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I would have posted this under the S5 'T-Mobile' section, but I think it might be more of a generic discussion.
I am considering in purchasing the S5 Plus (G901F). From what I can see right now, this is only available in Germany, UK and just about now, Netherlands. Problem is that it's exclusive to respective providers and therefore - "branded"
I can find it cheaper from Germany - which is subject to T-Mobile / Telekom (same thing?) branding.
I have asked the shop and they confirmed that the phone is factory unlocked to any provider/country and that there is no "hardware branding" on the phone. Meaning no stickers, no logos or anything else physically on the phone.
However, there is "software branding". Meaning the firmware itself and whatever bloatware the provider has put inside that ROM.
Now, I have read that I can use ODIN and find the least crapware-loaded ROM (from any country) and flash it *without* compromissing the knox bit. So far so good.
What I would like to know is that: What happens when finally Samsung releases a pure, non-branded ROM for the G901F? I can still use ODIN to flash - no problem. But what about future releases. I mean future non-branded firmwares. Would I be able to use OTA from that point on, or would I have to keep an eye and update via ODIN? Can someone please elaborate and explain this?
I get it - that's a 'newbie' type of question, but I would be really grateful towards some help here. All I can do for someone who will spend 2mins for writing a useful/accurate answer is say 'thanks'
Didn't find an exact answer to what I ask here, hence me writing this. Hope it's not a double-post!
jstoner said:
I would have posted this under the S5 'T-Mobile' section, but I think it might be more of a generic discussion.
I am considering in purchasing the S5 Plus (G901F). From what I can see right now, this is only available in Germany, UK and just about now, Netherlands. Problem is that it's exclusive to respective providers and therefore - "branded"
I can find it cheaper from Germany - which is subject to T-Mobile / Telekom (same thing?) branding.
I have asked the shop and they confirmed that the phone is factory unlocked to any provider/country and that there is no "hardware branding" on the phone. Meaning no stickers, no logos or anything else physically on the phone.
However, there is "software branding". Meaning the firmware itself and whatever bloatware the provider has put inside that ROM.
Now, I have read that I can use ODIN and find the least crapware-loaded ROM (from any country) and flash it *without* compromissing the knox bit. So far so good.
What I would like to know is that: What happens when finally Samsung releases a pure, non-branded ROM for the G901F? I can still use ODIN to flash - no problem. But what about future releases. I mean future non-branded firmwares. Would I be able to use OTA from that point on, or would I have to keep an eye and update via ODIN? Can someone please elaborate and explain this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi jstoner,
I think that while using an unbranded ROM would probably prevent you from receiving OTA's from your provider you would still be left wih the Samsung tool for getting new updates - Kies.
It has the options to check for updates and to flash them.
The geeky option is indeed to keep your eyes out for updates and fire up Odin
Disclaimer: I never used Kies to update my phone so I might be wrong here
Sent from my Android powered Tricorder
I forgot to mention - I live in Greece (but I m thinking of buying the phone from Germany, as it's not available here yet)
Does KIES list all ROMs from ALL regions/providers for a particular phone?
vrl13 said:
I think that while using an unbranded ROM would probably prevent you from receiving OTA's from your provider you would still be left wih the Samsung tool for getting new updates - Kies.
r
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
It seems there is a firmware for Greece for you
http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/download/40735/G901FXXU1ANK3_G901FEUR1ANL1_EUR.zip/
Oh good
Does that mean it's about to be released in Greece soon???
thierry_b said:
Hello,
It seems there is a firmware for Greece for you
http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/download/40735/G901FXXU1ANK3_G901FEUR1ANL1_EUR.zip/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nobody knows man. But you can always flash the newest updates via odin without triggering knox. After a few month only German Vodafone is building an update. T- mobil stii stuck on h5 firmware. So if there will be an unbranded oce ever ever ever.........you have odin
Wonder if that Greek ROM is unbranded or not
As for hardware branding, it seems that all G901F units sold in Germany under Telekom/T-Mobile have that "LTE+" at the back (also on the retail box). Instead, those EE (UK) units seem to have no hardware branding at all - it just has the "Samsung" logo at the back cover (and nothing on the retail box)
teichy1 said:
No Body knows man. But you can always flash the newest updates via odin without triggering knox. After a few month only German Vodafone is building an update. T- mobil stii stuck on h5 firmware. So if there will be an unbranded oce ever ever ever.........you have odin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are a few Providerapps inside. All Roms i tested for 901F has the normal Samsung Bootloaderscreener. No Provider startup. So nothing to worry about . Mine has also the LTE+ logo, but former T-Mobile Devices have also Coverbrands on it...Thanks God these not
About to get a phone on contract with a major telco in Australia...
In theory, it's fine* to flash to another country/regional ROM that isn't telco_branded, so long as it's an official Samsung ROM, right?
Hoping to flash to an official Sammy ROM for a country/region that usually gets major Android updates far quicker than Australia or Australian telcos.
Thank-you.
*by "fine", I mean it won't trip Knox
Anyone? TY.
jalyst said:
Anyone? TY.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you phone is not carrier branded(N910F or N910C) you are fine with flashing a ROM from Samsung...it won't trip KNOX.
Also, wrong section...
Ashatar said:
If you phone is not carrier branded(N910F or N910C) you are fine with flashing a ROM from Samsung...it won't trip KNOX.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait, but mine will be telco_branded (buying on contract), are you claiming it's absolutely not possible then?
Even if I'm flashing from an official Sammy ROM to another official Sammy ROM, how so?
jalyst said:
Wait, but mine will be telco_branded (buying on contract), are you claiming it's absolutely not possible then?
Even if I'm flashing from an official Sammy ROM to another official Sammy ROM, how so?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was on Telstra 4.4.4 then flashed to the Australian 5.0 on Sammy and knox tripped. There isn't Telstra 5.0 yet so I used the Australian one. I'm on N915G but the phone is a company phone so I'm not overly stressed on tripping knox. I think flashing a Telstra 5.0 on Sammy when available or OTA update you might be OK. Anyway went back to 4.4.4 I was missing Xposed to much among other things. Xposed for lollipop didn't play nice for me.
Sent from one of my Notes.
Damn it. Someone told me that; so long as you're flashing to an official Sammy ROM, it shouldn't trip.
What if I flashed to country/region other than Australia, & what if I went for a 4.x ROM instead of 5.x?
I don't care about root, xposed, & all that just yet, happy to be on a 4.x ROM...
Want to be on a stock one though not branded, & ideally one for a region/country that gets updates sooner & more regularly/reliably.
jalyst said:
Damn it. Someone told me that; so long as you're flashing to an official Sammy ROM, it shouldn't trip.
What if I flashed to country/region other than Australia, & what if I went for a 4.x ROM instead of 5.x?
I don't care about root, xposed, & all that just yet, happy to be on a 4.x ROM...
Want to be on a stock one though not branded, & ideally one for a region/country that gets updates sooner & more regularly/reliably.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't speak to that can only speak to my experience sorry. But l suspect anything outside Telstra will trip knox. They have really locked these suckers down. I think some Devs have gotten around it but not for my devise N915G......yet.
Sent from one of my Notes.
Can anyone else help/advise on this? Thank-you.
jalyst said:
Can anyone else help/advise on this? Thank-you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure how the other poster had that happen (on their Note Edge I assume?) but anyway, you can't flash another region's Note 4 firmware like the good old days.
Samsung, for whatever reason, has made 20i-sh variants of the Note 4 and Australia has the N910G model. This G model is also used by India, Sri Lanka and Singapore (but Singapore has a different boot setup or kernel for some reason).
Your best bet is to flash XSA firmware which is Australian unbranded firmware, this will get updates quickest and it will remove any carrier bloat. Flashing this in Odin will not trip Knox, I've flashed it several times and even loaded the Indian firmware once and there were no issues but I've gone back o XSA. As soon as unbranded units start receiving the Lollipop OTA (reckon maybe another 6 monts? Sigh) you'll get it too instead of waiting for Telstra to delay it another 2-3 months.
Here's the link to it on Sammobile: http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/download/39199/N910GDTU1ANK3_N910GXSA1ANK3_XSA/
Thanks mate,
So you reckon none of the countries in our pool*, will get it substantially -or even mildly- sooner than Oz?
If yes, what do you base that on?
Thanks again!
*You sure it's just India/SL/Sg?
jalyst said:
Thanks mate,
So you reckon none of the countries in our pool*, will get it substantially -or even mildly- sooner than Oz?
If yes, what do you base that on?
Thanks again!
*You sure it's just India/SL/Sg?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doubt it! There's only been one real update in nearly 6 months and that was just after release date...i think India got it slightly earlier? Can't really recall! If you check sammobile.com and look at firmware for N910G you can see that these are the only countries. Any updates after November 2014 are carrier specific ones, but nothing for the unbranded models so it's hard to work out a trend of which country gets the updates earliest.
Don't even bother with Singapore because of the difference in their hardware, it's either India or Australia you have to pick from. And if you flash the Indian firmware you'll get charged for a stupid international Sms message to India when you first boot that it doesn't warn you about.
I asked the same question over at Sammobile and indications are that it won't trip Knox by flashing the Indian variant on an Australian phone. I haven't tried it myself though. But quite close to taking the plunge
tryfound said:
Samsung, for whatever reason, has made 20i-sh variants of the Note 4 and Australia has the N910G model. This G model is also used by India, Sri Lanka and Singapore (but Singapore has a different boot setup or kernel for some reason). Your best bet is to flash XSA firmware which is Australian unbranded firmware, this will get updates quickest and it will remove any carrier bloat. Flashing this in Odin will not trip Knox, I've flashed it several times and even loaded the Indian firmware once and there were no issues but I've gone back o XSA. As soon as unbranded units start receiving the Lollipop OTA (reckon maybe another 6 monts? Sigh) you'll get it too instead of waiting for Telstra to delay it another 2-3 months.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So it looks like the LP OTA came out much sooner that you were lamenting!?!
Just in time for me, as I only got my Note4 last Wednesday evening
Still debating though, whether or not to go for one of the other variants listed here:
http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/database/SM-N910G/
Love to know if any of them have a track-record of getting it several wks (or more) sooner than Oz.*
Finally....
What do I need to proceed, just Odin & then away we go? Is it available for OSX , or is it Windows only?
I have access to a Windows env, so no "biggy" either way...
*I don't care about a 1 off international SMS charge, I'll also steer clear of Singapore ofc
I've since determined that yes, Odin is all I need, I think, & it's def. Windows-only, I think.
Main thing holding me up now, is this...
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/forum-replies.cfm?t=2382726&p=40#r786
Several more posts back n forth after that one.
After all that's done, I'll be good to go with installing Odin & Kies in my Win10 VM, & then proceeding with the flashing.
But only after I've decided that I def. want to go for the Aussie ROM, or one of the others (excluding Singapore).
jalyst said:
So it looks like the LP OTA came out much sooner that you were lamenting!?!
Just in time for me, as I only got my Note4 last Wednesday evening
Still debating though, whether or not to go for one of the other variants listed here:
http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/database/SM-N910G/
Love to know if any of them have a track-record of getting it several wks (or more) sooner than Oz.*
Finally....
What do I need to proceed, just Odin & then away we go? Is it available for OSX , or is it Windows only?
I have access to a Windows env, so no "biggy" either way...
*I don't care about a 1 off international SMS charge, I'll also steer clear of Singapore ofc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was still about a month earlier! But not as bad as I was predicting You'll need Windows, I've never had luck on my macbook using variants of Odin designed for Mac, it's just too much hassle IMO.
You don't have many variants to pick from, India got the only two main updates that have been released for the 910G model 2 out of 2 times quicker than AU or Singapore so if you want the quickest updates and also want your gallery pics to auto-rotate along with being able to share to an email client from an image in the gallery then you'll be happy with the Indian ROM.
Just need to download the firmware, run Odin, turn off phone then hold Vol Down + Power until it loads 'Download Mode'. Press Vol Up to continue, plug your phone into PC, Odin will detect the phone (which you can tell if you see a port number appear) then click on the 'AP' button and locate the unzipped firmware file and flash. Takes a few minutes.
What about Sri-lanka, or that "Unknown" variant?
Hmm that last paragraph, little too vague for my liking, you aware for any detailed step-by-step tutes?
Thank-you!
Other notes:
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/whim/?action=read&m=4421880
jalyst said:
What about Sri-lanka, or that "Unknown" variant?
Hmm that last paragraph, little too vague for my liking, you aware for any detailed step-by-step tutes?
Thank-you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wouldn't bother with them! Actually, the steps are better explained on Sammobile under the download link. So this would be your preferred firmware along with better instructions.
They're not really detailed because it's a lot easier than it sounds, but if you're worried might be better to watch a youtube video first to get a visual i.e, https://youtu.be/Ulz-1UYzHBA
That vid shows it being done for the S4 but Odin is for most samsung phones so the steps are the same.
Lol mate I live in australia and you can flash any rom from any country as long as its samsung offical. I have got samsungs from all carriers and I flash tje australian open to all carriers immediately. You will be fine as long as its OFFICAL SAMSUNG FIRMWARE
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Free mobile app
shotgun1976 said:
Lol mate I live in australia and you can flash any rom from any country as long as its samsung offical. I have got samsungs from all carriers and I flash tje australian open to all carriers immediately. You will be fine as long as its OFFICAL SAMSUNG FIRMWARE
Sent from my SM-N9005 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think tryfound has a pretty good idea of what he's talking about, no need to "LOL".
He's from Oz too, a regular at WP (Whirlpool) no less...
Read all the posts again. You've missed one of the main points being made;
Hint: it's nothing to do with not being able to flash some CV's that are official Samsung fw.
My recently bought (Feb 2017) Axon 7 has a firmware that is unusual.
The phone name: ZTE A2017_7383
Model number: ZTE A2017G
Android Version: 6.01
Android Security patch level: December 1, 2016
Baseband version
M8996FAAAANAZM-1.68528.1.71127.1
Kernel version: 3.18.20
Build number: ZTE A2017GV2.0.0B08
Note that the build number is a V2.0.0B08
This phone is incompatible with the A2017GV1.0.0B05 and A2017GV1.0.0B10, so beware. I semi-bricked my phone (no network connectivity anymore) and I can't find a replacement A2017GV2.0 software.
I contacted ZTE, but no reply yet.
The reason I upgraded was due to inability to connect to 4G or LTE networks, even though my provider is on LTE band 3 and band 7.
Can anyone help me with this problem?
I looked at the back of the phone, where the original stickers still haven't been removed. It says ZTE A2017, without the "G". Could this be a Chinese set and the supplier reflashed it with a modified B08 firmware?
Anyone has a phone with the sticker not yet removed and has a different model number? I need proof that this is not the international version.
Would a Chinese version work on a "G" version software?
laicc said:
I looked at the back of the phone, where the original stickers still haven't been removed. It says ZTE A2017, without the "G". Could this be a Chinese set and the supplier reflashed it with a modified B08 firmware?
Anyone has a phone with the sticker not yet removed and has a different model number? I need proof that this is not the international version.
Would a Chinese version work on a "G" version software?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The A2017 is the chinese version...you can check this link to get the latest nougat update.....100% working
https://forum.xda-developers.com/axon-7/how-to/a2017-nougat-twrp-flashable-djkuz-t3571714
laicc said:
I looked at the back of the phone, where the original stickers still haven't been removed. It says ZTE A2017, without the "G". Could this be a Chinese set and the supplier reflashed it with a modified B08 firmware?
Anyone has a phone with the sticker not yet removed and has a different model number? I need proof that this is not the international version.
Would a Chinese version work on a "G" version software?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as far as I know A2017 variant doesn't have capacitive keys under the screen, so you would notice it right away. My sticker does spell "Model: A2017G" though. Have you made sure that the IMEI numbers written on the sticker match with your phone actual IMEI numbers too? (to be sure it's not a sticker issue)
laicc said:
I looked at the back of the phone, where the original stickers still haven't been removed. It says ZTE A2017, without the "G". Could this be a Chinese set and the supplier reflashed it with a modified B08 firmware?
Anyone has a phone with the sticker not yet removed and has a different model number? I need proof that this is not the international version.
Would a Chinese version work on a "G" version software?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
USA (U) & International (G) = Hardware keys.
Chinese = No Hardware keys , and uses On-screen Navigation keys.
About the V2, that's something else.... Need further findings thought.
DrakenFX said:
USA (U) & International (G) = Hardware keys.
Chinese = No Hardware keys , and uses On-screen Navigation keys.
About the V2, that's something else.... Need further findings thought.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About the Chinese version, the 64GB model doesn't have hardware keys, that's right, but the 128GB version does. I have one.
Thanks everyone, just to close this issue, for the benefit of everyone, my discussions with the Ebay seller revealed that the handset is actually an A2017 Chinese set, and reflashed with their custom ROM to emulate an A2017G. Thats why it didn't work very well, and practically cannot be OTA'ed or updated.
This same message has been cross posted to [A2017G] B10 Update Released 1 2 3
Thread by rikin93
So sorry if I repeat myself here, but I just wanted everyone to know that the issue is closed.
I have the same issue, So how did you manage to solve it? did you flash the Chinese version? (A2017) if so how?
or did you ask the seller for the custom ROM to flash it back to that?
thank you
dude215p said:
I have the same issue, So how did you manage to solve it? did you flash the Chinese version? (A2017) if so how?
or did you ask the seller for the custom ROM to flash it back to that?
thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had looked at the various options available here on this XDA site, like flashing back to the stock Chinese A2017 rom, or converting it to an A2017U, but in the end, I didn't think it was worth the trouble, and could even make the problem worse.
They did mention that their supplier has the custom rom, and he could probably get it for me. But that means I will be stuck with that rom forever with no possibility of an OTA.
I eventually convinced the Ebay seller to accept the return for a full refund.
Hope this helps.
laicc said:
I had looked at the various options available here on this XDA site, like flashing back to the stock Chinese A2017 rom, or converting it to an A2017U, but in the end, I didn't think it was worth the trouble, and could even make the problem worse.
They did mention that their supplier has the custom rom, and he could probably get it for me. But that means I will be stuck with that rom forever with no possibility of an OTA.
I eventually convinced the Ebay seller to accept the return for a full refund.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, thank you for sharing,
I decided to do the opposite, and dived into getting my phone in working condition by flashing the chinese rom on it, although I never done anything like this before. I think I'll make a noob's guide to it, because while there are a lot of good tutorials out there, there are a lot of details kind of glossed over on how to do certain small steps, and you'll have to search for other guides on how that particular step is done.
For now let's just say that I'm happily running Nougat 7.1 with the Google Now launcher, and Google stock apps.
dude215p said:
Hey, thank you for sharing,
I decided to do the opposite, and dived into getting my phone in working condition by flashing the chinese rom on it, although I never done anything like this before. I think I'll make a noob's guide to it, because while there are a lot of good tutorials out there, there are a lot of details kind of glossed over on how to do certain small steps, and you'll have to search for other guides on how that particular step is done.
For now let's just say that I'm happily running Nougat 7.1 with the Google Now launcher, and Google stock apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's great. I would really like to know how you did it. Reading the forum, even with the fairly detailed instructions that have been posted, can be intimidating for noob's like us. Is your 4G working good now? Thanks in advance.
HI,
I'm posting here because I am wondering if anyone can help.
I have a samsung S7 Edge. It's model SM-G935F. It's on Android 7.
It's security patch level is currently listed as Feb 2018.
I'm on the the Three UK network and I purchased this device from a Samsung branded store. If I manually check for updates it says "Your phone is up to do date".
I've spoken to support at three and they tell me that all of their S7's have had this firmware deployed. They have referred me to Samsung tech support who have talked me through a few things (which I had already tried...). I've even used Samsung Switch to check for an update.
The last message I received from Samsung support is that I'll have to wait until they get around to sending an update to my device. Meanwhile Samsung's general account say try taking it to a Samsung service centre.
So I was wondering if anyone had any advice?
Yes, I could root and deploy an issue to my device but for the moment I'd like to see if I can get the OTA update to work.
(I have insurance on this device so I'm unsure if I end up having to root it whether it could invalidate it?)
Also for work reasons I need to see if it is possible to get some support from Samsung and/or Three.
You can easily flash latest Oreo firmware through Odin.
Kill-Switch said:
You can easily flash latest Oreo firmware through Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, i know that, it wasn't the answer I was looking for.
Turns out that the supplier had handed me a chinese phone. So I am due a replacement.
To say I am not happy with Samsung's own branded UK shops would be an understatement.
Hello guys,
I bought my Galaxy S8 last year from BestBuy New York, and I need your help to figure out my issues:
- Is there a different between SM-G950U and SM-G950U1? My phone is SM-G950U1.
- I currently live in UK and till now I haven't received the last software update -Android Pie- that I'm supposed to get in late April! and have't received any security patches updates either!!
- Bixby voice is not working at all, it stopped working 4 months ago and I don't know why! I talked to Samsung US and Samsung UK and they have no clue, we tried many different way to fix it but we had no luck. I factory reset my device twice without any success either.
So please you're my last hope here to solve my issues. I'm ready to answer any questions that you might have in mind regarding my phone.
Thanks,
Yusuf.
Yusuf Alghamdi said:
Hello guys,
I bought my Galaxy S8 last year from BestBuy New York, and I need your help to figure out my issues:
- Is there a different between SM-G950U and SM-G950U1? My phone is SM-G950U1.
- I currently live in UK and till now I haven't received the last software update -Android Pie- that I'm supposed to get in late April! and have't received any security patches updates either!!
- Bixby voice is not working at all, it stopped working 4 months ago and I don't know why! I talked to Samsung US and Samsung UK and they have no clue, we tried many different way to fix it but we had no luck. I factory reset my device twice without any success either.
So please you're my last hope here to solve my issues. I'm ready to answer any questions that you might have in mind regarding my phone.
Thanks,
Yusuf.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can flash either firmware but you can get there latest for your model on sammobile or updato and flash with Odin
TheMadScientist said:
You can flash either firmware but you can get there latest for your model on sammobile or updato and flash with Odin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was gonna do it but it's too risky, besides I wanna know why I don't get updates?
Yusuf Alghamdi said:
I was gonna do it but it's too risky, besides I wanna know why I don't get updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's almost no chance you're going to find out why you're not getting updates. If your phone isn't updating automatically you can either download the entire latest firmware and flash it with Odin or go to firmware.science and download the individual OTA files then flash them in recovery manually one by one.
Yusuf Alghamdi said:
I was gonna do it but it's too risky, besides I wanna know why I don't get updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
More than likely you don't have that original carrier sim in it. My Verizon phone won't get updated on my daughter's TracFone sim. But when i pop in the Verizon sim it updates
TheMadScientist said:
More than likely you don't have that original carrier sim in it. My Verizon phone won't get updated on my daughter's TracFone sim. But when i pop in the Verizon sim it updates
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that if I come back to U.S and insert any SIM from any major mobile company it'll be updated immediately, however, when I was in Saudi Arabia - my home country - lat year, it updated to Oreo back then, so why I got the update while I'm in Saudi and not in UK?
Yusuf Alghamdi said:
I know that if I come back to U.S and insert any SIM from any major mobile company it'll be updated immediately, however, when I was in Saudi Arabia - my home country - lat year, it updated to Oreo back then, so why I got the update while I'm in Saudi and not in UK?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That i cant explain.