The high cost of modern appliances makes users look for different ways to buy cheaper appliances. So, some people find on sale “gray” smartphones, which are priced 20-30% lower than conventional devices. In today’s article, we will tell you what gray smartphones are, whether they are safe to buy, and what disadvantages a person may encounter when using them.
In technical terms, “gray” smartphones are no different from the original devices. They are called “grey” because they have not passed the license certification of the Customs Union. Because of this, the smartphone will not have a manufacturer’s warranty and documentation in Russian. This is the reason why most buyers opt for licensed devices. Many people are willing to pay a little more to have a guarantee.
Usually “gray” smartphones are bought cheaply in Eastern countries and imported into Russia for personal use. Such devices can be found in online stores, such as AliExpress, where unofficial dealers can sell them directly.
As I wrote above, “gray” smartphones are identical to licensed devices in terms of technical characteristics. The only difference is that some smartphones have been paid taxes and tariffs (so their price has increased), while others have not. Therefore, the performance and functions of smartphones do not differ, but despite this, some users may encounter minor problems.
One of the most common problems is the wrong plug on the charger. You need to understand that in our world there are about 12 different sockets, so the “gray” device kit may contain a charger that is not suitable for you. To avoid such problems, you should check with the seller in advance which plug will be included, and if necessary, cancel the order or purchase an adapter.
Many more users, when turning on the device, are faced with a strange interface or limited firmware. And if the first problem is solved in a few minutes, it can be quite difficult to re-flash the phone. Usually this issue occurs when purchasing a device from China, where 2 versions of devices are sold: Global and Chinese. A smartphone with Chinese firmware will cost less, but some services are not available on it. Therefore, if you are not ready to find out how to update the device, it is better to overpay for the global version.
And of course, the main drawback is the lack of warranty. But even here there are some nuances, so the AliExpress store offers its own warranty for one year with maintenance of the device in service centers.
By name, many users associate “gray” smartphones with defective models, but as we have already found out, this is an illusion. Of course, there is always the possibility of getting a faulty device, but the reason here will not be the “fool”, but a simple mistake in production.
Therefore, if you do not trust the warranty, you can safely buy a “gray” device. Since in terms of features, it does not differ at all from the usual, but it has a much lower cost.
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Source: IXBT
