Buying New Phone, Need Help! - General Questions and Answers

So I bought the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the phone is great except for the fact I can't root. I switched from Apple because of how basic they were even after I jail broke it, the fact I can't root my current phone because of the locked bootloader is making me get a new phone. I am looking to sell my S6 and on Ebay I should get about $340-$350. So I am wondering what are the best phones for that price that can be easily rooted.

gwdavie said:
So I bought the Samsung Galaxy S6 and the phone is great except for the fact I can't root. I switched from Apple because of how basic they were even after I jail broke it, the fact I can't root my current phone because of the locked bootloader is making me get a new phone. I am looking to sell my S6 and on Ebay I should get about $340-$350. So I am wondering what are the best phones for that price that can be easily rooted.
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Check here and thread closed.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1846277

Related

Sticking to the S4 for another year

Well the S5 is officially in full swing and I still got one year left in my contract, still could've found a way to get the money to upgrade but honestly why bother. I'm still fortunate enough to use Loki and this phones specs very close to the S5. Anyone else here gonna wait for the inevitable S6 next year like me or I'm I gonna be all alone
Sent from my jflte using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Thermalwolf said:
Well the S5 is officially in full swing and I still got one year left in my contract, still could've found a way to get the money to upgrade but honestly why bother. I'm still fortunate enough to use Loki and this phones specs very close to the S5. Anyone else here gonna wait for the inevitable S6 next year like me or I'm I gonna be all alone
Sent from my jflte using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
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Click to collapse
I am sticking with my S4 for another year or so. Do you have the drop your 2 year contract and get a new device on Next offer? I do and I figured if anything happened I would get the S5 or S6 with that upgrade since it would be the same as paying full price anyway. I'm interested to see what the S6 will have to offer. I am excited about the S5 camera features. I use my phone to do actual photography, to prove that yes it can be done.
This thread will get locked by the mods, or moved, but I'm done with Samsungs on AT&T. Especially with the rumors I hear about ALL phones having a locked bootloader going forward. It would be different if the devs were able to make some semblance of headway with cracking that, so we can just give them the middle-finger ("them" being AT&T, since it's not Samsung's fault we're in this predicament per se). I love the craftsmanship, look, and performance of Samsung, but it's all for naught if I can't customize my phone to my liking.
My next device will be whatever the next Nexus is. No contractual obligations, will work with pretty much any US carrier, and while a hefty investment by comparison to the usual $150 I fork over every 2 years for a new phone, I'll OWN that ***** outright. So many items on the "plus" column to owning a Google device.
It's really a shame that the carriers don't cater to those of us in this community. I won't go as far as to say they'll regret losing sales, because at the end of the day their money is made on the plans, not the phones. Still, there is a certain amount of satisfaction to me in both knowing I have other options for phones while maintaining the provider, as well as not having to abide the ridiculous security measures put in place by the carrier I choose to subscribe to.
It doesn't serve them in any way, except for cutting down on idiots who don't read first before they brick their device.
/endrant
disturbd1 said:
This thread will get locked by the mods, or moved, but I'm done with Samsungs on AT&T. Especially with the rumors I hear about ALL phones having a locked bootloader going forward. It would be different if the devs were able to make some semblance of headway with cracking that, so we can just give them the middle-finger ("them" being AT&T, since it's not Samsung's fault we're in this predicament per se). I love the craftsmanship, look, and performance of Samsung, but it's all for naught if I can't customize my phone to my liking.
My next device will be whatever the next Nexus is. No contractual obligations, will work with pretty much any US carrier, and while a hefty investment by comparison to the usual $150 I fork over every 2 years for a new phone, I'll OWN that ***** outright. So many items on the "plus" column to owning a Google device.
It's really a shame that the carriers don't cater to those of us in this community. I won't go as far as to say they'll regret losing sales, because at the end of the day their money is made on the plans, not the phones. Still, there is a certain amount of satisfaction to me in both knowing I have other options for phones while maintaining the provider, as well as not having to abide the ridiculous security measures put in place by the carrier I choose to subscribe to.
It doesn't serve them in any way, except for cutting down on idiots who don't read first before they brick their device.
/endrant
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I'm on at&t and I'm not going back to samsung but htc will let you unlock the bootloader ,hell they'll even give it to you
my htc one m8 is unlocked,rooted s-off and on at&t
bigcid10 said:
I'm on at&t and I'm not going back to samsung but htc will let you unlock the bootloader ,hell they'll even give it to you
my htc one m8 is unlocked,rooted s-off and on at&t
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This is very promising, I used HTC exclusively before my S3 2 years ago. I love them, but they're hit-or-miss, for sure. This year it's the M8, but with their track-record, another decent HTC phone won't be out until another couple of years or more down the road. Especially with all the changes, moving, and downsizing that company continues to do.
I have a feeling once I own a Nexus device, I won't want to bother with "workarounds" or risky flashing. They seem very solid in the way of reliability after customization.
No more AT&T soon.
I was with AT&T since they were Cingular and I've always liked them. Ever since the bootloader lock bs I've switched to T-Mobile. Unfortunately I still have to use my AT&T GS4 but soon I'll just get a T-Mobile S4 or S5.
I'll be moving to the next nexus phone, hopefully it will be announced at the next conference. HTC comes unlocked if you get the developer edition. I read on the att HTC m8 forum is already been hacked. So you might be able to do an att upgrade and follow the instructions there.
I had the HTC inspire for a while. Till I got the s4. You could go with the international versions of the s5 and get more access. Or the gpe htc m8. But I too, am done with carrier locked phones.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Samsung is Excellent but...
Samsung = Excellent.
Samsung + (place carrier here) = GARBAGE!
Thanks to some swell guys and xda, we're able squeak by on the S4. I won't sit under the table and beg for sraps on the S5 and the same carrier -- if it stays locked down, that's a nonstarter!
The way I choose a phone and what carrier/plan I use has forever changed as long as the "crack down" continues. Call me old fashioned, but I like to own what I buy (like the other 99% of Samsung users) - a phone with no root and a locked bootloader is never yours!
You got another one here sticking with the S4 for another year. Contracts up next year at the end of April, so I'm hoping S6 will be out by the time I upgrade.
Samsung Galaxy S4
Provider: AIO Wireless
Rom: C-RoM v6.1
Kernel: KT-SGS4 v6.9
I plan on getting M8 on ATT and unlocking the bootloader. HTC is kind enough to provide an official way to unlock the bootloader so the bootloader on the carrier version isn't a problem. Samsung on the other hand won't budge, so no more carrier branded Samsung phones for me after the S4. I don't see the S4 bootloader getting unlocked anytime soon, by the time it does get unlocked, everyone would probably be moving onto the S7.
I love my s4 but I am with you on this one. By the time I am eligible to get a new phone project Ara should be commercially available so I will check that out (if I can). Otherwise it will be any phone that has an sd card slot, and does not have any stupid fingerprint reader.
4ndroid99 said:
I plan on getting M8 on ATT and unlocking the bootloader. HTC is kind enough to provide an official way to unlock the bootloader so the bootloader on the carrier version isn't a problem. Samsung on the other hand won't budge, so no more carrier branded Samsung phones for me after the S4. I don't see the S4 bootloader getting unlocked anytime soon, by the time it does get unlocked, everyone would probably be moving onto the S7.
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You could go with the s4 gpe. I sure we will see s5 gpe. I was surprised to see the htc m8 gpe so soon.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

Goodbye locked phones, hello Nexus 6

Even with safestrap a locked phone is still locked....and development has suffered. On Wednesday the Nexus 6 comes out and it will have an unlocked bootloader....just have to pay full price most likely. I know I could have done this with the Samsung Dev edition but I won't give Samsung more money for a dev phone when I have already bought one, what bull ****. I know it isn't Samsung's fault but I don't give a ****, It's your phone, they didn't lock it you did! They told you to and you did. You could have said no. Do you think for a minute Verizon wouldn't of caved in and said ok leave it unlocked? What do you think a Verizon store would look like without a Galaxy Tab, Note, or S5? What do you think a Ford dealership would look like without the F150?
The GS5 has been an eye opener for me and it's sad to say that as of the day my Nexus arrives I'll be done with all of Samsung's phones. What a shame Samsung. I know I'm just *****ing but it's sad that a phone as bad ass as the GS5 is and I can't even flash a kernel on it....Not even real CM.
So you bought a non-dev device, and are upset because it's locked? And Motorola has been bootloader locking their phones for a long time too, guess they shouldn't have either. Unless you buy a specifically unlocked version, I suspect it'll be the same story on the Nexus as the S5, Carrier locked.
heffe2001 said:
So you bought a non-dev device, and are upset because it's locked? And Motorola has been bootloader locking their phones for a long time too, guess they shouldn't have either. Unless you buy a specifically unlocked version, I suspect it'll be the same story on the Nexus as the S5, Carrier locked.
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Perfect first response:good:.
Motorola started locking bootloaders, years ago and anyone that had an X2 (like myself) will look twice at buying a Motorola product. I'm happy with my S5, great battery and great performance.
Elite49 said:
Perfect first response:good:.
Motorola started locking bootloaders, years ago and anyone that had an X2 (like myself) will look twice at buying a Motorola product. I'm happy with my S5, great battery and great performance.
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I'm not buying it from a carrier it's supposed to be unlocked. I'm buying it directly from the play store tomorrow. I don't think Google will lock their phone. Verizon won't have a ****ing chance to lock it as they won't have no ****ing part in the sale.
They made it to where ONE phone will work on all major networks in America out of the box. I'm glad so I don't need Verizon to OK it or anything. Plug in my sim and go hard.
shootind5nukes said:
I'm not buying it from a carrier it's supposed to be unlocked. I'm buying it directly from the play store tomorrow. I don't think Google will lock their phone. Verizon won't have a ****ing chance to lock it as they won't have no ****ing part in the sale.
They made it to where ONE phone will work on all major networks in America out of the box. I'm glad so I don't need Verizon to OK it or anything. Plug in my sim and go hard.
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But will that work? everything i've read about it points to no. If you want it to work on verizon you will need the verizon branded n6?
Ejames991 said:
But will that work? everything i've read about it points to no. If you want it to work on verizon you will need the verizon branded n6?
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lol. that's incorrect. The phone has all of Verizon's bands build in. Verizon don't own the bands it's an open standard. do your homework better. I can take a sprint phone and put it on Verizon it doesn't matter at all. Just so happenes Google made this phone to include all bands and networks in the USA. So what exactly have to read that points to no? How about reading the actual phone description on google play.
shootind5nukes said:
lol. that's incorrect. The phone has all of Verizon's bands build in. Verizon don't own the bands it's an open standard. do your homework better. I can take a sprint phone and put it on Verizon it doesn't matter at all. Just so happenes Google made this phone to include all bands and networks in the USA. So what exactly have to read that points to no? How about reading the actual phone description on google play.
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No need to be a douche.. I'm just asking because I've seen this being discussed across forums. I understand it has all the correct bands. It's just something I'd like to concretely know before I pre order one from Google play. Not to mention none of this has even been confirmed. Sorry to bother you all mighty phone wizard
Ejames991 said:
No need to be a douche.. I'm just asking because I've seen this being discussed across forums. I understand it has all the correct bands. It's just something I'd like to concretely know before I pre order one from Google play. Not to mention none of this has even been confirmed. Sorry to bother you all mighty phone wizard
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Very sorry for how i came across. I will let you know if the bootloader is unlocked. As for it working on Verizon it absolutely will work out of the box with the correct sim
shootind5nukes said:
Very sorry for how i came across. I will let you know if the bootloader is unlocked. As for it working on Verizon it absolutely will work out of the box with the correct sim
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I'm just concerned about them activating it, with Verizon being CDMA and only using SIM's for LTE im afraid they wont activate it without being Verizon branded like they do with any phone. If they were GSM this wouldn't be an issue what-so-ever. Boot loader should be unlocked as in usual nexus fashion.
Ejames991 said:
I'm just concerned about them activating it, with Verizon being CDMA and only using SIM's for LTE im afraid they wont activate it without being Verizon branded like they do with any phone. If they were GSM this wouldn't be an issue what-so-ever. Boot loader should be unlocked as in usual nexus fashion.
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They do not have to activate it. Before the days of sim cards in cdma phones they did have activate it. Now the sim does.
Goodbye charging port flap. Goodbye touchwiz. Goodbye late updates. Hello Nexus 6.... If only I could freaking order a 64!!!!!
kurofox23? said:
Goodbye charging port flap. Goodbye touchwiz. Goodbye late updates. Hello Nexus 6.... If only I could freaking order a 64!!!!!
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Hello NOT being waterproof (water resistant), Hello anyone can install a themer, Hello every other phone gets updates later than the Nexus.
I'm not saying your points aren't valid, they're just not going to make me switch!
I can't wait to get my nexus 6. Of course the bootloader will be unlocked. It is a nexus device. It is meant for developers. If you want custom roms, a nexus device is the best way to go. I loved my galaxy nexus and then switched to the s3 and now the s5. They are great phones but I want the flexibility of the nexus 6. Also have you seen the specs for this nexus? Top notch stuff finally in a nexus phone. In all it comes down to preference but I'm selling my s5 and getting the nexus 6.
So... why not just take this conversation to the correct forum? Why must we always start cluttering up threads with posts that have nothing to do with the device specific forum?
shoresteve626 said:
So... why not just take this conversation to the correct forum? Why must we always start cluttering up threads with posts that have nothing to do with the device specific forum?
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why did you come in here and clutter our thread up? This thread is about going from the GS5 to the Nexus 6, not about what forum you think this should be in. please shoresteve626 stay on topic.
I guess you can say that I'm also tired of having to scroll through all of the BS "I hate my phone" posts.... there are generic forums that aren't device specific. Not to mention that duplicate threads used to be frowned upon. (Already a device comparison thread under general. That's all. I'll take your advice though....
This entire thread is off-topic for where it is - there is a specific home for ALL things not Verizon Galaxy S5 related and that is here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2690799
Thread closed.

My 1st Samsung Device.

Anyone mind telling me the terms necessary for Samsung mods/roots/etc...
On HTC I had things like S-Off
On LG I had things like Download Mode
What does Samsung have?
Any words or uh-ohs I should look out for. I don't know what things like Knox or Odin mean
Chocolina said:
Anyone mind telling me the terms necessary for Samsung mods/roots/etc...
On HTC I had things like S-Off
On LG I had things like Download Mode
What does Samsung have?
Any words or uh-ohs I should look out for. I don't know what things like Knox or Odin mean
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in the same boat wondering the same things. Are you on T-mobile? They offer device unlock and I'm wondering if I should do that.
SammyTRK said:
I'm in the same boat wondering the same things. Are you on T-mobile? They offer device unlock and I'm wondering if I should do that.
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I had a few extensive questions for T-mo. They said you need to have a T-mo account/service for 40+ days before you can start requesting unlocking.
I'm not sure if you can unlock phones already on a plan, or phones that have been fully paid off. If you're happy with T-mo, then unlocking is pretty much pointless, but it does give you more selling options down the line. T-mo has a "no hassle" upgrade service where for an extra $10 a month on your bill, you can trade up to another device by trading in your current one at half-value. This would mean if I wanted a Note 5, they would only give me half the value of the S6 to apply to the new phone. Alternatively if you had an fully-financed unocked S6, you could sell it for much more down the line. I'm expecting to sell my S6 for around $700-$750 in a few months.
Chocolina said:
Anyone mind telling me the terms necessary for Samsung mods/roots/etc...
On HTC I had things like S-Off
On LG I had things like Download Mode
What does Samsung have?
Any words or uh-ohs I should look out for. I don't know what things like Knox or Odin mean
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i havent used Samsung since the galaxy nexus so im trying to figure things out again too. S-off is an unlocked bootloader? I think most carrier versions of the S6 have an unlocked bootloader with the exception of Verizon and AT&T. Samsung also has download mode but you need to use a program call Odin. There's also Samsung Kies and Smart Switch used for backup, restore and flashing back to stock carrier firmware.

$hit i effed up!!!

i had the s4 rooted and unlocked and custom rom. Im not a daily tweeker. just like to rock on something that works for me. so i just updated to s6 edge + wow really??? never would have assumed that verizon locked this down. im instantly pissed and want to dump the s6 and verizon. unfortunately verizon has the only and best coverage for my house.
guess i should have checked the forum to get the info on this phone b4 purchasing. so is the verizon policy to prevent root/unlock of all their phones? if not, what phones would be a good verizon alternative which can be rooted and unlocked? i purchased from costco and believe i can return.
thanks
markkal123 said:
i had the s4 rooted and unlocked and custom rom. Im not a daily tweeker. just like to rock on something that works for me. so i just updated to s6 edge + wow really??? never would have assumed that verizon locked this down. im instantly pissed and want to dump the s6 and verizon. unfortunately verizon has the only and best coverage for my house.
guess i should have checked the forum to get the info on this phone b4 purchasing. so is the verizon policy to prevent root/unlock of all their phones? if not, what phones would be a good verizon alternative which can be rooted and unlocked? i purchased from costco and believe i can return.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure there's a phone mechanic somewhere in your town. You can ask them to carrier unlock your phone.
Or you can use this website http://TheUnlockingCompany.com which has good reputation but I never used it.
Note that all methods I mentioned are paid.
Definitely Nexus or possibly moto phones, other than that not sure about rooting Verizon phones.
Sent from my LG-H631 using Tapatalk

Which phones old or new are easy to root for T-Mobile

I have a samsung galaxy s9+ looking to sell rather than unlock.. Need something else bored with this phone. Which phones are still good to use on t-mobile and are easy to unlock bootloader and root.. Old or even a few yrs older with still some roms to use. Thanks

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