Sorry to have to ask, but I can't find an answer and I've been searching around.
It's time for my 'free' upgrade, and I was thinking of an LG G3. It's even free with 2-year right now. But I'm tired of getting inferior Verizon versions and dealing with carrier-installed stuff. Would it be to my advantage to just sell the unopened LG G3 and buy an international/generic version? I'm assuming I could activate it on Verizon (then I'd just be bringing my own phone). I would then get wireless charging and hopefully more timely updates and easier unlocking/rooting/etc.
This probably sounds very nooby but I've just been turned off entirely to carrier-specific hassles after my insurance replacement Note 2 was shipped with a sorta-unrootable ROM.
I would buy a Nexus 6 but they're hard to come by and considerably more expensive.
My Verizon G3 was easy to root. But there have been a few updates so not sure about now. Even if you don't root most bloat is uninstallable anyways. A few you just disable. Best Verizon version of a phone yet imo. Olney gripe it's they disabled the F. M. Radio
If you root it's pretty painless to disable the VZW (and LG) bloat.
As of the current shipping 12b software load, you can still restore back to 10b software and root, then choose what you want to do going forward.
The overall phone has been quite nice for the 5 months I've had it. Pretty responsive, good screen. Qi wireless charging works fine on it.
I like the G3 removable SD storage and changeable battery, things I missed on my last phone.
It does have a locked bootloader, which is gotten around by using a Bump exploit. I have a Bump'd twrp installed, been flashing things on it. There seems to be a fair number of third-party ROMs out for it.
Some folks have complained about lack of Lollipop, however you can already get a Cyanogen 12 lollipop implementation for it (I'm waiting for VZW`s official release, and likely will wait a bit after that; Lollipop hasn't been a huge thrill to me on my Nexus 7 2013, some apps don't have a Lollipop implementation yet.
AndrewZorn said:
Sorry to have to ask, but I can't find an answer and I've been searching around.
It's time for my 'free' upgrade, and I was thinking of an LG G3. It's even free with 2-year right now. But I'm tired of getting inferior Verizon versions and dealing with carrier-installed stuff. Would it be to my advantage to just sell the unopened LG G3 and buy an international/generic version? I'm assuming I could activate it on Verizon (then I'd just be bringing my own phone). I would then get wireless charging and hopefully more timely updates and easier unlocking/rooting/etc.
This probably sounds very nooby but I've just been turned off entirely to carrier-specific hassles after my insurance replacement Note 2 was shipped with a sorta-unrootable ROM.
I would buy a Nexus 6 but they're hard to come by and considerably more expensive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The G3 is a great phone and easy to root. You will not be able to use another variant of the G3 on Verizon.
I just bought a G3 on Verizon. Its a one click root app available right now.. Mines didn't ship with the new 12b update but it kept asking me do I want to update my software. Just decline it and install a rooted ROM from the development selection.
I'm also running cm12 and its pretty nice so far. I wish I would've bought this device when it first came out. But I don't notice any difference between the international version and this. Minus the Verizon logo.
The verizon variant should come with 10B out of the box, you can easily root and do what you want from there, if it happens to ship updated past 10B you can downgrade with the LG flash tool, there are threads on how to do this. Verizon does not give you wireless charging but you can purchase the "sticker" for the battery cover and get it working, I got mine from ebay for $8, sticker and charger.
mcerk02 said:
The verizon variant should come with 10B out of the box, you can easily root and do what you want from there, if it happens to ship updated past 10B you can downgrade with the LG flash tool, there are threads on how to do this. Verizon does not give you wireless charging but you can purchase the "sticker" for the battery cover and get it working, I got mine from ebay for $8, sticker and charger.
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Click to collapse
I got a new red one recently (12/24) and it came with 11C
scy1192 said:
I got a new red one recently (12/24) and it came with 11C
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Just use the flash tool to downgrade to 10b if you want root, after that I would recommend install twrp and backup before upgrading to 12b via flash2 method, everything you need to know you can find here http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-lg-g3/general/reference-stock-img-files-t2966958
I just got mine last Monday, used the flash tool to go back to 10b, bumpd it and been flashing away. It's honestly really easy and there are a ton of roms available.
The VZ LG G3 is the first phone that I've found no need to root. With 32 GB plus a 64 GB card space isn't an issue. While rooting is a challenge and challenges can be enjoyable. Challenges also have risks.
Using this phone stock meets my needs; why root for the sake of rooting? If you have a specific need that is worth the time to root (and time to keep your root current) then rooting may be the proper choice.
28cliff said:
The VZ LG G3 is the first phone that I've found no need to root. With 32 GB plus a 64 GB card space isn't an issue. While rooting is a challenge and challenges can be enjoyable. Challenges also have risks.
Using this phone stock meets my needs; why root for the sake of rooting? If you have a specific need that is worth the time to root (and time to keep your root current) then rooting may be the proper choice.
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Wireless Tether
drozek said:
Wireless Tether
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Exactly....
Related
Question, what is the likelihood of buying a new GS4 from a vendor and not have the newest software on the phone so that I can unlock the bootloader? Are all phones being shipped with the locked bootloader?
I recently got a "Like new replacement" from Verizon and it came without the update. I immediately turned airplane mode on and had no problem not taking the update.
I've heard other users suggesting that the version installed depends on where you buy it (i.e. from verizon or best buy).
I've also read stories from users that when buying from Verizon the salesperson will update the phone because they think the user wants the update and they do not ask first.
Hope this helps!
Got my S4 from Verizon Wireless online (delivered Monday). Did not cone with update (asked me to update right after I activated).
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda premium
Cares said:
Question, what is the likelihood of buying a new GS4 from a vendor and not have the newest software on the phone so that I can unlock the bootloader? Are all phones being shipped with the locked bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it's a pretty good bet if you go to a Verizon store and get a 16GB model you're likely to get a non-upgraded one. Even better, search for a store that you think would see less foot-traffic and go there. Going there closer to when they close will make it much less likely that the CSR who sets up your phone will bother with the update (though you can always say your in a rush to get somewhere once they get the phone turned on).
The 32GB models seem to be much more likely to ship with the update pre-installed from what I've heard.
White models are *probably* less popular, so stores will hold onto their stock longer than the black ones, so that may help tip the scales as well.
Good luck. I wouldn't wait too long to upgrade if you're dead set on having an unlocked bootloader.
I got a black 32gb 2 weeks ago and it did not have the update. The 32 gb is only available from Direct Fill warehouses ordered from Verizon themselves AFAIK. So there's not going to be any sitting around in boxes in a store from an old shipment. So when they replenish stock in the warehouse, that's what your phone will be, brand new stock. The 16 gb, however, is likely to have been there awhile. If you go to Best Buy, you can ask them to turn the phone on before they activate it and check the version. I don't see why they'd refuse you, and I highly doubt even Verizon salespeople have any idea of what the new update means and why we don't want it.
That all being said, in my previous experience, they don't typically make the phones with new updates pre-installed until there's a new Android version. They can force the update as soon as you activate it, so there's no reason for them to make Samsung change the factory images they JTAG it with in the first place until there's a significant change (since it's always best to wipe when upgrading Android versions, don't wanna do that in the middle of someone setting up their phone). And they certainly aren't going to open up boxes and start updating them, because again, most everyone will take the update out of the box.
That being said, I would still jump now if you want this phone. There will eventually be a point when all of them come with a newer software version, and there's no way to gauge progress toward another workaround or a true unlock, so you can't bet on that. There are some reports to suggest people got the phone with the update already installed, but that seems to be more refurbished phones, since it looks like even Verizon or Samsung themselves couldn't actually roll the phones back to an older build once the signature was blacklisted in the hardware. So you should be alright ordering now, just make sure you get a new one, and don't put your SIM in. Check the version, if it has ME7 already, take it back and say the phone doesn't perform well even after a factory reset, and you've heard it's likely that update, so you'd like one without it. If it is not updated yet, root it immediately, and block or remove SDM.apk and FWupgrade.apk, and then and only then is it safe to activate the phone.
Sent from my VZW Galaxy S4 Google Play Edition
My 16GB model came from Amazon yesterday without the update.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk 2
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Lag has been a minor nuisance since I've had the phone.
But it seems to have stopped all of a sudden either yesterday or today.
This happen to anyone else? Anyone know why?
Sent from my VS985 4G using XDA Free mobile app
I was about to post a follow up on the tweaks and ART runtime (that had been working almost flawlessly on my device for almost 24 hours straight now) and saw this thread.
Even though the improvements given by ART and some RAM/Display/Scrolling tweaks were phenomenal, they still had moments of minor stuttering once or twice in an hour's time.
Today however, I noticed my device charging faster, not getting as hot, etc.
Is anyone aware of something that could have caused this?
2 of my close friends have the VZW G3 as well, on the latest firmware. I'm going to send them a text and see if they noticed anything different today.
I'll report back.
I am on 10b firmware, which the phone came with. I did not know there we're any other firmwears for the Verizon LG G3.
trent999 said:
I am on 10b firmware, which the phone came with. I did not know there we're any other firmwears for the Verizon LG G3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Verizon hasn't updated the phone since launch
Sent from my LG G3
oadam11 said:
Nope. Verizon hasn't updated the phone since launch
Sent from my LG G3
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Is there suppose to be an update that they're working on?
tu3218 said:
Is there suppose to be an update that they're working on?
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Click to collapse
They are suppose to be working with LG continuously to make sure all the firmware improvements LG makes in response to the many issues us users/beta-testers have found and reported are updated onto our phones asap.
Particularly since unlike T-Mobile they have required our Verizon G3s be locked down so we cannot update them ourselves...
In reality, Verizon is happy with whatever shipped initially on the phones since everyone who got one is stuck with it for about two years and there is no revenue from updated firmware, so why should they give a damn ?
We might get a Kit Kat update to 4.4.4 maybe about the time L is released, and if Verizon is feeling unusually benevolent, eventually, an L update maybe 6 months later. Or not.
Verizon does not care at all about Android customers, even though we are the majority of their users. You can be sure they will be all over the iPhone6 phones when they release in a couple of weeks though.
trent999 said:
They are suppose to be working with LG continuously to make sure all the firmware improvements LG makes in response to the many issues us users/beta-testers have found and reported are updated onto our phones asap.
Particularly since unlike T-Mobile they have required our Verizon G3s be locked down so we cannot update them ourselves...
In reality, Verizon is happy with whatever shipped initially on the phones since everyone who got one is stuck with it for about two years and there is no revenue from updated firmware, so why should they give a damn ?
We might get a Kit Kat update to 4.4.4 maybe about the time L is released, and if Verizon is feeling unusually benevolent, eventually, an L update maybe 6 months later. Or not.
Verizon does not care at all about Android customers, even though we are the majority of their users. You can be sure they will be all over the iPhone6 phones when they release in s couple of weeks though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
100% agree with everything you said but comparing it to iOS is kind of unfair. Those updates comes straight from Apple. Although the majority of Verizon phones are Android, they sell more iPhones than any other device by far, even Sammy flagships. That gives Apple the leveraging power to be able to give straight updates and have no branding on their phones.
Apple produces updates and tests them for the various iPhone models, ok. Do they then send them out to Verizon and ATT and every other cell company that allows the use of iPhones for review and pre-OTA testing for "network compatibility" ? I don't think so, I think they update from their own servers directly to user's phones, but I am not sure.
For Android hardware vendors, though, if they even create updates for Verizon models, they have to, for some reason, go through Verizon to reach their own customers. LG cannot send OTA updates to LG customers, because Verizon won't let them ? Instead we have situations like with the LG G3, where T-Mobile and ATT and European users have updated firmware up to v10j while we are lingering with 10b still. The South Koreans even have 10k I think.
There are some significant improvements in these updates, but Verizon LG customers may never see them, because of Verizon. That is very annoying, to me, and the minute they take away my unlimited data I am gone never to return.
The Verizon LG G3 works with 4gLTE on Cricket here, and H, and Edge. That's on ATT towers. I am using that now. It also works on T-Mobile, though I am unclear about what connection types are supported. I heard LTE works there too. If I leave Verizon, I'll just stick a pre-paid SIM in and that will be fine.
joshm.1219 said:
100% agree with everything you said but comparing it to iOS is kind of unfair. Those updates comes straight from Apple. Although the majority of Verizon phones are Android, they sell more iPhones than any other device by far, even Sammy flagships. That gives Apple the leveraging power to be able to give straight updates and have no branding on their phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see you're still lurking around the G3 forum... You getting one??
It is a bummer to not have have the options we had on our S4s but I still love this phone with Root and xposed and I'm quite happy.
Our G3 devs are still saying they're going to be able to unlock these things which is cool... Anyways just wanted to say what up!
- Tapatalked from the G3
I tested my Verizon G3 with my T-Mobile prepaid sim and got better 4gLTE download and upload and ping than I got native on Verizon here.
So, both AT&T and T-Mobile LTE work on this phone.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
Mistertac said:
I see you're still lurking around the G3 forum... You getting one??
It is a bummer to not have have the options we had on our S4s but I still love this phone with Root and xposed and I'm quite happy.
Our G3 devs are still saying they're going to be able to unlock these things which is cool... Anyways just wanted to say what up!
- Tapatalked from the G3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right now, it's looking like the G3. I'm still waiting to see the Note 4 tomorrow and the Moto X+1 on Thursday because hey why not. I doubt the Note 4 will be tempting enough to actually accept running stock TW or even hoping for a Hashcode disciple to get Safestrap on there, then I'm still really limited. The Moto X+1 probably won't have a removable battery, which is a problem. It's very annoying to use my One Max with it's embedded battery compared to S4 where I never think about it.
The ZL battery for the G3 just came out and it's looking like good days are coming in the bootloader situation, so I'll probably be pulling the trigger soon enough.
joshm.1219 said:
The ZL battery for the G3 just came out and it's looking like good days are coming in the bootloader situation, so I'll probably be pulling the trigger soon enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What ZL battery are you talking about? Zero Lemon just announced another delay a couple days ago.
eraursls1984 said:
What ZL battery are you talking about? Zero Lemon just announced another delay a couple days ago.
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Click to collapse
yeah i looked that up after i posted that lol, I remembered 8/30 being the release date, that's the second delay already. It's a shame they're tripping up like this. I hope it at least means a better product in the end.
The Note 4 is pretty enticing right now, I need to let the newness wear down lol.
So which Verizon app was causing the art shutdown. Also did anyone find a way to fix the almost unreadable text when thin and small
Sent from my VS985 4G using XDA Free mobile app
Sorry for the general title.
I have a Galazy S4 with Verizon Unlimited data and I've been loving it. It's on MK2 and I rooted it two years ago, did the VZ Wifi Hack, and was humming along nicely though it started to get slower until a month ago, when I got lots of random reboots and it finally got caught in a bootloop on Saturday.
Luckily I had a backup in ROM Slot 1 in Safestrap and was able to boot into that, found the Wifi Hack thread ( http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2512981 ), flashed with Safestrap, and I was back in business.
In the meantime, I had tried to use my GF's VZ S4 which is on OF1. I was able to root it with KingRoot 4.8, then tried to use flashfire, then had to switch to SuperSU. Then when I tried the Wifi Hotspot hack for OF1 with FlashFire, it didn't work (I was using my SIM in her phone).
Anyway there is now an OTA pending and I'm wondering if there's any benefit to upgrading. When I upgrade, will I immediately jump to OF1 or will there be steps so I can stop somewhere in the middle? I heard OC1 is a pretty good kernel, and there are some ones with 5s in them I think which are good?
Also, moving forward, I'm not happy with any of the current Android offerings from VZ. I got an S5 through work and the call quality sucks. I found out that the S4 was one of the last phones that has two antennas, one for voice and one for data. The newer phones are all through the LTE antenna and they try to use VOIP which means more dropped calls in areas with marginal service. Also how rootable are the new phones?
Finally, I'd have to get a new SIM card and I like the idea of being able to swap back and forth from my old phone to the new phone, as opposed to getting a new SIM or trimming this one down.
Anyway, if you were in my position, what would you do
As far as modifying the current S4 for now
Upgrading to a new phone?
Finally, does the Nexus 5x have dual antennas?
DO NOT UPGRADE TO OC1.
You should flash to NC5, and then use Stang's ROM for lollipop... If you go to OC1, and find problems, there is no way back.
As far as #2... no clue on the nexus 5x, I think it does. If I could, I'd outright buy a lg v10/g4 with an unlocked bootloader and put that on Verizon, but I don't think that will happy anytime soon.
XxD34THxX said:
DO NOT UPGRADE TO OC1.
You should flash to NC5, and then use Stang's ROM for lollipop... If you go to OC1, and find problems, there is no way back.
As far as #2... no clue on the nexus 5x, I think it does. If I could, I'd outright buy a lg v10/g4 with an unlocked bootloader and put that on Verizon, but I don't think that will happy anytime soon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the tip. Yeah that v10 looks very nice but I just got through reading the root bounty thread. Not happening any time soon!
How do I flash to a specific baseband? I already prevented any updates by renaming the update apk.
Do not go with LG if you care about rooting, custom ROMs, or development. I had the G4 for 3 excruciating months. Just look at the G4 and V10 forums to see what a mess it is. I'm happily on the Nexus 6P now.
flamadiddle said:
Do not go with LG if you care about rooting, custom ROMs, or development. I had the G4 for 3 excruciating months. Just look at the G4 and V10 forums to see what a mess it is. I'm happily on the Nexus 6P now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How's the 6P treating you? Size not an issue?
OfficeLinebacker said:
How's the 6P treating you? Size not an issue?
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Click to collapse
It's the best phone I've ever had hardware- and software-wise. I was worried about size even with the G4 (which is slightly smaller), but once I used it for more than a couple days, I completely adjusted. Now my S4 seems tiny
Got a dying NoteII (need to replace the USB port and apparently as of yesterday, re-flash the PIT)... so for the moment I have no phone and I'm going into withdrawal
I've got an upgrade available on Verizon, so I'll get a phone through there, but I'm trying to find something that's flashable or at least rootable, ideally QHD (1440x2560), MicroSD, removable battery.
Any 'phablet' class, 5.3"++, phones on verizon that are rootable/flashable, that have at least two of those three things? SD slot I can live without if I can get 64GB internal memory or higher, but there doesn't seem to be much of that on verizon, and less and less rootable, too
At the moment I'm leaning to the nexus 6 or Note 3, those seem to be the most recent/'best' phones that I can get at the moment, but I'm hoping there's some I've missed, that are better!
Any suggestions, anyone?
Haven't been able to find a list of what Verizon phones are rooted/romable, but apparently the LG V10 is as of this week, so I'm likely going with that, unless anyone has any better suggestions?
christiebunny said:
Haven't been able to find a list of what Verizon phones are rooted/romable, but apparently the LG V10 is as of this week, so I'm likely going with that, unless anyone has any better suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Based on my experience, btw, if you're having PIT issues - like, recovery is throwing up errors about unable to mount partitions - then your eMMC is hosed. Happened to me recently and took me forever to realize it wasn't something I could fix in software. If the display on your phone is in decent shape, though, someone with a cracked/burned-in screen would probably love it, and at least earn you some cash towards a newer phone.
Sadly, the selection of phones for Verizon is pretty sparse. Your best bet these days is buying one outright - Moto X Pure, N6P, international version of the S7/S7 Edge etc - so that bootloader and rooting are never an issue, plus not dealing with Verizon bloatware. Financing outside of Verizon is the way to go, and at that point, you might as well look at an MVNO with good coverage and cheaper rates on data.
Ended up getting the V10, for ~$400 ($18/mo), should be here by morning!
I think the Nexus would have been the best choice, as it is not really a proprietary Verizon phone, but you can always return the V10 and say you did not like it.
I have an LG G3, but its internal workings are dying on me - the Bluetooth is getting spotty, and the WiFi reception has become lousy for whatever reason. I rooted it before, using info from this forum (thanks Road Warrior), but I don't know what's relevant anymore since I last rooted this thing a year+ ago or so.
I wanted to get a replacement phone but seeing as I'm on Verizon, I need to be cautious with my phone selection because I want to be able to root the phone. That basically means the HTC 10, Samsung Galaxy S7 (presuming its janky method doesn't cause issues), or the LG G3... so I was planning on sticking with the model I already have, getting a refurbished LG G3, and save $400+ compared to the newer rootable Verizon phones.
So all that said, what should I look for? What's the current state of VS985s with respect to root-ability? Are all firmware versions able to be downgraded as I did a year+ ago on my current LG G3? Are there some versions which don't work/can't be rooted? I absolutely do not want KingRoot or any other temporary solution: I'd like it to be a permanent root.
Basically: what do I need to ask any sellers about the LG G3 I'd buy from them to ensure that I can achieve a permanent root from the phone I receive?
mean_liar said:
I have an LG G3, but its internal workings are dying on me - the Bluetooth is getting spotty, and the WiFi reception has become lousy for whatever reason. I rooted it before, using info from this forum (thanks Road Warrior), but I don't know what's relevant anymore since I last rooted this thing a year+ ago or so.
I wanted to get a replacement phone but seeing as I'm on Verizon, I need to be cautious with my phone selection because I want to be able to root the phone. That basically means the HTC 10, Samsung Galaxy S7 (presuming its janky method doesn't cause issues), or the LG G3... so I was planning on sticking with the model I already have, getting a refurbished LG G3, and save $400+ compared to the newer rootable Verizon phones.
So all that said, what should I look for? What's the current state of VS985s with respect to root-ability? Are all firmware versions able to be downgraded as I did a year+ ago on my current LG G3? Are there some versions which don't work/can't be rooted? I absolutely do not want KingRoot or any other temporary solution: I'd like it to be a permanent root.
Basically: what do I need to ask any sellers about the LG G3 I'd buy from them to ensure that I can achieve a permanent root from the phone I receive?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Main thing, if you do go this route, is ensure it is NOT a model K. Ask for a picture of the battery compartment label (they can blur our the IMEI and stuff, but leave the model number unblurred). If it has a K at the end (such as VS985K), do not get it. You cannot flash it back to 10B as that exploit (the bump exploit) has been patched/fixed in the K models which came out sometime this year I believe.
If the model number doesn't end in K (such as VS985 or VS985W, which I believe is for the white version), then you're golden and you can flash back to 10B even if it's on the latest OTA (49A). The ONLY thing I would caution if it's been updated to 49A is, does the SD card still work without being unmounted? Many, not all, who took the 49A update started experiencing issues with the SD card constantly getting unmounted after taking the OTA. I'm one of those people. There are too many reports of this happening after the 49A OTA (the latest update) for me to believe it's just a hardware issue. And for me, flashing back to a previous version doesn't fix it, so it appears the 49A OTA might have updated something in the protected area that now affects the SD card no matter what version you are running.
Those would be my questions.
mean_liar said:
I have an LG G3, but its internal workings are dying on me - the Bluetooth is getting spotty, and the WiFi reception has become lousy for whatever reason. I rooted it before, using info from this forum (thanks Road Warrior), but I don't know what's relevant anymore since I last rooted this thing a year+ ago or so.
[/B]
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did you try the 10B TOT before deciding you need another phone?
My current phone is an LG G3 (VS985), rooted. Yes, it was downshifted to 10B to achieve root, then selectively upgraded in parts.
My current phone is a refurb model I picked up on eBay, it ran well for about a year, and now is uncharacteristically acting up. I had just assumed this was symptomatic of an internal hardware issue. Are you suggesting that reverting the firmware could somehow improve the WiFi and call performance?
mean_liar said:
My current phone is an LG G3 (VS985), rooted. Yes, it was downshifted to 10B to achieve root, then selectively upgraded in parts.
My current phone is a refurb model I picked up on eBay, it ran well for about a year, and now is uncharacteristically acting up. I had just assumed this was symptomatic of an internal hardware issue. Are you suggesting that reverting the firmware could somehow improve the WiFi and call performance?
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Click to collapse
It's definitely worth a try. I've done it a few times now and it's fixed radio and battery issues i had.