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Is it cheaper to buy a second-hand iPhone in the UK or in Thailand?

second-hand phonesThailand expat communityiPhoneeSIMThai SIM cardvisaimmigration help
Jan 25, 2024
10 months ago
Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Heading to Thailand in a couple of days and in need of a second hand phone, just an older model iPhone I can use with a Thai sim. Does anyone know if it would be cheaper to get one here in the uk or to get one while I’m there ? TIA
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Many responses indicate that purchasing a used iPhone in Thailand can be almost the same price as in the UK, but there are also numerous suggestions for utilizing existing phones with eSIM capabilities to save on additional purchases. Various local options for purchasing used phones, such as MBK and TUKcom, were mentioned, alongside precautions about potential scams in online marketplaces. Users emphasize the importance of checking battery health when buying used devices.
Scott ***************
Why can't you use your phone?
9 months ago
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Albert ********
Or you could always use an old phone and share the data with the new phone. I usually have two.
9 months ago
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Albert ********
If it's paid for and unlocked.
9 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Any help please 🙏🏻 I ended up getting an eSIM with Maya, but the data went ridiculously quick.

Bought a months worth of unlimited data with dtac on an eSIM, but the qr code would not download. Have spent two days contacting them and it’s still not resolved.

Any recommendations for eSIM providers for unlimited data would be very much appreciated x
9 months ago
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Dennis ********
Which model iPhone u have because u can get an e-sim installed.
9 months ago
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Viola ********
Girl, it’s gonna be cheaper in Thailand. Me personally bough a second hand iPhone in Cambodia , and I’m writing from it a year after. Also, got my old almost dead phone repaired.

But you should check the battery when you buy it. Should not be less than 80% capacity. And don’t buy in Facebook market , it’s a lot of scam, need to check first in your hands
9 months ago
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Viola ********
And negotiate the price! 💯
9 months ago
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Viola ********
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Felipe *******
I got a used one with a sim card for under $200 american.
9 months ago
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Semmy *******
would you be interested with with iphone se first edition? working normally
9 months ago
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Dennis **********
just get a E-Sim
10 months ago
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Otto *********
Mah Boon Krong has lots of used hand phones on sale, much choice, beter prices.
10 months ago
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Andy ************
Go to pratinum plaza in bkk there are millions of phones of all descriptions
10 months ago
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Brett **********
If you've a iPhone XS or later it will have esim ability (with lots of esim slits available). If you're in a UK esim already, then all you have to do it's pick up a physical SIM on arrival. If not, seeing your provider will change you to esim, and then get a physical SIM in Thailand. If no time.then keep you UK physical SIM and get a Thai esim, although Im not sure if they offer that on prepay plans but I'm sure their websites will let you know
10 months ago
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Phil ******
@Rosanna ****
 my thai friend who fixes phones said get cheap phones in your phone country as taxes here are high
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Phil *****
 thank you x
10 months ago
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Phil ******
@Rosanna ****
 small transfer yesterday. I setup and lockin transfer. Then I look for best rate. If eate decreases I use original one and pay by payid. Here's scr shot yesterday. Public holidays and weekends same as weekday transfers
10 months ago
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Phil ******
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James **************
U can pick up a basic new phone here for 2000+ bhat £50
10 months ago
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Tyler *******
Do you have a new-ish iPhone that has dual sim?

Can easily just keep your number and add a Thai e-sim or SIM card if your UK is on e-sim.
10 months ago
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Sean ********
Have you tried activating the ESIM on your current phone to free up the SIM card slot? I do that with my phone here in Thailand where I use my ESIM for my US number and just keep the SIM slot for my AIS line
10 months ago
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Alain ***************
The samsung galaxy A series are very cheap. And the chinese brands, too. Flagship phones are cheaper in Europe. The cheap ones work fine. They usually even test it in front of your eyes. Tell them to set to English
10 months ago
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Albert ********
Your running out of time. You can get one there if you don't need I phone. Android for about 5k BHAT.
10 months ago
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Steve ********
Hi everyone my Thai partner and myself have been in Thailand since the 4th of December my 2 month visa will be up soon we are going next week to immigration to get another month what documentation do I need to show please? Thanks for any help. Regards Steve
10 months ago
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Claus *********
Approx same or cheaper than UK.. (Vat is 7%) You find in MBK (downtown), Fortune Town (also downtown close to Makkasan train station opposite Central Rama 9) other shopping malls plenty of 2nd hand phones of your liking. Fortune town is my favourite in terms of trust.
10 months ago
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Pav ****
10 months ago
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Moon ******
Very easy to get some used smart phone from Facebook market in UK
10 months ago
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Graeme ********
Esim on your phone. Easily done.
10 months ago
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Andy ************
30 bucks get a new Nokia
10 months ago
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Eric *********
plenty of 2nd hand iPhones in thailand, thats a guarantee! 🙂 price varies depending on the battery lifespan from 6,000 to 10,000 baht. one mall you can find hundreds “literally” of iphones are in Seacon Square srinakarin, you can find it from other small to medium size malls too. believe me, plenty of iphones here that are still in good condition, just don’t buy from those posted in social media, you can but be careful of scammers.
10 months ago
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Joe **********
MBK mall
10 months ago
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Graham **********
You can buy cheap new phones (alternative brands) in Thailand, but that’s not what you want is it? I think you want a decent second hand iPhone, which will generally be more expensive in Thailand. Better to pick one up on facebook marketplace before you set off.
10 months ago
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Craig *******
Surely your UK phone is dual sim? Just pop the Thai sim the 2nd position.
10 months ago
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Ronald *********
Go to the AIS counter on arrivals floor at Suvarmabumi, get a new SIM (2nd) card and internet service.
10 months ago
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Ronald *********
Don't buy from the pop up booths at baggage collection 900 Baht rip off, AIS counter after exit arrivals.
10 months ago
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Ronald *********
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Ruth *******
Your current phone doesn’t accommodate multiple SIMs? My phone allows for 4 eSIMs plus a regular SIM. Are you sure you need a separate phone? sounds cumbersome.

IF you are going to buy a separate phone, you should wait until you’re here. Some local apps don’t work on foreign phones.
10 months ago
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Sarah ***********
Just make your current sim an e sim and then your phone will allle the Thai sim so you can use the same phone with both sims in it
10 months ago
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Nick ************
Your problem is in the iPhone. Dump it and get a cheap Samsung with dual sim. Turn them on and off as required. Calls to UK using AIS sim are cheap. Last sim card I bought here was 40 baht and top it up with what you like from several outlets.
10 months ago
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Bill *********
Check to see if you phone has two SIM slots and you can do both numbers. Otherwise just swap out when needed.
10 months ago
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Neil ********
Why bother.
10 months ago
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Del ******
Pick it up in the uk .. quite expensive in Thailand
10 months ago
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Jason *******
Turn the eSim on on your current phone and then you can have multiple lines on one phone. I currently use 3 eSims and one physical sim for Thailand.
10 months ago
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Tony *********
If you currently have a newer phone . Get your UK phone number put on -E-Sim and then get a sim card when you are here and your good to go .
10 months ago
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James ********
In my reasearch. The used iPhones for what looked like a decent price had very low storage. I need at least 256 . I think online refurbished in the uk a better option.
10 months ago
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Viola ********
@James *******
 but you can always buy cloud storage, it cost like 1- 3$ a month
9 months ago
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Viola ********
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Kal *********
If you have a newer model smart phone, they have 2 SIM cards capability, one electronic sim ( for home UK ) and one physical sim for international travel ...
10 months ago
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Joe ******
All you need to buy is a thai sim card fit any phone
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Joe *****
 thank you x
10 months ago
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Joe ******
@Rosanna ****
 your welcome
10 months ago
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Joe ******
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Rod *******
I thought everyone had an old phone lying around. I have about 5
10 months ago
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Steve **********
@Rod ******
 I've got 3
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rod ******
 can I have one then ? 😅 (just joking incase the keyboard warriors come for me)
10 months ago
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Rod *******
@Rosanna ****
 which they are sure to do
10 months ago
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Rod *******
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Martin *********
Old iPhone , say a 5 or a 6 .. less than 2000 bht .
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Martin ********
 that’s great thank you x
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
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Stelios ********
UK. Cheaper, better choice and you can easily find it. In case something goes wrong, you can always return.
10 months ago
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Scott ***************
You can put a sim in your phone, you dont need to get another phone.
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Scott **************
 thanks, I just need to make sure I keep my Uk number x
10 months ago
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Scott ***************
@Rosanna ****
 you can swap em out and swap em back in again. Not a big deal.
10 months ago
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Martin *********
@Rosanna ****
 well obviously you can’t do that at the same time , but swap out when you need each other?
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Martin ********
 someone on this thread mentioned that newer iPhones can take 2 sims. If not I will need two phones for various reasons. Thanks though x
10 months ago
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Scott ***************
@Rosanna ****
 i believe the new I phones have an electronic sim and a physical sim, you have to chang physical sim over to electronic sim then you can use the slot where your carriers sim was for when you travel. Check with your carrier.
10 months ago
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James ********
@Rosanna ****
 I have a 14 max pro … does not appear to be able to have two sims … You can get an older model very cheap in Thailand 2nd hand …..
10 months ago
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Brandon ************
@James *******
 a 14 max pro can have up to 10 sims. 1 physical sim and 9 e-sims. Though only 2 sims can be active at any time.
10 months ago
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James ********
@Brandon ***********
 possibly the best bit of news since Christmas…. And there was me looking for another access point in the side
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
 thank you x
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
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Tean *********
Any unlocked iPhone will work.
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tean ********
 thank you x
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
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Andy **********
Used iPhone is the same price thailand as UK. Thai wife wanted one, and used xs max she bargained down to 15,000
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Andy *********
 thank you x
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
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Simon ********
If you've got a UK smartphone then it should have the capability to have two sim cards. I keep my UK one and buy a Thai sim card from any
****
(300 baht compared to airport price of between 700 to 900 baht) and you're good to go 👍🏽
10 months ago
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Max ********
@Simon *******
 I think OP HAS iphone and think they only have 1 sim slot.

You're correct my cheap UK Samsung has 2 sim slots and makes Thai sim easy.

Just turn off uk 🇬🇧 sim and use Thai sim while here.
10 months ago
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Mike *********
@Max *******
 but most current IPhones support eSIM and several of them plus keeping the current UK sim in place.
10 months ago
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Max ********
@Mike ********
 understand eSim offers many different solutions.....was comment on iPhone Android and actual Sim cards. Apologies I have no knowledge about eSims but lots on here will give good advice on this option too to help.the OP
10 months ago
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Max ********
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Simon *******
 thank you, I will give that a go first and failing that will just buy one x
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
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Laurence **********
Buy a phone from Ebay or Amazon or FB marketplace if you are asking this you have not been to Thailand 🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️🤦🏼‍♂️
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Laurence *********
 thanks, not sure why it’s relevant if I’ve been to Thailand or not, but I have been several times buts it’s been a long time since I have, so things change x
10 months ago
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Laurence **********
@Rosanna ****
 if you've been to Thailand you wouldn't be asking common sense maybe failed you
10 months ago
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Robert *********
@Laurence *********
 what a nasty little man
10 months ago
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Laurence **********
@Robert ********
 I am a nasty and horrible man lucky we don't meet pissant
10 months ago
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Robert *********
@Laurence *********
 little man.
10 months ago
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Laurence **********
@Robert ********
 are some pedo scary
10 months ago
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Robert *********
@Laurence *********
 hush now little man
10 months ago
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Laurence **********
@Robert ********
 okay pissant .
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Laurence *********
 okay …….. 👌🏻
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
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Paul *****
TUKcom in Pattaya
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Paul ****
 thank you x
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
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Peter ********
Why can’t you use your uk phone? I buy a 1 month data plan and use the phone to give WiFi connection to my social media account, calls will be expensive to the uk but Thai phone calls are ok
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Peter *******
 I need my uk number x
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you, will see if I can do it online xx
9 months ago
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Peter *******
@Rosanna ****
 I’m using my uk iPhone now with the uk sim and Thai Esim
9 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Peter ******
 what provider did you use. I’m having a mare with an eSIM I’ve paid for x
9 months ago
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Peter *******
@Rosanna ****
 AIS BOUGHT 3 months at the airport they set it all up for me
9 months ago
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Peter *******
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Lisa *******
@Rosanna ****
 Rick is correct. When I went last Summer, I got an eSIM for my iPhone and was able to use my regular SIM as well with my regular number and a temporary Thai number. Everything worked fine.
10 months ago
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Mike *********
@Rosanna ****
 does your current phone not support dual sim ? Get an ESIM here in Thailand and you can turn on and off your UK sim as needed to run local data at much cheaper rate.
10 months ago
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Rick ********
@Rosanna ****
Get an eSIM online(DTAC) before you go can use it on your existing phone and have both numbers simultaneously.Don’t need a another phone ☠️
10 months ago
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Rick ********
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Martin *********
U.k
10 months ago
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Tom ******
MBK 4th floor is good place to buy used phone
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tom *****
 thank you x
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
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Shaun *********
Over in Thailand mate. Even a new one won't break the bank.
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Shaun ********
 thank you x
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
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Henrik *****
You can get very cheap phones in Thailand, if you don’t need a iPhone.

Like this one, with dual sim, the price is on the banknote.

I use it as hotspot.
10 months ago
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Rosanna *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Henrik ****
 thank you but I need a smart phone as I need certain apps x
10 months ago
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Wayne *********
@Rosanna ****
 will your phone support esim ? If it does gives you 2 numbers on one phone rather than 2 phones
10 months ago
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Henrik *****
Put Thai Simcard in this little phone, that easily fit in a womans handbag and you have wifi everywhere you go.

And you keep UK sim in your iPhone, to receive voicecalls on the UK number ( But keep voicecalls it at a minimum, or it will cost a arm and a leg)
10 months ago
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Henrik *****
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Paul *********
Probably in the UK phones are expensive in Thailand
10 months ago
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Martyn ***********
@Paul ********
 ha ha... no
9 months ago
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Shaun *********
@Paul ********
 ever been to Thailand? Cheaper in Thailand and great service from shops and providers.
10 months ago
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Paul *********
@Shaun ********
 about 40 times!!! That's why I commented.
10 months ago
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Matthew ********
@Shaun ********
 been in Thailand loads times it depends on the exchange rate there not much difference in used iPhone prices uk/ Thailand . Main concern is how good is the battery when buying a used phone and is the screen original more important
10 months ago
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Matthew ********
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