So I have the s21 ultra. Love it and hate it as only a fanatic can. Have owned every Note, and am eagerly awaiting the s22 ultra. I spend time in Europe and the US and it drives me crazy that there is no version of the device that has the correct 5G and LTE bands for both areas. I have the sm-G9980 (HK snapdragon) which is dual sim and gives me 5G in Europe... but not in the US. All the 'U' versions have the US 5G (of course) ... but don't have the correct 5G bands for Europe. The 'B' is good for Europe but not the US 5G. The list goes on. It's not an exynos v snapdragon issue as the 'B' (exynos) and the '0' (snapdragon) have the same bands.
Meantime ALL Apple devices and the new pixel 6 have all the 4G and 5G bands for both areas (and I bet there are other brands that do too). I bought, first the 13 pro and then the Pixel6 pro, hoping I could adapt because connectivity is high on my needs and these devices are flagship and should be alternatives, and I really tried to adapt to them. But I returned both as I'm just not an apple person (and let's face it the devices have the same feel for the last few years), and the pixel 6 pro, which is nice, is just too stock for me, and it lacks the 'refined over the years' software of Samsung (and I just can't find a better email or, to a lesser extent, calendar app than Samsung's).
It is incredibly frustrating.
Surely Samsung can also create a global unlocked version with all the global 4G and 5G bands? I can't be the only one wanting this, or am I?
Because carriers, and because Spectrum licences are expensive.
But that's not true : even Apple doesn't have the same bands between the US and the rest of the world.
>> Even Apple (for the iPhone 13 Pro Max) has TWO modem versions, and the iPhone US model is the only one with mmWave (the "best" 5G).
Apple doesn't makes "carrier" versions of their phones - A verizon iPhone is absolutely the same as a tmobile iPhone, so by including more bands, they can move stock around the world and just add the box in the country it will be sold without excess stock when no one is buying a verizon iPhone 12 after the iPhone 13 is out - they ship it to Africa or India and boom, that Verizon US iPhone is now on a different continent.
Apple also makes cheaper phones with higher margins (iPhone 13 Pro Max 256 Gb with only 3x telephoto = 1400$, S21 Ultra 256 Gb with 3x AND 10x telephoto = 1100$) so spending 1$ more per phone on spectrum licences to avoid creating different models is a complete win.
Because of carriers, most Android manufacturers have 3 versions (US, Global, China) with different bands supported, sometimes different modems, even different antennas.
Just to be clear, I haven't heard of anyone "unlocking bands" as it could be done 11 years ago (even rooted etc). It is now much more secure (modem firmware) and most model are missing MMwave antennas anyway.
TLDR - not true, even Apple has mmWave only on US versions. However iPhones have the largest bands supported on average.
Website kimovil has a really good band comparator, you can identify 5G bands in the US and in Europe and find a phone that supports both. Only the US Oneplus 9 Pro seems to do it as of now.
Thanks for the response. I will check out kimovil. It makes sense why the Pixel would have the bands too.
Life is about compromise!
Related
Currently I have the Note 2 with AT&T. I will be upgrading to the Note 3 when it comes out. However, I am not sure which version of the Note 3 to get. Should I get the International version or the AT&T version. I think the international version has the Samsung CPU and the AT&T version has the Snapdragon 800. Would the international version work with AT&T LTE cellular? Would the international version work with T-Mobile LTE cellular (just in case I want to switch)?
Which one would give better battery and faster speed/graphics?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure the international version will only run on AT&T 3G. I am in the camp that prefers the Snapdragon 800 to the revised Exynos 5, too. I'd opt for the AT&T version (Although personally I'm giving T-Mobile a shot this time around)
The N3 will be my first "carrier" phone on AT&T in two years. I'm not thrilled and depending on what it's like using it I may sell it on eBay and get a HSPA Octa. Here's my thinking:
Pros
I've been fine with HSPA+ on my previous phones and use to pay $10 a month for unlimited data through the "non-smartphone" loophole that applied to phone's AT&T didn't recognize. That party's over. So now I'm paying for LTE and not able to use it. So with AT&T's N3 I'll finally get what I'm paying for and even get LTE-A when they start to roll it out; supposedly this year.
The international N3's are insanely expensive. Negri and NewEgg have the Octa's at $779 and up. On Next it's $35 a month, I have no contract commitment beyond the phone's payoff, and I can sell it on eBay if I want something new.
Service and repair. Whether through Asurion or SquareTrade getting a carrier phone repaired/replaced is easy compared to jumping through hoops to get an international version (non-warranted and non-supported by Samsung in the U.S.) repaired.
Cons
God knows what AT&T's done with the s/w. We know there will be tons of their specific bloatware. That doesn't concern me because it can be disabled and with 32GB of NAND the space it takes up isn't a big deal. My big concern is their modifying, neutering, or completely removing some of Samsung's stock apps and features. I can't root my phones because I connect to secure networks so I'm pretty much stuck with what comes out of the box. I'm scared at what's coming out of AT&T's box.
I loved being able to use any multi-CSC ROM on Samfirmware or Samsung-Updates to keep my unrooted phone always current. I've probably had a dozen updates on my N7100. Now I'll be dependent on AT&T. That alone could end up pushing me to an international Octa N3. Also, to support the new features of Knox, Samsung's seriously altered and locked down the bootloader. So who knows what impact that'll have even on international N3's when it comes to updates via Odin. I used to root my phone when I wanted to do someting to it (EG: Google Wallet) and then unroot afterward and run Triangle Away. That ship sailed mid-year and with the Knox enhancements isn't coming back.
AT&T's modified radio may be crappy and I travel a lot internationally. Also I'm guessing on Next the device can't be unlocked until it's paid off. The only reason this is acceptable in my case is I'm getting a 3G (Octa) Note 10.1 2014 which has a dialer and I can use it in situations I need to pop in another carrier's SIM and/or the AT&T radio isn't working well.
Dev support is going to be limited on the AT&T N3's compared to the international versions. It'll probably still be strong but not as simple, timely, and robust. It doesn't apply to my un-rooted situation but something for people to consider.
The moment I find a S-800 international device that's quad-band GSM/UMTS and supports AT&T's LTE bands I'll buy it and sell my AT&T version. So far the EU and Latin American versions of the N3 don't support AT&T's LTE bands. The UK N3's LTE bands haven't been announced yet but I don't have high hopes. There's a chance a Canadian carrier will leave their version of the N3 unmolested and with the same model number as the international version and that it would support AT&T's LTE bands. That would allow it to be flashed like a non-carrier Samsung phone via Odin (with the possible exception mentioned above) and still get LTE on AT&T. Same thing for Claro in Puerto Rico. I'm not sure about the flash part but even an unmolested Canadian or Pueto Rican N3 with AT&T's LTE bands might end up being better than whatever AT&T does to their version.
All just my opinion of course.
I'm leaning towards either international or T.mobile or Canadian version. The att s4 can't be bootloader unlocked and new update patched the root. I'd hate to not have options on such a power device that I could potentially last for a couple years.
I had the note 1,note2,and now using the galaxy mega until the note 3 hits the shelf.I'm up in the air as well in deciding whether to keep my at&t note 3 or sell it and go international.I'd rather keep the at&t note 3,but who knows if were going to be up ****s creek with no root,are how long or ever going to get root method.I guess I can deal with no roms,but no root forget it
I thought that the international N3 (9005) with the SnapDragon 800 would be compatible with AT&T's LTE bands, no? Wasn't this mentioned during the presentation last week about the N3 supporting global LTE bands? Couldn't one just buy/import an international 9005 which was released in a country whose LTE bands match that of AT&T? Would this work?
I guess we'll know soon, but my own need would be for a variant which supports my home UK 4G network (EE most likely) plus USA AT&T LTE for when I'm in the states. Preferably bought in the UK for my UK carrier because of the discounts.
I thought the release event said they were going to support all bands in one device, but I've no idea if that's actually going to be true of the version you get at your local phone shop.
Andre
hockeyfan said:
I thought that the international N3 (9005) with the SnapDragon 800 would be compatible with AT&T's LTE bands, no? Wasn't this mentioned during the presentation last week about the N3 supporting global LTE bands? Couldn't one just buy/import an international 9005 which was released in a country whose LTE bands match that of AT&T? Would this work?
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I heard the same thing too.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
I've beeing researching for hours, and accordung to multiple sites, like this one the international N9005 version will support LTE 2100/1800/850/1600/800MHz (Bands 1,3,5,7,20). This does not include AT&T, whose LTE network operates on bands 4 (1700Mhz) and 17 (700Mhz). I hope these frequencies vary by region, like many sites mention, but I have my doubts we'll get lucky to see international N9005 with LTE bands 4 or 17.
Here is a list of countries, which has partial LTE band overlapping with AT&T. None of these support both, bands 4 and 17, which is what AT&T uses:
Argentina - 4
Colombia - 4
Ecuador - 4
Paraguay - 4
Peru - 4
Uruguay - 4
Canada - 4
Puerto Rico - 17
Since Note 3 has LTE radio, capable of supporting up to 6 bands, the only hope is that one of these carriers will pick up a version, where the other missing band is tossed in without any real purpose behind it, just to keep things interesting. For example, AT&T branded GN3 needs only these 2 LTE bands, and yet the device is LTE penta band.
Also, keep in mind we dont even know what band will AT&T use next year, when LTE-A goes live. I believe AT&T owns spectrum in 1900Mhz and 2100Mhz areas, and in the process of acquiring more.
EDIT: I'd like to clarify my statement about GN3 radio supporting 6 LTE bands. What I meant is some carriers will offer a version, which has up to 6 LTE bands enabled simultaneously. The actual hardware capability of Qualcomm's RF360 Front End solution is universal 2G/3G/4G support - the radio is capable of operating on *all* LTE frequencies.
Never imported a phone before, but I really want the s10, and I dont want to give up my custom roms.
What should I expect with using the international S10 here in the states? Will the network coverage change? I use tmobile, will that make a difference? Is wifi calling disabled?
If someone could at least steer me in the right direction, because I'm a bit confused on how these things work.
Thanks!
You'll have to compare band support (no clue what Exynos has). US model contains ALL bands for T-Mobile. B2, 4, 5, 12, LAA/46, 66, and 71. Carrier aggregation for these bands may vary between the Snap and Exy.
Now, the main reason I wouldn't import is due to warranty coverage (or lack of). You can walk into a Samsung center in the States, and they'll repair your phone. Free repairs for burn in, batteries, etc.
Historically, Exynos models of S8 and S9 don't support T-Mobile bands 66 and 71. It's not yet clear if that's the case with Exynos S10. I wouldn't get a new, expensive phone to be used on Tmo if it doesn't support these bands, but if your area is not served by those bands and you'll never travel to B66, B71 areas, you might be fine without.
You might have to wait for developers CSC hack for Tmo VoLTE and wifi calling support if they're not supported out of the box like Exynos S8/S9. Not having VoLTE/wifi calling would suck for me, but it would also suck to not have root because of locked bootloader (US S8/S9). It's a tough choice for some people, myself included.
I've never seen any situation where my T-Mobile S7 got reception where my rooted Exynos S7 did not, nor any other connectivity differences. As mentioned, you may live in an area where this could be an issue, but for me in the Bay Area and LA areas of California, I've never seen any difference. It's a 3 year old phone, so there may be some differences at this point with the bands an S10 supports, but having an unlocked bootloader trumps losing a few bands, to me.
Ace42 said:
You'll have to compare band support (no clue what Exynos has). US model contains ALL bands for T-Mobile. B2, 4, 5, 12, LAA/46, 66, and 71. Carrier aggregation for these bands may vary between the Snap and Exy.
Now, the main reason I wouldn't import is due to warranty coverage (or lack of). You can walk into a Samsung center in the States, and they'll repair your phone. Free repairs for burn in, batteries, etc.
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If I import, the UK version, will it be region locked? Where I have to have a 5-10 min call in the purchasing country before I can use it in the USA?
gullyous said:
If I import, the UK version, will it be region locked? Where I have to have a 5-10 min call in the purchasing country before I can use it in the USA?
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Click to collapse
I believe so, clove.co.uk opens the phone and makes the call for you before they call. Not sure if I really trust them however. Most people dont have a problem but I have heard horror stories.
gullyous said:
If I import, the UK version, will it be region locked? Where I have to have a 5-10 min call in the purchasing country before I can use it in the USA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To add, I also found this seller on ebay claiming this model will not region lock, and comes in a sealed box
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-Ga...rentrq:2c3f6f451690ad4a688677f9ffe7ef69|iid:1
Ace42 said:
You'll have to compare band support (no clue what Exynos has)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it's all there, follow the link in that post:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s10/how-to/s10-model-differences-lte-bands-regions-t3904592
Hi guys. I was reading news of Qualcomm announcing X55 5G modem which is the follow up model to S10 5G’s X50 modem and one of the advantage was the new X55 isn’t carrier specific. From my limited understanding it seems X50 will only work on the carrier the phone is sold for and I assume limited to 4G LTE if roaming/unlocked. Does this mean the Verizon S10 5G available later this month can only get 5G on Verizon and the South Korean 5G model won’t work in the US?
Also, there is a Department of Defense paper last month on 5G race and it mentioned China is pushing the world to adapt 6GHz 5G standards while the US is pushing mmWAVE because 6GHz spectrums are allocated to the military in the US. It states most countries will adapt China’s standard as most countries have 6GHz free. I don’t know the advantage/disadvantage of 6GHz vs mmWAVE but does it means US 5G phones and carriers are incompatible with international 5G phones and carriers?
Sorry for the long questions. Thinking I should ask the experts here. Want to get a Verizon S10 5G to use on Sprint later this year.
It's my understanding that they will be carrier locked. AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile are all using some different bands in their 5G phones.
hello
according spécifications
G977N : 5G
Bit78 TDD 3.5Ghz ( 5g NR)
Bit257 26Ghz ( 5g NR)
G977U 5G :
bit71 600Mhz ( 5g NR)
Bit260 39Ghz ( 5g NR)
Bit261 28Ghz ( 5g NR)
NR = New Radio
regards
Hi All,
I have recently bought an Unlocked US snapdragon version of Galaxy S21 ultra 5g but I live in UK. Since the day 1, I have never experienced 5G icon on notifications area here in London. I only see LTE. My SIM is 5G enabled. Is there any difference between the US snapdragon 888 version and UK Exynos 2100 as I am not seeing this 5G icon.
OR, if someone knows if there is a chance to get benefit of 5G here in London with my US version.
I look forward to getting your answers...
Thanks,
If your version is dual sim, try putting the sim on 2nd sim card slot. Otherwise, I would contact Samsung about it.
I thought the US and UK used different bands and that is why Samsung use the different chipsets based on the countries 5G bands. There is a small overlap in the high bands around 27/28 Ghz but that would depend on the bands you Uk provider uses. That is why they do not recommend buying devices from abroad.
The US unlocked won't get 5G in Europe
mpore14 said:
If your version is dual sim, try putting the sim on 2nd sim card slot. Otherwise, I would contact Samsung about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a single SIM device...
lywyn said:
I thought the US and UK used different bands and that is why Samsung use the different chipsets based on the countries 5G bands. There is a small overlap in the high bands around 27/28 Ghz but that would depend on the bands you Uk provider uses. That is why they do not recommend buying devices from abroad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it mean, I will never get a chance to to see 5G icon on my device ? Or I can get the 5G in the future when the 5G rolls out fully in the UK with different bands or frequencies? Please comment on this. Thanks
ekerbuddyeker said:
The US unlocked won't get 5G in Europe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it for now ? Or I will get a chance to see 5G on my device in future ?
Armani505 said:
Does it mean, I will never get a chance to to see 5G icon on my device ? Or I can get the 5G in the future when the 5G rolls out fully in the UK with different bands or frequencies? Please comment on this. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would depend on many things, 1) The SD support your carriers 5G band, 2) the firmware supporting the 5G, 3) your plan with carrier supporting 5G.
(1) and (2) may be supported depending on the carriers bands, you would need to ask your carrier.
(3) for example, previous EE plans do not include 5G in the plan and only if you upgrade to a 5G plan can you connect at 5G. My last phone did not do 5G so the plan was a 4G plan, upgrading the phone meant I had to upgrade the plan.
It's not whether your carrier will add 5G, it's the bands that they add that matter. European 5G bands are not the same as US 5G bands. Samsung doesn't include both in a single version of the s21 (apple does). You either have the US version or the various global versions. I have the HK version. It's a snapdragon like the US (and dual sim) but it only gets 5G in Europe (and HK of course).
lywyn said:
It would depend on many things, 1) The SD support your carriers 5G band, 2) the firmware supporting the 5G, 3) your plan with carrier supporting 5G.
(1) and (2) may be supported depending on the carriers bands, you would need to ask your carrier.
(3) for example, previous EE plans do not include 5G in the plan and only if you upgrade to a 5G plan can you connect at 5G. My last phone did not do 5G so the plan was a 4G plan, upgrading the phone meant I had to upgrade the plan.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the detailed answer. I contacted my carrier which is EE here in the UK. They said we are running different bands of 5G as compared to the US 5G bands.
And they confirmed that my plan is 5G enabled...
ekerbuddyeker said:
It's not whether your carrier will add 5G, it's the bands that they add that matter. European 5G bands are not the same as US 5G bands. Samsung doesn't include both in a single version of the s21 (apple does). You either have the US version or the various global versions. I have the HK version. It's a snapdragon like the US (and dual sim) but it only gets 5G in Europe (and HK of course).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, Thanks for your reply, I contacted them, and Yes, they said we are running different 5G bands here in UK as compared to US 5G bands and your US version supports the bands currently US carriers are providing in the US.
So, it means, when they (EE UK) add more 5G bands in their service like more frequencies of 5G then I can get the benefit of my 5G Snapdragon US version in the UK ???
ekerbuddyeker said:
The US unlocked won't get 5G in Europe
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Click to collapse
@ekerbuddyeker I hope you're okay. Could you specify the technicality(s) why it won't work?
@ekerbuddyeker I hope you're okay. Could you specify the technicality(s) why it won't work?
SidRose01 said:
I hope you're okay. Could you specify the technicality(s) why it won't work?
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Click to collapse
it's set up to receive a different set frequencies than are mostly used in Europe as others have said.
Hey. Ignore the incorrect advice from both your carrier and other users here.
Your S21 from the US includes band n78 support even though it isn't advertised.
You just need to enable it and remove the NR whitelist.
You can do it through the service menu (access through Google Dialer).
3mel said:
it's set up to receive a different set frequencies than are mostly used in Europe as others have said.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. We know. I mean do you know which frequency the US version is missing that is required in UK?
Skander1998 said:
Hey. Ignore the incorrect advice from both your carrier and other users here.
Your S21 from the US includes band n78 support even though it isn't advertised.
You just need to enable it and remove the NR whitelist.
You can do it through the service menu (access through Google Dialer).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The service menu was unfortunately disabled on the US versions many months ago...
*Edit* - To clarify this, I'm sure that the code is probably the same as before, however, when you type it in on the US phones (using Google Phone, of course), the number instantly deletes itself and doesn't allow the menu to open. This was either just before or after launch (I can't remember which one as I had a Note 20 Ultra and exchanged it for this phone just after it released). But just before I did the phone exchange, all of a sudden, I couldn't access that service menu anymore on my Note 20U as it had just been blocked on the US phones. Furthermore, both of my phones were unlocked, and so it doesn't seem to be a carrier dependent thing =(
NippleSauce said:
The service menu was unfortunately disabled on the US versions many months ago...
*Edit* - To clarify this, I'm sure that the code is probably the same as before, however, when you type it in on the US phones, the number instantly deletes itself and doesn't allow the menu to open.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not really true. Just add a 2 at the end of the old code, click the first menu option, then 3 dot, back. Click the first option, and again, 3 menu, back. And now you've got the old service menu back.
We still have QPST access to if they ever block that second code
Armani505 said:
Hi, Thanks for your reply, I contacted them, and Yes, they said we are running different 5G bands here in UK as compared to US 5G bands and your US version supports the bands currently US carriers are providing in the US.
So, it means, when they (EE UK) add more 5G bands in their service like more frequencies of 5G then I can get the benefit of my 5G Snapdragon US version in the UK ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only if they add the specific US bands, which is as likely as the UK Ministry of Transport regulating that the UK will start driving on the left to be in line with the US, but phasing it in, and starting only with Heavy Goods Vehicles first.
So I got a s21 ultra imported from Canada for the Snapdragon processor - it has a few issues , eg it has Canadian Samsung pay which means I can't get the samsung card and the health app is Canadian and won't sync with my UK watches metrics for blood pressure etc because they are FDA cleared in Canada, but the one issue that seems to bug me the most is that the 5g and 4g bands in Canada are different to the UK, so the outdoor speed/signal is significantly worse than it was on my old OnePlus 6T - does anyone know if there are any solutions to this?
You could use ODIN to flash the U1 series software on (US Carrier unlocked); that would help for 4G possible but 5G, you are SOL (until Samsung makes a phone with all the 5G frequencies.. s22 ultra I hope).
I have the W series here in Canada but run the U (Carrier) sometimes and the U1 (Unlocked) 99% of the time.