Hey everyone,
I just searched this topic and didn't find any definitive answers so I thought I'd ask...
Anyways is the VZW Galaxy S4 SIM unlocked out of the box? I keep reading the new VZW releases in 2012 and onwards are according to the VZW forums and website but then I found a post of someone asking VZW for an unlock. It its an official code its easier to just ask VZW as I meet all the requirements (1+ year customer). Also I read that on the S3 the APN settings are blocked on the default VZW firmware unless rooted. Is the APN settings on the S4 open (changeable) by default?
Also what's a realistic battery life you guys are getting out of this phone?
Am comparing phones and need a phone that is:
1. SIM Unlocked and APN settings changable that has VZW's US CDMA and LTE bands PLUS ALL the international bands (the 4 GSM and 4 UMTS international bands).
2. Has HSPA+21 at least.
3. Long battery life to last the day.
4. Rootable so I can get rid of VZW crap and increase the battery life.
I've also not seen any international VZW phones with HSPA+42 dual carrier like Apple's iPhone 5. I'm also debating getting a Android versus iOS phone...
Please read forum rules before posting
Questions and help issues go in Q&A and Help section
Thread moved
Thank you for your cooperation
Friendly Neighborhood Moderator
Recently took my S4 to Brazil and spent a fair bit of time talking to Verizon Global Support before the trip. One of the questions I asked was whether the phone was SIM unlocked so that I could purchase a SIM card while in Brazil and use local service down there. The VZW rep assured me the phone was indeed unlocked, but I did not use a Brazilian SIM card while on travel so I cannot confirm via personal experience.
I can confirm that it is unlocked. I put an active att sim card in, that then allowed me to add the correct apn info. I was then able to make calls and use data.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
willzzz88 said:
Hey everyone,
I just searched this topic and didn't find any definitive answers so I thought I'd ask...
Anyways is the VZW Galaxy S4 SIM unlocked out of the box? I keep reading the new VZW releases in 2012 and onwards are according to the VZW forums and website but then I found a post of someone asking VZW for an unlock. It its an official code its easier to just ask VZW as I meet all the requirements (1+ year customer). Also I read that on the S3 the APN settings are blocked on the default VZW firmware unless rooted. Is the APN settings on the S4 open (changeable) by default?
Also what's a realistic battery life you guys are getting out of this phone?
Am comparing phones and need a phone that is:
1. SIM Unlocked and APN settings changable that has VZW's US CDMA and LTE bands PLUS ALL the international bands (the 4 GSM and 4 UMTS international bands).
2. Has HSPA+21 at least.
3. Long battery life to last the day.
4. Rootable so I can get rid of VZW crap and increase the battery life.
I've also not seen any international VZW phones with HSPA+42 dual carrier like Apple's iPhone 5. I'm also debating getting a Android versus iOS phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The SCH-I545 has Quad band GSM/EDGE frequency's (850/900/1800/1900) and Quad band UMTS/HSPA (850/900/1900/2100) As well as AWS bands for LTE (1700/2100) so it should get LTE on T-Mobile. However, it does not have the capabilities to get LTE on AT&T since the SCH-I545 does not have the frequency's to operate on AT&T's LTE network but it will get HSPA+ on both networks. It will work on Sprint as well but it will not get LTE since its two LTE bands, (700 and 1700/2100), are not compatible. Sprint operates on the same CDMA/ Ev-Do bands as VZW so you will get 3G. I can confirm that i have used the SCH-I545 with an AT&T SIM card and i got HSPA+ speeds.
echo1030 said:
The SCH-I545 has Quad band GSM/EDGE frequency's (850/900/1800/1900) and Quad band UMTS/HSPA (850/900/1900/2100) As well as AWS bands for LTE (1700/2100) so it should get LTE on T-Mobile. However, it does not have the capabilities to get LTE on AT&T since the SCH-I545 does not have the frequency's to operate on AT&T's LTE network but it will get HSPA+ on both networks. It will work on Sprint as well but it will not get LTE since its two LTE bands, (700 and 1700/2100), are not compatible. Sprint operates on the same CDMA/ Ev-Do bands as VZW so you will get 3G. I can confirm that i have used the SCH-I545 with an AT&T SIM card and i got HSPA+ speeds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The AWS is there but not activated yet. for now you will only get EDGE on t-mobile unless in a refarmed are you will pickup HSPA. you will however pickup all AWS tis summer when verizon activates that band on our phone.
SOURCE: I'm on the 30$ a month prepaid with t-mobile. edge sucks but it works.
att sim in verizon sg4
Silentgray said:
I can confirm that it is unlocked. I put an active att sim card in, that then allowed me to add the correct apn info. I was then able to make calls and use data.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
I have had the same outcome, voice and data work, BUT data is only HPSA+ at best. Do you get 4G LTE or found a way to get it?
Thanks!
ddckylec said:
Hi,
I have had the same outcome, voice and data work, BUT data is only HPSA+ at best. Do you get 4G LTE or found a way to get it?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, but that is because i am not in an area where ATT has LTE turned on. South Dakota is still on the waiting list. Verizon uses different frequencies for LTE then ATT does.
Verizon has never locked their phones, even the CDMA ones. If you put a non Verizon SIM in you can change the APN settings
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk
I'm using an at&t sim in this phone but it won't use their lte. Is it possible to enable their band on the Verizon chipset? Is the chipset simply software limited or is it a completely different chip?
I'm wondering if flashing the AT&T modem is an option.
It depends upon what your phone is capable of and what services are in place where you live if you have a 4G phone and still no lte try a signal booster it will refresh your connections and refresh your network
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Free mobile app
Domush said:
I'm using an at&t sim in this phone but it won't use their lte. Is it possible to enable their band on the Verizon chipset? Is the chipset simply software limited or is it a completely different chip?
I'm wondering if flashing the AT&T modem is an option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never flash another modem from another carrier. By searching this very topic you will see that you may not get a signal again after trying, or a brick.
Also no. Radios on hardware level don't support the att frequencies and bands for their lte. Att lte uses 700 and 1700 for the freqs with bands 17 and 4 respectively. The schi605 only has lte for 700 mhz on band 13.
I live in the California AT&T service area. I have been trying to find out the 4G and LTE bands on the intl and ATT Versions. If I buy the intl version will it be compatible with AT&T LTE bands? Ideally I would like to buy the intl version so that I can get the OS updates when Samsung releases them without waiting the extra time for AT&T to release the upgrade. I also dont want the AT&T bloatware.
gravyplaya said:
I live in the California AT&T service area. I have been trying to find out the 4G and LTE bands on the intl and ATT Versions. If I buy the intl version will it be compatible with AT&T LTE bands? Ideally I would like to buy the intl version so that I can get the OS updates when Samsung releases them without waiting the extra time for AT&T to release the upgrade. I also dont want the AT&T bloatware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
International variant, as long as it supports the LTE bands. I even converted my M8 into Developer Edition because I disliked the bloatware from AT&T and because OTAS take soooo long to appear with AT&T branded devices.
Does anyone know if the intl version supports att lte?
Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk
I'm thinking about doing the same thing and buying the international variant. I have a Moto X Pure Edition, and I love not having carrier bloatware.
Sent from my ATRIX HD using XDA Free mobile app
Does anyone know whether the radios for AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon and international version are different, such as with the LG G3? Normally gsmarena has info on the frequencies, but nothing is on there yet. Thanks
The unlocked international version supports the following AT&T LTE frequency/bands:
850/5
1900/2
The following are all of AT&T frequency/bands:
700/12,17
850/5
1700,2100/4
1900/2
I do not know if the model specific and locked to ATT supports all of their bands or remains identical to the international unlocked version. I do know different bands can be activated via firm ware update, like Moto did with the 2nd gen Moto X. The pure edition got updated to support all of ATT bands instead of just a couple.
From the T-mobile website for the Galaxy S6 Edge:
Quad Band GSM;
LTE: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 17;
UMTS: Band I (2100), Band II (1900), Band IV (1700/2100), Band V (850), Band VIII (900)
From the AT&T site for the Galaxy S6 Edge:
4G-LTE Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 29 and 30
3G - UMTS 850/1900/2100MHz
GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900MHz
So the AT&T version seems to cover more bases in terms of LTE coverage e.g. for those wanting LTE coverage in the UK too, the T-mobile version will work on 3 (3) and EE (3 and 7), whereas the AT&T version will work on 3 (3), EE (3 and 7), O2 (20) and Vodafone (20) [LTE bands shown in brackets]
holtenc said:
The unlocked international version supports the following AT&T LTE frequency/bands:
850/5
1900/2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, do you have any link to the specs for the Unlocked International model? Cant find one myself!
Thanks
Pito
Where does one even order an international variant? I cannot find one anywhere?
Pure+ said:
Where does one even order an international variant? I cannot find one anywhere?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.clove.co.uk/
http://www.expansys.com/
Typically from UK but there are from other places too.
Pito
thanks, but i need to buy in US
Pure+ said:
thanks, but i need to buy in US
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can buy from
http://www.expansys-usa.com/
The International Unlocked version is a UK version that is Sim Unlocked and not attached to any carrier (no bloat and no carrier branding). You can't buy a US version unlocked anywhere in the US. Even the stores in the US that sell unlocked International versions are selling the UK one.
Pito
mp2ning said:
Hey, do you have any link to the specs for the Unlocked International model? Cant find one myself!
Thanks
Pito
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.mobicity.com/samsung-galaxy-s6-edge-32gb-4g-lte.html#.VRm74_nF-LE
click the specs tab
Final official answer
I just called an ATT tech and he told me that while I could get the UK/intl version IT WILL BE COMPATIBLE WITH ATT LTE. BUT since not all the bands are supported the intl version will have limited LTE coverage in the US.
For example the intl version only supports 2 of the 4 bands in the US. (Bands 2 and 5, when bands 2, 4, 5, 17 are available). So if the towers near your house are only using bands 2 and 4 you'll get less coverage/signal as if the towers near your house supported more bands.
What? T-Mobile version doesn't support band 12 LTE?
gravyplaya said:
I just called an ATT tech and he told me that while I could get the UK/intl version IT WILL BE COMPATIBLE WITH ATT LTE. BUT since not all the bands are supported the intl version will have limited LTE coverage in the US.
For example the intl version only supports 2 of the 4 bands in the US. (Bands 2 and 5, when bands 2, 4, 5, 17 are available). So if the towers near your house are only using bands 2 and 4 you'll get less coverage/signal as if the towers near your house supported more bands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm... That's interesting because looking at the "Tech Specs" section for the Galaxy S6, as listed for ordering directly from Samsung in the UK, the Galaxy S6 appears to have support for all of the LTE and UMTS bands that are used by AT&T, here in the States:
http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/mobile-devices/smartphones/android/SM-G920FZKABTU
This info is listed on the above link for the Galaxy S6 (model SM-G920F), but (oddly) not for the Edge (SM-G925F) model. It shows the following bands as being supported:
2G GSM
GSM850, GSM900, DCS1800, PCS1900
3G UMTS
B1(2100), B2(1900), B5(850), B8(900)
4G FDD LTE
B1(2100), B2(1900), B3(1800), B4(AWS), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B12(700), B17(700), B18(800), B19(800), B20(800), B26(800)
Unless there's something different about these bands due to the preceding "B" designation before the band number, it looks like the UK version should support LTE bands 2, 4, 5, 17, which is what AT&T are supposed to be using here in the States...
Not sure why Samsung doesn't list the "Tech Specs" on this site for the Edge model, but I would presume and hope they are identical to the Galaxy S6 SM-G920F model they list on their UK site.
Anyone have further details or insight into this? Hopefully I'm not misreading something and spreading erroneous info here!
mp2ning said:
Hey, do you have any link to the specs for the Unlocked International model? Cant find one myself!
Thanks
Pito
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is a link to Samsung UK and the specs for the international S6 version SM-G920F.
gravyplaya said:
I just called an ATT tech and he told me that while I could get the UK/intl version IT WILL BE COMPATIBLE WITH ATT LTE. BUT since not all the bands are supported the intl version will have limited LTE coverage in the US.
For example the intl version only supports 2 of the 4 bands in the US. (Bands 2 and 5, when bands 2, 4, 5, 17 are available). So if the towers near your house are only using bands 2 and 4 you'll get less coverage/signal as if the towers near your house supported more bands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That doesn't sound right based on what I've read. This page says what AT&T uses:
"AT&T 4G HSPA and HSPA+ use 850Mhz(Band 5) and 1900Mhz(Band 2) bands but it all depends on area if they own a license. LTE uses Band 17(700Mhz), Band 5(850Mhz), Band 2(1900Mhz), Band 4(1700/2100Mhz) currently"
Then according to this page the SM-G920F version in the UK does support LTE bands 2, 4, 5, 17. This page (pdadb.net) here seems to show that the SM-G920I also supports those LTE bands. Then in comments on Android Central this page gravage says he owns a G920I and it works without a hitch.
Thoughts? I'm looking into getting the international version as well so I can avoid AT&T's crap.
sbrown23 said:
That doesn't sound right based on what I've read. This page says what AT&T uses:
"AT&T 4G HSPA and HSPA+ use 850Mhz(Band 5) and 1900Mhz(Band 2) bands but it all depends on area if they own a license. LTE uses Band 17(700Mhz), Band 5(850Mhz), Band 2(1900Mhz), Band 4(1700/2100Mhz) currently"
Then according to this page the SM-G920F version in the UK does support LTE bands 2, 4, 5, 17. This page (pdadb.net) here seems to show that the SM-G920I also supports those LTE bands. Then in comments on Android Central this page gravage says he owns a G920I and it works without a hitch.
Thoughts? I'm looking into getting the international version as well so I can avoid AT&T's crap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I live in Mexico but AT&T's variant is the American version with most compatibility in both Mexico & US so I decided to buy that one and just converted it to Developer Edition. So now I have full connectivity without AT&T bloatware and quick OTAs. Hope it helps.
Dropped my att sim card in, added the APN phone and downloaded lte discover. Says currently connected to LTE on band 4.
Just letting yall know.
Also works on T-Mobile...LTE band 4.
If you want to add additional LTE bands on your Verizon Note 3, have a look here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/general/how-to-add-rf-lte-frequency-bands-to-t2886059
http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/general/3g-lte-frequency-nv-items-qualcomm-t2950491
I've done it on the Verizon Note 3, Note 4, Note Edge, and S5... but I'm not sure if's working. I don't know what LTE bands are available in our area. I also need to figure out how to force the phone to connect to a specific LTE band.
Try lte discovery from play store. If that doesn't work you can do the reverse of adding all bands. Remove the ones not needed
LTE Discovery only tells you what LTE band you're on. It doesn't tell what other LTE bands you can connect to and it also doesn't give you the ability to switch to a specific LTE band.
Sent from my SM-N915V using Tapatalk