thanks for the long description of your experience though. Helps a lot.

      • 

        goosmurf on 10/04/2018 - 15:24

        @ojaswinjosan: Although I find my XZ ok I wouldn't recommend buying one now (unless it's that much cheaper than equivalents, I don't know the market right now).

        It's mostly fine but I find that it's underpowered in some way - possibly because of the 3GB RAM or CPU.

        If I'm in the car and running PocketCasts (podcasting app), Google Maps navigation will often lag. Made worse by the new overlay that GMaps has during navigation. The phone becomes really unresponsive and the navigation can lag so much it loses your position on the road making it kinda useless.

        I'd say I'm an average sort of user who keeps his phone fairly clean and I regularly run into situations where the phone just becomes sluggish. Besides the GMaps issue it's most annoying when it takes like 20s for the camera app to start.

        FWIW it wasn't like this before Oreo, and most of the time the phone is fine… but every so often something overwhelms it and it becomes really irritating. Closing all open apps usually helps but that's not something you want to do whilst driving or when you just want to take a quick photo.

        That said I haven't tried factory resetting since upgrading to Oreo so that might help things… maybe see if you can find reviews from people who are running XZ with Oreo from a clean install.

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 10/04/2018 - 16:01

        @goosmurf: Although I haven't seen any reviews mention any slowdowns, probably cause they only use the device for a month or so at most.
        I have seen a few people complain about the things you mentioned, because they have used the device for much longer than any of the reviewers did.

        Guess I'll stick with the XZ1 and buy it in a week or so.

• 

  plmko on 10/04/2018 - 09:05

  Just get one with an Australian return to base address and pay with a credit card. Therefore warranty is easier, or at the very least you have an short pseudo warranty through Paypal/CC chargeback.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 10/04/2018 - 11:11

    Yeah, good idea, its always as us PayPal or nothing when I buy on eBay.

• 

  m0tyrider on 10/04/2018 - 10:07

  I bought a grey import phone from eBay (LG G4), Would never buy another grey import again…if you have issues you can be without a phone for a long time.

  For the saving of $100-$200~ its not worth it. Anymore, depends on the phones reliability IMO

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 10/04/2018 - 11:12

    There. That's the thing. I'm not trying to save right now. The phone just never launched here. Its been out worldwide since Q4 2017.

• 

  87percent on 10/04/2018 - 10:54

  as someone who has owned a lot of sony phones, starting from the Z1, I would NEVER buy a grey import Sony phone. Every model I had, had issues and had to be repaired under warranty.. and before you ask, work gave them to me to use

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 10/04/2018 - 11:13

    Scary. Thanks for sharing your experience. I'll definitely consider it

  • 

    bobbified on 10/04/2018 - 11:57

    Might be the luck of the draw - I've previously had 6 xperia phones and I've never had any issues. I've passed them on every time I got a new one and there's been no complaints either. I picked most of them up while I've been on holidays in asia.

    The only thing I've found is it's not easy to find accessories for their handsets.

    I just got bored of their more recent designs and have moved away from their phones.

    • 

      [Deactivated] on 10/04/2018 - 13:28

      Haha and I'm the opposite, not really a huge fan of "bezel less displays", that's why I got the S7 after I knew S8 was gonna be one of them. Wanna try Sony for once and XZ1 seems like the best they've got (other than the XZ2 which I'm not really fond of and the XZ Premium which is quite big physically)

      • 

        bobbified on 10/04/2018 - 13:35

        not really a huge fan of "bezel less displays",

        The phones with some bezel are much easier to hold. Especially with top and bottom bezels when the phone's turned sideways to watch movies.

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 10/04/2018 - 13:42

        @bobbified: Exactly! Although the ones on the XZ1 are pretty big, I can honestly live with it.

• 

  lbsyc on 10/04/2018 - 12:26

  Have you considered XZ premium? It's essentially a larger size of xz1, bigger screen and a lot more battery, plus vendors in Australia do sell it so warranty might be easier

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 10/04/2018 - 13:26

    I did but it's 5.5 inches and anything over 5.2 is a no no for me. Also, considering how the bezels make it even bigger physically, I think I'll skip this one.

• 

  Bystander on 10/04/2018 - 20:30

  +1

  I buy all my phones from HK/China including 3 Xperias. Never had a problem with any of them. Currently I'm using the XZ1C and honestly it's the best phone I've ever used. No WiFi issues. The XZ2C looks like a step backwards so I have no interest in it at all.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 10/04/2018 - 22:23

    Great to hear that! Yeah, not a fan of XZ2(C)'s design, definitely a step backwards as you said.

    Other than a couple tragic stories, it's looking pretty good, I guess I'll be getting it from HK then.

    Mind if I ask, which model of XZ1C do you have? G8442(Dual SIM) or G8441(Single SIM)?

    • 

      Bystander on 11/04/2018 - 06:00

      I've got the G8441(Single SIM). Battery life is awesome.

      • 

        [Deactivated] on 11/04/2018 - 09:08

        Awesome. I mean 2700mAh for a 4.6 inch 720p display, shouldn't be surprising.

• 

  Deadalready on 11/04/2018 - 15:26

  I had a Samsung Glide back in the day (two in fact cause I replaced with same model after). One of my phones would occasionally lock me out via network locks and I would have to contact support to get it unlocked. They would take some time, then there was back and forward, fast forward 1 month later I would get my phone unlocked.

  An extreme outlier I imagine but I have not bought another phone from Mobicity since.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 11/04/2018 - 17:26

    Ah, that's sad to hear. Will be careful with them. Thanks!

• 

  c-tho on 19/04/2018 - 12:59

  late comment to mention that i got a grey import XZ1C from android-enjoyed.com back in october, had no problems with the seller and it has been the best phone i've ever owned.

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 27/04/2018 - 21:11

    Awesome timing, I've never heard of the website but i was just about to get one from eBay cause I was waiting for a 10% off sale and the price on the website seems good so i might end up getting from there tonight.

    Thanks!

• 

  duodeta on 24/04/2018 - 13:15

  Me and my ex bought xperia z5 and z5 compact from kogan which shipped from HK. My compact one still runs very well since 31/03/2016. Sony phone is built like a bullet such as xz1 compact. And also xz1 G8324 is awarded by xxxx(IF) as best and most creative smart phone of 2017

  • 

    [Deactivated] on 27/04/2018 - 21:10

    Great to hear that!