I plan on buying a Pixel XL soon, and I saw this one on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel...&ie=UTF8&qid=1504474976&sr=1-4&keywords=pixel
However it says "Verizon + Unlocked GSM" so which one is it? Is it unlocked or a Verizon model? Because I've heard the Verizon models can't be rooted.
I highly doubt it because it's a refurbed Verizon model already updated. They always update the refurbished models.
ShadowTechXTS said:
I plan on buying a Pixel XL soon, and I saw this one on amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Google-Pixel...&ie=UTF8&qid=1504474976&sr=1-4&keywords=pixel
However it says "Verizon + Unlocked GSM" so which one is it? Is it unlocked or a Verizon model? Because I've heard the Verizon models can't be rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By unlocked they don't mean bootloader unlocked. They are talking about it being carrier unlocked which Verizon phones are.
Related
So reading the Beat Buy FAQ, they make it sound as if there are two different versions. A SIM locked one for $199 with two year contract from T-Mo and an unlocked one for $529. I believe this is misrepresentation but wanted to hear your thoughts.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
personally id get the T-Mobile version for $199.99 bc im pretty sure a unlock code method will come up somehow and if it doesnt, then u can just ask T-Mobile for the code and get it in a week or so.
Hi,
I dont know for sure -- but my guess is all the Nexus S phones are unlocked.
According to this thread, the Nexus One was unlocked with a contract:
talkandroid.com/android-forums/nexus-one/3426-subsidized-nexus-one-carrier-locked.html
I wouldn't take the Best Buy FAQ as gospel. For example one of the question is:
Are there two different versions of the Nexus S, locked and unlocked?
No, there is only one Nexus S. It is available locked with a 2-year T-Mobile contract or unlocked with no contract.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The answer is no, but then they go and say there is locked and an unlocked version. Did a 10 year old write this or what?
there are no locked nexus s devices just like there were no locked nexus one devices. Some are just sold with a contract.
I see in some videos that theres a T-Mobile tab in the Market giving T-Mobile recommended apps.
So is there 2 version? Will the Sim Free version have no T-mobile branding in it?
Hi!
Thanks to VZW deals on Google Pixel, eBay is currently full of listing for brand new Pixels for less that $600. Most sellers claim phones to be factory sealed.
Question is: Can I buy this never opened Pixel and successfully activate and use overseas?
Thanks for your wisdom!
bige93 said:
Hi!
Thanks to VZW deals on Google Pixel, eBay is currently full of listing for brand new Pixels for less that $600. Most sellers claim phones to be factory sealed.
Question is: Can I buy this never opened Pixel and successfully activate and use overseas?
Thanks for your wisdom!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't receive my Pixel yet, but I bought an unlocked device from google's website. I did talk to a seller on eBay who has many Verizon Pixel phones and he claim that they are unlocked. Another thing he mentioned that these phones may have Verizon's bloatware apps. So if phone you are trying to purchase is unlocked, then it should work, but check the GSM bands if they are compatible with your carrier.
All Pixel phones are unlocked (we're not talking bootloader unlocked) no matter where you get it from. But good point in checking GSM bands to see if it's compatible in your country and carrier. As for bloatware there are only 2 apps from VZW and you can delete them easily.
So, no need for first activation with vzw SIM or something like that?
bige93 said:
So, no need for first activation with vzw SIM or something like that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No need. Just take it out if the box and put your sim in. I bought mine from best buy and it's technically for Verizon but I just took out the Verizon sim that was in it, put my T-Mobile sim in and booted it up.
If you plan on using it overseas I suggest you unlock the bootloader and flash the international system images.
Will the s8 plus be carrier unlocked if I order it from Samsung? I don't really want to be trapped to one carrier.
bagged00 said:
Will the s8 plus be carrier unlocked if I order it from Samsung? I don't really want to be trapped to one carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They make you select a carrier before checkout. The carrier unlocked version will be released in a month.
Just pick Verizon and it will be unlocked for sure day one
Ok cool that's what I was wondering. I know it's that way with my iPhone 7 I didn't know if it'd be the same for android
The simple way is to order from B&H... It's the unlocked international model SM-955F.... $840 + local tax
While that would be nice I'll be using the Samsung financing
I have ordered form very.co.uk (catalogue company) fully unlocked no carrier selection needed
mattcall said:
I have ordered form very.co.uk (catalogue company) fully unlocked no carrier selection needed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds awesome! Plus you escape the snapdragon curse
johnwayne27 said:
That sounds awesome! Plus you escape the snapdragon curse
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Click to collapse
Never had a snapdragon variant being in the uk but heard a few bad reviews
TechBSwift said:
Just pick Verizon and it will be unlocked for sure day one
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Click to collapse
But are we sure that the hardware is the same for all US models and it is as simple as flashing the appropriate firmware to get them working on other carriers?
Also, if you buy the Verizon model, it will never work on Sprint since Sprint won't whitelist it.
bagged00 said:
Will the s8 plus be carrier unlocked if I order it from Samsung? I don't really want to be trapped to one carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are on Sprint and you buy any other model but Sprint's model, it will not work on Sprint because Sprint won't whitelist it.
If you buy Verizon's model, it will be unlocked out of the box and if it is like the S7/7E, you can flash the GSM carrier's firmware to it and use it on the GSM carriers. But it will never work on Sprint for the reasons I stated.
bagged00 said:
Ok cool that's what I was wondering. I know it's that way with my iPhone 7 I didn't know if it'd be the same for android
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not the same at all. With the iPhone 7, it has the firmware to run on all 4 networks. That has never been true of the Samsung androids. They only have the firmware to run on the particular carrier they are branded for.
Although the Verizon S7/7E is SIM unlocked, it won't work properly on the GSM carriers without flashing the firmware for the GSM carriers. We won't know whether you can do that for the S8/8+ until they are released. However, the Verizon model will never work on Sprint because Sprint will not whitelist the Verizon model. In contrast, Sprint will whitelist the Verizon iPhones since they have the firmware to run on all 4 carriers.
It's totally different with iPhones than with Androids.
Thanks for.clearing.everything up. I have verizon so I will be getting a verizon phone. Just wasnt sure if I would be able to switch carriers in the future
dilgit said:
The simple way is to order from B&H... It's the unlocked international model SM-955F.... $840 + local tax
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when is it going to available though??
can i buy an unlock phone in the USA and bring it back to canada and run it on a telus netwrk?
I've been thinking of making this list for people who will be buying a Pixel 4 XL in future. It might come in handy to decide where to buy your phone from.
Please post in the thread what your seller/carrier did and I will update the list.
Note: You can buy a bootloader unlockable Pixel 4 XL directly from the Google Store.
UK greyed out OEM
EE
UK unlockable bootloader
Vodafone
US greyed out OEM
Verizon? (conflicting reports)
AT&T
TMobile
US unlockable bootloader
Best Buy
StrangerWeather said:
I've been thinking of making this list for people who will be buying a Pixel 4 XL in future. It might come in handy to decide where to buy your phone from.
Please post in the thread what your seller/carrier did and I will update the list.
Note: You can buy an unblocked Pixel 4 XL directly from the Google Store.
UK blocked OEM
EE
UK unblocked OEM
US blocked OEM
Verizon? (conflicting reports)
AT&T
US unblocked OEM
Best Buy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TMobile variant is locked
StrangerWeather said:
I've been thinking of making this list for people who will be buying a Pixel 4 XL in future. It might come in handy to decide where to buy your phone from.
Please post in the thread what your seller/carrier did and I will update the list.
Note: You can buy an unblocked Pixel 4 XL directly from the Google Store.
UK blocked OEM
EE
UK unblocked OEM
US blocked OEM
Verizon? (conflicting reports)
AT&T
US unblocked OEM
Best Buy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UK Vodafone is unblocked.
To be more clear I think you need to refer to it as Bootloader Unlock as OEM has no relation to that at all.
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer btw
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
superchilpil said:
To be more clear I think you need to refer to it as Bootloader Unlock as OEM has no relation to that at all.
OEM stands for Original Equipment Manufacturer btw
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, not too sure. It's not that the phones come with an unlocked bootloader, you still have to unlock it. But they are either OEM unlockable or not... Any other suggestions to make it clearer?
StrangerWeather said:
Hmm, not too sure. It's not that the phones come with an unlocked bootloader, you still have to unlock it. But they are either OEM unlockable or not... Any other suggestions to make it clearer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well yeah none of them come with an unlocked bootloader. But your wording wasn't wrong to begin with, I just felt that referring to as bootloader unlockable is a more friendly way to put it especially for the noobs out there.
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
Where did you hear about AT&T not being unlockable?
mew1033 said:
Where did you hear about AT&T not being unlockable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-4-xl/how-to/att-pixel-4-xl-locked-bootloader-t3989095
Bit of thread bump, but thanks!
Been searching everywhere to find out if Vodafone UK is un-lockable. Has anyone bought one recently to confirm they're still OK?
The Tmo variant can be unlocked after the sim lock is removed. I think it goes without saying for most that Fi and Google offer unlcockable versions but as this is for new guys it might be worth noting.
StrangerWeather said:
I've been thinking of making this list for people who will be buying a Pixel 4 XL in future. It might come in handy to decide where to buy your phone from.
Please post in the thread what your seller/carrier did and I will update the list.
Note: You can buy a bootloader unlockable Pixel 4 XL directly from the Google Store.
UK greyed out OEM
EE
UK unlockable bootloader
Vodafone
US greyed out OEM
Verizon? (conflicting reports)
AT&T
TMobile
US unlockable bootloader
Best Buy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U.S. Cellular is unlocked for Pixel 4, would assume xl as well
Except for the Verizon model, all of the other US variants can be bootloader (OEM) unlocked when they are SIM card unlocked. However the SIM card being unlocked is a requirement to having the bootloader unlocked. If you purchase a device through a US service provider, it will generally have the SIM card locked down and you must request a SIM card unlock from your service provider. The "unlocked" version sold by Google (and Best Buy) comes with the SIM card unlocked already. Therefore it can immediately have it's bootloader unlocked.
Verizon variants will never be able to be bootloader unlocked - even if you are able to get Verizon to unlock the SIM card. (People who are successful in bootloader unlocking a Verizon model are the exception to the rule and simply got lucky - normally due to a MEID snafu).
This is the same across the entire Google Pixel line.
StrangerWeather said:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-4-xl/how-to/att-pixel-4-xl-locked-bootloader-t3989095
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm gonna remove that thread because the bootloader can be unlocked if you carrier unlock your device. Confirmed on my friend's Pixel 4 from AT&T.
StrangerWeather said:
I've been thinking of making this list for people who will be buying a Pixel 4 XL in future. It might come in handy to decide where to buy your phone from.
Please post in the thread what your seller/carrier did and I will update the list.
Note: You can buy a bootloader unlockable Pixel 4 XL directly from the Google Store.
UK greyed out OEM
EE
UK unlockable bootloader
Vodafone
US greyed out OEM
Verizon? (conflicting reports)
AT&T
TMobile
US unlockable bootloader
Best Buy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think Verizon is locked if you buy it from them. I bought mine through the Google store with Verizon as a "3rd party" and I got an unlockable XL
I think basically whatever the carrier, they are locked until they are fully paid, is that right? In that case, I might just close the thread as it's not very useful.
Does anyone know if the Spectrum Variant of the Google Pixel 4 xl Has an unlockable bootloader?
I called t mobile today told them I'm a developer and they gave me a permanent unlock for my phone for the OEM so I can't complain but call them, whoever's your provider and tell them you're a developer and you're trying to access the Android 11 operating system and because it's a Google phone they bound to unlock your phone. And my phone ain't fully paid off from T-Mobile so I'm good I'm happy with the results and right now I'm using Android 11 and this bad boy for preview is beautiful
Hello everyone
Any news on Pixel 4XL EE UK to unlock the bootloader after 6 months of use???
I'm on a Verizon variant which I purchased directly from Verizon. Initially I was unable to unlock my bootloader same as everyone else. However, I was recently in developmer options and noticed OEM unlocking was no longer greyed out (I was running Android 11 with Octobers update). I Didn't believe my eyes for a second and immediately toggled it on and got to work. Within a few minutes I was unlocked and rooted. Not sure if they messed up on the 11 update or if it was a mistake from one of the updates. I hadn't checked for a while previous to my discovery so I can't pin down the exact trigger.
Once you either fully payoff the device or get permission through your carrier then the carrier sends it over to Google's server which generates your unlock code then is sent to pixel 4xl as a update which will then unlock your sim. Once your sim unlocked it will allow you to highlight unlock bootloader. This is for tmobile,att, and sprint. Verizon variants however is an exception. You can get sim unlock, but will not highlight the unlock bootloader. Once in a while somebody gets lucky, but does not happen alot. Even tho it is a Google phone the carrier can still make the choice for the bootloader.
Are there any missing bands in the unlocked version vs att variant?
Thinking which one to buy...
I know note 10 had some differences and I havent been following since.
Good question...I just purchased the unlocked 1TB version. Guess I'll know for sure when it gets here..
I have AT&T and have always bought AT&T phones from Samsung to be sure all the features work such as wifi calling which I need. I did some research and apparently unlocked Samsung phones now are fully functional on AT&T. I ordered an unlocked S22U today. It will be nice to lose all that AT&T bloat. They really load it up. I'm sure all the bands for AT&T are on the unlocked US device.
dmb219 said:
I have AT&T and have always bought AT&T phones from Samsung to be sure all the features work such as wifi calling which I need. I did some research and apparently unlocked Samsung phones now are fully functional on AT&T. I ordered an unlocked S22U today. It will be nice to lose all that AT&T bloat. They really load it up. I'm sure all the bands for AT&T are on the unlocked US device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can we unlock bootloader of this unlocked US S22U ? Does it have oem unlocking option?
donkeyman1234 said:
Can we unlock bootloader of this unlocked US S22U ? Does it have oem unlocking option?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it wont. even if you buy the u.s. model from samsung it wont. they are bootloader locked. if you bought the at&t version from at&t you can still load the u1 software version on it to get rid of the at&t bloat. the only difference the u and u1 have is the u1 is sim unlocked. if you get from at&t you have to pay the phone off to get it sim unlocked. but as far as bootloader goes they are both locked.
We might see an option in the future where a paid service comes along that might enable bootloader unlock. I never understood why Samsung treats the U.S market in such a strict way while the rest of the world less so.
freebee269 said:
it wont. even if you buy the u.s. model from samsung it wont. they are bootloader locked. if you bought the at&t version from at&t you can still load the u1 software version on it to get rid of the at&t bloat. the only difference the u and u1 have is the u1 is sim unlocked. if you get from at&t you have to pay the phone off to get it sim unlocked. but as far as bootloader goes they are both locked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, then I will not buy US version even it costs less.