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Die-hard Windows Phone guy admits defeat

Hello All,
I have been a hard-core Windows Phone guy since the first Windows Mobile devices. I came to Windows Mobile when the Palm devices went away. I stayed loyal to Windows Phone as long as I could. The Lumia 950XL was not a bad device, but when mine started deteriorating recently, I tried the HP Elite X3 at a cost of over $1,000.
I’ll make this long story short. This device is junk. There are no apps left, and the ones that are left don’t work on this device. Windows Phone is dead, and I can’t wait on a “Surface Phone” which we may or may not ever see.
I have ruled out an apple device. I have never had an Android device, but have pretty much decided on an S8+. I’m U.S. AT&T, but I work in Africa and have a local sim card there. I need an unlocked, “real” dual-sim device. By “real”, I mean both sims must be fully functional (active) simultaneously. No switching back and forth.
So, my question is; does anyone know if Samsung will release an unlocked dual-sim S8+? If so, when? If not, can anyone recommend a high-quality, unlocked, dual-sim device?
Thank you!
Dave
PS: For Sale: Like new HP Elite X3 with two cases and all accessories. I think I also have a Sony Beta HiFi in the garage.

Isn't there an international dual-SIM, unlocked version of the S8+ available?
Just checked and found this:
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy-Factory-Unlocked-Smart/dp/B06XXR799Q
This is probably available in the Middle East and Indian markets.
Another alternative for you could be the OnePlus 3T at less than half the cost.
https://oneplus.net/ca_en/3t
Hope that helps.

April 28th samsung will release another version of the s8 I think it's unlocked but I know for sure is exynos... sorry I couldn't help out more

Thanks Rajeshr. I looked at the comments to the Amazon ad. It looks like this is not a dual-sim device, even though it states it is. I am looking at the 1+. Thanks.
Thanks also mlock420 (& a happy day-late 420). I will follow this closely. Must have an unlocked, real dual-sim. Will check the 28th. Thanks.

rajeshr said:
Isn't there an international dual-SIM, unlocked version of the S8+ available?
Just checked and found this:
https://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galaxy-Factory-Unlocked-Smart/dp/B06XXR799Q
This is probably available in the Middle East and Indian markets.
Another alternative for you could be the OnePlus 3T at less than half the cost.
https://oneplus.net/ca_en/3t
Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, youll want that, youll also want to custom rom your phone too which will only be availble with the exynos varient. Its not enough to get an unlocked sim these days, for maximum compatibility between countries/networks you'll also need an unlocked bootloader, so dont get snapdragon usa model! Get international exynos!

XATAGuy said:
Thanks Rajeshr. I looked at the comments to the Amazon ad. It looks like this is not a dual-sim device, even though it states it is. I am looking at the 1+. Thanks.
Thanks also mlock420 (& a happy day-late 420). I will follow this closely. Must have an unlocked, real dual-sim. Will check the 28th. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, the Amazon link is not a dual-SIM one, but there will be dual-SIM S8+'s released in certain markets on the 28th.
---------- Post added at 05:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:46 PM ----------
cantenna said:
Yea, youll want that, youll also want to custom rom your phone too which will only be availble with the exynos varient. Its not enough to get an unlocked sim these days, for maximum compatibility between countries/networks you'll also need an unlocked bootloader, so dont get snapdragon usa model! Get international exynos!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not debating the custom ROM part being better (although I hold slightly differing views from you on that point), but why would you state that you need a custom ROM for maximum compatibilities between countries/networks?

rajeshr said:
Yeah, the Amazon link is not a dual-SIM one, but there will be dual-SIM S8+'s released in certain markets on the 28th.
---------- Post added at 05:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:46 PM ----------
I'm not debating the custom ROM part being better (although I hold slightly differing views from you on that point), but why would you state that you need a custom ROM for maximum compatibilities between countries/networks?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, for maximum compatibility you need to be able to quickly flash the carriers csc with twrp, see xda S7 sub forum/superman rom for s7 for more info

cantenna said:
Sure, for maximum compatibility you need to be able to quickly flash the carriers csc with twrp, see xda S7 sub forum/superman rom for s7 for more info
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wouldn't an unlocked device have access to the requisite/correct CSC files for each individual region\carrier?

rajeshr said:
Wouldn't an unlocked device have access to the requisite/correct CSC files for each individual region\carrier?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will still work without, it just may not work as well.
Google xda galaxy s7 csc selector superman rom for more info.

Ordered OP7P from oneplus website directly. What version should I expect to recviece?

Title says it all, ordered from One Plus and it shipped from New Jersey. I use T-Mobile but don't think I specifically ordered a t-mobile variant? I am assuming I will get a compatible phone? What models support t-mobile USA. Phone will be here today. Feel silly asking after the fact.
Thanks for reading.

SpyFi said:
Title says it all, ordered from One Plus and it shipped from New Jersey. I use T-Mobile but don't think I specifically ordered a t-mobile variant? I am assuming I will get a compatible phone? What models support t-mobile USA. Phone will be here today. Feel silly asking after the fact.
Thanks for reading.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am a T-Mobile user as well. You will get the international unlocked version. It will work on any carrier and has dual SIM.
---------- Post added at 06:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:06 PM ----------
Model GM1917

Very cool, thanks!

Samsung Galaxy A20 SM-A205U (MetroPCS) Final Thoughts - Don't Get This Variant

Well, I've went and swapped out my A20 for a higher end Moto. I've essentially went back to Moto, as much as I hate Lenovo. Why?
Because Samsung is an A1 Asshole and at least Lenovo gives you the OEM unlocking.
This variant nor the T-Mobile variant have OEM Unlocking. Confirmed by T-Mobile PostPaid Tech Team as well as Samsung. Waiting 165 up hours or 7 days ain't gonna do it folks. The feature is intentionally blocked out, and any attempts to get at it will result in the phone rebooting by itself. This isn't something Tmobile asked for - many of their variants and Metro's variants are OEM Unlockable.
This is something Sammy did all by themselves with that Knox crap.
This phone is free when you switch to MetroPCS - it's not even worth that. I also had an issue where my A20 took control and did something to my computer, which resulted in me having to do a system restore and making the final decision to chuck it. Never once have I ever done that on a phone, especially Sammy - this ain't my first fistacuff fight with the software they make.
If I wanted a phone locked down without reproach, I would have went back to Verizon.
Good luck American variants holding out the torch. I'm off to play with a real device.

I'd like to buy an A20 in the US, and want to be sure I can run GSIs on it. Which versions of the A20 are available in the US, with unlockable bootloader?
GSMarena gives the following part numbers:
- SM-A205FN/DS (Global)
- SM-A205U (USA)
- SM-A205W (Canada)
- SM-A205F/DS
- SM-A205GN/DS
- SM-A205YN
- SM-A205G/DS
On Amazon, I see lots of "unlocked A205G/DS (International Version)". Best Buy has an "unlocked" A20 with Best Buy part number SM-A205UZKAXAA (probably Samsung SM-A205U =USA), and will often price-match Amazon.

This is a good question, wondering the same...

Articul8Madness said:
Well, I've went and swapped out my A20 for a higher end Moto. I've essentially went back to Moto, as much as I hate Lenovo. Why?
Because Samsung is an A1 Asshole and at least Lenovo gives you the OEM unlocking.
This variant nor the T-Mobile variant have OEM Unlocking. Confirmed by T-Mobile PostPaid Tech Team as well as Samsung. Waiting 165 up hours or 7 days ain't gonna do it folks. The feature is intentionally blocked out, and any attempts to get at it will result in the phone rebooting by itself. This isn't something Tmobile asked for - many of their variants and Metro's variants are OEM Unlockable.
This is something Sammy did all by themselves with that Knox crap.
This phone is free when you switch to MetroPCS - it's not even worth that. I also had an issue where my A20 took control and did something to my computer, which resulted in me having to do a system restore and making the final decision to chuck it. Never once have I ever done that on a phone, especially Sammy - this ain't my first fistacuff fight with the software they make.
If I wanted a phone locked down without reproach, I would have went back to Verizon.
Good luck American variants holding out the torch. I'm off to play with a real device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the A305G international version Samsung Galaxy A30 & had to figure out the CSC is Puerto Rico (DOO) to even get close to working on 4G LTE with T-mobile... still have to use 4G LTE only app to ensure dwnld speeds...
The screen just died, and having about a bill, $100 to quickly get a phone picked up this relatively new A205U from a local pawn shop. First things first, being in the telegram group for the A30, which has TWRP, can run GSI's out the wahoo, etc... it is relatively common that others around the world flash firmwares for other countries just to get the updates that will not arrive for awhile if at all in their countries. One dev even made an aroma .zip that added CSC's, removed knox....
What I'm getting at is if there is an international version of this A20, I bet the firmware could be loaded using odin & CSC's for the USA could be placed in it. Thereby giving us OEM unlock & open bootloader.
This just occurred to me 2 days after reading in here & I have posted to the dev in the A30 telegram group on this....
C'mon peeps, this is XDA!!! Let's hack the **** out of this pos samsung served up!!!!!!!!
---------- Post added at 12:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:24 PM ----------
Chipset Exynos 7884 (14 nm)
CPU Octa-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A73 & 6x1.35 GHz Cortex-A53)
GPU Mali-G71 MP2
SM-A205F, SM-A205FN, SM-A205GN, SM-A205YN, SM-A205G, SM-A205W, SM-A205U
Specs above, isn't Exynos the more dev friendly SoC? Better than Snapdragon?
Those are the other models OUTSIDE the USA that W-I-L-L have 1. OEM unlocking, which means 2. UNLOCKED BOOTLOADER....
I'm going to sammobile to get the A205G firmware now... really would like some feedback cause I not only AM NOT A DEV, reallllly cannot afford another phone currently if this renders mine useless!!!!!
Why am I the only one on XDA that thinks like this? Sure not..........
PROVE IT

coolbeans2016 said:
I got the A305G international version Samsung Galaxy A30 & had to figure out the CSC is Puerto Rico (DOO) to even get close to working on 4G LTE with T-mobile... still have to use 4G LTE only app to ensure dwnld speeds...
The screen just died, and having about a bill, $100 to quickly get a phone picked up this relatively new A205U from a local pawn shop. First things first, being in the telegram group for the A30, which has TWRP, can run GSI's out the wahoo, etc... it is relatively common that others around the world flash firmwares for other countries just to get the updates that will not arrive for awhile if at all in their countries. One dev even made an aroma .zip that added CSC's, removed knox....
What I'm getting at is if there is an international version of this A20, I bet the firmware could be loaded using odin & CSC's for the USA could be placed in it. Thereby giving us OEM unlock & open bootloader.
This just occurred to me 2 days after reading in here & I have posted to the dev in the A30 telegram group on this....
C'mon peeps, this is XDA!!! Let's hack the **** out of this pos samsung served up!!!!!!!!
---------- Post added at 12:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:24 PM ----------
Chipset Exynos 7884 (14 nm)
CPU Octa-core (2x1.6 GHz Cortex-A73 & 6x1.35 GHz Cortex-A53)
GPU Mali-G71 MP2
SM-A205F, SM-A205FN, SM-A205GN, SM-A205YN, SM-A205G, SM-A205W, SM-A205U
Specs above, isn't Exynos the more dev friendly SoC? Better than Snapdragon?
Those are the other models OUTSIDE the USA that W-I-L-L have 1. OEM unlocking, which means 2. UNLOCKED BOOTLOADER....
I'm going to sammobile to get the A205G firmware now... really would like some feedback cause I not only AM NOT A DEV, reallllly cannot afford another phone currently if this renders mine useless!!!!!
Why am I the only one on XDA that thinks like this? Sure not..........
PROVE IT
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was your attempt fruitful at the least bit? I'm curious what the results were...

hell no
jjohnson1985 said:
Was your attempt fruitful at the least bit? I'm curious what the results were...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hell no, complete lockdown... NOW TWRP for the A30 isn't stable due to an update.......
everyone's waiting on Samsung to release kernel info ..... ???!!!!!!
Besides after phones start shipping with Android 10 TWRP's out of the game,
go read the disclosure from TWRP themselves on the website......

[/COLOR]
coolbeans2016 said:
Hell no, complete lockdown... NOW TWRP for the A30 isn't stable due to an update.......
everyone's waiting on Samsung to release kernel info ..... ???!!!!!!
Besides after phones start shipping with Android 10 TWRP's out of the game,
go read the disclosure from TWRP themselves on the website......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Older non-Pixel devices that shipped with older versions of Android and receive upgrades to Android 10 are not affected."
But still damn...

coolbeans2016 said:
What I'm getting at is if there is an international version of this A20, I bet the firmware could be loaded using odin & CSC's for the USA could be placed in it. Thereby giving us OEM unlock & open bootloader.
This just occurred to me 2 days after reading in here & I have posted to the dev in the A30 telegram group on this....
C'mon peeps, this is XDA!!! Let's hack the **** out of this pos samsung served up!!!!!!!!
PROVE IT
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that BEFORE I got rid of the POS and on the American variant NO DICE. Will Not Flash with Odin or any other tool. The USA variant is completely DEAD.

Help, phone upgrade advice!

Hi all,
First time posting so please be gentle.
I've just hit my contract end with my current mobile phone provider (O2) and I'm struggling to decide what phone I should get next and whether it's worth going the 5G route?
My current phone is a Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus (128GB model) and I'm currently looking at either the Oneplus 7T Pro or a Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G but I'm absolutely torn as to which phone to go for?
I have major discount with most service providers due to my current job so money isn't too much of an issue.
Any advice anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.

DarkByD3sign said:
Hi all,
First time posting so please be gentle.
I've just hit my contract end with my current mobile phone provider (O2) and I'm struggling to decide what phone I should get next and whether it's worth going the 5G route?
My current phone is a Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus (128GB model) and I'm currently looking at either the Oneplus 7T Pro or a Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G but I'm absolutely torn as to which phone to go for?
I have major discount with most service providers due to my current job so money isn't too much of an issue.
Any advice anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a dedicated thread stuck to the top of this forum for these types of questions:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1620179
Please ask there and always remember to search before posting.
Thanks!
Thread closed.

Boost Mobile Compatibility

Hi All,
Pardon if this has already been asked but I cannot find a similar topic specific to the question below. There is a lot of development around this phone and I would like to get back onto a phone similar to this.
Can any Oneplus 7 Pro phone be used on the Sprint network or is there a specific submodel that needs to be purchased?
There does not appear to be this phone or the 5g version being sold anywhere I look (GM1917 and GM1925). I am specifically looking for a phone that has 8+ GB of ram, 8xx snapdragon chipset (66x+ chpset) and decent custom roms available. There appears to be the T-Mobile Mclaren edition (HD1925) but again, this phone is a different model and is technically a different subforum. Either way, the question above is the simple question I am looking to be answered.
Thanks all for the support!

The Sprint version would probably be best.
Sent from my OnePlus 7 Pro using XDA Labs

Thank you for the reply. The issue is (and why I am posting about it) is that I cannot find the sprint specific phones online. Calling up the local Sprint store, they say have one in stock. I have the S10 and have little motivation to dump more money in a new phone. I was wondering if a generic unlocked phone can work. It does not appear that many people have the answer though.