Database Info

T-Mobile Note 5 on Verizon so you can get unlocked bootloader

Anyone tried this yet?
I know in the past, the GSM phones have not been compatible within Verizon's network. But I've heard that has changed recently? And I'm new to Verizon, so I unfortunately don't know the in's and out's of CDMA and what is or isn't possible.
But from my limited research, the Samsung official website lists specs for each carriers Note 5 and both TMO + VZW appear to be capable of using the same bands?
T-MOBILE:
13 (700)
4 (1700/2100)
2 (1900
3 (1800)
7 (2600)
LTE: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B12/B20
LTE: 13(700), 4(1700/2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 7(2600), LTE CA 13+4 (10+10)
UMTS: 1/2/4/5;
GSM: 850/900/1800/1900
-------------------
VERIZON:
13 (700)
4 (1700/2100)
2 (1900)
3 ( 1800)
7 (2600)
LTE: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20
LTE: 13(700), 4(1700/2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 7(2600), LTE CA 13+4 (10+10);
UMTS: 1/2/4/5
GPRS/EDGE/GSM(850/900/1800/1900)
HSPA/UMTS(850/900/1900/2100)

dont think the tmo can get the cdma/3g of verizon. so the tmo may work but you would only have 4g nothing else

oneandroidnut said:
dont think the tmo can get the cdma/3g of verizon. so the tmo may work but you would only have 4g nothing else
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We need to test this theory asap, if the tmobile verison will work I'm buying one tomorrow. I might sign up on tmobile just to test if no one can answer the question

As far as I know, the GSM slot on most Verizon high-end devices has always been unlocked for Global GSM use. I know that as a fact, having used a Verizon G2, and a Note 4 in India, with absolutely no issues whatsoever. However, that may or may not work for US GSM networks. But worth popping in a T-Mo SIM and checking it out :good:
And yes, even if a T-Mo SIM were to work, you will only have 4G, nothing else, as rightly pointed out by @oneandroidnut

2swizzle said:
We need to test this theory asap, if the tmobile verison will work I'm buying one tomorrow. I might sign up on tmobile just to test if no one can answer the question
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you go to tmo with a verizon sim and try it haha

oneandroidnut said:
you go to tmo with a verizon sim and try it haha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All jokes aside I think in the next couple of days I'm going to go signup and buy a tmobile note 5 and try it... I will return the phone within the 14 day period. Worst case scenario I lose $35.

2swizzle said:
All jokes aside I think in the next couple of days I'm going to go signup and buy a tmobile note 5 and try it... I will return the phone within the 14 day period. Worst case scenario I lose $35.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do it man I'm just as curious as you are. Don't root it though lol

oneandroidnut said:
Do it man I'm just as curious as you are. Don't root it though lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not going to root it, my only concern is how do I get T-Mobile to unlock it
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

2swizzle said:
I'm not going to root it, my only concern is how do I get T-Mobile to unlock it
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
they dont come factory unlocked??

oneandroidnut said:
they dont come factory unlocked??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No tmobile makes you request the unlock code

2swizzle said:
No tmobile makes you request the unlock code
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh that isn't good

And now they make your wait 45 days before they will give you the code.
Too many people bought the phone and skipped country / changed carriers immediately after purchase.
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

As I understand it you have to meet the following criteria for the unlock codes:
1) You must own the device (no payment plan)
2) You must wait 43 or 45 days. I've heard both. I assume this is to let the return policy play out.
Either way, you should still be able to run the experiment.

2swizzle said:
All jokes aside I think in the next couple of days I'm going to go signup and buy a tmobile note 5 and try it... I will return the phone within the 14 day period. Worst case scenario I lose $35.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Their restocking fee is $50!
Their phones now will only unlock with their app and they will approve only after you have used the device on an active account for 40 days OR paid in full and wait 15 days (past remorse period). But the latter is really hard because the "system" really works on the 40 day rule and it's hard to get an override.
I don't think it will work on VZW.
In the past, I've tried my VZW sim cards in unlocked ATT and MetroPCS S5s and it just doesn't work. Even worse is on my account I have the dreaded Non VZW device and even after putting that SIM back in a legitimate VZW phone that number is locked meaning I cannot make changes to it on myVZW. And when you go into a corporate store to get it fixed you get that typical "You did what?" attitude!
Unfortunately the days of having freedom on both VZW and ATT seem limited indeed.
The Note 5 and Edge+ do generally run great out of the box, however. With an Adguard subscription I'm satisfied. If Android-M has more customization built in (center clock, statusbar customization, etc) then truly no need for me to root. I will miss Titanium BU, however.
There's always Nexus, but they take some getting used to in comparison. It's reminiscent of driving a Caddy or Lincoln for years and then getting in a Mercedes. Which isn't a bad thing mind you, but if you have to work under the hood you will be in for some changes.

I'm more interested in the various AOSP ROM's that will eventually pop up.
Like SlimPop or SlimMellow (eventually).
Not all phones have the same bands.
But it seems like the T-Mobile Note 5 *might* have most of the Verizon bands. Or all of them?
In the past, you could pay like $5-$15 on eBay to unlock your phone through a 3rd party person. I've used a T-Mobile phone on AT&T with good luck, but both were GSM.
If a TMO G5 pops up used in the next few weeks (in my budget), I'm totally going to see if it can be unlocked on eBay and then see if it'll work with my VZW account. :good:

I'm tired of dealing with Verizon bs... I'm switching to the nexus 6p anyway, but I wanted to try before buying the nexus. To me it's more than rooting, it's the freedom to do what I want to my phone. The new nexus lacks flagship device status, but you gain freedom and the phone works on all us carriers period.
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

The new Motorola Pure is what the Note 5 should have been.
Only thing the N5 has over it is glove-mode, which is something I actually really, really like having.
But if the TMO N5 doesn't work on Verizon, I'll have to go with the Motorola Pure. Which can be rooted on Verizon (I think).

CZ Eddie said:
The new Motorola Pure is what the Note 5 should have been.
Only thing the N5 has over it is glove-mode, which is something I actually really, really like having.
But if the TMO N5 doesn't work on Verizon, I'll have to go with the Motorola Pure. Which can be rooted on Verizon (I think).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can indeed my friend
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

Thre Note 5 has *a lot* of things over the Moto X Pure... Fingerprint scanner, faster cpu, faster memory, faster storage rates, nicer screen, stylus...
But in the end, if the Pure is a better for for your uses, then get it. But don't act like glove mode is the only thing the Note 5 has over the Pure...
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

JasonJoel said:
Thre Note 5 has *a lot* of things over the Moto X Pure... Fingerprint scanner, faster cpu, faster memory, faster storage rates, nicer screen, stylus...
But in the end, if the Pure is a better for for your uses, then get it. But don't act like glove mode is the only thing the Note 5 has over the Pure...
Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the moto x was junk. note 5 smoked it in all ways

U.S. Unlocked vs International Unlocked phone

Hello
I'm looking at replacing my S4 with an S7. My carrier in the US is AT&T and that won't be changing. I've been looking at different unlocked versions and can't find a solid representation of what the real world differences are. I know they have different processors. Some say a band is missing, but does that matter. I don't use android or samsung pay, but i know there is a difference here too. I found one comment about some kind of samsung 'coverage' plan, but what is that?
Best Buy has US unlocked phones for about $700. B&H Photo has an International phone for about $640. Its a lot of money either way. Is one phone really better or different than that other?
I am planning a trip through Canada and maybe to Europe. I assume either would take a SIM from those areas and I could avoid getting raped by international fees.
Here is a summary of question I can think of:
Does the US unlocked phone from BestBuy have a warranty or insurance or anything like that?
Can the US phone be rooted. I only do this to remove apps I don't use.
Is the hardware one vs the other really better or just different?
Does a dual SIM do anything useful?
Does a band being missing make a real world difference?
Is there a good comparison somewhere to that can decide on a phone to purchase?

It comes with a limited warranty as stated on their site:
"This device is not warrantied through the manufacturer. This device has a limited 1 year warranty provided by CCR Warranty. To obtain technical or warranty assistance, please contact CCR Warranty at 866-579-8436."
What I don't know is how useful/limited that warranty is. I'd like the HTC 10 but the unlocked S7 is my runner up, and the warranty issue is one of the major factors in my hesitation.
I do believe it can be rooted.
As far as I know, through research, the only major difference between the two is battery life.

Hello, I'll just go straight to the answers.
1. I'm going to assume that if you go through a carrier (att, t-mobile etc etc.) they will offer an insurance plan. You will have to go to third party insurance for the international version
2. As far I know, the US version does not have a root option yet. Because of the locked bootloader.
3. Hardware will depend on which version you choose. Both are very good.
4. Dual sim is as the name implies, you'll be able to use 2 separate sim cards with their respective #s. that's the only benefit really.
5. Missing radio bands is something you may have to do some research on depending your location.
6. I'm sure YouTube or some online site will have some reviews/comparison of both.

I just looked at the best buy website again and something is different. The S7 listed for $690 is definitely the international version and not the US version. When I looked last month I was positive that the phone was listed as a US phone ... huh

A little late
a little late to the thread but just wanted to share what I learned while researching the matter.
There is an US unlocked version of the S7 (g930u) and available through a few places (Best Buy, B&H, Ebay). It goes for $679.99 retail and I have not been able to find one that goes for less. Probably because it just came out end of June. The biggest benefit of it is that it has a bunch of bands and CDMA-compatible. Thus, you can get full connection with AT&T and TMobile. Downside is no wifi calling or VOLTE (as those seem to be locked by the carriers to their own phones).
The international versions (930f/930fd) are both available on Ebay/Swappa for about $500. Upside are that they have the Exnyos chip and no bloatware. You can also root and flash them with new ROM. Another thing is that you get updates earlier. I got Marshmallow on my s6 a month or so before AT&T released its update. Downsides are no Samsung Pay or WiFi Calling/VOLTE and the biggie...missing bands. I had a g920i and it was missing support for bands 29 and 30 on AT&T...this led to poor LTE and indoor reception at times. I would have to turn on/off the mobile data switch sometimes to get good connection.
Finally, we have carrier based versions, which loads you down with bloatware and has the Snapdragon chip. But, it does support all features of your carrier. Slower updates also an issue and lack of support of all bands internationally are additional drawbacks. Cost is also about $500.
Personally, I am going with an unlocked 930a. Bloatware sucks but I can delete or disable almost all of them. Snapdragon seems pretty powerful to me. Samsung Pay, Wifi Calling, and Band support are just too important for me. Note, make sure you ask the seller on Ebay/Swappa about whether the phone is unlocked.
Hope that helps.

I did a lot of research into this before buying my S7 but was kind of screwed since I'm on Verizon (CDMA)...
Since you're on AT&T you have more options.
There are two different processors in the two different models, Snapdragon 820 in the US CDMA capable and an Eyxnos in the International GSM ONLY phone.
After doing my research, I personally recommend the Eyxnos, which I couldn't get :/
If for nothing else, better battery life, by far. Do some research into the comparison between the two.
However! When buying from Best Buy be careful!
Last I checked, on their website, the black/onyx S7 was an unlocked US Snapdragon 820 phone.... while strangely enough the other two, gold and silver? were both unlocked US (actually international) Eyxnos phones.
Also, last I checked Samsung themselves only sell the CDMA snapdragon processor model to the US.
Unless Best Buy made a mistake listing the Eyxnos processor, it is the only way to get that model without buying an "internationally sourced" phone on ebay.

Just a few notes:
1) The G930u is fully compatible with all the US Carriers
2) VoLTE works on both T-Mobile and Verizon
3) Wi-Fi Calling works on T-Mobile and potentially Verizon (but I am not positive about Verizon).
The big downside to the G930u is that for whatever reason it is not receiving updates from Samsung when its branded siblings are.

T-Mobile screws us

So it's now official, after five phone calls and finally speaking with third tier T-Mobile tech support, I was told that my area was recently refarmed and I can no longer get 3G service with the 1900 band effectively making my X2 a brick capable of nothing more than Edge. Furthermore, he indicated to me that this is the way things will go into the future and eventually, T-Mobile will support nothing but 4G LTE service (bring your own device.... But not really.)
So where to go from here? I had heard on another forum that AT&T is still supporting 3G over band 1900; but I don't know if they allow you to bring your own phone to the party and I also don't know how long it will be until they themselves eliminate 3G service. Apart from that, I guess my quest is to still find the largest phone I can that will support 4G LTE data in the United States while continuing to hope and pray that Huawei gives us the present of a 7 inch premium phablet with US bands.
As always, I remain open to any other solutions anyone might have or any information that I'm unaware of. Today is a truly sad day for a guy who truly loved his mediapad X2 : (

steveyal said:
So it's now official, after five phone calls and finally speaking with third tier T-Mobile tech support, I was told that my area was recently refarmed and I can no longer get 3G service with the 1900 band effectively making my X2 a brick capable of nothing more than Edge. Furthermore, he indicated to me that this is the way things will go into the future and eventually, T-Mobile will support nothing but 4G LTE service (bring your own device.... But not really.)
So where to go from here? I had heard on another forum that AT&T is still supporting 3G over band 1900; but I don't know if they allow you to bring your own phone to the party and I also don't know how long it will be until they themselves eliminate 3G service. Apart from that, I guess my quest is to still find the largest phone I can that will support 4G LTE data in the United States while continuing to hope and pray that Huawei gives us the present of a 7 inch premium phablet with US bands.
As always, I remain open to any other solutions anyone might have or any information that I'm unaware of. Today is a truly sad day for a guy who truly loved his mediapad X2 : (
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry to hear that about TMO. I have been pushing to move away from ATT because the prices don't compare. We moved to the "new" ATT unlimited plan and 5 phones run us $330/mo vs the previous $410/mo on their "discount" family plan. I too am sold on the X2 and I can't let it go. I don't see anything else like it out there. I considered Huawei's new 8-inch tablet but without a handset it would be tough to use on a daily basis. ATT still supports the 3G speeds, at least in the Kansas City area, but who knows if that will change. Several times they have changed something on their network and I have had to search and find new APN settings. There are a few alternatives that I've seen but none that can compete with the X2. If you see anything else, let me know.
Thanks!
Jim

Yep, they did the same in my area about 4 months ago.

The whole thing is terribly frustrating. Clearly there is a market (albeit small) for a seven inch phone, so why are we ignored? Blu made one with US 4G LTE bands but i hear it sucks and only has 1 gig of ram causing it to freeze every time you open an app. Posh made a nice 6.4 that I had for a while; but it was a refurb and call quality was terrible. Plus, they are very hard to find. Checked out the Lenovo Phab 2 line (6.4"), but I'm not impressed at all and the new Samsung Note looks like a dildo.
I just ordered an old (new stock) Galaxy Mega which I owned a few years ago and loved. ...but compared to the X2, it's a dwarf (guess I've been spoiled.) So at this point, I really have no other option but to try ATT (who I detest) for a month pre-paid to see if i can go back to getting consistent HSPA on my beloved X2.
I sure hope someone at some point wakes up and gives us what we need...but I ain't holding my breath.

I'm eagerly anticipating the Huawei Honor Note 9 because I feel it's the only device that will be comparable to our beloved X2. I check for new info everyday but so far nothing but some uncertain leaks from Chinese websites. Does anyone have any *new* info? Better yet a way for us loyalists to get much deserved discount would be nice.
Please use the QUOTE feature when replying to me to get my attention. Thanks!

E--Man said:
I'm eagerly anticipating the Huawei Honor Note 9 because I feel it's the only device that will be comparable to our beloved X2. I check for new info everyday but so far nothing but some uncertain leaks from Chinese websites. Does anyone have any *new* info? Better yet a way for us loyalists to get much deserved discount would be nice.
Please use the QUOTE feature when replying to me to get my attention. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like the same deal as the X2 unless they release a US version:
https://www.gsmarena.com/huawei_honor_note_9-8799.php

According to this page (careful !!):
https://www.gsmarc.com/huawei/honor-note-9/
the LTE bands are LTE 2100, LTE 800, LTE 1800, LTE 2600, LTE 900, LTE 2300, LTE 2500, (VoLTE)
not so bad (for my country, only 700Mhz is missed)
But I'm a bit worried about the price of the phone

Just ordered this through Amazon. Looks promising and US bands too!!!!!
https://www.amazon.com/iRULU-Smartp...desktop?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=ya_aw_od_pi

steveyal said:
Just ordered this through Amazon. Looks promising and US bands too!!!!!
https://www.amazon.com/iRULU-Smartp...desktop?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=ya_aw_od_pi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me know how you like it. It doesn't have band 12 on T-Mobile which sucks. I may have picked one of those up if it did. If you buy it directly through iRulu and use coupon code G3DEAL50 you'll get it for $149.99.
Steamer2499 said:
Not a bad phone... The Bad: But No led notification, GPS seems to jump around, No compass built in ... The Good: Fingerprint works great!, It has ATT 4G in the USA support, Battery life is good, ... If you get it rooted, please let me know how you did it....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could be my next toy to play around with as well. I loved the Mi Max. (which looks identical to the iRulu) I would give KingRoot a try to see if you can root it.

steveyal said:
Just ordered this through Amazon. Looks promising and US bands too!!!!!
https://www.amazon.com/iRULU-Smartp...desktop?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=ya_aw_od_pi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not a bad phone... The Bad: But No led notification, GPS seems to jump around, No compass built in, inserting sim card/sdcard takes patience ... The Good: Nougat 7.0, Fingerprint scanner works great!, It has ATT 4G in the USA support, Battery life is good, Push notification works great ... If you get it rooted, please let me know how you did it....
---------- Post added at 10:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:08 PM ----------
ajsmsg78 said:
Let me know how you like it. It doesn't have band 12 on T-Mobile which sucks. I may have picked one of those up if it did. If you buy it directly through iRulu and use coupon code G3DEAL50 you'll get it for $149.99.
It could be my next toy to play around with as well. I loved the Mi Max. (which looks identical to the iRulu) I would give KingRoot a try to see if you can root it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried KingRoot, Kingoroot, One Click Root and others. Nothing has worked so far. I saw that 149.99 deal but like the fact I got it in 2 days with free shipping and no tax from Amazon Prime and can return it for a full refund with free shipping back to them no question asked...

Steamer2499 said:
Not a bad phone... The Bad: But No led notification, GPS seems to jump around, No compass built in, inserting sim card/sdcard takes patience ... The Good: Nougat 7.0, Fingerprint scanner works great!, It has ATT 4G in the USA support, Battery life is good, Push notification works great ... If you get it rooted, please let me know how you did it....
---------- Post added at 10:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:08 PM ----------
I tried KingRoot, Kingoroot, One Click Root and others. Nothing has worked so far. I saw that 149.99 deal but like the fact I got it in 2 days with free shipping and no tax from Amazon Prime and can return it for a full refund with free shipping back to them no question asked...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If those root options don't work then the phone most likely will never be rooted. I bought a ZTE Zmax Pro about 8 months back to use as a spare phone and that was never rooted so i'm sure the iRulu probably won't be.

steveyal said:
Just ordered this through Amazon. Looks promising and US bands too!!!!!
https://www.amazon.com/iRULU-Smartp...desktop?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref_=ya_aw_od_pi
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ajsmsg78 said:
Let me know how you like it. It doesn't have band 12 on T-Mobile which sucks. I may have picked one of those up if it did. If you buy it directly through iRulu and use coupon code G3DEAL50 you'll get it for $149.99.
It could be my next toy to play around with as well. I loved the Mi Max. (which looks identical to the iRulu) I would give KingRoot a try to see if you can root it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for posting this! It actually looks really good especially for the price, except for the fact that the battery is 4300mAh and I suspect Li-on not Li-Po. The price point is 10/10 and is simply amazing.
I wonder if a discount will be available on the upcoming Huawei Honor Note 9 as well... It is supposed to be released Dec 6 or 20
Please use the QUOTE feature when replying to me to get my attention. Thanks!

E--Man said:
Thanks for posting this! It actually looks really good especially for the price, except for the fact that the battery is 4300mAh and I suspect Li-on not Li-Po. The price point is 10/10 and is simply amazing.
I wonder if a discount will be available on the upcoming Huawei Honor Note 9 as well... It is supposed to be released Dec 6 or 20
Please use the QUOTE feature when replying to me to get my attention. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Huawei Honor Note 9 looks like the phone for me. Hope it's priced a lot lower than the Samsungs and Apple phones...

Steamer2499 said:
The Huawei Honor Note 9 looks like the phone for me. Hope it's priced a lot lower than the Samsungs and Apple phones...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like a great phone...but I simply can't soak that kinda money into a phone that can't do LTE.

Steamer2499 said:
Not a bad phone... The Bad: But No led notification, GPS seems to jump around, No compass built in, inserting sim card/sdcard takes patience ... The Good: Nougat 7.0, Fingerprint scanner works great!, It has ATT 4G in the USA support, Battery life is good, Push notification works great ... If you get it rooted, please let me know how you did it....
---------- Post added at 10:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:08 PM ----------
I tried KingRoot, Kingoroot, One Click Root and others. Nothing has worked so far. I saw that 149.99 deal but like the fact I got it in 2 days with free shipping and no tax from Amazon Prime and can return it for a full refund with free shipping back to them no question asked...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never rooted a phone before...and not really sure why you would want to (probably best I don't know : )
The comment about the GPS scares me...and could potentially be deal breaker for me. But the rest of it seems livable. Not sure what led notification is either, but I figure if I don't know what it is, it probably won't matter to me that I don't have it. Otherwise, I went with Amazon because of their no hassle return. For me, that's worth every bit of 50 bucks on something I'm unsure of.

So after one day with the iRulu, my impressions are thus,
For me, this is in no way a replacement for my Media Pad X2. The build quality is just not there.
First, the good: this is the largest screen phone that I could find with the bands to receive 4G LTE in the United States. There are other larger ones such as the Posh L 700 and the 7 inch model made by Blu, but I don't think either of these phones can be taken seriously with their pitiful 1 GB of RAM.
Second, the phone works reasonably well. I was able to watch YouTube videos without difficulty and surf the web just fine. It was easy to load on applications and most things work as they should. Bluetooth was fine, easily connecting with both my car stereo and my laptop computer. In short, this is a decent low to middle tier phone; but it is NOT a Huawei.
The bad: As I was loading on applications, the phone did randomly restart; but this was only on one occasion, so I don't really consider it to be a big deal at this point.
Second: The GPS is as horrible as reported. I put it on for goofs navigating to work; and several times while driving down 95, the GPS had me somewhere in the middle of the woods. I don't think it would have caused me to miss turns; especially if I was using Google maps audio turn by turn directions; but generally speaking, it does not work as it is supposed to.
Third: at least for me, the phone seemed small. That half an inch screen size between this and the media pad really made a large difference to me. I guess I'm just used to my Huawei, and I like what I like. I also didn't find the phone aesthetically pleasing, which is not really a big deal to me; but it lacks the perfection in design of the MPX2.
Fourth and the biggie: is that I purchased this phone because it had 4G LTE bands in the United States. I used the thing all day long driving around the state of New Jersey; and not once did the phone indicate that I was receiving 4G LTE signal. As a matter of fact, I believe that I get a better signal on the AT&T network with the HSPA bands in the Huawei.
Unfortunately, for me, it's a bust. I will be returning this on Amazon and continue my quest for a mega screen phone that has LTE bands in the United States. One might ask why I am so hung up about LTE bands if I seem to be getting good Signal with the Huawei. It is because I have been told by people at AT&T that my days of enjoying my media pad are numbered; because they will soon be moving to a system similar to T-Mobile that will render the media pad useless. This so-called 5G technology will essentially render most manufacturer unlocked phones useless for some time until the technology catches up. Hopefully, it will take longer to accomplish this so-called feat of progress than it will take for some manufacturer to realize that there is a market for a high-end super screen phone in the United States.
Oh well.....

> I don't know if they allow you to bring your own phone
Yes, I use AT&T prepaid and brought my own phone. Also I'm paying $55/month with 10GB data. The service is of course throttled to what I believe is 15MBPs or something, but it's better service from the other resellers like Straight Talk that use the same towers.
The resellers appear to get low-tier service (I used to be on ST and have tried some others, with some terrible issues).

Petition for US release

PLEASE SIGN:good::good::fingers-crossed::highfive:

It will be released in your market. Just give it some time.

lebigmac said:
It will be released in your market. Just give it some time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you confirm this?

You do know that the petition means absolutely nothing. Unless you get a couple off million signatures, no one will even notice. If you want the device then import it. Just dont be surprised if not everything works.

I imported mine. It works just fine on tmobile and att.

nickmgray said:
I imported mine. It works just fine on tmobile and att.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am thinking of doing the same. Where did you get it from and for how much in USD? Was shipping expensive?
PS: Been following all your videos on the u11 and u11+

Nileshdd said:
I am thinking of doing the same. Where did you get it from and for how much in USD? Was shipping expensive?
PS: Been following all your videos on the u11 and u11+
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was lucky enough to have a friend pick it up at an HTC store and ship it to me directly. There seem to be a few people on eBay selling the phone already, but it'll probably be another 2-3 weeks before online retailers start selling the device.

nickmgray said:
I imported mine. It works just fine on tmobile and att.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
could you start a small review thread, especially related to the battery life? thanks
have you had an U11 also? If so, how does the sound of the top/bottom boom speaker compare to that.

If it is compatible with all AT&T bands I might get one as well. What all carriers is the UK version fully compatible with in the US?

Query about TMO
nickmgray said:
I was lucky enough to have a friend pick it up at an HTC store and ship it to me directly. There seem to be a few people on eBay selling the phone already, but it'll probably be another 2-3 weeks before online retailers start selling the device.
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Click to collapse
Hi Nick
Can I ask a few questions?
I am considering importing the U11+ from Taiwan.
I am on TMO which uses these LTE Bands - 2, 4, 12, 66, 71
The U11, which I currently have has these - 2, 4, 12, 66
The U11+ only has these bands - 4, 12
Now, I used LTE Discovery and found that my phone was 90% on Band 4, with 2 and 12 used once in a while.
What are your thoughts on U11+ working fine for my use case? It does have Band 4, 12 but am worried the lack of other bands may create issues in some other locations.
It does have 1900 MHZ (Band 2) for 3G/2G, so I think if I go into an area which has Band 2, I can only get 3G speeds.
Hope I am not causing too much trouble.
Thanks
Nilesh

General Tencent version bad service in US with T-Mobile

So I ordered the ROG Phone 5 Tencent version by mistake and I couldn't cancel it in time before they shipped it. I tried out the phone upon receiving it even though I had already read about the issues with 5G connectivity in the US. Testing out the bands with LTE Connectivity it obviously will not connect to any of T-Mobile's 5G bands in the US and on top it will only connect band 4 of tmobiles 4GLTE which is quite slower than band 66. I tested it side by side with my old Galaxy Note 8 and the note 8 was consistently getting better speeds of about 60/5 on band 66 while the tencent ROG phone 5 was only getting about 25-30 download at most on band 4. I promptly created a return order and bought the international version from NGP.
So in summary for those wondering, the tencent ROG phone 5 does not have the bands needed for a phone at this price point.
Check out this link for an accurate list of bands for the China version and then the international version.
Will Asus Rog Phone 5 work in USA?
In this page we are going to show you the compatibility of Asus Rog Phone 5 with the mobile networks of USA and with the telephony operators that provide service in USA.
www.kimovil.com
I will be receiving my international version in 2 days and will be testing the mobile bands in the Los Angeles area. Hoping for 5G!!

Please let us know of your findings as im getting ready to buy the international version from the same place! and am also using T-Mobile
Also, does anyone have an info on an official USA launch? (not carrier held but like ASUS selling the phone on the USA e store website)

A how to guide for getting bad service?

Rotary88 said:
So I ordered the ROG Phone 5 Tencent version by mistake and I couldn't cancel it in time before they shipped it. I tried out the phone upon receiving it even though I had already read about the issues with 5G connectivity in the US. Testing out the bands with LTE Connectivity it obviously will not connect to any of T-Mobile's 5G bands in the US and on top it will only connect band 4 of tmobiles 4GLTE which is quite slower than band 66. I tested it side by side with my old Galaxy Note 8 and the note 8 was consistently getting better speeds of about 60/5 on band 66 while the tencent ROG phone 5 was only getting about 25-30 download at most on band 4. I promptly created a return order and bought the international version from NGP.
So in summary for those wondering, the tencent ROG phone 5 does not have the bands needed for a phone at this price point.
Check out this link for an accurate list of bands for the China version and then the international version.
Will Asus Rog Phone 5 work in USA?
In this page we are going to show you the compatibility of Asus Rog Phone 5 with the mobile networks of USA and with the telephony operators that provide service in USA.
www.kimovil.com
I will be receiving my international version in 2 days and will be testing the mobile bands in the Los Angeles area. Hoping for 5G!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't the tencent version support SA 71? T-Mobile recently added that frequency I believe unless I misunderstood

chairman011 said:
Doesn't the tencent version support SA 71? T-Mobile recently added that frequency I believe unless I misunderstood
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's going to be hit or miss, depending on location.

So I ordered the international version literally 2 days before the USA version came out to just find out that it's the exact same **** as the Tencent version. NO 5G on T-Mobile and it uses the slowest bands for 4GLTE. My LTE speed in the LA area is an abysmal 27mb download and a 9mb upload. What an absolute nightmare this has been. The one time I try to go something besides Samsung or Apple.
Does anyone know what the restocking fee's are on these returns?

Rotary88 said:
So I ordered the international version literally 2 days before the USA version came out to just find out that it's the exact same **** as the Tencent version. NO 5G on T-Mobile and it uses the slowest bands for 4GLTE. My LTE speed in the LA area is an abysmal 27mb download and a 9mb upload. What an absolute nightmare this has been. The one time I try to go something besides Samsung or Apple.
Does anyone know what the restocking fee's are on these returns?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i thought it says its nothing if the return is because youre having connection/network issues, i just ordered the USA version, ill let you know how that one behaves when it arrives on saturday
i have a new sim card waiting for the phone when it arrives (supposedly you need a new sim to use 5g on tmobile)

twistedumbrella said:
It's going to be hit or miss, depending on location.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True that. I have the Tencent on Metro I get LTE but no 5g, I love this phone I have no issues with it but 5G would be awesome. They say they use the same service but really they don't they're both different frequencies I'm eager to try that new T-Mobile SIM card though since my phone is dual SIM I think I might go ahead and get the T-Mobile service with the SIM card I'll report back that you guys know how it goes thinking about doing it this coming week.

Trickster29 said:
i thought it says its nothing if the return is because youre having connection/network issues, i just ordered the USA version, ill let you know how that one behaves when it arrives on saturday
i have a new sim card waiting for the phone when it arrives (supposedly you need a new sim to use 5g on tmobile)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
· Failure of network compatibility in the area – customers are responsible to contact their service provider for the availability of compatible network in the area prior to purchasing the phone. If unfortunately you have no network due to this reason, you can return the phone with 15% restocking fee of the item price if it is in its original condition.
Shipping and Returns
ngpstoreusa.com
Amazon.com Seller Profile: NGP STORE USA
NGP_STORE_USA Store - Newegg.com
Checkout NGP_STORE_USA’s Seller Profile.! Get the latest deals from Seller Profile. all with faster shipping and excellent customer services
www.newegg.com
Rotary88 said:
So I ordered the international version literally 2 days before the USA version came out to just find out that it's the exact same **** as the Tencent version. NO 5G on T-Mobile and it uses the slowest bands for 4GLTE. My LTE speed in the LA area is an abysmal 27mb download and a 9mb upload. What an absolute nightmare this has been. The one time I try to go something besides Samsung or Apple.
Does anyone know what the restocking fee's are on these returns?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, the international version is basically the same as the US version without warranty coverage.

If they are the same, it doesn't make sense to eat the restocking fee then. Rotary88, are you using a current SIM like the other user mentioned? Hopefully when they get their phone and test on saturday they get better results.
I purchased mine from the US store this morning (I don't need 512gb storage or 18gb ram, and the other extras will never get used lol). The price point of the tencent versions are attractive for sure but I have heard nothing but issues around the WW converted models.
If it turns out that all versions (US, international, CN) have the same issues maybe I will return the US and save some dollars.
I'm just rambling here, good luck Rotary88

twistedumbrella said:
· Failure of network compatibility in the area – customers are responsible to contact their service provider for the availability of compatible network in the area prior to purchasing the phone. If unfortunately you have no network due to this reason, you can return the phone with 15% restocking fee of the item price if it is in its original condition.
Shipping and Returns
ngpstoreusa.com
Amazon.com Seller Profile: NGP STORE USA
NGP_STORE_USA Store - Newegg.com
Checkout NGP_STORE_USA’s Seller Profile.! Get the latest deals from Seller Profile. all with faster shipping and excellent customer services
www.newegg.com
Actually, the international version is basically the same as the US version without warranty coverage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ah must have remembered wrong. i don't think they're the same bandwise, for instance from what i understand the international is the C variant and doesn't support band 71 or 66 but this is listed as supported on the USA e-store for the USA phone. in fact every band except the mmWave that both ATT and T-Mobile use is listed on the USA versions purchase page
i did simply my check tho and ignored the fact that the shop page doesn't list 2g/3g/5g bands explicitly and just checked for a matching number, but i imagine thats what they meant, considering the page was just created and for example maybe they found theres no need to list n41 and 41 essentially listing 41 twice.
i have no phone atm, which maybe you can tell since my posts lack any auto correct, so really hoping for the best
either way i have a USA version coming on saturday and ill let everyone know of the results

So I just swapped out my old sim for a new T-Mobile SIM and its the same result with the international and also tencent variant ASUS_I005DA. Even though version A supposedly supports all the right bands, No T-Mobile 5G and also crippled LTE. This seems like something to do with their network simply not recognizing the device or allowing it to use other bands. After doing some research it seems the device also has to be carrier supported in order to connect to their extended LTE and 5G bands.
From what I've read here on the forums, calling them is a waste of time. I guess all I can do is wait to see if even the US "variants" get 5G/LTE but I somehow am doubting it since they seem identical to the international variant. I'm stuck with a $1000 gimped phone until T-Mobile decides to support it on their network.

Rotary88 said:
So I just swapped out my old sim for a new T-Mobile SIM and its the same result with the international and also tencent variant ASUS_I005DA. Even though version A supposedly supports all the right bands, No T-Mobile 5G and also crippled LTE. This seems like something to do with their network simply not recognizing the device or allowing it to use other bands. After doing some research it seems the device also has to be carrier supported in order to connect to their extended LTE and 5G bands.
From what I've read here on the forums, calling them is a waste of time. I guess all I can do is wait to see if even the US "variants" get 5G/LTE but I somehow am doubting it since they seem identical to the international variant. I'm stuck with a $1000 gimped phone until T-Mobile decides to support it on their network.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
strange because according to asus the I005DA is not the A version but the G version. The version i believe is on the box not the model.

PhoneBots said:
strange because according to asus the I005DA is not the A version but the G version. The version i believe is on the box not the model.
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Click to collapse
Did you contact ASUS ? do you have and official documentation / site where they say which version is tencent / Global / US ?

I had bought the tencent version - i005DA was mentioned prominently in the packaging.. and 'tencent games' was printed on the back of the phone.
Neither T-mobile nor AT&T worked reliably - actually I was barely ever getting a signal.
I returned that.one . .and got myself a global variant - asus_i005DC is mentioned in the packaging.
Now everything works fine - I have seen the 5G symbol, but not really great speeds, but that could be because of my area.

arun_suresh said:
Did you contact ASUS ? do you have and official documentation / site where they say which version is tencent / Global / US ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://zentalk.asus.com/en/discussion/47006/which-version-does-asus-rog-5-model-i005da-map-to i think this is where he found it, see last post (you can press the back button if it asks you to create acct or sign in and it wont ask again and will allow you to read)
this would imply the last letter in the model number is not necessarily the version the phone corresponds to, for every model even your asus_i005DC

Trickster29 said:
https://zentalk.asus.com/en/discussion/47006/which-version-does-asus-rog-5-model-i005da-map-to i think this is where he found it, see last post (you can press the back button if it asks you to create acct or sign in and it wont ask again and will allow you to read)
this would imply the last letter in the model number is not necessarily the version the phone corresponds to, for every model even your asus_i005DC
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly it.
At this point I'm waiting to see if the one they sell on Asus dot com is any better than the global version sold on aliexpress or if I should go all in on -300$ less

PhoneBots said:
That's exactly it.
At this point I'm waiting to see if the one they sell on Asus dot com is any better than the global version sold on aliexpress or if I should go all in on -300$ less
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
$300 less means a Tencent flashed to WW, or at least it did for mine. The idiot seller didn't realize the bands aren't controlled by the software, but PayPal called it "materially similar" and denied the refund. Oh well.

PhoneBots said:
That's exactly it.
At this point I'm waiting to see if the one they sell on Asus dot com is any better than the global version sold on aliexpress or if I should go all in on -300$ less
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well ill find out if the USA version on asus.com is better literally tomorrow and ill post the update here. i imagine it is now that i understand the versions don't follow model number.

twistedumbrella said:
$300 less means a Tencent flashed to WW, or at least it did for mine. The idiot didn't realize the bands aren't controlled by the software, but PayPal called it "materially similar" and denied the refund. Oh well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was looking more at the global version rather than the ROM