http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galax...14FQ/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1323232696&sr=8-3
If so, what are the differences? I know AT&T has Skyrocket, but I don't really like how it has a different processor and it's 4.52 inch screen. So can I order that expecting to get the same thing as the Euro SGS2?
It is not exactly the same device, the keys are different, as well as I believe the 4g bands supported, so the ATT version wouldnthave working 4G in europe and vice versa. Also, most ROMs, kernels, and such developed for one are not compatible with the other (there are ways to get around this one though). But the main parts, screen, processor, and other internals are exactly the same, making the ATT version the closest US variant to the original (which is generally considered a good thing)
I've owned both. Switched to this phone because of the amazing screen problems. My friend owns the European version. The only difference is the "apple" button on the European one that the AT&T version lacks.
ATT version has NFC but not enabled at the moment.
epicstar1 said:
I've owned both. Switched to this phone because of the amazing screen problems. My friend owns the European version. The only difference is the "apple" button on the European one that the AT&T version lacks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which phone had the amazing screen problems?
HellBunny said:
ATT version has NFC but not enabled at the moment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How come? And is it possible to enable it?
Well as long as the internals are the same. I couldn't care less about the bands. The Skyrocket just seems crap.
It's possible to partially enable it.
Main differences:
Different buttons at the bottom
I777 has NFC hardware
I9100 has FM radio
I777 has a crippled battery charger (Stock users won't notice this, but those that want to crank the charge current up a bit with a custom kernel will find that it isn't possible - we're stuck at 650 mA, which is stock on the I9100 also, but the I9100 can change it with kernel hacks.)
Entropy512 said:
I777 has a crippled battery charger (Stock users won't notice this, but those that want to crank the charge current up a bit with a custom kernel will find that it isn't possible - we're stuck at 650 mA, which is stock on the I9100 also, but the I9100 can change it with kernel hacks.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hah, that one I didn't know about.. thanks for the tip!
SupremeOverlord777 said:
It is not exactly the same device, the keys are different, as well as I believe the 4g bands supported, so the ATT version wouldnthave working 4G in europe and vice versa. Also, most ROMs, kernels, and such developed for one are not compatible with the other (there are ways to get around this one though). But the main parts, screen, processor, and other internals are exactly the same, making the ATT version the closest US variant to the original (which is generally considered a good thing)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually they support the same bands. Same exact radio even I believe.
Main differences are as Entropy listed: buttons, nfc/fm radio, and charging chip.
There are also a number of minor UI differences in some of the built-in apps, pull-down toggles, and settings. I've noticed voice quality is a little better with my AT&T version (I get less static incoming. Outgoing voice is clearer and louder). Data speeds are faster with my AT&T version. These last two may be due to different modems, SIM cards, and/or account provisioning by AT&T.
monkey hung said:
Which phone had the amazing screen problems?
How come? And is it possible to enable it?
Well as long as the internals are the same. I couldn't care less about the bands. The Skyrocket just seems crap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh oops. The Skyrocket had the amazing screen problems. The problems are explained everywhere in the TMO SGS2 and the Skyrocket
GeorgeP said:
There are also a number of minor UI differences in some of the built-in apps, pull-down toggles, and settings. I've noticed voice quality is a little better with my AT&T version (I get less static incoming. Outgoing voice is clearer and louder). Data speeds are faster with my AT&T version. These last two may be due to different modems, SIM cards, and/or account provisioning by AT&T.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the I9100s have smaller TCP buffer settings by default. I remember looking at the settings in SiyahKernel, they were as small or smaller than those of UXKG3 for Infuse, which was notorious for bad network performance because of those settings.
skyrocket is slow vs the s2 speed wise.
AT&T version only has tri-band HSPA radio while international verison of quad-band HSPA radio. So, you may have problem getting 3G outside North America.
also the noise canceling mic is in a different position
Related
Are there significant differences between these phones?
1) I9100 will work on the $10/$15 Medianet Unlimited data plan.
2) AT&T Model does not have physical home button (has 4 capacitive buttons instead).
3) AT&T Model has NFC.
vinvam said:
1) I9100 will work on the $10/$15 Medianet Unlimited data plan.
2) AT&T Model does not have physical home button (has 4 capacitive buttons instead).
3) AT&T Model has NFC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know we don't know for sure any other differences than you mentioned and I HOPE there is not, so to add on to the open question. Will roms that are made for the i9100 work on the att version? Of course with button mapping since hopefully as far as we know right now that appears to be the only difference hardware wise. Unless having the NFC chip will make a big difference.
I am waiting to actually see the att version in hand before I decide whether to go with it or the i9100. Att version pros only are warranty issues fixed easier/quicker. I already have the grandfathered in unlimited data plan so I am not concerned about that (yet, unless they try forcing me from the unlimited plan). Never have or thought I would use the NFC but it does sound convienent. I am used to the att SGS1 Captivate 4 buttons so I actually prefer it. Anything else software/hardware wise that some may think will make it harder for devs to port roms like CM7 to the att version?
Sent from My KickAss Captivated CM7 OC'd 1.5Ghz/Undervolted
the att sg2 has a smaller screen 4.3 not 4.5
http://carltonzone.com/blog/official-details-samsung-galaxy-s2-attain-att/
RockRatt said:
I know we don't know for sure any other differences than you mentioned and I HOPE there is not, so to add on to the open question. Will roms that are made for the i9100 work on the att version? Of course with button mapping since hopefully as far as we know right now that appears to be the only difference hardware wise. Unless having the NFC chip will make a big difference.
I am waiting to actually see the att version in hand before I decide whether to go with it or the i9100. Att version pros only are warranty issues fixed easier/quicker. I already have the grandfathered in unlimited data plan so I am not concerned about that (yet, unless they try forcing me from the unlimited plan). Never have or thought I would use the NFC but it does sound convienent. I am used to the att SGS1 Captivate 4 buttons so I actually prefer it. Anything else software/hardware wise that some may think will make it harder for devs to port roms like CM7 to the att version?
Sent from My KickAss Captivated CM7 OC'd 1.5Ghz/Undervolted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
another pro for I9100... updates are released sooner and quicker. Let's hope that the US variants of the I9100 don't suffer the same fate of delayed updates like the I9000 variants. Granted, custom ROMs fix this issue most of the time.
boxcar8028 said:
the att sg2 has a smaller screen 4.3 not 4.5
http://carltonzone.com/blog/official-details-samsung-galaxy-s2-attain-att/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The i9100 and ATT's variant both share the same 4.3inch screen - there is no difference. Sprint and T-Mo's variants will have the 4.5inch screen similar to that of the Infuse.
Ok, just a disclaimer (I am well-aware of my n00b status here)... I spent quite a few hours already on this site and on the Android forums, and on Google searching for answers to this... Not to mention time at the AT&T store and chatting w/some other phone reps (including Samsung tech support and AT&T tech support)... And while I've made some progress, I still can't get any definitive answers here.
So... that being said, first (and big 'sigh' I'm sure to many) is that I'm using a South Korea Note - the SHV-E160S. I know this is the I717 forums, but before I get flamed and booted, let me explain...
Well, I am on AT&T. No problems with calls or texting (minus the annoying 80-character limit, but anyways)... However, I have a BIG problem with the LTE. I'm on the LTE data plan, however, I cannot access any data network other than GPRS. Yes, my pings take about 533ms. My download speeds are about 53kb/s. This sucks, quite a lot. Esp when compared to my fiance's Note, which side-by-side gets about 13mb/s on the LTE network.
So... Did some research, and got the run-around... Less all the crap I heard from AT&T reps... It seems that the antenna for my Note is set to LTE850/LTE1800, and the actual AT&T SGH-I717's antenna is set to LTE700/LTE1700/2100. My sources for this come from PDAdb.net (I'd hyperlink, but my post count is not high enough to do that, yet).
So... Here come the questions. First... Is the antenna frequency tuning something built-into the hardware, or is it something that can be tuned via software?
-If it's in the hardware, would it be possible to buy an AT&T-spec LTE antenna? Which antenna gets replaced (from what I understand, there are two, and I can't find a legit source that tells me which is which), and where could I buy such a thing?
-If it's in the software, what would I have to do to re-tune the antenna? My phone is rooted with the latest Gingerbread Tegrak kernel.
Lastly... Though there is a difference between the LTE antennas... I still cannot access any network other than GPRS. I should at least be able to access EDGE, UMTS, HSDPA, HSUPA and HSPA+ as well, but I can't.
If ALL else fails, I guess I could get a portable tethering device with a contract... But that'd be oh-so-annoying to have to carry around all the time, and I'd like to avoid that option as much as possible. I'm paying $30/mo for LTE service on my phone already!
Anyways... Any thoughts or advice would be very appreciated, and my apologies if anything here is out-of-place. Thanks in advance!
U have the international note. Doesn't have late chip in it. But ur note has better CPU then the att note. The international note CPU is not comparable with att lte chipset that's y Samsung use 2different CPU. Yes u should be able to get 3g. Reset your apn. And search around. To find the code to reset your apn. I forgot. Its something like *2260*
I had an international first, had to rest everything to get data. But after few days. I return it cos I prefer to have lte speed more then CPU speed. And I found out the u can just over clock att note to 1.85 instead of stock 1.5. So now I am very happy with my att note.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
Hmm I'm not sure if this method works with the International Note but it's worth a try. You need to get into ServiceMode. On your phone dialer keypad type *#2263# and choose 2 WCDMA Band Preference and select (6) WCDMA all.
Reply with your findings.
babymatteo said:
Hmm I'm not sure if this method works with the International Note but it's worth a try. You need to get into ServiceMode. On your phone dialer keypad type *#2263# and choose 2 WCDMA Band Preference and select (6) WCDMA all.
Reply with your findings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip, but all I get is an error: "Connection problem or invalid MMI code."
:\
Maybe the issue is your kernal and/or radio? Isn't the Tegrak kernal Korean? Most likely your radio is also. That is probably your issue. The way I see it you have 3 choices: Live with it, Sell it and buy an I717 variant, Take the risk and at least flash the ATT Gingerbread radio.
home screen/ menu/ system settings/ more/ mobile networks/ access point names/ AT&T
Do all your entries match these? Write down your current ones before changing or take screen shots. You must use the menu key and save changes. Also make sure that is the APN checked after rebooting.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7226/7298567918_306aaab920.jpg
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7236/7298567982_82c3b41861.jpg
chak29 said:
U have the international note. Doesn't have late chip in it. But ur note has better CPU then the att note. The international note CPU is not comparable with att lte chipset that's y Samsung use 2different CPU. Yes u should be able to get 3g. Reset your apn. And search around. To find the code to reset your apn. I forgot. Its something like *2260*
I had an international first, had to rest everything to get data. But after few days. I return it cos I prefer to have lte speed more then CPU speed. And I found out the u can just over clock att note to 1.85 instead of stock 1.5. So now I am very happy with my att note.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
he doesn't have the international note(n7000) he has the South Korea Note - the SHV-E160S (he says it in OP), which it has the same processor as ours but some minor diferences in other things.
To the OP, why do you have a korean Note when from your avatar you're in the US?, I'm sure there's your problem, that note is set to use bands in korea and not in US, so the data is going to be crap, and for you to attempt to swap out the antenna is risking braking the phone because you run a chance after swapping it, not working and not having a working phone anymore.
aj_vogtman said:
home screen/ menu/ more/ mobile networks/ access point names/ AT&T
Do all your entries match these? Write down your current ones before changing or take screen shots. You must use the menu key and save changes. Also make sure that is the APN checked after rebooting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I matched the APN settings of my fiancee's LTE Note first, and that did not work... It's pretty much exactly what you have posted. However, there are a couple things of note (bad pun, sorry). I do not have a 'APN enable/disable' or 'Bearer' field... However, everything else is set the same.
roloracer said:
To the OP, why do you have a korean Note when from your avatar you're in the US?, I'm sure there's your problem, that note is set to use bands in korea and not in US, so the data is going to be crap, and for you to attempt to swap out the antenna is risking braking the phone because you run a chance after swapping it, not working and not having a working phone anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a Korean Note because I was living in Korea for a while, and I just got back to the US last week.
As in my OP, I found that the LTE bands are different; however, I can't even get on any other data networks other than GPRS. I've tried some APNs for HSPA+, and the results are the same.
Swapping the antennas shouldn't be THAT big of a deal if I had to... I'm pretty mechanically inclined. Obviously, I need to know if it would provide the intended results or not first.
Pscheoverdrive said:
I have a Korean Note because I was living in Korea for a while, and I just got back to the US last week.
As in my OP, I found that the LTE bands are different; however, I can't even get on any other data networks other than GPRS. I've tried some APNs for HSPA+, and the results are the same.
Swapping the antennas shouldn't be THAT big of a deal if I had to... I'm pretty mechanically inclined. Obviously, I need to know if it would provide the intended results or not first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, was just wondering where you got a Korean note. hope you can figure it out and good luck.
Sent from my CM9 Note.
Hello,
I have an AT&T i777 rooted running Shostock2 and I am looking to buy the international version for my daughter. Trying to separate from my contract lockup with AT&T.
What exactly is the difference between the different 9100 models (G, T, etc), and is there a better one among them? I want the most reliable one (in case the different processors makes any difference in that regard) and also one that would allow rooting and custom ROMs.
Also, it needs to work with any U.S. carrier at the highest speed that they offer. I saw one on eBay but it says "Will not work with T-Mobile or Simple Mobile 3G/4G speeds" and I am not sure why.
Thanks in advance.
Imo u'd decide to get i9100G as it powered by TI OMAP SoC which mostly being open sourced to support better & early development. But if u want it to come with NFC featured i9100P is.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S_II
I wonder how much of a "deal breaker" should NFC capability be. Looks like it is very difficult to find a P model in the US. I could probably go with T-Mobile one but from what I read it is a bit inferior to the AT&T and International models.
Then again - what if I do want the T-Mobile's 4G speeds....tough decision
sbi1 said:
I wonder how much of a "deal breaker" should NFC capability be. Looks like it is very difficult to find a P model in the US. I could probably go with T-Mobile one but from what I read it is a bit inferior to the AT&T and International models.
Then again - what if I do want the T-Mobile's 4G speeds....tough decision
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NFC=android beam, mobile cc payments, transferring files by tapping.
And maybe speed will also sacrifices power (batt), like 2G vs 3G/H+..
Intl i9100 maybe ur easy deal but maybe 2nd P var.? Ebay?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Adam Hui said:
NFC=android beam, mobile cc payments, transferring files by tapping.
And maybe speed will also sacrifices power (batt), like 2G vs 3G/H+..
Intl i9100 maybe ur easy deal but maybe 2nd P var.? Ebay?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is "2nd P Var.?" I am looking at eBay, almost impossible to find P on eBay for selling/shipping to U.S.
I meant second hand stuff buddy, sorry..
Just forget s2.. why don't u be patience & wait for lg or sony nexus4 as it's next Google golden boy. U'll taste pure aosp & find the updates dancing in ur phone w/o brand or carrier resistance..
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Adam Hui said:
I meant second hand stuff buddy, sorry..
Just forget s2.. why don't u be patience & wait for lg or sony nexus4 as it's next Google golden boy. U'll taste pure aosp & find the updates dancing in ur phone w/o brand or carrier resistance..
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, first of all, it's for my daughter, not me , she is the one who needs to be patient. But her old phone (Samsung Solstice 2, which is a piece of crap) is dying, it gets stuck all the time, turns off by itself, etc. She needs a new phone.
Second, I am not a big fan of Sony phones and/or LG phones. We had LG before (not a smart phone) and it was too a piece of crap. I am 100% convinced that in recent years, when the Smart Phones started to become so popular and companies started making so much money off of data plans, the manufacturers deliberately made the 'dumb' phones crappy, there is no other explanation for it.
I believe that Samsung and HTC are the best phones in the market these days (Android), not really sure I could like a 'Sony'.
sbi1 said:
Hello,
I have an AT&T i777 rooted running Shostock2 and I am looking to buy the international version for my daughter. Trying to separate from my contract lockup with AT&T.
What exactly is the difference between the different 9100 models (G, T, etc), and is there a better one among them? I want the most reliable one (in case the different processors makes any difference in that regard) and also one that would allow rooting and custom ROMs.
Also, it needs to work with any U.S. carrier at the highest speed that they offer. I saw one on eBay but it says "Will not work with T-Mobile or Simple Mobile 3G/4G speeds" and I am not sure why.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have a few options, but just keep in mind that the standard i9100 has the largest userbase, the most external support, and the quickest official updates from Samsung. In fact, these "similar yet different" models of the first Galaxy S were the first to lose official support. The i9100p may sound nice with NFC, but one feature isn't worth potentially losing out on updates. The i9100G uses a lesser version of the SOC found in the Galaxy Nexus. Unless the storage is a concern, the Galaxy Nexus would be a better (and cheaper) option in this case.
So, that leaves you with the vanilla GT-I9100, and it's still a kick-ass phone IMO. Comes in several colors but black and white are the easiest to find. Bonus if you get the black one, it will work on AT&T's medianet plan, which is truly unlimited data, no throttling, and no wifi hotspot restrictions, and it's $15/mo (or $10/mo if you have unlimited text). I've been using this for the past year and change. Added myself to my wfie's family plan and it cost us $9.99/mo for the line, $10/mo for the data, and that was it. I'm on pace to use over 30GB this month and I don't care
sbi1 said:
Well, first of all, it's for my daughter, not me , she is the one who needs to be patient. But her old phone (Samsung Solstice 2, which is a piece of crap) is dying, it gets stuck all the time, turns off by itself, etc. She needs a new phone.
Second, I am not a big fan of Sony phones and/or LG phones. We had LG before (not a smart phone) and it was too a piece of crap. I am 100% convinced that in recent years, when the Smart Phones started to become so popular and companies started making so much money off of data plans, the manufacturers deliberately made the 'dumb' phones crappy, there is no other explanation for it.
I believe that Samsung and HTC are the best phones in the market these days (Android), not really sure I could like a 'Sony'.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nexus=Google phone
Whatever the brands that google has choosen to be a nexus device is android best choice... the only deal breaker is lack of external sdcard supported..
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
You could maybe send a PM to a helpful guy called ctomgee.He knows about US phones and could advise you best variant,providers etc.
Once you get a phone,you can then install custom roms etc,which gives the phone a new lease of life.
theunderling said:
You could maybe send a PM to a helpful guy called ctomgee.He knows about US phones and could advise you best variant,providers etc.
Once you get a phone,you can then install custom roms etc,which gives the phone a new lease of life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate the endorsement of my knowledge, but please don't PM me, or encourage others to do so.
sbi1 said:
Hello,
I have an AT&T i777 rooted running Shostock2 and I am looking to buy the international version for my daughter. Trying to separate from my contract lockup with AT&T.
What exactly is the difference between the different 9100 models (G, T, etc), and is there a better one among them? I want the most reliable one (in case the different processors makes any difference in that regard) and also one that would allow rooting and custom ROMs.
Also, it needs to work with any U.S. carrier at the highest speed that they offer. I saw one on eBay but it says "Will not work with T-Mobile or Simple Mobile 3G/4G speeds" and I am not sure why.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About phones working or not working with T-Mobile in the US, this is why; T-Mobile (at the moment, for their overall network) uses AWS for high-speed mobile data. AWS requires both 1700 mhz and 2100 mhz to get 3g/4g, as it uses one frequency for uplink, and the other for downlink. If one phone is not capable of receiving one of the frequencies, then the best mobile data speed the device will receive is Edge.
Now, they (T-mobile USA) are currently in the process of repurposing the spectrum of the 1900 mhz band they use now for Edge data and voice, to use it for high speed data instead. This will allow some phones that currently only get Edge speeds on T-mobile USA's network to get their "4g" speeds. That includes many of AT&T's phones (if they're unlocked), and the i9100, which receives high speed mobile data on 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 mhz. (notice the missing 1700 - which is why it won't necessarily get high speed on T-mobile USA's network... unless the market you're in has already had the repurposing of the 1900 mhz band)
However, this repurposing has already only happened in a handful of markets, though the rollout is currently underway.
Hope this makes sense.
EDIT to add:
Also, about the different I9100 variants - there are minor differences between the I9100, and the variants I9100P/T/M.
The P variant includes NFC, the T variant has a slight variance with the SAR values for the radio (so modems specifically for the T model work best for that model), and the M variant is simply a branded regional variant for the Canadian market (as far as I can tell). The CPU/GPU/SoC are all the same for these 4 variants.
The I9100G has a completely different CPU/GPU/SoC chipset, so firmwares, kernels, and ROMs are NOT compatible between this one variant, and the four listed above. But for most users, the performance between this variant and the others are very similar and comparable.
That said, they all have the same antenna/radio hardware, so what I said above regarding data speeds on T-Mobile USA above applies to all of them. This also means they all work just fine for high speed data on AT&T's network.
Ok tom.
I came in here to add to my previous post about which phones (and why) will/will not work on T-Mobile, but Tom beat me to it, so I'll just simply add this:
If you want 2G/3G/4G now and in the future, get the Galaxy Nexus as it's pentaband.
If you're ok with 2G and don't mind waiting on 3G/4G, get any phone, like the i9100, that supports the 1900mhz band. T-Mobile stated that they anticipate their 1900mhz refarm to conclude in mid-2013 and will cover ALL 229 current AWS HSPA+ markets.
jaykresge said:
Bonus if you get the black one, it will work on AT&T's medianet plan, which is truly unlimited data, no throttling, and no wifi hotspot restrictions, and it's $15/mo (or $10/mo if you have unlimited text). I've been using this for the past year and change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, can you elaborate on this a bit? What do you mean by "black" one? Is a black I9100 different from a white one other than color?
Also, are you referring to AT&T's 'non-smart phone unlimited plan'?
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda app-developers app
Thank you all.
ctomgee said:
I appreciate the endorsement of my knowledge, but please don't PM me, or encourage others to do so.
About phones working or not working with T-Mobile in the US, this is why; T-Mobile (at the moment, for their overall network) uses AWS for high-speed mobile data. AWS requires both 1700 mhz and 2100 mhz to get 3g/4g, as it uses one frequency for uplink, and the other for downlink. If one phone is not capable of receiving one of the frequencies, then the best mobile data speed the device will receive is Edge.
Now, they (T-mobile USA) are currently in the process of repurposing the spectrum of the 1900 mhz band they use now for Edge data and voice, to use it for high speed data instead. This will allow some phones that currently only get Edge speeds on T-mobile USA's network to get their "4g" speeds. That includes many of AT&T's phones (if they're unlocked), and the i9100, which receives high speed mobile data on 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 mhz. (notice the missing 1700 - which is why it won't necessarily get high speed on T-mobile USA's network... unless the market you're in has already had the repurposing of the 1900 mhz band)
However, this repurposing has already only happened in a handful of markets, though the rollout is currently underway.
Hope this makes sense.
EDIT to add:
Also, about the different I9100 variants - there are minor differences between the I9100, and the variants I9100P/T/M.
The P variant includes NFC, the T variant has a slight variance with the SAR values for the radio (so modems specifically for the T model work best for that model), and the M variant is simply a branded regional variant for the Canadian market (as far as I can tell). The CPU/GPU/SoC are all the same for these 4 variants.
The I9100G has a completely different CPU/GPU/SoC chipset, so firmwares, kernels, and ROMs are NOT compatible between this one variant, and the four listed above. But for most users, the performance between this variant and the others are very similar and comparable.
That said, they all have the same antenna/radio hardware, so what I said above regarding data speeds on T-Mobile USA above applies to all of them. This also means they all work just fine for high speed data on AT&T's network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for a broad response. I learned something new!
We don't necessarily want to be on T-Mobile, I mentioned T-Mobile because I want to have options...I don't want to be locked to one carrier and T-Mobile offers a great deal with "bring your own unlocked phone, get a sim card with unlimited text/data". So it was just brought as an option for us to have.
In any case, I did offer a T-Mobile (T989) version to my daughter, she "kindly" refused...she does not want to see any logo on her phone . She also doesn't care much about the NFC, even though this can be 'fixed' through an SD card solution if (as she says) "The government will force you to have NFC..." , so I am now just looking for a good deal on a I9100 version.
BTW - what is the Nexus?! I am not familiar with it at all. Does it also come in branded (AT&T, T-Mobile, etc) as well as unlocked?
Thanks again.
sbi1 said:
what is the Nexus?! I am not familiar with it at all. Does it also come in branded (AT&T, T-Mobile, etc) as well as unlocked?
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nexus is the 'pure' android phone. Comes with stock android. No OEM bloatware or UI like Samsung's TouchWiz or HTC's SenseUI.
The biggest advantage of nexus phones however, is that they're the first to get any android update.
And yes, you do get it unlocked as well.
Hope it helps.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
sbi1 said:
Thank you all.
Thank you for a broad response. I learned something new!
We don't necessarily want to be on T-Mobile, I mentioned T-Mobile because I want to have options...I don't want to be locked to one carrier and T-Mobile offers a great deal with "bring your own unlocked phone, get a sim card with unlimited text/data". So it was just brought as an option for us to have.
In any case, I did offer a T-Mobile (T989) version to my daughter, she "kindly" refused...she does not want to see any logo on her phone . She also doesn't care much about the NFC, even though this can be 'fixed' through an SD card solution if (as she says) "The government will force you to have NFC..." , so I am now just looking for a good deal on a I9100 version.
BTW - what is the Nexus?! I am not familiar with it at all. Does it also come in branded (AT&T, T-Mobile, etc) as well as unlocked?
Thanks again.
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As HAXTREME said above. Plus: http://www.google.com/nexus
sbi1 said:
OK, can you elaborate on this a bit? What do you mean by "black" one? Is a black I9100 different from a white one other than color?
Also, are you referring to AT&T's 'non-smart phone unlimited plan'?
Sent from my SGH-I777 using xda app-developers app
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I don't know why that guy differentiated between the black i9100 and the white i9100. As far as I know, there shouldn't be a difference between them, unless someone can provide us information otherwise.
EDIT: ah. I was curious and did a search on this. Apparently many have reported that their white i9100 gets flagged as a blackberry by AT&T for some reason, causing a bump in their data plan to the 2Gb tiered data plan. I didn't know this. I find that curious.
ctomgee said:
EDIT: ah. I was curious and did a search on this. Apparently many have reported that their white i9100 gets flagged as a blackberry by AT&T for some reason, causing a bump in their data plan to the 2Gb tiered data plan. I didn't know this. I find that curious.
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Interesting. I tried Google for 'difference' between them and didn't see anything. It sounds odd to me, to say the least. Question is - did those who report this issue also had a black one, to compare how AT&T "reads" their phone. Really doesn't make sense, but I am curious too.
Figured I'd come back and answer some questions, but thanks again to Tom for taking care of that To elaborate a bit further:
Whether or not your phone will work on AT&T's medianet plan is determined by whether or not they have loaded the device's IMEI database into their system. If they have, then they can detect your phone and will not allow medianet access. The international SGS3 and the Galaxy Nexus have already been detected. The white i9100 (SGS2) is detected as a Blackberry as it has a different IMEI database than the black or pink models. However, if you do get a device to use with AT&T medianet, understand that they can change this at anytime. Just ask Nexus and SGS3 owners who got caught 2-3 weeks ago
Based on your needs, there are two phones that I would recommend, and here's the links to the recommended purchase places.
Galaxy Nexus ($349)- This is the official Google phone, relatively cheap, always has the latest version of Android. Downside is that is only has 16GB internal storage and no support for MicroSD. 720p screen
Samsung Galaxy SII (black - $470 / white - $530)- The flagship android device from 2011 by most estimates, still a solid phone for today. Comes with 16GB internal, official support for 32GB MicroSD, but will support 64GB MicroSDXC unofficially. , 800x480 screen though. The black one will work on AT&T medianet, white one will not.
If you use on T-Mobile, or a T-Mobile MVNO such as Simple Mobile or Straight Talk w/TMO sim, you will get full 2G/3G/4G access with the Galaxy Nexus (before, during, and after the refarm). As for the SGS2s, you will get full 2G everywhere, but no 3G/4G in areas not yet refarmed. In areas that are refarmed, you will get full 2G/3G/4G. T-Mobile says that the refarming will be complete by mid-2013. You can check the current status of the refarming here:
http://airportal.de/
If you want to get her something top of the line instead of those former-fastest phones, you can look at the SGS3 unlocked, or wait 9 days to see the official unveiling of the new Nexus phone. Who knows, we may even see a $50 price drop on the Galaxy Nexus
the s3 is the same build in europe and america, but because samsung couldnt get lte working with their processor in time, they used a different one in the US. most of you know this. europe is finally starting to get 4g right? (took you long enough), do you think well see the exact same model released (with just maybe different radio bands) in both?
as an american phone user, you either buy the international phone and and get development, or you buy the US one and get monster LTE 50mbps.. i want both. its not just our side that would benefit tho. development wouldnt be split between regions, it could all be shared and collaborated. well im asking if you think itll happen, not convincing you why its a good idea lol..
so do you guys think itll happen?
Most probably yes, samsung was not ready with lte based exynos soc when s3 was launched, hence the variation. If you see note 2 the spec is almost same everywhere
《posted from my beast》
Will the different LTE frequencies still not cause an issue then?
With each carrier having there own model?
Mike Blitz said:
Will the different LTE frequencies still not cause an issue then?
With each carrier having there own model?
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lol that does raise new problems that didnt exist before.. i dont know what frequencies you guys will use, but i dont think that really matters much.. every carrier will have their own radio im sure. but as long as the rest of the phone is the same, development wont matter.. just as you can flash firmware XXYZ with modem XXAB and there wont be any problems, you could flash SGS4 firmware XXXDA with any number of modems.
its also possible that samsung could release a modem with multi regional support, so all carriers could use it.. but i dont really see this happening.
As well as using different frequencies, the USA uses two completely technologies namely gsm and CDMA.
Maybe in time, the chips used in phones will be small enough to work on all the frequencies/technologies.
S
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk (how ironic is that eh)
I have a dreaded Verizon. For the time being, I really only need to alter the radios to tune for Tmobile frequencies. No one seems to advertise or understand this but since the S4 is fully capable of nearly every frequency world wide, and I get next to no signal when on T mobile, I believe Verizon purposely only turned on frequencies that they use.
So, unless someone else has a slick work around for the time being, I will have to figure out a root procedure for this configuration. I looked at this late last year and seemed to be a big hurdle.
King root seems to be inconsistent. What are my options for this?
cobra112 said:
I have a dreaded Verizon. For the time being, I really only need to alter the radios to tune for Tmobile frequencies. No one seems to advertise or understand this but since the S4 is fully capable of nearly every frequency world wide, and I get next to no signal when on T mobile, I believe Verizon purposely only turned on frequencies that they use.
So, unless someone else has a slick work around for the time being, I will have to figure out a root procedure for this configuration. I looked at this late last year and seemed to be a big hurdle.
King root seems to be inconsistent. What are my options for this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not possible
sorry
the only way it could work is that if you had a i545 running a MDK which lets you run custom kernels
as of now there is no way to flash non-verizon modems to the device
Mobile Networks> Network Mode>
select UTS/GSM is about all you can do
verizon even remove the service menu that shows the available bands
Wow, Verizon must have done their homework on locking down phones. That boot loader is hosery. I consider this much like the government forcing them to give the keys, but did not say they had to put air in the tires. Without the ability to run or select alternate frequencies, service is a no-go
I am mostly in desktop computers but curious why these phones are not being wipes and reloaded with a new OS from scratch? Why all the work arounds and hacks? What am I missing? Does Android have all this on lock down?
cobra112 said:
Wow, Verizon must have done their homework on locking down phones. That boot loader is hosery. I consider this much like the government forcing them to give the keys, but did not say they had to put air in the tires. Without the ability to run or select alternate frequencies, service is a no-go
I am mostly in desktop computers but curious why these phones are not being wipes and reloaded with a new OS from scratch? Why all the work arounds and hacks? What am I missing? Does Android have all this on lock down?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its entirely samsung and verizon's doing
S4 Is a terrible device you would be better off with something like a huawei honor or moto g or moto X
I am curious about your phone selections. My basic needs are only a high end device with good signal, mic, speaker, display, battery life, and memory capacity. However, I really felt I MUST have a phone with SD card ability but I really don't remove it, I don't take many pictures, and probably don't need that feature.
What I DON'T want is a device that is HUGE. I like the size of the S4. T mobile felt sorry for my phone issues and gave me an LG Leon. I simply hate it.
I should mention that I later intend to consider writing some custom apps for basic wifi and blue tooth functions so I want a playground that affords me some latitude.
cobra112 said:
I am curious about your phone selections. My basic needs are only a high end device with good signal, mic, speaker, display, battery life, and memory capacity. However, I really felt I MUST have a phone with SD card ability but I really don't remove it, I don't take many pictures, and probably don't need that feature.
What I DON'T want is a device that is HUGE. I like the size of the S4. T mobile felt sorry for my phone issues and gave me an LG Leon. I simply hate it.
I should mention that I later intend to consider writing some custom apps for basic wifi and bluetooth functions so I want a playground that affords me some latitude.
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Click to collapse
then the honor x5 is what you want its slightly wider then the s4 5.64 5.53 has sd dual sim dual radio and a factory unlockable bootloader
http://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_5x-7590.php
remember huawei is the OEM for google meaning they designed and manufactured the nexus 5x and 6p
Thank you! I find phone shopping to be rather daunting. I see a lot of developers using the Nexus product but also see a lot of people using Samsung due to all their included gadgets on board.
One thing that may be handy is the IR emitter. Is there a site that compares different products well? I do notice the honor does not get high marks for their display performance.
As well, due to using T mobile, I am unsure on compatibility. I need to know if the boot loader is responsible for toggling certain bands on/off? If I buy an honor for ATT, I assume it will be toggled for ATT frequencies? Since the BL is unlocked, can I toggle other bands to ensure I get the best service possible?
cobra112 said:
Thank you! I find phone shopping to be rather daunting. I see a lot of developers using the Nexus product but also see a lot of people using Samsung due to all their included gadgets on board.
One thing that may be handy is the IR emitter. Is there a site that compares different products well? I do notice the honor does not get high marks for their display performance.
As well, due to using T mobile, I am unsure on compatibility. I need to know if the boot loader is responsible for toggling certain bands on/off? If I buy an honor for ATT, I assume it will be toggled for ATT frequencies? Since the BL is unlocked, can I toggle other bands to ensure I get the best service possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
click the compare button on gsm arena
idk why you said the honor doesn't get high marks 1080p ips is pretty dam good
tho I guess some `review sites`
having a 2 or 4k display on your phone does no good if the gpu can't drive it
it will look real pretty but real world performance will suffer
different phones vs different carriers e.g CDMA phone like the i545 verizon s4 can not be used on GSM carriers such as ATT and Tmobile
read here for more info on that http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2407896,00.asp
a unlocked bootloader grants you the ability to run custom roms and flash certain portions of the phone that are normally inaccessible
the bootloader has nothing todo with radio bands
the honor or any other factory unlocked phone should work on your carrier without issue
Thank you! I guess my only real requirement in the display is having one I can actually see outdoors! Amazing how poor the screen is on this old LG leon.
Maybe you can help me better understand how the bands are configured and/or locked on a phone? The reason I ask is the Verizon Galaxy S4 is technically capable of all bands that Tmobile uses yet I see poor functionality with it, indicating tome it is not picking up certain frequencies. I made the assumption the boot loader would be isolating the bands? Is this software controlled? Or not at all? Which would leave me wondering.
For reference, the Verizon S4 DOES work on Tmobile though. It holds 4GLTE signal but texts will not go out because I believe Tmobile is using 2G or 3G for that.
The way I assumed this worked is the phone is capable of a WIDE range of bands and frequencies, but the service provider would invoke only certain frequencies that they use?
cobra112 said:
Thank you! I guess my only real requirement in the display is having one I can actually see outdoors! Amazing how poor the screen is on this old LG leon.
Maybe you can help me better understand how the bands are configured and/or locked on a phone? The reason I ask is the Verizon Galaxy S4 is technically capable of all bands that Tmobile uses yet I see poor functionality with it, indicating tome it is not picking up certain frequencies. I made the assumption the boot loader would be isolating the bands? Is this software controlled? Or not at all? Which would leave me wondering.
For reference, the Verizon S4 DOES work on Tmobile though. It holds 4GLTE signal but texts will not go out because I believe Tmobile is using 2G or 3G for that.
The way I assumed this worked is the phone is capable of a WIDE range of bands and frequencies, but the service provider would invoke only certain frequencies that they use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if its holding lte then all you need todo is change the APN to point to t-mobiles servers (store should have offered todo this for you)
t mobile uses slightly differing frequencies depending on your area you are lucky enough to be in one of the area's that use the higher bands
instructions are here https://support.t-mobile.com/docs/DOC-2090
this will not change the fact that you may or may not get data signal depending on where you are connecting too
I would install textra from the playstore and set it as your mms app it has some over-rides for the apn settings if it won't let you change it via the system UI
alt instructions use the`fast` for lte
http://www.4gtricks.com/2013/04/t-mobile-4g-apn-t-mobile-4g-apn-settings.html
Right now the S4 indicated locked to 4GLTE but signal is -90dbm, 50asu. I tested data and I am able to use it though it is slow. I, however, still cannot send an sms. I am able to edit settings for the APN but have verified all settings are per tmobile specs. Any ideas where to go from here?
In the network modes, I am able to chose, 1) global, 2)LTE/CDMA 3) LTE/GSM/UMTS
I have it on LTE/GSM/UMTS right now. IIRC, the GSM is the 2G/3G for sms and voice?
Is it possible that the I545 is trying to operate on the Verizon 750mhz instead of the 700mhz of Tmobile?
cobra112 said:
Right now the S4 indicated locked to 4GLTE but signal is -90dbm, 50asu. I tested data and I am able to use it though it is slow. I, however, still cannot send an sms. I am able to edit settings for the APN but have verified all settings are per tmobile specs. Any ideas where to go from here?
In the network modes, I am able to chose, 1) global, 2)LTE/CDMA 3) LTE/GSM/UMTS
I have it on LTE/GSM/UMTS right now. IIRC, the GSM is the 2G/3G for sms and voice?
Is it possible that the I545 is trying to operate on the Verizon 750mhz instead of the 700mhz of Tmobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.simplyadvanced.ltediscovery&hl=en\
should tell you what band its connecting on
install textra and go into its options and enable the 't mobile fix'
OK, I loaded Textra and LTE recovery. I honestly am not certain of what I am looking at on the LTE app but looks like I am connecting to band 4 LTE. At that time, I could not and still cannot send a text. However, at some point, it switched over to a UMTS connection and I was able to fire off texts normally so I know my APN settings are right and there is something odd going on. Textra did nothing different and there is no setting for tmobile other than a wifi setting.
I have read many other people having this exact problem which hovers around those using a verizon S4 on tmobile and upgrading to 5.0 OS.
What I need to figure out, and maybe an area that would require another thread but I need to learn if I may need to reflash the modem to function properly on tmobile and if that can even be considered on an unrooted, boot loader phone? If not, what are the best options? Just dump the phone and get something else? I read of a few roots on the OC1 platform but not sure on that.
If I knew my efforts would work and I knew what I needed to do to fix this issue, I would. I almost just upgraded to the latest revision hoping for a patch in there but not sure I should do that if I want to root? Is OC1 and above all the same for rooting issues?
you don't even have to root to work around this. you can downgrade modem to MDK build. Then use QPST/QXDM to change item 6828 to value 4096
Sins07, I am very interested in the modem mods you suggest as I also came to the conclusion the modem is the issue.
Would I out of line to ask if you can dumb this down a little for a newbie? You mention downgrading the modem only and was not aware you could do that. Can you explain how this modem issue is occuring and how the modem mods will fix it?