A few questions about the Pro1-X

[Scoopy 7]

I have placed an order on the Pro1-X and can't wait to get my hands on it. It looks like a very promising phone. 😃

I have some questions though.

1. The keyboards under the "Keyboard layouts" section on IndieGogo differ from those seen on the pictures and promotional content by having the Q, A, Z keys directly aside the Tab, Caps, and Shift keys. Which keyboard layout will I get, the one listed under keyboard layouts, or the one seen on the pictures? (I ordered the QWERTY layout.)
2. Will I need to pay customs upon delivery?
3. When will the mentioned multi-boot support be available? Is this something that will be out already when we get the phone shipped in March, or is this something that is coming later?
4. Is this phone going to be sold after the IndieGogo campaign ends? I have read both that this is limited edition and also that they are going to sell it for the full price afterwards. Were they originally planning to make it limited edition, then changed their mind because there was a high demand? Could someone please clarify this?
5. Am I going to be order parts such as battery and screen later, if the ones on my device break? From what I read the screen is the same one as on another phone, so it could be obtained from different markets, probably same with the battery, but I am asking from F(x)tec directly.
6. I am aware that there is an unofficial version of LineageOS 18, and officials versions of LineageOS 16 and 17. Are there plans for releasing an official version of LineageOS 18 and possibly future versions as well?
7. This is probably something I should ask the developers, but any chance of an official/unofficial GrapheneOS or CalyxOS for this device? Not something I particularly need, just would be a nice extra. I think what is possibly preventing them from making a version is that they need a locked bootloader. Is there any chance the bootloader could be locked with anything other than Android, including LineageOS?

Looking forward to your answers and thanks to F(x)tec for making such an amazing phone.

 

Edited January 31, 2021 by Scoopy
Removed duplicate image

[Hook 2,530]

18 minutes ago, Scoopy said:

I have placed an order on the Pro1-X and can't wait to get my hands on it. It looks like a very promising phone. 😃

I have some questions though.

1. The keyboards under the "Keyboard layouts" section on IndieGogo differ from those seen on the pictures and promotional content by having the Q, A, Z keys directly aside the Tab, Caps, and Shift keys. Which keyboard layout will I get, the one listed under keyboard layouts, or the one seen on the pictures? (I ordered the QWERTY layout.)
2. Will I need to pay customs upon delivery?
3. When will the mentioned multi-boot support be available? Is this something that will be out already when we get the phone shipped in March, or is this something that is coming later?
4. Is this phone going to be sold after the IndieGogo campaign ends? I have read both that this is limited edition and also that they are going to sell it for the full price afterwards. Were they originally planning to make it limited edition, then changed their mind because there was a high demand? Could someone please clarify this?
5. Am I going to be order parts such as battery and screen later, if the ones on my device break? From what I read the screen is the same one as on another phone, so it could be obtained from different markets, probably same with the battery, but I am asking from F(x)tec directly.
6. I am aware that there is an unofficial version of LineageOS 18, and officials versions of LineageOS 16 and 17. Are there plans for releasing an official version of LineageOS 18 and possibly future versions as well?
7. This is probably something I should ask the developers, but any chance of an official/unofficial GrapheneOS or CalyxOS for this device? Not something I particularly need, just would be a nice extra. I think what is possibly preventing them from making a version is that they need a locked bootloader. Is there any chance the bootloader could be locked with anything other than Android, including LineageOS?

Looking forward to your answers and thanks to F(x)tec for making such an amazing phone.

First, you should understand that this is a user to user forum, so you can't get firm answers to your questions here, only best guesses. This post will likely not catch the attention of someone at FxTec.

1. Yes, it has so far been communicated that we will get the "unshifted" Qwerty shown in keyboard layouts when the Qwerty Pro1xs ship in the spring.

2. They would have to answer this.  They will be shipped from Hong Kong.  In the past, shipping Pro1s, they were shipped without customs fees in most cases, I believe.  There were some exceptions, IIRC, but I think they reimbursed those fees.  However, there is nothing I can point you to where they say any of this about the Pro1x.  I'm in the US, so hard to know. I paid no customs fees on my Pro1/

3.Again, don't know. I'm sure the intent is to have it ready out of the box. Not sure though if not having it ready would cause them to delay shipping the devices or not.

4. They have previously said no, but we don't know for sure.

5. They have said they will make parts available later. No firm dates or other details.

6.  Yes, there are plans to make Lineage 18 official.  Wouldn't be surprised if that happened in February, given that is being done by Lineage Dev, but no official date has been set.

7. Don't know.  Currently, only Stock Android can have bootloader locked.

Again, these are very unofficial and possibly unreliable guesses.

[Rud 122]

Regarding the taxes, VAT was included in my purchase of the original Pro1 and I didn't have to pay taxes once again in my country. So you should have VAT already included in what you payed. You can also check your invoice. Also, make customs in the region you are from aware of your case before you get the phone if you think you need to. I didn't, and everything went fine. I didn't have to pay anything upon delivery.

Edited January 31, 2021 by Rud

[Scoopy 7]

Thanks for your answers. So far everything looks promising then.

7 hours ago, Rud said:

Regarding the taxes, VAT was included in my purchase of the original Pro1 and I didn't have to pay taxes once again in my country. So you should have VAT already included in what you payed. You can also check your invoice. Also, make customs in the region you are from aware of your case before you get the phone if you think you need to. I didn't, and everything went fine. I didn't have to pay anything upon delivery.

Would you mind saying what region your are from? (US / EU / UK / Canada / Australia / something else?) It's okay if you do, just asking.

[DieBruine 391]

I also didn't have to pay taxes (NL). But I have two phones that are  coming back from repairs out of the UK after Brexit. Guess what... I have to pay import fees (€27,36) to UPS. This was stated as a repair, still, 15,- on import fees and 12,- on UPS handling costs. For something with 0,- import tax value. Sorry, I have no additional info for you. I had to pay otherwise UPS would not deliver. Contacted FxTec, they couldn't do anything for me. Moral of the story, assume nothing, expect everything 🥴
.

[flx 42]

1 hour ago, DieBruine said:

I also didn't have to pay taxes (NL). But I have two phones that are  coming back from repairs out of the UK after Brexit. Guess what... I have to pay import fees (€27,36) to UPS. This was stated as a repair, still, 15,- on import fees and 12,- on UPS handling costs. For something with 0,- import tax value. Sorry, I have no additional info for you. I had to pay otherwise UPS would not deliver. Contacted FxTec, they couldn't do anything for me. Moral of the story, assume nothing, expect everything 🥴
.

Was-it a warranty repair or a regular paid repair ?

[Rud 122]

4 hours ago, Scoopy said:

Thanks for your answers. So far everything looks promising then.

Would you mind saying what region your are from? (US / EU / UK / Canada / Australia / something else?) It's okay if you do, just asking.

Romania

[Rud 122]

2 hours ago, DieBruine said:

I also didn't have to pay taxes (NL). But I have two phones that are  coming back from repairs out of the UK after Brexit. Guess what... I have to pay import fees (€27,36) to UPS. This was stated as a repair, still, 15,- on import fees and 12,- on UPS handling costs. For something with 0,- import tax value. Sorry, I have no additional info for you. I had to pay otherwise UPS would not deliver. Contacted FxTec, they couldn't do anything for me. Moral of the story, assume nothing, expect everything 🥴
.

As far as I know, I didn't have to pay VAT because I actually payed it once, as 20% VAT was included in the phone's initial price, the VAT of my country, so it would have been double taxation otherwise, but I made sure to tell FxTec to clearly mention the VAT value in the invoice. Then, someone from fedEX, I think, called me and wanted me to email proof of purchase and some ID and a day after I got the phone at my doorstep. (Phone still cost about the same amount, around 750EUR)

Maybe your repair bill didn't include VAT, so you had to pay it at arrival. If not, always check if you already payed it when purchasing something from abroad. Customs here tried to trick me into paying taxes twice quite a few times but I had the paperwork to shut that s**t down. 🙂

Also, as far as I know, legally, you can't import something unless you have an EORI number associated to a LLC or any other enterprise. To my understanding, import means that you plan on legally selling in your country what you imported. So, you just made a purchase online and payed the delivery guys for the delivery service, so no foreign goods were sold in your country in this transaction.

I may be wrong, this is just my two cents. 😄

Edited January 31, 2021 by Rud

[EskeRahn 5,042]

2 hours ago, DieBruine said:

I have two phones that are  coming back from repairs out of the UK after Brexit. Guess what... I have to pay import fees (€27,36) to UPS. This was stated as a repair, still, 15,- on import fees and 12,- on UPS handling costs. For something with 0,- import tax value.

I got the same from UPS on a late Xmas-gift out of the UK to Denmark. I told UPS that I'm not going to pay, and that they can return it.... Resulting in them sending me a threat of debt collection if I do not pay immediately. I do not expect the value of the gift to be much over their invoice, so not a chance

[Jacob_S 128]

I almost have the feeling that the shipping companies are collecting the fees for advancing the customs for you illegally. At least when I once complained that I didn't consent to that service and want the money back (my brother had payed then taking the package for me), DHL refunded me "without acknowledging any legal obligation", which to my understanding means that there probably is one ;)

[DieBruine 391]

In my case it was a free warranty repair, both phones. UPS is bullshit , and indeed, they just want the money. This is not the first time I've had to deal with UPS import charges and handling costs. The problem is that these were 2 months old phones, mint condition, never left the house. Saying F U would mean a substantial financial loss 😩. So I bowed and paid. Hoping to receive both phones this week. One of which was sent on the 30th of December...

To give you an idea, below is my invoice:

NOTE: the total value used for calculation of all Duty-based fees is 0.00.
Government Charges: 11.55
Brokerage Charges: 13.00
Freight Charges: 0.00
BTW (tax): 2.73
Total Due EUR:27.28

Edited February 1, 2021 by DieBruine
Added invoice

[Scoopy 7]

LineageOS 18.1 confirmed:

Also found this about Dual Booting:

https://github.com/Android-Boot-Manager/droidboot_device_fxtec_pro1

Edited February 3, 2021 by Scoopy