Database Users

IS AT&T SGSIII carrier-locked when paying for the full price?

I'm attempting to buy the AT&T SGSIII with the full price since it's probably the cheapest you can get among all the options.
As I am going to use it on Rogers network in Canada, I would like to know if it's carrier-locked even i pay for the full price???
I know Android phones are pretty easy to get unlocked. I just don't want the hassle.
I plan on driving down to the Seattle this upcoming weekend and nail one!!! Cannot wait anymore!

Even if you get it without commitment, the device will still be locked. AT&T won't unlock it for about six months (I don't know the exact length). Why not just try cellunlocker.net? It unlocked my phone in thirty mins. It's just 25$ so give it a try
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

amgpower63 said:
Even if you get it without commitment, the device will still be locked. AT&T won't unlock it for about six months (I don't know the exact length). Why not just try cellunlocker.net? It unlocked my phone in thirty mins. It's just 25$ so give it a try
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium
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Wow..... 6 months.... So, if i get it unlocked through cellunlocker.net, and I flash back to the factory setting and have AT&T unlocked it for me 6 months later?? Will they still honor the warranty??
Sorry for my noob question. Coming from iPhone and not quite familiar with American carrier.

AT&T says they have a 6 month period when they have exclusivity on the phones, but they obviously don't have exclusive rights in the US. Also, they've been unlocking iPhones that were purchased outright, so you can use that to your advantage.

noahattic said:
Wow..... 6 months.... So, if i get it unlocked through cellunlocker.net, and I flash back to the factory setting and have AT&T unlocked it for me 6 months later?? Will they still honor the warranty??
Sorry for my noob question. Coming from iPhone and not quite familiar with American carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you do a sim unlock, it's unlocked forever. No need to get a code from AT&T when it's available.
AT&T is interested in selling phones for it's network, not selling to people looking to sell or take them somewhere else.

zaisaroni said:
Once you do a sim unlock, it's unlocked forever. No need to get a code from AT&T when it's available.
AT&T is interested in selling phones for it's network, not selling to people looking to sell or take them somewhere else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there's a way to unlock the phone allay, check the dev section in the international s iii forum

noahattic said:
I'm attempting to buy the AT&T SGSIII with the full price since it's probably the cheapest you can get among all the options.
As I am going to use it on Rogers network in Canada, I would like to know if it's carrier-locked even i pay for the full price???
I know Android phones are pretty easy to get unlocked. I just don't want the hassle.
I plan on driving down to the Seattle this upcoming weekend and nail one!!! Cannot wait anymore!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not just wait until tomorrow when Rogers releases the same phone?
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda premium

dLo GSR said:
there's a way to unlock the phone allay, check the dev section in the international s iii forum
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it work with the US variant? Last time I checked, it was only for I9300 version...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda premium

How to unlock the phone

I'm thinking to buy AT&T version of Galaxy S4. I would like to use the phone abroad when I travel with local sim cards, so I want to have it unlocked.
As I understand, even if I buy unsubsidized phone, it will be still locked to AT&T network.
So the question, if I have it root'ed using this method
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2252248
will it automatically become carrier unlocked ? Or do I need to install a custom ROM as well (are there any custom ROMs for I9505 version) ?

No, rooting a phone does not make it carrier unlocked. I don't particularly know if there is a carrier unlock method for the S4 yet (go search the forms), but Negri Electronics (online shop) sells an unlocked AT&T version of the phone that you might look in to, though it is a little more expensive.

Thanks for pointing to them !
They do have a model I want to buy, but it's available only for pre-order and about $100 more expensive than AT&T's version

Buy the unlock code. I did it already.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda premium

So there is an unlock code available for the att s4?
I'm going to Paris next week, bringing my s4 for fun, but would love to have it unlocked to use more

Yea Www.fastgsm.com $29.99 but they'll refund you $20 if you upload a video when ur doing it. I just did it on a upgraded line. Ill be getting another one
On Wednesday and ill upload pictures. Att i337
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda premium

Android3220 said:
Yea Www.fastgsm.com $29.99 but they'll refund you $20 if you upload a video when ur doing it. I just did it on a upgraded line. Ill be getting another one
On Wednesday and ill upload pictures. Att i337
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
THANKS.

[Q] Buying an AT&T S4 for running custom ROM / GPe ROM

Hi,
I am planning to buy an AT&T S4 and then terminate the contract early by paying of the fee.
Once the device is unlocked will I be able to run it on T-Mobile as well ? I know one of the HSPA+ bands is not available on the AT&T device, so will only the HSPA+ speeds be affected or will I still be able to use the phone on LTE/EDGE ?
Also, from what I read in the forums, there is a bootloader lock on the device, is that easily bypassed ? cause I want to run the Google play edition ROM/Slimbean /CM ROM on this phone.
Thanks

What do you mean, break the contract?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

jd1639 said:
What do you mean, break the contract?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
I mean by paying off the 325 early termination fee.

Let me give you some advice. Instead of trying to "break contract" with AT&T, why don't you just buy a T-Mobile s4 which already comes with an unlocked bootloader out of the box. I know it may cost a little more for the T-mo s4 but believe me, it's going to cost you a lot more later in life if you decide to go the route of stealing, I mean breaking contact from AT&T.

getbuzzin said:
Let me give you some advice. Instead of trying to "break contract" with AT&T, why don't you just buy a T-Mobile s4 which already comes with an unlocked bootloader out of the box. I know it may cost a little more for the T-mo s4 but believe me, it's going to cost you a lot more later in life if you decide to go the route of stealing, I mean breaking contact from AT&T.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1:thumbup:
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda premium

getbuzzin said:
Let me give you some advice. Instead of trying to "break contract" with AT&T, why don't you just buy a T-Mobile s4 which already comes with an unlocked bootloader out of the box. I know it may cost a little more for the T-mo s4 but believe me, it's going to cost you a lot more later in life if you decide to go the route of stealing, I mean breaking contact from AT&T.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How is it stealing if I am legally terminating the contract and paying off the fee ?

vortexmak said:
How is it stealing if I am legally terminating the contract and paying off the fee ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol. Jedi mind tricks. But editing your original post to cover for yourself is not cool.

getbuzzin said:
Lol. Jedi mind tricks. But editing your original post to cover for yourself is not cool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No mind tricks. Since the original post did'nt convey the ETF part, I edited it to convey what I meant by 'break the contract'

+1 I saw the same thing.

Xda doesn't condone anything illegal or immoral, or smelling of such.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

Guys, there's nothing wrong with doing this. It's all legal, and aboveboard. It's what the early termination fee is there for.
That said, I wouldn't do it myself. Using this route, the cost would be $200 for the phone + $36 activation fee + $325 early termination fee = $561 total. The outright cost for a T-Mobile S4 is $580. That's a hell of a lot of trouble to go to to save $19. Especially since you end up with a locked bootloader.

mattdm said:
Guys, there's nothing wrong with doing this. It's all legal, and aboveboard. It's what the early termination fee is there for.
That said, I wouldn't do it myself. Using this route, the cost would be $200 for the phone + $36 activation fee + $325 early termination fee = $561 total. The outright cost for a T-Mobile S4 is $580. That's a hell of a lot of trouble to go to to save $19. Especially since you end up with a locked bootloader.
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Click to collapse
That's what I have been trying to explain before the lynching . I am no trying to do anything illegal here.
Phone is $100 currently That's $461 compared to the TMobile $670 (580 phone + 40 Tax + 50 first month service)
Anyway, please ignore all the above. I'll just stick to the technical questions
It would be helpful if someone could let me know if currently there is anyway past the locked bootloader ?
How are people able to load custom ROMs ? and is it possible to activate AWS band on it ?
Thanks

vortexmak said:
That's what I have been trying to explain before the lynching . I am no trying to do anything illegal here.
Phone is $100 currently That's $461 compared to the TMobile $670 (580 phone + 40 Tax + 50 first month service)
Anyway, please ignore all the above. I'll just stick to the technical questions
It would be helpful if someone could let me know if currently there is anyway past the locked bootloader ?
How are people able to load custom ROMs ? and is it possible to activate AWS band on it ?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't forget to add in a month of service with AT&T - Voice and Data - they want their 2 lbs of flesh as well.
As for your other questions - did you read any of the threads in the forums? The ones about loading ROMS or activating Tmo bands?
But as others have said, if you want to run on TMO, it may be worth the cost to not have a locked boot loader. The exploit being used may be patched, and some have created quite the issue trying to unlock and such. If your time is not worth money, then save some $$$$ - but I would spend the extra and go for official unlocked. Maybe even the google version since you are basically buying it outright.
The information you ask for is all here at the top of this forum and the general forum.

vortexmak said:
Phone is $100 currently That's $461 compared to the TMobile $670 (580 phone + 40 Tax + 50 first month service)
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Click to collapse
alphadog00 said:
Don't forget to add in a month of service with AT&T - Voice and Data - they want their 2 lbs of flesh as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alphadog brings up a good point that I didn't consider: you'll still have to pay the first month of the AT&T service.
vortexmak said:
Anyway, please ignore all the above. I'll just stick to the technical questions
It would be helpful if someone could let me know if currently there is anyway past the locked bootloader ?
How are people able to load custom ROMs ? and is it possible to activate AWS band on it ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The bootloader lock is fairly easy to baypass right now. But, that could change in the future, with a software update.

mattdm said:
Alphadog brings up a good point that I didn't consider: you'll still have to pay the first month of the AT&T service.
The bootloader lock is fairly easy to baypass right now. But, that could change in the future, with a software update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you that's informative.
However, I'm wondering, once custom kernels and ROMs are loaded, doesn't AT&T lose all control. I mean if you don't want the stock update from AT&T and you already have everything enabled, how will they be able to disable the bypass?

vortexmak said:
Thank you that's informative.
However, I'm wondering, once custom kernels and ROMs are loaded, doesn't AT&T lose all control. I mean if you don't want the stock update from AT&T and you already have everything enabled, how will they be able to disable the bypass?
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Click to collapse
You would have to apply the att update for the exploit to be patched. If you don't apply the update you'd be ok.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

jd1639 said:
You would have to apply the att update for the exploit to be patched. If you don't apply the update you'd be ok.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
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Unless you have a future warranty replace or repair situation.

scott14719 said:
Unless you have a future warranty replace or repair situation.
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Click to collapse
+1
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app

I have a few follow-up questions in regards to the topic of using an AT&T S4 on T-Mobile. Aside from having to bypass the locked bootloader, are there any other disadvantages to using an AT&T S4 on T-Mobile that can't be overcome? I know that you can unlock the AWS bands, so does that mean that an AT&T S4 can end up functionally exactly the same as a T-Mobile S4?

{Q} $30 for a Refurb GS4, is it worth it to sign a new contract?

Been off contract with ATT for almost 5 years now. Is it worth it to pay $30 for the phone + $20 tax and sign a new contract? I have been using iOS for sometime now and looking to start modding again. I've been out of loop for so long and not sure how much this device is actually worth considering I'd be trapped in contract for the next two years.
Input/suggestions appreciated thank you.

Pay full price for Google edition of s4. I love mine but locked bootloader is annoying. Nothing is worth going back on contact.
Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk 4

McAwesome said:
Pay full price for Google edition of s4. I love mine but locked bootloader is annoying. Nothing is worth going back on contact.
Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk 4
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Click to collapse
does a locked bootloader mean it can't be rooted? or does it mean it can't be unlocked?

Locked bootloader causes all kinds of issues in the loading process. I'm no expert like outler but depending the firmware currently on the phone when you buy you might be out of luck. There was an exploit to flash around the locked bootloader not an unlocking per se but tricking the phone into thinking the bot was legit. But a recent update fixed the exploit and blew the qfuse making it impossible to revert to previous formate versions. If I had known Google was releasing a s4 variant I would have paid the premium.
Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk 4

McAwesome said:
Locked bootloader causes all kinds of issues in the loading process. I'm no expert like outler but depending the firmware currently on the phone when you buy you might be out of luck. There was an exploit to flash around the locked bootloader not an unlocking per se but tricking the phone into thinking the bot was legit. But a recent update fixed the exploit and blew the qfuse making it impossible to revert to previous formate versions. If I had known Google was releasing a s4 variant I would have paid the premium.
Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk 4
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Click to collapse
okay so the consensus is to not purchase the device on ATT. I thought at $30 was a steal but now it looks like I'd pay $30+TAXachusetts+contract+No Freedom = I'd be pissed

redbandana said:
okay so the consensus is to not purchase the device on ATT. I thought at $30 was a steal but now it looks like I'd pay $30+TAXachusetts+contract+No Freedom = I'd be pissed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take thay steal and sell it for as much as you can on craigslist, use that money to either buy
A) T-Mobile variant full price (identical to att but no locked bootloader, same service bands same hardware)
B) galaxy s4 google edition (comes with a nexus experience rom...aosp with a little but of hidden TW proprietary files)
Personally...I would go for the t-mobilw, why? Because you can flash a google edition rom on tmobile variant if you want and it will be identical to GE.
The google edition does not support touchwiz roms (correct me if im wrong) however the other variants support google edition roms
You can prob get around 500 for the s4, so youd have to pay another 100 on top of that plus tax for a full priced differnt variant s4
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2

mg2195 said:
Take thay steal and sell it for as much as you can on craigslist, use that money to either buy
A) T-Mobile variant full price (identical to att but no locked bootloader, same service bands same hardware)
B) galaxy s4 google edition (comes with a nexus experience rom...aosp with a little but of hidden TW proprietary files)
Personally...I would go for the t-mobilw, why? Because you can flash a google edition rom on tmobile variant if you want and it will be identical to GE.
The google edition does not support touchwiz roms (correct me if im wrong) however the other variants support google edition roms
You can prob get around 500 for the s4, so youd have to pay another 100 on top of that plus tax for a full priced differnt variant s4
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
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Thanks for your reply, I read a few articles regarding the locked bootloader, yet I see custom roms that are rooted. I'm confused how exactly custom roms are installed on att devices yet the bootloader can't be unlocked. Sorry, this would be my first android device. WinMo guy switched to iOS 'cause of stability issues.

redbandana said:
Thanks for your reply, I read a few articles regarding the locked bootloader, yet I see custom roms that are rooted. I'm confused how exactly custom roms are installed on att devices yet the bootloader can't be unlocked. Sorry, this would be my first android device. WinMo guy switched to iOS 'cause of stability issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Previous firmwares had a vulnerability that was exploited by djrbliss which allowed us to bypass the locked bootloader and flash custom recoveries.
AT&T, (along with Verizon) since the release of the exploit, has patched this vulnerability, making the installing of custom recoveries impossible (at least for now until another exploit is discovered) for the users who took the OTA or who unfortunately bought the device with the latest firmware installed.
=(
I agree with the person above. get it for 30, sell it for like 500, add 150+, and get the GE edition. that's what i would do.

jhong91 said:
Previous firmwares had a vulnerability that was exploited by djrbliss which allowed us to bypass the locked bootloader and flash custom recoveries.
AT&T, (along with Verizon) since the release of the exploit, has patched this vulnerability, making the installing of custom recoveries impossible (at least for now until another exploit is discovered) for the users who took the OTA or who unfortunately bought the device with the latest firmware installed.
=(
I agree with the person above. get it for 30, sell it for like 500, add 150+, and get the GE edition. that's what i would do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I probably won't get it at all then. Technically dropping $50 short term. Selling for $460-$500 Approximately $450 profit and stuck in a two year contract, unless I opt out after 14 days and pay the ETF and I'd be out another $350. Profit ~$100. Does the HTC One for ATT have a locked bootloader? I wouldn't mind if bloatware wasn't an issue

redbandana said:
I probably won't get it at all then. Technically dropping $50 short term. Selling for $460-$500 Approximately $450 profit and stuck in a two year contract, unless I opt out after 14 days and pay the ETF and I'd be out another $350. Profit ~$100. Does the HTC One for ATT have a locked bootloader? I wouldn't mind if bloatware wasn't an issue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it does(unlockable via HTC dev. com? )
and is also fully convertible to GE edition that receives OTA updates from HTC/Google.
if you don't mind the awkward button placement and a ultrapixel camera, go for it.

jhong91 said:
Yes it does(unlockable via HTC dev. com? )
and is also fully convertible to GE edition that receives OTA updates from HTC/Google.
if you don't mind the awkward button placement and a ultrapixel camera, go for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, that site will unlock it.

Carrier Unlocked

Nexus 6P Unlocked can be used on all carriers. Will there be a Galaxy S7 Unlocked which follows? I will be sold if so...
You cant just buy a phone from a carrier and expect to flash an unlocked ROM on it. Partitions are different most of the time, etc...
My main concern is the speed of which updates are released. A carrier phone can take months longer than an unlocked phone. Yeah you can download custom ROMs here on XDA, but it's not the same and could have issues due to carrier kernel not being released.
Definitely a make or break deal for me at this point...

I really wished there was, but so far all of the carrier models have different bands, and I haven't heard of a US unlocked model that works for all of them.

I can't decide if it is worth the fight, or if I should just fall in line, and buy at&t's Fort Knox Edition.

They're a little more pricy (read +$200/300), but you can pre-order unlocked Qualcomm variants on eBay.
It's a hell of a markup, but if you're already paying $800 for a phone you're gonna use for the next couple years, may as well get one that's unlocked and will do what you want i.e. run AOSP, no?

aramisathei said:
They're a little more pricy (read +$200/300), but you can pre-order unlocked Qualcomm variants on eBay.
It's a hell of a markup, but if you're already paying $800 for a phone you're gonna use for the next couple years, may as well get one that's unlocked and will do what you want i.e. run AOSP, no?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry, but there's no reason anyone should be paying more than $800 for an S7 Edge, even if it's unlocked.

geoff5093 said:
I'm sorry, but there's no reason anyone should be paying more than $800 for an S7 Edge, even if it's unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, S7 Edge should be about $800 unlocked tops. Unfortunately there won't be unlocked phones until the actual release.

geoff5093 said:
I'm sorry, but there's no reason anyone should be paying more than $800 for an S7 Edge, even if it's unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Different folks different strokes.
I paid $816 for mine. Still cheaper than signing contracts when said and done.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Tidbits said:
Different folks different strokes.
I paid $816 for mine. Still cheaper than signing contracts when said and done.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I meant before taxes
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk

What was the time between the Samsung s6 edge pre-order and when the unlocked international versions came out? Because my UK s6 edge is soooooooo much better than the AT&T US version I originally bought and returned. I definitely want to just skip to the UK unlocked version this time around... but, of course, I don't want to wait a long time.
I'm assuming the s7 rollout will be similar, so that will let us know when the unlocked Samsung s7 edges can be expected. (I was an iPhone person until recently, so I don't know my Samsung history).
Thanks in advance for any info.
(For anyone wondering, not only was there that US AT&T bloatware nonsense -- but they actually removed cool things Samsung had added and removed deals and freeware Samsung had added to the phone. Just crazy. Things would be mentioned in the manual and not be on the phone anywhere. And then of course the bad updates as well.)

im the guy waiting for S7edge with S820 and choosing Snapdragon is of course to get update faster and support by the custom rom community than Exynos version.
As one of a guy responded in Reddit chat is to start ordering UNLOCKED SIM Samsung S7 from ebay would be the easiest and fastest option... I am ouside of US and really don't want to wait indefinitely their not-sure-release-date Carrier Unlocked version. Below is the one that I am watching closely. As it said Pre-order, I am a bit afraid of the RISK of ordering a phone that cost >1000$ without seeing actual unlocked & S820 phone as they mention.
[EDIT: can't put links due to lower posts count] googled this eBay item number:281944393668

tmobile unlock or wait?
I'm in the same boat here, although my situation is a little unique. I'm on Tmobile right now but I'm going to move to Thailand this summer, so the phone needs to be unlocked. According to tmobile they'll unlock the phone after i'ts been on the network for 40 days (I'm planning on buying it upfront). Should I go that route or just wait until the unlocked version shows up on amazon and just buy that?
Cheers
(Also, does anyone know how long it took for the unlocked s6 to show up on amazon?)

40 days of service active if you actually on postpaid. If it is prepaid it's $100 worth of payments.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

All the carriers get the unlock code from Samsung... if you contact Samsung, T-Mobile users might not need to wait the 40 days. I just preordered the T-Mobile S7 Edge, and I'm with AT&T.

UnixSlayer said:
All the carriers get the unlock code from Samsung... if you contact Samsung, T-Mobile users might not need to wait the 40 days. I just preordered the T-Mobile S7 Edge, and I'm with AT&T.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you have to get a mobile plan with them? They told me at the store that is the only way

T-Mobile no longer use codes. They use a unlock app. There is no way so far to input any codes to date on the devices that have it preinstalled.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Hey how do Samsung's devices do on Verizon?. Will there be less development for devices from Verizon? Are they locked down a lot more and harder to root? It he a deal breaker for me. Anyone have any idea ?

Would a Verizon phone work well on tmobile?

Yes but the bootloader will be locked down.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 09:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:46 AM ----------
Tapatalk won't let me modify...
Well the Verizon will work well in most cases on T-Mobile however Verizon phones will always have a locked down bootloader. So if you buy it be prepared to potentially never unlock it for a very long time.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk

Tidbits said:
Yes but the bootloader will be locked down.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 09:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:46 AM ----------
Tapatalk won't let me modify...
Well the Verizon will work well in most cases on T-Mobile however Verizon phones will always have a locked down bootloader. So if you buy it be prepared to potentially never unlock it for a very long time.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! So the best option would be Tmo?

If you want Wi-Fi calling , RCS, and VoLTE it's probably preferred. If you plan on rooting and custom Roms. Then T-Mobile is a good choice. T-Mobile for the past 4 years has always left it up to the manufacturer to either lock it or leave it. So far all but Sony have unlocked or unlockable bootloaders.
Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk