The Official Xiaomi Thread

I'm considering buying Xiaomi phones for myself and my wife after being seriously impressed with the Amazfit Bip. As @xrapidx mentioned earlier the naming is annoying but in addition to this, the range of available phones is simply bewildering. Can anyone recommend some sort of buying guide or comparison that I could use to narrow down my choices or should I stop being lazy and just do some research on all of the models I'm interested in?

One question I have that might help me narrow down the choices a whole lot more is related to the phone chipsets. Should I consider phones containing either the MediaTek chipset or the SnapDragon chipsets or is one line preferred above the other?
 
martin said:
I'm considering buying Xiaomi phones for myself and my wife after being seriously impressed with the Amazfit Bip. As @xrapidx mentioned earlier the naming is annoying but in addition to this, the range of available phones is simply bewildering. Can anyone recommend some sort of buying guide or comparison that I could use to narrow down my choices or should I stop being lazy and just do some research on all of the models I'm interested in?

One question I have that might help me narrow down the choices a whole lot more is related to the phone chipsets. Should I consider phones containing either the MediaTek chipset or the SnapDragon chipsets or is one line preferred above the other?
Click to expand...
Personally I prefer the Snapdragon chipsets as I find them to have much better battery life and custom ROM support.
 
Suspect99 said:
Personally I prefer the Snapdragon chipsets as I find them to have much better battery life and custom ROM support.
Click to expand...

Thanks, I do enjoy messing around with custom ROM' once a phone stops receiving official updates so this is already valuable info.
 
I also have been adding low priced Redmi phones to cary only realising not all tick boxes are checked. Some turn out HD+, or lowered SOC. Also watch put for delivery date. Some only ship mid December. GB is a bit of a store but also a marketplace. Different seller stores and multiple pricing on the exact item sometimes.
 
John Tempus said:
Wrong! gearbest used to include all fees with shipping totals. Ive imported from gearbest ever since they went online so your assumption that this is my first time is far from accurate. If you bothered to read my entire point of posting is that it started with the fact that DHL express used to calculate the tax duties along with its "to door" delivery policy until recently.



I can't help you if you cannot read, I provided the details that it was DHL Express delivery. Fuk knows why you even bother to respond if you cannot read the information I typed out.


Anyhow I didn't post here for people to have their own opinions on what happened because there will always be some useless sots responding with details unrelated to the point I was making so let me try clear that up yet again.

DHL Express in SA charging 4 different fees of which just the 4th fee is the actual import duties.
Click to expand...
Unexpected customs charges couldn't have happened to a nicer person.
 
Now that has me worried. Im looking at 2 options at Aliexpress. 1 with standard Aliexpress shipping and one with DHL. If there is going to be extra customs charges then the point of buying on Aliexpress would be moot as the saving would be gobbled up by the customs charges. Is there any way to know beforehand whether the listed price includes customs or not?.
 
How is the Redmi Note 8 Pro cheaper locally than Gearbest?? :unsure:
 
Lord Slayer said:
Now that has me worried. Im looking at 2 options at Aliexpress. 1 with standard Aliexpress shipping and one with DHL. If there is going to be extra customs charges then the point of buying on Aliexpress would be moot as the saving would be gobbled up by the customs charges. Is there any way to know beforehand whether the listed price includes customs or not?.
Click to expand...

It never includes customs. However, I'd rather go with DHL than Aramex, as Aramex has a tendancy to charge whatever they feel like...
 
well that sucks. so i might end up paying more for it (because i want a different color than the white) than on takealot... is there a rule of thumb for import costs?
 
Vis1/0N said:
https://www.gearbest.com/cell-phones/pp_009774747595.html?wid=1349303 Mineral Grey @R3443.20 on email only promotion. Add R251 courier, and add tax, customs, clearance fees. This particular one could still be cheaper on GB. Does not ship immediately either. I would spend the little extra on the MIA if it came to it.
Click to expand...

That's the thing, I usually ordered these phones from abroad as they would only be available locally months if not years later when its already 2 or 3 models behind. Now, the current model is even cheaper locally than buying from China...
 
Does SAPO or someone have a table for customs, clearance etc?

I really dont want the white which seems to be the only one available locally.
But i dont want to end up paying 500 more just for another color on the import.
 
Lord Slayer said:
Does SAPO or someone have a table for customs, clearance etc?

I really dont want the white which seems to be the only one available locally.
But i dont want to end up paying 500 more just for another color on the import.
Click to expand...
There are codes for all types of devices.
I think for phones, it's just VAT

So, X 0.1 X 0.15 + admin fee is a good indication of amount to pay


Edit : This ^^^ is complicated to follow. It's about R265 per R1000 cost
 
Last edited:
thanks Hamish. So basically anything more than 3500 is not worth it with the extra charges. That helps.
Let's hope Black Friday comes to the rescue :D
 
.
4c363bccc65d3f908ab3956b2a9822f9.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X