Buying a phone abroad? 6 things to watch out for

Depending on where you shop abroad or are on vacation, new smartphones can sometimes be very cheap. In addition, you can sometimes come across interesting models abroad that are not available with us. Nice benefits, but these are six important things you should pay attention to.

1. Make sure it’s ‘unlocked’

In a country such as the United States, telephones that you buy through the provider with a subscription are very popular. Avoid these phones as they come with a custom software shell and they may also only work over the local carrier’s network. On the other hand, only buy individual devices, also known as ‘unlocked’.

2. Check the GSM connection

Before you want to look at all the other things, it is wise to first check whether a telephone supports the GSM frequencies that we use in the Netherlands for 3G, 4G and 5G. Do your research and delve into the details of the specifications to find the supported frequencies. Please note the model number of the device which varies by region. The common product name, for example ‘Samsung Galaxy S22’ is the same everywhere and offers no guarantees.

Also look up the supported frequencies of your provider via a website such as Antennekaart.nl. If you notice that only a part of the Dutch frequencies are supported, then it is better not to take any risks. You used to be able to check compatibility of models more easily via the WillMyPhoneWork website, but unfortunately it has not been updated with the most recent models for several years.

3. Think about local software versions

If the phone can provide a good mobile connection, pay attention to regional differences with the software. For example, a manufacturer like Samsung can roll out a different software version per European country, while Xiaomi opts instead for a single European version of MIUI. Samsung also seems to be moving in that direction.

For example, if your phone comes with German firmware, the impact is hardly noticeable, but for example Chinese devices come without the Play Store, Google apps or Play Services.

4. Watch out for import duties

If you have a device from a country outside the EU shipped as a package to the Netherlands by post, you pay an import fee. That is a VAT rate of 21 percent. So if you pick up a bargain online, the import costs can still throw a spanner in the works. Since 1 July 2021 you also pay an import duty for production that costs less than 22 euros.

5. Check legal warranty

If you buy a phone abroad, the warranty conditions of the country where you bought it automatically apply. Since April 27, 2022, the Netherlands has also had stricter quality requirements for digital products, but these are not valid for a telephone purchased abroad.

6. View the plug type

If you bought a phone with a powerful fast charger, check the plug of the charger. You may need a travel adapter to be able to plug it into a European socket and that is also a (small) extra cost that you can best include if you are considering buying abroad.

Have you ever bought a phone for cheap while on holiday? Perhaps you have been looking for a specific model that is not available with us. Do you think there are other things you should pay more attention to? Let us know in the comments.

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