After a short wait (it’s just a 6 weeks compare to Apple iPhone 5 3 months waited) since the Samsung event at New York, I’m sure Samsung and Android fans are waiting for it come to Malaysia. Finally it has just came and I’m preparing the comparison chart in compare all 4 giant telcos offer as well as any related information.

Currently there are 12 months, 18 months and 24 months contract offered, and this will be a very long post.(Due to it’s a very long post, so I’ve separated the 24 months to another post and will be published later.) I’ll begin from 12 months contract.

Compare data plan with commitment on data, but pay as you use on voice, sms usage. (Only Maxis offer it on 12 months contract plan)

Telco	Maxis
Plan	SurfMore 50	SurfMore 75
Monthly Commitment	RM 50	RM 75
Bundle Usage	None
Call to Maxis Network	RM 0.12
Call to Other Networks	RM 0.10
Charging Block	30 seconds
SMS to Maxis Network	RM 0.05
SMS to Other Networks	RM 0.15
Data	2GB	5GB
Special Discount	25% on Monthly Commitment when usage above RM 150 100% on Monthly Commitment when usage above RM 250
Galaxy S4 Price	RM 1,849	RM 1,699
Advance Payment (Rebate over 5 months)	RM 250	RM 250
Advance Payment (Rebate on first bill)	RM 100	RM 150
Initial Cost	RM 2,199	RM 2,099
12 Months Total Cost S4 + 6% Tax + Commitment + Stamp Duty	RM 2,495	RM 2,663

Compare Celcom and Maxis based on similar monthly fees

Telco	Celcom	Maxis	Celcom	Maxis	Celcom	Maxis	Celcom	Maxis
Monthly Commitment	RM 78	RM 96	RM 98	RM 116	RM 118	RM 126	RM 138	RM 146
Talk Plan	mBasic	TalkMore 48	mBasic	TalkMore 48	mBasic	TalkMore 78	Celcom	TalkMore 78
Data Plan	mBasic	1 GB	mAdvance	3 GB	mBasic	1 GB	mAdvance	3 GB
Bundle Usage
Call to All Networks	267 units of Min/SMS/MMS	400 Min	267 units of Min/SMS/MMS	400 Min	667 units of Min/SMS/MMS	600 Min	667 units of Min/SMS/MMS	600 Min
SMS to All Networks		200 SMS		200 SMS		500 SMS		500 SMS
Charging Block	30 seconds
Data Volume	1.05 GB	1 GB	3.05 GB	3 GB	1.1 GB	1 GB	3.1 GB	3 GB
Excessive Usage
Call to Same Network	RM 0.15/Min	RM 0.10/Min	RM 0.15/Min	RM 0.10/Min	RM 0.12/Min	RM 0.08/Min	RM 0.12/Min	RM 0.08/Min
Call to Other Networks		RM 0.15/Min		RM 0.15/Min		RM 0.15/Min		RM 0.15/Min
SMS to Same Network	RM 0.15/SMS	RM 0.10/SMS	RM 0.15/SMS	RM 0.10/SMS	RM 0.12/SMS	RM 0.08/SMS	RM 0.12/SMS	RM 0.08/SMS
SMS to Other Networks		RM 0.15/SMS		RM 0.15/SMS		RM 0.15/SMS		RM 0.15/SMS
Galaxy S4 Price	RM 1,888	RM 1,849	RM 1,888	RM 1,699	RM 1,788	RM 1,699	RM 1,788	RM 1,599
Advance Payment (Rebate on 1st bill)	RM 250	RM 50	RM 250	RM 50	RM 300	RM 80	RM 300	RM 80
Advance Payment (Rebate over 5 months)	–	RM 250	–	RM 250	–	RM 250	–	RM 250
Initial Cost	RM 2,138	RM 2,149	RM 2,138	RM 1,999	RM 2,088	RM 2,029	RM 2,088	RM 1,929
12 Months Total Cost S4 + 6% Tax + Commitment + Stamp Duty	RM 2,890.16	RM 3,080.12	RM 3,144.56	RM 3,184.52	RM 3,298.96	RM 3,311.72	RM 3,553.36	RM 3,466.12

Celcom other 12 months contract plans

Plans	Celcom First Elite
Data Plans	mBasic	mAdvance
Monthly Commitment	RM 188	RM 208
Bundled Usage
Call to All Networks	1500 unit of Minute/SMS/MMS
SMS to All Networks
MMS to All Networks
Charging Block	30 seconds
Data Volume	1.2 GB	3.2 GB
Excessive Usage
Call to All Networks	RM 0.10/minute
Charging Block	30 seconds
SMS to All Networks	RM 0.10/SMS
MMS to All Networks	RM 0.10/MMS
Galaxy S4 Price	RM 1,688
Advance Payment (Rebate on 1st bill)	RM 450
Initial Cost	RM 2,138	RM 2,138
12 Months Total Cost S4 + 6% Tax + Commitment + Stamp Duty	RM 4,089.36	RM 4,343.76

Compare 18 Months, but only Celcom offer it.

Plans	Celcom First Prime		Celcom First Premier		Celcom First Elite
Data Plans	mBasic	mAdvance	mBasic	mAdvance	mBasic	mAdvance
Monthly Commitment	RM 78	RM 98	RM 118	RM 138	RM 188	RM 208
Bundled Usage
Call to All Networks	267 unit of Minute/SMS/MMS		667 unit of Minute/SMS/MMS		1500 unit of Minute/SMS/MMS
SMS to All Networks
MMS to All Networks
Charging Block	30 seconds
Data Volume	1.05 GB	3.05 GB	1.1 GB	3.1 GB	1.2 GB	3.2 GB
Excessive Usage
Call to All Networks	RM 0.15/minute		RM 0.12/minute		RM 0.10/minute
Charging Block	30 seconds
SMS to All Networks	RM 0.15/SMS		RM 0.12/SMS		RM 0.10/SMS
MMS to All Networks	RM 0.15/MMS		RM 0.12/MMS		RM 0.10/MMS
Galaxy S4 Price	RM 1,788		RM 1,738		RM 1,598
Advance Payment (Rebate on 1st bill)	RM 250		RM 300		RM 450
Initial Cost	RM 2,038	RM 2,038	RM 2,038	RM 2,038	RM 2,048	RM 2,048
18 Months Total Cost S4 + 6% Tax + Commitment + Stamp Duty	RM 3,386.24	RM 3,767.84	RM 4,049.44	RM 4,431.04	RM 5,285.04	RM 5,666.64

*Total contract length cost is based on the commitment usage

**Once allocated data volume finished in Maxis TalkMore, you will be charged pay per use (RM 0.10/10KB) until next billing cycle. While in Celcom your usage will be blocked unless you purchase additional volume.

Recommendation

Generally I would say Maxis plans offer better value in call and sms. For 12 months contract Galaxy S4, Maxis is winner.

I’m working in 24 months comparison chart, please do not forget to check back later.

Tips

If you a current Apple iPhone user and want to move to Samsung Galaxy S4, don’t miss the tips and tutorial ‘Moving From an iPhone to the Galaxy S4 – Tips and Advice‘ from our guest poster Reese Jones.