Due to the enormous popularity of Samsung, we decided to tell you how to identify an original phone from a fake and not make a mistake with your choice. Everything is quite simple, but first things first.
First, let's understand what phones you can find on the Russian market and what you can get into. There are several types of smartphones that we would like to protect you from purchasing. This -
- The so-called EUROTEST phones (smartphones released for the foreign market, most often for the Asian market).
- Refreshes (or refurbished phones, devices that were assembled from two or more defective phones).
- Counterfeits (just Chinese copies of famous phones).
Eurotest phones
Let's start, perhaps, with the lesser of the evils, namely the so-called Eurotest. You all understand perfectly well that Samsung produces phones not only for the Russian market, but also for the countries of Asia, Europe and America. Most often this is the same phone, but with local firmware. The maximum you can run into when buying a foreign phone is a crooked optimization of the Russian menu, and in the worst case, foreign mobile communication standards (in other words, Russian 4G may not work for you, which is quite unpleasant). But here we may encounter another problem. If your phone breaks down and the store avoids warranty obligations, then the burden of expensive repairs will fall on your shoulders, since the Russian representative office of the company accepts for service only devices manufactured for our market. It is extremely easy to distinguish ROSTEST. Let's start with the box. In most models, the color name must be in Russian, and the box must contain instructions in Russian (do not forget that the manufacturer does not supply all devices with instructions and it is better to immediately check with the seller whether it is included). The next thing is of course the serial number of the phone. https://www.samsung.com
To be completely sure, it is better to call 8-800-555-55-55 , and just call the number at the official service center. The next method is to enter the service code *#7353#; this command is not available on stock Android, but Samsung phones have it. If you see a menu like this, then everything is fine.
I want to say right away that you can distinguish the original by price. You understand perfectly well that the official ROSTEST cannot cost less than a certain minimum, and if, for example, you see a Samsung Galaxy S7 for 20-25 thousand rubles, then I can say with almost one hundred percent certainty that this is definitely not a Rostest. I want to tell you right away that all Samsung mobile phones in our online store are growth.
Refreshes
Almost every second buyer of a Samsung mobile phone asks us if the phone has been refreshed. And here we can tell you with 100% confidence that all the phones in our online store are completely new. It's quite easy to check. If you have a normal phone in front of you, then the first thing: all the parts should be perfectly tailored, and you shouldn’t notice any cracks or uneven lines by eye. The serial numbers on the phone itself, the box, and the service code *#06# must match. Refurbished phones can be dangerous because often the assembly of so-called REFRESHES is carried out by non-specialists or simply people aimed only at profit. And almost anything can be installed on the phone. Most often these are Chinese copies of screens and low-quality batteries. This can not only affect the longevity of the phone, but also cause a fire (in case of poor quality batteries.)
Chinese copies.
And of course, the worst thing in our article is Chinese copies of phones. I want to make a reservation right away that the word copy is not applicable to these phones; it is better to use the word fake.
You can find many fake Samsung phones on the Russian market. I will say more, it’s even difficult to say how many types and types of fakes are sold by dishonest sellers. Most often, these phones cost almost half the price of the original, and according to many, “they are no different from the original.”
Let's look at this issue. Of course, each of us wants to save money and if there is no difference, why pay more. But I want to upset you - of course there is a difference. The first is, of course, the build quality itself, the second is performance, and the third is the quality of components.
Counterfeits can be divided into two large groups.
- The cheapest (from 6,000 to 15,000 rubles).
- And the middle class (everything that costs more than 15 thousand.)
Of course, you understand that now I rely primarily on the Samsung Galaxy S7 and its copies.
There's no point in talking about cheap fakes. They are very easy to distinguish from the original. They are often made of low-quality materials and contain something that should not be in the original, namely a TV with an antenna, a stylus, etc. If you see this, then you shouldn’t waste your time and money. This phone will not serve you faithfully, but will most likely break down in 2-3 months.
The next class is middle class fakes. In such phones, the Chinese try to recreate the original as much as possible and do not even skimp on materials.
It is much more difficult to identify such a phone, but it is still possible. The algorithm of actions is the same as with the definition of EUROTEST and refresh. The fake will not show up on the original website and, of course, will not respond to branded service commands, plus you can tell if it’s the original by looking at the localization of the firmware. In real phones it is perfectly translated into Russian and you won’t find any typos or outright mistakes in it. Of course, you can ask me why fakes are terrible, and I will answer you that in them you will find all the problems of the previous groups. There are low-quality components and, of course, a lack of service, plus the copies noticeably lag behind the original in terms of performance.
To determine what's inside your new phone, use benchmarks (AnTuTu, Geekbench), which will show you what kind of hardware is installed in the device and, in general, who manufactured the phone.
So, let's summarize. You can save money when buying a Samsung phone, but you need to follow a few simple rules.
- Buy only ROSTEST (so as not to encounter problems with service).
- When purchasing, please enter the serial number of your device.
- Be sure to check the integrity of the case and the quality of workmanship.
- Remember that the serial numbers on the phone, the box and the service command *#06# must match.
By following these simple rules, you can buy a really high-quality phone at an affordable price. I would like to remind you that we only sell official Samsung phones and are ready for any quality checks.
Three reasons to buy from us
In the online store Navigator-Shop only the best equipment!
One of the main advantages of our store is that our assortment includes exclusively “white” devices marked RosTest certificate, supplied through official shipments directly from the manufacturer. We carefully monitor the quality of the products we sell, which allows us to exclude the presence of defects.
As expected, the buyer will be provided with a full warranty package, consisting of guarantees from the manufacturer, with which you can contact customer service centers for service repairs, and we also back your purchases with our own store warranty, allowing return or exchange the device within the first two weeks from the date of purchase.
You can read reviews from our grateful clients on Yandex Market. We work for you and do everything to cooperate with website it was convenient and comfortable!
When purchasing a new mobile phone, you should always pay attention not only to its technical characteristics and price, but also to the warranty conditions and the legality of its import. Rostest or Eurotest can determine the last two parameters for you. Today we will determine which standard is better.
If you see the Rostest sign on your smartphone, then know that this device was legally imported into Russia directly by the manufacturer or other authorized persons. What does this mean? Firstly, such a smartphone will necessarily have a certificate of conformity. Secondly, it is completely safe to use, and repairs to the device can be carried out at any manufacturer’s service center. For example, you bought a smartphone in Moscow, but it broke down in Saratov. You don’t have to go back to Moscow to have your phone repaired; just contact the service center in Saratov.
Eurotest is not entirely legal import of mobile phones, and not through official delivery channels, but bypassing them. When purchasing such a smartphone, be prepared for the fact that you will not receive a reliable warranty, and the manufacturer will not repair your device under it. In fact, Eurotest is not a sign of quality, it just covers up a counterfeit product. The most interesting thing is the fact that when purchasing a smartphone, the user is given a guarantee, but it is not tied to any service center, and it is not known whether such a guarantee will be valid after six months.
To avoid falling into a trap, you need to carefully monitor what sign the phone is sold under. Often, sellers try in every way to deceive customers, especially for online stores, because they hope that after the goods are delivered, the happy consumer will not even notice the unofficial origin of the device. The very first difference between a legally imported smartphone and an unofficial one is the presence of a box and instructions in Russian. If the phone is sold in a box with inscriptions in English, then this indicates the Eurotest mark.
Secondly, the user can purchase products with the Rostest mark in two ways - order on the Internet or independently come to the seller’s office. Smartphones with the Eurotest mark are sold in markets or on the Internet, but you will not find a manufacturer’s store. Please note that the websites do not even indicate the addresses of stores where you can go to buy the goods. Naturally, no one wants to take risks.
The smartphones themselves are no different from each other. The difference between the Rostest and Eurotest marks is in the delivery channels and warranty service. If you are not trying to get a company guarantee and want to save several thousand rubles, then you can safely buy a smartphone with the Eurotest sign. Well, if a restful sleep is more valuable to you, then immediately purchase Rostest phones. We remind you that their passport and box will have inscriptions in Russian.
As for the price, it is very easy to give the following example. The Galaxy Nexus smartphone was sold with Rostest at a price of 29,990 rubles, while the Eurotest version of the smartphone costs 19,000 rubles. The Galaxy Note phablet was sold in the official showroom with Rostest for 34,000 rubles, although the Eurotest version could be found for only 21,000 rubles. The difference is at least a third of the cost.
Our respect to the visitor who wants to learn more and more about his Samsung Galaxy S8 every day. In today's review, we will decide once and for all what is better to buy, Galaxy S8 Rostest or Eurotest, how to identify them, and what is the difference between them.
Russian growth of Galaxy S8
This is what the Galaxy S8 box looks like when it has passed Russian certification Rostest, or PCT, is the largest center in Russia for certification and issuance of certificates of conformity. Simply put, before the Galaxy S8 goes on sale on the Russian market, it undergoes all kinds of testing in laboratory conditions for compliance.
From all of the above, it follows that PCT is a quality mark that indicates that a given product has all the relevant certificates.
On a note!
It is worth remembering that not so long ago, the old PCT certification was replaced by the more modern EAC. The meaning of these signs is equivalent, only EAC is a newer version of the designation. Therefore, if your Galaxy S8 is official, you will find this sign on its box.
As a rule, Samsung manufacturers or official distributors are responsible for the supply of smartphones to Russia. When purchasing a Galaxy S8 Rostest, with the Rostest designation, you do not need to worry about its originality. Not the least of its advantages is that in case of problems with it, it can be sent for repair at any Samsung service center in Russia.
European Eurotest Galaxy S8
Smartphone intended for use abroad First of all, I would like to say that you should not think that the Eurotest Galaxy S8 is of poor quality. And the very concept of a Eurotest is not in the official address. This is the name given to smartphones, or goods imported from abroad bypassing growth. Farsellers often do this; they buy Galaxy S8s abroad at a lower price than in Russia, and then bring them to us and sell them at a better price.
In the process of such sales, such a term as the Galaxy S8 Eurotest was born. Agree, it won’t sound nice if the seller tells you that he is illegally bringing these phablets to us and selling them. Therefore, nosy sellers added a pinch of marketing, embellishing the history of such smartphones and increasing their quality in the eyes of potential buyers.
A noticeable disadvantage of such phablets is the inability to submit them for repair service on the territory of the Russian Federation. Due to the lack of an agreement with Russian representatives of Samsung, it is unfortunately not possible to obtain warranty service at their centers.
What is the difference between Rostest and Eurotest Galaxy S8
When you visit and purchase a Galaxy S8 at a partner store, you don’t have to worry about its originality. Typically, Samsung's partners are large electrical stores, cellular network stores, etc. Such representatives will not risk their license and sell smartphones bypassing Russian certification.
Look at the box and instructions of your Galaxy S8, if everything is in a foreign language, it means that this is a European certified smartphone. When smartphones officially arrive on our market, Samsung will Russify the description of the phablet.
If you try to find a qualitative difference between them, nothing will work. Because they are going. And the only difference between them is the warranty card.
Fact!
The striking difference between Eurotest and Rostest is that when it is first activated. You must call from your native (European) SIM card and talk for at least several minutes.
Let's look at the situation in more detail. Let's say your relatives brought you a Galaxy S8 from Italy as a gift. In order for the smartphone to accept our operators, first of all you need to activate it from a SIM card of Italian origin, and only after that insert ours.
These are the pitfalls fraught with Eurotest smartphones. In most cases, this headache falls on the shoulders of the seller, but the average buyer-user needs to be aware of this too.
Fresh lifehack!
There is an option to bypass the activation of a European gadget. To do this, we just need to purchase a tourist SIM card in Russia and call from it, for example, to the support phone of the operator of this SIM card, and chat for about five minutes. Thus, regional dependence will fall off.
Rostest or Eurotest: which is better to take Galaxy S8
A situation where a stingy person can pay twice Well, on our scales there is a growth and European test of the Samsung galaxy S8. What should you be guided by when making such a choice? Everyone has different priorities when it comes to purchasing something like this. By purchasing a Eurotest Galaxy S8, you will save tens of thousands of rubles, and by purchasing a Rostest one, you will receive free warranty service.
Which one to choose is up to you to decide. However, we would recommend buying a PCT smartphone. After all, God forbid, what happens to your expensive device, you can always have it repaired at Samsung service centers.
Write in the comments which certification you will choose, or perhaps you have already chosen :)
Video: Differences between the European Galaxy S8 and the PCT
The 2017 flagship inherited the main design features from its predecessor, the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge. At the same time, much in his appearance changed beyond recognition. Let's not get ahead of ourselves and consider the updated version of the top device in more detail.
Huge screen
The first thing that attracts attention is the huge screen of the smartphone - with a diagonal of 6.2" it occupies about 84% of the area of the front panel, arching onto the side edges. But this does not make the gadget a giant, since the minimal frames around the display contribute to a comfortable grip of the smartphone in the hand. The screen is built using the well-proven proprietary SuperAMOLED technology, which is famous for its depth of black color and low power consumption when outputting black pixels, which made it possible to display the current date and time on the locked display.
Power reserve
Used as a hardware platform “hardware” has a significant reserve of power not only for the short term, but also for the long term. All existing games and applications will run on the smartphone with maximum graphics settings. The photographic component of the Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus deserves no less flattering words - the main camera module of the gadget deservedly puts it in the light of the best camera phone on the market. The selfie camera also produces very good results, and it is equipped with fast autofocus.
Endless benefits
The smartphone has so many strengths that it would take forever to list them. These include identification of the device owner by fingerprint and iris, complete dust and moisture protection of the case (compliance with the IP68 standard), support for fast and wireless charging, the presence of a USB Type-C connector and many other advantages. But the only serious disadvantage of the model is the inconvenient location of the fingerprint sensor, which has moved from the front panel to the back of the smartphone. When you feel it blindly, your finger tends to stain the camera’s “eye”, located side by side with the fingerprint scanner.
Get into your soul
Music lovers will be pleased to see that the device comes equipped with high-quality AKG headphones. Many will also like the built-in voice assistant Bixby, whose purpose is to facilitate the interaction of the smartphone user with applications and settings, as well as search for the necessary information by voice request. Finally, I would like to highlight the attractive appearance of the device - it is not without reason that the label of “style icon” stuck to it from the first days after its announcement.
We understand the markings and trade designations of modern gadgets.
Smartphones labeled Rostest and EAC differ in price from Eurotest devices. The latter are also called - their purchase is financially beneficial, but the buyer will not have to rely on warranty obligations from the manufacturer. Purchasing devices without Rostest certification and marking requires deep knowledge from the buyer. The probability of being deceived is quite high, but the difference in the price of smartphones is worth studying the topic.
In large retail chains, for example, Eldorado, M.Video and Svyaznoy, you can purchase devices with Rostest or EAC certification. These markings confirm the legality of importing phones into the country and that the devices have passed testing for compliance with the standards adopted in the Russian Federation. This marking minimizes the risk of purchasing a smartphone with a factory defect or not adapted to the region of purchase.
EAC is a standard for products acceptable for sale in the countries of the Customs Union. Both certificates are identical and confirm the quality and originality of the imported goods.
Rostest and Eurotest
The term Eurotest appeared in opposition to Rostest and is used to refer to phones that entered the country without paying duties and taxes. Such devices have not been tested for compliance with quality standards and are not officially guaranteed. However, neither the quality of the product nor its properties change if the device is original. As a rule, the warranty for such devices is provided by the seller himself, and not by the official service center.
Another feature of uncertified phones is the non-standard power plug for our country. To use the original charger, you may need an adapter for our socket - this is probably familiar to those who ordered smartphones in China. When purchasing an original product without a Rostest certificate, you may notice a difference in characteristics. There is a possibility that a smartphone supplied to the American or European market will not work in all 4G bands. This is due to differences in communication standards in different countries.
Gray models may differ from certified ones in terms of software and its updates. If the phone was manufactured for a specific country, there is a chance that it will not be able to receive over-the-air software updates outside of that country. In this case, you will either have to use an outdated firmware version or install updates manually.
How to distinguish a fake?
It happens that behind the word “Eurotest” there is a so-called counterfeit - non-original products of dubious quality and origin. When buying a smartphone with this marking, it is important to thoroughly study the appearance and characteristics of the model. If possible, you should test the device in special software, for example, GeekBench, CPU-Z or AIDA64, and make sure that the product is original, although not produced for the Russian market.
Many manufacturers offer to check the authenticity of products on official websites. By entering the serial number of the smartphone (IMEI) into the appropriate form, you can verify its originality and get rid of doubts when purchasing.
