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Hello everyone,
T-Mobile's galaxy avant was my first phone, and being a budget phone, it wasn't all that great. However, I did learn the basics on rooting/flashing on it. I naively upgraded to the T-Mobile s7 edge thinking i could continue my custom roming, only to find out the boatloader was unlockable with research. Out of pure frustration, I downgraded to the s6 edge plus which did have the unlocked bootloader. The battery life, however, is very disappointing, even with deodexed/debloated rom.
So now, I want to upgrade to the s8+, but before I do so I would like your expert opinion on which would work best for me. I know the carrier versions of the phone will have the locked bootloader, so those should be out of question. However, I do need it to function properly on T-Mobile's network, and would like the biggest options in custom roms possible. I would assume that would point me towards the SM-G9550, but I saw various devices with the same model number but different processor exynos/snapdragon.
I don't want to make the same mistake I made with the 7, so all help is greatly appreciated!
LEGONIKES said:
Hello everyone,
T-Mobile's galaxy avant was my first phone, and being a budget phone, it wasn't all that great. However, I did learn the basics on rooting/flashing on it. I naively upgraded to the T-Mobile s7 edge thinking i could continue my custom roming, only to find out the boatloader was unlockable with research. Out of pure frustration, I downgraded to the s6 edge plus which did have the unlocked bootloader. The battery life, however, is very disappointing, even with deodexed/debloated rom.
So now, I want to upgrade to the s8+, but before I do so I would like your expert opinion on which would work best for me. I know the carrier versions of the phone will have the locked bootloader, so those should be out of question. However, I do need it to function properly on T-Mobile's network, and would like the biggest options in custom roms possible. I would assume that would point me towards the SM-G9550, but I saw various devices with the same model number but different processor exynos/snapdragon.
I don't want to make the same mistake I made with the 7, so all help is greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The G9550 although does have a Snapdragon 835 and an unlockable bootlooader, has 2 issues:
1) Virtually no custom ROMs available for it.
2) Not fully compatible with T-Mobile.
Get yourself the International model, SM-G955F or FD (Dual SIM).
Both are identical in terms of hardware, have the same custom ROMs, and since you'll be rooted anyway, you can flash the T-Mobile CSC to get T-Mobile features working, like VoLTE and WiFi calling.
You can get the phones off a UK based retailer like Clove, or from eBay.
Sent from my SM-G955F
LEGONIKES said:
Hello everyone,
T-Mobile's galaxy avant was my first phone, and being a budget phone, it wasn't all that great. However, I did learn the basics on rooting/flashing on it. I naively upgraded to the T-Mobile s7 edge thinking i could continue my custom roming, only to find out the boatloader was unlockable with research. Out of pure frustration, I downgraded to the s6 edge plus which did have the unlocked bootloader. The battery life, however, is very disappointing, even with deodexed/debloated rom.
So now, I want to upgrade to the s8+, but before I do so I would like your expert opinion on which would work best for me. I know the carrier versions of the phone will have the locked bootloader, so those should be out of question. However, I do need it to function properly on T-Mobile's network, and would like the biggest options in custom roms possible. I would assume that would point me towards the SM-G9550, but I saw various devices with the same model number but different processor exynos/snapdragon.
I don't want to make the same mistake I made with the 7, so all help is greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get yourself a OnePlus 5T, if you insist on custom ROMs and all. Yes, it doesn't have as many features like the S8, resizable Multi Windows, Edge, AOD, etc., but when you unlock bootloader and flash it (i.e. you trip Knox), this time around you lose actual features, Secure Folder, Samsung Pay, a few others, essentially you get a cut-down version of the real thing. Battery life should be on par with the S8+, from what I understand.
Moved away from my OnePlus 3 because got bored with it, and screen was too small. Got the Exynos G955F instead, and for the first time I haven't flashed the new phone as soon as I got it because of these reasons I listed above.
murtaza02 said:
The G9550 although does have a Snapdragon 835 and an unlockable bootlooader, has 2 issues:
1) Virtually no custom ROMs available for it.
2) Not fully compatible with T-Mobile.
Get yourself the International model, SM-G955F or FD (Dual SIM).
Both are identical in terms of hardware, have the same custom ROMs, and since you'll be rooted anyway, you can flash the T-Mobile CSC to get T-Mobile features working, like VoLTE and WiFi calling.
You can get the phones off a UK based retailer like Clove, or from eBay.
Sent from my SM-G955F
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I noticed you have the SM-G955F. What are your impressions on the phone?
sirobelec said:
Get yourself a OnePlus 5T, if you insist on custom ROMs and all. Yes, it doesn't have as many features like the S8, resizable Multi Windows, Edge, AOD, etc., but when you unlock bootloader and flash it (i.e. you trip Knox), this time around you lose actual features, Secure Folder, Samsung Pay, a few others, essentially you get a cut-down version of the real thing. Battery life should be on par with the S8+, from what I understand.
Moved away from my OnePlus 3 because got bored with it, and screen was too small. Got the Exynos G955F instead, and for the first time I haven't flashed the new phone as soon as I got it because of these reasons I listed above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I hear what you're saying about the features cut. I thought I would've had the same issue on my s6, but with this custom rom I flashed (Khongloi's s8 port) samsung pass, health, and secure folder worked perfectly fine! I feel like pay would have worked if I had gotten magisk working right before i uninstalled it, but still. I've done a little research on the forums as to how to fix everything after root, but all I found was a fix for health. If there could be a way to extract whatever the hell that rom had for other roms, I think that would be great.
I was thinking about the OP 5T, but then the cost to feature ratio just didn't make it for me. I know for sure I would've bought the OP 3T when it was new atless than 400 USD.
LEGONIKES said:
I noticed you have the SM-G955F. What are your impressions on the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nothing bad to say about it. Great display, great battery life, great camera as well. Only thing I want is for Samsung to put a bit more effort into the software updates, but other than that, it's perfect.
Sent from my SM-G955F
Hi everyone,
I got a chinese S10e SM-9708 recently on my trip, since it has the superior snapdragon 855 compared to the exynos version sold here in europe. (plus its a bit cheaper there)
Could I just flash the global snapdragon 855 ROM (e.g. unlocked US ROMs) onto it and expect it to work flawlessly? using "official" tools like Odin or do I need to tinker around more? Will it support OTA then?
Sorry if that is a trivial question, i am pretty new to this.
Thanks in advance!
Hey,
I am not sure but I really want to know how this works. I want to root my S10e but I have a 970U model, so I can't. Honestly it's out of boredom and the challenge.
I am looking to trade for the Chinese\\HongKong one with a snapdragon if this is possible.
I hope you find out -- if I do I will post and let you know
bootpp said:
Hi everyone,
I got a chinese S10e SM-9708 recently on my trip, since it has the superior snapdragon 855 compared to the exynos version sold here in europe. (plus its a bit cheaper there)
Could I just flash the global snapdragon 855 ROM (e.g. unlocked US ROMs) onto it and expect it to work flawlessly? using "official" tools like Odin or do I need to tinker around more? Will it support OTA then?
Sorry if that is a trivial question, i am pretty new to this.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you might be able to flash a Hong Kong SM-9700 ROM because they have the exact same hardware as the SM-9708 apparently (at your own risk, do research). US phones, even unlocked, have differences from the SM-9708 and 9700 (different: dual-sim, dual frequency GNSS, bootloader).
bootpp said:
Hi everyone,
I got a chinese S10e SM-9708 recently on my trip, since it has the superior snapdragon 855 compared to the exynos version sold here in europe. (plus its a bit cheaper there)
Could I just flash the global snapdragon 855 ROM (e.g. unlocked US ROMs) onto it and expect it to work flawlessly? using "official" tools like Odin or do I need to tinker around more? Will it support OTA then?
Sorry if that is a trivial question, i am pretty new to this.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check this post from another thread:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=79372768&postcount=5
bootpp said:
Hi everyone,
I got a chinese S10e SM-9708 recently on my trip, since it has the superior snapdragon 855 compared to the exynos version sold here in europe. (plus its a bit cheaper there)
Could I just flash the global snapdragon 855 ROM (e.g. unlocked US ROMs) onto it and expect it to work flawlessly? using "official" tools like Odin or do I need to tinker around more? Will it support OTA then?
Sorry if that is a trivial question, i am pretty new to this.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash the hong kong rom that has play store.
I’m using G9708 now. Unfortunately, there is no way to flash Chinese-unlocked/Hongkong rom by Odin without bootloader unlocked. Fortunately, she almost supports the global network as long as you don't use ChineseMobile SIM-card. Simultaneously, The official system comes with google serivers, so the GMS can be setup by yourself, you only need download them form APKmirror or other Open source networks.
Hi,
I'm sorry if I overlooked a similar thread, but I'm looking in to buying a galaxy s7 and I wanted to buy one that has an unlocked bootloader and will work with USA metro pcs. is there such phone? lol I've heard usa s7's don't unlock. just wondering.
The Exynos models G930F/G930FD/G930W8, and the hong kong snapdragon model are the only ones can be bootloader unlocked
They will work in the USA, but the USA uses different network carrier standards than the rest of the world, so your connectivity won't be as good as using a USA specific device. You may also lack carrier features like VoLTE.
Thanks! Are the s8's like this as well? I'm trying to figure out if I want a 7 or 8. is there much difference between the phones?
Same for S8 through to S10. International gets unlockable Exynos, USA gets locked Snapdragon, HK gets unlockable Snapdragon.
Main difference would be the bump in specs and build. S7 also won't get official Android Pie, I believe the S8 will/has.
S8's were also a bit unique in that unlocking the Exynos bootloader is harder on them but still possible, S9 and S10 went back to easy as far as I'm aware.
Wondering how many out there plan to get the bootloader unlocked Snapdragon edition? It seems the Snapdragon will be 2 generations ahead this year, as the Snapdragon is a model above the S20's while the Exynos processor (which was already inferior) will be the same.
Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Korea, (and South America?) are the regions so far that seem will offer Snapdragon bootloader unlocked Note 20 Ultra's.
still doing my own research on where to buy, anyone else doing this as well?
I'm going to pass and just get the US SD version from Samsung. Honestly, I haven't flashed a ROM on an Android Phone since the LG G3 days. Android is just too mature and feature full for me to worry about it at this point. I spent waaaaay too much time flashing ROM's lol. Was fun when Android was still very green, though.
Semantics said:
I'm going to pass and just get the US SD version from Samsung. Honestly, I haven't flashed a ROM on an Android Phone since the LG G3 days. Android is just too mature and feature full for me to worry about it at this point. I spent waaaaay too much time flashing ROM's lol. Was fun when Android was still very green, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I definitely feel you. while I'm stubborn to give up root because I like to feel in control of my device, my list of root uses gets slimmer and slimmer each year.
it's basically ad blocker, screenshot Netflix so I can picture message with friends about shows we're all watching, and then 5 other root apps to hide the fact that I have root lol
soraxd said:
Wondering how many out there plan to get the bootloader unlocked Snapdragon edition? It seems the Snapdragon will be 2 generations ahead this year, as the Snapdragon is a model above the S20's while the Exynos processor (which was already inferior) will be the same.
Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Korea, and South America are the regions so far that seem will offer Snapdragon bootloader unlocked Note 20 Ultra's.
still doing my own research on where to buy, anyone else doing this as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FYI the HK and Korean snapdragon versions 5g bands are not compatible with the 5g here in Canada, likely the same applies to the US (don't quote me on that).
this may not matter to some, to others it certainly will.
force70 said:
FYI the HK and Korean snapdragon versions 5g bands are not compatible with the 5g here in Canada, likely the same applies to the US (don't quote me on that).
this may not matter to some, to others it certainly will.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does anyone know of any Snapdragon versions that DO offer compatible 5G bands in the US with Tmo and also have an unlockable bootloader?
Sent from my SM-N976U 5G using XDA-Developers Legacy app
Purchased the HK version from WondaMobile after being recommended by another user. I cancelled the Korean version due to concerns with bloatware and the single sim. Not interesting rooting, yet it is nice to have the option. I would think the the HK version is the most well round one the available versions if you are looking for an unlocked device.
Eudeferrer said:
Does anyone know of any Snapdragon versions that DO offer compatible 5G bands in the US with Tmo and also have an unlockable bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if there is such a thing Im buying one, havent seen one so far though.
dont have any info on the latin america version, dont even know yet if it is still snapdragon this year.
Semantics said:
I'm going to pass and just get the US SD version from Samsung. Honestly, I haven't flashed a ROM on an Android Phone since the LG G3 days. Android is just too mature and feature full for me to worry about it at this point. I spent waaaaay too much time flashing ROM's lol. Was fun when Android was still very green, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm with you on that one. Last phone I actively installed and played with ROM's was the Note 4. Note 7 we know how that went and Note 8 onward in Canada had locked bootloader so I stopped since Android as you said is more mature now. I miss the ROM's too sometimes but I'm happy with the OS now for the most part that I'm not worried if I can ROM or not either anymore.
I'm just getting the Canadian Note 20 Ultra 512GB and will be happy with that.
Definitely rooting. I've rooted every single note I've owned. It's become easier and less stressful. Magisk makes it simple.
Viper4android, ad-blocking, changing system emojis, removing volume warnings, disabling or uninstalling apps, backing up and restoring apps, etc.....
I completely forgot volume warning was a thing.... gosh it's been almost a decade since I had to be subjected to one. there's also enabling call recorder, removing camera shutter sound (for non US), and some other ones I take for granted and can't think of right now
having order the us unlocked version im hoping to a way to unlock the bootloader will become available. i loved roms on my note 3, nexus and nexus 6p. was super disappointed there weren't many ROM options when i had the pixel 3xl
metalb00 said:
having order the us unlocked version im hoping to a way to unlock the bootloader will become available. i loved roms on my note 3, nexus and nexus 6p. was super disappointed there weren't many ROM options when i had the pixel 3xl
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't hold your breath. Hasn't happened for the last few Notes I've had.
soraxd said:
I definitely feel you. while I'm stubborn to give up root because I like to feel in control of my device, my list of root uses gets slimmer and slimmer each year.
it's basically ad blocker, screenshot Netflix so I can picture message with friends about shows we're all watching, and then 5 other root apps to hide the fact that I have root lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I feel you on adblocker. Do any other versions have full USA bands though??
Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk
oneandroidnut said:
I feel you on adblocker. Do any other versions have full USA bands though??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
our only hope is latin america and I have zero information on it thus far
The bootloader has been locked down on Samsung Snapdragon devices for quite a few years now and it's very likely that unlocking them in the future will not happen. You would need to purchase a Exynos powered device for that (for now )
kangi26 said:
The bootloader has been locked down on Samsung Snapdragon devices for quite a few years now and it's very likely that unlocking them in the future will not happen. You would need to purchase a Exynos powered device for that (for now )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For USA since the S7 I think, for us in Canada it started on the S8 (our s7 was exynos).
So yeah for an unlocked its either the sub par exynos 990 or a HK, Korean or Brazilian snapdragon.
5g likely not going to be compatible with NA bands..for sure not with Canadian bands on rogers anyway .
This whole 5g thing has thrown a new variable on many of us who generally import our devices, it has definitely screwed up my plans for the Note 20 ultra at any rate
there's a bit to dig thru here, but we should be able to find answers
https://www.frequencycheck.com/search?s=galaxy+note+20+ultra
soraxd said:
Wondering how many out there plan to get the bootloader unlocked Snapdragon edition? It seems the Snapdragon will be 2 generations ahead this year, as the Snapdragon is a model above the S20's while the Exynos processor (which was already inferior) will be the same.
Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, Korea, (and South America?) are the regions so far that seem will offer Snapdragon bootloader unlocked Note 20 Ultra's.
still doing my own research on where to buy, anyone else doing this as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me - want it for canada
Is HK version best?
---------- Post added at 02:12 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:11 AM ----------
Brava27 said:
Definitely rooting. I've rooted every single note I've owned. It's become easier and less stressful. Magisk makes it simple.
Viper4android, ad-blocking, changing system emojis, removing volume warnings, disabling or uninstalling apps, backing up and restoring apps, etc.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me above + Dual SIM
Looking for the HK version currently have the note 10 plus HK one.
Rooted.
Rooting is a must for me.
Don't want the exynos because it's really bad with battery and doesn't seem like sammy cares for it.
But the ultra is going for 1599 now.
Too much
[
force70 said:
5g likely not going to be compatible with NA bands..for sure not with Canadian bands on rogers anyway .
This whole 5g thing has thrown a new variable on many of us who generally import our devices, it has definitely screwed up my plans for the Note 20 ultra at any rate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't be too concerned about 5G, it's mostly marketing hype.
There's 2 types of 5G, the first (millimeter) is ludicrously fast, but if a leaf falls in front of your phone the connection breaks. and you can count on 1 hand the telephone poles (not towers) that have it.
The second more realistic 5G (low band) is near the same speed as LTE.
According to Ookla Speedtest Intelligence, AT&T 5G tests on Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G phones averaged 78.21Mbps down, while LTE tests on the same model of phone averaged 70.47Mbps down.
Pardon my ignorance, I haven't rooted a Samsung phone for a few years. But last time I checked, only Exynos variants are rootable with Samsung phones. I just found out that the Z Fold 2 will only come with Snapdragon. They aren't making any Exynos variants. So does that mean we won't be able to unlock the bootloader?
No, and yes.
Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk
Ariel_PR said:
Pardon my ignorance, I haven't rooted a Samsung phone for a few years. But last time I checked, only Exynos variants are rootable with Samsung phones. I just found out that the Z Fold 2 will only come with Snapdragon. They aren't making any Exynos variants. So does that mean we won't be able to unlock the bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not exactly true, the HK and in previous years latin america snapdragons have been rooted on devices
This year the Koreans have snapdragon and they will likely be rootable also.
Only north american snaps are locked down on other devcies.
It remains to be seen what exactly will happen on the fold 2 though as this is the first time the snapdragon is global and no exynos is offered
Trying to figure that out myself; I'm a buyer with root, am not without.
I can't remember the last time a North American Samsung phone was released they wasn't locked. I would put money on the fact that this won't be any different. Exynos is the only chip that was rootable, I'm 100% Samsung didn't change their software ecosystem to allow unlock and root only on the fold 2. S20, note 20, flip, all locked down. Fold 2 won't be any different.
Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk
Yeah, I expect the NA phones to be locked, it's going to be something compatible sold elsewhere.
krabman said:
Yeah, I expect the NA phones to be locked, it's going to be something compatible sold elsewhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't see the huge need for root these days myself. It used to be for theming for me, but with a Samsung phone I don't want to lose out on the no root perks.
I really can't think of a usage case where Id rather have root vs being unable to easily run updates, software not working right, etc.
Im sure for others there are reasons but being that the fold 2 has special software tweaks for the larger and dual screen integration, none of the other Roms are going to have those built in. So again, you run into the issue of there being a huge compromise rooting.
Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk
desantim said:
I can't remember the last time a North American Samsung phone was released they wasn't locked. I would put money on the fact that this won't be any different. Exynos is the only chip that was rootable, I'm 100% Samsung didn't change their software ecosystem to allow unlock and root only on the fold 2. S20, note 20, flip, all locked down. Fold 2 won't be any different.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge released here in Canada, they were exynos...US got the locked snapdragon.
That only happened that one year, after that we got the locked down crap also
The S7 was when it started, S6 and before could be unlocked across most of the world and TMO in the US although I almost never buy carrier phones. In any event the question here is not why you should root the phone, that can be discussed in the inevitable " Should I root my phone" thread.
I just got off the phone after an hour of being run around with Samsung support. I finally reached an elevated support and was told that the bootloader would be unlocked on the phones in some markets but he did not have information as to which markets. Interesting if true but we all know phone support is iffy at best in these matters.
force70 said:
Not exactly true, the HK and in previous years latin america snapdragons have been rooted on devices
This year the Koreans have snapdragon and they will likely be rootable also.
Only north american snaps are locked down on other devcies.
It remains to be seen what exactly will happen on the fold 2 though as this is the first time the snapdragon is global and no exynos is offered
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not the 1st time Snapdragon is global: original Fold (5G), S10 Lite...
henklbr said:
It's not the 1st time Snapdragon is global: original Fold (5G), S10 Lite...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right sir, I stand corrected.
Yeah, the OG fold was a global snapdragon and the F version (UK) at least was bootloader unlocked; they had root and twrp for it. Looking at that variant of the Fold 2 it looks like it should work fine on Tmo. I recall there were other variants that could be unlocked when I was perusing that subsection but I didn't pay much attention to which ones they were, might have to go search around there again.
krabman said:
I just got off the phone after an hour of being run around with Samsung support. I finally reached an elevated support and was told that the bootloader would be unlocked on the phones in some markets but he did not have information as to which markets. Interesting if true but we all know phone support is iffy at best in these matters.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
China/ HK/ EU(some of?) should be unlocked..