I paid full price for my phone to keep my Verizon unlimited plan. Someone said I could have purchased an international version S5 somewhere else, used it with Verizon, and be able to unlock the bootloader?
If so, I wish I would have known that.
Related
http://www.expansys-usa.com/samsung-galaxy-s5-usa-lte-unlocked-16gb-black-260522/
I didn't think the Exynos version supported USA LTE? Expansys also says is has an Exynos processor and a Qualcomm chip? Can anyone clarify this phone? I am interested in purchasing it, I just want to know if supports AT&T LTE?
Which phone do you guys recommend for AT&T? Returned my AT&T S5 today after coming to the conclusion that $700 isn't worth it for a carrier locked down phone.
Qualcomm chips would support US LTE bands.
Stick to Qualcomm version.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk
the one you want is a tmobile phone. G900T. it will work with ATT LTE, doesn't have a locked bootloader.
the problem is if you walk into a Tmobile store and buy one, they will make you wait 40 days before they give you the unlock code.
you could buy the sim unlock at swiftunlock, but now you are up over $800 for the phone; Tmo wants $690 plus this and that, and tax = $765. Plus $25 to unlock = $790.
$800 was to much for me to pull the trigger.
But you can then have an unlocked, flashable, LTE capable phone.
The last thing you might need would be region away from @Chainfire if you intend to travel abroad and use local sim cards upon arrival.
This last step is the one I'm waiting on; the region away. not sure if we'll see it. i hate to be a bother and ask.. i think he said he was on vacation for a month or something
wdkingery said:
the one you want is a tmobile phone. G900T. it will work with ATT LTE, doesn't have a locked bootloader.
the problem is if you walk into a Tmobile store and buy one, they will make you wait 40 days before they give you the unlock code.
you could buy the sim unlock at swiftunlock, but now you are up over $800 for the phone; Tmo wants $690 plus this and that, and tax = $765. Plus $25 to unlock = $790.
$800 was to much for me to pull the trigger.
But you can then have an unlocked, flashable, LTE capable phone.
The last thing you might need would be region away from @Chainfire if you intend to travel abroad and use local sim cards upon arrival.
This last step is the one I'm waiting on; the region away. not sure if we'll see it. i hate to be a bother and ask.. i think he said he was on vacation for a month or something
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Appreciate your input. I'm actually considering just switching to T-Mobile. The galaxy phones play much more nicely with their service compared to iPhones. AT&T's system switched me off my grandfathered data plan yesterday, so I'm not exactly liking them at the moment.
Sprint Samsung Galaxy S5 currently running Exodus Rom.
I live in Mongolia but I am in the states for another month before going overseas again.
Sprint gave me the MSL code (which I still don't get what I can do with this) and says that my phone is unlocked internationally. I want to know if it is truly unlocked internationally??? Is there a way I can check this?
Also, is there ANY way I can unlock my phone domestically? I'd rather not pay, but if there is a reliable way, please let me know. I have an AT&T prepaid sim and I would like to use it on this phone.
Thanks!!!
oh and the person on the phone with Sprint said that I could take the MSL code to someone at AT&T and they might be able to allow my phone to use their prepaid.
Does that sound like something that is possible?
ba-da-bump
Just wondering if anyone knows anything about U.S. Cellular's plans for this phone, if I can i'd like to buy and pop my ATT sim card in on day 1 and not have to deal with unlock policies from the other carriers. I refuse to buy from AT&T and have a bloated locked down phone.
http://www.uscellular.com/site/legal/mobile-wireless-device-unlocking.html
USC store trying to me it is locked domestically but works internationally on any carrier.. Did you find out anymore?
I got a USC edge from Walmart yesterday. Its unlocked (works with my tmobile out of the box), but, some bands seem to be disabled (i think)
From what i can tell Verizon phones are unlocked specially the Galaxy S8, i am looking to buy one off craiglist and wanted to check for sure if its activated on Verizon and i buy it is it unlocked or do i have to do something to it? I will be using it on Cricket and take it overseas. Few post on craiglist have written "activated on Verizon" i wanted to know if that messes up anything.
Any model number that is Verizon unlocked would also would be great
Thanks
It will work perfect on Cricket and on any overseas GSM carrier you may come across.
Thank you for replying so the whole activation with Verizon won't mess with me? Do at any point I would need his account information or Verizon account stuff?
Also is there any model number I should be getting so I can check it against the Craigslist ones
I see this BOGO offer direct on Samsung's website for Galaxy S8's. In the past, all Galaxy S phones were SM-G920T (T for T-Mobile) SM-G920V (V for Verizon, etc) and then Best Buy sold that piece of crap SIM unlocked SM-G920U that was bootloader LOCKED and couldn't do anything with it.
I'm trying to find out here if the Bootloader is locked on any variant of the Snapdragon 835 S8's, and which version I should get. T-Mobile has the same BOGO offer on the S8 in the form of a rebate as well, but I can't confirm anywhere the specific model number. I'm so jaded by the fact that T-Mobile left the bootloader locked on their S7 that I can't imagine them leaving it unlocked.
The G6 is also BOGO right now as well, but I don't know if that bootloader is unlocked like all my previous LG phones from T-Mo we're.
I'd really appreciate any kind of confirmed answers you might have!
Cheers!
joesee said:
I see this BOGO offer direct on Samsung's website for Galaxy S8's. In the past, all Galaxy S phones were SM-G920T (T for T-Mobile) SM-G920V (V for Verizon, etc) and then Best Buy sold that piece of crap SIM unlocked SM-G920U that was bootloader LOCKED and couldn't do anything with it.
I'm trying to find out here if the Bootloader is locked on any variant of the Snapdragon 835 S8's, and which version I should get. T-Mobile has the same BOGO offer on the S8 in the form of a rebate as well, but I can't confirm anywhere the specific model number. I'm so jaded by the fact that T-Mobile left the bootloader locked on their S7 that I can't imagine them leaving it unlocked.
The G6 is also BOGO right now as well, but I don't know if that bootloader is unlocked like all my previous LG phones from T-Mo we're.
I'd really appreciate any kind of confirmed answers you might have!
Cheers!
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Click to collapse
All the carriers have "U" devices in the U.S. this year. The SIM you initialize the phone with is what carrier's features are added. A "U" from Samsung apparently doesn't take on the carrier whose SIM is used features and remains virgin. So "U" could be considered "universal" or "U.S." It's still a S-835 device which means "U" definitely doesn't mean unlocked bootloader.
I'm not an expert at all but I really doubt that ANY Samsung bootloader will ever be unlocked again. Pretty much after 2013 all bootloaders were locked [AFAIK] at least for the Galaxy series. I really like Samsung devices but my Galaxy Tab S (late 2014) isn't even going to get the Nougat upgrade - this actually pisses me off greatly.
When you see 'unlocked' concerning a phone/device it means CARRIER unlocked, not the bootloader. The 'unlocked' means that you can use it with any carrier that the device supports - so just about most of the carriers/providers in the entire world. Still not sure about this concerning CDMA (Verizon/Sprint) as some things may not work (different bands). Tried using GSM phones on CDMA a few years back and wasn't able to use 4G/LTE & also MMS.
Good luck.
EDIT:
Was typing this as BarryH_GEG replied to your question. Yes the letter following the model corresponds to the various carriers (Verizon, Cricket, Sprint, etc) and are also different for international versions.
EDIT2:
On another note I own a Galaxy S7 Edge (international) that has the Exynos processor that is unlocked. At the same time this is the only device I've never rooted because it works so well for me, no carrier bloatware. Also the only device I've ever purchased without a removable battery. Until the latest updates I was able to go 2 days without charging (not anymore unfortunately). The international S8/S8+ also use the Exynos processor so you might consider this option. However the cost will be high as it was for me when I purchased my GS7edge as you'll need to purchase it directly without any US discounts or such. I paid out just over $700 for my GS7edge directly, though at the same time my AT&T bill is much lower because of this.
I've researched the GS8+ international and it's looking to be around $800. Compared to trading in my GS7edge international for an unlocked US version I can get for $375 (with trade-in) if I do this within a month or so... I can probably get $400 for my GS7edge (since it's international) but how long will this take? If I only get $300 for it for a quick sale I'll still spend $500 for the new 8+ so is this worth it?
Only stating these issues so that you understand my thinking concerning an unlocked bootloader. These are [mostly, still SS stuff] bloatware free, have incredible power, etc, etc. I miss rooting my device but is it really worth it for the cost? I really want the international/Exynos S8+ but still not sure.
Let me know your thoughts, later.