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Hello all, currently I've got an unlocked Galaxy S4 running on AT&T GO Phone $60 a month plan.
I'm thinking about getting the Nexus 5 and it appears the wait time is a few weeks from google.
My family has been with sprint for years and have a few lines that're eligible for upgrades, I was thinking about purchasing a Nexus 5 for $49.99 with one of those upgrades however I don't plan to be on the Sprint network with them as I prefer AT&T in my Area (Don't live with my family where Sprint service is good) .
So basically my question is, Is sprint just reselling the Google version or do they have their own version of the phone that is locked and such?
I don't see any specific "Sprint Nexus 5" section here on XDA so I assume all the Google Nexus 5 ROM's and such work on the Sprint version?
Does that confirm that its the same device and can be used on any carrier?
Thanks for reading!
It should be completely GSM unlocked.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Ajfink said:
It should be completely GSM unlocked.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Appreciate the fast response man.
I'm going to head over to the store tomorrow if I can get a solid answer that it will work so if anyone has more input please let me know!
I want a Nexus simply so I'm not held back by Carrier updates as I've been with the amazing Galaxy line that suffers from carrier slowness. So I want to be sure the device Sprint is selling is indeed the Google Play Store device just resold through Sprint.
SemiGamer said:
Appreciate the fast response man.
I'm going to head over to the store tomorrow if I can get a solid answer that it will work so if anyone has more input please let me know!
I want a Nexus simply so I'm not held back by Carrier updates as I've been with the amazing Galaxy line that suffers from carrier slowness. So I want to be sure the device Sprint is selling is indeed the Google Play Store device just resold through Sprint.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm 97% sure it's the same as every other N5, but it won't hurt to ask.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Ajfink said:
I'm 97% sure it's the same as every other N5, but it won't hurt to ask.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I just feel weird asking these questions to sprint.
Example:
"Hey, I'm interested in the Nexus 5, however I want to use it on AT&T because your service is bad here, Will it work?"
I'm sure they'll be professional and answer the question but still feels like a rude question to ask. Lol.
ALSO: Does anyone know if the Sprint Version is branded with "sprint" on it anywhere?
Never assume carrier reps will answer questions professionally, haha. And I really don't know about any Sprint decals.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Ajfink said:
Never assume carrier reps will answer questions professionally, haha. And I really don't know about any Sprint decals.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very true lol.
I guess I'll find out about the decals when I go to the store tomorrow.
Appreciate the help man, as always if someone else has more information please feel free to let me know.
Thanks!
Just picked up a Sprint version from Best Buy, I am on T-mobile. It is the EXACT same phone. Same model# same build number and 100% factory unlocked. I also got them to price match the Play Store!
Edit: Also got the exact same 125mb update after powering on..
lowandbehold said:
Just picked up a Sprint version from Best Buy, I am on T-mobile. It is the EXACT same phone. Same model# same build number and 100% factory unlocked. I also got them to price match the Play Store!
Edit: Also got the exact same 125mb update after powering on..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome!
I just spoke with Sprint and played dumb, This was the conversation in short:
Me: Is the phone the same device google is offering, unlocked and everything?
Sprint rep: Sir do you mean unlocked for international use?
Me: Yes can it be used on other carriers over seas when I travel?
Sprint rep: After 3 months we will be able to unlock the device for you to use on other networks sir.
Me: Okay so its not unlocked from day one, I have to wait 3 months?
Sprint rep: That is correct sir.
So it seems they don't want people doing what I'm going to do OR the sprint rep doesn't know crap about the nexus 5. Lol.
SemiGamer said:
Awesome!
I just spoke with Sprint and played dumb, This was the conversation in short:
Me: Is the phone the same device google is offering, unlocked and everything?
Sprint rep: Sir do you mean unlocked for international use?
Me: Yes can it be used on other carriers over seas when I travel?
Sprint rep: After 3 months we will be able to unlock the device for you to use on other networks sir.
Me: Okay so its not unlocked from day one, I have to wait 3 months?
Sprint rep: That is correct sir.
So it seems they don't want people doing what I'm going to do OR the sprint rep doesn't know crap about the nexus 5. Lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah most phones on CDMA networks are GSM unlocked anyway, immediately. I think he's just giving the canned answer.
Sent from my Nexus 5
SemiGamer said:
Awesome!
I just spoke with Sprint and played dumb, This was the conversation in short:
Me: Is the phone the same device google is offering, unlocked and everything?
Sprint rep: Sir do you mean unlocked for international use?
Me: Yes can it be used on other carriers over seas when I travel?
Sprint rep: After 3 months we will be able to unlock the device for you to use on other networks sir.
Me: Okay so its not unlocked from day one, I have to wait 3 months?
Sprint rep: That is correct sir.
So it seems they don't want people doing what I'm going to do OR the sprint rep doesn't know crap about the nexus 5. Lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They probably just don't know. They seemed surprised when I told them I wanted to buy it outright because I was on T-mobile. Popped my sim right in and had 4G..
Ajfink said:
Yeah most phones on CDMA networks are GSM unlocked anyway, immediately. I think he's just giving the canned answer.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I went from a Galaxy S3 on Sprint to a T-mobile Galaxy S4 unlocked and running on AT&T so the last time I had a CDMA device it didn't have GSM. Its nice to know I can get newer sprint phones such as the Nexus on my families plan and use them on carriers such as AT&T that actually have signal in my area. Tomorrow is going to be a good day
Just bought Nexus 5 from local Best Buy. First one I went to said I needed to leave with a Sprint contract. The second one let me buy it outright with GP price match.
The box has Sprint material in it and a "don't text and drive" Sprint screen protector.
The model number and build number are the same. I also popped in my ATT sim and it worked.
Same build as developers.google.com, no Sprint software or google play sprint integration. I see no sign of Sprint any where on the hardware or software. My ATT sim works on LTE and HSPA, data/text/phone.
Are the sprint, tmobile nexus 5 locked to the networks or are they like the google play store versions
unlocked for any carrier?
Can I take my sprint nexus 5 and put in a ATT sim card?
same goes for the tmobile version.
As below
FrankJL_ said:
Are the sprint, tmobile nexus 5 locked to the networks or are they like the google play store versions
unlocked for any carrier?
Can I take my sprint nexus 5 and put in a ATT sim card?
same goes for the tmobile version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The box for the one sold through Sprint says it has a sim software lock and can be used on the Sprint network only (I forget exact wording) but there have been plenty of reports of people swapping sims and it working just fine.
I believe that TMOs policy is that any phone it sells is unlocked. The exception is that if you finance the phone through them, it will be locked until the phone is paid off.
tmobiles nexus 5 is completely unlocked, whether you pay in full or payments. same with the nexus 4. at any moment you can insert a sim from another provider and itll work.
FrankJL_ said:
Are the sprint, tmobile nexus 5 locked to the networks or are they like the google play store versions
unlocked for any carrier?
Can I take my sprint nexus 5 and put in a ATT sim card?
same goes for the tmobile version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
jasonamd said:
The box for the one sold through Sprint says it has a sim software lock and can be used on the Sprint network only (I forget exact wording) but there have been plenty of reports of people swapping sims and it working just fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LG/Google sells the Nexus 5 as a factory device - regardless of branding, the device is unlocked and available to use. There isn't yet any kind of blocking or locking of the device in this nature.
FourPointedFreak said:
LG/Google sells the Nexus 5 as a factory device - regardless of branding, the device is unlocked and available to use. There isn't yet any kind of blocking or locking of the device in this nature.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can you be sure about this? While it may be true in North America, it may not be true in other parts of the world. People have said the same thing about every Nexus phone since the Nexus One, but evidence has shown that there has been locked versions of every Nexus phone prior to the N5.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk 2
efrant said:
How can you be sure about this? While it may be true in North America, it may not be true in other parts of the world. People have said the same thing about every Nexus phone since the Nexus One, but evidence has shown that there has been locked versions of every Nexus phone prior to the N5.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well all above carriers had been north american based carriers, that's what I was referring to. Clearly I can't be sure for every model of the device outside of the U.S.
Hello all, I plan on buying a Nexus 5 from a private seller. He was previously on At&t. If I were to take it to Tmobile and buy a 70 unlimited plan and put in the Tmobile sim would everything be working? Would the Nexus 5 be locked to at&t or the esn be locked to them? What if the person cancelled there at&t service would it be locked to at&t? I am a noob when it comes to these things. Any help is appreciated.
The nexus 5 is not carrier locked for SIM devices.
No worries about it being tied to AT&T or their account as AT&T doesn't sell the phone. Unless he purchased it from Sprint or T-Mobile and it's tied to a contract there and he hasn't been using it long enough on AT&T for Sprint/T-mobile to blacklist it, but not likely. You can check the IMEI vs the global blacklist either:
http://swappa.com/esn
or
checkesnfree.com
or from T-Mobile (though good luck getting it to recognize the IMEI - has sucked at that recently)
http://www.t-mobile.com/verifyIMEI.aspx
So I sold a Nexus 5 to someone my dad knows and for some reason it won't connect to sprint! They already paid me for the device.
I thought this device can work on all three major carriers and are all one model? Tried going to the store and they still couldn't activate it.
It does however detect the network but it just doesn't want to to connect at all. My T-mo card works on it and it has been factory reseted.
It's 16GB unlocked boot loader and not rooted with a stock recovery. Any ideas?
Edit: please don't tell me to tell them to switch carriers. It's their choice to be with sprint. I've read other threads with people jumping straight to that. :/
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
Dragn4rce said:
So I sold a Nexus 5 to someone my dad knows and for some reason it won't connect to sprint! They already paid me for the device.
I thought this device can work on all three major carriers and are all one model? Tried going to the store and they still couldn't activate it.
It does however detect the network but it just doesn't want to to connect at all. My T-mo card works on it and it has been factory reseted.
It's 16GB unlocked boot loader and not rooted with a stock recovery. Any ideas?
Edit: please don't tell me to tell them to switch carriers. It's their choice to be with sprint. I've read other threads with people jumping straight to that. :/
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it is carrier locked when bought from a carrier. Only unlocked is from Google, but I am not 100% on this.
RIPng said:
I think it is carrier locked when bought from a carrier. Only unlocked is from Google, but I am not 100% on this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All Nexus 5s are unlocked!
vin4yak said:
All Nexus 5s are unlocked!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory unlocked and carrier unlocked are two different things.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
RIPng said:
Factory unlocked and carrier unlocked are two different things.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay. I'll make myself clear.. All Nexus 5s are Factory and Carrier unlocked!
RIPng said:
Factory unlocked and carrier unlocked are two different things.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No all nexus 5's are carrier unlocked. My device wouldn't work on Sprint period and that one is FROM Google themselves. The one I sold actually detects their networks.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
vin4yak said:
Okay. I'll make myself clear.. All Nexus 5s are Factory and Carrier unlocked!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Until the carrier locks it down because it's subsidized.
Dragn4rce said:
No all nexus 5's are carrier unlocked. My device wouldn't work on Sprint period and that one is FROM Google themselves. The one I sold actually detects their networks.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is like what Apple says about iPhones until the carrier locks them. You have a device issue then.
Have you tried with other carriers or than the two mentioned?
All nexus devices have never been carrier locked and would never be locked. That's why it's called a Nexus device. Carriers don't lock/alter the phone in any way after it's been already made clear that it will be Unlocked at the time of release.
@Dragn4rce: have you tried using a different Sprint Card on that device? Does it work? I've seen many issues with Nexus users who are on Sprint all over xda
Dragn4rce said:
No all nexus 5's are carrier unlocked. My device wouldn't work on Sprint period and that one is FROM Google themselves. The one I sold actually detects their networks.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it works on sprint fine if you buy it from google play. my friend's wife has one on sprint fine.
you need to put the sprint sim LTE sim in, factory reset and go through the setup process again.
Zepius said:
it works on sprint fine if you buy it from google play. my friend's wife has one on sprint fine.
you need to put the sprint sim LTE sim in, factory reset and go through the setup process again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same here. on sprint, got my n5 from google play
RIPng said:
Until the carrier locks it down because it's subsidized.
That is like what Apple says about iPhones until the carrier locks them. You have a device issue then.
Have you tried with other carriers or than the two mentioned?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Att works too.
vin4yak said:
All nexus devices have never been carrier locked and would never be locked. That's why it's called a Nexus device. Carriers don't lock/alter the phone in any way after it's been already made clear that it will be Unlocked at the time of release.
@Dragn4rce: have you tried using a different Sprint Card on that device? Does it work? I've seen many issues with Nexus users who are on Sprint all over xda
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We used the old and they got a new. Still doesn't work they say.
Zepius said:
it works on sprint fine if you buy it from google play. my friend's wife has one on sprint fine.
you need to put the sprint sim LTE sim in, factory reset and go through the setup process again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We'll try a factory reset. Hoping that does it. My device is Google play and won't even work on our detect sprint So far.
The Tmo does detects it at least a d actually did say please wait for connection to be completed or somthing along those lines.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
Dragn4rce said:
We'll try a factory reset. Hoping that does it. My device is Google play and won't even work on our detect sprint So far.
The Tmo does detects it at least a d actually did say please wait for connection to be completed or somthing along those lines.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you cant swap between them without the reset. there's something that gets stored for the CDMA network to be a priority, just dont remember what it is.
make sure the sprint LTE SIM is in the phone, and factory reset/flash factory images.
If the device was purchased from Google Play or from Sprint, it should work fine on the 3 major carriers in the US (just not Verizon).
But if the device was purchased from T-Mo, there is a possibility that it won't work on Sprint.
This has nothing to do with the device not being carrier unlocked or anything like that. It is simply because Sprint may not have that IMEI in their databases, and Sprint will not permit such a device (for which they don't have the IMEI in their databases) on their network.
I see that op indicated that the device was from Google Play. Can you ask Sprint why it is not working? (ask to check if device is blacklisted, or if IMEI is missing, or something else)
jj14 said:
If the device was purchased from Google Play or from Sprint, it should work fine on the 3 major carriers in the US (just not Verizon).
But if the device was purchased from T-Mo, there is a possibility that it won't work on Sprint.
This has nothing to do with the device not being carrier unlocked or anything like that. It is simply because Sprint may not have that IMEI in their databases, and Sprint will not permit such a device (for which they don't have the IMEI in their databases) on their network.
I see that op indicated that the device was from Google Play. Can you ask Sprint why it is not working? (ask to check if device is blacklisted, or if IMEI is missing, or something else)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's two devices I'm talking about. Mine is GP the one I sold is TMO. and that's what I'm really worried about. It not being in the system.
PS. Tmo device detects sprint. Mine doesn't
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
Dragn4rce said:
There's two devices I'm talking about. Mine is GP the one I sold is TMO. and that's what I'm really worried about. It not being in the system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the device causing the problem was purchased from T-Mo, then it is very likely that Sprint may not have the IMEI in their system, which is causing the activation issue. Ask the store rep to verify that. If they confirm that is the issue, ask if they can add it (I doubt they can). If they can't, try Sprint phone support (again, I don't know if they will).
jj14 said:
If the device causing the problem was purchased from T-Mo, then it is very likely that Sprint may not have the IMEI in their system, which is causing the activation issue. Ask the store rep to verify that. If they confirm that is the issue, ask if they can add it (I doubt they can). If they can't, try Sprint phone support (again, I don't know if they will).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why do Google play devices work then. Their IMEI didn't get added to sprint most likely.
Which BTW mine, the Google play version, didn't work with sprint at all. But the TMO version did actually detect sprint and offer an option to establish a connection (it failed after a few minutes).
Mine, the Google play, didn't offer monkey doodles about establishing a connection.
I hate CDMA carriers. Sooooo much. *sigh*
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
Did the factory reset and that didn't work.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
Dragn4rce said:
Why do Google play devices work then. Their IMEI didn't get added to sprint most likely.
Which BTW mine, the Google play version, didn't work with sprint at all. But the TMO version did actually detect sprint and offer an option to establish a connection (it failed after a few minutes).
Mine, the Google play, didn't offer monkey doodles about establishing a connection.
I hate CDMA carriers. Sooooo much. *sigh*
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, the ones purchased directly from Google Play do have their IMEI added to Sprint (funny thing - for the first few days after the Nexus 5 was made available from Google Play, the IMEI for the 32GB ones were not in Sprint's database, and those didn't get activated. Several escalations later, and about 1-2 days later, those got added, and users were finally able to get it activated on Sprint - read more here).
If your Google play one is not working with Sprint, you should get Google to look into it. That should not be an IMEI issue.
jj14 said:
Actually, the ones purchased directly from Google Play do have their IMEI added to Sprint (funny thing - for the first few days after the Nexus 5 was made available from Google Play, the IMEI for the 32GB ones were not in Sprint's database, and those didn't get activated. Several escalations later, and about 1-2 days later, those got added, and users were finally able to get it activated on Sprint - read more here).
If your Google play one is not working with Sprint, you should get Google to look into it. That should not be an IMEI issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont really care about mine, the fine
Google play version. I'm sticking to TMO no matter what.
But the one I sold, the TMO version, I need to get it to work. did the factory reset and still nothing.
But don't the TMO devices come from Google. I'm pretty sure they get added too once they're made sitting in Google's warehouse and then TMO orders them and ships it to the stores.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
Dragn4rce said:
I dont really care about mine, the fine
Google play version. I'm sticking to TMO no matter what.
But the one I sold, the TMO version, I need to get it to work. did the factory reset and still nothing.
But don't the TMO devices come from Google. I'm pretty sure they get added too once they're made sitting in Google's warehouse and then TMO orders them and ships it to the stores.
Sent from my Ñ£×Ú$ 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-mo devices likely do come from Google. That doesn't however mean that Sprint will have their IMEIs.
Do note that I neither work for Sprint, nor for Google (and not for T-Mo). I remember reading about this issue at s4gru and at some other sites. I don't know if that issue is still there, but you can check that by asking Sprint if the IMEI on your T-Mo nexus 5 is in their system or not.
When I purchased my Nexus 6P several years ago, I just swapped my Verizon SIM out of my Note 4 and went on my merry way. My Dad asked for a phone recommendation and I recommended the Pixel 2, thinking it would work the same way. Now I discover there's a carrier-unlocked version and a Verizon version. I don't want the Verizon bloatware on his phone and would rather not have to begin by deleting a bunch of apps (if Verizon will actually allow me to uninstall any apps [they love to install bloatware as system apps])as I'm the first step in his tech support hierarchy. I doubt I'll root his phone but I definitely don't want to have a locked bootloader which seems to be the Verizon standard.
If I get him the carrier-unlocked version and put his Verizon SIM card in, will it work on Evil Red's, I mean Big Red's network? I couldn't find any radio differentiation on Google's tech specs page.
Thank you for any information you can provide me.
Narsil007 said:
When I purchased my Nexus 6P several years ago, I just swapped my Verizon SIM out of my Note 4 and went on my merry way. My Dad asked for a phone recommendation and I recommended the Pixel 2, thinking it would work the same way. Now I discover there's a carrier-unlocked version and a Verizon version. I don't want the Verizon bloatware on his phone and would rather not have to begin by deleting a bunch of apps (if Verizon will actually allow me to uninstall any apps [they love to install bloatware as system apps])as I'm the first step in his tech support hierarchy. I doubt I'll root his phone but I definitely don't want to have a locked bootloader which seems to be the Verizon standard.
If I get him the carrier-unlocked version and put his Verizon SIM card in, will it work on Evil Red's, I mean Big Red's network? I couldn't find any radio differentiation on Google's tech specs page.
Thank you for any information you can provide me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It'll work they are all the same. Just don't put the sim in until after the setup process. From my understanding if you get the one from Verizon it will not install Verizon apps if you setup the phone without a sim in it. However you couldn't unlock the bootloader(there's a hack for it I believe).
Verizon installs the MyVerizon and go90 apps from the play store after setup if you have a vzw sim in it which can both be uninstalled. (Google store version does this too)
Only difference in versions is the verizon branded model comes with a sim in it and oem unlock is greyed out
Thank you! I've ordered the Carrier-Unlocked model from the Play Store for him and will set it up for him when it arrives.
I like the blue version, but it seems that Verizon model has it and not the carrier unlocked version. So the question is, if I will pick Verizon from google store, will the unit come carrier unlocked or it will be locked to Verizon?
Charkatak said:
I like the blue version, but it seems that Verizon model has it and not the carrier unlocked version. So the question is, if I will pick Verizon from google store, will the unit come carrier unlocked or it will be locked to Verizon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's carrier unlocked they all are. The only thing you can't unlock is the bootloader.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Tidbits said:
It's carrier unlocked they all are. The only thing you can't unlock is the bootloader.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, that isn't an issue for me. All I need the phone to be sim unlocked. I have heard that original pixel phone which was purchased form Verizon had also bootloader locked. What some users did, was that when they bought the phone new, removed Verizon sim, then turned of phone without the sim card and went through the set up. After that they were able to toggle OEM unlock. I don't know if it is the same for Pixel 2 phones.
Charkatak said:
Oh, that isn't an issue for me. All I need the phone to be sim unlocked. I have heard that original pixel phone which was purchased form Verizon had also bootloader locked. What some users did, was that when they bought the phone new, removed Verizon sim, then turned of phone without the sim card and went through the set up. After that they were able to toggle OEM unlock. I don't know if it is the same for Pixel 2 phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From this point around it Sims that was fixed. You won't get the apps but the bootloader stays unlockable.
Sent from my Pixel 2 using Tapatalk