Hi guys
I had a Nexus One until I lost it last Friday, absolutely loved the phone!
I truly only have three requirements:
1) Android!
2) Quad band - reception in the US as well as Europe
3) Unlocked (so I can switch SIM cards when changing continents)
Could anyone give me an update on what's out there?
I looked at the Nexus S obviously but am thinking there must be something newer - or even anticipated.
Thanks a lot!
The Nexus S is the easiest to get unlocked in the US. But most US market Androids can be unlocked using a key.
Every Android model you see internationally that are not sold by carriers, comes with unlocked versions too. You just pay full retail. In some areas, even contracted phones are unlocked by law, e.g. Singapore, Hong Kong, Italy.
Example:
HTC:
Sensation, EVO 3D (GSM version), Desire HD, Desire S, Incredible S, Wildfire S. These are generic models sold in the open market and are unlocked.
US models like, T-Mobile Sensation, MyTouch Slide 4G, Inspire 4G, Droid Incredible 2, Thunderbolt --- these are attached to carriers and are locked.
HTC phones are dual band. The ones you see internationally are 900 and 2100. These work 3D in Europe and Asia without a hitch. The ones you see in Canada and Latin America are 850 and 1900 though. Multi-band 3D HTCs are quite rare since HTC doesn't make them unless requested, such as the Nexus One.
Samsung:
Literally any model that is not attached to a US carrier, which is a good bet that it is anything that says "Galaxy" right there with its name.
Only the Galaxy S2 and related series, such as the Tab 10.1, are quad band. However, most other high to middle end Samsung Galaxies are 3G triple band, such as the old i9000, but those sold in Europe and Asia don't have the 850. They are generally 900, 1900 and 2100. But those sold in some places like Canada and Latin America might be 850, 1900 and 2100.
LG, Sony Ericsson and Motorola also have unlocked international models. For Motorola, the most common international model right now is the Atrix. You really won't see much of the Droid models except occasionally by their international forms, like in Canada, the Droid 3 is the XT860 4G in GSM bands. For LG and SE, literally anything they got listed internationally got unlocked versions too. SE also has dual band and triple band models, and both models have the 2100 band used in Europe and Asia.