Chinese ROM Phone? - MUST WATCH!

If you are in the market for new device and looking at the Asian market, here are a few things you MUST know first!

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Average Dad Tech Store!

Epidemic Sound

[JustinRamsey]

American folks... T-Mobile works extremely well with Chinese phones and regular sim cards

[deltaechomusicnh]

The question here really is, why do Chinese OEMs price Global versions so high compared to the Chinese version? They are only shooting themselves in the foot here.

[dorianed]

I've used Oppo, Xiaomi, and Vivo phones on T-Mobile in the US without issue. Currently using the Vivo X100 Ultra.

[kingSwayd]

Thanks a lot AD.. you have really addressed my concerns regarding Chinese ROM devices. I'm gonna be buying one real soon. Much love from 🇳🇬

[The_Mr_PaTT]

I just purchased the vivo fold pro 3 from the average dad store. I live in the United States and it arrived in 3 or 4 days. Amazing.
I put an active Verizon and t mobile sim card in and both immediately had service with t mobile receiving 5g and Verizon getting 4g. Could not have been easier. Very grateful to have a trustworthy person with honest and fair reviews.

[walethegreat]

My dad got the x200 pro recently, and your videos really helped me in setting it up for him.

[Georgekartveli]

There are certainly disadvantages to Chinese ROM devices, however I just don't see any other way if you want a foldable at the moment. For example, I wanted to upgrade my Z Fold 3. The new Samsung doesn't feel like a good upgrade in terms of formfactor and battery. The OnePlus is better, but still, I personally think the Vivo X Fold 3 Pro is the best option so I went with it. Now, if I wanted to go global, it's only sold in India and Indonesia. Indian version only comes in black (and I wanted white), oh and it also cost an arm and a leg, and nobody ships out of Indonesia. So yes, I picked up the Chinese version. Did I have to spend probably an extra 20-30 minutes setting it up to get some things to work (such as app logos on AOD)? Yes. Does it work perfectly after that? Also yes. So in between getting a worse device, paying way more and spending some time setting it up once? Yeah, I'll pick setting it up once.

[TornadoBarrage]

If the online stores that sell chinese rom phones have payment plans it would sell more

[MarceloReis]

Sorry, mate but your assessment is wrong. I am a Chinese phone lover, but cannot stand dealing with Chinese ROMs. It's not one thing, it's death by a thousand cuts. Maybe I could live without Android Auto, or easy watch connection, or maps history, all calender not always syncing... But it feels like a constant fight against my phone and anxiety on will it play nice or not and trying to kill that Chinese AI assistant that keeps popping up. Phones are made to be convenient, above all.

[theflyingwing]

1)props to Average Dad for speaking up! 🔊
2)there is 1 point that I never see mentioned here. That is - for me at least, I must have a phone that has a local manufacturer warranty, underline manufacturer + a local service center. Enough said.
3)FYI I am a happy Huawei p60 pro customer who has a 'local set' with a local manufacturer warranty. But like you said Average Dad, H brand is another ball game altogether. And I'm loving ❤it!📱

[elmhurstenglish]

1. I also recommend getting Google Photos to backup your photos/videos to Google account. And then also Swift Key for a more ideal keyboard experience.

2. If you want to swipe left on home for a working news section too, you can change the launcher to Microsoft. If Vivo, just make sure you go into security settings > more security, and then allow default launcher to be changed (might need to set a Vivo password first top of settings, as it asks for it). That'll make sure it stays in Microsoft launcher.

3. Google Assistant/Gemini? Install Button Mapper. You can then make double clicking the volume down button activate Google Assistant/Gemini. In App Power Consumption, change from Smart to High (otherwise it'll sleep it and stop working).

[ericbrink]

I have been using chinese rom phones for a couple of years now. Absolutely no problems, besides using my language on Oppo (dutch) . For Vivo and Honor my language is normally available. Not missing Android auto anymore. Music streams via Bluetooth just fine in my car. I can flip my Vivo Fold 3 open and "rest" on the display to use maps, no issues 👍🏼💪🏼 . Nice video Mike! ✅

[christopherstein]

I've had Chinese roms on my last 3 phones and the only problem I have had is with my vivo during phone calls. The phone will continue to ring through the conversation but the other party can't hear it. Doesn't matter which phone app I use. On a positive note, t mobile, mint, and Google fi all work on Chinese roms since they use the same bands

[Moneyfrommusic]

Writing this from my new msgic v3 chinese rom. 1st time user of chinese roms. Was very skeptical about using them but decided to pull the trigger as i was hoping to upgrade the fold 5 to the 6 but we know what a disappointment that turned out to be, yet again. First and foremost this phone is incredible. Its truly unbelievable how thin yet fully loaded this device is hardware-wise. As a power user, my main gripe is that there is no way to have google assistant. Wheter by hotword or button press. What AD keepa stating is factually incorrect. Yea you can use the mic button to activate google search but that is for web based searches and not for phone based command such as turn off (x) or call (y). Which to me, as humble human, is a huge inconvenience especially given the OS is technically googles android. But i belive this has something to do with the code in the framework. Considering flashing to global rom if/when becomes available but concerned abkut security implications.
If only samsung could make this kinda phone with their software then there would be nothing else to want for in a phone imo

[eliassourlis]

there are physical cards that work like esim - you insert them and you can operate them exactly like esim - with <physical>esim you have all the features you have in a smartphone with integrated esim - this is a good solotions for china version mobile

[suhailibrahim]

if a phone is purchased from China, and shipped to the UK, would that render the warranty invalid?

[OzieSG]

I have a vivo x100 pro here in the US Chinese rom and google pay works no issue. We purchased the phone while in China, Excellent. Verizon does work-just shows 4g + not 5g.

[TheNatural]

Loving the content, clearly the most knowledgeable phone reviewer in the world right now. Can I ask, when are you dropping the much anticipated head to head between the Vivo x fold pro 3 vs Honor Magic v3? Thank you.

[TornadoBarrage]

I have T-mobile in the U.S and I have Claro in the Dominican Republic and work flawlessly with my Vivo X Fold 3 Pro

[suhailibrahim]

I'm a samsung knight but i love the Chinese phones. Absolutely love them and have owned quite a few. My next purchase will be the Vivo x100 ultra 👍