I'm going to take advantage of the Note 7 promotion. I'm currently on Sprint. From what I understand, there are no hardware differences between the carrier unlocked version and the Sprint version (per Samsung chat). The only major differences are in carrier software, I think? Also, it looks like software updates may be extremely slow? I would have expected the opposite since it's coming straight from Samsung.
From what I can tell, I can always flash the carrier ROM on the unlocked version, but I think this would trip Knox and I would lose Samsung Pay, right? Conversely, if I go with the carrier version, I can unlock it because I'll own it outright, correct?
I'm really stuck on which one to preorder. I always figured carrier unlocked was better, but perhaps not? Any guiding thoughts for me?
Wonder about this too.
Is the cellular bands listed on this site accurate?
https://www.techwalls.com/samsung-galaxy-note-8-sm-n950-model-number-differences/
If it is, the unlocked may not have all the bands for, for example, T-mobile. So if sticking with one carrier and not planning to change, will getting the carrier one, though with more bloatware, be better for coverage?
Here is a screen capture for the Carrier Unlocked Note 8 from Best Buys Website.
just take this with a pinch of salt but carrier lock is way better than the other.
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Someone Local to me is selling a note 8. It's supposed to be unlocked. Will it work on Sprint or no?
powerstroke said:
Someone Local to me is selling a note 8. It's supposed to be unlocked. Will it work on Sprint or no?
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Before I'd buy,I'd visit T-Mobile with the seller & phone in-hand,to ensure the phone is free & clear of any financial obligations.
Otherwise,you risk the possibility of it being blacklisted if any remaining balances are unpaid.
Not sure about compatibility,but,if the T-Mobile S8+ is any indication,it's only compatible with LTE,probably won't get voice/calls:
https://willmyphonework.net/
Regardless,with it being a new phone,you're in uncharted territory,no one can know for sure at this point,less a visit to Sprint & the mentioned visit to T-Mobile.
powerstroke said:
Someone Local to me is selling a note 8. It's supposed to be unlocked. Will it work on Sprint or no?
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Unfortunately, probably not. Sprint is very strict with the phones it allows under it's BYOD program, it'll only allow activation of Sprint and Unlocked models. It knows when phones are carrier versions as Samsung provides Sprint with the IMEIs of the Sprint and Unlocked models.
Sprint is the only major carrier that still uses a database whitelist for phones that can be activated on their network. Bit of a **** policy, but there's not much you can do about it.
Source: Just tried the same thing with my T-Mobile S8+. Even when I flashed the unlocked firmware on it(something you'd need to do anyway to enable the CDMA radio on the Note8, T-Mobile firmware has it disabled), still wouldn't work. Found out it was because of Sprint's stupid policy.
Just wanted to chime in on this in the hopes that no one wastes their time and money trying to activate AT&T/T-Mobile branded Note 8's with Sprint.
Flashed my AT&T device with unlocked firmware to enable CDMA features (MEID HEX/DEC)
Bought a Sprint BYOD SIM
Gave Sprint technicians device information in an attempt to add it to their inventory (HEC/DEX)
They kept getting random incompatibility errors, kind of silly given all US Note 8's have identical hardware.
Case closed, looking for a Sprint or Samsung official unlocked device now..
I have about 40 minutes left to purchase the Note 8 on samsung.com before their trade in promo expires.
I'd like to know whether there's any actual difference between the two versions. I know that the unlocked version will not have any carrier bloatware, and apparently, it will receive updates slower.
I am concerned about wifi calling/calling plus and volte. Would I only have access to that on the Sprint variant?
What about international use? Would I be able to travel around the world and pop in a local SIM if I have the Sprint version? Or would the phone be locked for international use?
I intend on buying from samsung.com, so I would expect that if I were to get the Sprint version, that Sprint unlock the device after 50 days on their network.
I do know that resale value should be higher on the unlocked version, but I figure I would get the device unlocked by Sprint before I would sell it.
Anything else I should know about?
Is there something called an "ISIM" and would I need to get that for the unlocked version?
Thanks!
I have about 40 minutes left to purchase the Note 8 on samsung.com before their trade in promo expires.
I'd like to know whether there's any actual difference between the two versions. I know that the unlocked version will not have any carrier bloatware, and apparently, it will receive updates slower.
Updates are on different schedules. prolly a bit slower, but you are not gonna have all the extra bloatware
I am concerned about wifi calling/calling plus and volte. Would I only have access to that on the Sprint variant?
I have wifi calling and volte with some adjustments to the settings on the unlocked version
What about international use? Would I be able to travel around the world and pop in a local SIM if I have the Sprint version? Or would the phone be locked for international use?
Sprint variant would be locked to sprint only until they unlock it for you. Which prolly requires it being paid off or after a time limit.
I intend on buying from samsung.com, so I would expect that if I were to get the Sprint version, that Sprint unlock the device after 50 days on their network.
I do know that resale value should be higher on the unlocked version, but I figure I would get the device unlocked by Sprint before I would sell it.
Anything else I should know about?
Is there something called an "ISIM" and would I need to get that for the unlocked version?
Thanks!
tired to answer the best i could for u.
I bought a Note 8 in swappa that was supposed to be factory unlocked (SM-950U1) but is actually an AT&T phone (950U). I verified this directly with Samsung. I am on Sprint and using their IMEI check site, this phone is compatible. Are there any differences between the factory unlocked and carrier unlocked? Is there any benefit to the factory unlocked? Basically what I want to know is whether I should keep the phone or whether the differences are enough that I should send it back to the seller.
Thanks
The carrier unlocked are capable of accepting sim cards from other carriers, just that, they have all the stuff related to the carrier like the boot animation, Volte calls, hotspot, mesaging service, and carrier bloatware, etc, the factory unlocked ones have the samsung usual bloat, in your case, you could flash the firmware specific to the carrier you will use, to be able to use the services offered by your carrier otherwise some things could be missing
Flashing the Sprint version would require root, yes? I love Samsung Pay so wouldn't be willing to root.
How do factory unlocked phones get updated? Would those still be pushed out by whatever carrier you are on?
The more I read, the more I think sending back the AT&T one is the right move. Then it comes down to Sprint vs unbranded. I don't have any immediate plans to leave Sprint so maybe the Sprint version is the way to go?
You can flash any firmare, providing it is intended for your device, in your case any firmware for USA devices(snapdragon) will work, if you flash official firmwares there will be no problem with knox, just do it with care
I'm surprised an AT&T phone will work on Sprint's network. AT&T is GSM and Sprint is CDMA.
I haven't had a samsung phone in a while. Previously, I remember unlocked variants usually getting updates behind the carrier variants. Is that still the case? what about other advantages or disadvantages? Does unlocked mean I can unlock the bootloader? how easy is it to remove carrier bloatware? If I do want to go unlocked and unlock the bootloader (assuming that's even possible) is there generally a decent custom rom scene for samsung phones these days? Does GCam work well with the regular S20 (assuming it will work similarly on this phone)?
For some context, I'm coming from having Pixel phones for a few years. I had a Galaxy S6 a while ago but the samsung bloat eventually got on my nerves. Hoping things have slimmed down since then or that it's easier to mask by using other apps as defaults, good lock, gcam, etc. So mostly wondering if I should buy unlocked as I usually do for pixel, or a carrier variant. And also just some general tips about customizing samsung phones in 2020 since I haven't had to look into it for about 5 years.
So the US Unlocked models will work with any US carrier. The advantage is if you switch carriers the phone works seemlessly. In addition, there is no carrier bloat and all Samsung features are enabled. The phone being Unlocked has nothing to do with the bootloader and North American Snapdragon models are NOT bootloader unlockable.
With T-MOBILE, all carrier features work. With Verizon, everything except for carrier video calling works. AT&T has some proprietary features that may not work such as WiFi calling.
I'm looking at getting a new phone from Verizon and I use the Skvalex call recording app to record all my company calls. Unfortunately the only way to use the good recording quality where it records both sides from the in/out on the routing table on any of the latest android OS fw is to have root kernel access. Can this phone currently be rooted with latest OTA from Verizon if I purchase this phone ?
If not, can someone point me in the direction of one of the phones Verizon sells (or one I can get at Best Buy/Amazon) at a reasonable price? It's been a long time since I rooted a phone as I have had the same Moto Z Force from Verizon for about 4 years now. Great phone just has issues with battery life after a year and data storage is not big enough.
Verizon is to my knowledge the worst company to buy from if you want to root a device.
then on top of that there's the (apparent) deal Samsung agreed with US carriers, no Samsung phones for the US and Canadian markets have unlockable bootloaders. only official Samsung firmware images can flashed. T-Mobile will let you unlock the bootloader when you've paid for the phone, AT&T too... Verizon never will!
I'd say buy an imported 4G version the SM-G780G seeing as 5G on Verizon is mmwave (only Samsung's made for Verizon even support that). but check with Verizon first if they'll let use it. I've heard some weird things about phones needing to approved to use on some carriers there.
3mel said:
Verizon is to my knowledge the worst company to buy from if you want to root a device.
then on top of that there's the (apparent) deal Samsung agreed with US carriers, no Samsung phones for the US and Canadian markets have unlockable bootloaders. only official Samsung firmware images can flashed. T-Mobile will let you unlock the bootloader when you've paid for the phone, AT&T too... Verizon never will!
I'd say buy an imported 4G version the SM-G780G seeing as 5G on Verizon is mmwave (only Samsung's made for Verizon even support that). but check with Verizon first if they'll let use it. I've heard some weird things about phones needing to approved to use on some carriers there.
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That really sucks. I always thought the non-branded / non carrier motorola phones could have their BL unlocked through motorola. I will look into the imported 4g version but I'm really wanting to take advantage of the 5g data speeds. I was just hoping for a root method to do some tweaking and unbloating to some of the files.
enettrek said:
That really sucks. I always thought the non-branded / non carrier motorola phones could have their BL unlocked through motorola. I will look into the imported 4g version but I'm really wanting to take advantage of the 5g data speeds. I was just hoping for a root method to do some tweaking and unbloating to some of the files.
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AFAIK Motorola phones can be unlocked, it's just Samsung that's doing this and most people think it's to keep the carriers happy.
Samsung has ants up their ass over competing with apple so they probably made this agreement as extra incentive to get picked up by more carriers. that's a guess though.
I'm leaning towards getting a pixel 6... direct from google. I'm not giving samsung any more of my money over them having their head so far up the carriers asses I can't tell where samsung ends and the carrier begins.