I am on att and want to buy S4 . But the new phones that are being given out seems to be booloader locked. I want a device that I can install roms of my choice.
Can some one answer some of the questions I have, please ?
1- Is s4 fully compatible with ATT Lte bands ? ( Seems there are few mods to be done to get it right. Am I right ? )
2- Are ASOP based S4 roms for international version compatible with S4 GE ?
3-Are TW based S4 roms for international version compatible with S4 GE ?
4- Or Can I find an ATT version that is bootloader unlocked ?
Thanks
AP
I can only answer 1 and 2. Works fine with ATT. There is no bootloader unlock for the ATT S4, however, if you can find one with MBD or MDL firmware you can bypass it with Loki to install custom ROMs.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4
Bootloader Unlocked Version
To answer #4, there is a developer version available from AT&T. Outright price as is G-i9505G.
It will have Touchwiz and all Samsung bloatware where GE version has what appears (UI) to be AOSP and is already on 4.3.
I see the Verizon version of the note 3 has a locked bootloader. Which Note 3 is not? Or is there one that dont have a locked bootloader. I know the ones that have locked bootloaders dont allow cyanogenmod, or AOSPs. Im a fan of cyanogen so is there any Note models that you can get these ROMS on. I live in the USA. I would need one that can be placed on Page Plus Network. Thats what I'm currently using for wireless service. I would kind of like for it to be a Note 3. i like that phone.
The international version of Note 3, SM-N9005, is the one with unlocked bootloader. I have no idea whether it will work in your country or not, it works absolutely fine in my place though.
Also the tmobile version does not have a locked bootloader. SM-N900T
Sent from my leanKernel 3.12 powered stock 4.4.2 (NF9) SM-N900T
thanks
thanks for the help
SM-N9005
go for note 3 N9005. I have experienced best flashing it and also a powerful device it is
Ive had the S5 since October and i just got around to rooting the Verizon version and putting safestrap on it i know there is rom for the verizon Galaxy S5 but my question is will there ever be a bootloader unlock method for the verizon and at&t versions of the S5 any thoughts because i dont feel safe flashing a rom on a locked bootloader i had a droid razr m before this phone i had the bootloader unlocked and was running cm11 i just wish i could flash a well know rom on my Galaxy S5
Most likely not. Verizon do sell a dev version of the phone with an unlocked bootloader and it's got CM thanks to albinoman and ktoonsez
Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk
if ur not comfortable flashing roms on a locked BL (is safer) than buy a dev ed s5 or another device thats unlocked or just stay stock lol
The S4 is still a decent phone in 2016 with it's amoled display, pretty good battery life, and decent performance. But it's a shame that AT&T/Samsung offer nothing for unlocking the bootloader. The last time that I searched, the only option for an SGH-I337 OK2 build was to install Safestrap and a Touchwiz rom. Has anything changed? I tend to use apps from FDroid, and I would really like to run a debloated rom such as Cyanogenmod on this thing (no Samsung/Touchwiz, AT&T, Google). What are the best options today?
fitzly said:
The S4 is still a decent phone in 2016 with it's amoled display, pretty good battery life, and decent performance. But it's a shame that AT&T/Samsung offer nothing for unlocking the bootloader. The last time that I searched, the only option for an SGH-I337 OK2 build was to install Safestrap and a Touchwiz rom. Has anything changed? I tend to use apps from FDroid, and I would really like to run a debloated rom such as Cyanogenmod on this thing (no Samsung/Touchwiz, AT&T, Google). What are the best options today?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
None so far for the locked bootloader, unless you have 2013 bootloader like ADB, MDL.
AT&T intentionally lock the bootloader as such they will not offer any tools or ways to unlock the bootloader. Not just S4 all the AT&T phones has locked bootloader.
With the locked bootloader your option to flash custom rom is via either safestrap ro flashfire.
Regardless of what custom rom you use, you have to flash the AT&T kernel in the end, in order your phone to work.
There might be some AOSP roms flashable with safestrap in Android development section.
sway8966 said:
None so far for the locked bootloader, unless you have 2013 bootloader like ADB, MDL.
AT&T intentionally lock the bootloader as such they will not offer any tools or ways to unlock the bootloader. Not just S4 all the AT&T phones has locked bootloader.
With the locked bootloader your option to flash custom rom is via either safestrap ro flashfire.
Regardless of what custom rom you use, you have to flash the AT&T kernel in the end, in order your phone to work.
There might be some AOSP roms flashable with safestrap in Android development section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds like it is time to either abandon ship on AT&T, Samsung, or both.
Any recommendations on carriers and devices in the U.S.?
I really like Samsung's amoled displays, and 5.5" is getting too big for portability / everyday use. My HTC One LCD display gives me eyestrain after much use. And it seems to be a problem finding a ~5" amoled device that is both AT&T compatible and allows for unlocking the bootloader.
Ideally, I would like a device that has ~5" amoled display, sd slot, good battery life, removable battery, and can run custom roms on a carrier who doesn't try to be a dictator on what I can run on my own devices.
fitzly said:
It sounds like it is time to either abandon ship on AT&T, Samsung, or both.
Any recommendations on carriers and devices in the U.S.?
I really like Samsung's amoled displays, and 5.5" is getting too big for portability / everyday use. My HTC One LCD display gives me eyestrain after much use. And it seems to be a problem finding a ~5" amoled device that is both AT&T compatible and allows for unlocking the bootloader.
Ideally, I would like a device that has ~5" amoled display, sd slot, good battery life, removable battery, and can run custom roms on a carrier who doesn't try to be a dictator on what I can run on my own devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think all the samsung phones made for america has locked bootloader. You can check on this forum for which phone can be rooted and which are not.
The other way around should be using the international phones. However, on AT&T network, only the phone make for AT&T can get the LTE signal. I tried with the Asus Zenfone 2. The only way I can get LTE signal in Asus Zenfone 2 is on T-mobile network.
I like the idea of removable battery but in order to make the phone thinner, they all have to go with the I-phone route, non-removable battery.
sway8966 said:
None so far for the locked bootloader, unless you have 2013 bootloader like ADB, MDL.
AT&T intentionally lock the bootloader as such they will not offer any tools or ways to unlock the bootloader. Not just S4 all the AT&T phones has locked bootloader.
With the locked bootloader your option to flash custom rom is via either safestrap ro flashfire.
Regardless of what custom rom you use, you have to flash the AT&T kernel in the end, in order your phone to work.
There might be some AOSP roms flashable with safestrap in Android development section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a new Android AOSP 7.0 Nougat ROM for Galaxy S4 AT&T, but I don't think I would be able to install it because my bootloader is UCUGOK2?
Link: http://www.cyanogenmods.org/forums/topic/update-galaxy-s4-att-nougat-7-0-aosp-rom/
cookiecorn said:
There is a new Android AOSP 7.0 Nougat ROM for Galaxy S4 AT&T, but I don't think I would be able to install it because my bootloader is UCUGOK2?
Link: http://www.cyanogenmods.org/forums/topic/update-galaxy-s4-att-nougat-7-0-aosp-rom/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes they clearly stated that your bootloader has to be exploitable (MDB/MDL). If not that bootloader you can not install custom recovery. Those rom need custom recovery to install on the phone.
sway8966 said:
Yes they clearly stated that your bootloader has to be exploitable (MDB/MDL). If not that bootloader you can not install custom recovery. Those rom need custom recovery to install on the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Sway.
Is it possible to unlock bootloader UCUGOK2 and change it to UCUAMDB or UCUAMDL?
If so, do you have a link guide?
Thanks again.
There is no way to flash an unlocked bootloader over a locked bootloader or to unlock a locked bootloader at this time.
cookiecorn said:
Thanks Sway.
Is it possible to unlock bootloader UCUGOK2 and change it to UCUAMDB or UCUAMDL?
If so, do you have a link guide?
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For the ATT-S4 , the answer is no. There is a JTAG service to unbrick the bricked bootloader but there is no posting saying that re-write the bootloader to MDB/MDL.
So far, only the verizon S4 has a way to unlock the bootloader.
fitzly said:
The S4 is still a decent phone in 2016 with it's amoled display, pretty good battery life, and decent performance. But it's a shame that AT&T/Samsung offer nothing for unlocking the bootloader. The last time that I searched, the only option for an SGH-I337 OK2 build was to install Safestrap and a Touchwiz rom. Has anything changed? I tend to use apps from FDroid, and I would really like to run a debloated rom such as Cyanogenmod on this thing (no Samsung/Touchwiz, AT&T, Google). What are the best options today?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not possible to run anything other than tw. There are great tw Roms that are debloated making them very light and fast especially when paired up with a custom kernel and the correct settings. Just a got an old s4 from a friend and I decided to revive it from its misery. Now it's snappy and decent battery life.
sway8966 said:
I think all the samsung phones made for america has locked bootloader. You can check on this forum for which phone can be rooted and which are not.
The other way around should be using the international phones. However, on AT&T network, only the phone make for AT&T can get the LTE signal. I tried with the Asus Zenfone 2. The only way I can get LTE signal in Asus Zenfone 2 is on T-mobile network.
I like the idea of removable battery but in order to make the phone thinner, they all have to go with the I-phone route, non-removable battery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not all Samsung phones have locked bootloaders in the U.S. Just Verizon and AT&T, unless t-mobile and sprint jumped on the locked bootloader band wagon.
how do you verify if the BL is Locked? Because I managed to root and change modem to mdb and rom to mk2 from much higher version, sim unlocked my att i337, so i just want to check before I load a new rooted rom, from safstrap
Boot into download and confirm that the model # is sgh-i337. Do you see anything about Knox?
You could also boot into the ROM, install the Samsung Info App, and look at the bootloader version.
audit13 said:
Boot into download and confirm that the model # is sgh-i337. Do you see anything about Knox?
You could also boot into the ROM, install the Samsung Info App, and look at the bootloader version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the same unfortunate boat as OP. I downgraded from 5.0.1 / OK2 to 4.4.2 / NB1 and rooted in hopes of installing custom ROMs but now I run into what looks like locked bootloader. When in download mode my details are:
KNOX KERNEL LOCK: 0x0
KNOX WARRANTY VOID: 0x1
what can i get out of this info?
The bootloader is definitely locked and cannot be onlocked. You can use safestrap to flash custom ROMs that are based off a stock TW ROM. You can also root the phone and debloat.
I was really salty about the bootloader being locked when I upgraded from my S3 which I had CM13 rom. Last few months I've been using Thor rom, absolutely solid and I got the Grace UX look on it. I'd recommend it or Lollirom.
ChewyFurrr said:
I'm in the same unfortunate boat as OP. I downgraded from 5.0.1 / OK2 to 4.4.2 / NB1 and rooted in hopes of installing custom ROMs but now I run into what looks like locked bootloader. When in download mode my details are:
KNOX KERNEL LOCK: 0x0
KNOX WARRANTY VOID: 0x1
what can i get out of this info?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe this other thread can point you in the right direction. I tried the Xposed framework portion however, but that part wouldn't work with my AT&T Galaxy S4.
Thread: [GUIDE] AT&T Samsung Galaxy S4 SGH-I337 Lollipop 5.0.1 OK2 Root Xposed Etc.
Keeping my eyes open for other options. Good luck.:good:
Here's the round up as far as AT&T Samsung flagship locked bootloader phones go:
Galaxy S - factory unlocked bootloader
Galaxy S2 - factory unlocked bootloader
Galaxy S3 - factory unlocked bootloader
Galaxy S4 - factory locked bootloader - exploit bypass (loki doki) available if on MDB or MDL firmware.
Galaxy S5 - factory locked bootloader
Galaxy S6 and variants (S6 edge) - factory locked bootloader
Galaxy S7, S7+, and S7 edge - factory locked bootloader
Galaxy S8 and S8+ - factory locked bootloader
The only AT&T phones I know of that can be unlocked bootloader wise are HTC devices as HTC offers a developer program which will unlock it for you. I am not sure about LG, Google, or Motorola devices branded by AT&T.
Looking to pick up a GS5 and put on Nougat via LineageOS. Is there a certain carrier's phone that is more desirable than others? Since I do not already have the phone I would like to acquire the best one to get to my ultimate goal of unlocking and putting on Android 7. Phone will eventually be used on the AT&T network.
Thanks in advance,
Bob
Try and see if the international G900F works on AT&T, or simply get the G900T, to not go through the hassle which involves an international version.
If you like using custom roms and such STAY AWAY FROM AT&T!!! Bc they lock there bootloader's haha
AT&T Galaxy S5 has Locked Bootloader, which means you can't flash custom ROMs. Sprint variant has different hardware for CDMA support, so some ROM may be incompatible. If you can invest on G900F (International Version), G900F is the most ideal one for custom ROMs (Or G900W8, which is Canadian version) Otherwise, you would want to get G900T since it has unlocked bootloader.