My Canadian variant of the S4 is an i337m, which, at least according to the model name, seems similar to the AT&T variant
If it's only AT&T that has locked its bootloader, is there any chance that code from the Canadian S4s (like from Bell) would be in some way helpful in getting your US AT&T variant up and running with custom firmware, etc?
This is all way above my pay-grade so to speak, so if this is a non-starter, my apologies. Just brainstorming / offering to help.
Bootloader unlock is already done. The release is just being delayed until the Verizon locked GS4's are released so the maximum number of people can use the unlock.
What a nice canadian!
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I am getting a free Note 3 from Rogers (Canadian Carrier), and i am wondering if this model has the unlocked bootloader. Does anyone have this model or know if i will be getting one with the unlocked bootloader?
Monkz said:
I am getting a free Note 3 from Rogers (Canadian Carrier), and i am wondering if this model has the unlocked bootloader. Does anyone have this model or know if i will be getting one with the unlocked bootloader?
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Only ATT/Verizon and possibly Sprint lock their bootloaders,
There are some galaxy s5 phones coming up on the local Craigslist that say factory unlocked. Would these have unlocked boot loaders?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using xda premium
Depends on if its the international one. Cause you can factory unlock an AT&T one. And that doesnt have an unlocked boot loader either way.
kettir said:
There are some galaxy s5 phones coming up on the local Craigslist that say factory unlocked. Would these have unlocked boot loaders?
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Verizon and ATT lock their bootloaders. Most if not all other North American S5's will have unlocked bootloaders. In most cases, The TMobile version is the most unrestricted and capable hansdset. Unless you need a CDMA phone (Verizon, Sprint, US Cellular).
"Unlocked" usually refers to SIM locks.
For completeness there are also Developer model phones for Verizon /ATT that do have unlocked bootloaders. You won't see those very often. They have a different part number and their own firmware. Samsung does not have a good history of providing timely firmware updates for Developer models.
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Has samsung announced that they will unlock the bootloader? was the s4 with locked bootloader also?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Verizon may be the only one with a locked bootloader.
I actually don't know... if it's only verizon then that's cool.. i am going to buy the unlocked carrier version.
edit: seeing no custom rom, I thought the bootloader was locked
Yea, I'm pretty sure it's just the Verizon model. Every other model has plenty of roms.
yeahman45 said:
Has samsung announced that they will unlock the bootloader? was the s4 with locked bootloader also?
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The bootloader is already unlocked. On my phone and most other S5's as well. You are apparently making some assumption about some particular S5 variant. A minority of carriers do lock bootloaders, but you didn't even tell us what model of S5 you have or are referring to. You should give some context so that we know what you are talking about.
edit: I see that you implied in a follow up post that you meant Verizon. The bootloader on a Verizon S5 is locked at the behest of Verizon, not Samsung. Samsung doesn't lock the bootloader for TMobile, Bell, Rogers, Telus or hundreds of other carriers. Pretty much just Verizon and ATT and a few sundry CDMA carriers that are that restrictive.
There are tons of custom ROMs for carriers that are more reasonable. You can use Safestrap to emulate a limited number of ROMs on Verizon but it's your choice of carrier that is hampering you here.
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ok thx guys I am getting the unlocked/carrier free version .. so should not be a problem thx
This is really confusing. Most of the threads are written such that 'how to root while updating to OF2/OF3'...it doesn't tell me which versions allow rooting in the first place? Any help. Coming from the GS3
As far as I know, the S5 Active is only available as an AT&T phone, which means it will have a locked bootloader and any somewhat newer firmwares will be unrootable. Pre-lollipop builds (Anything below OF2) are rootable but still have a locked bootloader.
Just a word from the wise, don't get an S5 Active, and DEFINITELY don't get an AT&T phone. a GS5 (regular) with a thin case (Spigen slim armor or neo-hybrid/ otterbox commuter) will be WAY more durable anyway, plus it's still waterproof/dustproof.
Get yourself a G900T (T-Mobile variant), or a G900AZ (Cricket wireless variant --Cricket is a subsidiary of at&t--), or even a G900F. Those all have unlocked bootloaders and will allow you to root, install custom recovery, custom roms, whatever you want forever. I personally have a G900T using it on AT&T with no issues, as the G900T supports all the same frequencies (and an extra one!) as the G900A (AT&T model). The G900F doesn't support every single band AT&T uses, so I would pick one of the other two if you want 100% compatibility.
MAKE SURE if you buy a G900T or G900AZ that it is UNLOCKED or you won't be able to use it. And after you get it, you'll have to call AT&T support and give them the new phone's IMEI number in order for LTE to work.
Hope what I said makes sense..
FYI The best place to buy a phone is always (XDA's own..) Swappa!
https://swappa.com/
Sean89us said:
As far as I know, the S5 Active is only available as an AT&T phone, which means it will have a locked bootloader and any somewhat newer firmwares will be unrootable. Pre-lollipop builds (Anything below OF2) are rootable but still have a locked bootloader.
Just a word from the wise, don't get an S5 Active, and DEFINITELY don't get an AT&T phone. a GS5 (regular) with a thin case (Spigen slim armor or neo-hybrid/ otterbox commuter) will be WAY more durable anyway, plus it's still waterproof/dustproof.
Get yourself a G900T (T-Mobile variant), or a G900AZ (Cricket wireless variant --Cricket is a subsidiary of at&t--), or even a G900F. Those all have unlocked bootloaders and will allow you to root, install custom recovery, custom roms, whatever you want forever. I personally have a G900T using it on AT&T with no issues, as the G900T supports all the same frequencies (and an extra one!) as the G900A (AT&T model). The G900F doesn't support every single band AT&T uses, so I would pick one of the other two if you want 100% compatibility.
MAKE SURE if you buy a G900T or G900AZ that it is UNLOCKED or you won't be able to use it. And after you get it, you'll have to call AT&T support and give them the new phone's IMEI number in order for LTE to work.
Hope what I said makes sense..
I habve an at&t variant OC5 phone available on Swappa should I get that or not, because I can't find a rooting guide for OC5
Or are you saying buy unlocked so you can use it on AT&T?
Problem is I can't find the SM-G900AZ anywhere used....might just go with the Zenfone 2 . DISSAPOINTING SAMSUNG and ATT I loved the GS3 and was looking forwar to the GS5
Which frequencies does the T mobile version NOT share?
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zetsui said:
I habve an at&t variant OC5 phone available on Swappa should I get that or not, because I can't find a rooting guide for OC5
Or are you saying buy unlocked so you can use it on AT&T?
Problem is I can't find the SM-G900AZ anywhere used....might just go with the Zenfone 2 . DISSAPOINTING SAMSUNG and ATT I loved the GS3 and was looking forwar to the GS5
Which frequencies does the T mobile version NOT share?
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The T-Mobile version shares all the same frequencies plus includes an additional frequency which AT&T does not use, so therefore the T-Mobile (G900T) retains 100% compatibility with AT&T. Yes, if you want to use a G900T on any carrier besides T-Mobile it will have to be unlocked. Luckily it's not hard to find an unlocked G900T.
Let me make this clear: If it's AT&T and it's a Samsung phone and it's on lollipop, don't expect to be able to root it. Go with a T-Mobile or factory unlocked phone.
I am coming from the Samsung line, Note 4 to be exact. I know I will be purchasing the v20, as it is the spiritual successor to the Note 4, to me.
I have been browsing the forums here and doing some reading, I see that the v20 is in it's infancy with root/developers breaking into nougat.
I try to find some answers, and I am unable to fully relinquish all my questions.
From what I understand the American models have unlocked bootloaders via Dirty Santa method, and two korean models if I am correct.
My questions are, which model should I buy? I want to have the model that has the MOST developer support. As I have the Exynos Korean model of my Note 4, and the development/custom roms and the like for my model are pretty non-existent, and it sucks.
From what I've read so far, if you want root, unlocked bootloader and the like, to steer clear of Dual Sim v20's. If this is true, what is the reason?
I was looking on the LG site and saw they are offering the US996 (unlocked) with a 200gb SD card.
(http://www.lg.com/us/cell-phones/lg-US996-Unlocked-v20-titan)
Does 'unlocked' mean that it is SIM unlocked or Bootloader unlocked?
If it's just SIM unlocked, is there ANY model that has Bootloader unlocked from the factory? (and will it have the support of developers, with custom roms and the like?)
Or is the US996 my best bet at unlocked and most widely supported v20.
Lastly, I see there will be a Turkey model release, international sim.
Should I wait around for these other v20's to pop up before purchasing? (I am in no rush to upgrade from note 4, but excited for new v20.)
Thank you everyone for your time in reading this.
I hope this thread helps all newcomers who want to hop on the v20 train.
TL;DR - What is the best model phone to purchase, that will have most DEV support?
The US996 model can be bootloader-unlocked directly from LG.
RichBordoni said:
The US996 model can be bootloader-unlocked directly from LG.
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Right, I saw that! It says it voids manufacturers warranty though. So what if I purchased another variant and unlocked bootloader and sent it in if I messed it up. Would it be a possible gamble of them fixing it vs them knowing my phone is bootloader unlocked because I officially unlocked it via website?
Or should I just purchase based 3rd party warranty, (such as square trade) and not worry about it?