Background:
I am located in Canada running a old import( 2016), Huawei Honor Note 8 which I really have liked - screen 2560*1440 and hardware quality running the EMUI & Android ver 8 and last security patch Jan 2021, with the last year, l lost Google account access as Google or the phone itself won't allow account authentication from it no longer, which is an ecosystem that I use personally and also need for work - Google Classroom (teacher). i.e. no access to Google play and or their services now, plus I have to re-initiate some apps from minimizing/crashing ., so....
Looking at the Vivo X fold as a possibility (also the Sam Fold 4). I know the hardware is far superior compared to other foldables and I like the quality and front screen size of the Vivo X Fold.
Aware that the software is not going to work without tweaks and fiddling around in some cases, so I am on the fence with this at the moment. I am waiting to see what the Samsung Fold 4 has to offer, but suspect it will not change much from the fold 3, short of SOC update, camera update, hinge update, inside screen film thickness improvement to 60 microns, slight size update for the better, from leaks.
Meanwhile, knowing Vivo X Fold is a Chinese import (software isn't going to work 100% which I can live with and understand from my current phone), my biggest concern is multi-tasking looks very weak from reviews I have seen it compared to the Fold 3, with the Mate X being the best, but it doesn't have Google services which I need - so hence software and multi-tasking will be better on the Fold 4 with s-pen, BUT screen size and hardware quality is a BIG negative for me in comparison to the Vivo X Fold.
Questions:
Hence the reason why I am on the fence with the Vivo X Fold. Vivo claims 3 years of updates and so maybe they update, fix, and improve the multi-tasking but it may never get fixed, nor does it look like there will be a global version put out at this point - am I right, and has Vivo in the past been good with update improvements after phone is released?
Any of you that are currently using the Vivo X Fold here in America as a main driver phone have any further thoughts on - if this Vivo X fold is the best foldable option, as the Samsung fold 4 I suspect is not going to be much of an improvement (size/quality) when it is announced Aug 10?
Also, on the Vivo X Fold, has anyone successfully used the Alexa App for smart home control, I assume this will work with the Chinese ROM like most other apps right - anyone confirm this?
As for purchasing the Vivo X Fold, I have read here, that Wonda ships really quick (less than a week to Canada) and also heard good things with Gizpro but 20 days to get, so maybe Wonda is the best option (currently a little cheaper too, about $50), any further thoughts?
Q-Prof said:
Background:
I am located in Canada running a old import( 2016), Huawei Honor Note 8 which I really have liked - screen 2560*1440 and hardware quality running the EMUI & Android ver 8 and last security patch Jan 2021, with the last year, l lost Google account access as Google or the phone itself won't allow account authentication from it no longer, which is an ecosystem that I use personally and also need for work - Google Classroom (teacher). i.e. no access to Google play and or their services now, plus I have to re-initiate some apps from minimizing/crashing ., so....
Looking at the Vivo X fold as a possibility (also the Sam Fold 4). I know the hardware is far superior compared to other foldables and I like the quality and front screen size of the Vivo X Fold.
Aware that the software is not going to work without tweaks and fiddling around in some cases, so I am on the fence with this at the moment. I am waiting to see what the Samsung Fold 4 has to offer, but suspect it will not change much from the fold 3, short of SOC update, camera update, hinge update, inside screen film thickness improvement to 60 microns, slight size update for the better, from leaks.
Meanwhile, knowing Vivo X Fold is a Chinese import (software isn't going to work 100% which I can live with and understand from my current phone), my biggest concern is multi-tasking looks very weak from reviews I have seen it compared to the Fold 3, with the Mate X being the best, but it doesn't have Google services which I need - so hence software and multi-tasking will be better on the Fold 4 with s-pen, BUT screen size and hardware quality is a BIG negative for me in comparison to the Vivo X Fold.
Questions:
Hence the reason why I am on the fence with the Vivo X Fold. Vivo claims 3 years of updates and so maybe they update, fix, and improve the multi-tasking but it may never get fixed, nor does it look like there will be a global version put out at this point - am I right, and has Vivo in the past been good with update improvements after phone is released?
Any of you that are currently using the Vivo X Fold here in America as a main driver phone have any further thoughts on - if this Vivo X fold is the best foldable option, as the Samsung fold 4 I suspect is not going to be much of an improvement (size/quality) when it is announced Aug 10?
Also, on the Vivo X Fold, has anyone successfully used the Alexa App for smart home control, I assume this will work with the Chinese ROM like most other apps right - anyone confirm this?
As for purchasing the Vivo X Fold, I have read here, that Wonda ships really quick (less than a week to Canada) and also heard good things with Gizpro but 20 days to get, so maybe Wonda is the best option (currently a little cheaper too, about $50), any further thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
None of the Canadian mobile phone carriers will enable VoLTE on Vivo phones, so your voice calls will drop to 3G which will become problematic when the Canadians follow their neighbors to the South and shut down 3G networks. My choice for foldables would be Huawei, Vivo, and Samsung, in that order, but because there are no Google services with Huawei I have to choose between Vivo with no VoLTE in Canada or Samsung which has VoLTE support from all the Canadian carriers. I like my current Vivo X Note, but know that as VoLTE will be required in a year or so in Canada in order to place voice calls, I will probably invest in the Samsung.
frcraig said:
None of the Canadian mobile phone carriers will enable VoLTE on Vivo phones, so your voice calls will drop to 3G which will become problematic when the Canadians follow their neighbors to the South and shut down 3G networks. My choice for foldables would be Huawei, Vivo, and Samsung, in that order, but because there are no Google services with Huawei I have to choose between Vivo with no VoLTE in Canada or Samsung which has VoLTE support from all the Canadian carriers. I like my current Vivo X Note, but know that as VoLTE will be required in a year or so in Canada in order to place voice calls, I will probably invest in the Samsung.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for you input, Interesting frcraig,
Nice to hear from someone who is using the Vivo X Fold and likes it. I am going to hold, to see what the Samsung Fold 4 has to offer, but your feedback sounds like the Vivo X Fold in Canada is not going to be a good choice without the VoLTE / 3G issues and appreciate your insight....
For Huawei being a better choice and I agree with the the BIG issue with no Google account services, as reviews have talked about its flexible, efficient, and smooth multi-tasking, but personally I am a little concerned with the outside fold form factor and breakage.
I was not aware of this VoLTE limitation, and assume this is something you know from your current carrier, I assume?
After checking what exactly VoLTE is, I looked up my current provider (currently with Fido in Canada re VoLTE) and this Canadian APN site which say the Vivo X Fold is overall 100% compatible, with 4G on LTE band 7 and possibly also 4 and 17 in some locations, so it "looks like" Fido will work with VoLTE, unless I am missing something?...
Why do you say Canadian mobile phone carriers will not enable VoLTE on the Vivo phones... is it because it is an import, if so how do you know this?
Any further info on Vivo's Android Origin OS for this phone in terms of possible updates to improve the multi-tasking based on recent and past track record, experience with using the Alexa App, or purchasing direction?
Q-Prof said:
Thanks for you input, Interesting frcraig,
Nice to hear from someone who is using the Vivo X Fold and likes it. I am going to hold, to see what the Samsung Fold 4 has to offer, but your feedback sounds like the Vivo X Fold in Canada is not going to be a good choice without the VoLTE / 3G issues and appreciate your insight....
For Huawei being a better choice and I agree with the the BIG issue with no Google account services, as reviews have talked about its flexible, efficient, and smooth multi-tasking, but personally I am a little concerned with the outside fold form factor and breakage.
I was not aware of this VoLTE limitation, and assume this is something you know from your current carrier, I assume?
After checking what exactly VoLTE is, I looked up my current provider (currently with Fido in Canada re VoLTE) and this Canadian APN site which say the Vivo X Fold is overall 100% compatible, with 4G on LTE band 7 and possibly also 4 and 17 in some locations, so it "looks like" Fido will work with VoLTE, unless I am missing something?...
Why do you say Canadian mobile phone carriers will not enable VoLTE on the Vivo phones... is it because it is an import, if so how do you know this?
Any further info on Vivo's Android Origin OS for this phone in terms of possible updates to improve the multi-tasking based on recent and past track record, experience with using the Alexa App, or purchasing direction?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
frcraig,
I was looking at several of your recent comments already, and see your efforts/limitation of getting (provisioning) VoLTE on your phone, that doesn't allow you to select VoLTE on your phone and your Roger Carrier in Halifax is giving you the run-a-round with different answers, meanwhile your wife's import phone does, both not purchased from the carrier, so sorry to hear, as this must be very frustrating.
You would think this VoLTE issue, someone would have an easy solution/tutorial to it, to get this to work.
I am now wondering if I call Fido or one of the big three carriers such as rogers, in Toronto, if there would be any different answers/support? I have accounts with both, my current phone with Fido and home internet with Rogers.
Side question, noticed you have the Note X from your comments, how you liking that phone other than the VoLTE issue?
Q-Prof said:
frcraig,
I was looking at several of your recent comments already, and see your efforts/limitation of getting (provisioning) VoLTE on your phone, that doesn't allow you to select VoLTE on your phone and your Roger Carrier in Halifax is giving you the run-a-round with different answers, meanwhile your wife's import phone does, both not purchased from the carrier, so sorry to hear, as this must be very frustrating.
You would think this VoLTE issue, someone would have an easy solution/tutorial to it, to get this to work.
I am now wondering if I call Fido or one of the big three carriers such as rogers, in Toronto, if there would be any different answers/support? I have accounts with both, my current phone with Fido and home internet with Rogers.
Side question, noticed you have the Note X from your comments, how you liking that phone other than the VoLTE issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No issues other than VoLTE. I've debloated the phone and replaced the Chinese and Vivo stock apps with their Google equivalents. The voice activation for the Google Assistant "OK Google" won't work because of the baked in Chinese voice assistant, but I just put a widget for Google Assistant on the home screen and tap it to get the phone to listen to Google voice commands (send texts, etc.) Android Auto and Google Maps history don't work, but I never liked Android Auto anyway. There are few oddities, like Google Messages won't display notifications when the phone is in dark mode, but I replaced the stock app with Chomp and it works fine. The issue with VoLTE is interesting. After the adoption of 4g (LTE) phones continued to drop to 3G connections for voice calls. The Voice over LTE technology was added to firmware for all modern phones, but the settings for VoLTE only appear in Settings/Mobile Networks if the SIM card from the carrier is configured to make those settings appear. You can't enable VoLTE without the settings on non-rooted phones. You can connect to 5G without any problem on these phones and the connection is great for downloads, streaming, etc., but without VoLTE enabled voice calls drop to 3G. The carriers won't provision their SIM cards to allow you to enable VoLTE unless the phone manufacturer has paid them to "certify" their device for VoLTE on the carrier's network. It is really just a licensing fee, which Vivo won't pay to the Canadian carriers because with the low volume of sales in Canada it isn't in their economic interest to do so. They have certified their devices with T-Mobile in the US and with most UK and European carriers, so they can enable VoLTE, but Canadian carriers have only certified Samsung and Apple products and a few older Huawei devices like the Mate 20 X. Because I often travel to the States I use a Google Voice number to place and receive voice calls over the 5G networks when I'm there. VOIP on mobile data sounds the same to me as HD Voice on VoLTE and it gets the job done, and I'm content with 3G voice here in Canada while those networks are still up. The CRTC has approved their shutdown in December 2023.
frcraig,
Really appreciate you sharing the details and depth of the VoLTE not being offered with the Vivo's phones in Canada.
That is a shame that Vivo wont pay the licensing fees to at least one carrier in Canada, at least that would give us Canadians one option, as I really wanted to get the Vivo X fold (very sad now, feel like contacting Vivo to give them my feedback on them not getting the certification licensing for VoLTE) and would have happily switched carriers.... was even looking at their Note X, as that is basically a new version of my current old import ( 2016), Huawei Honor Note 8 with the 7" screen, as Vivo''s phones remind me of Huawei, their quality and offerings, and in the case of the Vivo X Fold, the wider form factor, which I really appreciate.
So the carrier could offer it but wont over money "certify"... I wonder (lol, wishful thinking) if it would be possible to just pay a surcharge from our end, if it is really just about money. Making calls over Data like Voip is doable, but the whole point of having the phone is to be able to make those voice calls through the current cell protocols.
Here I was worried about the multi-tasking software, hoping it would be improved with future updates and very much willing to live with the usual import Chinese software issues, as I have already done the last 7 years, now knowing that the Voice over LTE is not provisioned on the sim cards for Vivo phones and with the 3G as you say is going to be phased out after Dec 2023, doesn''t leave much options for voice calls and seems so unfair to users. I feel like calling my provider up and giving them an ear full, as to why they can't offer some kind of solution for us, so people can get the phone they want to buy. Shame about Huawei''s Google services as that would be my second choice for their fold with the smooth multitasking. If Vivo were more directly offered/known here in Canada (with VoLTE licensing), I am sure they would have a lot of people switching from the Samsung folds to Vivo's X fold, as it is a form factor and quality that would prevail.
Another thing, It;s too bad that T-Mobile and others were not allowed into the Canadian market, as this would be good for healthy competition, to bring our high premium mobile and internet phone service prices down, as Canadian companies have a monopoly on us.
frcraig said:
No issues other than VoLTE. I've debloated the phone and replaced the Chinese and Vivo stock apps with their Google equivalents. The voice activation for the Google Assistant "OK Google" won't work because of the baked in Chinese voice assistant, but I just put a widget for Google Assistant on the home screen and tap it to get the phone to listen to Google voice commands (send texts, etc.) Android Auto and Google Maps history don't work, but I never liked Android Auto anyway. There are few oddities, like Google Messages won't display notifications when the phone is in dark mode, but I replaced the stock app with Chomp and it works fine. The issue with VoLTE is interesting. After the adoption of 4g (LTE) phones continued to drop to 3G connections for voice calls. The Voice over LTE technology was added to firmware for all modern phones, but the settings for VoLTE only appear in Settings/Mobile Networks if the SIM card from the carrier is configured to make those settings appear. You can't enable VoLTE without the settings on non-rooted phones. You can connect to 5G without any problem on these phones and the connection is great for downloads, streaming, etc., but without VoLTE enabled voice calls drop to 3G. The carriers won't provision their SIM cards to allow you to enable VoLTE unless the phone manufacturer has paid them to "certify" their device for VoLTE on the carrier's network. It is really just a licensing fee, which Vivo won't pay to the Canadian carriers because with the low volume of sales in Canada it isn't in their economic interest to do so. They have certified their devices with T-Mobile in the US and with most UK and European carriers, so they can enable VoLTE, but Canadian carriers have only certified Samsung and Apple products and a few older Huawei devices like the Mate 20 X. Because I often travel to the States I use a Google Voice number to place and receive voice calls over the 5G networks when I'm there. VOIP on mobile data sounds the same to me as HD Voice on VoLTE and it gets the job done, and I'm content with 3G voice here in Canada while those networks are still up. The CRTC has approved their shutdown in December 2023.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FrCraig,
I was on the phone with Rogers Tech support today, started a new thread here about no VoLTE on the Vivo X fold in Canada.
I know it seems that this is a full stop - no VoLTE from what you have found out, but just in case someone else has had success, they could share their experiences here, as I am sure there would be a lot of interested users that would rather have the Vivo X Fold over the Samsung Fold 4, like myself, but the absence of VoLTE is a major issue.
I assume you did update you hardware Sim Card with your Rogers as another step to getting the VoLTE working also, right?
Yes. I'm using a new 5G Rogers SIM. I even went out to the Bell office and had one of their sales people put a his 5G Bell SIM into the phone to see if the VoLTE settings appeared, and they didn't. He called his tech support people and they said no VoLTE on Vivo phones. I'm assuming it is the same with Telus and Shaw.
Ok, that is good to know, so Bell also, wow... ugh hard to believe with such an amazing phone, at least the form factor and hardware quality a lot better than the Samsung fold.
Have you tried the BIOS code to switch it on: "*#*#4636#*#*" it is supposed to be a universal code to switch that radio on if it is off, or use it to turn off and back on to reset it - here is a video showing this process using the Redmi Note, @ the 5 min time stamp?
frcraig said:
Yes. I'm using a new 5G Rogers SIM. I even went out to the Bell office and had one of their sales people put a his 5G Bell SIM into the phone to see if the VoLTE settings appeared, and they didn't. He called his tech support people and they said no VoLTE on Vivo phones. I'm assuming it is the same with Telus and Shaw.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Think I am going with the Samsung Z Fold 4 instead of the Vivo X Fold. I REALLY like the quality and form factor of the Vivo X Fold and would endure the lack of multi-tasking. Even with the rumored Vivo X Fold S possibly coming out in the near future with processor upgrade and the global Funtouch, without that VoLTE not working here in Canada, just can't do it.
I pre-ordered the Samsung Z Fold 4, the new Buds Pro 2, and the new Watch 5Pro, Phone case, etc., I hope I don't regret this as I am not happy with the front narrow screen, and don't think I am going to get use to it, but I am going to try it, focus on one hand operation on front screen and two hands on internal fold screen for usability.
Thanks again for all of the Feedback in several threads here, especially frcraig, very knowledgeable and helpful!
Q-Prof said:
Think I am going with the Samsung Z Fold 4 instead of the Vivo X Fold. I REALLY like the quality and form factor of the Vivo X Fold and would endure the lack of multi-tasking. Even with the rumored Vivo X Fold S possibly coming out in the near future with processor upgrade and the global Funtouch, without that VoLTE not working here in Canada, just can't do it.
I pre-ordered the Samsung Z Fold 4, the new Buds Pro 2, and the new Watch 5Pro, Phone case, etc., I hope I don't regret this as I am not happy with the front narrow screen, and don't think I am going to get use to it, but I am going to try it, focus on one hand operation on front screen and two hands on internal fold screen for usability.
Thanks again for all of the Feedback in several threads here, especially frcraig, very knowledgeable and helpful!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I mean even if you change your mind, the Fold 4 will hold its value for a good while after its launch (since you get the 512gb version as a free upgrade) so you could always sell it in the coming months if you don't like it. That's my plan since I too don't like the narrow outer screen and would love the Vivo Fold.
Yes you have a point... actually ordered the 1T storage version. For now I will keep the pre-order, the s-pen and the software is great on the Samsung Z Fold 4, but narrow form factor for the front screen is the big negative, the big gap at the fold I guess I can live with and the obvious crease, uhg... I will have to see how the Samsung eco system is, as I can always return it in the first week if I change my mind, or later also sell it.
On a new note, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 is out and frcraig suggests that the VoLTE will be able to enable it unlike the Vivo line which can't. There is also a leak that a Vivo X Fold S update is coming out soon with the new Gen +1 chip and possibly a global rom, but it will still not have the VoLTE 4G for Canadian carriers. I really still like the solid quality hardware and form factor of the Vivo X Fold, but without the VoLTE 4G, definitely not going to work for me here with Canadian carriers.
So the newly released Xiaomi Mix fold 2 is my only other possible alternative now, which has that wide front screen form factor, has a thin sleek thickness, folds closed completely flat and appears to have less of a screen crease when open, but some of the trade-offs include lack of software refinement (big factor), mediocre camera, no wireless charging, multiple angled hinge mechanism (Samsung Flex mode) - all of which I could probably live with for the front wide screen form factor.... just not sure on the software yet.
You can also now consider the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2... If the SamEsung Fold 4 is not what you expected...
I mean... I was a little bit excited for the Fold 4 too and at the end... Same devise, same crease, same gap between the two parts when folded, Looks the same, Same narrow almost useless outer screen... Just a new CPU and new Cameras... The only plus the Fold 4 has over all other foldables is the Software! And that is a big one, unfortunately...
It is funny how things have changed... Once not many years ago, Samsung was making the best hardware and always innovating with it... One UI on the other hand was quite chunky and slow, with a lot of issues... And now...
Almost perfect software stack with great compatibility and worldwide recognition... but if you want great hardware look elsewhere...
OrionBG said:
You can also now consider the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2... If the SamEsung Fold 4 is not what you expected...
I mean... I was a little bit excited for the Fold 4 too and at the end... Same devise, same crease, same gap between the two parts when folded, Looks the same, Same narrow almost useless outer screen... Just a new CPU and new Cameras... The only plus the Fold 4 has over all other foldables is the Software! And that is a big one, unfortunately...
It is funny how things have changed... Once not many years ago, Samsung was making the best hardware and always innovating with it... One UI on the other hand was quite chunky and slow, with a lot of issues... And now...
Almost perfect software stack with great compatibility and worldwide recognition... but if you want great hardware look elsewhere...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, so true now, Samsung has the software refinement but not so much the hardware quality or innovation.
The narrow front screen form factor seems way too small and I am use to a 7" screen on my daily driver.
Agreed, after I get the Samsung Z Fold 4 to test out will have to make a decision then to send back right away and then the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 will be my second order and test... although with limited software reviews, I am concerned about the software on this one.
Q-Prof said:
Yes, so true now, Samsung has the software refinement but not so much the hardware quality or innovation.
The narrow front screen form factor seems way too small and I am use to a 7" screen on my daily driver.
Agreed, after I get the Samsung Z Fold 4 to test out will have to make a decision then to send back right away and then the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 will be my second order and test... although with limited software reviews, I am concerned about the software on this one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would share similar concerns. But the funny thing is that I wonder if we could spoof the vivo x fold / others to receive exclusive software features from Samsung fold devices (I wouldn’t mind using the Samsung launcher with the two column google feed on the vivo x fold).
I can’t say if it is impossible or not as my vivo is running pixel exclusive features with root and pixelify. I wonder if the lead dev could provide some pointers on this …
domineus said:
I would share similar concerns. But the funny thing is that I wonder if we could spoof the vivo x fold / others to receive exclusive software features from Samsung fold devices (I wouldn’t mind using the Samsung launcher with the two column google feed on the vivo x fold).
I can’t say if it is impossible or not as my vivo is running pixel exclusive features with root and pixelify. I wonder if the lead dev could provide some pointers on this …
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would be nice, but for me, sadly, no VoLTE, so I am not going near the Vivo X Fold now.
By all means though if someone has ideas on ways to improve the Vivo software, please share....
although from what I have heard, the June security update locked the software bootloader, and prevents downgrades, so no rooting the phone, hence no software tweaks now.
Related
Just a word of warning for potential buyers that the region locking on the Samsung galaxy S5 is different to that on my Note 3. My note 3 is unlocked and can use different sims and software update without issues.
But had a Samsung Galaxy S5 for more than a week, got it before UK official launch as it was a Korean model 32GB LTE snapdragon version, it was unlocked and was able to use several different sims from various UK networks but couldnt software update as phone would keep asking for SKT (south korea telecom) sim for software update even though would work with other UK sims for calls data and text for more than a week of me using phone. worked fine for streaming thousands of songs via google music and deezer and calls and texts but no luck with software update. see alert shown by phone on attempting to do software update https://plus.google.com/108877366358490804054/posts/X38mPrxYHmf
wireless charging worked fine though with Qi insert as shown on my youtueb uploads for the S5 which can be seen from my tagline below
Just a heads up to people wanting to import a Samsung galaxy S5 from abroad that their region locking is getting worse with every new phone.
Dont have the S5 anymore and wont be buying a samsung phone again..... due to region locking blocking features... like fingerprint scanner use in ebay app in the UK even though unlocked phone and also samsung has blocked use of triple sim adapters as it has blocked the loading of sim app need for triple sim adapters to work. The same adapters work fine on my s4 and note 3. The adapter was inserted correctly as my main sim works through the adapter but cant access the extra sims as samsung has blocked the sim app from launching on the S5 but works fine on S4 and note 3 and other phones.
Not sure about internationally, however North America region lock seems to be disabled if you first activate with the carrier that the phone was built for and then unlock. If you just buy a phone from a carrier that has it region locked and you never activate it with them, you will have issues.
bubblesmoney said:
Just a word of warning for potential buyers that the region locking on the Samsung galaxy S5 is different to that on my Note 3. My note 3 is unlocked and can use different sims and software update without issues.
But had a Samsung Galaxy S5 for more than a week, got it before UK official launch as it was a Korean model 32GB LTE snapdragon version, it was unlocked and was able to use several different sims from various UK networks but couldnt software update as phone would keep asking for SKT (south korea telecom) sim for software update even though would work with other UK sims for calls data and text for more than a week of me using phone. worked fine for streaming thousands of songs via google music and deezer and calls and texts but no luck with software update. see alert shown by phone on attempting to do software update https://plus.google.com/108877366358490804054/posts/X38mPrxYHmf
wireless charging worked fine though with Qi insert as shown on my youtueb uploads for the S5 which can be seen from my tagline below
Just a heads up to people wanting to import a Samsung galaxy S5 from abroad that their region locking is getting worse with every new phone.
Dont have the S5 anymore and wont be buying a samsung phone again..... due to region locking blocking features... like fingerprint scanner use in ebay app in the UK even though unlocked phone and also samsung has blocked use of triple sim adapters as it has blocked the loading of sim app need for triple sim adapters to work. The same adapters work fine on my s4 and note 3. The adapter was inserted correctly as my main sim works through the adapter but cant access the extra sims as samsung has blocked the sim app from launching on the S5 but works fine on S4 and note 3 and other phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
risestar2 said:
Not sure about internationally, however North America region lock seems to be disabled if you first activate with the carrier that the phone was built for and then unlock. If you just buy a phone from a carrier that has it region locked and you never activate it with them, you will have issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have any way to unlock it with no issue in the future?
risestar2 said:
Not sure about internationally, however North America region lock seems to be disabled if you first activate with the carrier that the phone was built for and then unlock. If you just buy a phone from a carrier that has it region locked and you never activate it with them, you will have issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone is already unlocked as I used different UK sims For more than a week. The region locking only becomes apparent when trying to software update the phone. The phone was on Kitkat but there was an update available but couldn't update due to the issue mentioned.
If it is the international model (G900F) just flash it with the stock UK S5 rom.
electric0ant said:
If it is the international model (G900F) just flash it with the stock UK S5 rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you know if it's possible to root and flash something else without having removed the region lock?
Dont have the phone anymore with me and think the person having it now is flashing cyanogen mod rom for this phone.
Dont think will be getting a samsung phone again as tired of the pr1ck5 at samsung p1ssing off paying customers with some locking cr4p or the other. Presently still have 3 other samsung phones (S4 note 3 and note 1) and many of my playlists on youtube have loads of samsung phone related. But really fed up with samsungs locking idiocy and will look to sony or LG from now on.
electric0ant said:
If it is the international model (G900F) just flash it with the stock UK S5 rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think the SK Telecom model is the same as the G900F.
I think Korea uses some different network brands.
---------- Post added at 09:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:31 AM ----------
bubblesmoney said:
Dont have the phone anymore with me and think the person having it now is flashing cyanogen mod rom for this phone.
Dont think will be getting a samsung phone again as tired of the pr1ck5 at samsung p1ssing off paying customers with some locking cr4p or the other. Presently still have 3 other samsung phones (S4 note 3 and note 1) and many of my playlists on youtube have loads of samsung phone related. But really fed up with samsungs locking idiocy and will look to sony or LG from now on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't look at Sony.
You will receive software updates like 7 months after the release of that android version.
My Xperia Z still doesn't have kitkat.
Region lock on the 900A
I am looking to buy the galaxy s5 for use in several Sub-saharan African countries. I already have an old ATT sim with me and I will probably be ordering the 900A in/from the US and i want to make sure that the region-lock is not an issue. Will i be able to region unlock with an ATT sim card while in Africa or do i need to have someone make the 5min call for me while the phone is in the US? and is this call meant to be to or from the s5?
Thanks!
No one likes self serving restrictions by manufacturers or carriers. But Samsung is far from the only manufacturer doing things like this. And region locking is one of the easiest obstacles to overcome.
On single SIM phones at least removing the subsidy lock nullifies the region lock as well. In any event if you couldn't make a few calls in the area that the phone originated, you could simply have edited the region lock blacklist to circumvent the region lock.
.
bubblesmoney said:
Dont think will be getting a samsung phone again as tired of the pr1ck5 at samsung p1ssing off paying customers with some locking cr4p or the other. Presently still have 3 other samsung phones (S4 note 3 and note 1) and many of my playlists on youtube have loads of samsung phone related. But really fed up with samsungs locking idiocy and will look to sony or LG from now on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes that completely legal regioin lock this discourages grey market selling and scams
does this mean you arent buying blu rays or DVDs??
-PiLoT- said:
yes that completely legal regioin lock this discourages grey market selling and scams
does this mean you arent buying blu rays or DVDs??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the S5 but no longer have it. Bought the one plus one which is half the price but 64gb and miles better with no region locking crap and call recording apps work on it unlike on my several samsung phones. Call recording apps did work earlier on samsung phones and after software upgrades by samsung they no longer work on them. But they work on other android phones. So samsung is deliberately gimping android with their "updates". Sane way triple sim adapters don't work on the S5 but they do on my s4 and note 3 and other phones.
Coming to your reference to dvd and bluray. .. i don't but them anymore as have several paid digital subscription packages and don't buy dvd and bluray anymore as realised i haven't bothered to open the packs of several of my earlier purchases.
Several other android manufacturers don't region lock or block call recording apps or triple sim adapters so there are better and cheaper options.
bubblesmoney said:
I had the S5 but no longer have it. Bought the one plus one which is half the price but 64gb and miles better with no region locking crap and call recording apps work on it unlike on my several samsung phones. Call recording apps did work earlier on samsung phones and after software upgrades by samsung they no longer work on them. But they work on other android phones. So samsung is deliberately gimping android with their "updates". Sane way triple sim adapters don't work on the S5 but they do on my s4 and note 3 and other phones.
Coming to your reference to dvd and bluray. .. i don't but them anymore as have several paid digital subscription packages and don't buy dvd and bluray anymore as realised i haven't bothered to open the packs of several of my earlier purchases.
Several other android manufacturers don't region lock or block call recording apps or triple sim adapters so there are better and cheaper options.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you research if the s5 was region locked, or had issues with call recording apps or sim adapater issues before you bought it. or did you buy it assuming they would work?
-PiLoT- said:
did you research if the s5 was region locked, or had issues with call recording apps or sim adapater issues before you bought it. or did you buy it assuming they would work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did research like i do all my purchases. My opinions are just that. ... my opinions!
Are you a Samsung employee or funded by samsung in any manner!
edit: If you see my youtube videos for the S5 you might notice that i had uploaded my video BEFORE the UK release date as it was imported from korea.
bubblesmoney said:
I did research like i do all my purchases. My opinions are just that. ... my opinions!
Are you a Samsung employee or funded by samsung in any manner!
edit: If you see my youtube videos for the S5 you might notice that i had uploaded my video BEFORE the UK release date as it was imported from korea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
region locking isnt an opinion. its an actual thing
heres my point
you want to buy a phone, you want it to have multi sim adapters support, no region locking and ability to record in calls.
you do your research like you do "all your purchases"
then you buy a device knowing these things wont work. then you ***** about samsung doing it anyway?
Dude pull that bee out of your bonnet. Dint you have anything better to do than dig up a few months old thread of mine!
Triple sim adapters work on the S4 and note 3.
Call recording apps do work on android phones and even older samsung phones and other new android phones and don't work on new or software updated older samsung phones.
Yes i know what region locking is.
I now choose to spend my money on other companies android products which i think are better. If that bothers you then that is not my problem. I have better things to do today than argue on the Internet with someone i don't know.
Good night.
bubblesmoney said:
Dude pull that bee out of your bonnet. Dint you have anything better to do than dig up a few months old thread of mine! .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didnt actually dig it up, read back a page
bubblesmoney said:
Triple sim adapters work on the S4 and note 3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But research you said you did said it wouldnt on the s5
bubblesmoney said:
Call recording apps do work on android phones and even older samsung phones and other new android phones and don't work on new or software updated older samsung phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But you said you did research so you knew this
bubblesmoney said:
Yes i know what region locking is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No one said you didn't. ever
bubblesmoney said:
I now choose to spend my money on other companies android products which i think are better. If that bothers you then that is not my problem. I have better things to do today than argue on the Internet with someone i don't know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My issue isnt with you buying anything. my issue is with you being such a vocal detester of certain features or lack thereof, when you bought them knowing full well they had these things wrong with them because you did the proper research.
why would you even buy a phone that you know wont work the way you want, better yet why moan about samsung doing this. even though you knew they did it before you bought it
bubblesmoney said:
Good night.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One last time. .. my trile sim adapters did work then on my note 3 and S4 but they didn't on the s5. That was my experience as I hadn't come across posts regarding that it didn't work on the S5. The adapter actually 'works' on the s5 too in the sense that the sim number 1 works via the connector but the other sims can't be used as samsung blocks the launch of the sim app but it doesn't get blocked on older samsung phones. Ps. they work on iPhones and other android phones.
Getting to call recording apps. . They did work on s4 and note 3 and stopped working on note 3 after software updates. Sometimes software have glitches so I gave them the benefit of the doubt but since on the newer s5 it didn't work either and works on other new android phones like my one plus one it is my understanding that samsung is blocking some features which you can gather if you read up more on the topic.
As explained AGAIN above and
in my personal experience the triple sim adapters worked in s4 and note 3 (but not after software update indicating it is samsung doing the blocking) and didn't work on the s5.
Call recording still works on loads of android phones including my one plus one. It used to work on my older samsung phones till later software updates and didn't Work on the S5.
If you need more of my reasons why I think the are better ones out there than the S5....
water proofing is **** as shown in my videos. Sony is better.
Internal memory is loads better on cheaper phones like the one plus one.
Camera is worse than much cheaper one plus one.
Speaker is much louder on the one plus one.
Battery life "without cutting back any features" is better on the one plus one. But would be better on s5 using that black and white ultra power saving mode which stops many features working.
Edit. I still have my note 3 and note 1 and s4 but I do like my gadgets and have other 6 android phones, 5 android tablets and 2 android mini pc's and ipad air. So after owning the and using many other android devices which I no longer have my personal impression of the S5 is that there are better ones out there.
If the above bothers you then not much I can do but say agree to disagree. Cheers.
eezeh said:
I am looking to buy the galaxy s5 for use in several Sub-saharan African countries. I already have an old ATT sim with me and I will probably be ordering the 900A in/from the US and i want to make sure that the region-lock is not an issue. Will i be able to region unlock with an ATT sim card while in Africa or do i need to have someone make the 5min call for me while the phone is in the US? and is this call meant to be to or from the s5?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ignore some of the apologists for Samsung on this thread trying to pester people who purchase their own android devices unlike the usual reviewers on many websites who get their free review phones and do your own research before spending your money.
Word of warning even when buying an unlocked or no region lock samsung phone in a country with no region lock, it can subsequently get region lock if you do any software updates while traveling or moving to another country with region lock as shown long time ago in the Note 3 thread (thread with hundreds of posts) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=47664261&postcount=1380 As you can see paying customers who bought unlocked (no region lock phones) samsung phone later got region lock with software update while travelling and working in the Eu and their phone would no longer work with their home country sim. Please note phone was bought from official samsung store and not so called grey market what ever that term grey market may mean! So any person who travels and works across countries or even travelling abroad and wants to use roaming or local sims would be at risk of region lock unless they never want to update their phone or need to resort to hacking the software which most wont be able to do.
Mod Edit
Thread Closed
ronnie498
Forum Moderator
Just received the Pre order for the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G and as the title says it doesn't have E-Sim functionality out the box.
I spoke to two Samsung Customer service representatives and they don't have a clue. I got so fed up trying to explain that I simply can't scan the QR code and enable the E-Sim that I'm going to return the phone as I need a dual sim device for personal and business needs.
I am aware that the Fold 2 had exactly same issue but it got enabled via a software update but I can't hang around for a software update to be sent out as I need to active lines.
Very poor product support by Samsung and it has soured my experience with them. They should release all their devices with e-sim support from the start and not rely on software updates further down the line.
if you are in the US, then eSIM is not supported yet.
when I contacted Samsung, they said T-Mobile USA (my carrier) needs to enable it. If i ask T-Mobile , they say that Samsung needs to release a firmware update.
I don't know who to believe.
It is extremely frurstating
mr_stoosh said:
Just received the Pre order for the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G and as the title says it doesn't have E-Sim functionality out the box.
I spoke to two Samsung Customer service representatives and they don't have a clue. I got so fed up trying to explain that I simply can't scan the QR code and enable the E-Sim that I'm going to return the phone as I need a dual sim device for personal and business needs.
I am aware that the Fold 2 had exactly same issue but it got enabled via a software update but I can't hang around for a software update to be sent out as I need to active lines.
Very poor product support by Samsung and it has soured my experience with them. They should release all their devices with e-sim support from the start and not rely on software updates further down the line.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't be so quick to blame Samsung - my understanding is that the lack of e-SIM support (or any kind of dual-SIM capability) in North America is being driven by the carriers. We're making progress though - at least now we can easily buy unlocked phones (or imported dual-SIM phones) which was nearly impossible not that long ago.
jtOttawa said:
I wouldn't be so quick to blame Samsung - my understanding is that the lack of e-SIM support (or any kind of dual-SIM capability) in North America is being driven by the carriers. We're making progress though - at least now we can easily buy unlocked phones (or imported dual-SIM phones) which was nearly impossible not that long ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm based in the UK and was informed prior to ordering the phone by a Samsung customer service representative that the phone would be e-sim ready.
There is quite a demand for e-sims in this country and we have a fair few phones that offer the service out of the box.
Just a little annoyed that Samsung couldn't get this service up and running on the device prior to release.
Nevertheless not my problem any more as I have initiated a return and will be looking to buy something else.
Just a side note, other US modes in the S20 series do not have the eSIM enabled either, and those hasn't been released yesterday. The only Samsung phone that seems to have eSIM enabled in US is the Fold. Bottom line is, don't count on this feature. Kinda hope to find a viable workaround on XDA or other forums. The eSIM is the main reason i don't hit that "buy" button on this phone just yet, i'd really like to have an eSIM capability on my next device (not for a day to day use, but for traveling purposes).
but here in germany it is normal, that every samsung phone that has esim also have it enabled.
maik005 said:
but here in germany it is normal, that every samsung phone that has esim also have it enabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pay the most (per cost of living) and get the least.
'MERICA!
maik005 said:
but here in germany it is normal, that every samsung phone that has esim also have it enabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But that means that your s20 fe 5g has esim?
Mine, from Spain, has no esim support and I also would like to have it.
Thanks.
manolito1998 said:
But that means that your s20 fe 5g has esim?
Mine, from Spain, has no esim support and I also would like to have it.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No.
Because there is no S20 FE (5G) with eSIM support.
Sorry for bringing alive a zombie thread.
Do we know if the s20 FE will have esim support via software updates?
YYZviaYUL said:
Sorry for bringing alive a zombie thread.
Do we know if the s20 FE will have esim support via software updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to this (https://piunikaweb.com/2021/01/29/w...sim-support-on-samsung-galaxy-devices-in-u-s/), nope, and it will never have it in US. Now they say S21 may eventually get it. Bottom line is - forget about it.
So, after many frustrating hours on the phone with different Samsung agents who insisted that the US S21 Ultra supports eSIM (but couldn't get it to work), one agent finally admitted that eSIM is not enabled "as of now". This is despite the fact that Samsung expressly promised eSIM functionality on their US website:
"Does Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G support eSIM?
Yes, you can use an electronic SIM, known as eSIM, with Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G. The eSIM allows you to activate a mobile network plan right on your phone, so you can switch data plans or add an overseas phone number without the physical Nano SIM."
https://www.samsung.com/us/smartphones/galaxy-s21-ultra-5g/#!
As of this post, the above Q&A is still on Samsung's US website. Isn't this blatant fraud? Where can I file a complaint?
While I am still within the return window, simply getting a refund isn't good enough as I already paid money to my carrier to convert my physical SIM into an eSIM in anticipation of being able to use it with my S 21 Ultra.
Until the carriers enable the eSim they will not work. It has been disabled or not enable from all US carriers for a reason. No one knows exactly why. My guess is compatibility, or issues arising. Who knows. It is supposed to be enabled but no set date has ever been given. The same thing happened with the Note and s20. As much as I would love the eSim support is just won't happen for a bit.
Also do note if you scroll down it does say "The Galaxy S21 does not currently support eSim in the U.S."
I am not sure why people seriously keep falling for the eSim instead of reading the several post regarding it in the previous years posts.
jeremyvbk said:
Until the carriers enable the eSim they will not work. It has been disabled or not enable from all US carriers for a reason. No one knows exactly why. My guess is compatibility, or issues arising. Who knows. It is supposed to be enabled but no set date has ever been given. The same thing happened with the Note and s20. As much as I would love the eSim support is just won't happen for a bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That logic doesn't make sense when it comes to the unlocked version bought directly from Samsung's website. Also my eSIM is from an international carrier and not a US carrier, and it works on my previous Samsung device (bought in Asia).
jeremyvbk said:
Also do note if you scroll down it does say "The Galaxy S21 does not currently support eSim in the U.S."
I am not sure why people seriously keep falling for the eSim instead of reading the several post regarding it in the previous years posts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They changed it a few days after the launch. The previous Q&A was as shown in my quote above. I scrolled through the website carefully (including reading the endnotes) and there was no such caveat previously.
Also, I am new to the US and was not aware of this issue previously. I have used Samsung devices in Asia for many years and never had this issue. I'm not sure why US customers put up with this blatant fraud if it is happening each time.
draykin said:
That logic doesn't make sense when it comes to the unlocked version bought directly from Samsung's website. Also my eSIM is from an international carrier and not a US carrier, and it works on my previous Samsung device (bought in Asia).
They changed it a few days after the launch. The previous Q&A was as shown in my quote above. I scrolled through the website carefully (including reading the endnotes) and there was no such caveat previously.
Also, I am new to the US and was not aware of this issue previously. I have used Samsung devices in Asia for many years and never had this issue. I'm not sure why US customers put up with this blatant fraud if it is happening each time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because the unlocked version has to work with those carriers, and having esim support turned on could lead to more issues than what is currently out there. Samsung has disabled it so you don't have droves of people going to carriers saying service doesn't work when the carriers haven't supported the phones for eSim. Because those carriers will send you right back to Samsung for warranty exchanges. Costing Samsung money.
The phones do support eSim. It is no different than the phones disabling bands depending on csc. Also the US unlocked versions apply the csc based on the carrier, also why the eSim is disabled. Its not fraud. The information isn't fraud
jeremyvbk said:
Until the carriers enable the eSim they will not work. It has been disabled or not enable from all US carriers for a reason. No one knows exactly why. My guess is compatibility, or issues arising. Who knows. It is supposed to be enabled but no set date has ever been given. The same thing happened with the Note and s20. As much as I would love the eSim support is just won't happen for a bit.
Also do note if you scroll down it does say "The Galaxy S21 does not currently support eSim in the U.S."
I am not sure why people seriously keep falling for the eSim instead of reading the several post regarding it in the previous years posts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does it mean s21 ultra supports esim?
works on mine - Vodafone UK - been with an esim since s20 and now also on s21
makes no difference really to being on a sim or e-sim
jacklivehere said:
Does it mean s21 ultra supports esim?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All of the phones support it but have it disabled on purpose because the carriers do not support it. Its like the S21 supports N71 and band 71 but on ATT CSC those bands are disabled.
jeremyvbk said:
All of the phones support it but have it disabled on purpose because the carriers do not support it. Its like the S21 supports N71 and band 71 but on ATT CSC those bands are disabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Samsung website quoted above only says s21 and s21 plus doesn't support esim. Doesn't say about s21 ultra
jacklivehere said:
The Samsung website quoted above only says s21 and s21 plus doesn't support esim. Doesn't say about s21 ultra
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They are saying you can't use them in the US. The devices have the hardware already included in the devices. They are disabled. The same with the Ultra, as it has been the same for the last years worth of phones
Same in canada. Its been a coming soon with an update feature for years now. Another small thing I miss about my pixel.
I wonder if this is why i can not get my s21 U to take an upgraded T mobile sim. I have been trying since Friday to get the Upgraded network sim from T mobile to install on my phone. I had been on sprint and since the merger last year my sprint connections had been getting progressively worse as the year went on - dropped calls and phone going into roaming mode at home for example, I had a note 10+ i traded in for the s21U and about 3 weeks ago was able to ditch the old sprint sim for the new t mobile one on the note and what a difference ! So anyway, i have been into a t mobile store a couple time and they could not get the t mobile sim to activate, and called sprint a couple times to try and activate it and they could not either but was finally able to active a sprint sim which i dont want. They had said that my s21 was not for some reason compatible with the new t mobile sim. I got the 512gb S21 ultra unlocked direct from samsung.
Disabled esim...
Is it because Samsung is weak compared to Apple or Google? Can't stand up to US carriers?
They can't say it is not compatible with carriers when Apple already went through the motions and is not compatible with all the carriers. They could have used this excuse two phones ago but for us to be having this discussion now is uncalled for. I'm returning this crap now until Samsung stops committing this fraud on its customers and gets its act together.
thdaddy34 said:
They can't say it is not compatible with carriers when Apple already went through the motions and is not compatible with all the carriers. They could have used this excuse two phones ago but for us to be having this discussion now is uncalled for. I'm returning this crap now until Samsung stops committing this fraud on its customers and gets its act together.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed!
NasTraDooMis said:
I wonder if this is why i can not get my s21 U to take an upgraded T mobile sim. I have been trying since Friday to get the Upgraded network sim from T mobile to install on my phone. I had been on sprint and since the merger last year my sprint connections had been getting progressively worse as the year went on - dropped calls and phone going into roaming mode at home for example, I had a note 10+ i traded in for the s21U and about 3 weeks ago was able to ditch the old sprint sim for the new t mobile one on the note and what a difference ! So anyway, i have been into a t mobile store a couple time and they could not get the t mobile sim to activate, and called sprint a couple times to try and activate it and they could not either but was finally able to active a sprint sim which i dont want. They had said that my s21 was not for some reason compatible with the new t mobile sim. I got the 512gb S21 ultra unlocked direct from samsung.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My S21 Ultra works fine with the T-Mobile R15 SIM. To be fair, though, I think I might have activated it on my iPhone 12 Pro Max first and then just dropped it in the S21 Ultra. I don't remember now. But it should work.
It pays off to do some research before dropping a stack of cash on a smartphone. All this fuss over eSIM. Carrier's in the US don't want to give their subscribers the option to switch Service Provider's, they lose money. Same reason no Dual-Sim devices are offered by US Carriers. Samsung could lean on them to enable eSIM but for whatever reason they won't. Simple solution, buy a Non-US S21 Ultra Dual Nano-SIM device.
Hi, in Russia e-sim it works perfectly on all operators( carriers). Its very strange why in US you have this problem.
varcor said:
It pays off to do some research before dropping a stack of cash on a smartphone. All this fuss over eSIM. Carrier's in the US don't want to give their subscribers the option to switch Service Provider's, they lose money. Same reason no Dual-Sim devices are offered by US Carriers. Samsung could lean on them to enable eSIM but for whatever reason they won't. Simple solution, buy a Non-US S21 Ultra Dual Nano-SIM device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's true except for the fact that if you want 5G in the US, the non-US dual sim samsung devices don't have the appropriate bands for it. So you get dual sim but no US 5G.
I confirm esim working in S21 Ultra Snapdragon SM-G998U1 in Android 12 Colombia Bogota but keep in mind that in Colombia the esim only works with movistar
FYI....note pre order looks kinda strange?
OnePlus 10 Pro global launch officially scheduled, US pre-orders live right now
The highly anticipated global launch of the OnePlus 10 Pro is finally right around the corner, and the company is teasing some kind of a surprise.
www.phonearena.com
Considering the US versions had the physical second SIM slot removed in the 9's. I wonder if OnePlus is going to continue that with the 10's. JerryRig's video of the Chinese version breaking easily during his bend test really doesn't inspire me to want to pre-order it, even with only a dollar down.
jcsww said:
Considering the US versions had the physical second SIM slot removed in the 9's. I wonder if OnePlus is going to continue that with the 10's. JerryRig's video of the Chinese version breaking easily during his bend test really doesn't inspire me to want to pre-order it, even with only a dollar down.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good question about dual SIM. I bought a dual SIM tray for my 9 Pro but never managed to get it fully working. It'd be nice if the 10 Pro at least has a way to enable it.
No 12G/256G variant in the US for now. I'll pass!
Reading reviews it seems worse than the 9 Pro in alot of ways and better in a couple. I don't think it's worth getting it especially with Oxygen being basically Color OS now.
All of the cameras are the same as the 9 Pro with the exception of the ultra-wide. For the US market, it's a downgrade in terms of RAM with only the 8GB/256GB version being released currently. I doubt we will see any bend tests on it until close to the Easter launch date in the US. OnePlus is definitely pulling a Samsung here, in my opinion. New model, same old hardware from the previous device for the most part. US models will more than likely not be possible to convert to dual-SIM just like with the 9/9 Pro's. The b/s marketing speak about not being able to deliver 80W fast charging in US models is purely a crock!
Personally, to get me to buy a new device from OnePlus. I want 16GB/512GB variant T-Mobile US model that is possible to convert to dual-SIM. Why? I need to domestically roam on to the US Cellular network as a T-Mobile customer and only devices purchased directly from T-Mobile are permitted to roam on US Cellular (US Cellular roaming requirement). I also carry a Canadian SIM that roams in the US and I don't like carrying two phones. All of the cameras need to be significantly improved and no more stupid holes in the screen. A larger 6.8" screen or maybe even a 6.9" would be something I would hope to eventually see. They have pretty much been using the same screens since the 7 Pro's for the Pro devices. The SnapDragon Gen 1 throttles due to excessive heat on almost all devices using it.
I've heard that when Vivo launches the fold in India it'll get a global rom. My first question is do we have any idea of when that'll be? Is there a timeline that they generally release their phones in other markets after the Chinese release?
My second question is that when they release the Indian version, will people be able to flash it to phones with the Chinese firmware?
I know nobody can give a definitive answer to these questions, I'm just hoping for reasonable speculation.
If there's global variant, vivo releases it within 1 month (or a week) from the release of China variant.
e.g. X80 Pro was released in April (CN) and May (Global)
I think there will be no global variant for Fold.
You can flash global ROM on Chinese variant, but you need to unlock bootloader, which is blocked after the firmware with compile time 2022-04.
The Vivo X Note and Vivo X Fold were released at the same time and there has been no Global release for either of them.
I really don't see this happening if I am honest about the ask.
Which I don't expect it to technically.
Well, I'm disappointed in the answer, but I appreciate the information. I guess I'm going to wait for the Samsung announcement and then probably buy the Vivo unless I'm really surprised.
bigfire said:
Well, I'm disappointed in the answer, but I appreciate the information. I guess I'm going to wait for the Samsung announcement and then probably buy the Vivo unless I'm really surprised.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
frcraig just passed on in this thread, that there is a leaked Vivo X Fold S with possible Global Funtouch,
thought you may want to know being that the Fold 4 is being introduced later today.
Thank you for letting me know!! I've gone ahead and ordered the Fold 4, since there's a $200 discount if you signed up early, but it won't arrive until August 26 and I've got at least two weeks to return it, so if the Vivo with a global rom really does come out I'm planning on returning the Fold and getting that.
I would caution anybody who's decision relies on the global rom and has the early discount to go ahead and order the Samsung just in case Vivo doesn't come through.
bigfire said:
Thank you for letting me know!! I've gone ahead and ordered the Fold 4, since there's a $200 discount if you signed up early, but it won't arrive until August 26 and I've got at least two weeks to return it, so if the Vivo with a global rom really does come out I'm planning on returning the Fold and getting that.
I would caution anybody who's decision relies on the global rom and has the early discount to go ahead and order the Samsung just in case Vivo doesn't come through.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, did the same, got all three new offerings: phone, watch, buds, and case... been on the fence with the X Fold but the lack of VoLTE is an huge issue with both the Chinese Rom and the possible new Global S version, so that is sad. I hope I don't regret the SZF4 purchase as it looks like I am stuck with this because of these main issues with the larger format foldable imports:
- Vivo X fold in Canada has no VoLTE (LOVE the excellent wider format size and amazing quality & would be willing to live with the poor multi-tasking, but with the VoLTE not there, this is a really big issue)
- Huawei Mate fold with the external screens has excellent multi-tasking but no Google services.
- Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold 2 looks nice and thin 5.4 mm open, but front screen may still be too narrow when it comes out
- Oppo Find N has very little screen crease in centre (similarly also the Vivo), but don't like the smaller format
You're not risking very much. With the early launch discounts, you can probably sell it for what you paid for it in the first few months, so if that VoLTE problem gets fixed, you can always ditch the Fold 4 and get most of your money back. That's my plan if the Vivo X Fold S gets the Funtouch firmware.
I do love the previous generation of the Buds. I think they just happen to fit my ears perfectly, so they perform much better for me than higher rated ear buds.
bigfire said:
Thank you for letting me know!! I've gone ahead and ordered the Fold 4, since there's a $200 discount if you signed up early, but it won't arrive until August 26 and I've got at least two weeks to return it, so if the Vivo with a global rom really does come out I'm planning on returning the Fold and getting that.
I would caution anybody who's decision relies on the global rom and has the early discount to go ahead and order the Samsung just in case Vivo doesn't come through.
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Same here, will the global version support Android Auto?
The only thing that holds me from buying the vivo is AA not working. I hope there would be a global version and to support AA.
Q-Prof said:
Yes, did the same, got all three new offerings: phone, watch, buds, and case... been on the fence with the X Fold but the lack of VoLTE is an huge issue with both the Chinese Rom and the possible new Global S version, so that is sad. I hope I don't regret the SZF4 purchase as it looks like I am stuck with this because of these main issues with the larger format foldable imports:
- Vivo X fold in Canada has no VoLTE (LOVE the excellent wider format size and amazing quality & would be willing to live with the poor multi-tasking, but with the VoLTE not there, this is a really big issue)
- Huawei Mate fold with the external screens has excellent multi-tasking but no Google services.
- Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold 2 looks nice and thin 5.4 mm open, but front screen may still be too narrow when it comes out
- Oppo Find N has very little screen crease in centre (similarly also the Vivo), but don't like the smaller format
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I have Vivo X Fold + on AT&T post paid and T-Mobile Mero PCS pre paid I have VOLTE On both 4G on AT&T and 5G on T-Mobile ( working to get the 5G on AT&T if possible).
samvel2001 said:
I have Vivo X Fold + on AT&T post paid and T-Mobile Mero PCS pre paid I have VOLTE On both 4G on AT&T and 5G on T-Mobile ( working to get the 5G on AT&T if possible).
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For VOLTE try to use the hidden menu comands to turn on or off the Carrier provisioning for WiFI calling and VoLTE. Also call your carrier and give them an IMEI for Samsung 5 g phone that is white listed on your carrier. I have been using Huawei, Xiaomi and Redmi phones and I was able to bypass the carrier blockings and getting the 4g/5G WiFi calli g and VoLTE
samvel2001 said:
For VOLTE try to use the hidden menu comands to turn on or off the Carrier provisioning for WiFI calling and VoLTE. Also call your carrier and give them an IMEI for Samsung 5 g phone that is white listed on your carrier. I have been using Huawei, Xiaomi and Redmi phones and I was able to bypass the carrier blockings and getting the 4g/5G WiFi calli g and VoLTE
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Click to collapse
I am running with the full Samsung suite, Z fold 4, watch 5 pro, and buds pro. I really wanted to get the Vivo X Fold, even the Xiaomi Mi Mix... but was too many questions around support and looked like very little options for Canadian carrier customers in getting latest carrier standards here. I know in the States, there were some carriers that the phone did work, but none of the carriers in Canada were supporting the Chinese phones here, at the time. I think some have found work-arounds since, but software is still not as refined or supported as Samsung's systems here in Canada. I did have a Huawei Note 8 for over 7 years and is still a beast of a phone, but the old android system software wasn't working well with some current apps.