Cricket Samsung Galaxy S6 - 50% off! Unlocked bootloader? Comparison to Galaxy Alpha? - Galaxy S6 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I see that Cricket has the Samsung Galaxy S6 for $249.99 (along with the S5 for $199.99 and the S4 for $99.99). I am debating whether I should buy the Galaxy S6 or the Galaxy Alpha G850M (around $250 at Target after discounts). I've had quite a few Samsung phones (Galaxy Epic, Nexus, S3 and S4) and became tired of the same design language and cheap feeling plastic. The phones I've had in the past year (Moto G LTE, Padfone X and Amazon Fire Phone) have been great phones in their own rite, however, locked bootloaders and very minimal aftermarket support have made me want to go back to a phone that's more popular with aftermarket support (e.g. Cyanogenmod, Zeiss VR One headset and so on). I've played around with the Galaxy Alpha earlier this year, and I really do like the size and quality of it- however, the variant may have a locked bootloader and the Marshmallow update isn't planned as of yet. Phone size is a huge deal to me, as trying to hold larger phones have definitely caused hand cramps and I prefer something smaller (4.7" screen or less) for one handed use. I've also considered the One Plus X, however, the phone not having all the LTE bands for AT&T/Cricket has been a huge drawback for me.
With that being said, can anyone help me decide the following-
In my situation, would the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy Alpha be a better choice?
Does the Galaxy S6 from Cricket have an unlocked bootloader so I can flash Cyanongenmod in the future?
Thanks!

tahleel said:
I see that Cricket has the Samsung Galaxy S6 for $249.99 (along with the S5 for $199.99 and the S4 for $99.99). I am debating whether I should buy the Galaxy S6 or the Galaxy Alpha G850M (around $250 at Target after discounts). I've had quite a few Samsung phones (Galaxy Epic, Nexus, S3 and S4) and became tired of the same design language and cheap feeling plastic. The phones I've had in the past year (Moto G LTE, Padfone X and Amazon Fire Phone) have been great phones in their own rite, however, locked bootloaders and very minimal aftermarket support have made me want to go back to a phone that's more popular with aftermarket support (e.g. Cyanogenmod, Zeiss VR One headset and so on). I've played around with the Galaxy Alpha earlier this year, and I really do like the size and quality of it- however, the variant may have a locked bootloader and the Marshmallow update isn't planned as of yet. Phone size is a huge deal to me, as trying to hold larger phones have definitely caused hand cramps and I prefer something smaller (4.7" screen or less) for one handed use. I've also considered the One Plus X, however, the phone not having all the LTE bands for AT&T/Cricket has been a huge drawback for me.
With that being said, can anyone help me decide the following-
In my situation, would the Galaxy S6 or Galaxy Alpha be a better choice?
Does the Galaxy S6 from Cricket have an unlocked bootloader so I can flash Cyanongenmod in the future?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, the S6 does not have an unlocked bootloader, Samsung is notorious about keeping their phones locked.

Jr173 said:
No, the S6 does not have an unlocked bootloader, Samsung is notorious about keeping their phones locked.
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Sprint and T-Mo versions have unlocked bootloaders. Sadly since this is a Cricket S6, and Cricket is owned by AT&T, this will have a locked bootloader. Also if you think AT&T are slow with updates, Cricket is even worse.

adelmundo said:
Sprint and T-Mo versions have unlocked bootloaders. Sadly since this is a Cricket S6, and Cricket is owned by AT&T, this will have a locked bootloader. Also if you think AT&T are slow with updates, Cricket is even worse.
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To second this, I actually bought the unlocked US variant that was on sale on Amazon simply because the update issue on Cricket was so atrocious. Still sitting on 5.0.1 with no update time table in sight.

Related

I am eligible for a contract upgrade in October and I was wondering what phone should

My family's AT&T contact is eligible for upgrade this October and I wondering what we should we get. Right now the 4 of us each have a Samsung Galaxy S4 and like them, but they are our only smart phone we have so we like to upgrade so we can have our S4s as good backup phones if anything happens. We don't want an iPhone or metal phone. I was interested in the Nexus 6 but I feel it might be too big for me (and I know it is to big for my sister, she needs a phone that be used one handed because of a physical disability, so I think nothing bigger than 5.2 at the maximum for her). We would like to try and wll have the same phone model, but not required as long as it is android.
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4 nicknamed "Gilliam". I am a co-host on the "Fragments of Silicon" podcast

Samsung Galaxy S4 pricing variance

I don't know, and specifically, don't care, if this question annoys, but I must see if someone knows. Can anyone explain the reason fo the major price flux when it comes to purchasing a refurbished, unlocked Samsung S4? 5.0, of course.
Same reason you get different prices on used cars. Different condition, different mods, different hardware(depending on which phone company and country the phone was from originally). And of course, some folks are just ripping you off.
Some phone companies will have the same phones with different chipsets, or more RAM, etc. If you can get model numbers for the phone, you can find what company it was made for.
Yep, the AT&T version of a phone might have different specs than one from Verizon, and an international model of the same phone might have extra sim card slots.
The phone name isn't as firm a description as needed.
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Free mobile app
Gonna be overpriced!!
Sent from my Moto G 2014 using Tapatalk
In my country of origin Serbia, I paid 250 euros for a pretty nice 3,4 month old GT-9505, that was 18, 19 moths ago. With an oterbox commuter i bought for it and with current pricing here i will be able to sell it for 150 euros in the spring. Add onother 100 or such and get a v10 or a G4. Price of this phone is not falling at all here(looking on ebay is more or less a similar trend) even thou every other person is rocking an iphone 6 and galaxy s6 here. Supply and demand i guess.
But the flux you must be referring to is according to the exact model and state.
Example: T mobile branded-dont know if unlocked bootloader-bloatfull-god knows what- ****ed up version:ebay/itm/For-Samsung-Galaxy-S4-SGH-M919-16GB-Unlocked-T-Mobile-Smartphone-13MP-Black-/141715068443?hash=item20fee0561b:g:kbMAAOSw4HVWCkGi
VS
International clean as it gets
ebay/itm/Samsung-Galaxy-S4-GT-I9505-16GB-4G-LTE-Quad-Core-GSM-Factory-Unlocked-Smartphone-/231682934307?var=&hash=item35f1610623:m:mBjsmNw_LnUPM6NTQm6dPgA
It is normal for it to be more expensive from my perspective
My advice is to skip any version of S4 as of now, get a G3 or a one plus x., or even get a galaxy s5 for the same money.
It looks like Samsung may have peaked with the S4. I definitely would not trade my S5 for the S6. And I have the S5 only because I skipped from the S3 and were no S4s around. The S5 is only a small step up, and the 6 is going backwards by losing the sdcard.
Right now, HTC m8 and asus zenfone 2 seem to be where I'd look.

I'm switching from AT&T to T-Mobile and I need help picking a phone.

I am jumping ship with AT&T because they really ****ed me on with the Samsung Galaxy S5, I found out that any phone released beyond the S4 has been pretty locked down in terms of being able to root, unlock, or customize beyond basic themes, which I greatly dislike. I found out when I got home the other day and looked up a root method only to find out that the S5 community on XDA has pretty much accepted that there isn't much that can be done with the phone. While T-Mobile on the other hand has unlockable/rootable phones.
Here is the list to the phones available on their site I was thinking of just getting another S5, which I am fine with. I'd get the S6 if it didn't lack features (Changable batteries, microSD slot), I was wondering if any of the other phones listed are worth looking at though? Opinions, Input, and Information are all greatly appreciated.
Do you have to purchase off the payment plan, or can you buy outright? If you have to use the payment plan, your options kinda suck. The Nexus 6 and LG G3 probably have the most development of the available options, but you can find brand new ones for cheaper if you can purchase outright (plus they only have the 32gb Nexus 6). The S5 is alright, but I'd rather have the G3. Remember that, like AT&T, T-Mobile is a GSM network and unlocked devices will work on their network. This includes phones like the Asus Zenfones, OnePlus, etc. For a couple hundred bucks or so you can get a G3 or OnePlus One 64gb and not get stuck on a payment plan for 2 years (not a contract, but not all that different).
Planterz said:
Do you have to purchase off the payment plan, or can you buy outright? If you have to use the payment plan, your options kinda suck. The Nexus 6 and LG G3 probably have the most development of the available options, but you can find brand new ones for cheaper if you can purchase outright (plus they only have the 32gb Nexus 6). The S5 is alright, but I'd rather have the G3. Remember that, like AT&T, T-Mobile is a GSM network and unlocked devices will work on their network. This includes phones like the Asus Zenfones, OnePlus, etc. For a couple hundred bucks or so you can get a G3 or OnePlus One 64gb and not get stuck on a payment plan for 2 years (not a contract, but not all that different).
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I am picking through their payment plan phones this time around. Next time, I'll get one of the oneplus phones. Doesn't the Nexus 6 have the same issue that the Galaxy S6 have? In the way that it has no expandable storage? And does it have a replacable battery? Those two things are dealbreakers for me. The latter being the more important though. I can live with fixed storage as long as it is sufficient, and the phone is worth it. Can you tell me anything about the LG G3? I've not looked into it at all.
Numerics said:
I am picking through their payment plan phones this time around. Next time, I'll get one of the oneplus phones. Doesn't the Nexus 6 have the same issue that the Galaxy S6 have? In the way that it has no expandable storage? And does it have a replacable battery? Those two things are dealbreakers for me. The latter being the
more important though. I can live with fixed storage as long as it is sufficient, and the phone is worth it.
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Yeah, the Nexus 6 (all Nexuses except the first in fact) doesn't have a microSD card slot. It came in 32 and 64gb versions, and unfortunately T-Mobile only offers the 32gb version (refurb), and they want too much for it, which is why I recommended buying elsewhere outright if it's within your means., because you can get a new/mint 64gb one for less than T-Mobile charges for the refurb'd 32gb. The battery isn't removable, although it's not impossible to tear down and replace like many sealed-battery phones.
Can you tell me anything about the LG G3? I've not looked into it at all.
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Sure. It has the same Snapdragon 801 quad core 2.5GHz processor as the Galaxy S5, but has 3gb RAM whereas the S5 only has 2gb. 5.5" QHD 2560x1440 screen. It has an excellent camera, IR blaster, and most importantly (for you), both a microSD slot and removable battery. I just checked again though, and T-Mobile doesn't list the G3 anymore (I think they did a week ago, but no longer). There's lots of custom development for the G3 though, if you can buy one outright.
The G4 is very much the same as the G3, just improved. It's rootable, but there's practically zero custom development going on (I don't know why). But if you plan on using it for the next couple years, this might be the best choice. The Note 4 would be a good option too. Amazing screen, great camera, and it'll be familiar to you coming from the Galaxy S5. Rootable, and there's custom development, including customized Samsung ROMs (modified stock) and AOSP (stock Android) based. Right now the Note 4 is $150 off.

Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge Plus

hello friends how are you ??? please tell me what is price s7 dubai
mobilephone57 said:
hello friends how are you ??? please tell me what is price s7 dubai
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I... Can't... Even....
Rumors are claiming no Plus version this year, unless they're released at a later date.
Judging by the s7 edges size and specs can't imagine why they'd bother making a plus. A new note will probably be the next release
Sent from my SM-T810 using Tapatalk
Yeah, I'm pretty sure there wont be a s7 edge plus. Unless they make it with a 6" which is highly unlikely.
Seems by making a 5.5" screen, they are attracting users from both s6 edge plus and the s6 edge.
shadow82x said:
Yeah, I'm pretty sure there wont be a s7 edge plus. Unless they make it with a 6" which is highly unlikely.
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I disagree.
Samsung official said in an interview just one day ago that they want to shorten the cycle of their flag-ship releases to twice a year.
Either this means that they will bring the + versions in 6 months, or they will start offering Note series as another flagship to a larger audience (of Galaxy S series buyers).
It's so easy to just interim update existing models. It's the cheapest option for manufacturers and requires very little expensive re-tooling changes.
Also, it's a way for them to keep the prices and margins high throughout the whole sales year.
So yes, I think there'll probably be + versions towards late summer, early fall.
As to what the changes/differences will be, I don't know, but I doubt it'll be anything that big.

Why?

Why are older international phones still so expensive? You would think, or at least thats what people tell u is phones loose value faster then anything! Look at the s10e 970f its still $350+?
Learn'd in a class call'd Economics: Prices are determined by supply and demand in a free market.
No thats not it. Hardly anyone in america even things of owning a cell phone. Truly owning.
Thinks*
Ihategooqle said:
Why are older international phones still so expensive? You would think, or at least thats what people tell u is phones loose value faster then anything! Look at the s10e 970f its still $350+?
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Click to collapse
Because it is the last Samsung proper flagship pre-pandemic phone in a small form factor .
Also, a 970f (which has bootloader freely unlockable) demands a higher price than a 970u (which has bootloader nearly impossible to unlock; requires pre Ui 3.1, costs money to unlock, and then custom ROMs will break VoLTE). There are also differences in band coverage, as can be seen here...
Samsung Galaxy S10e Model Number SM-G970* Differences - TechWalls
The Galaxy S10e comes in some model numbers starting with SM-G970. By checking the model numbers, you will know where your phone comes from, the chipset, storage, RAM and supported cellular bands. Now, let's check out all the differences between S10e model numbers.
www.techwalls.com
CurlyBlonde said:
Because it is the last Samsung proper flagship pre-pandemic phone in a small form factor .
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and overall the latest compact android with headphone jack AND sd-card. i lately got this because of missing alternatives to replace my galaxy A3 2017 (was temted by zenfone 8, but ramdump-issue was too scary for the price)
I replaced my A70 with a S10e because Android 12 and yes, it's the last reasonable sized Samsung flagship

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