Database Users

Factory Unlocked Note 3? Is it truly?

Im finding out that having an unlocked android phone is better than having a branded one that you are stuck with which is why I plan on getting a Factory unlocked Note 3, but, I have some issues that I cannot seem to figure out. To me, factory unlocked on a device means unlocked for use with any carrier AND no carrier branding on or in the device, which is exactly the kind of Note 3 im looking for, but having a hard time finding it. Dose anyone know what model note 3 is truly factory unlocked, no carrier branding??
1. SM-N9000 3G = International/Made for Travelers: This is the international model. This one has a dual quad core processor running at 1.9 GHz Cortex/1.3 GHz A7. The reason for the processor being change is because this phone is meant to work everywhere their is a GSM signal and kicks threw the different processors to maximize signal strength. The N9000 CAN NOT to 4G speeds of any kind. This is due to most country not having 4G signal and that a lot of county's run on different cell frequencies. By removing the 4G radios this phone can pick up way more cell frequencies then the other models. This phone is not made for people looking for Data speed this is made for travelers whom want a reliable way to have cell service no matter where they are. Don't despair about the data or processing speed this phone still has Wi-Fi connection available and can breeze though 3D games; you shouldn't even notice a speed difference when doing tasks.
2. SM-N9005 4G LTE = European Model/International: This model contains the regular 2.3 GHz Snapdragon Processor. This phone unless unlocked is Region locked to only European SIM cards, after unlocked their is no region lock. Although this phone is an LTE phone it can only get LTE frequencies while in Europe. When you take this phone out of Europe it will get international signals but will not get LTE, when this phone is in the USA is will get H+ (Reference above) signal maximum.
3. SM-N9002 3G = China Model/Select Counties: This model is not LTE or 4G compatible. This was the First generation of the Note 3 released and is considered the Beta. With all the same hardware as the LTE version this phone will still preform flawless tasks.
4. SM-N900W8 4G LTE = China Model/Select Counties: This model will only get LTE in select counties and I advise you check with your service provider to see what signal you will be getting. This model is completely subjective as to what frequencies of LTE you will be about to get. Example: Imagine you are in Europe and you are in a city and get LTE. Then you move to another city and you lose LTE this is because the first city runs on an LTE frequency the the phone can get but the second city although may offer LTE to most cell phone; does not offer LTE on a frequency this phone can't run on.
5. SM-N900A 4G LTE = USA AT&T/Worldwide: This phone is International but you need to consult AT&T to see if you city or county can get LTE service or not. This phone once unlocked will work on Straight Talk, Solavei, T-Mobile, and any other GSM based network. Note: When using T-Moble, Solavei, or other services that piggy-back on the T-Mobile towers you can get LTE service but depending on your area you may not get 3G. If you live in a 3G area consult your carrier to see is the frequencies for 3G match up with this phone. (This review for the AT&T model can change at anytime due to AT&T's bootloader)
6. SM-N900T 4G LTE = USA T-Mobile: This phone when unlocked can get all USA frequencies. Example: You will have no problems using a AT&T SIM card with this phone and even get 4G LTE threw any service whom provides is. The N900T model is the most versatile model out of them all and if you plan on getting one I recommend going to a T-Mobile store and purchasing this model outright. Unlocking this phone is easily done threw calling T-Mobile and even using YouTube for an unlocking video.

micxploed said:
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6. SM-N900T 4G LTE = USA T-Mobile: This phone when unlocked can get all USA frequencies ...
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Just to clarify - N900T can NOT get LTE from Sprint or Verizon.
micxploed said:
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SM-N900W8 4G LTE = China Model/Select Counties
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W8 is mostly used by some major Canadian companies and Telcel in Mexico.

First of all there are more models: Sprint and Verizon come to mind just for US market. Second of all, as far as I know all US models are carrier locked, some are easier to unlock than others but still. Third of all, my t-mobile phone had 18 entries under region lock, so I think it had been region locked at least in some places, easy to fix with region unlock, never the less not really factory unlocked. Only few markets get phones without region lock (China is one of them), but the biggest issue IMO is frequencies. It doesn't matter if your phone is locked or not, if you don't match all frequencies for all the places you'll be using it, it will fail sometimes and since no model has all frequencies, you have to go case by case, there is no best phone for all. For example above mentioned t-mo will not work on Verizon or Sprint at all, where Verizon and Sprint phones will work, at least on some T-mo towers.

Best version for AT&T?
Would then the "best" (allow custom ROMS) version for AT&T be SM-N900A ?
I've decided to jump fully over to Android and would like to get a Note 3.
Really trying not to ask a question that has already been asked, however, I'm having a hard time figuring out which version to purchase.
Thanks!

[Q] SM-N900 on Wind Mobile (Canada)

I'm a bit confused with all the different bands and the regional lock, sim card locks, model numbers, etc.
I got this phone while away in Thailand and was hoping to use it back in Canada. The only companies with decent plans here seem to require the 1700 band which isn't listed as a supported one on the N900 by default, but I see that other models can be made to work on it even though they don't list it either.
Is there any way to use the SM-N900 (International Exynos version) on Wind Mobile?
If not, what other options are there in Canada for ~$40 with usable data allowances?

[Q] Galaxy S5 Canadian variants?

Hi Fellow Canadians,
Since there is a Canadian thread on M8 and G3
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2694297
http://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g3/general/canada-lg-g3-canadian-users-t2810696
but no S5
so, I'm opening this thread asking for help...
this is what i found:
Canadian Rogers Galaxy S5 SM-G900W8
Canadian Bell Galaxy S5 SM-G900W8
Canadian Telus Galaxy S5 SM-G900W8
but what model is Wind/Videotron/Mobilicity selling? is it the same one the big 3 are selling, OR just the kind with no LTE?
so far i'v heard unlocked big 3 s5 work on wind, but what about the other way around?
thanks

And the advantage or purpose of your thread is.. ?
Canadian carriers use the 900W8 variant as do some other regions e.g. Claro in Puerto Rico. The usual Oligarchistic suspects.. Bell, Telus, Rogers and their second tier brands e.g. Koodoo, Chatr, Fido, Virgin, et al are all W8 models. As are regional carriers such as SaskTel and Eastlink. The respective firmware versions for all of these Canadian carriers are mostly branding and interchangeable with respect to frequency band usage.
Wind models are also tagged W8, it's only the firmware that differentiates them. So the pretense of a unique model number as was done for the S3, etc has been dropped and it's just artificial firmware restrictions i.e. enabling the 1700 AWS band that distinguish the Wind variant.
Interestingly, TMobile also uses the 1700 band in their network, so the 900T will work on all Canadian carriers from Bell through Wind.
.

If you had looked , i mean REALLY looked , you would have found this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2777799

S7 Edge in Hong Kong Snapdragon or Exynos

Hi,
It seems i have to buy the phone in Hong Kong to use the TDD LTE network from China mobile.
Does anybody know, what version of the S7 edge is sold in Hong Kong, is it Snapdragon or Exynos?
How can i check the difference before i buy the phone? Do They have different version numbers marked on the packaging?
Thanks!

Does anybody know, what version of the S7 edge is sold in Hong Kong, is it Snapdragon or Exynos? Snapdragon 820 (G9350)
How can i check the difference before i buy the phone? Just check the packaging
Do They have different version numbers marked on the packaging? Just G9350

Last year when I was still living in HK (and traveling between the US & Bangkok) I had the option to get the S6 Edge in any of the 3 locations. I chose the G9250 version simply for the wider LTE band coverage. It was a mistake. True that I could use it anywhere I traveled to, I failed to realize that in each place, with a local SIM, you'll have to be subscribed/registered (or whatever you call it) to LTE, otherwise you'll be connected to at most HSPA+ - rendering all those LTE bands a moot point. What I was deprived of, as a result, was the lack of development support. I was so itching to root the phone and ticker the hell out of it but decided just to leave it as stock - even until now.
1 year latter, along came the S7 and the exact same choice. This time it was easy and there was absolutely no doubt, I went with the international Exynos version - 935FD (silver) and never looked back. And yes, I rooted, TWRPed, Xposed, but still on stock ROM. I am having fun with my phone again
Do yourself a big favor and pass on the HK/Chinese 820 SD version - especially if you want root and beyond.

kittiyut said:
Do yourself a big favor and pass on the HK/Chinese 820 SD version - especially if you want root and beyond.
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Yea, that why i asked the question, i will only buy the phone if i am able to root it.
My main problem is that i mostly stay in China and China mobile has TDD LTE, i don't know if the international version of the S7 edge can use LTE.
Does anyone know if the international version works with china mobile?

I don't think even the SD820 935F version can be rooted yet, you'll probably have to wait even longer for the 9350.
So now you have a dilemma: Get the rootable 935F/FD and not be compatible with China Mobile's LTE TDD bands 38, 39, 40, 41 - OR - Get the 9350 and not being able to root.
Remember that you can easily switch to "China Telecom or China Unicom" both of which uses LTE bands 1,3,5 and 3 respectively.
You can also still get 2G/2.5G on China Mobile with the 935F/FD

kittiyut said:
I don't think even the SD820 935F version can be rooted yet, you'll probably have to wait even longer for the 9350.
So now you have a dilemma: Get the rootable 935F/FD and not be compatible with China Mobile's LTE TDD bands 38, 39, 40, 41 - OR - Get the 9350 and not being able to root.
Remember that you can easily switch to "China Telecom or China Unicom" both of which uses LTE bands 1,3,5 and 3 respectively.
You can also still get 2G/2.5G on China Mobile with the 935F/FD
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Hello,
I know this is a year old but I just came across this whilst researching for the S8. Just to add, I have the 935F from the UK and it works fine on 4G on China Mobile, not restricted to 2G/2.5G at all.

Different variants of LG G6

I am on ATT network. I know TMobile phones work on ATT network. But what about Verizon,Sprint and US Cellular models? Do they work on ATT if they are sim unlocked?

it depends on phone to phone and what bands each model comes with. usually verizon/sprint models are different from AT&T and all the classic GSM carriers but nowadays some carrier has some special band while the other has control of some other band etc so you gotta do a little research when you check out a particular model to see if it'll work for your needs