Using my UK iphone in the Philippines

Will my iphone work ok over in the Philippines? What about the charger? Is the voltage compatible? I don't want to blow it up!

Also, I'll be going for a month. Are there any good deals for payg sims? I'll need data as well of course.

All help appreciated!

Your phone will work. The voltage will be fine (220v 60Hz) but you may need to purchase a plug converter 3-pin to 2-pin. The converters are available in any mall. You can purchase a SIM there for a few quid and top-up accordingly. Never used data over there personally but there's free wifi in most Hotels/Malls/McDo/KFC & some Restaurants.

you can certainly stick a sim in overthere if your phone is unlocked.Same as the missus smart or whatever

plenty of wifi in the malls and big coffee shops plus net cafes. I wouldnt bother with a data plan myself for a month but get your nearest and dearest to check it out

I took my Iphone to the Philippines and a cheap 2nd phone and put a local sim in the 2nd phone. I switched mobile data and data roaming off on my iPhone so it was just running on wifi only.

As the Isle of Man has its own phone networks, whenever I visit the UK mainland I do the same sort of thing though I buy a UK sim for my iPhone which I can tether or hotspot to other devices. A local 3G data only sim is very cheap now in the UK. Not sure how much it costs in the Philippines to take data on their local sims.

Yes. Thats partly why I used a cheap 2nd phone with the local sim.

That rings a bell, think I seen it on watchdog and recall that although iPhones are SIM free, they are 'linked' to the first SIM that is inserted in them or something to that effect

With the iPhone, if the phone comes direct from Apple it is fully unlocked. I bought my first one direct from Apple and then put a Vodaphone sim in. A few months later I changed to an I of Man sim and it was still unlocked.

With my wifes iPhone she alternates between her Isle of Man sim, a UK vodaphone and a UK EE without a problem.

I have also rotated my current iPhone with differeing network sims and also the same for the iPad.

BUT I bought a 2nd hand iPhone 4 recently that had originally come from Apple and had been locked by the carrier of the sim that had been used by the then owner. It was Vodaphone. Evidently in this case, the carrier ie Vodaphone had locked what was a previously unlocked phone. To have it unlocked requires a large sum of money payable to Vodaphone. So the network carriers are to blame in this instance.

Have had a quick google and the Samsung Note 3 comes regionally locked so that you cant change your sim if you travel to another region.

Sunnyjim. If you want to put a Philippine sim in it, try another UK sim in it before you leave the UK to make sure it isnt locked.

If you are insured and backed up dont sweat it

Thanks for all your help!

Will I have trouble getting a nano-sim in Manila?

My furthest and dearest

Nano sim shouldn't be an issue, go to a Globe or Smart service center and they will sell you one.

You will probably be on prepaid, it is best to check with Globe or Smart their existing offers. There are 2 ways of charging - per KB or per MINUTE. There are also deals like Phpxxxx for 30 days unlimited internet, etc.

My husband uses his iPhone here in Manila and I do too. Never been an issue but you do have to be smart and not flash it all the time.

My wifes moms boss's family all have iPhones and have no trouble getting sims etc there.

Me, being an apprentice nerd, kept mine in my bag for the duration Only to be brought out to download a few emails on wifi.

Its funny how Apple products bring out the beast in people. Nothing else, just Apple products.

That's probably for people who took out a loan or saved years to get one. A phone is just a phone.

When you are in a car and stuck in traffic, a phone with data or apps would be a good thing to use to pass time.