Before I start, this is the first android phone I've ever owned so the question may or may not be stupid.
So I live in India and I saw the trade-in deal for the S8. I was in need of an upgrade (iPhone 6) so I went for it as I was heading to the U.S soon. I heard that the international version gets updates sooner than the unlocked U.S version. Can I just change my firmware to international, get earlier updates with no drawback? If yes then why have I not seen a lot on this?
Pretty sure the firmware is locked to the device unless you root. I had an unlocked international S6(920?F) . It updated a lot earlier than the W released in Canada.
Sent from my SM-T820 using Tapatalk
ExLite23 said:
Before I start, this is the first android phone I've ever owned so the question may or may not be stupid.
So I live in India and I saw the trade-in deal for the S8. I was in need of an upgrade (iPhone 6) so I went for it as I was heading to the U.S soon. I heard that the international version gets updates sooner than the unlocked U.S version. Can I just change my firmware to international, get earlier updates with no drawback? If yes then why have I not seen a lot on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the device you get is G950F (international) then updates will come sooner. If you get any other version they are for specific regions, so if you get G950U (US unlocked) you can't flash international firmware to it. Can only flash firmware for the model you get.
callumbr1 said:
If the device you get is G950F (international) then updates will come sooner. If you get any other version they are for specific regions, so if you get G950U (US unlocked) you can't flash international firmware to it. Can only flash firmware for the model you get.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then what are the benefits of people switching carriers for example? There seem to be a bunch of threads giving a tutorial on how to change firmware to different carries e.g. From a T Mobile to Unlocked.
ExLite23 said:
Then what are the benefits of people switching carriers for example? There seem to be a bunch of threads giving a tutorial on how to change firmware to different carries e.g. From a T Mobile to Unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For stuff like WiFi calling, voLTE, removal of bloat some csc tweaks
Guess that's unfortunate.
Related
This tutorial will help uk samsung galaxy s6 owners to debrand the S6 if locked to a network it will also get rid of all the network carrier bloatware and the good thing about this it will then allow you to get OTA Updates Quicker because u wont need to wait for your carrier to test the firmare before rolling it out Enjoy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ey2Qn_n0t4
Wouldn't this trip the flash counter which would also mean losing your 2 year warranty?
Sent from my SM-G920F using XDA Free mobile app
Cybermax93 said:
Wouldn't this trip the flash counter which would also mean losing your 2 year warranty?
Sent from my SM-G920F using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe since you're flashing official firmware, it won't be tripped. I bought an S6 from Germany and flashed with 3 UK firmware and can confirm my KNOX counter hasn't tripped.
Japultra said:
I believe since you're flashing official firmware, it won't be tripped. I bought an S6 from Germany and flashed with 3 UK firmware and can confirm my KNOX counter hasn't tripped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've skimmed through the tutorial video and it doesn't seem to have tripped Knox.
I'm looking to switch my s6 from TEL (Telstra AU) to XSA (Open AU).
Has anyone else tried to do this?
Cheers
will this work with an att s6
samdroid711 said:
I've skimmed through the tutorial video and it doesn't seem to have tripped Knox.
I'm looking to switch my s6 from TEL (Telstra AU) to XSA (Open AU).
Has anyone else tried to do this?
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just did it with the Optus S6. Worked perfectly.
Can't find firmware for US
I'm on a T-Mobile Galaxy S6 right now. I want to follow your tutorial, even if I am in the US should I use the UK firmware model you used in the video? Is there a special international unlocked firmware for the US version (like there is one for Spain, for UK, etc).
Also, if the UK model will work on my T-Mobile phone in the US, will I suffer battery hits because the phone will be looking for UK bands or will it recognize that I'm in the US and will only look for the US bands? Thanks!!
madscientistdam said:
This tutorial will help uk samsung galaxy s6 owners to debrand the S6 if locked to a network it will also get rid of all the network carrier bloatware and the good thing about this it will then allow you to get OTA Updates Quicker because u wont need to wait for your carrier to test the firmare before rolling it out Enjoy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ey2Qn_n0t4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for making it but a quick written guide is much faster
Georgules said:
I'm on a T-Mobile Galaxy S6 right now. I want to follow your tutorial, even if I am in the US should I use the UK firmware model you used in the video? Is there a special international unlocked firmware for the US version (like there is one for Spain, for UK, etc).
Also, if the UK model will work on my T-Mobile phone in the US, will I suffer battery hits because the phone will be looking for UK bands or will it recognize that I'm in the US and will only look for the US bands? Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would look for bands based on the SIM I believe, but whether you can flash another region ROM is questionable. I thought there was something to prevent that, but I'm new to Samsung. I'm also curious if this will work. If it does, I'll just purchase an AT&T version as opposed to an unlocked one and then use this process.
bugsy said:
It would look for bands based on the SIM I believe, but whether you can flash another region ROM is questionable. I thought there was something to prevent that, but I'm new to Samsung. I'm also curious if this will work. If it does, I'll just purchase an AT&T version as opposed to an unlocked one and then use this process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the BTU model has always meant internationally unlocked in terms of Samsung devices, so hopefully this will work. I'm trying to flash it on my T-Mobile device and then rooting it. Does anybody have any idea how to change the model number of the phone to BTU as well so I can get OTA updates?
@madscientistdam
Looks like there is another BTU build added to the sammobile site wonder if anyone will receive a ota?
http://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/database/SM-G920F/BTU/
Received an ota this morning guys, and it was the new build I posted above this post.
Just did this to my Vodafone AU S6 and it worked a treat. Also got an OTA update after a couple of reboots. Knox is still intact. Should work for other Aussie telco phones. Fixed my random freeze's and reboots that where happening flat out at one stage.
*Update- still getting random lockups, even after setting up as a new phone (using no backup). Flash went fine though...
Question. Would this be good for an Ireland Three carrier S6?
Cheers!
Debrand an American S6 Edge (Verizon) for use in Germany
Hi!
You write in your video tutorial that you don’t suggest it for American smartphones. I have a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge from America (Verizon branded, firmware: G925VVRU4BOG9) and want to use it in Germany. So far, I have some annoying limitations (I can’t send text messages and I can’t roam). Do you – or anyone else reading this – have a hint or even a little tutorial for me? I’m so annoyed as neither Samsung nor Verizon or my German SIM card provider FONIC offers me support. The phone was a present from an American friend. So I’m not the original customer. I guess that’s one reason they don’t help. Whatever: I’ll appreciate your help! Thanks…
xkenikax said:
Hi!
You write in your video tutorial that you don’t suggest it for American smartphones. I have a Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge from America (Verizon branded, firmware: G925VVRU4BOG9) and want to use it in Germany. So far, I have some annoying limitations (I can’t send text messages and I can’t roam). Do you – or anyone else reading this – have a hint or even a little tutorial for me? I’m so annoyed as neither Samsung nor Verizon or my German SIM card provider FONIC offers me support. The phone was a present from an American friend. So I’m not the original customer. I guess that’s one reason they don’t help. Whatever: I’ll appreciate your help! Thanks…
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just try the tutorial, you don't have a working phone right now, the worst that could happen is a hard brick
godutch said:
Just try the tutorial, you don't have a working phone right now, the worst that could happen is a hard brick
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And a hard brick is exactly what I don’t want to risk…
this I assume only works on the International 920F version of these phone, you can flash most any region on these (hence international is your first clue), this does not however work on the (American Carrier) branded phones like Sprint, ATT, Verizon, US Cellular ect ect , these are I am told firmware specific, I tried flashing T-Mobile firmware on a sprint phone and brick city, I mean even sprint could not get it back up flashing sprint firmware with their jig... so beware. U.S. Based Carriers got you under their thumb.
debrand
Hi just bought s6 edge on vodafone uk, firmware ver.5.1.1 G925FXXU3QOKN is there any chance to get it debranded.I was think to flash BTU one G925FXXU3COI9.is that safe and csc will be changed to BTU.I see lot debrand was done with firmware change from 5.0.2 to 5.1.1. is that thesame story 5.1-5.1
pwamik said:
Hi just bought s6 edge on vodafone uk, firmware ver.5.1.1 G925FXXU3QOKN is there any chance to get it debranded.I was think to flash BTU one G925FXXU3COI9.is that safe and csc will be changed to BTU.I see lot debrand was done with firmware change from 5.0.2 to 5.1.1. is that thesame story 5.1-5.1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, did you proceeded through the debranding?
I'm also on the same firmware and want to flash a BTU one and just wanted to know if you succeed !
Hello!
Given that all US Galaxy S7 / S7 edge are the same model (G930 / G935) , is it possible flash another US carrier firmware without tripping KNOX?
(I don't have S7, but plan to buy later).
They aren't the same. There's different radio support in the Verizon model and Sprint model. They are not listed ast G935, but as G935V, G935S, G935T, etc. Pretty sure you can't cross flash the firmware without issues. But, just guessing.
The GSM versions of the S7 sold via T-Mobile, AT&T, etc. are not compatible with CDMA (Verizon, Sprint, etc.)
What would be the benefit? Just asking out of curiosity as I am considering buying this device.
i read something, way before the release of the device, that there was only 1 model of the device listed on the FDD certification. (will look for link later), i just confirmed this info was false (Too good to be true)...
What i actually wanted was (given this was true, which is not) to buy a Verizon S7 and put an Sprint Firmware, this because Verizon firmware has a lot of modifications... but
blackknigt said:
i read something, way before the release of the device, that there was only 1 model of the device listed on the FDD certification. (will look for link later), i just confirmed this info was false (Too good to be true)...
What i actually wanted was (given this was true, which is not) to buy a Verizon S7 and put an Sprint Firmware, this because Verizon firmware has a lot of modifications... but
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I read the same thing..one model for all providers..also it said once it's loaded to a provider..it's locked there..
Don't know if it's true, but do remember reading it on the pre launch days
ibcenu said:
I read the same thing..one model for all providers..also it said once it's loaded to a provider..it's locked there..
Don't know if it's true, but do remember reading it on the pre launch days
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea it was some model up in Canada that was able to do that. You bought it but once you put the sim in for that provider it locked to it.
ibcenu said:
I read the same thing..one model for all providers..also it said once it's loaded to a provider..it's locked there..
Don't know if it's true, but do remember reading it on the pre launch days
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it is actually right, it's One Hardware, but has modification on the processor's NVRAM to change the frequency bands, and as the bootloader is LOCKED, now you can't change it as you could with S5 (till we get a way to unlock the bootloader) (not S6 because of the Exynos chip)
see this Thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/general/how-to-add-rf-lte-frequency-bands-to-t2886059
I'm on a Verizon s7 g930V running Samsung's stock firmware g930U and I've read that the phones bought through Samsung (so no carrier to go through) are getting Nougat OTA already.
I'm rooted, so it obviously gets mad if I try to check for an OTA, but should I unroot and check for a nougat OTA?
Do we know of anyone trying this successfully?
Does a Nougat Odin install package exist somewhere with "g930u" in the beginning of the filename?
Let me know if I should bother guinnea pigging on this one.
No need, I just checked and there's no update. Nothing online about it either. Seems only the international models are getting 7.0 at this time.
930/935 U is on quarterly updates. There will likely be no Nougat till April at the earliest.
so is there any possible way of running nougat on sm-g30u?
am i able to flash sm-g30f firmware on this to get nougat or is this not possible as they are different models?
[email protected] said:
so is there any possible way of running nougat on sm-g30u?
am i able to flash sm-g30f firmware on this to get nougat or is this not possible as they are different models?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The F model is the international version and it is not compatible with the US unlocked S7. You can however flash any US carrier version firmware on the the SM-G930U.
thanks, are they any known issues in smg930u like the ones i raised earlier?
seems very buggy in australia. Microphone is also recording muffled and louspeaker calls echo on my listeners end and no noise cancellation
getting frustrated with the device, network is bad, any possible way of flashing the baseband from a sm-g30F to a SM-G930U?
I need the network more reliable. Now i regret not checking the model number before buying the phone
nrage23 said:
The F model is the international version and it is not compatible with the US unlocked S7. You can however flash any US carrier version firmware on the the SM-G930U.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EDIT: Neverfmind, figured it out.
Hello, I would like to know if I can flash my verizon galaxy s8 with tmobile software, or any other model, since I can see that this year all the carriers are using the same model G950U. That is, a single model with different carriers, very similar to how the international version G950F works which is the same model for all carriers in Europe and allows you to change the software through ODIN. I hope someone can help me. Thank you very much.
lmario1985 said:
Hello, I would like to know if I can flash my verizon galaxy s8 with tmobile software, or any other model, since I can see that this year all the carriers are using the same model G950U. That is, a single model with different carriers, very similar to how the international version G950F works which is the same model for all carriers in Europe and allows you to change the software through ODIN. I hope someone can help me. Thank you very much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From what I've gathered is that there's a user data partition that dictates the carrier and Odin currently doesn't allow flashing of this.
Saw this as a comment somewhere here and best I've seen so far.
Personally I think it is just a matter of time before we figure this phone out and will be able to do whatever we want. They already have root for Exynos model and I think now the search is on for modified Odin, as Tehpirate said. I believe they had modified Odin for S7, to do similar stuff, so it's not like starting from scratch.
I hope is the same like the s7 U firmware... That's nice cause I can flash U firmware and get rid of the carrier bloatware.
Hey guys,
I am currently on Samsung S10+ in Canada, which has a single SIM and unlocked. As I need a dual SIM now, I am planning to sell it off and get an international model with dual sim.
My question is: Do I need to change the new phone's firmware to Canada to get OTA official updates? Can it be changed?
Thanks!
The answer is no. You cannot flash the Canadian firmware on the international version. For starters, the international version is Exynos chip. Also, Samsung Pay will not work in Canada with the international version.
dhorgas said:
The answer is no. You cannot flash the Canadian firmware on the international version. For starters, the international version is Exynos chip. Also, Samsung Pay will not work in Canada with the international version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much for the reply! So what about updates? Will I still be able to get them without changing the Firmware (as you mentioned I can't anyways)? Yes, heard about Samsung Pay, but I don't use it much so that should be ok. But I wish we had an option for Dual SIMS here in Canada
Thanks again!
You will not be able to get Canadian OTA updates. You will have to download international firmware releases compatible with your device and flash them.
rajpotula said:
Hey guys,
I am currently on Samsung S10+ in Canada, which has a single SIM and unlocked. As I need a dual SIM now, I am planning to sell it off and get an international model with dual sim.
My question is: Do I need to change the new phone's firmware to Canada to get OTA official updates? Can it be changed?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will get updates normally but not same as the Canidian model. so if local s10 get update dosent me you will and same way other way. When ur model code has an update you will receive it ... so dont worry u can buy and you will get OTA normally ... or you can flash other FW on it but i dont know about snap and exn .. I always flash my Brazilian s10+ with eurpian verison and leave HOME CSC so SamsungPay still brazilian.