Cheapish Dual-Sim Phone for US Holiday - Budget ~ $300

djkelly69 on 05/09/2022 - 10:24
Last edited 05/09/2022 - 10:33

I am going on a trip to the US at the end of the year, and will be there for a little over a month. Am planning on getting a US sim for calls/texts within the US as well as data, and keeping my Aus sim in it for 2FA texts, etc. I have an Oppo Reno 10x Zoom and both T-Mobile and AT&T suggest my phone is not compatible with their networks when doing an IMEI check. Not quite sure how incompatible they are, but assuming it is terminal enough that I can't reliably use it there.

I am very happy with the Oppo and not planning on replacing it at this stage, so looking for a cheapish dual-sim phone to use while there and then keep as a spare/kids/travel phone afterwards.

Main features I am after would be dual-sim, reasonably large size screen, good speed/memory, and obviously strong compatibility with US phone networks.

Decent camera would be a bonus but not overly fussed as we will have other better phones/cameras. 5G and Samsung (for SmartTag compatibility) would be a bonus as well but not essential.

Budget would be under $300 if possible but can stretch it if there is a good need to. I only paid $500 for the Oppo so not really looking to spend over that on a travel phone.

Any suggestions?

Mobile Mobile Phone

Comments

  • 87percent on 05/09/2022 - 10:59
    +1

    S10?

  • geoffreyhunter on 05/09/2022 - 11:34
    +1

    did they say why?…if your phone is not locked to an Australian carrier….your OPPO phone supports the following bands GSM 850 MHz, GSM 900 MHz, GSM 1800 MHz, GSM 1900 MHz, UMTS 800 MHz, UMTS 850 MHz, UMTS 900 MHz, UMTS 1700/2100 MHz, UMTS 1900 MHz, UMTS 2100 MHz, LTE 700 MHz Class 13, LTE 700 MHz Class 17, LTE 800 MHz, LTE 850 MHz, LTE 900 MHz, LTE 1700/2100 MHz, LTE 1800 MHz, LTE 1900 MHz, LTE 2100 MHz, LTE 2600 MHz, LTE-TDD 1900 MHz (B39), LTE-TDD 2300 MHz (B40), LTE-TDD 2500 MHz (B41), LTE-TDD 2600 MHz (B38), LTE-TDD 2000 MHz (B34), LTE 700 MHz (B12), LTE 800 MHz (B18), LTE 800 MHz (B19), LTE 850 MHz (B26), LTE 700 MHz (B28) …why won't that work in US?….maybe try yours when you get there…if it doesn't work then buy a US one on arrival…buying another "incompatible" phone in Australia might be disappointing

    • djkelly69 on 05/09/2022 - 12:06

      They all just have an IMEI checker where you put in your IMEI and it comes up with compatible or not. No reasons given.

      On further research it appears they mean fully compatible, which is very unlikely to happen with most Australian phones.

  • deveshwar0 on 05/09/2022 - 17:06

    I'd be interested in this too.
    I currently have 3 phones and they're all coming up as incompatible.
    I have OPPO Reno Z, OPPO Reno 5G and OPPO find X2 lite.

  • Costanza on 05/09/2022 - 17:11

    Check VoLTE will work with whoever you want to use, remember 3g is/being shutdown.

  • djkelly69 on 05/09/2022 - 17:15

    Given this deal I am now leaning towards just getting a fairly recent Galaxy S 2xx with an esim (or any other phone with global band coverage and esim), as it will mean no need to purchase my own sim.

    So I guess the budget has increased and I am now replacing my phone, so best value Galaxy/other with esim suggestions also welcomed!

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