I bought a black carrier free 4G LTE model from amazon for 89 dollars, scheduled to arrive today. However, I see that Fry's and Best Buy have the phone for almost half the price albeit locked to Verizon.
I'm currently in a great T-Mobile stop-anytime plan. Which phone would be better?
Does the Verizon model have limitations that the unlocked model doesn't have? Am I wasting 40 dollars?
It depends. Do you like too root your phones and install custom roms? The Verizon version can't have its bootloader unblocked and you can't root or install a recovery on it. IMO the ability to install custom roms and have root is worth the price.
I paid the equivalent to 135 USD for mine, was it to much? Retail phone.
Nitefire77 said:
It depends. Do you like too root your phones and install custom roms? The Verizon version can't have its bootloader unblocked and you can't root or install a recovery on it. IMO the ability to install custom roms and have root is worth the price.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, that's what I gathered from my readings - to be honest, if there isn't a huge difference between the Verizon ROM and the unlocked one, and T-Mobile works on both, then others who don't plan on rooting should probably go for the Verizon one. In my case, I'm probably gonna root, so I guess it worked out.
The VZ one was 49.99 at Best buy, or $25 if you subtract the $25 for the reward certificate. I don't care about the lack of root because I have other devices I use for tinkering. Also the battery with the stock ROM has been great for me, same with LTE speeds on T-Mobile.
Sent from my XT1528
Related
Hi, I am a complete noob.
I am in india, but will stay in US for 4 years starting august 1. So, where is is better to buy this phone? In US or INDIA?
Also, if I buy a unlocked phone in India or US, do I have to root it? In other words, is a unlocked phone a rooted phone? Or is unlocking and rooting different things?
unlocking and rooting are 2 different things.
Unlocked = You can put any sim card in and it should work (almost) anywhere in the world
Rooted = You have administrator level access to all of the files on the phone, so you can edit, delete or add as you please
Almost guaranteed, the phone will not be rooted when you buy it, especially if you are buying it new. If you are buying along with a specific carrier's plan, chances are it won't be unlocked, but if you are paying full price (~$700 USD) it will almost surely be unlocked.
I'd advise buying the international version (there is no US version yet), because it will be unlocked and therefore work in the US with a US sim card.
international?
What is the international version?
If I buy a unlocked version, then after reachig US, I must buy a FREE phone from ATT and use that sim card in the galaxy s2 ... right? Will it work?
Also, i cannot use T-Mobile since they use 1700 frequency for 3g, and galaxy does not support it
gowtham.n.mail said:
What is the international version?
If I buy a unlocked version, then after reachig US, I must buy a FREE phone from ATT and use that sim card in the galaxy s2 ... right? Will it work?
Also, i cannot use T-Mobile since they use 1700 frequency for 3g, and galaxy does not support it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The international version is the version sold outside of the US, mainly Europe and Asia. It has a exynos processor. The Indian version has a tegra 2 processor (which is a little slower). You should get the exynos version. But that's up to you.
Yes, it will only work on ATT. See here about plans...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1166543
Prepaid will be $50 (no tax), but might get bad throttled speeds. Not sure on this though.
If you go the contract, regular post-paid way. It will be $40 for 450 minutes + $15 for data + $10 for 1000 text messages + tax = $65 + tax, with tax it will be about $75. This is if you are using an international version. If you buy an ATT version you will have to pay more for data.
Thanks,
How do i get exynos in INDIA? I want to buy from amazon, but they dont ship to india . Where can i get it?
Or, can I go to US, buy it from amazon, and buy a prepaid $50 plan with some cheap phone, and use that sim in galaxy s2?
Which option do u recommend?
ImDonly1 said:
The Indian version has a tegra 2 processor (which is a little slower)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure ? How come no one has seen a tegra 2 SII till now ? There's no tegra 2 SII. Devices with tegra 2 processor are not called SII. Maybe you are talking about this device, which is galaxy Z.
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_i9103_galaxy_r-3967.php
ImDonly1, You are an idiot. Please check your facts before you post something as stupid as what you did here. All galaxy s2 phones run on exynos processors.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
well but in usa , you will get almost cell for free with better plan.
Good luck
hey friend, your options are just few and quite easy if you are set on buying galaxy s2 only.. see you could get in india for Rs.31000 which will be an unlocked s2 that u can later bring with you to US where u can buy a used or brand new prepaid no.. otherwise you could order from amazon using this link:
amazon.com/Samsung-i9100-Unlocked-Smartphone-Touchscreen/dp/B004QTBQ2C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1310555675&sr=8-1
jst fill in the url, i cant post links yet
Its the Euro version/unlocked which should not be any problem also for u also and costs the same price... The only drawback i can think of is that wen you order from amazon you will not get a samsung warranty or be able to see the set before giving away you hard earned bucks unlike if you purchase from authorized dealer anywhere in india with warranty.
The third and last option you have is you could use your current phone for next month or so and wait till s2 is officially launched in US so you could get a nice 2 year plan which would be your last but relatively more efficient option since you mentioned you are surely going to stay for 2+ years..
The choice is yours and yours alone! but watever you decide, you sure will forget everything once u have the S2 all to yourself.. Sometimes its pays of to be patient! all the best buddy
I wont buy from amazon, because no warrenty. So, i have 2 options left...buy in india, or buy directly from ATT, after they launch.
Calculations ...
Option 1 (buying unlocked phone)
Cost of unlocked phone - $700
Cost of plan - $50 per month in prepaid. Assuming 2 year stay ($50 * 24 = $1200)
Cost of some dumb phone for prepaid - $10
SO total cost is 700+1200+10=$1910.
Option 2 (buy from ATT)
Cost (expected) of phone - $300
Cost of plan - $40 for voice, $10 for messaging, and $25 for 2 GB per month data plan. SO totally $75 + taxes = $80. For 2 years contract - $80 * 24 = 1920
SO total cost is 300+1920=$2220.
Thus, Option 1 is cheaper. Also in option 1 everything (including data) is unlimited .
Why is prepaid so much cheaper than postpaid!! Are there some disadvantages in prepaid that I dont know??
I heard that in prepaid, the 3G data speed will be slower that postpaid!! Is it TRUE !! ??
if i weighed my options like you then id definitely pick option 1 since in prepaid you can always keep a check on how much you are spending whereas i have noticed with postpaid ppl tend to get carried away even if they swore they wudn't at start.. just my opinion. and one more thing you should consider is that most places you would spend time usually has wifi connection and you can prioritize in s2 so that it always uses a wifi connection wen available over a 3g one as i have been doin.. will save a lot on data costs if it is not unlimited.. plus speed is generally faster i am guessing from my observation.. haha so u now know wat u must do!!! that is get a set in india and have no regrets after but i am still a new user of smartfone having switched from blackberry after many years.. it would be wise to wait and see what other users have to say as well since i am a very new member here and my advice wont seem much helpful..
^thanks
You ment internet is faster in wifi over 3g or internet being faster in postpaid over prepaid?
wifi over 3g.. prepaid vs postpaid i have no clue! btw the at&t plan as of now is only for samsung I997 Infuse 4G.. be warned that they are totally different phones and dont evn think of it being a substitute for S2.. i am not aware yet of the exact release of S2 in us officially with or without a plan so it would be wise to look into that otherwise i recommend you buy a warrantied s2 from india itself asap.. good luck buddy
Hey, Im kinda new to Galaxy devices and i was wondering, how does this usually go based on what has happened in the past for Galaxy Devices, because coming from a Nexus (I know why would i ever leave a nexus) i really didn't think anything of the OTA update because on a Nexus, it really doesn't matter if you update or not, but will there ever be some sort of Downgrade from the NC5 Kitkat update? Will i ever be able to get Root? or will i be stuck with this so called safe strap which makes no sense to me. Im sorry im seeming like a noob, but all this extra stuff to aquire root is new to me. Do i wait for some sorta exploit? Do I try a Downgrade method? or could i possibly return my device for another one? Cuz its brand-new and its not rooted at all and it has warranty... What are my options because i'm totally lost admist the millions of posts. All i need is root and ability to get rid of these bloatware apps (and twrp would be nice, but i'm fine with stock rooted & xposed)
Device:
VZW Galaxy S4 SCH-i545 16Gb
Stock 4.4.2 I545VRUFNC5
spongeyperson said:
Hey, Im kinda new to Galaxy devices and i was wondering, how does this usually go based on what has happened in the past for Galaxy Devices, because coming from a Nexus (I know why would i ever leave a nexus) i really didn't think anything of the OTA update because on a Nexus, it really doesn't matter if you update or not, but will there ever be some sort of Downgrade from the NC5 Kitkat update? Will i ever be able to get Root? or will i be stuck with this so called safe strap which makes no sense to me. Im sorry im seeming like a noob, but all this extra stuff to aquire root is new to me. Do i wait for some sorta exploit? Do I try a Downgrade method? or could i possibly return my device for another one? Cuz its brand-new and its not rooted at all and it has warranty... What are my options because i'm totally lost admist the millions of posts. All i need is root and ability to get rid of these bloatware apps (and twrp would be nice, but i'm fine with stock rooted & xposed)
Device:
VZW Galaxy S4 SCH-i545 16Gb
Stock 4.4.2 I545VRUFNC5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is possible to do a partial downgrade, root, and return to Kitkat with root. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2726868
If you're really fine with TouchWiz then that may be all you want.
Personally, I'd return it though. If you ever want AOSP or updates before Verizon decides to release them, you'll need a different phone. You can get an MDK (pretty much unlocked, loki exploit) or Developer Edition (unlocked) S4 on Swappa for $300-$335.
Oishikatta said:
It is possible to do a partial downgrade, root, and return to Kitkat with root. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2726868
If you're really fine with TouchWiz then that may be all you want.
Personally, I'd return it though. If you ever want AOSP or updates before Verizon decides to release them, you'll need a different phone. You can get an MDK (pretty much unlocked, loki exploit) or Developer Edition (unlocked) S4 on Swappa for $300-$335.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well i bought my phone under contract and i'm kinda stuck with it in their system. Do you think verizon would replace it with a brand-new replacement with MDK bootloader on it? Because when i originally got the device a few weeks ago, it unfortunately had MDK bootloader on it, but i was stupid and i updated. I have no money to replace it so i don't know what i could do. If i did sell the one thats setup thru my contract, wouldn't that give it a bad esn? Also, i am fine with touchwiz as long as i can have xposed and root to change what i don't like, and if i really wanted to install a custom rom, i can use my N7 for that. The biggest problem i probably would have though is waiting for verizon updates. Because i know that sucks
spongeyperson said:
Well i bought my phone under contract and i'm kinda stuck with it in their system. I have no money to replace it so i don't know what i could do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you just bought it, I think you have 14 days to return and cancel the contract. I don't think the Verizon S4 is worth a 2 year contract at all - if you're content with a locked one, you can easily get one for around $250 (e.g. this one that just sold) in good/great condition.
You could get an S5 for $99, sell it on Swappa for $500 - $10 Swappa Fee, -$15 Paypal Fee, -$15 Shipping.
So 500 in, 140 out. About $360 net profit. (Note this is just an estimate.)
Then buy a locked S4 on Swappa for $250 and still have over $100 profit. Or an MDK/Dev one and a bit less profit.
Do note that you have to be careful about where you buy a contract phone, many places will sneak in their own secondary contract with its own ETF if you change anything within x months. Bestbuy doesn't have any nonsense like that. Verizon directly also doesn't, of course.
However, that does take a bit of effort so it's definitely not as simple as just buying at Verizon. Swappa is pretty nice about making buying and selling safely easy though.
spongeyperson said:
If i did sell the one thats setup thru my contract, wouldn't that give it a bad esn?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, many people buy under contract and then sell when new phones are released (e.g. S5, M8) if they're happy with their current phone and just want to make a bit of money off the contract for service they'd use anyways. The phone would only become bad ESN if you reported it lost/stolen. (Also maybe if you later defaulted on the contract, but I'm not sure on that.)
spongeyperson said:
Do you think verizon would replace it with a brand-new replacement with MDK bootloader on it? Because when i originally got the device a few weeks ago, it unfortunately had MDK bootloader on it, but i was stupid and i updated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure it was MDK? More likely to be MI1 or MK2. I suppose it would be possible, but probably very unlikely.
spongeyperson said:
Also, i am fine with touchwiz as long as i can have xposed and root to change what i don't like, and if i really wanted to install a custom rom, i can use my N7 for that. The biggest problem i probably would have though is waiting for verizon updates. Because i know that sucks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks to Surge1223 and k1mu, you can have root even on the newest OTA (so far). Verizon updates do suck though - it looks pretty clear that they held back the S4's kitkat update for a long time just so that they could advertise the S5 as having newer software.
Oishikatta said:
If you just bought it, I think you have 14 days to return and cancel the contract. I don't think the Verizon S4 is worth a 2 year contract at all - if you're content with a locked one, you can easily get one for around $250 (e.g. this one that just sold) in good/great condition.
You could get an S5 for $99, sell it on Swappa for $500 - $10 Swappa Fee, -$15 Paypal Fee, -$15 Shipping.
So 500 in, 140 out. About $360 net profit. (Note this is just an estimate.)
Then buy a locked S4 on Swappa for $250 and still have over $100 profit. Or an MDK/Dev one and a bit less profit.
Do note that you have to be careful about where you buy a contract phone, many places will sneak in their own secondary contract with its own ETF if you change anything within x months. Bestbuy doesn't have any nonsense like that. Verizon directly also doesn't, of course.
However, that does take a bit of effort so it's definitely not as simple as just buying at Verizon. Swappa is pretty nice about making buying and selling safely easy though.
No, many people buy under contract and then sell when new phones are released (e.g. S5, M8) if they're happy with their current phone and just want to make a bit of money off the contract for service they'd use anyways. The phone would only become bad ESN if you reported it lost/stolen. (Also maybe if you later defaulted on the contract, but I'm not sure on that.)
Are you sure it was MDK? More likely to be MI1 or MK2. I suppose it would be possible, but probably very unlikely.
Thanks to Surge1223 and k1mu, you can have root even on the newest OTA (so far). Verizon updates do suck though - it looks pretty clear that they held back the S4's kitkat update for a long time just so that they could advertise the S5 as having newer software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Problem Solved. (at least for me anyway) i was able to trade in my phone at verizon and i exchanged it for a HTC one M8... that i rooted within the first 2 hours of getting it.. lol. Anyway, if any Moderator or admin wants to delete this post, they can
I'll be upgrading my phone through AT&T soon. Basically I've decided on going Android, but not sure which device to choose. I'd like a solid phone that I can root. I prefer as close to stock Android as possible. I'm currently under a 2 year contract with AT&T and will be renewing it with the phone purchase. I guess I'm just looking for advice on which flagship level phones are available from AT&T that can be rooted easily enough. I don't care for the custom skins and bloatware that come with most phones these days.
I know there are some that I can purchase unlocked, but since I'll be renewing my contract with AT&T, I would like to use the benefit of purchasing the device at a lower cost. I'd rather not pay full price for the phone elsewhere and still have the subsidized cost built into my monthly bill.
Thanks in advance!
Bump?
Hey, I'm looking to trade in my Z3v next month and I would like to return it to it's stock, unrooted condition.
I've searched the forum but can't really find a clear, concise step by step guide. I have a few questions for anyone willing to push me along the correct path.
1. I downloaded D6708_23.0.E.0.376_VER.ftf from firmwaremobile.com/262-z3-v which according to a post here is the factory 4.4.4.
2. I should use Flashtool to do this and flash via a PC, correct?
Also, I have read where people have had problems trying using the latest Flashtool. I have D/Led ver. 2.5.14. According to a couple of posts I should use Flashtool ver. 19.18.6 (an older version), if this is correct could someone provide a link to the old version I haven't been able to locate one anywhere.
Komet1 said:
Hey, I'm looking to trade in my Z3v next month and I would like to return it to it's stock, unrooted condition.
I've searched the forum but can't really find a clear, concise step by step guide. I have a few questions for anyone willing to push me along the correct path.
1. I downloaded D6708_23.0.E.0.376_VER.ftf from firmwaremobile.com/262-z3-v which according to a post here is the factory 4.4.4.
2. I should use Flashtool to do this and flash via a PC, correct?
Also, I have read where people have had problems trying using the latest Flashtool. I have D/Led ver. 2.5.14. According to a couple of posts I should use Flashtool ver. 19.18.6 (an older version), if this is correct could someone provide a link to the old version I haven't been able to locate one anywhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not have it up to 5.1.1? Rooted even? Value is much higher with the best software installed that's already rooted and all so you can charge more for the extra commodities.
GigaSPX said:
Why not have it up to 5.1.1? Rooted even? Value is much higher with the best software installed that's already rooted and all so you can charge more for the extra commodities.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm trading it in at my local Verizon store. I'm not sure they will accept it as a trade-in if it has been rooted and ROMed.
Komet1 said:
I'm trading it in at my local Verizon store. I'm not sure they will accept it as a trade-in if it has been rooted and ROMed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For how much value? Iirc, they only give $63 which is really undervalued for the kind of exclusive Xperia to be used here in the States.
And you really could just put it on 5.1.1 since it is the official Lollipop released by Verizon themselves.
GigaSPX said:
For how much value? Iirc, they only give $63 which is really undervalued for the kind of exclusive Xperia to be used here in the States.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am using the 1 year early trade-in program here in the U.S. and intend to purchase either a Samsung G7 or an LG G5 (the module feature in the G5 is really interesting). This phone is currently under the old plan and access to the Verizon network is costing me $40 US a month. Under the new plan phone access is $20 a month, plus the $28/month to purchase the phone so I will only be paying $8 a month more. It's a bit more money but I have my entire family on my plan (5 smartphones) and the monthly bill runs about $280 a month. 8 dollars extra won't be noticed.
GigaSPX said:
And you really could just put it on 5.1.1 since it is the official Lollipop released by Verizon themselves.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is an option as well. I rooted with Kingroot, removed it and now have SuperSU and NDR Utils installed. Could I kill root just by removing SuperSU?
Komet1 said:
I am using the 1 year early trade-in program here in the U.S. and intend to purchase either a Samsung G7 or an LG G5 (the module feature in the G5 is really interesting). This phone is currently under the old plan and access to the Verizon network is costing me $40 US a month. Under the new plan phone access is $20 a month, plus the $28/month to purchase the phone so I will only be paying $8 a month more. It's a bit more money but I have my entire family on my plan (5 smartphones) and the monthly bill runs about $280 a month. 8 dollars extra won't be noticed.
That is an option as well. I rooted with Kingroot, removed it and now have SuperSU and NDR Utils installed. Could I kill root just by removing SuperSU?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
$280 a month with 5 smartphone lines? I have 4 smartphone lines and 1 tablet line, and it's amounting to that cost with some discounts I'm trying to take advantage of. This is my issue with Verizon, being this expensive. >:|
And you can go into SuperSU and go into settings to do Full Unroot.
GigaSPX said:
$280 a month with 5 smartphone lines? I have 4 smartphone lines and 1 tablet line, and it's amounting to that cost with some discounts I'm trying to take advantage of. This is my issue with Verizon, being this expensive. >:|
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At least my stepkids pay for their line access and phones so it's only about $185 out of my pocket but yeah, Verizon and the other telecoms are feasting upon us.
GigaSPX said:
Why not have it up to 5.1.1?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FYI, I installed 5.1.1. It went very smoothly.
I love my LG G3. Love that I have it rooted with custom ROM. It is being kept alive because of this. I recently looked into upgrading (I am with Sprint) and looking at newer models of phones, but I am finding that there are no root solutions/ unlocking bootloaders for the newer models. Now I know all the international phones have some way to root them, but I live in the US and use Sprint. Does anyone think that rooting may become a thing of the past? I read that it is getting way more difficult to root. What does everyone else think?
Get a Nexus. I had the Galaxy Nexus and Nexus 5 then figured I'd give the LG G3 a try and am disappointed. All I do is end up flashing an AOSP ROM anyway.
Sent from my LG-ls990 using Tapatalk
How do the newer Nexus phones work with Sprint? Are there specific models you need to get to work with Sprint? Does Sprint WiFi calling work with them?
Currently under family contract with Sprint, so keep buying phones under contract since we are paying for it anyway. I think that is going away even for those of us grandfathered in with older contracts. I will definitely consider Nexus to replace my G3 if I can't get cheap G5 or HTC 10 when I go in.
Best Buy has the G5 for $1 with a 2-year extension. Sale ended, disregard. The same drama surrounding root and BL unlock as we went through with the G3 launch is currently playing out again with people offering bounties and getting in fights and taking their balls and going home. Gave me a lot of bad flashbacks. There are partial methods that have been released and then recalled, for valid reasons, but there are lots of jerks that are trying to bait the devs into releasing something... It's a clusterjam.
The HTC 10 is already BL unlocked via Sunshine (paid app) and if it wasn't $200 I'd already have one. If the G5 gets rooted and I can still get it for $1 I'll go that way. Now that it's back up to $149 I see no benefit to the G5. I got one for my wife and it's nice but if there's no public root method by the time I'm shopping I won't give it a second glance. I know this is off-topic, so sorry.
Rooting is a whole new game now with MM and the encryption on different partitions, and phone makers are less likely to make easy BL unlocks now that Android Pay is a thing.
So, rooting is not necessarily ending, but custom ROMs and recoveries (requires BL unlock) are more likely to fall by the wayside. Time will tell. It's a tenuous game with devs on edge, lay users demanding immediate results, and tempers and egos running hot on all sides. Maybe Pangu will open an Android division and shift the conversation.
SilverZero said:
Best Buy has the G5 for $1 with a 2-year extension. Sale ended, disregard. The same drama surrounding root and BL unlock as we went through with the G3 launch is currently playing out again with people offering bounties and getting in fights and taking their balls and going home. Gave me a lot of bad flashbacks. There are partial methods that have been released and then recalled, for valid reasons, but there are lots of jerks that are trying to bait the devs into releasing something... It's a clusterjam.
The HTC 10 is already BL unlocked via Sunshine (paid app) and if it wasn't $200 I'd already have one. If the G5 gets rooted and I can still get it for $1 I'll go that way. Now that it's back up to $149 I see no benefit to the G5. I got one for my wife and it's nice but if there's no public root method by the time I'm shopping I won't give it a second glance. I know this is off-topic, so sorry.
Rooting is a whole new game now with MM and the encryption on different partitions, and phone makers are less likely to make easy BL unlocks now that Android Pay is a thing.
So, rooting is not necessarily ending, but custom ROMs and recoveries (requires BL unlock) are more likely to fall by the wayside. Time will tell. It's a tenuous game with devs on edge, lay users demanding immediate results, and tempers and egos running hot on all sides. Maybe Pangu will open an Android division and shift the conversation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would the HTC 10 work with sprint?
texasjmzmd said:
Would the HTC 10 work with sprint?
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Click to collapse
Yes, if you get a Sprint variant. They're $199 w/ 2-year extension. Hoping a deal pops up sometime to cover low sales like that last one for the G5 did at BB. Unlocked phone should also work.
SilverZero said:
Yes, if you get a Sprint variant. They're $199 w/ 2-year extension. Hoping a deal pops up sometime to cover low sales like that last one for the G5 did at BB. Unlocked phone should also work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been a customer since 1993 with sprint, and I am NOT eligible for the "$199 w/ 2-year extension." Nice....
texasjmzmd said:
I've been a customer since 1993 with sprint, and I am NOT eligible for the "$199 w/ 2-year extension." Nice....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not? I thought that was always an option unless you were not through your last 2-year extension. But I also know they do crazy things with customers, even long-term.
i'm hoping Sprint give Boost better phones .-. till then i'm staying with my G3