When choosing a new phone, you probably noticed a significant difference in price for the same models. Many people are surprised: “Why is it so much cheaper here?” “Maybe it’s a fake?” etc.
When you start to delve into and understand, you come across a bunch of “smart” words, such as “ROSTEST”, “EUROTEST”. What is ROSTEST? And is it really needed? And most importantly, is it worth overpaying?
Read the short text below and make the right decision!
Firstly, let’s immediately leave the word “EUROTEST” alone. There is no "EUROTEST". This beautiful word (specially similar to “ROSTEST”) was invented to sell goods more beautifully without about. There are products with the PCT (ROSTEST) mark, and there are those without it. That's all!
What's the difference between them?
Imagine that you are flying to Germany or America on a business trip (and you were just thinking about buying a new smartphone). Will the lack of a PCT icon on the phone you like stop you?
Ha ha! Of course not!
So, these are exactly the phones that are sold in Russia without the ROSTEST mark. They simply end up in Russia, bypassing official supply channels. How? This is already a problem for suppliers. The main thing is that they bypass a huge number of fees, one of which is ROSTEST certification.
It can be assumed that during certification, each phone undergoes many tests for performance, security, and so on. Unfortunately, it is not. The certificate is issued for a batch of products. The presence of a PCT certificate does not mean that every phone from the entire batch has been subjected to thorough checks and testing. Paid and received.
Here are the five main differences between ROSTEST and non-ROSTEST:
1. Price
Perhaps, for many, this is the most important point. And this is exactly why you started reading this text: the surcharge for ROSTEST is about 30% of the cost of the product;
2. Modern technology is very reliable and hardly fails when used correctly. But we have all long been accustomed to the fact that the manufacturer gives a guarantee.
The important point is that the official guarantee is valid in the country where the product is sold (in the country where the device was brought from), and the guarantee in Russia is given by the store that sold the device. Therefore, if you buy a phone without the ROSTEST mark, then it is very important to choose the right store where to buy a new gadget.
ROSTEST devices have an official manufacturer's warranty. The manufacturer accepts equipment for repair if it breaks down during the warranty period (usually 1 year). But at the same time, it is worth considering that the manufacturer is not obliged to make repairs quickly. Therefore, the manufacturer usually takes a long time to carry out warranty repairs: by law, 45 days are allotted for this.
3. Channels of import into the Russian Federation
– this is what affects the final price of the product in the first place. The ROSTESTA certificate is issued only for goods for which all taxes and customs duties have been paid. You also need to pay for the ROSTEST certificate. In fact, this is where almost the entire price difference comes from. The rest of the equipment was imported into Russia, bypassing official supply channels.
That is, this is equipment produced on the same assembly line, by the same workers, but arrived in Russia slightly differently.
4. Russification
was really very important while phones had buttons. Now that the vast majority of phones have a touch screen, this is no longer relevant. In any smartphone, the Russian language can be selected in the menu at the very beginning of working with it, quite simply.
5. Instructions in Russian
ROSTEST devices are always included in the kit. In other cases, everything is at the discretion of the seller. In any case, the instructions in Russian can always be downloaded from the manufacturer’s official website. Everyone always has instructions in English.
The choice is yours. The main thing to remember: the product is the same!
What is this - a PCT phone? How to find out whether it has been verified by Rostest or not? What does it cost to buy a phone without Rostest on Aliexpress or Gearbest?
Which phone is better to buy - Rostest or a “gray” one from a Chinese store?
So, a PCT phone (that is, a smartphone tested by Rostest) - what does this mean? First of all, the product has been tested at a Russian testing center. But in 2022, the PCT certification mark placed on the communicator officially does not show anything significant.
Why is “Rostest” (PCT sign) no longer relevant in 2022?
Since 2011, the new EAC mark (EAC - EurAsian Conformity, that is, Eurasian Conformity) has come into force. It does not complement, but actually replaces the PCT on the territory of the Russian Federation, which has ceased to be mandatory for smartphones and any other mobile devices since 2015.
find the EAC mark on the phone case or battery, and it means that the product has passed all assessments in accordance with the regulations of the Customs Union for technically complex goods. The presence of the EAC proves that the smartphone was imported into the EurAsEC (Belarus, Kazakhstan and Russia) legally and not smuggled.
What does EAC mean (replacement of PCT) on a phone in Russia:
• the phone has received a certificate of technical conformity for use in the country;
• the state where the device is sold is notified of the presence of encryption elements;
• officially paid import tax - customs duty (that is, not smuggling);
• the phone is safe for daily use;
• the software has been translated into Russian, the product comes with instructions and complete equipment;
• the technical device corresponds to the declared characteristics (there is no deception).
If the phone does not have a PCT or EAC sign (“gray” phone).
In most cases, the absence of a certification mark proves the “gray” origin of the product. That is, such a smartphone was imported into the country illegally without following the above points and did not pass the examination. If you find this device for sale in a local store in Russia, then most likely the seller simply bought it cheap abroad and imported it illegally to make money on the difference in sales .
Which equipment is “white” and which is “gray”?
“White” devices and equipment, which are officially sent by the manufacturer to Russia for sale, firstly, undergo customs control and are subject to duty. Secondly, they receive a Customs Union certificate of suitability for use in Russia and the following RosTest marking:
The exception is gadgets ordered by you personally on AliExpress, Amazon or Ebay. They are not marked, but pass control at the border - these are just parcels from abroad, but in no way contraband.
All other equipment is “gray”. Even officially sold in Russian stores, but received through illegal channels. What does this mean for the consumer? Let's look at all the advantages and disadvantages of “gray” devices.
What will happen when buying a “gray” phone in a local store or abroad?
If you want to save money when buying a smartphone , then you don’t have to turn to “gray” offers. You can use coupons cashback systems (after all, they work not only with Aliexpress and Gearbest, but also with local stores; bank cards have their own promotional programs). Often Russian online stores offer cheaper options than when ordering abroad.
Why is a PCT phone (with the EAC ) better than just ordering something from the Chinese with free delivery?
1. A “gray” phone will not have a warranty.
Even an iPhone that is under warranty worldwide will not be accepted at local Apple service centers unless you have the original receipt from the country of purchase. No branded repair center will also deal with illegally imported goods.
2. It is intended for another country.
The software (often firmware) of a phone from Aliexpress and often the hardware (modem) are designed to work in another country. One of the most famous recent examples is YotaPhone 2. The Russian model (yd 201) is equipped with a modem for local networks, in which the Chinese one (yd 206) refuses to work (loses the network, quickly discharges, does not support LTE) even with flashing.
3. High risk of counterfeiting.
Discussions on the forums of sellers who send counterfeit smartphones, smart watches, fitness bracelets, packaging and accessories to Russia are very popular. Almost every more or less popular phone has a blacklist of suppliers on Ebay and Aliexpress. The package could contain anything, even a cheap Chinese Android dialer in an iPhone 7 case for the price of the latter.
4. “Grey” phones are an ideal topic for scammers.
If you are ready to buy a “gray” smartphone, then you are chasing cheapness and will follow the lead of savvy deceivers. This is how scammers reason and try to take advantage of people’s desire to buy a phone as cheaply as possible. They are especially active on the eve of high-profile releases, such as the iPhone 7, iPhone 7S or iPhone 8 (already in preparation!).
What are “gray” smartphones
Large smartphone manufacturers rarely limit themselves to one market for selling their products. Devices from brands such as Samsung, Xiaomi, ZTE, Meizu, Lenovo can be found in many countries in Europe, Asia and the countries of the Customs Union. “ gray ” smartphone means that the product was imported into your country illegally, that customs duties were not paid for it, and the manufacturer does not provide its official guarantee.
Initially, this smartphone could have been intended for sale in Europe or Asia, but thanks to the cunning of entrepreneurs and holes in the legislation, it can be purchased in our country, and much cheaper than from an official dealer.
We also note that Rostest certification does not at all mean that the device has been tested and studied by a group of scientists using various equipment and found to be absolutely safe . As a rule, this is a simple formality, and the certification center checks the product for the presence of Russian-language software, instructions, and for compliance with the declared and actual characteristics.
Example prices at the time of writing:
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 32GB (black) - 14999 RUR on the connected website.
Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 32GB (Black) - 9790 rubles in one of the Yandex.Market stores.
The overpayment is simply huge - 50%, but in fact, the devices are absolutely identical.
A few words about the PCT
Many people still ask the seller about the treasured three letters “ PCT ” . The fact is that PCT, recently, is not a mandatory certification, but a voluntary one. It no longer affects anything and does not oblige you to anything. With the advent of the Eurasian Economic Union, mandatory certification since August 2013 is called EAC ( Eurasian Compliance
). Therefore, if the seller answers in the affirmative to the question whether the device is PCT, this means that the device is still EAC, and the seller is too lazy to explain all these subtleties to you, but yes, it has passed certification. Therefore, it is best to ask if the device has an official warranty from the manufacturer, this way you will save time.
Features, advantages, disadvantages of illegal smartphones
Illegal smartphones are called “gray”
. What does this mean? Such gadgets entered the country bypassing the customs service. The buyer did not pay customs duties for them. Accordingly, using such smartphones will be unsafe.
Consider the benefits of illegal smartphones
.
Firstly
, they are several times cheaper than the originals.
Therefore, such devices immediately became popular. Not everyone can afford to buy a certified smartphone for 80 thousand rubles. and higher. Secondly
, there is a huge selection of models. You can purchase a smartphone from a well-known manufacturer at an affordable price.
Let's move on to the disadvantages.
No one will give a warranty service card
for an illegal gadget . Accordingly, the buyer bears all costs for repairing the device, as well as correcting manufacturer errors. Sometimes, when troubleshooting a problem with a gadget, it’s easier to buy a new model. Not all craftsmen undertake repairs.
Some sellers of mobile devices enter into service agreements with some center (also illegal). He issues warranty cards. When sending your device in for repair, the user may wait months for it to be returned. And there’s nothing to complain about here. Is there a guarantee? Eat. And from whom it was issued - the buyer must check.
Certified smartphones are serviced by specialized service centers. Their warranty cards are printed on letterhead. The buyer must ensure that the seller completes this form when purchasing the device.
Further, the “gray” smartphone is intended for use in another country
. Its operating system is not flashed, since it was imported illegally. Therefore, most often, users of non-certified devices are faced with the problem of translating the “menu”. Some of its functions do not work in the Russian Federation.
Sign «
Eurotest
"
(intended for sale in the EU)
In view of this, the buyer begins to look for a specialist who would reconfigure the smartphone’s software for use in the Russian Federation. This can be done, but no one can guarantee that such a device will last a long time.
Other disadvantages
:
- Many illegal smartphones are tied to a specific foreign operator
. For example, to a mobile operator in China or another country. It will not accept SIM cards from Russian operators. It is also unlikely that it will be possible to reflash it. Therefore, the buyer will simply “throw money away.” - Quite often, when purchasing a modern illegal smartphone, consumers encounter scammers
. How do they work? A potential buyer sees an ad on the Internet: “I’m selling a smartphone of such and such a model with a search function.” The price is reasonable. He buys such a gadget. And as soon as he starts using it effectively, he receives a message: “This phone has been stolen. Give him back or I'll report him to the police." After this, it is unlikely that anyone will want to keep such a device. It is returned to the real owner. Only the owner may not be the owner, but a fraudster. Therefore, buyers are left without money and without a gadget.
Another disadvantage of an illegal smartphone is buying a fake
. When purchasing a device in specialized stores, the buyer is sure that the product meets the declared technical characteristics. He's original. But if you buy a device on the market, you can easily find a fake. Yes, both the case and the box of the gadget will be similar to those from the official manufacturer. The cost of such devices is quite low.
What are the differences?
First of all, you need to find out for which market the device was originally intended. If the device is for Asia, then you will need an adapter plug for Russian sockets and the packaging will have hieroglyphs. If for Europe, then the adapter most likely will not be needed, and the packaging will have inscriptions in English. The name of the smartphone will contain the symbols EU, which means European Union.
You should also study the model you choose. The fact is that in China you can find a Lenovo P2 model with 64GB of internal memory, and on the Russian market this model appeared with a maximum of 32GB of memory on board. Some Xiaomi models are released in Europe with support for LTE frequencies Band 20. In China there is no support for this frequency, and therefore LTE in Russia will work worse. By the way, there is no “e Eurotest ” , by this the sellers want to say that the device is not certified for Russia, and they hope that the buyer will have a kind of trigger for the “Euro” prefix. Examples of this are words such as European-quality repair, European-quality, European-standard.
Problems with a “gray” iPhone during operation
In most cases, using a “gray” iPhone does not cause any problems, but this is only due to the fact that most devices come to us from neighboring countries. If you purchase a Taiwanese or, for example, a Brazilian gadget, you may encounter poor communication quality and even the absence of an LTE connection. This happens due to the use of different frequencies in Europe, Asia, South America, etc. By the way, the Russian authorities have repeatedly threatened to completely block all smartphones that entered the country illegally. This is a very difficult, but feasible, from a technical point of view, task.
Perhaps the most significant problems can be caused by purchasing a “ gray” carrier iPhone (aka: “locked”, “locked”, contract, tied to an operator, SIM-lock, etc.). Such a smartphone only works with a SIM card from a specific operator in the country where the purchase was made.
In addition to the cases described above, a “gray” iPhone can also cause less serious problems for its owner. For example, the plug for connecting the charger adapter to the electrical outlet differs in many countries. This means that it is impossible to connect a British or, for example, American iPhone to a domestic outlet using a standard charger without a special adapter
♥ BY TOPIC: Sockets in different countries of the world: types, descriptions and photos.
A less important nuance is that Apple complies with the laws of the countries to which it ships its gadgets, which entails some consequences. For example, an iPhone purchased in the Emirates did not support FaceTime video calls until 2020, a Japanese smartphone will not allow you to turn off the camera sound, and a “European” will limit the maximum volume in the headphones (Apple has no restrictions for Russia yet).
Eventually:
The best “gray” iPhone for a Russian user is an iPhone brought from the European Union or the USA . The device is practically no different from the official Apple smartphone produced for Russia, with the exception of the lack of a two-year warranty.
♥ ON TOPIC: In iOS 14, a green or orange indicator lights up at the top of the screen: what are they for?
How to check certification
If the seller claims that the device is “ Rostest ” , but something confuses you, then this information can be easily verified. To do this, you need to call the manufacturer’s hotline and give the IMEI of the device.
IMEI is a unique gadget identifier. This is something like a license plate on a car - a very rough analogy, but in principle it fits. It can be found on the packaging or on the smartphone itself if you type the command *#06#.
Some manufacturers also provide an online database for checking, but it is better not to trust such databases, because the information there is not updated often. Also, the device, of course, must come with a charger without any adapters, with information in Russian on the box and with fully Russified firmware. It is best when the device is sealed and unpacking happens in front of you.
How to distinguish a legal smartphone from an illegal one
This is quite easy to do. Initially, you can check your smartphone using the international mobile equipment identifier
- IMEI.
Experts say that fraudsters can copy the code of the original device and transfer it to a fake one.
You can use other services to check. There are a huge number of them now.
Further, a fake can be easily identified visually
. Previously there were no problems with this issue. Telephones were push-button. If these buttons were missing Russian letters, the device was illegal or counterfeit. Now things are a little more complicated. The Russian language is present in the settings of any modern gadget.
A legal smartphone must have an instruction manual in Russian.
Another way to check is to inspect the packaging
. If there are logos of foreign operators on it, then the phone is illegal. And when turned on, the gadget will not ask in which language to load the menu.
If the device is designed for international sale, the user can select the menu language when loading the operating system.
The most important difference is the cost of the device
. Originals are expensive, fakes and “gray” devices are several times cheaper.
How to spot a fake
It is very difficult to distinguish a fake smartphone from an original one if you have not seen the original. Externally, the smartphones will look very similar. Here are two pieces of advice:
1) If you have already chosen a specific model, then it is advisable to look at the reviews and remember how and what it should look like externally. Better yet, save the pictures and compare them when purchasing.
2) stock up on the free CPU-Z program. It will demonstrate what hardware is installed on the smartphone. The program also has a useful Online Validation in the About . By clicking there you will need to enter your name and email optionally. After this, the program will compare the hardware of your device with that declared by the manufacturer. My Xiaomi Mi Max has passed the test, as evidenced by the green seal. Although the device was not tested on the official website at the time of purchase.
How to check a Samsung phone before buying?
Or enter the combination “*#06#” into the dialing menu, after which the IMEI of your device will appear on the screen, then go to our official page https://www.samsung.com/ru/support/imei-checking/ and fill in all form fields. Then send a request, and you will soon receive a response about the authenticity of the device.
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Firmware
Rostest devices EAS ) always come with Russian language. But if you are buying “ gray ” gadget, then it is advisable to check with the seller what firmware it contains. Most uncertified devices are sold with so-called global (international) firmware, but they may also have Chinese Russified firmware, especially if the model is new.
There are no questions about international firmware. They, as a rule, are updated, the Russian language does not disappear in them, and 4G works with all networks. Chinese firmware may not be updated, or updated depriving the user of the Russian language. They may also have various glitches and bugs and it is not a fact that LTE works. A very unpleasant aspect of such firmware is that when resetting the settings, Chinese may appear.
When buying a gray smartphone, be sure to pay attention to the firmware. And if the model is new, then it is better to wait for the release of the international firmware and buy it right away.
Important point. The phone must be without root, otherwise online banking will not work, which is not very convenient.
Smartphone Samsung Galaxy S21 FE 256 GB, Gray
* EfE. The image is simulated. Color availability may vary by country and supplier. All specifications and descriptions provided herein may differ from the actual product specifications and descriptions. Samsung reserves the right to make changes to this document and the product described herein at any time without any obligation on Samsung's part to provide notice of such changes. All functionality, specifications, graphical interface and other product information provided in this document, including but not limited to benefits, design, pricing, components, performance, availability and product capabilities are subject to change without notice or liability. Screen contents are simulated images and are for demonstration purposes only. 1.Color availability varies by country or supplier. 2. The screen size of the Galaxy S21 FE 5G is determined by the diagonal size of the rectangle described around the screen and is 6.4 inches; taking into account the roundings at the corners of the screen, this size is 6.3 inches; The actual working area of the screen is slightly smaller due to the presence of rounded corners and a hole for the camera lens. 3.Game mode support varies by application. 4.Purchased separately. 5. 30X Space Zoom features 3x Hybrid Optic Zoom and achieves 30x ultra-high resolution zoom. Zooming beyond 3x may result in slight degradation in image quality. 6.Compared to the previous generation Galaxy S20FE. 7.Smartphone battery capacity is 4500 mAh. 8.Typical value, tested in third party laboratory conditions. Typical value is the estimated average value, taking into account battery capacity variation among battery samples tested in accordance with IEC 61960. Nominal (minimum) capacity is 4370. Actual battery life may vary depending on network environment, usage patterns and other factors. 9.Galaxy S21 FE 5G is IP68 certified. Tests involve immersing the device in fresh water to a depth of 1.5 meters and maintaining it at this depth for up to 30 minutes. Not recommended for use on the beach or pool. 10.Eye Comfort Shield is disabled by default, but can be enabled in your phone settings. 11. Ultra Fast Charging performance analysis data is based on Samsung laboratory testing using a 25W charger, initial battery charge 0%, all services, features and screen off. Actual charging time may also vary depending on individual phone usage, charge status, and other factors. 25W charger sold separately. 12.Fast wireless charging of 10W or higher is available with wireless chargers with output power greater than 10W (such as EP-N5200, EP-P5200 and later). Wireless chargers are sold separately. Other WPC compatible wireless chargers support wireless charging at less than 5W. Check the power of the wireless charger before purchasing it. Actual charging time may also depend on individual smartphone usage, charge status, and other factors. The wireless charger requires a power connection. For optimal charging process, we recommend using a Samsung charging cable or power adapter of appropriate power. 13.Only for Samsung or other brands smartphones with Qi wireless charging, such as: Galaxy Z Fold3 5G, Galaxy Z Flip3 5G, Galaxy S21 5G, Galaxy S21+ 5G, Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, Galaxy Z Fold2, Galaxy Note20, Galaxy Note20 Ultra, Galaxy S20, S20+, S20 Ultra, Z Flip, Note10, Note10+, S10e, S10, S10+, Fold, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, S8 Active, S7, S7 edge, S7 Active, S6 , S6 edge, S6 Active, S6 edge+, Note9, Note8, Note FE, Note5, and wearable devices such as: Galaxy Buds Pro, Galaxy Buds Live, Galaxy Watch3, Galaxy Watch Active2, Galaxy Watch Active, Gear Sport, Gear S3, Galaxy Watch and Galaxy Buds. If the battery charge is below 30%, Wireless PowerShare may not work. May not work with some accessories, cases, third-party devices, or some Samsung wearables. May affect call reception or data services depending on the network environment.
Is it worth buying a non-Rostest smartphone?
It is difficult to answer this question unambiguously. If you are an experienced user and have studied this issue, then of course yes. For those who do not know what recovery, global and band are , we can also recommend such a device, the main thing is that it has good international firmware.
And it is very important to buy from a good and trusted store, because only the store provides a guarantee for such smartphones. Buying “ gray ” smartphone from an unverified seller is a risk, and if something happens, it will be difficult or even impossible for you to repair the smartphone under warranty.
