vB Easy Archive - V903 vs 903SH, which should i buy?

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V903 vs 903SH, which should i buy?
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Posted by: xwind

I pretty much have my eyes set on the 903 now, but from what I've read from the previous posts, there seems to be a pretty big difference between the UK's V903 and japan's 903sh. Some people apparently prefer one over the other, but this only confuses me a bit, I'm not sure anymore which to buy.

From my understanding of the japan version:
1) it has no mp3 playback (have to convert to aac format first)
2) turns off after 1 push of the power button
3) runs faster than the uk version, faster camera time
4) hard to text msg
5) it looks for japanese provider
6) has problems with the address book due to multiple languages
7) not fully unlocked, only test mode unlocked

and the UK version:
1) has mp3 playback
2) runs slower
3) more expensive than the japan ver.
4) fully unlocked and doesnt have any other problems

did I gather the right info? from the looks of it, it seems that the UK version would be the best choice am i right? i just want to know why people chose 1 version over the other because I want to start bidding on ebay and I need to know which version should I lookout for.
Moreover, this is my first time buying from overseas (im in the US), do these phones already come pre-flashed with the right software? And how do I go about buying something thats not in US dollars? I appreciate any help. Thanks!

Posted by: hankit

its about the same for camrea time....i heard the difference was just the way u take photos using the phone. If you shot it as if ur using the camera (side ways after u flip screen over) its alittle shower than just shot it by not fliping it....I dunnno if its true or not...

*) UK allows you to play mp3 ringtone directy...rather than doing some trick in Jap. (DRM/v902sh trick, u can find them in this forum as well)

*)Jap has 3 themes, and UK has only the black theme

*)I think Jap allows u to hide the operator logo..:P

*)running GRPS might be a problem...heard that u can run GRPS BUT no pics..so only words...

*)after switching off, keypad light is off, and phone will start in silent mode (manner mode in 902/903 terms) the next time u switch on

*) CANNOT DO MASTER REST, kills ur access to data folder (heard there are two version of test mode unlock which ones its alittle better than other...which I'm not sure as well)

*) Format Mini-SD has issue...heard that it will just hang ur phone during the process when formating SD...and after restart ur phone tends to slow down in processin (?)..

as for ebay, u can pay them by Paypal (which they charge u for a currency exchange)..western union (samething, charge as well)..

Posted by: mroach

I just ordered one from Plemix.com. I have no idea which version it actually is.

Posted by: Timsta

odd. so wierd.. i dunno why you guys are having a sd memory card issue.. i don't have athat issue at all. yah jap version doesn't have operator logo. its very very nice. but then again.. i neve rknow when my phoen jumps over ot the rogers network.. tmobile or back to my fido netowrk...

Posted by: AL9999

Timsta you can turn the operator logo on in Settings -> Display Settings if it's bothering you, heh...

Posted by: Timsta

hhahaah.. its not buggin me to the point i have to turn it on. haha. i know where it is lol. i like seeing my entire picture

Posted by: AL9999

Hehe I wasn't sure

I wish they'd have that option in all region versions though, so stupid how it's JP only

Posted by: Timsta

yah... if every phone had that feature. it would be awesome.. but i guess this seperates the jr phones.. from the real phones.

Posted by: kms-lai

Japan like to be different, they like to keep all the good stuff for themselves.

Posted by: jtcb

How does the operator logo looks like? Nice or Ugly? Can it be turn it on/off in the UK version?

Posted by: AL9999

Can't be turned off in the UK version. It's in the top half of the standby screen.

And it's quite ugly on the JP version, because of the font used in that phone. It's not as bad in the UK version...

Posted by: xwind

whats this MASTER RESET I keep hearing about, and is it a bad thing if I can't do a master reset?

so what are the downfalls or bad things about the UK 903?
1) only has 1 theme
2) cant turn off operator logo
3) can't do master reset

...anyone think of anything else? if there aren't that many bad things then I think I'll just go ahead and order the UK version from plemix.com instead of looking for a jap version on ebay.. what do u guys think?

Posted by: AL9999

Mate... I'm 99% sure Plemix are selling the JP version, because they are offering all three colours.

Having said that, the UK version can do a master reset without problems (it's the JP unlocked version that can't). Master reset just sets every phone setting back to the default one.

Posted by: mroach

Quote:

Originally Posted by AL9999

Mate... I'm 99% sure Plemix are selling the JP version, because they are offering all three colours.

Yeah once I heard that only the JP versions were available in multiple colours and I recalled that I ordered a red one, I knew I had made a mistake. I emailed them and asked them to cancel my order, hopefully they haven't shipped it yet.

Posted by: Timsta

aieee.... u cancelled on plemix.. oh boy. u might be in for a suprise.

Posted by: xwind

its kinda retarded how ebay auctions and sites like plemix say they are selling V903/903SH when theres a difference between the two...sigh.

so if plemix is only selling the japanese version then anyone know where i can get a UK black V903 then? i mean besides ebay?

Posted by: kms-lai

uk vodafone

Posted by: xwind

any place besides ebay and uk vodafone that sells them unlocked?

Posted by: kms-lai

smartone-vodafone hk and yahoo auction

Posted by: mroach

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timsta

aieee.... u cancelled on plemix.. oh boy. u might be in for a suprise.

Yeah the surprise was that the phone arrived today. After using it for about 2 minutes I have decided I don't want it.

It's not the phone itself, I just want a Nokia 9300.

They also falsely advertised the phone. They said it was factory unlocked, but it has all of the same unlocking side-effects as the other normal JP phones. Maybe they meant someone that works in a Sharp factory unlocked the phone using the methods that everyone else does...

Also the RF is laughable. If you let the phone sit for a few seconds you'll have full strength. Breathe in the general direction of the phone and you're down to one bar. Hah.

Anyone want a Red V903SH?

Posted by: jtcb

Is it the beta-unlocking that makes you don't want the phone or some other reasons? Can you list them? I am asking someone to buy the phone from the UK with full unlock. I am still debating if I should get it.. I heard that even the UK version has problems such as 30sec mp3 ringtone restriction, and some other minor problems. With the accouncement of SE W900i yesterday, I think I might wait. 903's 8mb internal memory vs W900i's 470mb is just a joke. I think the 3.2mp and screen are the only selling points.

Posted by: mroach

The unlocking is bothering me. Do you think it will be fixed? Also the RF seems to suck, but I guess I can't expect Nokia RF out of everything.

Posted by: mavericke

That is why folks...Go for the Euro version of the 903 and get it unlocked from Vodafone. It is not beta unlock too...It is a final unlock.

Posted by: xwind

how do u order the phone from vodafone uk? im in the US. i dont want to signup for a service with vodafone. and do they sell them already unlocked or do i have to request for them to unlock it?

Posted by: hankit

-U need to be in UK to sign up I think, and then you have the break the contract for a fee.
-Before you break the contract you to ask vodafone for a unlocking service which will blacklist your phone.
-They will limited your warrenty on your phone during te 1 year period. (I heard they will only cover any software problems, and not hardware (full cover) like Vodafone Customer.
-They never sell phones seperately!

Posted by: samuel_adam

can either of these version read chinese characters?

Posted by: kms-lai

the japanese version can display some chinese, but not all.

Posted by: UncleAllEvil

Quote:

Originally Posted by hankit

-They never sell phones seperately!

That`s not true, they are selling phones separately, but the price is very high. When I`ve asked for 902 price it was 550 pounds without contract (+ another 20 for vodafone unlock if you want). My friend said that for 903 price was 600 but I`m not 100% sure. Still it`s expensive. That`s why I bought mine 902 on ebay, 185 only (+6 postage costs and +10 for simlock) = 201 pounds