Everything You Need to Know About Importing a Chinese Smartphone

One way to avoid this gamble on customs charges is to buy devices that have already been imported into the country, but chances are the prices on them will be higher.

Operating System

All the major Chinese manufacturers have their own operating systems, though many of them are built on top of Android. While Honor’s Magic OS and Xiaomi’s HyperOS are slick, feature-packed, and relatively easy to customize, that’s not true for all Chinese manufacturers. Sometimes you will encounter shoddy translations, confusing menus, and quirks that can be difficult to live with.

The vast majority will still run Android apps and games, but the latest Huawei phones run HarmonyOS. Originally forked from the Android Open Source Project, it is now completely separate, and Huawei phones can no longer run Android apps. Following its US ban, the company has developed an independent ecosystem of apps and services.

Software Updates

While Chinese smartphone makers have been improving their commitment to Android versions and security updates, it’s crucial to check how many years of updates you can expect for your chosen device. You should also consider that it may take a long time after a new Android version is released for your phone to actually receive the update.

Bloatware

US phones aren’t immune to bloatware, but it is very common on Chinese smartphones. Any import will probably come with a whole range of apps and games preinstalled. You can generally uninstall anything you don’t want (I recommend doing this immediately after setup), but you may be stuck with some of them, particularly if you opted for a Chinese model instead of a global version.

Software Security, Spyware, and Malware

While you do have to put some trust in your chosen phone’s manufacturer, and they may request access to a lot of data for certain features to work correctly, there’s no evidence to support the idea that Chinese phones are riddled with spyware or malware. That said, buying used, open-box, or off-brand Android phones is risky, as a third party may have installed spyware, or a cheap, no-name device may have malware installed at the firmware level. Pay attention to the brand, provenance, and seller, and stick to recognized names.

Where to Buy

You may be able to buy directly from the manufacturer through their website. Failing that, choose a retailer with a decent reputation and solid online reviews. While we can’t vouch for them, Wonda Mobile and Giztop are very popular options, and some Chinese smartphones can be found for sale on Amazon. I would be wary of listings on AliExpress or eBay. If you do use a marketplace website, always check the seller’s reviews.

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