This may come as a surprise, but Singapore is – arguably – the best city in Asia to shop for consumer electronics. Our tiny red dot is a true techie heaven, and it has lured millions from overseas with the widest and cheapest range of electronic goods in the region. Here, we gather our go-to places to buy the latest IT stuff in Singapore.
Sim Lim Square
Sim Lim Square is a mecca for computer geeks in Singapore, drawing Silicon Valley-type folks into its premises with the latest laptops and related devices like hard-disks, motherboards, power supply, graphics cards and many more. You’ll also find other consumer electronic gadgets such as cameras, game consoles and even mobile phone accessories in the mall. The shops there generally open daily from 12pm to 7pm, and most are open to bargains. Insider tip: head up to the upper floors for more reliable retailers, and look out for shops with the CASE Trust logo to avoid potential scams. Shops we recommend you to visit are MacLink (#05-14), SONG Brothers (#01-59-62, #02-87/88, #04-13 & #06-12), Fuwell (#04-02F/G) and PC Themes (#04-19)!
Sim Lim Square, 1 Rochor Canal Road, p. 6338 3859.
Funan DigitalLife Mall
Housing hundreds of electronic shops over six floors, this IT-focused mall is frequented by gamers, who come here for the latest and widest collection of consoles like Nintendo 3DS, Xbox One, PS4, and Wii, as well as video games, trading card games and even board games. Reputable megastores like Challenger and Harvey Norman also have their branches here. Most shops at Funan accept credit cards, provide fair warranties and issue transparent receipts. If you pay big-ticket items in cash, most of the shops offer a 1-3% discount. Tourists can enjoy the instant tax refunds at the Downtown Cash Refund counter on Level 1.
Funan DigitalLife Mall, 109 North Bridge Road, p. 6339 0520.
Mustafa Centre
Really, there’s no place quite like it: a 24-hour shopping behemoth with just about anything housed under one roof, this is paradise for bargain-hunters and hardened shopaholics alike. In the electronics department, they stock big names like Casio, Canon, Swatch, HP, amongst others. Set on something? Be sure to head to the cashier for payment before testing and collecting your purchase(s) with the receipt.
Mustafa Centre, 145 Syed Alwi Road, p. 6295 5855.
Challenger Singapore
Desktops, laptops, tablets, printers, scanners, speakers, keyboards, softwares, game consoles, chargers, power banks… this household name have just about everything you need to give your computer devices a serious upgrade. They also provide services such as printing and digital imaging as well as expert assistance with your IT emergencies at the PC Clinic. Sign up for their membership to enjoy members’ discounted prices and accumulate reward points to exchange for gifts.
Challenger Singapore, Various outlets Islandwide
Harvey Norman Singapore
If you’re tricking out a new dig, Harvey Norman is one of the few names that come to mind. Here, you’ll find everything you need for a tech-savvy, practical home – from household appliances to home entertainment systems by various renowned brands such as Apple, Lenovo, Hewlett Packard, Samsung, Sony, Bosch, Philips and many more.
Harvey Norman Singapore, Various Outlets Islandwide
Courts Megastore
Buying big-ticket electronics items can feel a little paralysing. But Court makes shopping for expensive gadgets and appliances with flexible monthly installment plans (for up to 72 months), even without a credit card. Watch out for amazing deals on a weekly basis: selected products have prices slashed or bundled together for great value. Still undecided about purchasing a particular item? Try renting it instead – and you can do so for more than 6 months!
Courts Megastore, Various Outlets Islandwide
Epicentre
Besides having the widest range of Apple products and accessories in store, Epicentre also conducts free seminars to familiarise customers with the latest Apple gadgets and to educate them on Mac’s endless list of programs and applications. Epicentre is also where to go if you need help troubleshooting a computer issue.
EpiCentre, #B3-14 ION Orchard, 2 Orchard Turn, Singapore, p. (+65) 6238 9378
iStudio
Here’s another one for Apple maniacs. Apple products such as iPhones, Macbook pro, Macbook Air, iPad, Apple watch as well as Apple accessories are all available here, and there are IT services if you are facing any issues with your Apple devices.
iStudio, B1-30/31 Paragon, 290 Orchard Road, Singapore, +65 6738 1282
Mark your calendars: IT Show, PC Show, COMEX and SITEX
These mega IT fairs happen every quarter of the year, and offer darn-good bargains on cameras, computers, laptops and many other technologies. They are typically held at the Singapore Expo or Suntec Convention & Exhibition Center over three to four days, with brands and shops known to draw buyers through practical freebies. Take note, on-site offers can disappear within minutes!