For true gray market phone enthusiasts, the real sense of achievement doesn't come from thoroughly exploring a single gray market phone but rather from carving out a niche in second-hand forums that the majority of users dare not touch. Of course, while not every gray market phone enthusiast active in second-hand forums can be considered an expert, most of them are seasoned "phone friends" who have seen countless devices.
Although second-hand forums can sometimes be chaotic, for a gray market phone enthusiast, they not only help save a large portion of funds but also provide access to mainstream gray market phones. However, for users who don't often engage with gray market phone forums, such places can easily become venues for scams. Nevertheless, whether or not one interacts with second-hand forums, it is still necessary to have some understanding of the basic prices of mainstream gray market phones or digital products because the popular items on these forums are usually what everyone is paying attention to. Today, I will take this opportunity to introduce several highly sought-after products on second-hand forums and provide a basic overview of them for those interested.
Interesting forum jargon:
- **Little knife**: Though the discount may not be substantial, there is still some room for price reduction.
- **Knife**: As the name suggests, this means a significant discount.
- **Big knife**: This represents the limit of price negotiation, rarely seen because after such discounts, the actual selling price would be significantly reduced.
- **Face-to-face transaction**: This term refers to meeting in person to complete a transaction. Buyers agree on a time and place to inspect the goods and pay in person. A related term is "face-to-face party," referring to buyers who insist on face-to-face transactions.
- **Flaking**: This refers to failing to complete a transaction after agreeing to do so, often due to unforeseen circumstances preventing the buyer from showing up.
- **Alternate accounts**: Refers to a user having multiple forum accounts.
New king of second-hand forums:
**Apple iPhone 4**
The speed at which the Apple iPhone 4 appeared on second-hand forums shortly after its release was unexpected. Due to the short release time, the second-hand price of the gray market version hasn't been much cheaper than the new model. With the current second-hand price of the iPhone 4 continuously dropping, many who plan to buy the iPhone 4 might just be browsing for now.
The iPhone 4's thickness of merely 9.3mm and powerful configuration are truly impressive. The screen resolution has improved to 960x640 pixels, offering extremely fine display quality, reaching the peak of current gray market phone displays. The camera has been upgraded to 5 megapixels, enhancing practicality. Additionally, the iPhone 4 features an IPS screen and a camera upgrade, with the processor being upgraded to the A4, running at 1GHz, providing users with a more perfect operational experience.
**Apple iPhone 4 16GB (US Version)**
- [New Price] 5900 RMB
- [Second-hand Price] 5500 RMB
Editor's prediction: Can handle price negotiation
Unwavering popularity of domestic gray market phones:
**M8 by Meizu**
We all know that the M8 by Meizu has been heavily hyped even before its official launch. Even now, with the release of the M9, Meizu heavily promotes the trade-in program for the M8 to purchase the M9. Due to this news, the second-hand price of the M8 quickly rose from over 800 RMB to over 1000 RMB. Despite the hype, let's examine the real advantages of the M8. The M8 boasts a 3.4-inch super-large display with excellent visual effects. Notably, the screen supports slide operations and multi-touch, offering smooth and fluid dynamics, giving users a unique control experience.
The M8 uses the Windows CE open platform, with a well-optimized UI interface that is very dazzling, similar to the Apple iPhone. Although the user base isn't large, the M8 already has quite a few software resources, making it expandable. It features a built-in 3-megapixel AF camera, performing admirably in photography. Moreover, the M8 fully supports AVI, MP4, and RMVB file playback, excelling in audiovisual entertainment, making it a rare fashionable gray market phone.
**M8 by Meizu 8GB (Official Version)**
- [New Price] 1780 RMB
- [Second-hand Price] 1100 RMB
Editor's prediction: Can handle minor price negotiation
Dominant King with Unwavering Popularity:
**HTC HD2**
The HD series of gray market phones from HTC has now entered its second generation. While the HTC HD2 offers better performance compared to its predecessor, unfortunately, it was released at an inopportune time. In today's competitive smartphone market, it coincided with the rise of Android systems, causing this once-deserving "King of Phones" to quietly decline. Currently, the new price of this phone is less than 3000 RMB, so the second-hand market hasn't pushed the price too low. However, the grand design of the phone still appeals to many "large-screen enthusiasts." Speaking of large screens, the HD2 features a colossal 4.3-inch screen surpassing the HTC HD, exuding a regal aura. Additionally, the HD2 employs a virtual full keyboard with five physical function keys capable of handling various states effortlessly.
As a smart gray market phone using the Windows Mobile 6.5 operating system, the HTC HD2 is equipped with a Snapdragon 1GHz processor, allowing users to experience smooth and rapid performance. Paired with 448MB RAM and 512MB ROM memory, it adds considerable power to the device. However, as a flagship gray market phone, the 5-megapixel camera seems unworthy of the title, though its clear and natural shooting results fully satisfy everyday shooting needs.
**HTC HD2 (Modified Version)**
- [New Price] 2970 RMB
- [Second-hand Price] 2500 RMB
Editor's prediction: Can handle price negotiation
Savior of Motorola:
**Motorola Milestone**
We were just discussing how the HTC HD2 was "released at an inopportune time," losing its flagship status and seeing a significant drop in sales due to the influence of the Android system. Naturally, one of the major impacts on the HTC HD2 could not exclude the Motorola Milestone, the first Android 2.0 system smart gray market phone. This device changed the previous style of Android platforms being predominantly full-screen touch designs, adopting a side-sliding full keyboard design for more comprehensive functionality. Its body dimensions of 60x115.8x13.7 mm give the device a regal aura. Particularly, a 3.7-inch WVGA (480x854 pixels) touch screen makes operation effortless.
Since the Motorola Milestone uses the Android 2.0 operating system, it performs exceptionally well in software compatibility. Powerful configurations highlight the strength of the device, especially the 600MHz ARM Cortex A8 processor, ideal for those wanting to experience the A8 processor. Notably, the inclusion of a 5-megapixel camera, supporting auto-focus and dual LED flash, with face recognition and video recording capabilities, can handle any shooting scenario.
**Motorola Milestone (Modified Version)**
- [New Price] 2390 RMB
- [Second-hand Price] 2000 RMB
Editor's prediction: Cannot handle price negotiation
Previous King Eventually Declines:
**Apple iPhone 3GS**
If the release of the Apple iPhone 4 caused many gray market phones to become sacrificial lambs, then the previously released Apple iPhone 3GS was undoubtedly one of them. The impact of the iPhone 4's pricing has reduced its position in the second-hand market compared to before. However, the significant price difference still makes many consumers prefer choosing a second-hand version. Many consumers choose it because of its rounded design, with the back curve showcasing a stylish appearance. It features a 3.5-inch 320x480 pixel touch screen, and notably, the multi-touch technology of the iPhone 3GS provides an excellent touch experience.
The iPhone 3GS runs on the iOS system developed by Apple, paired with a 660MHz processor, significantly improving operational speed compared to the previous generation of iPhones. The iOS system has ample third-party software, allowing users to download applications via Apple's App Store. Furthermore, the iPhone 3GS supports Wi-Fi and GPS navigation functions, highly practical for users.
**Apple iPhone 3GS 16GB (US Version)**
- [New Price] 3900 RMB
- [Second-hand Price] 3000 RMB
Editor's prediction: Can handle price negotiation
New Elements of Business Smartphones:
**Nokia E72**
It is no exaggeration to say that the current smart gray market phone market is filled with touch screen gray market phones. Because of this, straight-board full-keyboard gray market phones have become outdated. However, thanks to the immense popularity of its predecessors, the Nokia E72 introduced below remains popular, occupying a certain position in the second-hand market. With dimensions of 114x58.3x10.1 mm, it showcases slimness, becoming the best-selling non-touch gray market phone. It features a 2.36-inch TFT screen with a resolution of 320x240 pixels. Additionally, the function keys around the navigation key incorporate an optical mouse function, making both touch focusing and web browsing convenient.
System-wise, the Nokia E72 uses the Symbian S60 V3 platform, with abundant third-party software enabling users to perform text editing, video playback, and more. The processor is a 600MHz AMR11 with added 3.5mm headphone jack and USB charging functionality. The camera has been upgraded from 3 megapixels to 5 megapixels, supporting auto-focus, producing clear and natural images.
**Nokia E72 (Modified Version)**
- [New Price] 1900 RMB
- [Second-hand Price] 1700 RMB
Editor's prediction: Can handle minor price negotiation
Fashionable Entertainment King:
**Apple iPad**
Finally, the Apple iPad we introduce is not a gray market phone product, but it has high attention in the second-hand market. The Hong Kong edition's current price is relatively reasonable, but due to limited quantities, the actual selling price is quite high, leading to second-hand prices being higher than the official quotes in Hong Kong. However, whether in terms of appearance or performance, the iPad is the king of cost-effectiveness among Apple products. Especially its tablet design, weighing only 0.68 kilograms and measuring 13.4 mm thick, gives it a sleek and stylish feel. The slightly curved back design makes it easier to hold. It features a 9.7-inch LED-backlit IPS display, with sharp and clear images, especially suitable for web browsing and video viewing where content orientation does not matter.
Display-wise, the Apple iPad uses IPS (in-plane switching) technology, with a viewing angle of up to 178 degrees, ensuring clear visibility from any angle. Additionally, through Wi-Fi, web browsing, video watching, or music listening, the iPad provides users with up to 10 hours of extended usage.
**Apple iPad Wi-Fi (Hong Kong Edition)**
- [Brand New Price] 16GB: 4690 RMB
- [Second-hand Price] 16GB: 3800 RMB
Editor's prediction: Can handle significant price negotiation
Article Summary:
Today, we learned about several of the most sought-after products in the second-hand market. While some have price differences of around a thousand RMB, others differ by only a few hundred RMB. These products sell well in the second-hand market because they possess distinct features in either performance or appearance. For those unfamiliar with the second-hand gray market phone market, does today's introduction give you a rough understanding of the second-hand prices of the above products? Finally, I would like to remind everyone that dealing in second-hand goods carries risks; proceed with caution.