Hi guys,
I'm thinking about getting a monthly plan from a local carrier. The plan offers your choice of a bunch of different phones. The phone I choose will be replacing my Samsung Galaxy J5 (2016 edition).
I will mostly use the phone for texting and Spotify, but I need the phone I choose to be as dev-friendly as possible. This means no locked (or very easily unlocked) bootloader, painless to install recovery like TWRP + root. Because after I root, of course I will be installing apps like Titanium Backup, Viper4Android, etc.
Here are the devices I can choose from the plan:
Sony Xperia XA Ultra
Samsung Galaxy J7 Prime
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge
Samsung Galaxy A7 2017
Moto G3 Turbo
Moto Z LTE
Moto Z Play
LG Stylus 2
Huawei P9
Huawei Mate 8
Huaweii Y6 II LTE
Lenovo Phab 2
Now of course I can search and search the XDA forums to see how much support each model has, but I am hoping anyone who reads this thread 1: Owns one or more of the devices I listed, and 2: Has experience in rooting / modding them.
Thanks! <3
Edit: I realize that the carrier may or may not pre-lock the phones, but ignoring this, assuming I wanted to buy one of the above devices with cash and not on a carrier plan, which should I go for as far as dev-friendliness?
is the tmobile versionv of the note 8 different in terms of performance compared to the unlocked version?....does it lag more is there no difference>...cuz the tmobile is 200 bucks cheaper than the unlocked version
I have had both a T-Mobile S8+ and a T-Mobile Note 8. There are differences (e.g., the stylus ) but IMO, both performed identically. I have no experience with the unlocked versions, but can say that all T-Mobile apps can be either uninstalled or disabled without rooting.
To me big different the note 8 feel a lot better , faster , bigger and plus the 6 of ram that's way I switched from s8 plus to the note 8 this is just my opinion.
tek94 said:
is the tmobile versionv of the note 8 different in terms of performance compared to the unlocked version?....does it lag more is there no difference>...cuz the tmobile is 200 bucks cheaper than the unlocked version
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There is no difference performance wise between the two. They have the same exact hardware, and T-Mobile add very minimal apps to the stock software. But the T-Mobile firmware is also optimized for T-Mobile network and features.
Buy whichever is cheapest. You can always follow the guide here to flash either the T-Mobile or unlocked firmware on it. Right now I'm using a Verizon Note 8 on the T-Mobile network. I flashed the T-Mobile firmware on it, and works perfectly.
Does anyone know why Samsung handsets need carrier firmware installed in order for VoLTE to be active, yet other makes do not?
I'm curious about the reasons behind this?
For example the UK network EE which offers 4G calling quotes:
an EE pay monthly plan on one of these phones bought from any retailer including EE (please check when buying a phone from a non-EE retailer whether or not it supports 4G Calling, as we cannot guarantee phones purchased from third parties will support the feature):
◦Apple iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S, 6S Plus, SE, 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, X ◦Google Pixel, Pixel XL, Pixel 2, Pixel 2 XL ◦Sony Xperia XZ1, Xperia XZ1 Compact ◦Huawei P10, P10 lite, P10 Plus ◦HTC U11 ◦Blackberry Priv, Dtek 50, Dtek 60, KEYone ◦Nokia 3, 5, 8 ◦EE Hawk
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To use 4G Calling, you’ll need: •or one of these phones, bought directly from EE in-store, online or over the phone: Samsung Galaxy S8, S8+, S7, S7 edge, S6, S6 edge, S6 edge+
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Sent from my SM-G965F using Tapatalk
I searched first!
I'm in the market for an LTE enabled Tab S6 but don't want to spend the money for an international one. I've found mostly T-Mobile branded ones for sale (OfferUp and CList). But, I am using Verizon for my Tab S4 and don't want to change carriers.
I tried finding the bands for the two, but have come up empty handed. I also can't find if they are sold unlocked or if I will need to go through that pain.
But, has anyone used a T-Mo Tab S6 on VzW and if so, any issues with getting it setup?
I honestly cannot recommend doing this at ALL. Samsung barely tries to push out updates for the tablet lineup and the carriers are even WORSE. I had to wait something like 4 months after Samsung pushed a Tab S4 update to have T-mobile publish it and have it actually get propagated to my tablet. I'm currently on an S6 and I can tell T-Mobile and Samsung aren't going to give a **** after the Android 10 update in April.
Purchased from OP US website, but it's not carrier activated or custom logo'd.
(Long story short- bought last year as upgrade to 8T but sock-drawered it waiting for 6 months to finish elapsing for 8T unlock, then news came out re 11's better specs & January release...)
Last night turned on 10T no sim \ on Samsung hotspot & was presented in order: ~ 750mb security & fixes\stability update, OS 13 {4½gb), then another update ~ 650mb.
None had the usual T-Mobile is presenting you a necessary update message & phone has no T-Mo apps or splash screen (in contrast to previous OP models N10 & 8T). And T-Mo hasn't yet released 13 upgrade for any handset 8\9\10. Model# remains cph2417.
So I'm assuming this time OP not selling carrier-locked models(folks had problems using 9 on Verizon) \ if I'd activated 10T, T-Mobile would've foisted their firmware \ locked phone \ would still be waiting on 13 upgrade?
Hhhmmm...
CPH2417 is not the T-Mobile model, it's the factory unlocked U.S. model, meaning you would have gotten those updates regardless if you were using a T-Mobile SIM card or not, CPH2419 is the T-Mobile branded 10T, that one has not officially received OOS 13, neither has their 10 Pro, 9 Series, or 8 Series.
rmendez011 said:
CPH2417 is not the T-Mobile model, it's the factory unlocked U.S. model, meaning you would have gotten those updates regardless if you were using a T-Mobile SIM card or not, CPH2419 is the T-Mobile branded 10T, that one has not officially received OOS 13, neither has their 10 Pro, 9 Series, or 8 Series.
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Correct. I'm surprised OnePlus Store didn't sell the T-Mo 2419, unlike in the past.
And fwiw read today that 11 won't be sold by the carrier.
horsecharles said:
Correct. I'm surprised OnePlus Store didn't sell the T-Mo 2419, unlike in the past.
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I'm surprised they changed the last number from a 5, to a 7 lol. Since the 7 Pro, the model number ending in 5 always meant U.S. model, and 7 always meant T-Mobile model.
And fwiw read today that 11 won't be sold by the carrier.
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Wait really? That's good to hear, hopefully this means the 11 and future models are safe from permanent bootloader locks, I still won't upgrade from my 9 Pro, which is a true flagship from OnePlus, plus it's the last model with Custom ROM support, and MSM Tool, not to mention mmWave 5G.
rmendez011 said:
I'm surprised they changed the last number from a 5, to a 7 lol. Since the 7 Pro, the model number ending in 5 always meant U.S. model, and 7 always meant T-Mobile model.
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Hopefully it's because OnePlus tired of T-Mo upgrade delays. Although to be fair, that intransigence helped for Android 12.
I also hope that T-Mo doesn't lock 11 during its activation.
rmendez011 said:
Wait really? That's good to hear, hopefully this means the 11 and future models are safe from permanent bootloader locks, I still won't upgrade from my 9 Pro, which is a true flagship from OnePlus, plus it's the last model with Custom ROM support, and MSM Tool, not to mention mmWave 5G.
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Agreed. Although with 11 having the latest Snapdragon we're getting up to triple 5G Carrier Aggregation, UFS 4, LPPDR 5... and all those combine to use lots less battery & run cooler (beside the multi-gig download speeds).
Plus from me, coming from the 10T, they're re-adding everything removed from your model: adaptive refresh down to 1, QHD, notification slider button...
The only critiques:
A. charger downgraded from 150\125 to 100\80 depending on model. For me that 10T brick charges 8T quicker (which comes with 80\65W version).
B. 512 gb variant nowhere to be seen in OP Store.
C. No e-Sim yet?
I used to do the custom roms back in Cyanogen days, but today I have too many finance, \ betting \ work apps- plus Samsung Pay on Galaxy Watch (managed from Android phone app) I don't want trouble with.
Maybe I'm just being too ignorant or lazy about today's custom Roms.
All the best.
horsecharles said:
Hopefully it's because OnePlus tired of T-Mo upgrade delays. Although to be fair, that intransigence helped for Android 12.
I also hope that T-Mo doesn't lock 11 during its activation.
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Activation? What do you mean? Will the 11 now start "activating" itself upon first setup?
horsecharles said:
Agreed. Although with 11 having the latest Snapdragon we're getting up to triple 5G Carrier Aggregation, UFS 4, LPPDR 5... and all those combine to use lots less battery & run cooler (beside the multi-gig download speeds).
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Yea that's one thing I'm tempted about the 11, the 5G support is insane, I'm jealous it has official N77 C-Band 5G support for Verizon, here on my 9 Pro, it has it, but I have to have root to enable it, plus I don't get the 5G UW icon. Not to mention battery life is atrocious on my 9 Pro, I usually get around 3 and a half hours of SOT. But then I remember no MSM Tool, no custom ROM support, so it will die on Oxygen OS 17.
horsecharles said:
Plus from me, coming from the 10T, they're re-adding everything removed from your model: adaptive refresh down to 1, QHD, notification slider button...
The only critiques:
A. charger downgraded from 150\125 to 100\80 depending on model. For me that 10T brick charges 8T quicker (which comes with 80\65W version).
B. 512 gb variant nowhere to be seen in OP Store.
C. No e-Sim yet?
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A. Don't forget that the 10T charger is also a 45W PD charger, same with the U.S. 10 Pro charger, the new 11 charger is the same 80w charger found in the international 10 Pro, and is not PD compatible.
B. I bet it's gonna be an exclusive color down the line.
C. U.S. and EU models do have eSIM, and apparently dual nano SIM? Not sure how accurate that is.
horsecharles said:
I used to do the custom roms back in Cyanogen days, but today I have too many finance, \ betting \ work apps- plus Samsung Pay on Galaxy Watch (managed from Android phone app) I don't want trouble with.
Maybe I'm just being too ignorant or lazy about today's custom Roms.
All the best.
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Everything you just mentioned (except Samsung Pay, don't have a Samsung Watch, I have a Fossil Gen 5) worked for me when running a custom ROM, I'm currently rooted on my OnePlus 9 Pro running Oxygen OS 13 F.20, and it all works, thanks to Universal SafetyNet Fix magisk module, plus it makes my WideVine L1, so I get 4K streaming. (Peep the screenshots).
rmendez011 said:
Activation? What do you mean? Will the 11 now start "activating" itself upon first setup?
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No. I meant that when I take phone to T-Mobile, hopefully they won't lock it when providing the SIM \ service.
rmendez011 said:
Yea that's one thing I'm tempted about the 11, the 5G support is insane, I'm jealous it has official N77 C-Band 5G support for Verizon, here on my 9 Pro, it has it, but I have to have root to enable it, plus I don't get the 5G UW icon. Not to mention battery life is atrocious on my 9 Pro, I usually get around 3 and a half hours of SOT. But then I remember no MSM Tool, no custom ROM support, so it will die on Oxygen OS 17.
A. Don't forget that the 10T charger is also a 45W PD charger, same with the U.S. 10 Pro charger, the new 11 charger is the same 80w charger found in the international 10 Pro, and is not PD compatible.
B. I bet it's gonna be an exclusive color down the line.
C. U.S. and EU models do have eSIM, and apparently dual nano SIM? Not sure how accurate that is.
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Wait. I thought my 8T charger was 65W(Int. 80), my 10T 125(150 Europe). Am I confusing or misunderstanding the numbers?
rmendez011 said:
Everything you just mentioned (except Samsung Pay, don't have a Samsung Watch, I have a Fossil Gen 5) worked for me when running a custom ROM, I'm currently rooted on my OnePlus 9 Pro running Oxygen OS 13 F.20, and it all works, thanks to Universal SafetyNet Fix magisk module, plus it makes my WideVine L1, so I get 4K streaming. (Peep the screenshots).
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Thank you so much for this! I'll really look for this with the 11 if it becomes possible (if the OP Fold coming later this year doesn't tempt another trade-in ROTFL).