Thursday, January 10, 2013

HDC GALAXY S3 G9300 CLONE REVIEW



Quick, grab this phone here HDC Galaxy S3 G9300
This is the top Galaxy S3 clone available now.

UPDATE: This phone has been rooted by a member of XDA. Check out the links here

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2094243

Basically what this proceedure does is to use Android SDK and Android Kitchen to rip out your ROM, modify it and write it back into the phone. This bypasses the OS entirely so it doesn't matter if there are any exploits or not. NOT for the faint hearted!
Posted by at

115 comments:

  1. brandonJanuary 10, 2013 at 1:07 PM

    Hi. Thanks for the review.

    Camera is actually 5MP but interpolated do 8MP?

    You haven't mentioned anything about battery life.

    It would be awesome if you could do video rundown test. Screen on 50% brightness, Wifi on , looping video until it dies. That would give us a decent perspective on battery life.

    I'm always skeptical (with reason) with Chinese
    battery ratings.

    LCD seems rather nice but I still prefer H7100 (in this price range).

    How do those two (G9300 vs H7100) fare in regards to screen size/quality, performance and most importantly battery life?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayJanuary 10, 2013 at 1:25 PM

      Camera is really 5mp interpolated to 8. Battery life so far, is good. Just got it yesterday so can't really tell in a short time. But it appears to be quite good. Able to last the whole day into the night with moderate use.
      The note 2 phones are nice too The H7100 is good for the money. It seems that the S7100/N7100+ has batteries less than 2800mAh. Seems like 2100mAh.
      I did not buy the H7100 so I can't tell. But the G9300 is really very good.

      Delete
    2. sunnyJanuary 10, 2013 at 4:50 PM

      Hey Greg
      If possible in the future that you are selling this phone please let me know. I might possible buy it from you.

      Delete
    3. Greg TayJanuary 10, 2013 at 6:49 PM

      LOL, I may use this for a little while longer...

      Delete
    4. sunnyJanuary 10, 2013 at 9:53 PM

      LoL, I wonder if you are going to do a goophone i5 N2 lite review? That would be super interesting.

      Delete
    5. Greg TayJanuary 10, 2013 at 10:03 PM

      That would be me. Fastcardtech just emailed me to tell me that it is not 1gb ram. Maybe 512 or 768mb if I still want to proceed or change another phone So I told them OK to proceed.
      These stupid factories always send a good engineering sample then send the goods with something missing. 3rd time already. I ordered it like more than a week already and not shipped yet. I know they like to sell before receiving the stock and checking it.

      Delete
    6. sunnyJanuary 10, 2013 at 10:23 PM

      What?? goophone i5 N2 only 512mb??? I think there is also a goophone N2 a samsung galaxy note 2 clone. I wonder when it's coming out.

      Delete
    7. Greg TayJanuary 10, 2013 at 10:34 PM

      Will find out when I get it. The Note 2 clone will have the quad core mtk6589. The one on YouTube is probably a sample with the old dual core. I think they will probably release 2 versions. Expect it in end March or April.

      Delete
    8. aprolifixFebruary 27, 2013 at 6:51 PM

      hello

      regarding you recommending fastcardtech.com
      I called the # and got a voicemail. left a message its been 5 days no call back. the live online chat most of the time doesnt work. but gave me an option to leave an email, I left 2 emails and I never heard back from them its been a week now. so i dont know what you are talking about that this Co. is great to deal with so far they are not responsive at all!

      Delete
    9. aprolifixFebruary 27, 2013 at 6:53 PM

      hello

      regarding you recommending fastcardtech.com
      I called the # and got a voicemail. left a message its been 5 days no call back. the live online chat most of the time doesnt work. but gave me an option to leave an email, I left 2 emails and I never heard back from them its been a week now. so i dont know what you are talking about that this Co. is great to deal with so far they are not responsive at all!

      Delete
    10. Greg TayFebruary 28, 2013 at 9:13 AM

      No point in calling them unless you can speak perfect Chinese. Use your login account to leave a message and you will get a response. Forget about the number because you will not get a response unless you are a reseller with a 50 or 100 PCs phone order.

      Delete
    11. Greg TayFebruary 28, 2013 at 9:15 AM

      And by the way, feel free to order from other online stores. You can try calling them too...

      Delete
  2. brandonJanuary 10, 2013 at 1:57 PM

    I'm really torn between 4.5-4.7'' (Neo N02, HDC G9300) and 5.3''(HDC H7100) sizes. I'm leaning toward the larger screen so I can use it for reading (and ditch my tablet), but I'm sacrificing portability and LCD quality (and what else).

    It all boils down do size/design preference. The rest of the hardware seems to be more or less the same.

    @Lord SBM: please start commenting again. You're a valuable asset to these discussions.

    @Grey Tay: You're really lucky with customs, we (Europe) go through hell to import a phone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayJanuary 10, 2013 at 6:48 PM

      Very easy to import stuff into Singapore. I know having the Samsung logo on the phone is not good for importing into Europe.

      Delete
  3. UnknownJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:01 PM

    Hi Greg, thanks for the review, it was very useful. One more thing, its not very obvious if it supports 3G, because the info that you can find on fastcardtech.com is very confusing so are the answers from their techsupport... So what about the 3G and what is a camera like? I dont understand very well if it has 5mp or 8mp... Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayJanuary 10, 2013 at 6:42 PM

      Of course it does support 3G. It has the usual Dual sim slots. One is WCDMA/gsm supporting 3g the other slot is gsm with 2g. Camera is 5mp using software to scale to 8mp.

      Delete
  4. UnknownJanuary 10, 2013 at 3:26 PM

    Question whats the difference between this phone and the HDC Galaxy S3 S9380 MTK6577 which seems to be cheaper but has the exact same specs as this one?

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousJanuary 10, 2013 at 6:56 PM

    Nice review. Wondering how does the vibration of G9300 fair? Some S3 clones has it vibration only at the bottom part of the phone rather the entire phone and some clones vibration motor is weak and barely could feel anything. 85% on purchase of HDC Galaxy S3 G9300 after this video review.

    ps ; did u opt for free shipping ? if so how many days it took to reach in your hands.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayJanuary 10, 2013 at 9:04 PM

      The vibration is at the top part. It is not as strong as I would like it to be. I think they use a small vibrating motor for this...
      I used free shipping and it took 13 days to reach me in Singapore. It is more efficient because they used SingPost which is now one of the postal service in China. Could be longer to other countries.

      Delete
    2. UnknownJanuary 11, 2013 at 12:34 AM

      17 days In United States Don't order it on Holidays: Christmas and New Years. That what happened on me.

      Delete
    3. Greg TayJanuary 11, 2013 at 1:44 AM

      Chinese New Year coming up. Everyone will start to go back to their hometowns 4th week this month and 1st week next month. Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) starts on 10 Feb and lasts for 2 weeks.
      You know why I say The quad cores will be out in March and April. I should do an official post on this.

      Delete
  6. AntzJanuary 10, 2013 at 8:24 PM

    hello greg
    this is the most timely review
    and you being a fast responder to the comments is just what i want...
    i asked about this phone a couple of days back..

    i am getting this phone by aliexpress
    1. is this same as the phone you have at the moment?
    http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Freeshipping-Star-G9300-S3-i9300-smart-phone-MTK6577-dual-core-real-1GB-RAM-4GB-ROM-Android/714439297.html

    2. How about a comparison with the UMI X1
    Which one would be better ...
    i know the differences
    just the total package and the feel of the phones ...
    which one would you say is a better buy...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayJanuary 10, 2013 at 9:12 PM

      The UMI x1 looks more elegant and has better camera at real 8mp and much better real 720p video recording. The G9300 has a better feel and larger screen although both are IPS. The g9300 has a decent 5mp camera and not very good video recording. If you want good quality pics and video then I have to recommend the UMI.
      You can buy from Aliexpress and I think these should be the same phones but cannot be totally sure that it is the exact same thing because Chinese phones can have clones of clones. Unless I see that 9300+ under the battery then I can be sure.

      Delete
    2. Greg TayJanuary 10, 2013 at 9:16 PM

      I just checked the pics and the factory screen protector is exactly identical.

      Delete
  7. AntzJanuary 10, 2013 at 9:24 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  8. UnknownJanuary 11, 2013 at 12:30 AM

    Hello Greg

    Any update for root the phone sir?

    ReplyDelete
  9. AnonymousJanuary 11, 2013 at 12:45 AM

    I spoke with 1 of FCT online Tech Support consultant and they mention

    http://www.fastcardtech.com/goods-7699-HDC-Galaxy-S3-i9300-EX--MTK6577-Dual-Core-1GB-Ram-47-inch-720P-IPS-Screen-12M-Android-Phone.html

    has better specs that the HDC G9300. In what way she mentioned was the camera quality. Besides that , what else you think could be difference.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayJanuary 11, 2013 at 1:50 AM

      You are correct. The B92m has better camera and video quality. But the build quality is better on the G9300. But the smoothness of the g9300 is far better. Both has good and bad points. If you want all good points then be prepared to pay a lot more for the real S3.

      Still unable to root. Will wait till it becomes more popular then someone from XDA or Russian forum might do it.

      Delete
  10. UnknownJanuary 11, 2013 at 10:16 AM

    Oh okay... thanks just keep us update. I really want to root this phone.

    ReplyDelete
  11. UnknownJanuary 11, 2013 at 11:37 PM

    Hello Greg, I'm a real newby when it comes to phones and my experience ordering phones online has been fairly disappointing thus far. I took a leap of faith today and used your link to order HDC GALAXY S3 G9300 CLONE. I'm looking forward to its arrival in Australia and I will give you an update of my experience ordering from a Chinese supplier and of the phone - albeit from a very amateurs perspective.

    Stu

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayJanuary 12, 2013 at 1:21 AM

      I hope you read my article about ordering from Fastcardtech. Looking forward to your experience.

      Delete
    2. UnknownJanuary 24, 2013 at 11:39 PM

      To my surprise the phone arrived yesterday. I took it out of the box and observed sumsung emblems on the phone as requested. I put it on charge straight away and used it as my new phone today. My first impression thus far are mixed but I've only had the phone for 24hrs. On a positive note the phone arrived in a short time in fact I was surprised just how fast the phone took to be delivered to my address here in Australia (less than two weeks). After removing the phone from the box I was left wondering if there should be some sort of manual or at least instructions to get me started because the box didnt contain any. Upon placing the phone on charge a red light lit up on the front of the phone for about ten seconds and then went out. I waited over night for the phone to charge and in the morning observed there was nothing on the phone that indicated it was fully charged. As the red light had gone out after about ten seconds I was wondering if the phone had charged at all but after turning it on I could see it was fully charged but it would have been nice to have had some instructions for the charging process.
      I have limited experience using an andriod phone and initially found navigating the menu a little confusing however after a short time and a little help from my wife I found the phone quite easy to use. After a days use I found myself placing the phone on charge as soon as I got home as it was almost flat however I believe this is because I left the GPS function on all day and the screen setting was set on bright. Whilst navigating through the phone I found the touch screen was easy to use and vibrant to look at. At this point I don't have much more to add as I was quite busy at work and did'nt get a chance to play with it much. I will use it for a couple of weeks and get a couple of people who own the real thing to look it over and see what they think and will update my experience then.

      Stu.

      Delete
    3. Greg TayJanuary 24, 2013 at 11:54 PM

      Thank you for posting your experiences. I am sure it will help a lot of readers out there.

      Delete
  12. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2013 at 2:25 AM

    Hi! How is the ROM situation like for these clones? Since the phones are largely identical (same chipset etc.) hardware-wise, is it true that one ROM that works for one MTK phone would most probably be alright for another MTK phone as well?

    I think this should be a good first fastcardtech purchase for me but I don't really like Touchwiz, so if it is possible to flash an AOSP, Nexus like ROM it'd be great. Not a dealbreaker though, the hardware seems impressive enough.

    Thanks for the review Greg, it's awesome

    ReplyDelete
  13. Greg TayJanuary 12, 2013 at 2:30 AM

    All phone ROMs are different. You can't use another phone's ROM for a different phone. The phone will be bricked. Usually some developer rips out the ROM and modifies it then you can flash it back. You can check the Russian forums or the Spanish forum. There are some developers cooking ROMs there.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJanuary 12, 2013 at 5:26 AM

      Thanks for the clarification Greg... had that impression because I think there was one phone on fastcardtech which could be flashed with ROMs from Zopo - apparently reasonably clean (vanilla Android + a few common apps). Not about to spring for an actual Zopo because it would be a lot more expensive than a typical clone.

      Any idea if one of those cheap clip-on back covers would fit OK on this HDC?

      Delete
    2. Greg TayJanuary 14, 2013 at 2:47 AM

      Will not fit. The Zopo clone comes with a back cover and front flap.

      Delete
  14. iSightJanuary 12, 2013 at 4:34 AM

    Thanks Greg for the video review.
    Re: what u mentioned about rooting -- that means even if i opt for rooted option when ordering they cant do it for me right?

    I remember u mentioned some phones use the same ZOPOS rom or something, is that from your top 10 can-buy list? :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Greg TayJanuary 12, 2013 at 10:31 AM

    I think they may be able to root for you because they have contact with the factory. But then maybe not but no harm paying $3 for it right?. If you get the rooted ROM, you can make a backup and share it with all of us.

    The first note 2 clone 9300+ or hero 9300+ or hdc note 2 qhd are the same clones as the zopo so you can flash the zopo rROM. Other note 2 clones will be bricked if you do this. Actually the HDC Galaxy note 2 EX is the best of all still but it still does not have Jelly Bean.

    ReplyDelete
  16. iSightJanuary 12, 2013 at 7:32 PM

    Thanks Greg - the Note 2 clones don't have the S-Pen type of application do they?

    Am leaning towards a smaller S3 clone - but preferrably with working compass and Jelly Bean.. seems like quite a few of these phones do not have working compass! :(

    ReplyDelete
  17. Greg TayJanuary 12, 2013 at 8:15 PM

    The Note2s all don't have any other application besides the stock android ones. S-pen is developed by Samsung and requires a Wacom stylus. So even if you have the application it won't work because you don't have the s-pen. The screen digitizer has additional circuitry for this s-pen to work. So even if you port the Samsung app and have the original s-pen, it still would not work.
    I think the new jelly bean for these mtk6577 phones does not include the compass driver. Anyway I used the compass about once or twice a year so no big deal.

    ReplyDelete
  18. UnknownJanuary 14, 2013 at 1:08 AM

    Hi Greg

    I was checking my apps do I really need SnapPea. Can I removed it? by side I cant read Chinese.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayJanuary 14, 2013 at 2:49 AM

      Just uninstall it. I don't know what it does.

      Delete
    2. UnknownJanuary 15, 2013 at 12:03 AM

      Thanks for Info... Now Skype is working now.. I guess snappie is holding it back to install skype.

      Delete
  19. UnknownJanuary 14, 2013 at 1:27 AM

    Greg,first of all thanks for the effort put in reviewing those phones. I have a question about Antutu scores how come that my small Sony Ericsson Live walkman has a score 5505 and some of these has max of 5600 or 6000, and comments on that?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayJanuary 14, 2013 at 2:02 AM

      Your single core qualcomm snapdragon has a more powerful Adreno 205 GPU on board plus driving a lower resolution screen. This pushes the gpu scores higher which pushes up the total score. If you notice the lower res FWVGA phones have scores nearing the 7000 mark. If the same GPU is used to drive a 320x480 screen like your walkman phone, the Antutu score would probably be around 8000+

      Delete
    2. UnknownJanuary 14, 2013 at 2:11 AM

      Ok, that makes sense. So my next question is - in your opinion/experience are the Chinese phones, with score in mind, fast enough to run everyday apps (Schedule, Mail, Facebook, Google maps, GPS navigations etc.) without the glitches ?

      Thanks

      Delete
    3. Greg TayJanuary 14, 2013 at 2:52 AM

      Oh sure it can. Look at my previous post about Sony Xperia P Antutu comparison. They are similar in performance. This Blog is supposed to help people choose good bug free phones. Carry on reading the other articles.

      Delete
    4. UnknownJanuary 14, 2013 at 3:15 AM

      Yes I know, I'm trying to choose one.

      Thanks for super fast replies.

      Delete
  20. AntzJanuary 15, 2013 at 11:04 PM

    I bought the same 9300+ from aliexpress http://www.aliexpress.com/item/New-arrival-G9300-I9300-1GB-RAM-MTK6577-4-8-touch-screen-Android-4-1-8-0Mp/721693853.html

    USD 146 (incl SG post and coupon)

    thanks greg for the wonderful blog

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. sYohanFebruary 18, 2013 at 10:56 AM

      Hello from Peru

      I can see a little difference and not for the higher price, but the WCDMA specs... in aliespress specs they say:

      WCDMA 850/2100

      and in Fastcardtech it says:

      WCDMA 2100

      Or maybe they forgot to print that frecuency???

      BTW: Muchas gracias GREG!!! por el REVIEW!!! (thanks a lot for the Review.

      Delete
    2. UnknownApril 9, 2013 at 12:06 PM

      Hello friend Do you have the phone already?Can you please tell me if all is ok because i am about to buy the same from same seller?Does the GPS work property?It's very important to me
      Thanks

      Delete
    3. Greg TayApril 9, 2013 at 6:52 PM

      Of course I have this phone. How could I do the youtube video without the phone? Everything works including GPS. Only thing is that there is no compass.

      Delete
  21. UnknownJanuary 18, 2013 at 12:45 PM

    Can I request phone to be sent without samsung logo? Because customs would take it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayJanuary 18, 2013 at 5:44 PM

      Sure you can. When you check out there is a request box. You need to tell them in simple clear English. "I DO NOT want any Samsung logo on the phone." Actually they will ship the phone without any logo on it unless you request for it.

      Delete
  22. יוסי מנעולים 24 שעותJanuary 19, 2013 at 10:14 PM

    Hello greg
    first of all a great review.
    I have a few questions and I'd appreciate it if you could help me:
    -I tried everything and I still can not lock on GPS satellite.
    - Crazy battery percentage. For example - When I turn on the device again the battery percentage can change from 70% to 14%. Charging time is also about 4 hours.

    many thanks greg
    yosi

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayJanuary 19, 2013 at 10:49 PM

      I am not aware of inaccurate battery percentage on my phone so I have no idea.. As for fixing GPS, please check xda forum.

      Delete
  23. Gur IslerJanuary 21, 2013 at 12:15 AM

    Greg What about orginal Samsung S3 Covers and flip cases with this G3? Will they fit with this model? is it a 1:1 clone? Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  24. Greg TayJanuary 21, 2013 at 10:46 PM

    This phone HDC G9300 has been rooted by a XDA member using a developer style complex method. It still can't be done using a simple script.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Greg TayJanuary 23, 2013 at 2:22 AM

    Rooting instructions here
    http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2094243

    ReplyDelete
  26. AnonymousJanuary 24, 2013 at 1:22 AM

    I just received my G9300 yesterday and i must say the design and build quality is superb.

    A day of usage, a full charge batt from 100% to 10% drained less than 8hrs of use. Normal texting only been done. No video , games or web surfing performed. I disabled any sort of syncing , vibrate disabled, live wallpaper disabled, brightness set lowest, wifi off, gps disabled, location services disabled.

    Any suggestion or tip that can be done to make it last atleast a day?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayJanuary 24, 2013 at 9:09 AM

      Use it for a week and charge it full when the battery is 10% and it will auto calibrate. You can also use a battery callibration app. You may also have a faulty battery. Where did you buy it from? Mine last 2 days with light use. Just SMS and similar to your usage. I have my Data on with whatsapp active. Today 14 hours and 75% remaining.

      Delete
    2. AnonymousJanuary 31, 2013 at 8:32 PM

      Been a week now , and i can safely say the batt last for 1.5days for me with average usage. Battery wasnt faulty maybe it needed to 'run-in'. Thanks Greg.

      ps ; i got my G9300 from aliexpress as fct didnt comfirm my order.

      Delete
  27. torresinchinaJanuary 25, 2013 at 12:14 AM

    hi Greg, which battery calibration app are you using? Please recommend :)

    ReplyDelete
  28. AntzFebruary 9, 2013 at 7:04 AM

    hey greg
    sorry for disturbin you again ...just got my g9300+ ...alls good except the vibration which I couldn't get to WorK any thing I can do to make it work in settings ????

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayFebruary 9, 2013 at 7:45 AM

      The vibration motor should work out of the box. Maybe you got a faulty unit. Open the back cover and you can see the vibration motor next to the camera on the right side. Use a thin wire to try turning the motor head while activation vibration. Maybe it is stuck.

      Delete
    2. AntzFebruary 9, 2013 at 10:42 AM

      thanks greg ..yes the motor was stuck due to the flip case
      it works fine with the normal case

      i tried rooting the phone but am unable to read back in the flash tool ...guess i didnt install the drivers properly...can you post a short walkthrough for rooting/installing the drivers...ill be gratefull

      Delete
  29. UnknownFebruary 10, 2013 at 10:38 PM

    Hey Greg,

    I'am a new reader to your blog, I've been browsing the web for quite some time to find a credible blog site where Chinese made Smartphones are discussed.

    The reviews & videos posted by you are quite honest & unbiased. I've been nurturing the desire to buy Samsung S3 rip off/ Knock off phone, however there seems to be a lot of them. Would you help me get the best S# knock off? please.
    I would Like the phone to at least 1 GB ROM, 4 GB ROM & a decent Camera & good battery back up, Dual core or Quad core doesn't matter (if it is about US $ 200, I wouldn't mind a Quad core)

    By the way I'm from Bangalore, India, so request you to advice websites shipping to this location.

    Thank you & keep up the good work.

    Regards.

    Rajeeb

    ReplyDelete
  30. UnknownFebruary 11, 2013 at 2:03 AM

    Hello Again Greg,

    I also saw the review for Neo N02-m as well, it looks & performs better than the HDC S3.

    Can you suggest which would be the best choice based on the performance, battery & camera quality. I like the look of both the phones, so no issues on the look.

    Of the 2 phones which has more battery life, if I'm a moderate user (about 35 - 50 calls, text, bit of browsing,bit of games, Music 7 videos).

    Request you to give your expert opinion, since you have used both phones.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayFebruary 11, 2013 at 6:19 PM

      Actually I would go for the Neo as it is a real original brand phone. Only problem is that you have to install gapps yourself. But you will not go wrong with either one.

      Delete
    2. UnknownFebruary 11, 2013 at 9:50 PM

      Hello Greg,

      How about the battery life on the Neo, on your video it reads 1850 mAh, but on the website it says 1750 mAh. would it last over a day with moderate to high usage?

      I was concerned about the shipping to India, however Antz below confirms that he received his phone from Aliexpres. I'll nag him for shipping details... :)

      Thanks & regards,

      Rajeeb

      Delete
    3. Greg TayFebruary 12, 2013 at 12:51 AM

      Battery life is about similar to all other mtk6577 phones. No problem lasting the whole day unless you surf a lot. Without any surfing it can last up to 2 days. Same goes for all other mtk6577 phones unless you are running some battery sucking app. Anyway all the clone phones have similar battery capacity. The clone batteries are always jacked up to 2000mAh or more so it usually is fake. The zopo clone advertises 2800mAh when the zopo original says 2300mAh.

      Delete
    4. UnknownFebruary 12, 2013 at 9:22 AM

      Thanks again Greg,

      So the decision is made... Neo it will be. Any Do's & Dont's, you wanna suggest me before ordering it on Aliexpress?

      Also if you know of any usable discount coupons.. everyone loves discount heh...

      Thanks again for your instant replies & honest suggestions.

      Regards.

      Rajeeb.

      Delete
  31. AntzFebruary 11, 2013 at 9:06 AM

    hello sayeed
    I am not Greg but since I bought this mobile and I am in Assam I will answer some of your questions....this is one of the best s3 clones you can get... i bought one for myself from Aliexpress for Rs8450 (no customs lucky me ..)...though the transaction took sometime..in my case ..but the phone is a stunner...great slim design and is top notch in everything but the WiFi n GPS is a little poor...if you can wait a little go for umi x2 ..it'll get launched in India for rs12000 in a couple of weeks.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownFebruary 11, 2013 at 10:10 PM

      Thanks a ton for your feedback Antz,

      I have a long list of questions for you.... ;)

      So, How long did it take for your phone to deliver? which shipping service did you opt for?

      Also did you use any coupons in Aliexpress, cos the price is over Rs 9,000, before shipping. So any additional taxes or charges when it lands in India?

      I'm actually waiting for Umi X2 for myself, the smaller screen is for my wife, she can't handle big phones. I guess i'll stick to Neo, based on Greg's advice above.

      Thanks in advance for your assistance.

      Regards,

      Rajeeb.

      Delete
    2. AntzFebruary 12, 2013 at 12:54 AM

      **Always use registered mail that ways the thing never gets lost...HK-mail/SG Post is the fastest(took bout 10 days to arrive)...China-mail registered is a tad slower...
      **I used the weekend mastercard $5 off coupon
      **You can also look at the Goophone G5 Iphone Clone for your better half(http://www.gizchina.com/2013/01/24/goophone-i5-review/)Greg too has done a recent review of the same..its a tad pricier tho...

      Delete
    3. UnknownFebruary 12, 2013 at 9:27 AM

      Hi Antz,

      You have been very helpful, so was Greg with his quick replies. Not a lot of Blog spots where you can get unbiased views.

      I'm an anti IPhone guy, I wouldn't use it even if someone gave it for free....(Actually I would use it if it's free....;)

      I might book it this weekend... lets see how long it takes for it to ship...

      Thanks,

      Rajeeb

      Delete
  32. sYohanFebruary 19, 2013 at 10:05 AM

    Hi greg, thanks a lot for your time wrting this review. My diubt is about the HSDPA or WCDMA frecuency, in the specs of Fastcardtech, it says only XCDMA 2100. But in my country 3G networks use 850Mhz, maybe the forgot to print the 850 Mhz frecuency??

    It depends of the MTK6577??? or its another module in the cellphone.

    thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayFebruary 19, 2013 at 4:47 PM

      They forgot to list it. Wcdma 850 / 2100 is included.

      Delete
    2. sYohanFebruary 19, 2013 at 8:23 PM

      thanks Greg, btw... how about the battery??, can you tell us about your use experience with this??

      thanks!!

      Delete
    3. sYohanFebruary 19, 2013 at 8:25 PM

      one more question..

      if you put the original battery of your ORIGINAL S3, it fits??

      thanks!!

      Delete
    4. Greg TayFebruary 19, 2013 at 8:45 PM

      I wrote about battery many times. Please read all the post before you ask me next time. BATTERY IS AVERAGE LIKE EVERY OTHER DUAL CORE PHONE!
      Original Samsung battery will not fit.

      Delete
  33. aprolifixFebruary 26, 2013 at 7:03 PM

    by the way nice review but there is nothing mentioned about the call quality, if there was I missed it. after all is still is a phone :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayFebruary 27, 2013 at 2:31 AM

      Call quality is clear, just like any other android phone I have used....HTC, Sony, Samsung, LG....all similar. Not soft and not too loud. (I has some really soft volume before on some other older phones)

      Delete
  34. smcollagenbeautyMarch 7, 2013 at 9:13 AM

    GREG, u have any idea why is Waze and Google Map dont work on mine? Map is okay but failed to lock my location, and Waze doesnt work at all, ie navigation, searching locations.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayMarch 7, 2013 at 9:34 AM

      Try updating your Google maps and turn on all settings in GPS. Make sure that GPS works. Google maps will also work without GPS by using your WiFi and 3g to pinpoint your location. If GPS is not getting satellites then go to xda to find out how to calibrate your GPS. I will post that in my next article.

      Delete
  35. iSightMarch 9, 2013 at 6:37 PM

    Does this have FM radio?

    ReplyDelete
  36. AnonymousMarch 12, 2013 at 12:37 PM

    Is there anyway to buy one with the samsung logo's?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayMarch 12, 2013 at 8:27 PM

      When you check out just leave instructions in a small request text box.

      Delete
  37. UnknownMarch 15, 2013 at 3:43 AM

    Greg you said the phone is 0.5mm thicker, but have you try to fit a original samsung galaxy s3 cover on the clone to see if it's work or not? Thanks and regards Florian

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayMarch 15, 2013 at 9:13 AM

      The case camera hole has to be larger than the original because the camera sticks out a bit. If you have the larger camera hole, just remove the back cover and the phone will fit nicely.

      Delete
    2. UnknownMarch 16, 2013 at 11:12 AM

      Ok thanks Greg. But I don't have understand your last sentence. Do you mean take off the phone back cover and insert the phone (without phone back cover) it in the protection cover?

      Delete
    3. Greg TayMarch 17, 2013 at 8:03 PM

      Yes, that is exactly what I mean.

      Delete
  38. AnonymousMarch 15, 2013 at 8:16 PM

    So I want a phone to play around with trying different Android software OS's. Should I be able to do so with this?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayMarch 17, 2013 at 8:04 PM

      No, you can't. There isn't a whole lot of third party ROMs for you to play around with. You need a branded phone for that.

      Delete
  39. UnknownMarch 22, 2013 at 2:12 AM

    Hey Greg, Monday I have received my g9300. It's a greate phone I'm really excited about it. But the only problem is the GPS. It doesn't fix any satellite. Did you have the same problem? If yes, what did you do to resolve the problem? Thanks Flo

    ReplyDelete
  40. UnknownApril 7, 2013 at 12:40 PM

    Hey Greg...

    I surf alot & play games alot too & the original Samsung battery won't fit in the HDC as you said, so what battery can I get if I want a higher mah with a bigger case for it?.

    Or should I get the Neo?.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayApril 7, 2013 at 6:05 PM

      You can order extra batteries with a wall socket charger. External battery charger packs will work well too.

      Delete
  41. UnknownApril 9, 2013 at 10:13 PM

    Hi Greg,

    How come that you didn't write any blog posts on new quads from Fastcardtech?

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayApril 9, 2013 at 10:21 PM

      Because the first quad core just arrived 2 days ago. I am using it now to get some experience with it first.

      Delete
  42. UnknownApril 16, 2013 at 11:44 PM

    This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  43. UnknownApril 16, 2013 at 11:46 PM

    Hi Greg, could you please tell me how to remove the back cover of the phone, i have one ordered and would like to know in advance so i don't wreck it when i get it?

    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayApril 17, 2013 at 2:10 AM

      Just put your fingernail into the back cover slot and peel it off.

      Delete
  44. UnknownApril 29, 2013 at 3:46 AM

    Hi Greg, I am based in India. I have a similar phone and my SIM just does not register . What do I need to do
    Thanks for ur help
    Premila

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Greg TayApril 29, 2013 at 8:07 AM

      Try going to settings / sim management and check the settings. Also go to settings / more and check the 3g and network settings. Test the other sim slot too. You can try to borrow another sim card from a friend and test. Make sure your friend uses a different telco. If all else fails then the phone is really faulty and you need to send it back for exchange.

      Delete
  45. UnknownMay 7, 2013 at 6:56 AM

    Hey Greg! Is the phone after rooting a little bit faster? And can i install the latest android update (4.2.2)? Thanks Flo

    ReplyDelete
  46. UnknownMay 8, 2013 at 2:47 AM

    Hi Greg! I have got a phone(s3 clone) like this ;
    MT6577
    540*960
    MAUI.11AMD.W11.50.SP.V12.2012/09/20 18:56
    3.0.13(root@nebula)(gcc version 4.4.3 THU DEC 13 15:45:52 CST2012
    ANDROİD VER: 4.1.1
    ALPS.ICS.MP.V2.6

    I would like to know that can I find a 4.1.1 jelly bean rom for my phone as yours... By the way my phone looking like a 4.1.1 but its not real its real version 4.0.4. Thanks for ur answer.

    ReplyDelete
  47. UnknownMay 12, 2013 at 3:33 PM

    Hey Greg! U there?

    ReplyDelete
  48. UnknownMay 28, 2013 at 3:38 PM

    Greg are you a live?

    ReplyDelete
  49. UnknownJuly 18, 2013 at 3:40 PM

    We've known Greg well hope god bless him :))))

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)