hello guys
actually im iphone user but im planing to buy s5 906 and bye bye to ios
so there is some phones on ebay says unlocked
that phones for 3g and 4g works in ireland ? becauase i live in ireland
and i have no idea about rooting i know a lot about jailbreak but heard if you root your device warranty will broke so if i unroot the device my warranty back or not ?
as you know s5 prime is new realese there is no custom rom and there is one complicated rooting for this phone so in later easy rooting and custom roms available like other phones ?
i really appreciate your help guys im not familiar with android
You didn't give us very much information to go on. For instance, you didn't tell us the crucially important information of what carrier you plan to use this phone on. Every carrier uses different frequency bands. AFAIK, the S5 model normally sold in Ireland is the 900F. You are asking about a model that is intended for use in another country and as a result it may only be partially compatible with the frequencies used by your carrier. You can check the specification for the different models to confirm whether they are compatible.
According to Samsung, there is no "S5 Prime". The S5 Prime was rumoured all along, but Samsung swore up and down that it didn't exist. They were lying through their teeth of course and did so in an attempt to encourage higher sales of the original S5 before following with the derivative model. Understandably this deception angered and outraged a lot of Samsung customers who relied upon Samsung's assurances that there would be no S5 Prime model.
As a result of the marketing blunder, the S5 Prime was later claimed to be an entirely different phone and only for far Eastern sales e.g. Korea, China. The net result being that it has a substantially different firmware and seems destined to be something of an orphan like the 900H. Quite likely there were never be an extensive number of custom ROMs available to it now that it has been artificially separated from the original S5 model.
You can root all of the models, but don't count on English (or Gaelic) support for the S5 prime. Or any assurance of many custom ROMs to come. A stock Android will already do most of what an IOS jailbreak aspires to. Rooting is different and more extensive. It's not just the mitigation of some very anal IOS restrictions, it's full access to the OS and most of the flash (which you can't do at all on IOS, even if jailbroken).
Samsung will try to deny warranty claims if you increment the "Knox flag" which is a recent DRM invention. It's tripped if you try to install a custom kernel, recovery or use an older rooting method. However most warranty claims are not made directly with Samsung. Most claims are made through carriers, most of which do not care about Knox. Not to mention that Samsung is running afoul of EU law in trying to deny warranty claims as there is a directive to not arbitrary deny warranty due to rooting.
In any event, you would be wise to stick to a 900F model. If you get a prime, it will always be a struggle to make it do what you want as it will never be fully supported outside of the Asian market.
.
Related
Hi,
I have the Galaxy S4 I9500 version, the snapdragon variant is not available for my region. Google now has launched the Google S4 - which I may be able to get since a friend of mine is coming over from the US. Cost is not an issue since I will sell the I9500 if I go for the Google version - both cost the same for me (we don't have carrier discounted versions in India)
I believe the Snapdragon is a wee bit faster than the octa-core, hopefully the Google edition will be more faster as it is devoid of bloatware.
My questions are:
Since it is a US device - unlike iphone the warranty will not work internationally?
Will the phone be blocked for only US sim-cards or something like that? If I use it in India / Europe and East Asia I am hoping it will work and not need any special code to be entered unlike the carrier locked versions
Anything else I need to be aware of before buying this?
Please respond and thanks in advance for your help - Your inputs will guide my decision in going for the Google version.
I would choose the snapdragon one due to better support, it should be unlocked if its not brought from a mobile carrier,warranty should be international, I'm thinking about one but my nexus4 has been alright so far so I'm going through these threads
Triad007 said:
Hi,
I have the Galaxy S4 I9500 version, the snapdragon variant is not available for my region. Google now has launched the Google S4 - which I may be able to get since a friend of mine is coming over from the US. Cost is not an issue since I will sell the I9500 if I go for the Google version - both cost the same for me (we don't have carrier discounted versions in India)
I believe the Snapdragon is a wee bit faster than the octa-core, hopefully the Google edition will be more faster as it is devoid of bloatware.
My questions are:
Since it is a US device - unlike iphone the warranty will not work internationally?
Will the phone be blocked for only US sim-cards or something like that? If I use it in India / Europe and East Asia I am hoping it will work and not need any special code to be entered unlike the carrier locked versions
Anything else I need to be aware of before buying this?
Please respond and thanks in advance for your help - Your inputs will guide my decision in going for the Google version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. The warranty would not be there in India. as The Phone has not launched in india thats why.
2. No,It woudl not be blocked for US carriers as the phone is a Non Contarct Based Phoen so you dont even need to unlock it to work in india ( however plz check the Base banmd that it supports and if that baseband works in india it woudl work for sure in india )
3. I personally Think u should not go for it as warranty would not be there. There woudl be ports or rom available for I9500 only.
Hi everyone!
So during my trip in the US, I decided to buy a brand new Galaxy S5. I was going to use it outside US so I wanted an unlocked version (since they don't sell international versions in us)
So I got a verizon version of the S5.
Model: SM-G900V
The problem
The problem is that i am getting notifications like. Non Verizon sim inserted. Loads of verizon bloatware. and I cant use my mobile hotspot. Similar to this
I absolutely hate this. I paid $800 for this phone and I'm bombarded with verizon's nonsense and restricted for no reason
My question
The question is, can I install a stock rom on my S5? more specifically can I flash the SM-G900f ?? So that I can get rid of this custom verizon software.
vidhu1911 said:
The question is, can I install a stock rom on my S5? more specifically can I flash the SM-G900f ?? So that I can get rid of this custom verizon software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it's complicated and you have some reading to do if you really want to understand your options. But broadly speaking, the answer is yes. Since you were (or are?) planning to use the phone elsewhere, you'd have been happier had you bought a different S5 variant e.g. a TMobile S5 rather than the Verizon one because you would find it a lot less restrictive, give you more choices and options. And even access to a larger palette of frequency bands should you end up roaming somewhere that uses unusual frequency bands.
Note that there is a dedicated Verizon S5 forum here where you'll find most of what you are looking for. What you are thinking of as a stock ROM would be more accurately called a custom ROM. A stock ROM is.. well what you currently have, with all of the included carrier /Verizon applications that are annoying you. You'll probably want to root your phone and flash a custom ROM to get rid of a lot of superfluous Verizon stuff. That may have warranty implications and you should do some reading about warranty and locked bootloaders (something extra nice that Verizon and ATT do to make it harder to flash your phone).
.
Good evening Ladies and gents,
I'd like to vent a little, I'm sure a lot of us are fed up with the locked bootloaders on S4 models and the lack of freedom a lot of us experience, but I am curious as to see if there is a chance to "persuade" Samsung to unite all their Galaxy S-whatever products.
Galaxy S - United updates, unlocked bootloaders?
Galaxy S2 - United updates, unlocked bootloaders?
Galaxy S3 - United updates, unlocked bootloaders = already done, for like 90% of the S3 models
Galaxy S4 - United updates, unlocked bootloaders! - And I'm sure many demand their rightfully bought freedom that's damn well worth the 700 dollars!
Galaxy S5 - United updates, as far as I know, the S5 bootloaders are unlocked.
Bootloaders a protected by a 512-bit encryption key that can take the next 1000 years to crack for all we care.
We need to go directly to the source.
Samsung has united some of their galaxy S products, the S3 for example, and for every carrier (except AT&T, and some others) the OTA updates come directly from samsung and no BS.
I have half a mind to go talk to a samsung rep before the week is over and at least try and figure out if it's at all possible to obtain an unlocked bootloader.
Most of this info is gathered from posts throughout the net, including xda here and there. I cannot guarantee any legitimacy unless it's from xda.
What are your thoughts on this?!
PS: I'm sorry if I am in the wrong section. Still new and doing tons of reading!
Please move this post if you find it to be necessary, thank you!
You know, carriers are in higher position when dealing with manufacturers so att and verizon can demand whatever they want . Samsung have to make profit through selling phones. Without dealing with the carrier, samsung wont make as much profit as selling through the carriers. Apple is a special case. People like iphone and is well known brand, and carriers want to make munnies by selling iphones. So this time Apple stands above the carrier.
ryujeff said:
You know, carriers are in higher position when dealing with manufacturers so att and verizon can demand whatever they want . Samsung have to make profit through selling phones. Without dealing with the carrier, samsung wont make as much profit as selling through the carriers. Apple is a special case. People like iphone and is well known brand, and carriers want to make munnies by selling iphones. So this time Apple stands above the carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After the S3, Samsung really stepped up their game!
The S3, S4 and S5 are excellent flag ship phones!
Quad cores at close to 2+ Gigahertz, 2 - 4 Gigs of ram, 16 gigs ROM. in addition to some really cool features that make using a mobile device a breeze!
Right now the S5 is stronger than my gaming pc, LOL!
but in all seriousness, if Samsung does the right advertisement, they won't have to rely on s**tty carriers like AT&T to lock down their devices and ruin user experience and annoy the hell out of people "because they can"
VladimirMan93 said:
Good evening Ladies and gents,
I'd like to vent a little, I'm sure a lot of us are fed up with the locked bootloaders on S4 models and the lack of freedom a lot of us experience, but I am curious as to see if there is a chance to "persuade" Samsung to unite all their Galaxy S-whatever products.
Galaxy S - United updates, unlocked bootloaders?
Galaxy S2 - United updates, unlocked bootloaders?
Galaxy S3 - United updates, unlocked bootloaders = already done, for like 90% of the S3 models
Galaxy S4 - United updates, unlocked bootloaders! - And I'm sure many demand their rightfully bought freedom that's damn well worth the 700 dollars!
Galaxy S5 - United updates, as far as I know, the S5 bootloaders are unlocked.
Bootloaders a protected by a 512-bit encryption key that can take the next 1000 years to crack for all we care.
We need to go directly to the source.
Samsung has united some of their galaxy S products, the S3 for example, and for every carrier (except AT&T, and some others) the OTA updates come directly from samsung and no BS.
I have half a mind to go talk to a samsung rep before the week is over and at least try and figure out if it's at all possible to obtain an unlocked bootloader.
Most of this info is gathered from posts throughout the net, including xda here and there. I cannot guarantee any legitimacy unless it's from xda.
What are your thoughts on this?!
PS: I'm sorry if I am in the wrong section. Still new and doing tons of reading!
Please move this post if you find it to be necessary, thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never going to happen and there are no united updates or S models. All the carriers release THEIR specific bloat and device specific updates when they feel they are ready and these are not interchangeable. AT&T and Verizon get major corporate and military contracts because of their coverage areas and being the most secure phones. As mentioned the carriers in the US dictate to Samsung their requirements. Samsung would be MORE than happy to release one update for all the phones.
VladimirMan93 said:
Good evening Ladies and gents,
I'd like to vent a little, I'm sure a lot of us are fed up with the locked bootloaders on S4 models and the lack of freedom a lot of us experience, but I am curious as to see if there is a chance to "persuade" Samsung to unite all their Galaxy S-whatever products.
Galaxy S - United updates, unlocked bootloaders?
Galaxy S2 - United updates, unlocked bootloaders?
Galaxy S3 - United updates, unlocked bootloaders = already done, for like 90% of the S3 models
Galaxy S4 - United updates, unlocked bootloaders! - And I'm sure many demand their rightfully bought freedom that's damn well worth the 700 dollars!
Galaxy S5 - United updates, as far as I know, the S5 bootloaders are unlocked.
Bootloaders a protected by a 512-bit encryption key that can take the next 1000 years to crack for all we care.
We need to go directly to the source.
Samsung has united some of their galaxy S products, the S3 for example, and for every carrier (except AT&T, and some others) the OTA updates come directly from samsung and no BS.
I have half a mind to go talk to a samsung rep before the week is over and at least try and figure out if it's at all possible to obtain an unlocked bootloader.
Most of this info is gathered from posts throughout the net, including xda here and there. I cannot guarantee any legitimacy unless it's from xda.
What are your thoughts on this?!
PS: I'm sorry if I am in the wrong section. Still new and doing tons of reading!
Please move this post if you find it to be necessary, thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not Samsung locking the bootloaders, it's at&t and Verizon that's doing it because all other variants are unlocked. Here is a list of the at&t variants with and without a locked bootloader:
Samsung Galaxy S Captivate - unlocked bootloader
Samsung Galaxy S2 - sgh-i777 - unlocked bootloader
Samsung Galaxy S3 - sgh-i747 - unlocked bootloader
Samsung Galaxy S4 - sgh-i337 - locked bootloader - LOKI bootloader bypass available for MDB and MDL firmwares.
Samsung Galaxy S5 - SM-G900A - locked bootloader
Samsung Galaxy S6 - ???? - most likely locked bootloader
I'm looking to buy a new phone but don't want/need the latest and greatest. I'm happy with the performance of my HTC One Mini, my work HTC One X/XL and my wife's S4 Active, all AT&T phones used in the U.S. My One Mini just suffered a horrible mountain bike crash which busted the screen up pretty bad, then too, my old eyes are tired of that tiny screen. I've also had bad luck with the built in battery and lack of SD card slot. So I was thinking S4 would be ok by me. Asking on the device forum I've gotten 50-11 answers some of which are conflicting answers. I was thinking the i9505 would be the right phone until someone piped up stating it wouldn't work on LTE here. From all I've seen it looks to me like that senior member don't know what they're talking about. Here's my criteria:
1. 4.5" to 5" screen
2. Unlocked/unlockable and can easily accept custom ROMs
3. Prefer to stick with a Kit Kat Rom as it gets along with my Do Not Disturb app better than Lollipop due to the built-in app on Lollipop
4. Removable battery
5. SD Slot
6. LTE service on AT&T/T-Mobile and Caribbean and South American Countries
7. Custom ROM must allow hotspot w/o AT&T controlling my use (I have unlimited internet on my plan and want to make use of it)
Background: I'm almost green having only installed a custom ROM on my work phone an HTC One X/XL from AT&T. Apparently it's one of the harder phones to unlock the bootloader and permanent Root is impossible I think. I 1st installed CM12.1 on the HTC ONE X and ran into conflicts and buggy operations. After a few weeks of testing I backed it up, wiped it and installed CM11 which I truly like. No experience or much understanding of KNOX, ODIN or ODEX. I only read bits and pieces on those while trying to figure out which S4 variant will fit my need. Lastly, were can I get a new phone off contract? Anybody purchased from www.Cell2Get.com? I was about to buy this phone prior to the member claiming it wouldn't work on AT&T.
http://www.cell2get.com/samsung-galaxy-s4-i9505-16gb-unlocked-gsm-android-cell-phone-p-5122.html
IRBent said:
I'm looking to buy a new phone but don't want/need the latest and greatest. I'm happy with the performance of my HTC One Mini, my work HTC One X/XL and my wife's S4 Active, all AT&T phones used in the U.S. My One Mini just suffered a horrible mountain bike crash which busted the screen up pretty bad, then too, my old eyes are tired of that tiny screen. I've also had bad luck with the built in battery and lack of SD card slot. So I was thinking S4 would be ok by me. Asking on the device forum I've gotten 50-11 answers some of which are conflicting answers. I was thinking the i9505 would be the right phone until someone piped up stating it wouldn't work on LTE here. From all I've seen it looks to me like that senior member don't know what they're talking about. Here's my criteria:
1. 4.5" to 5" screen
2. Unlocked/unlockable and can easily accept custom ROMs
3. Prefer to stick with a Kit Kat Rom as it gets along with my Do Not Disturb app better than Lollipop due to the built-in app on Lollipop
4. Removable battery
5. SD Slot
6. LTE service on AT&T/T-Mobile and Caribbean and South American Countries
7. Custom ROM must allow hotspot w/o AT&T controlling my use (I have unlimited internet on my plan and want to make use of it)
Background: I'm almost green having only installed a custom ROM on my work phone an HTC One X/XL from AT&T. Apparently it's one of the harder phones to unlock the bootloader and permanent Root is impossible I think. I 1st installed CM12.1 on the HTC ONE X and ran into conflicts and buggy operations. After a few weeks of testing I backed it up, wiped it and installed CM11 which I truly like. No experience or much understanding of KNOX, ODIN or ODEX. I only read bits and pieces on those while trying to figure out which S4 variant will fit my need. Lastly, were can I get a new phone off contract? Anybody purchased from www.Cell2Get.com? I was about to buy this phone prior to the member claiming it wouldn't work on AT&T.
http://www.cell2get.com/samsung-galaxy-s4-i9505-16gb-unlocked-gsm-android-cell-phone-p-5122.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
- AT&T has it's own variant of the S4. It's called the "SGH-I337".
- The I9505 will not work with LTE on the AT&T network. It support different bands. So the member was correct. You can see it here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S4#Model_variants
- The "SGH-I337" has a locked bootloader and cannot be unlocked. Only some old devices will have an unlocked bootloader because they never upgraded their software. Thus you cannot use custom roms like CM.
Lennyz1988 said:
- AT&T has it's own variant of the S4. It's called the "SGH-I337".
- The I9505 will not work with LTE on the AT&T network. It support different bands. So the member was correct. You can see it here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S4#Model_variants
- The "SGH-I337" has a locked bootloader and cannot be unlocked. Only some old devices will have an unlocked bootloader because they never upgraded their software. Thus you cannot use custom roms like CM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So is the GT-I9505G the preferred phone to have and to mod and if so, can I buy new one without getting a fake?
"Google Play Edition
At the Google I/O 2013 keynote, Samsung and Google revealed that an edition of the U.S. S4 would be released on June 26, 2013 through Google Play, initially featuring stock Android 4.2.2, later updated to 4.4.4, with Samsung provided updates; it has an unlockable bootloader (similar to Nexus devices) and supports LTE on AT&T and T-Mobile's networks. The model number is GT-I9505G."
I'm likely "that member", because I have an I9505 (not I9505G) running on Straight Talk, which is a US MVNO that rents bandwidth from all the major US carriers. The I9505 will not work on LTE here in the US because the LTE frequencies used worldwide (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20) are not the frequencies used by the carriers here in the US. The I9505G is a different story. It has the LTE frequencies needed to work here in the US, and does not have Touchwiz as it uses stock Android.
You can't purchase one new because they've been discontinued for some time now. You may want to check out Swappa (link at the top of the page) and see if they have a used one you can purchase.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
I'm likely "that member", because I have an I9505 (not I9505G) running on Straight Talk, which is a US MVNO that rents bandwidth from all the major US carriers. The I9505 will not work on LTE here in the US because the LTE frequencies used worldwide (1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20) are not the frequencies used by the carriers here in the US. The I9505G is a different story. It has the LTE frequencies needed to work here in the US, and does not have Touchwiz as it uses stock Android.
You can't purchase one new because they've been discontinued for some time now. You may want to check out Swappa (link at the top of the page) and see if they have a used one you can purchase.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really good and interesting reply. Being new to this stuff and having not kept up with cellphone technology, some of the things you guys just know, I'm having to try to understand. At first I assumed all 9505's were the same, but apparently I was wrong there. Then I also thought that since most cellphone review sites showed a plethora of Freq. and bands, with at least on or two being those that AT&T and most other North American GSM carriers use, I assume that meant I could get that model of phone. little did I know that those two lines of freqs and bands were for different versions of that same model, one for here and being a carrier locked phone and the other line being and international phone without the proper band for use here. So now after learning that difference it appears to me that there may be now way possible to purchase a new S4 and turn it into a custom ROM phone. So if I understand you and the carrier stuff correctly, you're using a plain 9505 and piggybacking off AT&T by way of StraightTalk like so many of us do. However since your phone is an international version you don't have LTE, is that right? One last thing I've yet to read or learn about but saw when I was putting CM11 and 12.1 on my HTC One X/XL (AT&T), I kept seeing stuff about "the radio". The way it read made me think they were NOT talking about an FM radio for music, but the freqs the phone itself uses. I think I recall them flashing "radios" which I assume they meant they were able to change the original freqs/bands that the model came with to one more useful here. Is that something that truly exists and can be done even on an S4 variant? My assumption is that it CANNOT be done or else you'd have done so already on your i9505.
IRBent said:
So if I understand you and the carrier stuff correctly, you're using a plain 9505 and piggybacking off AT&T by way of StraightTalk like so many of us do. However since your phone is an international version you don't have LTE, is that right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct.
IRBent said:
My assumption is that it CANNOT be done or else you'd have done so already on your i9505.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again correct. With Samsung, their firmware loading software, Odin, actually checks and makes sure the parts of the firmware match the model of the S4 connected to the PC. If they don't match, Odin will instantly fail. The only way to try and enable LTE on the I9505 is to delve into the low-level firmware for the LTE chip and attempt to rewrite it so it can see the added frequencies. However, I don't recommend it. Not only is it a very intricate process compared to something like rooting, it's also quite possible that you could render the LTE chip non-functional. I tried it, and nearly lost the ability to use my phone at all due to having my phone's SIM lock restored.
If you do decide to get an S4, an I9505G is likely your best bet. Not only does it have the AT&T frequencies, it's also got an unlocked bootloader (unlike the AT&T model) and is also carrier unlocked right out of the box. That last means you can use it on T-Mobile and carriers which use GSM SIM cards. Other choices would be the T-Mobile S4 (SGH-M919) or the North American S4 (SGH-I337M). All these phones include the AT&T frequencies and also have an unlocked bootloader so customization is easier.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
If you do decide to get an S4, an I9505G is likely your best bet. Not only does it have the AT&T frequencies, it's also got an unlocked bootloader (unlike the AT&T model) and is also carrier unlocked right out of the box. That last means you can use it on T-Mobile and carriers which use GSM SIM cards. Other choices would be the T-Mobile S4 (SGH-M919) or the North American S4 (SGH-I337M). All these phones include the AT&T frequencies and also have an unlocked bootloader so customization is easier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thank you so much sir. This answer is direct and explains exactly what I wanted to know. I only wish it were possible to purchase one of those models new so I could ensure years of use void of glitches due to possible abuse by the previous owner. If I can't find one of the above models I will probably be looking for some other make/model, preferably a new phone not used. Do you know if it's possible to get a new phone that meets the criteria below?
1. Unlocked bootloader or one that can be unlocked
2. Removable battery
3. 4.7" - 5" screen
4. SD card
5. Capable of being used as a hotspot ( I have unlimited internet but need to thwart AT&T from controlling my use)
6. Rootable and custom ROM capable
7. Can be used in U.S, South America and Caribbean (I think most of those places all use the same freqs/bands as U.S.)
That is why on Swappa you search for the ones labeled Mint or New. My device was Mint off Swappa, and the main reasons were that it was always in a case, and had a tempered glass screen protector installed.
For a current flagship-level device, looking at your laundry list, I believe you need to adjust your expectations. Not because of the software, but because of the hardware. LG is perhaps the only manufacturer still offering both removable batteries and MicroSD card slots, but their flagship device has a larger screen than you want. Motorola doesn't have removable batteries. Google provides neither, just like Samsung. Sony is an unknown, but their devices are not common here in the US.
Your best option is to go with a larger screen size and get an LG G4. If you absolutely MUST have the smaller screen, then you want a used Galaxy S4 or S5, so long as they aren't AT&T devices.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
For a current flagship-level device, looking at your laundry list, I believe you need to adjust your expectations. Not because of the software, but because of the hardware. LG is perhaps the only manufacturer still offering both removable batteries and MicroSD card slots, but their flagship device has a larger screen than you want. Motorola doesn't have removable batteries. Google provides neither, just like Samsung. Sony is an unknown, but their devices are not common here in the US.
Your best option is to go with a larger screen size and get an LG G4. If you absolutely MUST have the smaller screen, then you want a used Galaxy S4 or S5, so long as they aren't AT&T devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess I should have made it clear too that flagships, latest and greatest wasn't necessary. I'm happy with the speeds my older HTC ONE X and HTC ONE Mini supply. But closing in on 50 years old, my eyes and the Mini's screen don't get along so well anymore.
If you have bad eyesight, a bigger screen can be a godsend.
Strephon Alkhalikoi said:
If you have bad eyesight, a bigger screen can be a godsend.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. I need a bigger screen but a smaller phone because my hands can't reach around my HTC ONE Mini. Sometimes it sucks being 5'4". LOL
IRBent said:
Exactly. I need a bigger screen but a smaller phone because my hands can't reach around my HTC ONE Mini. Sometimes it sucks being 5'4". LOL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would not recommend someone buying the S4 anymore. It was and still is a great phone, but newer models are just way better. The battery life is to short with the standard battery.
Based on your preferences I would recommend one of the following:
- LG Nexus 5
- Oneplus one
- Motorola X Play
But then again, maybe they are to big for you. The LG is the smallest but doesn't have a sd slot.
Lennyz1988 said:
Based on your preferences I would recommend one of the following:
- LG Nexus 5
- Oneplus one
- Motorola X Play
But then again, maybe they are to big for you. The LG is the smallest but doesn't have a sd slot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Amazing discovery by me just now. Yes, I've seen folks here talk about the brand OnePlus but I didn't know who or what OnePlus was until just now. I used to keep up with all things electronics related, reading review sites and forums like this. 10 years ago or so a DVD manufacturer named OPPO was the talk. Excellent brand but unheard of. I just learned that OnePlus is a company started by an OPPO founder. I'm so out of the loop.
Everyone seems to have their own reason for the slow updates for the G930U and I'd like to chime in with mine. This is 100% speculation and I have no proof to back it up, so take it as such. In theory, the G930U should be updated faster as they have already had the OS updates compiled for the device and sent to the carriers for their individual updates. The carriers add all their bloat and remove features from the Samsung Vanilla update. The carriers have to do all their modifying before they release it, which can be time consuming. Since the OS is already complete before the carriers receive it for modifying, why does the Vanilla variant(G930U) take so long???
I believe firmware is the cause for the delays. The G930V firmware is designed to work great on Verizon, and Verizon doesn't care if it works well on T-Mobile, AT&T, or anyone else. The G930T is optimized for T-Mobile, and they don't care if it works well on Verizon or any others. However, the G930U is programmed to work on "ALL" carriers, so firmware has to work well across multiple carriers. I believe the delays in updates are from Samsung working out as many bugs across all the major carriers before releasing it.
I've come to this conclusion from being on U-firmware PEH, then PG9, and most recently PL2. I am on Verizon service and every update works much better than the last. I have heard the same thing from users on AT&T and T-Mobile. This could realistically be a cause for the slow updates, as they have to optimize the firmware to work across many services, whereas the carrier-specific variants are optimized to work on that one specific carrier.
Maybe I'm just being naive. Does anyone else see this as a viable reason for slower updates for the Vanilla device?
you have very good points and i think it could be, but what about the SM-G930F for example, this device is the international variant and is updated frequently across countries and carriers that use the same exact device. How can samsung update that device almost every month but the US unlocked one can only be updated quarterly? My speculation is that since the US had never had an unlocked samsung device, the US carriers didn't really like the idea of samsung selling an open device in their territory and so maybe they only way they would allow it was if samsung committed itself to quarterly updates for the unlocked S8 in the US. As you, i am also speculating but given the way US carriers work i don't think i may be wrong. i do know the carriers may want that the Unlocked version is optimized but i don't think that process takes months to do.
The 930F uses the Exynos processor, correct? If so, I'd suspect they have a lot more hurdles to jump on the G930U firmware with Qualcomm as another important party. The Exynos processor is made in house, so they don't need outside assistance.