zendivers

Hi all - I'm sure this has been asked before but the search facility isn't working at the moment - has anyone bought a 4G phone in Saudi and then tried it in the UK - does it receive 4G in the UK? Cheers

Eeyore

It will depend on the exact model number of the handset. Some support more 4G frequency bands than others.

If you're thinking about buying a handset in Saudi and using it for 4G in the UK, you just need to identify a model number that offers the UK 4G frequency bands you need as well as the Saudi ones. Google is your friend here. Don't rely on anyone in a shop reassuring you.

A quick Google reveals that the UK uses bands 3 (3 and EE), 7 (EE), and 20 (3, O2, Vodafone). That equates to the specific frequencies 800 (band 20), 1800 (band 3) and 2600 MHz (band 7). If you can find a phone in Saudi that covers all those bands, it will work on any 4G network in the UK.

For example, according to the Apple site, if you want an iPhone 5s or 5c then the official Saudi-market models (A1507 and A1457) can be used for 4G on any network anywhere in the UK or Saudi as they support all the bands used in both countries. The official Saudi-market iPhone 5 (not s or c) will only give you 4G from 3 and EE and only in certain places around the UK as it doesn't support bands 7 or 20. If you want an Android or BlackBerry, you'll need to do your own research.

Make sense?

zendivers

Great! Yes makes perfect sense and thanks!