I sent the phone back on the 3rd September. It was received back in China on 21st September. I received a full refund yesterday. As I paid by Paypal they paid for the return postage costs. Overall disappointed the phone was faulty, but happy with the service received from lightinthebox.
moley to lju
25 Sep 17#63
That's good then people moan about customer service from Chinese company's but in my experience that are fine ( brought a dead on arrival mi band 1s for £6.99 with a few other things and they gave me £8 back no postage)
lju
2 Sep 17#61
It going back, just waiting for the RMA number.
lju
30 Aug 17#56
Anybody else having g issues with the battery on this? Wife's is only lasting about 4 hours.
moley to lju
30 Aug 17#57
Mine lasts a day and a half maybe an iffy battery ?
AliExpress do spares for about £4 delivered maybe try that ?
lju to moley
30 Aug 17#59
Probably is. I've updated it to the latest firmware and changed all the settings and its still lasting no more than four hours. Have sent them a ticket, will see what htey say about a return or a replacement battery.
moley to lju
2 Sep 17#60
Looking on mi forums setting phone to 3g only extends battery life ? Maybe worth a try ?
No based in China sent jcex no customs charges for me thank god
Swf77MiUk
21 Aug 17#54
It shop euro based?
moley
13 Aug 17#53
Got mine to 4 days with fastest shipping had final ROM installed but updated to latest version
lju
12 Aug 17#52
Mine arrived yesterday. Shipped with Global ROM installed already. Wife happy with it. Thanks to the OP.
sam_of_london
3 Aug 17#34
Most of the Bands are Chinese TDD bands which don't work in UK and only in China. You are buying a tablet not a phone. This phone will definitely not work at 4G in Uk
moley to sam_of_london
3 Aug 17#35
It will work on all but O2 (band 20)
dreadzone101 to sam_of_london
3 Aug 17#37
Is it that difficult for you to understand that the lack of one 4G band does not mean the phone will not work on 4G nor does it make the phone a tablet.
sam_of_london to dreadzone101
4 Aug 17#44
It is not missing one band. It is missing several. Also it has lots of TDE bands so will waste energy finding signal in them . Enough Said
dreadzone101 to sam_of_london
4 Aug 17#45
Bands used in UK: 4G
800MHz (Band 20)
1800MHz (Band 3)
2600MHz (Band 7)
3G
900MHz (Band 8 )
2100MHz (Band 1)
2600MHz (Band 7)
2G
900MHz (Band 8 )
1800MHz (Band 3)
Bands which this phone has: All except B20. Explain how it is "missing several"?. You said the exact same thing about how a phone with TDE bands will waste energy when criticising the Oneplus 3. A phone that you bought. I pointed it out here<< and here<< but you still have not explained how that in any way makes sense. What makes it even more hilarious is that the last phone you posted, the Oneplus 5 comes in one version worldwide<< It supports 4 TDD-LTE bands, 2 TD-SCDMA bands and a CDMA band. None of which are used in UK. Plus it has 18 FDD LTE bands. 15 of which would not be used in UK. How did you even come to the ridiculous conclusion that TDE bands means it will waste energy finding signal.
So does a £800 iPhone waste battery looking for all these bands you sir are I'll informed at best !
sam_of_london to moley
5 Aug 17#50
Link above does not have any of the FDD bands you quoted
moley to sam_of_london
5 Aug 17#51
But do they not waste battery 'searching' for all the above bands? That's not how phones work you dimwit
bellboys to sam_of_london
3 Aug 17#40
I do sometimes wonder if you are a google bot. So this a tablet not a phone due to no Band 20? Do you realise how stupid you make yourself out to look? Do you posses the embarrassment gene? If you do it needs checking for signs of life.
fishmaster
5 Aug 17#48
spudmachine
4 Aug 17#46
I would also like to understand if this phone will operate on an O2 or O2 MVNO (like GiffGaff) with 4G. They tend to get great reviews, so I'm very tempted.
But dreadzone101 has correctly pointed out that O2 uses the 800MHz band. This is not listed in the frequency band support for this phone. Furthermore I was looking at review of the Note 4 here...
And I draw your attention to this sentence below. I know this review is for the Note 4, but the sentence below seems to imply that no Xaomi phones operate at 800GHz. The spec listed above by the OP would seem to confirm this for the Note 2.
"Something UK users should watch out for is that Xiaomi phones do not support 800MHz 4G, which is the only 4G band supported by O2 and piggybacking networks such as Giffgaff."
dreadzone101 to spudmachine
4 Aug 17#47
Even at the time of that article being published, it would have been wrong. Whilst the Redmi Note 2 doesn't have B20, there are a number of other Xiaomi phones that do, including the Redmi Note 4 (search "Redmi Note 4 Global Version"). It has been posted on HUKD multiple times along with other B20 Xiaomi phones. Many have ordered them and members have confirmed they work on O2/GiffGaff. Other Xiaomi phones that have B20 versions<< The 5" Redmi 4X has a B20 version too which isn't on that list.
dcx_badass
3 Aug 17#42
Why would you buy any phone running Mediatek junk nevermind one two years old and stuck on Android 5.0, it's only £30 or so more to get the Note 4 Snapdragon version, gain a significantly better battery lasting over double the length, faster, more stable, Android 7.
I thought you meant Samsung Note 4! LOL. I'll buy 10 if Samsung Note 4 is close to £100.
hitenk108
3 Aug 17#30
Hi I just want to buy my Mum a decent phone. Mainly for internet, YouTube, Whatsapp and taking pictures. preferably under £125. What would you recommend?
bellboys to hitenk108
3 Aug 17#31
IMO the Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 3GB RAM/32GB ROM Global Edition (so all the UK network bands included) for 112 quid (less 8% quidco) from Aliexpress.
I recommend you order a tempered glass screen protector (these fit perfectly on my wife's Redmi Note 4). Make sure you choose the Note 4 Global Version.
Not sure if you are aware but there is an official MOfi store on aliexpress, case is the same price as your link, but no harm in perhaps using the official store: mofi.aliexpress.com/sto…111 aliexpress.com/sto…tml
bellboys to winchman
3 Aug 17#21
But is it the official store? There's also an official xiaoni store that has no affiliation whatsoever. The reason I linked to the screen protectors is I know they fit as previously ordered from another store on there, they were cheaper but didn't fit properly and left air pockets all round the edge of the phone.
swfarrington
3 Aug 17#38
Had this phone for 18 months or so. Most of the time I've been running the weekly ROM from xiaomi.eu.
Solid phone, camera isn't great unless you're in bright sunlight. Forget it if you want to take a photo indoors.
Currently seem to have battery drain on the most recent EU ROM. I may try going back to the Global ROM to see if it's any better.
The one I've got doesn't have Band 20. Works fine on EE based networks and 3 mobile based networks. But without B20 you're snookered if you're on O2 and want 4G (although other G's will work).
For the price difference I'd be inclined to get the Note 4.
moley to swfarrington
3 Aug 17#39
Fair review thanks one quick question are you still using the original battery ? There are 'compatable' 4000mah ones around have you tried these ?
swfarrington to moley
3 Aug 17#19
Same battery.
This afternoon I flashed the MIUI Global Stable Firmware so I'll give that a spin and see what the battery life is like with that.
lju
2 Aug 17#6
Pay by Credit Card and then you are covered.
moley to lju
2 Aug 17#7
Or PayPal using a credit card
damadgeruk to moley
3 Aug 17#25
Though don't expect S75 consumer protection.
simate to moley
3 Aug 17#27
Not covered.
damadgeruk to lju
3 Aug 17#24
S75 credit card protection is for purchases over £100.
lju to damadgeruk
3 Aug 17#33
Depends on the card provider. Mine certainly will help under £100 (Amex).
damadgeruk to lju
3 Aug 17#36
Section 75 is not dependent on the credit card issuer, though only applies to certain purchases of £100 to £30000. Amex may well help though not under S75 of the Consumer Credit Act
lju
2 Aug 17#1
£72.89 with cheapest shipping. TCB has tracked at £6.35. A decent phone for £66.54.
moley to lju
2 Aug 17#2
yeah i went for most expensive shipping and insurance just to be safe
0scar222 to moley
3 Aug 17#32
You normally end up getting import charges + vat with there expensive shipping as they then need to declare true value
bellboys
3 Aug 17#28
I wasn't aware Xiaomi were still making the Note 2?
moley to bellboys
3 Aug 17#29
Old stock they have redmi 2 and mi 4c
paulsmith288
3 Aug 17#26
dont buy mediatek if you want custom roms
phil16
3 Aug 17#23
Had one of these for a year and hated it. MIUI is love it or hate it - I hated it. As its mediatek choice of custom roms is virtual nil and then they are buggy reworks of the official ROM. Couldn't wait to be shot of it.
4 cores at 1.4 vrs 8 cores at 2.0 and faster ram speed
BUCKUM2 to moley
2 Aug 17#8
You are comparing the redmi 4A not the redmi note 4 the note 4 has snapdragon 625 or helio x20 and both blow this out of the water
moley to BUCKUM2
2 Aug 17#9
Correct me if I'm wrong but a redmi note 4x is £115 this is £75. a redmi note 4a is about the same hence the comparison
I agree a redmi note 4 is better is a lot of ways (better processors and fingerprint sensor) perhaps you should check out the other deal I posted for the mi4c that's less than a note 4 but with a Snapdragon 808 and less than £100 delivered
BUCKUM2 to moley
2 Aug 17#11
There is no redmi note 4A either a redmi note 4 or redmi note 4X the redmi 4A is a 5" phone with 720 screen also this will come with miui based on android 5 ( lollypop ) unless its a 3rd party custom rom
Opening post
Latest comments (63)
AliExpress do spares for about £4 delivered maybe try that ?
4G
- 800MHz (Band 20)
- 1800MHz (Band 3)
- 2600MHz (Band 7)
3G- 900MHz (Band 8 )
- 2100MHz (Band 1)
- 2600MHz (Band 7)
2GBands which this phone has: All except B20. Explain how it is "missing several"?. You said the exact same thing about how a phone with TDE bands will waste energy when criticising the Oneplus 3. A phone that you bought. I pointed it out here<< and here<< but you still have not explained how that in any way makes sense. What makes it even more hilarious is that the last phone you posted, the Oneplus 5 comes in one version worldwide<< It supports 4 TDD-LTE bands, 2 TD-SCDMA bands and a CDMA band. None of which are used in UK. Plus it has 18 FDD LTE bands. 15 of which would not be used in UK. How did you even come to the ridiculous conclusion that TDE bands means it will waste energy finding signal.
Model A1661* FDD-LTE (Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
TD-LTE (Bands 38, 39, 40, 41)
TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A)
CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1900, 2100 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MH
So does a £800 iPhone waste battery looking for all these bands you sir are I'll informed at best !
But dreadzone101 has correctly pointed out that O2 uses the 800MHz band. This is not listed in the frequency band support for this phone. Furthermore I was looking at review of the Note 4 here...
techadvisor.co.uk/rev…41/
And I draw your attention to this sentence below. I know this review is for the Note 4, but the sentence below seems to imply that no Xaomi phones operate at 800GHz. The spec listed above by the OP would seem to confirm this for the Note 2.
"Something UK users should watch out for is that Xiaomi phones do not support 800MHz 4G, which is the only 4G band supported by O2 and piggybacking networks such as Giffgaff."
Got to be crazy to get this deal.
gsmarena.com/xia…php
I'll buy 10 if Samsung Note 4 is close to £100.
aliexpress.com/ite…540
I recommend you order a tempered glass screen protector (these fit perfectly on my wife's Redmi Note 4). Make sure you choose the Note 4 Global Version.
aliexpress.com/ite…u0R
I also recommend MOFI flip cases (they have a thin sheet of metal impregnated into the cover to protect the screen)
This one definitely fits my wife's phone fine. Looks great quality and a choice of colours. Cheap as chips as well.
aliexpress.com/ite…QPk
That lot should come in comfortably below 125 quid as long as you don't get charged import duty.
aliexpress.com/ite…tml
Not sure if you are aware but there is an official MOfi store on aliexpress, case is the same price as your link, but no harm in perhaps using the official store: mofi.aliexpress.com/sto…111
aliexpress.com/sto…tml
But is it the official store? There's also an official xiaoni store that has no affiliation whatsoever. The reason I linked to the screen protectors is I know they fit as previously ordered from another store on there, they were cheaper but didn't fit properly and left air pockets all round the edge of the phone.
Solid phone, camera isn't great unless you're in bright sunlight. Forget it if you want to take a photo indoors.
Currently seem to have battery drain on the most recent EU ROM. I may try going back to the Global ROM to see if it's any better.
The one I've got doesn't have Band 20. Works fine on EE based networks and 3 mobile based networks. But without B20 you're snookered if you're on O2 and want 4G (although other G's will work).
For the price difference I'd be inclined to get the Note 4.
This afternoon I flashed the MIUI Global Stable Firmware so I'll give that a spin and see what the battery life is like with that.
true value
Just want a phone that works! Works well :-)
There is another Xiaomi for £66 on lightinthebox
versus.com/en/…x10
4 cores at 1.4 vrs 8 cores at 2.0 and faster ram speed
I agree a redmi note 4 is better is a lot of ways (better processors and fingerprint sensor) perhaps you should check out the other deal I posted for the mi4c that's less than a note 4 but with a Snapdragon 808 and less than £100 delivered
but you can get a note 4 with a SN435
Option of extra shipping insurance (which I took)