We are already testing the recently introduced flagship and at the same time the best smartphone that Xiaomi has presented so far, the Xiaomi 12S Ultra in our editorial office. Since the news about the global version is still uncertain and it looks like we won't get the global version, we ordered the smartphone from China.
Our purchase was made at none other than TradingShenzhen e-shop, which we believe is one of the best Chinese electronics e-shops to spend your money on. In this article, we will describe the purchase and delivery experience.
Duty free shipping from TradingShenzhen works top notch
TradingShenzhen is one of the few e-shops where you can buy Xiaomi, OnePlus, Vivo or iQOO products that cannot be found anywhere else. He can deliver all products without any customs fees. And that's thanks to Global Priority transport, which the seller has treated really well.
Although the transport fee is higher, it will still pay off a lot, as it will save you at least 20% on VAT. Customs is handled directly by the seller, as well as other related fees. So you pay the price of the goods + postage and you don't care about anything else.
Among other things, ours is constantly surprised by the speed of delivery. Although the seller states delivery in 10-16 working days on the website, we have never waited this long for a package from him. We placed our order for the Xiaomi 12S Ultra smartphone on July 5, which was just a day after the news was introduced. This is also why we waited a little longer than usual for the shipment, as the goods were not yet in stock.
The shipment took place on July 11, when we also received an e-mail with a tracking number. We greatly appreciate the Global Priority shipping tracking system, as it is one of the few that shows every single movement of the package, so the customer knows exactly where his package is.
Just 11 days later, specifically on July 22, the SPS courier already called us that he had a package for us. Once again, we have to praise the express speed of delivery, which takes place even from faraway China. Even some European warehouses from Aliexpress do not have such fast delivery.
To recap, Xiaomi 12S Ultra in version 12 + 256 GB cost us €1177 + €16 shipping. Current prices are even lower:
Xiaomi 12S Ultra Chinese Version (Without B20 LTE)
Again top packaging, delivery without damage
Since the TradingShenzhen store mainly sells more expensive devices, they really pay attention to the packaging itself. Even the seller does not want the goods to arrive damaged in any way, so he uses several layers of protection.
We received the Xiaomi 12S Ultra in a classic cardboard box, which was wrapped in bubble wrap and then the whole thing was wrapped in another layer of packaging. Only then was there a box with a phone under it all, which arrived completely undamaged.
As is the seller's custom, there is also a gift, this time in the form of a practical mini fan that you plug into the USB-C connector. An ideal item for refreshment in the summer heat. We also uploaded a quick unboxing on our YouTube:
How does the Chinese version work in Slovakia and the Czech Republic?
As we mentioned at the beginning of the article, we ordered the Chinese version of the smartphone, since the global version is nowhere in sight and probably won't be. A negative for some users may be the missing B20 LTE band in the Chinese version of the Xiaomi 12S Ultra.
The B20 LTE band (800 MHz) is used by operators to broadcast the 4G network outside cities (this applies in Slovakia), which means that you can connect to the 4G network with these phones only in the city or only very close to the city. So far, we have tested the signal in the city center of Trenčín with a SIM card from the operator Telekom, and the smartphone connected to 4G without any problems.
Another minus for some may be the Chinese MIUI, which means Chinese and English language on the phone. However, Google Play is fully supported and the seller will install it on your phone. The system will later be completely reinstallable localized system from Miuios.cz developers, respectively Xiaomi.EU ROM.
This modified system includes Czech and Slovak languages, full integration of Google services (however, they also work in the Chinese MIUI), including contactless payments, Netflix and functional bank applications. However, at the time of writing, the translation was not yet available.
Reinstalling requires experience with unlocking the bootloader and flashing the system via fastboot, so it's definitely not for everyone. However, as is customary, over time the seller will definitely add the Xiaomi.EU system installation service to the offer, which will be available for a fee of €25.
We have already started testing and you will soon find detailed reviews on our website. If you have any questions about the smartphone or the TradingShenzhen store, feel free to ask in the comments.
We also invite you to our Facebook group and be sure to like your sister as well China Planet page, where we publish more similar tips for buying from China.
I bought the same model, and it's a great phone, except it seems to be China locked, as I cannot make or receive any calls. Other than that its a nice looking brick.
Maybe there is a way to unlock it, maybe not.
Hello, this phone is not locked, you can use it with any carrier in the world. We have it and we are using it as a daily phone.