Database Users

Unlocked Galaxy Note - yes or no?

I am considering buying a Galaxy Note but I have a dilemma so I hope you will be able to help me out with it.
If I decide to buy it I will probably have to buy it through a mobile carrier meaning that I will have to unlock it to run it on a different network. I have someone to do it for me so I don't know what kind of software they will use.
Since I am new to Android, I would like to keep away from the rooting as long as possible so I am talking about stock software here.
Therefore, I would like to ask this:
1) Have any of you unlocked their Galaxy Notes? Are there any side-effects or it feels totally SIM-free?
2) Am I going to be cut-off from the official software updates (ICS and so on?) or it will be totally like a SIM-free experience?
3) Are all the splash screens, apps and other carrier-related stuff gone after the unlock?
Thank you in advance!

This doesn't answer your questions, but why would you buy a carrier phone and use it on another network? Why not buy unlocked?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

If you plan to get the ATT one, I dont think it will get 3G/+ on Tmo. The intenational one I have definitely does not have that band. Unless there is another unlocked version that has those bands. And my international version does not have LTE as well.
And why would you sign a contract with ATT and want to use it on another n/w? Doesnt make any sense whatsoever.
Eborg said:
I am considering buying a Galaxy Note but I have a dilemma so I hope you will be able to help me out with it.
If I decide to buy it I will probably have to buy it through a mobile carrier meaning that I will have to unlock it to run it on a different network. I have someone to do it for me so I don't know what kind of software they will use.
Since I am new to Android, I would like to keep away from the rooting as long as possible so I am talking about stock software here.
Therefore, I would like to ask this:
1) Have any of you unlocked their Galaxy Notes? Are there any side-effects or it feels totally SIM-free?
2) Am I going to be cut-off from the official software updates (ICS and so on?) or it will be totally like a SIM-free experience?
3) Are all the splash screens, apps and other carrier-related stuff gone after the unlock?
Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I live in Europe so I am talking about an international version.
Technically I wouldn't be buying it directly from a carrier, I just wanted to keep the discussion simple. I would buy it from a store but they get it abroad, unlock them and sell them legally. It's the only way I can get it where I live.
Ordering from Expansys or similar sites would mean that I would have to pay import customs which would probably amount to 200-300$ or more.

Where are you from? There are more retailers than expansys
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

I live in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Since it is not yet a member of the EU, you have to pay customs fees for this kind of stuff.
I will be going to the UK in a few weeks and thought about buying it there but that would mean that I wouldn't have any warranty. Most sites do not offer warranty outside the UK or EU. Also, even if I found one seller that offers worldwide warranty, I would still have costs shipping the phone to the UK or wherever and back (still EU issues) if needed.
Buying the phone locally should give me a 2-year warranty so that's why I am thinking about that option.

if you get it sim free fromthe uk then you woudl be paying more than you woudl in say germany - sim free in the uk are about £500+
sim free means it isnt locked to a carrioer that doesnt stop anything regarding updates to ics, you wil lstil lget them just might be at alater date than other countries
unlocking is not the same as debranding which would remove the software and logos etc
mine is sim free whcih i bought on a 2 year contract and it is no different to any other note locked on the networks

Eborg said:
I am considering buying a Galaxy Note but I have a dilemma so I hope you will be able to help me out with it.
If I decide to buy it I will probably have to buy it through a mobile carrier meaning that I will have to unlock it to run it on a different network.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
buying it through a carrier does not mean that the phone is locked to that carrier anyway. have you asked your carrier or the store you want to buy from if they sell the Note locked?. my Note is bought from German Telekom/T-Mobile and has no sim or netlock. i just tested the Note with simcards from other German and foreign carrier and they all work flawlessly. so maybe you can purchase a Note at your side that is also sim/netlocked free.

All Galaxy Notes available locally were on foreign carriers. The guy at the store could only confirm that it works will all SIM cards, not that the particular phone had to be unlocked or not, but it was definitely on a foreign carrier when they got it.
I am not sure if the phones are debranded or not. Is that something that I can do on my own without rooting the phone?
So, you guys can officially confirm that unlocked (and optionally debranded) Galaxy Note will act as if they were SIM-free in regards to official updates, apps and so on? No worries there?
As for getting it abroad, it wouldn't be the best solution since I would have to send it to the UK, Germany, Italy or wherever if something is wrong paying 100-200$ of customs fees every time if something goes wrong.

I'd just like to confirm that it is possible to update the firmware automatically with an unlocked Note. Cheers!

Richy99 said:
sim free means it isnt locked to a carrioer that doesnt stop anything regarding updates to ics, you wil lstil lget them just might be at alater date than other countries
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quite.
Also to keep in mind : in the EU, the carrier must agree to unlock phones after at the most 6 months.
And regarding ICS upgrades for the Note, they're apparently fairly messy at the moment. Locally (France) my carrier and the local Samsung branch are apparently more or less pointing at one another for a botched upgrade (at the end of June, note that it was announced as "we're fixing a few things, should be any day now" in March) where they apparently managed to brick a number of user phones. Samsung tends to communicate fairly poorly on the issue.
Other than the updated stylus apps, I'm not really sure the upgrade is worth it. And I discovered the whole "Kies" crud when I got this phone which really annoyed me since I don't normally run Windows (or Mac OS) and some operators apparently like to push their stuff only through that channel.
---------- Post added at 01:16 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:08 PM ----------
Eborg said:
I'd just like to confirm that it is possible to update the firmware automatically with an unlocked Note. Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no reason why you couldn't. Possibly you'd get the Samsung update instead of the one from the original carrier (not guaranteed). But unlocking phones is fairly standard procedure.

Actually I got an update from the previous carrier from which it was unlocked from judging by the bloatware installed with the update.

Samsung’s region lock causing problems, might extend to Galaxy S3 and Note II after A

It seems like the regional SIM lock Samsung has put on the Galaxy Note 3 in Europe and the U.S. is an issue that isn’t going away any time soon. After initial outrage from users, Samsung recently issued a statement that the SIM lock only comes into effect if you turn on the device for the first time with a foreign SIM card, and that the handset can be used anywhere in the world after it has been activated with a local SIM card.
However, that doesn’t seem to be the case for many users out there, and a Samsung official has reportedly confirmed to an XDA user that the Note 3 cannot be used with SIM cards from a region that it wasn’t bought in. The company rep, after being asked several times, said that the region lock means that you simply cannot use a European Note 3 with a SIM card from the USA, even if the device has been turned on with a local SIM for the first time.
Basically, the region lock cannot be bypassed and is final, with many users over at the XDA forums complaining of incidents such as a Note 3 bought in Germany not working with a SIM from Thailand. Moreover, what’s worrying is that the aforementioned company rep said that the region lock will be extended to current devices like the S3 and Note II with the Android 4.4 KitKat update, meaning international roaming would become impossible unless you continue to use a SIM from the home country of the device.
Now, usually we’d rejoice at hearing that the rep could have unintentionally confirmed that an Android 4.4 update is coming, but the gravity of the region lock situation is a serious one. The region locking is being done to supposedly curtail grey imports, but really, how many grey importers import devices that have been in use for more than a year or so? It’s clear that despite Samsung’s attempts to clear the air and try to talk down the commotion over its rather stupid region locking stunt, the problem isn’t going away and could cause major backlash in the coming weeks.
But hey, maybe that backlash will cause them to backtrack on their plans to region lock old devices, and perhaps remove the limitation from the Note 3 through a software update as well. Fingers crossed that the Korean manufacturer does what’s in the best interest of consumers, instead of troubling them just to stop a few grey importers from making a quick buck.
It's fully copy paste from Sammobile
Just wanna let it know :good:

If Samsung definitely keeps to that route and it happens xda members can't unlock it, I'll get a nexus as my next phone.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Here I come Sony, I really regret getting a Galaxy S3, lack of Exynos drivers ruined AOSP and Touchwiz ruins Samsung stock. I personally like the look of Xperia's UI.
I will never buy a Samsung again if future devices have a region lock, I travel over seas a lot and this is a deal breaker for me. By November my phone will be on eBay.

so thats what it was.
i went to pakistan recently with my uk i9300 which i bought sim free.
he sim there wouldnt work so i went to a shop there and the guy rooted it for it to work.
he said something like country lock.
have they removed this in the s4 or the latest 4.1.2 s3 update?

gunner786 said:
so thats what it was.
i went to pakistan recently with my uk i9300 which i bought sim free.
he sim there wouldnt work so i went to a shop there and the guy rooted it for it to work.
he said something like country lock.
have they removed this in the s4 or the latest 4.1.2 s3 update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
don't know what you're talking about dude... it hasn't been implemented yet

gunner786 said:
so thats what it was.
i went to pakistan recently with my uk i9300 which i bought sim free.
he sim there wouldnt work so i went to a shop there and the guy rooted it for it to work.
he said something like country lock.
have they removed this in the s4 or the latest 4.1.2 s3 update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not implemented for S3 yet. Might have been some other issue.
As for S4, I'm not sure.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

Oomahey said:
Not implemented for S3 yet. Might have been some other issue.
As for S4, I'm not sure.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought i9300 S3 on 16 sept 2013 in switzerland, and its REGION LOCKED similar like note 3
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2450728
it comes with jb 4.1.2 mg4 from the factory...
i bought this phone for my girlfriend in indonesia as a gift, but until this moment, it cannot be use....F*CK SAMSH*T, never ever samsung anymore.

But if I buy one in Germany, I can still use it in Belgium? It is Europe right?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

dajumper said:
But if I buy one in Germany, I can still use it in Belgium? It is Europe right?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its not about the roaming, but about the sim card, actually yes, if you bought the phone from german, you can use belgian sim card without any problem, i also tried my switzerland s3 with italian sim card, it works very well.....

SGS3 - Bought in march 2013, region locked by update?
Oomahey said:
Not implemented for S3 yet. Might have been some other issue.
As for S4, I'm not sure.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not entirely sure whether or not you are right about this
When I checked my own S3 I was somewhat perplexed that a phone I bought in march 2013 has a 38 country long list of NetworkLock-entries in it's customer.xml-file. The extracted information, incl. device information, can be found in the attached PDF.
It appears that the official Samsung ROM is being shipped with region locks. Even to those who bought their phone before (!) Samsung implemented this infuriating "feature".

tqgia2 said:
don't know what you're talking about dude... it hasn't been implemented yet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh hasnt it.
weird. cant be coincidence that what happened to me is very similar to this.

r_ween said:
I bought i9300 S3 on 16 sept 2013 in switzerland, and its REGION LOCKED similar like note 3
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2450728
it comes with jb 4.1.2 mg4 from the factory...
i bought this phone for my girlfriend in indonesia as a gift, but until this moment, it cannot be use....F*CK SAMSH*T, never ever samsung anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UPDATE.....my gf bring that phone to samsung authorized service center in jakarta, Indonesia.......and they reject that phone, they say it can be unlocked only by samsung authorized service center in switzerland.....
im really angry with samsung...really....

At the moment only the Note 3 is confirmed to have this region lock, the S3 is a much older model and may or may not gain this 'feature', as far as the S3 is concerned this is currently speculation.
Even if it turns out true that Samsung will retroactively region lock existing handsets, without a major backlash in mainstream (i.e. not just XDA and tech websites) media Samsung are likely to get away with it. What concerns me is if other handset makers follow suit, and based on who I perceive to have the most to gain from such a move, I'd say mobile networks are behind this.
The only thing I certainly take away from this issue/question is to not buy another Samsung handset when I move on from my S3, as it appears that they are definitely taking the region locking route going forward.

kenyw said:
At the moment only the Note 3 is confirmed to have this region lock, the S3 is a much older model and may or may not gain this 'feature', as far as the S3 is concerned this is currently speculation.
Even if it turns out true that Samsung will retroactively region lock existing handsets, without a major backlash in mainstream (i.e. not just XDA and tech websites) media Samsung are likely to get away with it. What concerns me is if other handset makers follow suit, and based on who I perceive to have the most to gain from such a move, I'd say mobile networks are behind this.
The only thing I certainly take away from this issue/question is to not buy another Samsung handset when I move on from my S3, as it appears that they are definitely taking the region locking route going forward.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
please read this:
http://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-note-3-region-lock-statement-277346/
its happen for note3, note2, s3, s4, s4mini that produced since end of july 2013
including on my s3 i9300 phone that bought on 16 sept 2013 in switzerland

r_ween said:
UPDATE.....my gf bring that phone to samsung authorized service center in jakarta, Indonesia.......and they reject that phone, they say it can be unlocked only by samsung authorized service center in switzerland.....
im really angry with samsung...really....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung warranty is not transferable between all countries anyway .

Clove have received new stocks of region locked S4/S4 mini so it would not surprise me if it happens to newer S3/Note 2 too.

check this out http://omegadroid.co/chainfire-intro...egionlock-app/

Your link is broken, here is the thread from Chainfire: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2470551
It seems the region lock is only in the software and not very deeply hidden (so it might be possible to remove it without root in the future).
And for the people here using custom roms, this won't be an issue anyways.

TheCraig said:
Here I come Sony, I really regret getting a Galaxy S3, lack of Exynos drivers ruined AOSP and Touchwiz ruins Samsung stock. I personally like the look of Xperia's UI.
I will never buy a Samsung again if future devices have a region lock, I travel over seas a lot and this is a deal breaker for me. By November my phone will be on eBay.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same.... Unless Nexus 5
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app

r_ween said:
please read this:
http://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-note-3-region-lock-statement-277346/
its happen for note3, note2, s3, s4, s4mini that produced since end of july 2013
including on my s3 i9300 phone that bought on 16 sept 2013 in switzerland
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got mixed up, when I wrote that I was thinking about how Samsung might put the region lock on Galaxy S3 units sold before this whole region lock came about. You're right about newly sold phones carrying the region lock already.

What can EU/UK users do to get the same level of service as USA?

This Bootloader Unlock announcement just for USA users has annoyed me to the maximum now.
Why are the USA users getting a premium service compared to EU/UK users when we are paying £360/€450 for the phone?
All problems:
> No Stock ROM/Theme
> USA have up to date ROM (B02 Released for Europe)
> Buggy OS on EU version (B02 Released for Europe)
> Passport 2.0 for US (Confirmed 3 year warranty)
> Screen Protector for US
> Regular Software Updates for US (B02 Released for Europe)
> Great support forums for USA
> BOOTLOADER UNLOCK only for USA
There are a few more to add to the list im sure, but i cannot remember them at time of posting.
Anyone have suggestions to what us EU/UK users can do to get the same level of service/support as the USA
I am hearing minimal from ZTE about anything and have to result to the USA forums but they are not much help there.
Post suggestions below
After a lot of effort and messaging to EKEYUK we have had some success!
Update 16/08/16
A2017G B02 Update Released!
http://www.ztedevice.com/support/detail?Id={E68B5101-20E9-4955-A8D6-FFF274776F46}
Discussion topic:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/axon-7/how-to/a2017g-b02-update-released-europe-t3440619
Update 11/08/16 - Warranty email from EKEYUK
Thanks for your purhcase and thanks for taking your precious time to read about this email.
We are a reliable seller and as we are the first officail oline store EKEYUK STORE to sell ZTE AXON 7 -gold color phone on Amazon, we do all care about the Warranty Period as much as you guys do.\(^o^)/
And we have double confirmed with our ZTE supplier for this , and here is what they promised every customer who purchased the ZTE AXON 7 from EKEYKUK STORE ,
---Please be noted -----
ZTE provides VIP service for Axon7 customers in UK/Germany/Spain/France/Italy/Russia. you can benefit from the Axon VIP service as follow:
1.ZTE provide an additional one-year warranty for your product after the expiration of the standard warranty； Europe countries increased from 2 years to 3 years, Russia from 1 year to two years.
2.ZTE provide one free screen replacement for the accidental screen damage within 6 months from the date of the first purchase；
3.ZTE provide one free liquid damage repair within the manufacturer warranty period；
If necessary,please send mail to: [e-mail address removed] to know the details.
4. Web services and after-sales
The country official website hotline
Spain http://zte.es/
Germany www.ztemobile.de 03722/69665491
France www.ztefrance.com
United Kingdom www.zteuk.co.uk +44 2034508722
Russia www.zte.ru
The hotline service time: local time From Monday to Friday 9 AM to 5:00 PM
The ZTE local website has support module, customers can be found in the above the corresponding service support, including local after-sales maintenance station, if you have any questions, you can directly send an email to [e-mail address removed].
And we also updated the Warranty period message on our product page, as you could glacen through :　https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01HGBVGPS
Product Description
As ZTE's latest flagship model-AXON 7, it feels good in the hand thanks to a slightly curved back. For 359GBP you get a premium metal design, a top-of-the-line processor, a Quad HD display. There is no other phone on the market that brings together this array of features at this price.
Cutomers who bought Axon 7 from our store also enjoy following VIP treatments:
1. Local after-sales service
2. Additional one year warranty, the smartphone get 3 years warranty
3. A free repair service for screen within 6 month for one time
4. A free repair service for problem which caused by water for one time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Don't expect anything at the moment from ZTE in Europe.
Don't get me wrong, i like the device (preordered, will see how it goes) and i'm happy to see ZTE working with the customers in North America (to a certain extent) but ZTE just isn't implemented in Europe. They sell a dozen of differents devices and that's it.
To change things, i would say contact ZTE via official forms but they aren't responding...

djona12 said:
Don't expect anything at the moment from ZTE in Europe.
Don't get me wrong, i like the device (preordered, will see how it goes) and i'm happy to see ZTE working with the customers in North America (to a certain extent) but ZTE just isn't implemented in Europe. They sell a dozen of differents devices and that's it.
To change things, i would say contact ZTE via official forms but they aren't responding...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dont get me wrong either, i love the device but the support is just terrible.
The bootloader unlock isnt a big deal to me now, im sure someone later on will release an easy way to unlock and install custom roms.
The main issue is that ZTE are giving USA users such a premium service and a better OS which is way less buggy.
They promise Nougat when it comes out but will us in EU ever see that, we havent even got one OS update yet.

Don't buy it - this is the only way to say "change something".
I really like the Axon 7, it's almost perfect, just few more mAh but I will not pay more than the US (450€ = +500$ / OnePlus is 399€ and US 399$) and get less (no case, no screen protector, no updates, no support, no passport...)
Maybe I will order one by Amazon, open it and send it back. Really start hate ZTE.

Klanac89 said:
Don't buy it - this is the only way to say "change something".
I really like the Axon 7, it's almost perfect, just few more mAh but I will not pay more than the US (450€ = +500$ / OnePlus is 399€ and US 399$) and get less (no case, no screen protector, no updates, no support, no passport...)
Maybe I will order one by Amazon, open it and send it back. Really start hate ZTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be fair, there is a case, and we are getting passport 2.0 now after the weeks of complaints to ZTE.

Forbid ext4 devices, the ext4 is not recommended by the Grand RedHat Linux.
This is why buggy os on mobiles,
The ext4 is not recommendable in pc, and worst more for sdc emmc disks
Sent from my XT687 using xda premium

I knew we shouldn't have stalled on that reactor deal...

3mel said:
I knew we shouldn't have stalled on that reactor deal...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lmao

Klanac89 said:
Don't buy it - this is the only way to say "change something".
I really like the Axon 7, it's almost perfect, just few more mAh but I will not pay more than the US (450€ = +500$ / OnePlus is 399€ and US 399$) and get less (no case, no screen protector, no updates, no support, no passport...)
Maybe I will order one by Amazon, open it and send it back. Really start hate ZTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be fair, you don't pay more for the Axon 7 than the US (well, 13$ more but that's negligeable). You have take taxes into account, inluded in Europe, excluded in the US.
Not buying isn't gonna change things since they obviously don't really care for the European market at the moment. But i have to admit it's just too much hastle to go and rant about Europe to ZTE on every communication channel they have...

rikin93 said:
To be fair, there is a case, and we are getting passport 2.0 now after the weeks of complaints to ZTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually i just saw that the give one more year plus, so its 3 years in total.. that makes me feel a bit better because i am also a bit upset for not have the same privileges as the US version
Thats from amazon.co.uk
"Customers who bought Axon 7 from our store also enjoy following VIP treatments:
1. Local after-sales service
2. Additional one year warranty, the smartphone get 3 years warranty
3. A free repair service for screen within 6 month for one time
4. A free repair service for problem which caused by water for one time "

rikin93 said:
To be fair, there is a case, and we are getting passport 2.0 now after the weeks of complaints to ZTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ZTE Germany (Facebook) sad "no case and no screen protector" they even don't know, what passport means.
djona12 said:
To be fair, you don't pay more for the Axon 7 than the US (well, 13$ more but that's negligeable). You have take taxes into account, inluded in Europe, excluded in the US.
Not buying isn't gonna change things since they obviously don't really care for the European market at the moment. But i have to admit it's just too much hastle to go and rant about Europe to ZTE on every communication channel they have...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not buying is the only way. It's all about the €$¥! Check the last thing with bootloader. Canncel pre-orders and few days later "ok, bootloader unlock next week". Samsung remove sd card slot and after so much hate it's back. They only care about money, like any other company.
U pay 399$, what is about 350€. Look how simple this is: 3,5€ are 1%, 10% are 35€, 20% are 70€... so you need to pay about 30% taxes to get the EU price. We even don't got a forum. The ZTE Axon 7 is not on the homepage of ZTE
http://www.ztemobile.de/

Klanac89 said:
ZTE Germany (Facebook) sad "no case and no screen protector" they even don't know, what passport means.
Not buying is the only way. It's all about the €$¥! Check the last thing with bootloader. Canncel pre-orders and few days later "ok, bootloader unlock next week". Samsung remove sd card slot and after so much hate it's back. They only care about money, like any other company.
U pay 399$, what is about 350€. Look how simple this is: 3,5€ are 1%, 10% are 35€, 20% are 70€... so you need to pay about 30% taxes to get the EU price. We even don't got a forum. The ZTE Axon 7 is not on the homepage of ZTE
http://www.ztemobile.de/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ZTE Europe reps are just idiots... Just look at the release date announced at ZTE UK twitter (announced end 2016 while it was 27 july). I wouldn't take their word for it.
I agree, it sure is all about the money. But since they didn't invest any king of "big" money for the european market, they won't ccare about relatively bad sales, that's the irony of it...
On the other end, for the prices, you are not entirely wrong but it's more like 25.7% taxes to get to the same price point. Since average VAT is 21.5%, we aren't too far from those 25.7% (give or take 15€ more for the European price).

I really don't care about the price, when the service is good but this is just unfair. They pi** on EU and take more for less service. This is what makes pain to order Axon 7.
After flop release maybe no updates and with looked bootloader you just get f...d by ZTE. The last flagship they sell for 211€ after few months.

klanac8901 said:
I really don't care about the price, when the service is good but this is just unfair. They pi** on EU and take more for less service. This is what makes pain to order Axon 7.
After flop release maybe no updates and with looked bootloader you just get f...d by ZTE. The last flagship they sell for 211€ after few months.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Everything you say is true. How can they release the phone for US and UK markets at the same time, yet give US users a more premium quality operating system than EU!!! like wtf haha Shouldnt it be the same rolled out for all and wouldnt it make it easier for them too

Does the US version not work in the UK ?

US users get shafted plenty. Most of our devices are riddled with carrier bloat that cripples resources. We also almost never get headphones that are included in other models.
Often we have to resort to International models which don't always have all the required bands.

Using the Axon 7 reminds me of a Samsung phone from three or four years ago. I don't mean the UI—MiFavor 4.0 doesn't look bad. It's just overloaded with buggy features that probably don't need to exist. It feels cluttered. At the same time, features that I do want like lock screen notifications and Do Not Disturb mode are made less accessible.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2016/08/10/zte-axon-7-review/
So, this is the reason why we need open bootloader. The Axon 7 is a beast but no updates, bugs and bloatware.

rikin93 said:
This Bootloader Unlock announcement just for USA users has annoyed me to the maximum now.
Why are the USA users getting a premium service compared to EU/UK users when we are paying £360/€450 for the phone?
All problems:
> No Stock ROM/Theme
> USA have up to date ROM
> Buggy OS on EU version
> Passport 2.0 for US (Rumours this is available for EU now)
> Screen Protector for US
> Regular Software Updates for US
> Great support forums for USA
> BOOTLOADER UNLOCK only for USA
There are a few more to add to the list im sure, but i cannot remember them at time of posting.
Anyone have suggestions to what us EU/UK users can do to get the same level of service/support as the USA
I am hearing minimal from ZTE about anything and have to result to the USA forums but they are not much help there.
Post suggestions below
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try sucking eggs, none of these phones, ZTE, Asus, oneplus even get released in Aussie, I have to buy U.S. version through post forwarding service an God knows what will happen if I need warranty claim. Call them global devices but it's a limited world view blinkered by market size, share and $ values... Ahh but I'm still smiling
Sent from my A0001 using Tapatalk

Klanac89 said:
The ZTE Axon 7 is not on the homepage of ZTE
http://www.ztemobile.de/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually it is on their homepage: www.ztemobile.de/product/axon-7 , but yeah, cripppled features, no forums, no responses and delayed release.. it is a desaster

I've just received an official public email from EKEYUK stating that axon 7 users in Europe will receive 3year warranty this includes UK.
Sent from my ONE A2003 using XDA-Developers mobile app

Unlocking T-Mobile locked phones, bought directly from Samsung

Hello,
I recently saw the (samsung.com) Buy One Get One (/us/mobile/phones/t-mobile-free-galaxy-s8-promotion) deal on the Samsung S8. I am really interested. The deal applies on buying the T-Mobile variants directly from samsung.com. (Not through T-Mobile)
However, I am from India, and am currently travelling to the US. I would like to buy both the phones and get them unlocked later so that I can use them back in India. I do not mind buying/activating a new T-Mobile line on one of the phones as long as I can SIM unlock the phone later for use with other SIMs. From what I read, T-Mobile does not have these phones registered in their database and it is difficult to get them to unlock the phone for me. What usually ends up happening is that Samsung people redirect to T-Mobile, who in turn redirect back to Samsung. Has anybody had any success?
Here are a couple of reddit threads dealing with the same matter (can't post links yet, sorry) :
/r/tmobile/comments/68w6ow/samsungcom_tmobile_s8_sim_unlock/
/r/tmobile/comments/6crs6v/unlocking_samsung_galaxy_purchased_from_samsungcom/
/r/GalaxyS8/comments/67a942/how_to_get_sim_unlock_code_for_phones_purchased/
Please let me know if this is possible, and how it can be done.

I have T-mo phone bought and paid in full direct from Samsung and I can confirm this nonsense, which should be totally illegal: T-mo has no record of my phone's IMEI and Samsung can't unlock the phone without T-mo. You could try paid services, but I have no idea how well and if they even work. You could also wait for root and probably unlock then, but it's risky. So far I have not been able to resolve this issue.

pete4k said:
I have T-mo phone bought and paid in full direct from Samsung and I can confirm this nonsense, which should be totally illegal: T-mo has no record of my phone's IMEI and Samsung can't unlock the phone without T-mo. You could try paid services, but I have no idea how well and if they even work. You could also wait for root and probably unlock then, but it's risky. So far I have not been able to resolve this issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's sad to hear. I would have loved to get the phone using this offer. From what I gathered from the reddit threads, you basically have to grind down on customer support (either Samsung or T-Mobile) to get it unlocked from their side.

UK Users Thread

Figured it would be nice for all us Brits to have a thread discussing how the U11 is on UK networks.
EE - VoLTE and WIFI Calling work out of the box on unlocked model from Very.co.uk

got mine from Carphone Warehouse on an EE contract and although unlocked it did have WiFI calling enabled, although in theory , this should not be the case as its not EE branded. Not complaining though I do not know how VoLTE works so i don't know how to check it. Might be the case that all unlocked UK CID models can support wifi calling, regardless of carrier branding. So nordic or others might not be able to do that.
Only gripe , and I have created a separate thread for that, is that Galileo support is not enabled on my phone which is strange and kinda stupid.

mclnnm said:
got mine from Carphone Warehouse on an EE contract and although unlocked it did have WiFI calling enabled, although in theory , this should not be the case as its not EE branded. Not complaining though I do not know how VoLTE works so i don't know how to check it. Might be the case that all unlocked UK CID models can support wifi calling, regardless of carrier branding. So nordic or others might not be able to do that.
Only gripe , and I have created a separate thread for that, is that Galileo support is not enabled on my phone which is strange and kinda stupid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ring someone (or 150). If your phone stays on 4g you have VoLTE.

Hi guys,
Do you think it's worth an upgrade over the HTC 10 which is my current driver? I have joined HTC Club and the price has dropped to £584 via HTC website which is very tempting...

wilpang said:
Hi guys,
Do you think it's worth an upgrade over the HTC 10 which is my current driver? I have joined HTC Club and the price has dropped to £584 via HTC website which is very tempting...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmmm I probably would. Better everything apart from audio volume from headphones.

The only concern is the durability and smashing if I manage to drop it especially after coming from the HTC 1 0 all metal. I'll see how the Oneplus 5 does as that is also very tempting.

I have a u11 coming from O2 but unlocked. I use it with EE but I can't find a way to have 4g calling and Wi-Fi calling.
Someone could help?

Sounds like it probably has O2 firmware on it which means you're SOL for the time being until S-OFF arrives.
My device is unlocked unbranded stock firmware and 4g VoLTE calling and WiFi calling worked from day one. The phone actually asked if I wished to enable them.
Do you have the option in settings for WiFi calling (4g calling is in phone settings).

I'm on O2. You have to request it through the O2 app. Scroll down to 'Device details' and you will see Wifi and 4G calling. Click on it and it will send a request to O2, takes 24 hours.

wilpang said:
Hi guys,
Do you think it's worth an upgrade over the HTC 10 which is my current driver? I have joined HTC Club and the price has dropped to £584 via HTC website which is very tempting...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I did as my 10 still in contract with Vodafone for a year more but I really wanted an upgraded. Loving the u11 so far it has fixed the issues I had with my 10 like bad wifi/mobile signal problems with Bluetooth to my car system (weird micro cuts every so often)
The first device I got was faulty rebooted/shut down all the time couldn't even get through the setup wizard, got a refund and ordered a new one that is now working great.
Do wish Vodafone would enable WiFi and 4G calling but heck knows when/if that will happen unless you have a business account which I believe have it.
Edit: Seems vodafone does have this option now, can be enabled from your account it seems.

The single SIM model sold directly by the HTC has the LTE Cat. 16 modem?

Roberti3 said:
The single SIM model sold directly by the HTC has the LTE Cat. 16 modem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cat. 16 downlink, uplink limited to Cat. 15.

Has anyone in the UK single sim received the Oreo update yet?
I am with EE , CID EVE__001 and still on Nougat 7.1.1 and firmware 1.27.91.10 with security patch October.
I am a bit disappointed by their lack of updates and support regarding updates.

Dannyboy525 said:
Has anyone in the UK single sim received the Oreo update yet?
I am with EE , CID EVE__001 and still on Nougat 7.1.1 and firmware 1.27.91.10 with security patch October.
I am a bit disappointed by their lack of updates and support regarding updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Oreo update was released today. Currently having trouble updating mine, it downloads the update but then reboots into TWRP recovery then can't go any futher.

You have to return to stock before updating via OTA, with stock firmware, no root etc.
Bootloader can stay unlocked though.

grentuu said:
I'm on O2. You have to request it through the O2 app. Scroll down to 'Device details' and you will see Wifi and 4G calling. Click on it and it will send a request to O2, takes 24 hours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did this actually work? o2 say that the only compatible devices are iPhone's, Samsung's and some Sony's.
marko68 said:
I have a u11 coming from O2 but unlocked. I use it with EE but I can't find a way to have 4g calling and Wi-Fi calling.
Someone could help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you ever get this to work?

I'm happy with the phone apart from 2 issues:
- Still on the November security patch, and considering it's nearly March I don't think this is acceptable. America has December.
- Google Assistant does not work. Voice activation does not work and all the settings are greyed out. Have looked online and cannot find a fix. Have read even a restore won't fix it!
If these issues were addressed then this would be the best phone I've had.

Just to add to this. I have an unlocked / unbranded u11 from CPW UK. O2 sim pay monthly account. I've enabled the option in the app as above but still no toggles etc in my settings menu. I called htc UK just now and they said that a bug in the oreo update has removed this option, it's a known bug and the next update will address it... Seriously? Also no idea when the update will roll out...

Had mine since January after an unplanned upgrade and I'm really glad my HTC 10 got mullered by my friend's kid. Carphone Warehouse piled on extras and I eventually started pushing back to stop the freebies getting out of hand - had to move to EE from Vodafone for some reason I can't remember - not an issue. Rooted while on the wine 2 nights later so as to increase the suspense and the chance of bricking it - I went at it half cut basically and nearly trashed it, which is so much fun.
Can't grumble in Manchester city about signal or service although EE has a website that suggests they are delaying any move into the post 90's era and I'm sure they have a reason we'll one day marvel at when they suddenly replace a web presence so **** it must be deliberate digital art or summat - like Tracey Emin and Banksy making a collaborative statement about Google ruining everything - that is to be replaced by the tech from the movie War Games to make it more modern. At least the customer service is accessible if needed and don't annoy me with 'suggestions' like an app. that tells me things I know already but in a different way which makes it exciting and utterly essential.
The u11 is a top phone and if someone gave me a Samsung I'd curse the fool who did so. There's a list of superior spec's that the recent Samsung phones possess and yet on benchmark tests they mostly squeeze into a slight lead and can't manage to avoid being made by Samsung which means that it has lots of stuff but none of it is connected right and it will eventually make you feel angry because it slowly reveals its nature as a piece of crap with buttons like a phone.
I just wish HTC would explore an alternative to the Android system because Google are getting a bit shifty and I don't like the way they are more powerful than God but get all hissy with developers - they come at you like an all-powerful bastard when they're pissed but always do a great job of being really rubbish at maintaining a standpoint and eventually they go away - still, Stalin was bit annoying and no one would have thought he'd end up killing 10 million people before the War even started but he had the tools and then the bad mood - if Google don't do evil it's only cos they haven't seen the projections from Wall Street that show the profit they can make. If any company can shake Google surely HTC can - Samsung may do so but totally unintentionally and probably due to the distraction caused by phones that set aflame like a crappy transformer that is a phone AND a firework - then neither.