This is a tough call but all things considered, I should really flash back to complete stock. It's definitely the 1st time I've gone without root.
I need a reliable phone right now. There's some great people trying to make the most out of this with the Eng kernel, but ultimately I running into problems (sometimes it'll run great for over a week but then the issues become apparent. )
That said, I'm told Ufirmware has a problem with getting Doze to work properly. The result is poor battery life.
So my question is what would be the best fw to use?
My model is SM-G935U
CARRIER: AT&T in the USA
***first samsung phone for me and the most confusing part is all the different variants. Should I download xxa?
If you want the best experience on the network, I'd suggest SM-G935A. Sure, it has the carrier bloat, but I don't have an issue disabling the ones I don't use.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
1) The U firmware does not have a doze problem. It gets far better battery life than the A version.
2) This device does not work well with root. You *can* root, but most people seem to go back to stock at some point due to all the glitches and patches required.
3) The U firmware will work just fine on AT&T, but you will lose carrier specific features. Specifically, WiFi calling, VoLTE, etc. (You can get most of the others back by installing APKs)
4) The A firmware obviously will work fine on AT&T, but AT&T really gimped the bajeezus out of the S7 Edge Nougat ROM. I was getting unacceptable lag on bone stock A firmware.
5) You *can* disable packages on either using various Knox-based tools, but in some cases this can actually make things worse depending on how the package is used.
You just need to decide which is more important. Fast and battery efficient, but "bare bones"; or full featured, but a hot, laggy mess?
I was rooted using the samsung u firmware on the att model. I lost my phone a week ago and the insurance sent me a brand new one thankfully. I really didn't have any complaints when I was using the rooted s7 edge. But when I got this new one full att stock. It is quite clear to me now it is night and day difference. The rooted version right now is ok and usable but i will not be rooting my new s7 edge. This phone just flies with stock compared to eng root which just putts along.
jshamlet said:
1) The U firmware does not have a doze problem. It gets far better battery life than the A version.
2) This device does not work well with root. You *can* root, but most people seem to go back to stock at some point due to all the glitches and patches required.
3) The U firmware will work just fine on AT&T, but you will lose carrier specific features. Specifically, WiFi calling, VoLTE, etc. (You can get most of the others back by installing APKs)
4) The A firmware obviously will work fine on AT&T, but AT&T really gimped the bajeezus out of the S7 Edge Nougat ROM. I was getting unacceptable lag on bone stock A firmware.
5) You *can* disable packages on either using various Knox-based tools, but in some cases this can actually make things worse depending on how the package is used.
You just need to decide which is more important. Fast and battery efficient, but "bare bones"; or full featured, but a hot, laggy mess?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info!
Wish I'd waited just a bit longer. I wound up flashing xaa. Performance wise, it's good. Battery is also fine but I think right now WiFi Calling would be very useful. A family member just moved to an Island and the cell service is fair if it even works.
That's disappointing about 935A fw. Is it really laggy?
Also after flashing I couldnt write to my external sdcard. The system could but I lost those permissions and after much trial &error, I had to factory reset. Still not entirely sure why but it's been awhile since my phones had an sd slot. Think I recall removing it every time I flashed a new rom or even an update. Is that what you do?
Edit-it just occurred to me I downloaded the fw for my model G935U so I believe I am using the U firmware. I don't remember what xxa means. I think it applies to the region?
Related
So, I currently own an S6 on Verizon that I've left on whatever the most recent rootable firmware is. It has frustrated me to the point where I am about done with it.
I am looking into the S7 (or the edge, but we'll limit this discussion to the regular and assume that the discussions will translate to the edge), either the 930V or the 930U on Verizon. The cost is secondary to performance, features, and the ability to root the device and keep it rooted. Mainly I just need advice on the root front. I have skimmed the root threads enough to see that non-knox-tripping rooting is possible. I can deal with the lack of custom ROMs given the ability to install XPOSED and other general root stuff. However, I'd rather not end up with the same problem I've had on the Verizon S6, wherein I haven't been able to update past 5.02 in order to keep my root. What is the outlook for these devices in terms of root? Does it look like they will be able to take updates from Samsung or Verizon while maintaining root access (or reacquire root after updates)?
Secondly, given the desire to do whatever work is needed, is one or the other objectively better in terms of root ability, or in terms of features? I've read that some of the Verizon special network features aren't available on the U/V with U firmware, but that they might can be restored, however, this isn't a complete dealbreaker either way.
tl;dr: Given that staying on VZW is mandatory, and my concerns are: ability to root and also still take updates > performance and features > pretty much anything else, is either the 930U or the 930V the phone for me?
dustfinger314 said:
So, I currently own an S6 on Verizon that I've left on whatever the most recent rootable firmware is. It has frustrated me to the point where I am about done with it.
I am looking into the S7 (or the edge, but we'll limit this discussion to the regular and assume that the discussions will translate to the edge), either the 930V or the 930U on Verizon. The cost is secondary to performance, features, and the ability to root the device and keep it rooted. Mainly I just need advice on the root front. I have skimmed the root threads enough to see that non-knox-tripping rooting is possible. I can deal with the lack of custom ROMs given the ability to install XPOSED and other general root stuff. However, I'd rather not end up with the same problem I've had on the Verizon S6, wherein I haven't been able to update past 5.02 in order to keep my root. What is the outlook for these devices in terms of root? Does it look like they will be able to take updates from Samsung or Verizon while maintaining root access (or reacquire root after updates)?
Secondly, given the desire to do whatever work is needed, is one or the other objectively better in terms of root ability, or in terms of features? I've read that some of the Verizon special network features aren't available on the U/V with U firmware, but that they might can be restored, however, this isn't a complete dealbreaker either way.
tl;dr: Given that staying on VZW is mandatory, and my concerns are: ability to root and also still take updates > performance and features > pretty much anything else, is either the 930U or the 930V the phone for me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buy a nexus. If you want to ensure root for a long time a nexus is your best bet.
Sent from my SM-G930V using XDA-Developers mobile app
That's definitely a possibility, but if the risk of losing root is moderate to low, I'd be willing to take the risk for the power and features that you get from a flagship. I have really liked the features my galaxies have had (quality of hardware like screen, camera, fingerprint sensor; hardware/ capacitive keys; even some of Touchwiz, such as the quick toggle format), and am hesitant to go backwards in those terms.
I just got a upgrade from the S6 to the S7 and the s7 is a much better phone. Battery life is much improved among things.
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
wwonka69 said:
I just got a upgrade from the S6 to the S7 and the s7 is a much better phone. Battery life is much improved among things.
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlesd you really need to root, I would avoid it. The battery life is still suspect. Look at the U firmware if you are interested.
Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk
This may not be a good phone for your priorities (meaning any US S7): The s7 root relies on a bootloader exploit. We don't yet know if that exploit will carry over to/be renewed for Android 7. If not, then you may be stuck on Android 6 for S7 root. We don't yet know if future US builds will support the engineering boot-loader or the exploit as Samsung hasn't released a new US S7 carrier build since. We should expect all the new security features of the Note 7 to pass on to the S7.
dustfinger314 said:
So, I currently own an S6 on Verizon that I've left on whatever the most recent rootable firmware is. It has frustrated me to the point where I am about done with it.
I am looking into the S7 (or the edge, but we'll limit this discussion to the regular and assume that the discussions will translate to the edge), either the 930V or the 930U on Verizon. The cost is secondary to performance, features, and the ability to root the device and keep it rooted. Mainly I just need advice on the root front. I have skimmed the root threads enough to see that non-knox-tripping rooting is possible. I can deal with the lack of custom ROMs given the ability to install XPOSED and other general root stuff. However, I'd rather not end up with the same problem I've had on the Verizon S6, wherein I haven't been able to update past 5.02 in order to keep my root. What is the outlook for these devices in terms of root? Does it look like they will be able to take updates from Samsung or Verizon while maintaining root access (or reacquire root after updates)?
Secondly, given the desire to do whatever work is needed, is one or the other objectively better in terms of root ability, or in terms of features? I've read that some of the Verizon special network features aren't available on the U/V with U firmware, but that they might can be restored, however, this isn't a complete dealbreaker either way.
tl;dr: Given that staying on VZW is mandatory, and my concerns are: ability to root and also still take updates > performance and features > pretty much anything else, is either the 930U or the 930V the phone for me?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am in your boat. I have a rooted S6 running great on CleanROM/OE2 base. Phone has been rock solid for over a year - longest I've ever kept one phone and never been tempted to upgrade. It started to stutter and lag, so I did a data reset and its again running phenomenal with very few performance/battery tweaks.
I thought I'd pick up an S7, for the larger battery capacity more than anything, and also just thinking that a battery with a year less of use would be an improvement. So far I am not impressed with the S7. I followed all the guides (root, debloat, tuning) but have been getting pretty bad battery life.
I just reset back to stock last night and followed a different guide to de-bloat the phone on un-rooted firmware. We will see how it goes. If it doesn't work out great, I think I am selling the S7 and going back to the S6. I may experiment with the G930U firmware, but I appreciate HD calling.
I am going to try to do a somewhat comparative battery test using each phone for a day with similar use, and see what one performs better. Not sure the S7 will win, let alone justify a $150 price difference.
My CleanROM S6 is the best phone I have ever had so far. I was hoping the S7 would expand on that with better battery life.
Hello,
I'm considering picking up a used Verizon GS7 (or GS7 Edge) until the Pixel 2 comes out. I absolutely need root (I use WiFi Hotspot Tethering, Xposed, AdAway, Titanium Backup, and several other root-required apps heavily.)
I have not been keeping up with the Verizon Galaxy S7 / S7 Edge rooting threads recently, but I just looked through the OP in this thread --- rooting, flashing the optimizations / fixes, and flashing Xposed all look quite simple compared to some of the other phones I've experienced.
Questions:
1) Is the method in the thread linked (above) still the process to root and optimize the Verizon variant, or are there preferable ways that will get the phone working better?
2) How much does the performance and battery life to stock after rooting, flashing the fixes and Xposed? (Please try to be as objective as possible - I know owning a you naturally are inclined to oversell it, but I need to know how much my performance and battery life will suffer from rooting, etc, because I use my phone almost constantly.
3) Besides Samsung Pay / Android Pay, does rooting break or negatively affect anything material? (Bluetooth, wifi, radios, sms, mms, calling/dialer, camera, sensors, software functionality, fast charge, fingerprint reader, or anything else?)
I figured you guys are probably the most knowledgeable about this subject, so I wanted to ask as many questions as I could before picking up a used Verizon S7 / S7 Edge.
Thanks!
I just bought an S7 for my mom, but she needs tethering also, so I am still reading and trying to figure out if I made a mistake buying it. So I feel ya man. Like to know also.
Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
IMHO, performance and battery life on the S7 with root are abysmal. I've been rooting my phones since 09 and I can't believe I actually use stock, unrooted Android on my S7. Root is that bad. The fixes made it slightly better, but it was still awful.
Buy an unlocked version or pass on this phone. I can speak for others but the lag and quirks on this phone after root suck.
The hybrid rom unrooted provides tethering and a clean rom base without a lot of bloat. You are SOL if you're wanting to run xposed and such unless you try to take all the steps from the tips and tricks to make a rooted s7 usable.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s7/development/rom-t3576124
Picked up the $330 deal from Newegg Ebay. The phone is charged and unmodded / not updated. The software it came with is A2017UV1.0.0B27. There is an update pending but I've not applied it yet. I'm well versed with ADB and fastboot coming from a long line of Nexus phones that I always root...
There seems to be lots of ways forward from here but I'd like to see what people recommend. It appears that an unlocked bootloader will make it so future updates cannot be applied. I've always unlocked in the past but I hope to get wifi calling (T-Mobile) in future updates (from what I understand that's on the way but not out yet?). If a non-stock rom allows wifi calling I'd be game for that as I typically am not a fan of how companies bloat the standard android rom.
Main things I want:
TWRP
(seamless?) root (primarily for AdAway and TiBackup)
Band 12
Wifi calling
Remove any potential ZTE spyware
What do you think? Unlock the bootloader and forget future ZTE updates? Keep it locked?
Thanks!
OTA updates work just fine with an unlocked bootloader. They do not however work if the system or recovery has been modified.
I ran stock for a few weeks. Recently switched to resurrection remix. It adds a lot of additional configuration ability. Most of the settings that were/are available in gravity box. GB is no longer possible until xposed is redeveloped for 7.
I'd say unlock the bootloader first, then either try stock or one of the aosp roms. Been on RR for just two days now, first impressions include bettery battery life and faster UI interaction.
gpz1100 said:
OTA updates work just fine with an unlocked bootloader. They do not however work if the system or recovery has been modified.
I ran stock for a few weeks. Recently switched to resurrection remix. It adds a lot of additional configuration ability. Most of the settings that were/are available in gravity box. GB is no longer possible until xposed is redeveloped for 7.
I'd say unlock the bootloader first, then either try stock or one of the aosp roms. Been on RR for just two days now, first impressions include bettery battery life and faster UI interaction.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh... understood. Seamless is the way to go for future updates then. I'll unlock and take that route. Thanks much!
Lost Dog said:
Ahh... understood. Seamless is the way to go for future updates then. I'll unlock and take that route. Thanks much!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My personal experience with Lineage (never tried RR, but I guess it's close to lineage) is overall disappointment. Half of the apps I tried didn't work, especially some 3D games. The stock camera app is unbearably bad IMO, from comparisons I decided to make I hate the overall quality of the photos... ZTE's system is not even close to full of bloatware. The only added out of the box apps are WPS Office which comes in handy, AccuWeather which is kinda questionable, true; ZTE Cares which mostly tells you to reboot your phone if you have a problem (1.14 mb, never open), this WeShare thing that you can ignore completely, and the stock music, browser, etc and Gapps. Even the calculator and some kinda useful apps are all packed on one app, and you can add shortcuts... Can't really say I've seen less bloated phones in the market...
TWRP and root are completely fine on Stock
no idea about band 12
ZTE spyware... The only thing I heard about was the location provider on A2017G which is being changed on the next update. We had Qualcomm IZat (Korea) and we got changed to Tencent (China) so that's kind of a spyware. but you can uninstall that with root
and I understand people who say that the stock ROM is ugly. Just use a launcher.
the only real advantage that I can see is the possibility to use Substratum with a pitch black theme. I could get near to 2 days battery with that stuff.
^^How recently have you tried it?
I'll be out and about tomorrow so will get a chance to play with the camera to see how well it does in RR. I got both the google camera and aosp camera apps installed. We'll see how good/bad the pics come out. I don't expect dslr results out of a cell phone camera anyway so camera quality isn't at the top of the list for me.
Same with games. Can't remember the last one I played on a phone. Most of my use is email/web/navi/voip. Long battery life is at the top of my list. With typical usage, I could go 2 days between charges and still have ~40% remaining. If I get 3 days now with RR with similar usage/sot, I'll be happy camper. Not to mention, the phone is more responsive.
Stock isn't bad until you've tried something else, then you get a feel for how heavy the ui is.
Band 12 is supported on both tmo and att as far as i know. I know i've seen it a few times on att.
Does anyone have an alternative link to the files in this post:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/axon-7/development/wip-axon-7-root-bootloader-unlokced-t3441204
Dev-Host either throws out a ton of spam links or just stalls on the download.
Alright!
I'm on 7.1.1 with backed up stock bootloader and recovery. Rooted with a modified version of Magisk and passing the safetynet check.
So far, signal strength seems good and the addition of wifi calling is fantastic....
I don't have T-Mobile, but I believe the latest update, v. 7.1.1 B19 includes WiFi calling.
ETA: Oops. I guess that's what I get for getting distracted and posting a response an hour after I started it.
Hello everyone,
I just bought an unlocked G935A (AT&T) s7e this morning, to use on Tmo. Not a fan of the bloatware, so I tried rooting it. Didn't work out, and I ended up flashing back to ATTs firmware circa September 2016 (goo.gl/ZwXTwX) (Baseband version: G935AUCS4API2, Build number: MMB29M.G935AUCS4API2)
My question is, where should I go from here? Is there a benefit to trying to flash to the unlocked or tmo variant? Is it worth it to update to Nougat, I've heard mixed reviews about the camera and battery life. Is there a way to get this horrible bloatware off, without ending up in a bootloop like I was stuck in before... I don't think I want to root the phone anymore, considering the solutions have a unstable disclaimer (https://forum.xda-developers.com/att...g935a-t3410538). Overall phone stability, battery life, and camera consistency is super important to me, I'm going to be travelling all summer without access to a computer, and with limited electricity.
Also, I just gotta say I hate that Samsung doesn't host official firmware anywhere. I feel dirty having a random install on my phone now, and I didn't even get rid of the bloatware.
Anyway, thanks for the help!
Looking to root my S7 Edge that is running on Total Wireless. The phone was a VZW phone. How much trouble is it root and what is the best non bloated rom to run on it.
Thanks in advance.
1fb17 said:
Looking to root my S7 Edge that is running on Total Wireless. The phone was a VZW phone. How much trouble is it root and what is the best non bloated rom to run on it.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The rooting is not very difficult if you're comfortable with using Odin or have used another image flasher before. The thing that sucks about it is that the current root is somewhat of a work around and has a huge performance and battery life issues. That being said, there are many "fixes" for this floating around. I say this in quotes because there seems to be a lot of mixed reports on these fixes working. Some have gotten their phones to be better than stock, others have close to stock performance/battery life but are left off a tad worse, others have phones that are left essentially unusable because of how slow the phone is and have to go back to stock. The silver lining is that I haven't seen anyone mention issues of bricking.
So while the root itself is fairly easy, it could be considered hard/annoying if you factor in all the CPU behavior tweaking you will have to perform afterwards to get the device to be usable again. Unfortunately this is all tied to the kernel so as far as I'm aware no change in ROM will help with these issues other than a tad of relief from the slowness if you use a debloated and optimzied ROM. So they don't directly fix the issue is what I'm saying.
I actually just made a post inquiring as to why this is, but otherwise if you just look at the "Verizon Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Guides, News, & Discussion" section of the forums you will quickly get a good idea of the situation.
Can the Verizon S7 Edge with U firm be rooted successfully with the 8 in this build number?