Newb at Android! Need help with choosing a phone to use.. - General Questions and Answers

Hi everyone.
I am a newb to Android, and I have a difficult situation at hand.
Here is my long and winding story.
I am currently living in Canada, using Rogers Mobile, and someone is giving me a Galaxy Note from South Korea (SHV-E-160S).
It is unlocked.
Will I be able to use this phone in Canada? I don't have a data plan so using 3G or LTE or anything like that is not a major problem.
Also, if I root it, will I be able to use any useful custom roms? or is that impossible because of the lack of developer support?
Here is the second part of my problem. If I opt to sell the Note, and get a galaxy S3, which model should I be looking into?
I am trying to use the phone in both Canada and in South Korea, and I want it to work on both. However, I know that Rogers is GSM and most of the networks in South Korea are WCDMA. Also, which model has the best developer support for ROMs?
Sorry, I just have so many questions and not enough answers anywhere.. Please help!

The note will work.
The international gs3 will work in Korea
Sent from my U8150 using XDA

Yes you should be able to use it!
And be able to root and customize it as well!
Btw...the galaxy note is a stable phone...but if you are still opting to sell it...then the galaxy s3 international version will do!
It should work in South Korea and Canada as well!
Dont know as to which model has the best developer support yet...Sorry!

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[Q] Samsung Galaxy S i9000 in US?

Hi, I'm sorry if this question doesn't belong here, I can't find the marketplace, maybe because I'm a newbie I've the following question, is Samsung Galaxy S i9000 available in US? I'm not talking about the US versions of Galaxy S, I'd like to buy the International version. Can you recommend me reliable online or retail store? I'm currently near Atlantic City, soon to go to NY, so I need your advice fast.Where can I get the phone without any plan, unlocked? As I'll be soon going to Europe and I really would like to buy the phone from the US. Please, no spam, I really need the advice on this one, ASAP. Thanks.
Anyone...?

US Cellular Variant Offical Thread

Hey guys, the Samsung Galaxy S III is finally coming to US Cellular this Thursday and/or Friday.
This is the official thread for the US Cellular variant of the phone.
We will discuss mods, flashing, rooting, and etc.
In for my 2 friends on USCC whose phones I'll be rooting (for tether). Hopefully it won't be locked like VZW.
jnadke said:
In for my 2 friends on USCC whose phones I'll be rooting (for tether). Hopefully it won't be locked like VZW.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It won't, I spoke with a US Cellular representative today and it's where I got the release date and other details.
The thing is, that the phone does have a lot of similarities with Verizon, so the devs have 2 options.
They can make one for US Cellular and edit it for Verizon.
But as Verizon is a larger carrier, they'll probably get the Developer's edition of the phone and then at some point make a root for the US Cellular version.
You think that CyanogenMod 9 or 10 will be supported for the USC variant?
Testicopolicious said:
You think that CyanogenMod 9 or 10 will be supported for the USC variant?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no reason why not.
As far as root, the CWM flash method has worked on all variants thus far, I don't see why it won't work on the USCC phone.
I am switching this fall when my contract is up in Verizon to US Cellular. What will the dev scene look like on this phone? Will it be easy to port ROMs from other GS3? If there are very few devs working on this phone, how easy is it for a end user to port the ROM from another GS3?
since I already have a mini sim and a lTE acount thats active, from my Galaxy Nexus on verizon, can I just pay cash for the us cellular version and plug in my active sim and it will work?
jnadke said:
There's no reason why not.
As far as root, the CWM flash method has worked on all variants thus far, I don't see why it won't work on the USCC phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, there are already people getting the phone today, but I know that past phones like the Mesmerize and the Aviator have been Cyanogenmod supported, and Root supported.
Do you happen to know which carrier US Cellular has the most similarities to?
Pompsy said:
I am switching this fall when my contract is up in Verizon to US Cellular. What will the dev scene look like on this phone? Will it be easy to port ROMs from other GS3? If there are very few devs working on this phone, how easy is it for a end user to port the ROM from another GS3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The US Cellular variant of the Galaxy S II shared a lot of similarities with the Epic4G Touch.
Well, as US Cellular is finally starting to grow, I've seen a lot of developers for AOKP and CM9 discussing the possibilities of ROMs by making it for the 4G Touch, and just porting it over by changing a few things.
I can't answer that last question as I really have no idea on porting ROMs, but as I said in another post, it's either closer to Verizon or Sprint.
But for the S II, I've seen a few threads that it was very easy, but that they just had to change a few things, so I'm assuming that it's not that much of a hassle.
chakra said:
since I already have a mini sim and a lTE acount thats active, from my Galaxy Nexus on verizon, can I just pay cash for the us cellular version and plug in my active sim and it will work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried Googling that but I can't seem to find an answer.
Some answers say yes some say no, but I think that US Cellular has more similarities to Verizon than any other carrier, at least that's my speculation in terms of radios, as they both use the same spectrum.
But you can go to the website and go to a live chat with a representative and ask there.
Has anyone rooted this phone yet? Can we get our own section?
Bump for a fellow U.S. Cellular S3 owner. Would love to see it rooted.
nairbandroid said:
Bump for a fellow U.S. Cellular S3 owner. Would love to see it rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The instructions at galaxys3root.com works for US Cellular.
So it is confirmed that this phone has an unlocked bootloader?
Has anyone tried and can verify on U.S. Cellular that they have used galaxys3root.com and it worked?
this phone can be rooted with the method that team epic uses for the sprint version. I dunno what the website you're talking about does but it is the same method as it is with all the other carriers.
I would love to see a separate section for us, no we aren't gonna have a whole lot of development going on compared to the big 4 but it would be really nice to have a place where we can have specific discussions and rom ports and things for just us.
Sent from my SCH-R530U using Tapatalk 2
Does anyone know if a verizon mini sim will work in this device?
Yes that site just has a set by step guide for installing the Team Epic recovery using ODIN and it worked on my US Cellular Galaxy S III.
Seconded on the separate forum idea. I think there will be more than enough people to have one. I know a lot of people is moving to this from the Desire and that had a decent sized community.
Successful root using teamepics procedure.
Agree with vex and all the rest. A separate forum for USCC GS3 owners would be wonderful.
Who would we contact to get a separate section?

[Q] Phone from China that works on Sprint?

Hi Im looking to get a phone from China but dont know where to start since this would be my first phone from there..
my question is simple, just wondering if there is, and if someone has recommendations, a phone that can work on sprint?
the bigger the screen the better
China phones typically are GSM phones, since only the United States uses CDMA. The only place you can get Sprint phones are from Sprint and are branded Sprint.
Now if you were on AT&T or T-Mobile, then China phones would work
Sent from my MB508 using xda premium

[Q] International S5 to US

I'm trying to figure out if an S5 bought in India would work here in the US on sprint. Family over in India sent one over and didn't consider the potential band/frequency issues. It hasn't arrived yet but I am hesitant to use it considering Samsung's region lock etc. Anyone have any experience? Can it be rooted / flashed and work ok on sprint?
I searched around on the forum seeking an answer and I didn't find anything specifically explaining yea or nay. Closest I got was :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2709458
Thanx

Which Note Edge variant to buy?

Hi Everyone,
I would like to buy a Note Edge very soon but i wanted to ask which variant should I get - I do plan on rooting the device asap and flashing various themes so I want the most compatible variant for this. Currently I am now in Australia and the SM-N915G are very much available everywhere, however I did notice slightly more development for the SM-N915FY (EU version) will there be incompatibility between the G & Y versions?
Thanks.
GODSPD said:
Hi Everyone,
I would like to buy a Note Edge very soon but i wanted to ask which variant should I get - I do plan on rooting the device asap and flashing various themes so I want the most compatible variant for this. Currently I am now in Australia and the SM-N915G are very much available everywhere, however I did notice slightly more development for the SM-N915FY (EU version) will there be incompatibility between the G & Y versions?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
first, NO n915F(Y) rom is not compatible with N915G.
i own an SM-N915G (snapdragon) which i love. as you noticed yourself, there are no custom ROMs for this variant. BUT hey who needs a custom rom when there is Xposed? i customize every thing with it. pretty much all the things that i love about the root is in Xposed.
My friend owns the 915F (which is compatible with 915FY), and he's got the same stuff i got (no custom Rom, only Xposed).
bottom line, i suggest N915G for you because it's Australian. and it's Snapdragon which i like more.
and the official Lollipop is already available for N915G too. :good: :good: it's smooth as hell
As mentioned above, its best to get the variant that is usable in your region for compatibility and service purposes.
I have the SM-N915G model but the Note Edge isn't sold in my country (at least not yet).
If I ever need repairs or service done to my Note Edge, all I need to do is fly to Singapore where I bought the phone from.
And the bonus part, the SM-N915G has an official Lollipop update.
so the sm-n915fy is an octacore?
will it work with lte att on USA?
No F(Y) it's SD-805
Essentially Samsung got sick of people buying grey import phones for cheaper from different regions and instead now make different models WITH THE SAME HARDWARE for different regions.
Unfortunately, you can't flash the ROMs of a different region...
Looks like Sammy is going the way of Apple.... Not so Dev friendly anymore if the ROM for 1 region can't be used on the same hardware but a different model number (region) device...
I can only speak of the FY variant. I bought it in Germany and so far very satisfied. The OS is really fluid, never experienced a hiccup so far, but I dont use facebook or twitter but all other messaging apps are there (z.B whatsapp, viber, skype and fring )with notifications turned on.
I get between 3,5-4 hours SOT depending on LTE Usage.
I'm still on kitkat and don't mind lollipop anyways cause I had the LG G3 before this handset and tried it already last year and can say that ART wasn't that drastic change as Android Hyped it. so I'm waiting for a stable lollipop.
Hope I helped
I live in the U.S. and bought a SM-N915T unlocked using AT&T and so far it's working out well.
I agree with staying with phones for your region. I have read that in the U.S. that you can use a F, FY, or G version unlocked but you may not get 4G LTE and you have to use a SIM card for overseas.

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