Pretty keen to get the latest ROG Phone 3 which is being released shortly. It's here on Gearbest for preorder - https://www.gearbest.com/cell-phones/pp_009544466387.html, obviously there's postage and GST on top of the price.
Is it ok to buy from Gearbest? Anywhere else likely to have a better price in the near future?
Thanks
ASUS ROG Phone 3 - Where to Buy?
saxlady on 16/08/2020 - 22:26
Comments
I thought it said in the listing that it's an international version?
Ah yes, it looks like the International Version is up. Not sure why but when I checked (last week?) it was all the Chinese Version. I'm honestly going to wait until it comes to some retailers here and then reassess. If the markup is like 40% then I'll buy from Gearbest and roll the dice on warranty
Sounds like a plan. The gearbest price is still good for 12 days - so hopefully within the next week we might have some other options to consider. I would just hate to wait, and then find everything that is local is too expensive and then that one has gone up too. You can pay with paypal, visa on gearbest so there would be other avenues of chasing them up if there were warranty issues that they didn't honour.
I think ROG 2 was available @ JB Hifi in the past.
If that is the case, then ROG 3 will be marketed there too.
Call JB to confirm.Therefore I would wait 3 months after release (if you are patient) then pay $300 less for it.
Even if you cannot wait, you will have better support locally if something goes wrong with the phone rather than tacky international support.Cheers
I found this price $1,289.95 on https://buymobile.com.au/products/asus-rog-phone-3-12gb-ram-…
Reasonable prices there…. $20 cashback from amex card too atm.
You can pre-order at JB Hi Fi https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/asus-rog-phone-3-512gb and
Harvey Norman https://www.harveynorman.com.au/rog-phone-3-5g-512gb-black.h…12GB RAM / 512GB storage only. Hardly Normal says it'll be available 31/08 and JB says 07/09. Pretty steep price, considering it (most likely) isn't coming with any of the controllers or other attachments.
So after a bit more research, the model Gearbest is selling is the International Edition (which is a rebranded Chinese Edition) as seen by the Tencent logo on the back. It may or may not support OTA and all that. JB HiFi model should (SHOULD) be Global Version
Problem is, can you trust the pics? You're right, the global version would be better to have, but I've noticed there are places popping up to buy it from with "Republic of Gaming" on the back, as opposed to Tencent like here - https://www.becextech.com.au/catalog/asusrog3256gbblkins-p-1… but then it goes to on to say it's the China edition with Global rom (unless I've somehow misunderstood). Is there anything to specifically look for in specs that will differentiate?
I can't find anything in the specs to differentiate them and I don't feel like rolling the dice on whether a global ROM is made available. No issue flashing the phone but if no ROM is ever released…
The 12GB RAM/512GB is the only variant available in Australia. I checked ASUS store in Taiwan, they selling the 16GB RAM / 512GB for approximately $1607.95 AUD. Which is cheaper than the 12GB RAM/512GB sold here in Australia.
I am not sure if purchased in Taiwan whether the phone works here in Australia.
The phone is the Taiwan version and China version
Also, not sure how to ship it to Australia
I think the warranty is not coveredAny suggestion?
It will work just fine. The Taiwan version would never be the same as the China version.
Do not buy from Gearbest, their versions (along with any model with 'Tecent Games' on the back are not covered by warranty, and asus won't repair them, and you won't get any normal updates, also those versions have some of the network bands removed and you might encounter problems using Google software or updates
Stay well away from any CN models or any with 'Tecent Games' on them
Dick Smith has the global rom version for $979
https://www.dicksmith.com.au/da/buy/asus-rog-phone-3-strix-e…This is a $600 savings over JB or HN, is there a con to buying it from dick smith?
Thanks
There's really so much uncertainty about availability and release date. The Asus website is trash and doesn't list any Aussie retail vendors that actually sell Asus phones (at least any of the ROG ones.
The most information that's out is that it will be available "sometime in August" with guesstimates at the price. I would hold off and wait for some local stock if possible. The one from Gearbest is the Chinese edition which people have had to flash over in the past (ROG 2) for some features to work