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Which Galaxy S7 to get for AT&T if bought outright and want to avoid bloat?

Quick background story, I've been using an HTC phone since the M7, and owned all the M Flagships and currently using an AT&T Branded M9. My wife is currently using a AT&T branded Galaxy S5. I really liked how open my HTC phones are, and all 3 of them had been able to be Fully SIM Unlocked, S-OFF, and can run any compatible ROM. The AT&T Branded GS5 of course only can use AT&T Software and its been a pain waiting on AT&T for patches and updates.
We're planning to replace them both with new Galaxy S7s and since we're planning to buy them outright, my question is which one should we buy? From I read it looks like all units have the same hardware, but the TMO variants seems to at least have the bootloader unlocked and should be SIM Unlocked if I bought it outright.
Our basic requirements.
- Sim unlocked(able)
- Bootloader Unlocked(able)
- Able to use Android Pay/Samsung Pay in the USA
- Rooting is nice but not required, and as long as it don't break A.Pay/S.Pay
- Able to work on AT&T with little or no issue (not missing any LTE Bands, etc)
- Open to get the Exynos model if can still support A.Pay/S.Pay in USA and elsewhere.
- Able to flash debloated or custom ROMs if needed
Its been awhile since i did any work on any Samsung Phones, so I don't know if its just as easy to flash ROMs and Recoveries like my HTCs
Thanks for any feedback on the matter.

You want the tmo version.

peachpuff said:
You want the tmo version.
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It figures as much. How easy or difficult is it to flash non-carrier rom? I know people are just started getting their S7s, did the s6 have any issues with flashing a clean rom and keeping all A.Pay and S.Pay?

There's no development currently on these phones since the sources haven't dropped yet since the phone hasn't technically launched, after mar 11 samsung will release some sources.
If you're looking to remove bloat on non-rooted phones your only options is this https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ospolice.packagedisablerpro&hl=en with a rooted rom android/samsung pay wont work.

Last year with the S6 I know for sure the international versions worked just fine with AT&T's LTE network. But last year all models used the same modem (Shanon 333), but this year the international version and the U.S. version are different and both have integrated modem and that throws in an uncertainty. I see no reason why the International versions worked last year with Samsung's modem but not this year, but until someone reports with first-hand experience I would not pull the trigger on the international version (Exynos).
I used SM-G920I (S6) and SM-G928G (S6 Edge+) and both worked flawlessly on AT&T's network.

lopri said:
Last year with the S6 I know for sure the international versions worked just fine with AT&T's LTE network. But last year all models used the same modem (Shanon 333), but this year the international version and the U.S. version are different and both have integrated modem and that throws in an uncertainty. I see no reason why the International versions worked last year with Samsung's modem but not this year, but until someone reports with first-hand experience I would not pull the trigger on the international version (Exynos).
I used SM-G920I (S6) and SM-G928G (S6 Edge+) and both worked flawlessly on AT&T's network.
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Are you able to use Android pay or Samsung pay on those International models? Thanks

Goofytek said:
Are you able to use Android pay or Samsung pay on those International models? Thanks
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No.
Edit: Oh, wait. Android Pay = Yes, Samsung Pay = No.

lopri said:
No.
Edit: Oh, wait. Android Pay = Yes, Samsung Pay = No.
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Hmmm, still missing out on Samsung Pay eh, I wonder if there would be a non-carrier version of the phone we can get in the states with full support of all avaliable features and services. :fingers-crossed:

I'd like to bump this old thread for updates now that the S7 has been around for some time. I'm looking to get an S7, and it looks like the G930U variant might be the one to get now- is that right? I have the same requirements as the original poster, but I'll list them anyway:
-Able to work on AT&T with no issue (I read somewhere that some aspects of AT&T LTE are not supported? What impact does this have?)
-root is required (is it true that rooting prevents being able to encrypt the phone?)
-no bloat or bloat is removable (seems this is the main benefit of G930U?)
-SD card slot (seems like all US models have the SD card slot?)
Are there different versions of the G930U? Is this, for example, the right one: http://a.co/6QgYIxA ?
Thanks

Questions regarding Android OS & Security Updates

So a couple years back on Black Friday I bought a Samsung Galaxy S4 from Cricket Wireless at a price of $200 and at first I felt like I got a great deal. I thought I was going to get the AT&T branded S4 (i337), but instead I got an obscure Cricket branded S4 (i337z). I was frustrated when the AT&T version received the update to lollipop but mine didn't. I'm looking to buy a new phone and have been doing a little research into it, but I still have a few questions.
1. Are unlocked cell phones more likely to get an android OS update than a carrier branded phone? Do they get them faster?
2. If I bought an unlocked Samsung or a Google Nexus, would I be able to update the OS without a Carrier OTA?
3. I've heard that Samsung & Google are now offering monthly security updates, do they rely on the carrier to push these updates or does it update directly from Samsung/Google? Will I still receive these security updates on a prepaid carrier like Cricket?
4. Are carrier branded phones even worth considering in your opinion?
Thank you for your time, and sorry for the newb questions.

Anyone have anything at all to add to this thread?

The Unlocked Galaxy S8+ on T-Mobile

Hello,
I am planning on purchasing the Galaxy S8+, but I think I'm going to get the unlocked version when it is released. My question is whether T-Mobile wifi calling would work or not on this version, and if it doesn't, then would it be possible to flash a T-Mobile rom on my phone without any problem? Would all T-Mobile features then work as if it was an official phone from T-Mobile? Also would there be any downsides in doing this? I know no one knows right now for sure, but I'm just asking based on the past and whether it has been done before with the galaxy s7.
Thank you!

enlildev said:
My question is whether T-Mobile wifi calling would work or not on this version, and if it doesn't, then would it be possible to flash a T-Mobile rom on my phone without any problem?
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I don't believe wifi calling will work on the US unlocked version, but if Samsung manufactured the phone's the same as the S7, I.E. same hardware, then you should be able to flash T-Mobile's firmware with minor to no problems (I just flashed AT&T firmware onto a Sprint S7 and the longest part was downloading the firmware. I didn't gave any issues while flashing. But there's no way to tell we have that capability with the S8 until the phone has been released.
enlildev said:
Would all T-Mobile features then work as if it was an official phone from T-Mobile?
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If you flash the T-Mobile firmware, yes. You should even receive updates from T-Mobile as well.
enlildev said:
Also would there be any downsides in doing this? I know no one knows right now for sure, but I'm just asking based on the past and whether it has been done before with the galaxy s7.
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It's been done to the S7 countless times. Check out the forums and you'll see. I'd say the biggest downside is carrier bloat and certain carriers block some features that Samsung included in the phones.

Flashing question re. Galaxy Note 10+

Hi all - first post, just curious if I can flash my US version Note 10+ with a different firmware for my current country, the UK... partly to remove the annoying T-mobile branding and related apps, but also to be able to use things like Samsung Pay with my UK cards?
It is a SM-N975U, I bought it second-hand unlocked, and use it with O2 here in the UK.
thanks!

matei72 said:
Hi all - first post, just curious if I can flash my US version Note 10+ with a different firmware for my current country, the UK... partly to remove the annoying T-mobile branding and related apps, but also to be able to use things like Samsung Pay with my UK cards?
It is a SM-N975U, I bought it second-hand unlocked, and use it with O2 here in the UK.
thanks!
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Pretty sure you can unbrand it to u1. But for adding your 02 probably not. I've seen em chopped up before but it's always a mess in the end

AT&T firmware on Unlocked version

I've been using the unlocked Z Fold 2 but in need to use Wifi calling which is missing so I would like to know if it is possible to flash AT&T firmware to get Wifi calling? If so, how? Also, will I be able to switch back as well?

There is no AT&T firmware available, nor will there ever be, most likely, which is why my unlocked Fold2 sits on a shelf and I use the AT&T Fold2 that I purchased from AT&T. Either live w/out wifi calling or switch to T-Mobile or buy an AT&T Fold2.

HelloG3_MotoNoMore said:
There is no AT&T firmware available, nor will there ever be, most likely, which is why my unlocked Fold2 sits on a shelf and I use the AT&T Fold2 that I purchased from AT&T. Either live w/out wifi calling or switch to T-Mobile or buy an AT&T Fold2.
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Aaaah, that's not what I was hoping to hear. Oh well, look like I will be buying At&T version of Samsung phones again..... even though I hate all the bloatware.

ajamils said:
Aaaah, that's not what I was hoping to hear. Oh well, look like I will be buying At&T version of Samsung phones again..... even though I hate all the bloatware.
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There's WAAAAYYY more Samsung bloat than the teeny weenie bit of AT&T bloat that's all disable-able anyway.

I solved ALL of my problems with AT&T on the U1:
AT&T T-Mobile

ajamils said:
I've been using the unlocked Z Fold 2 but in need to use Wifi calling which is missing so I would like to know if it is possible to flash AT&T firmware to get Wifi calling? If so, how? Also, will I be able to switch back as well?
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Yes, it's absolutely possible. Has been since the Galaxy S8. All the US versions of Galaxy devices are identical. The only difference is the firmware, which is cross flash compatible.
Two caveats:
1. ATT firmware is not as readily available as other carriers, but it can be found. If/When Samsung upgrades the Z Fold 2 to BYOD firmware, that won't be an issue.
For now, check this thread for the ATT firmware:
F916U AT&T Odin Firmware Links
For those who don't know, F916U is the model number of all of the US carrier versions of the Galaxy Z Fold2 5G. The F916U1 is the model number of the same device, but sold by Samsung SIM unlocked and with no carrier bloatware. Firmware is 100%...
forum.xda-developers.com
2. If you flash ATT firmware to an unlocked device, you will NOT receive OTA updates. You'll have to manually flash each new version with ODIN. ATT is the only carrier I know of that does this.

ajamils said:
I've been using the unlocked Z Fold 2 but in need to use Wifi calling which is missing so I would like to know if it is possible to flash AT&T firmware to get Wifi calling? If so, how? Also, will I be able to switch back as well?
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Dont know if this was what you were looking for or not
Download Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 SM-F916U1 ATT USA (AT&T) F916U1UEU1CUA1 firmware
Fast download latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 firmware SM-F916U1 from USA (AT&T) with F916U1UEU1CUA1 and Android version 11
www.sammobile.com