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[Q] About Sony Xperia S and Ion

Hey ya!
Well, I've heard about the upcoming first two dual-core Sony devices: Xperia S and Xperia Ion. They look really tempting and I consider buying one of them (Unlocked version). The thing is that I live in Israel (technologically it is considered as Europe by most of the companies) and I've understood that the Xperia Ion is AT&T exclusive. On the other hand, I've seen that an unlocked version is offered for pre-order.
What does it mean? Can I use an Ion in Europe with my own SIM card or do I have to buy the Xperia S which is international?
And another question: From what I've seen it is pretty difficult to decide which one of them to buy, mostly because they are very alike. Would you help me decide what to choose?
Thanks very much in advance,
MasterLinuxer.

Most probably they will release an unlocked version, and they will release it in the international markets few months after releasing it in USA.
Even if you bought a locked version, there are many ways to unlock it, search in google and you will find many tutorials
In addition I found an unlocked version available for preorder at this website
http://www.popularelect.com/Sony-Xperia-S-Unlocked-Quad-Band-GSM-Smartphone-p/xperias.htm

The Ion is the exclusive one, the s is international. The link that you posted is weird.. they offer an SD card although the S doesn't support it, and also it is written that it has 8 mp camera while it has 12 mp...
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On AT&T here. Buying a Z3 soon, some advice needed.

I'm contemplating a Z3 this month (Price drop when the Z3+/Z4 is released.) I'm seeing multiple model numbers for the Z3 & I need to know which one is best. I'd prefer one that's root-able and LTE enabled. Root should be easy with an international phone with the unlockable bootloaders. Is there a 32 MB variant?
Also do these models overheat and shut down the camera sensor like it did on the Z2 (I had it)? Currently using a Note 4 but I need a water proof phone for vacation coming next month!

ZPaul2Fresh8 said:
I'm contemplating a Z3 this month (Price drop when the Z3+/Z4 is released.) I'm seeing multiple model numbers for the Z3 & I need to know which one is best. I'd prefer one that's root-able and LTE enabled. Root should be easy with an international phone with the unlockable bootloaders. Is there a 32 MB variant?
Also do these models overheat and shut down the camera sensor like it did on the Z2 (I had it)? Currently using a Note 4 but I need a water proof phone for vacation coming next month!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About model number there is a thread here on xda as for all rest, just short info: bootloader you need to unlock only...only if you want custom kernel, 32 GB is only T Mobile version as I read...it does overheat while recording 4K video (depending on environment temperature it can go from under 5 min, to unlimited on north pole LOL)...

nedooo said:
About model number there is a thread here on xda as for all rest, just short info: bootloader you need to unlock only...only if you want custom kernel, 32 GB is only T Mobile version as I read...it does overheat while recording 4K video (depending on environment temperature it can go from under 5 min, to unlimited on north pole LOL)...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the T-Mobile variant have locked boot loaders? D6603 is the international 16GB model and I think the TMo is D6616... I'll have to find that thread somewhere...

ZPaul2Fresh8 said:
Does the T-Mobile variant have locked boot loaders? D6603 is the international 16GB model and I think the TMo is D6616... I'll have to find that thread somewhere...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
6603 is international version...most common but mine bootloader can not be unlocked (says that in secret menu)...

I have the D6616 and love it but it only has 3 LTE bands and I believe most of them are the same as AT&T except it is missing one LTE band for AT&T, so for compatability sake get the international version D6603 and yes it's boot loader unlock able if you get unbranded version.
D6603 has only 16GB but better AT&T network compatability along with unlockable bootloader vs the D6616 whose only advantage is 32GB storage.

ZPaul2Fresh8 said:
I'm contemplating a Z3 this month (Price drop when the Z3+/Z4 is released.) I'm seeing multiple model numbers for the Z3 & I need to know which one is best. I'd prefer one that's root-able and LTE enabled. Root should be easy with an international phone with the unlockable bootloaders. Is there a 32 MB variant?
Also do these models overheat and shut down the camera sensor like it did on the Z2 (I had it)? Currently using a Note 4 but I need a water proof phone for vacation coming next month!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
D6603 direct from Sony's store has an unlockable bootloader.
http://store.sony.com/xperia-z3-lte...catid-Android-Smartphone?vva_ColorCode=FFFFFF
I can confirm that this device works GREAT on AT&T - it's been my daily driver since November

Entropy512 said:
D6603 direct from Sony's store has an unlockable bootloader.
http://store.sony.com/xperia-z3-lte...catid-Android-Smartphone?vva_ColorCode=FFFFFF
I can confirm that this device works GREAT on AT&T - it's been my daily driver since November
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, after reading the loss of some features after unlocking the bootloader I wonder if I should just root it with the bootloader locked?
Entropy, I'll trade you my ATT Note 4 for your D6603 ?

T-Mobile Z3 to International version

Knowing how bad T-Mobile is with software updates, T-Mobile users will probably never get Android M update for Z3.
Wondering if there is a way to install Sony's International software version on t mobile's D6616, so we can get Android M update?
Is it gonna be stable?
Instruction would be helpful, I never done this kind of thing before.
Also, Sony might have new UI for Z3 in Sweden, maybe it will come with Android M in the future!!

What are you talking about? There has been no notice about Android M from Sony or T-Mobile. We'll probably get it 3 months after the international push.
There's no way to convert the T-mobile D6616 to an international model due to locked bootloader. But even if it were possible, you'd lose the 32GB and radio compatibility. At that point, it would be wise to sell your Tmobile model an buy the 16GB international model.

E6603 vs E6653 Difference - What to do?

Hey all,
So Handtec just released what version they will be getting and its the E6603, seems to have all the bands necessary for AT&T. There is also a E6653 available from Clove, I looked at the developer thing from sony, there seems to be no difference in the bands. So what is the difference in model number.
With that said... I have been rocking an iPhone 6 Plus the last year. This is my first iPhone and while it is nice. I have been itching to get back to Android. I got an invite to buy a Oneplus 2 and bought it, now I'm regretting it. The sony seems like the device to get, I rocked the z3 for about a month when it came out. I have thought of using the Oneplus for a month until the Z5 comes out, but not sure... Thoughts?

only difference as far as the whitepaper goes is that the e6603 supports cat4 LTE, and the e6653 supports cat6

Hi ,
Here is your most appealing thing so that is the(the whitepaper goes is that the e6603 supports cat4 LTE, and the e6653 supports cat6 )

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FORUMS Xperia Z5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting Xperia Z5 General Xperia Z
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Do we know which one will have an unlockable bootloader? Or is it too early to know?

Uclydde said:
Do we know which one will have an unlockable bootloader? Or is it too early to know?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
none of these seem destined to head to T-Mobile as a specific variant, so both can probably be unlocked, as per usual.

Ordered E6653 today, will be here next week.

HELP???
I live in the usa,and ordered the e6603 from handtec. Should I get the cat 6 capable e6653 from clove instead? Also I can't seem to find that model on clove.

mas5acre said:
I live in the usa,and ordered the e6603 from handtec. Should I get the cat 6 capable e6653 from clove instead? Also I can't seem to find that model on clove.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really a personal choice. If the only difference is cat 4 or cat 6 LTE it doesn't really matter. I ordered E6653 because its available now from a seller I have dealt with on numerous occasions in Taipei.

I assume this topic also goes for the compact models as the white paper shows the same differences. Still torn between z5 and compact but was considering doing it now from probably the same eBay seller. I'm in the USA anything I need to worry about ordering one of those phone such as it being stuck on another language or being locked (if they claim its unlocked which I do believe it is)
Sent from my XT1254 using XDA Free mobile app

I use eBay seller 23port. I have purchased a few phones from them and never had an issue. Always brand new unlocked devices. Shipped today, arriving Wednesday.

Are we able to use the cat6 lte on cat4 network? At&t still doesn't have a lot of cat6 lte band. If I buy E6653, will I be able to use the LTE for AT&T?

bcbulz said:
Are we able to use the cat6 lte on cat4 network? At&t still doesn't have a lot of cat6 lte band. If I buy E6653, will I be able to use the LTE for AT&T?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure but I'll let you know Wednesday

augie7107 said:
Not sure but I'll let you know Wednesday
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you!!

Is anyone aware of any online retailers that sell the E6653 variant? I can't seem to find any expect bizrus oline which doesn't ship to the US apparent or at least I can't find that option.

For anyone who wanted to know, a reddit user confirmed that the E6653 model is bootloader unlockable.

Any way you could post the link? I've been searching for confirmation on this for days

bcbulz said:
Thank you!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Device actually arrived yesterday, not bad for shipping from Taiwan on Friday. Anyway, took it out last night and this morning but not getting LTE on AT&T. LTE Discovery app shows band 17 available but the device is not connecting to it. Network setting is 4G preferred. Must have something to do with cat 6 vs cat 4. I am in a fairly rural area in New England. Anyone else get an E6653 on AT&T in a major metropolitan area that can chime in?

Question Cheap Xperia 5iii ?

Hi
i really like to swap to using a sony phone.. and recently there's been a lot of promoting for second hand sonys and they're relatively very cheap... there's xperia 5 mark 3 for only 230 usd... but the catch is they're Docomo variant and i asked around , they don't get much love...
my question is are they that bad (docomo)? and why so cheap
problems with updates or stuff...

zanst1234 said:
Hi
i really like to swap to using a sony phone.. and recently there's been a lot of promoting for second hand sonys and they're relatively very cheap... there's xperia 5 mark 3 for only 230 usd... but the catch is they're Docomo variant and i asked around , they don't get much love...
my question is are they that bad (docomo)? and why so cheap
problems with updates or stuff...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Docomo is Japanese variant (SO-53B). I also believe that SO-53B is network locked and also the bootloader cannot be unlocked either. I'm also not sure but it's possible that the hardware for the radio is slightly different too. Can't say for sure tho.

bentree said:
Docomo is Japanese variant (SO-53B). I also believe that SO-53B is network locked and also the bootloader cannot be unlocked either. I'm also not sure but it's possible that the hardware for the radio is slightly different too. Can't say for sure tho.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you think that they don't perform as well as the other variants?

zanst1234 said:
do you think that they don't perform as well as the other variants?
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Click to collapse
I think the hardware difference is down to the NFC setup as japan uses a few different forms of tap to pay. Not so much bad performance but you are stuck with the carrier supplied firmware and Japan carriers have a poor reputation for regular updates.