Database Info

Could This Be a Fake S8?

I bought an S8+ 955FD which seems to be genuine but when I contacted AT&T to get assistance with slow LTE speeds (I contacted them 2 months ago for the same reason when I was using an AT&T branded phone). Of course they ask for the IMEI to verify whether it's an LTE phone and is supported. When I gave them the IMEI they said it wasn't even coming up as a Samsung phone let alone LTE. It's listed as an unknown phone with 2G capabilities. I checked the IMEI on http://www.imei.info/ and it shows that it's a S8+ and everything checks out on that site as it does on my Samsung box.
My sister has an S8 too 955F and when AT&T checks hers, it comes up as a Samsung S8+.
I don't know if my having rooted the phone has anything to do with it (I'm guessing not because rooting doesn't change the IMEI) but could this be a fake? Should I return it?

icydius said:
I bought an S8+ 955FD which seems to be genuine but when I contacted AT&T to get assistance with slow LTE speeds (I contacted them 2 months ago for the same reason when I was using an AT&T branded phone). Of course they ask for the IMEI to verify whether it's an LTE phone and is supported. When I gave them the IMEI they said it wasn't even coming up as a Samsung phone let alone LTE. It's listed as an unknown phone with 2G capabilities. I checked the IMEI on http://www.imei.info/ and it shows that it's a S8+ and everything checks out on that site as it does on my Samsung box.
My sister has an S8 too 955F and when AT&T checks hers, it comes up as a Samsung S8+.
I don't know if my having rooted the phone has anything to do with it (I'm guessing not because rooting doesn't change the IMEI) but could this be a fake? Should I return it?
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Very well could be. Where did you buy it? Take a look at this thread.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/help/s8-software-installation-problems-t3639259
If it has a mediatek processor and not a snapdragon or exynos it's definitely a fake.

AT&T does not have anything in their databases about international phones like the F model. When you call them and give them an IMEI of an S8 F model, they will not know anything about it, and their systems won't know what features it is capable of supporting. Ton get Volte working, you will have to flash the ATT CSC https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/samsung-galaxy-s8--s8-cross-device-development/utility-flashable-csc-selection-v1-1-0-t3636739 and keep calling them until you get a 2nd level tech support guy that is willing to go into the guts of their systems and place an IMEI of another ATT phone that has similar features. If you have another similar phone on your ATT account, they can use that IEMI to have their system figure out what features it supports. I believe they used a S7 that I used to have and that got Volte working - for a while anyway.

I have an unlocked S8+ phone Model G955U1 and was with AT&T. In the process of trying to get wifi calling (BTW, they don't provide this feature for unlocked phones, so I dumped them and went with T-Mobile), I asked them to verify the IMEI, they could not find it. Their IMEI data base lists only the phones they sell but not the factory unlocked ones or phones you buy somewhere else. I wouldn't count on AT&T and as ggrant3876 mentioned above, check your processor's make.

Flame Red said:
AT&T does not have anything in their databases about international phones like the F model. When you call them and give them an IMEI of an S8 F model, they will not know anything about it, and their systems won't know what features it is capable of supporting. Ton get Volte working, you will have to flash the ATT CSC https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8/samsung-galaxy-s8--s8-cross-device-development/utility-flashable-csc-selection-v1-1-0-t3636739 and keep calling them until you get a 2nd level tech support guy that is willing to go into the guts of their systems and place an IMEI of another ATT phone that has similar features. If you have another similar phone on your ATT account, they can use that IEMI to have their system figure out what features it supports. I believe they used a S7 that I used to have and that got Volte working - for a while anyway.
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Thanks for replying. Funny, I never got notifications that anyone had replied.
Actually someone did add an IMEI for another similar AT&T phone.
Nothing about the phone seems fake, but when I gave them my sister's IMEI for a 955F they said it immediately came up in their system while my 955FD did not.
I'll review that thread to see if my phone would be negatively affected by the ATT CSC.
BTW, what happened to your voLTE that made it stop working?
Gratitudes!!

ggrant3876 said:
Very well could be. Where did you buy it? Take a look at this thread.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/help/s8-software-installation-problems-t3639259
If it has a mediatek processor and not a snapdragon or exynos it's definitely a fake.
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Click to collapse
None of these are applicable *whew*
The seed of doubt was planted when an AT&T rep told me it may be a fake even though I had not previously considered it.
Thanks for the link!!

TheBoozer said:
I have an unlocked S8+ phone Model G955U1 and was with AT&T. In the process of trying to get wifi calling (BTW, they don't provide this feature for unlocked phones, so I dumped them and went with T-Mobile), I asked them to verify the IMEI, they could not find it. Their IMEI data base lists only the phones they sell but not the factory unlocked ones or phones you buy somewhere else. I wouldn't count on AT&T and as ggrant3876 mentioned above, check your processor's make.
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I feel better now, thanks! It shows Exynos 8895 and everything else seemed legit as well. I don't know why I listen to AT&T reps....
I never really liked the Wi-fi calling on my AT&T V20 and even without it, the voice clarity is wonderful.

one way to check is root , real us versions cant be rooted as its a snapdragon , so far our friends in china cant fake an s8 , just by looking at the screen will give it away , but before the years out iam sure they will have a better clone that could fool anyone.international models are always better also faster than the us versions as nd no crap ware from the carriers .

That lack of band 30 could be the issue regarding the slow LTE speeds

icydius said:
I bought an S8+ 955FD which seems to be genuine but when I contacted AT&T to get assistance with slow LTE speeds (I contacted them 2 months ago for the same reason when I was using an AT&T branded phone). Of course they ask for the IMEI to verify whether it's an LTE phone and is supported. When I gave them the IMEI they said it wasn't even coming up as a Samsung phone let alone LTE. It's listed as an unknown phone with 2G capabilities. I checked the IMEI on http://www.imei.info/ and it shows that it's a S8+ and everything checks out on that site as it does on my Samsung box.
My sister has an S8 too 955F and when AT&T checks hers, it comes up as a Samsung S8+.
I don't know if my having rooted the phone has anything to do with it (I'm guessing not because rooting doesn't change the IMEI) but could this be a fake? Should I return it?
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not a fake dont worry and no rooting will have nothing to do with it, also you would easily be able to tell if you compared it to your sisters s8! the current s8+ fakes are the same size as the S8 theres nothing + about them haha, they may fool someone who has never handled an s8 or seen one irl but you would 100 percent be able to tell its a fake having handled a real one regardless if its the plus or not

Very easier to know is real or not, if Odin can't detect then it is fake. Fake one impossible can install Samsung own firmware.

I know my s8+ is a fake. I just need to know how to change imei number so I can use my phone. It came from China. He said it's supported by TMobile and at&t. I want to go with TMobile if possible. He sent me the pattern to call and change it,but I don't know what numbers to replace it with.

Cecejohns said:
I know my s8+ is a fake. I just need to know how to change imei number so I can use my phone. It came from China. He said it's supported by TMobile and at&t. I want to go with TMobile if possible. He sent me the pattern to call and change it,but I don't know what numbers to replace it with.
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Changing imei numbers is illeagal in most contries. and You will find no help on XDA for such tasks
either way orig user solved his problem thread closed

How to flash updated T-Mobile firmware on very un-updated AT&T S7 Edge?

I'm new to XDA and not very expert at Android. I used to use a T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S6 with T-Mobile as the carrier. I recently bought a used AT&T Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, and have succeeded so far in getting it unlocked so it recognizes my SIM card. So my phone is up and running. However, it is still an AT&T phone. I don't know all of the ways it is undesirable to use an AT&T phone on the T-Mobile network. I do know that updating software is problematic. I want to make this phone into a T-Mobile phone, so that when software updates are available it asks me if I want to install them and so on.
Now I'm getting into unfamiliar territory. I believe my CSC is G935AUCU1APB4. (This is called my 'baseband version' in the settings menu.) From 'PB4' I get that this firmware is from February 2016, version 4. My model is G935-A and what's in between tells me something about my country and original Android version, maybe. So when I go looking for a late version of T-Mobile's firmware for my phone, would it still start with G935A, or would it perhaps look like G935T (for T-mobile)? Or perhaps G935U (for unlocked?) Anyway, my first big question is what firmware package should I look for and how do I know that is the right one?
After that, well, I have never manually flashed firmware into a phone. I see references to Odin and SmartSwitch and sammobile. Well, shoot. I figure I can learn any of these packages. Which should I use and why?
That's enough for now, thanks for reading!
metalmagpie

metalmagpie said:
I'm new to XDA and not very expert at Android. I used to use a T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S6 with T-Mobile as the carrier. I recently bought a used AT&T Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge, and have succeeded so far in getting it unlocked so it recognizes my SIM card. So my phone is up and running. However, it is still an AT&T phone. I don't know all of the ways it is undesirable to use an AT&T phone on the T-Mobile network. I do know that updating software is problematic. I want to make this phone into a T-Mobile phone, so that when software updates are available it asks me if I want to install them and so on.
Now I'm getting into unfamiliar territory. I believe my CSC is G935AUCU1APB4. (This is called my 'baseband version' in the settings menu.) From 'PB4' I get that this firmware is from February 2016, version 4. My model is G935-A and what's in between tells me something about my country and original Android version, maybe. So when I go looking for a late version of T-Mobile's firmware for my phone, would it still start with G935A, or would it perhaps look like G935T (for T-mobile)? Or perhaps G935U (for unlocked?) Anyway, my first big question is what firmware package should I look for and how do I know that is the right one?
After that, well, I have never manually flashed firmware into a phone. I see references to Odin and SmartSwitch and sammobile. Well, shoot. I figure I can learn any of these packages. Which should I use and why?
That's enough for now, thanks for reading!
metalmagpie
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Click to collapse
OK, I have learned a ton in the last couple of days. Bottom line is the easiest way to update OS on an AT&T Samsung is to take it to Best Buy and ask the person at the Samsung counter to do it. I see no reason to believe that it is possible in software to make an AT&T phone look like a T-Mobile phone. And as far as flashing with Odin? What a totally buggy tool! I was NEVER able to make it get past "analyzing files" or maybe "file analysis". When you get down to switching cords from one USB port to another I figure you might just as well change your socks. Finally, there is a TON of crap advice out on the Web.
metalmagpie

Can I root my Samsung S7 and gert rid of "all things ATT"..?

So, I'll apologize if this has already been dealt with previously, but I just need to verify what I've been told by a friend who knows Android systems (and Samsung S7 phones) a LOT more than I will ever attempt to understand..
About a year ago, I bought a Samsung Galaxy S7 from a 'rebuilder' (my term) who mentioned at the time "... it was ATT phone..", and, yes, when I turn it on it does the ATT circle jerk logo and has an ATT logo on the back of the phone. This was of no real concern to me, because my service purveyor uses the ATT system (Consumer Cellular), so it's worked well enough. But unfortunately, it also has a boatload of 'semi-proprietary' ATT trash in the phone which I'd like to get rid of. To confuse the matter even more, it appears that I cannot 'unlock' the phone because it has not been associated with an actual active ATT account for close to two years, and it APPEARS that now they refuse to accommodate an unlock code for this phone.
So... according to my friend (Mr. Android Phone), I can 'root' this phone to 'factory original firmware' and make it (in essence) just a plain-old-vanilla Samsung S7 without this rather bogus ATT firmware and the myriad of craplets I'd like to get rid of..
So, I'm here looking for "expertise" in such things because I certainly don't want to 'brick' this pretty nice phone, but I also want to get this to a point where there is no association with ATT in any manner. So my question sorta comes down to: "can I root this and be rid of all things ATT?", and "will this allow me to achieve an 'unlock' without having to play ATT's games? (I had QUITE the discussion with an ATT 'support' dude a couple of hours ago when he flatly refused to give me an unlock code so I could simply ATTEMPT to see if Consumer Cellular's T-Mobile service might work better at my home, since CC tells me I'm right in the center of a brand new rebuilt 4G service area).
Does any of this make any sense to anyone? Pardon my ignorance, but if the IMEI # is somehow 'tethered' to ATT and they won't "release" it, how does rooting help with this? - or is this something more like an 'association' of the IMEI # AND the ATT firmware...? GAH!! I'd just like to be totally rid of all this ATT junk and have the freedom to choose whichever service I want.

CentennialMan said:
So, I'll apologize if this has already been dealt with previously, but I just need to verify what I've been told by a friend who knows Android systems (and Samsung S7 phones) a LOT more than I will ever attempt to understand..
I'd just like to be totally rid of all this ATT junk and have the freedom to choose whichever service I want.
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Hi There that's a lot of words partner! I'll try make the answer easy to understand and I've cut out much of the post so my reply isn't huge.
1. Yes you can install vanilla firmware which will remove all branding from AT&T and you don't need to root the phone to do this. here is the firmware for your device >>here<< You can also use XAS or XAA. You will see the guide and the Odin you need to flash this firmware.
2. This is another version of Odin on this website if you have any issues with the one on Sammobile. >>here<<
3. Unfortunately you cannot unlock the phone unless the original cell phone provider gives you their half of the unlock key as a code to input to the phone. In the UK once a phone is out of the initial contract period it is illegal for the provider to refuse to give you this code whether your still with them or not. I know in the USA you guys gets ****ed over. The original account holder of the phone can ask for the unlock code but not you.
4. Changing the firmware and unlocking the phone to any network are two different things, flashing unbranded firmware will not unlock the phone the network is tied to. They don't make it that easy!
5. As far as i know T Mobile (USA) has also moved to G930U firmware so you could be lucky with a T Mobile SIM working once the phone is flashed with this firmware but don't hold your breath. Check Sammobile for the T Mobile firmware too.
6. IMEI number is tied to the phone so in theory it can be changed after the phone is rooted and you are able to modify the EFS partition but it is extremely difficult even for veterans like me and it causes lots of problems with cell network registration. Leave well alone if you don't want a completely useless device.
Things to make flashing go easier
1. Turn off FRP lock or sign out of the Google account on the phone or delete it before you do anything, you can put that account back on the phone after flashing.
2. If you enable Developer options make sure " usb debugging" is enabled and OEM unlock, not essential but can help when things go wrong.
3. Anything you want to keep, pics media etc back up or move to SD card, the SD card won't be touched when flashing firmware.
4. Please follow the guides on how to flash correctly.
Any other questions please ask.

It should be noted that if it's an ATT phone it's Snapdragon therefore permanently bootloader locked, OEM Unlock won't actually do anything, that setting only works on Exynos.
The only root method for Snapdragon is to use a leaked engineering bootloader to gain system access, and you can only install the leaked bootloader if your phone is already running old firmware. For up to date phones there is no root method.

Beanvee7 said:
It should be noted that if it's an ATT phone it's Snapdragon therefore permanently bootloader locked, OEM Unlock won't actually do anything, that setting only works on Exynos.
The only root method for Snapdragon is to use a leaked engineering bootloader to gain system access, and you can only install the leaked bootloader if your phone is already running old firmware. For up to date phones there is no root method.
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Hello mate i'm not sure if your aware but AT&T were initially Qual comm but they've also been using Exynos for a while.

cooltt said:
Hello mate i'm not sure if your aware but AT&T were initially Qual comm but they've also been using Exynos for a while.
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Source?

Beanvee7 said:
Source?
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Don't be smart you know how to use Google?

I did google it, I wouldn't have asked for a source if I found something. But it doesn't matter, you're the one making unsubstantiated claims, the burden is on you to prove it. But since you asked for it:
AT&T's website says Snapdragon
https://i.imgur.com/TdV62Mq.jpg
https://www.att.com/buy/phones/samsung-galaxy-s7-32gb-black-onyx.html
GSM Arena says Snapdragon
https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s7_(usa)-7960.php
Wikipedia says Snapdragon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S7#Qualcomm_Snapdragon_820_Models
There isn't a single page when googling AT&T S7 Exynos that backs your claim up. The USA also uses completely different network technology than internationally, using the S7 Exynos in the USA is already known to cause issues with LTE, VoWiFi etc. They'd have to do a hardware refresh of the Exynos SoC if they wanted to support it in the USA, which they ain't going to do a for a 3 gen old phone.

Beanvee7 said:
I did google it, I wouldn't have asked for a source if I found something. But it doesn't matter, you're the one making unsubstantiated claims, the burden is on you to prove it. But since you asked for it:
AT&T's website says Snapdragon
https://i.imgur.com/TdV62Mq.jpg
https://www.att.com/buy/phones/samsung-galaxy-s7-32gb-black-onyx.html
GSM Arena says Snapdragon
https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_s7_(usa)-7960.php
Wikipedia says Snapdragon
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S7#Qualcomm_Snapdragon_820_Models
There isn't a single page when googling AT&T S7 Exynos that backs your claim up. The USA also uses completely different network technology than internationally, using the S7 Exynos in the USA is already known to cause issues with LTE, VoWiFi etc. They'd have to do a hardware refresh of the Exynos SoC if they wanted to support it in the USA, which they ain't going to do a for a 3 gen old phone.
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lol ok.

Help understanding the S7 that I am holding

I purchased an S7 from a friend of a friend that was 'Google Locked' for $10 figuring that I could get the lock off pretty easy and that it was worth the price. This S7 was of the AT&T variant. I tried to use the Combination File to get the lock of the phone and I bricked it. I guess its considered a brick, it had the SBL Error that I have read about in the forum. It looks like some users have been able to recover from it but I couldn't. I purchased 2 EDL cables from online and no luck. At this point, I feel like I was in way too far to give up. I am pretty good with phones and computers and I always accept a challenge. The next thing that I did was purchased a new motherboard for the phone from ebay. i paid $15 and it was guaranteed to have a clean IMEI or my money back. Now its installed, the phone is running, with my Google account. The phone has T-Mobile bloatware on it. In about device, the model is SM-G930T. When I lookup the IMEI it says its an SM-G930F. What happend?

As far as I understand it, the G930T is a US snapdragon based model, whilst the G930F is the international model based on the exynos chip.
I think this means that either:
the motherboard you have is actually a G930F board, and it's had G930T firmware flashed to it. I'm not sure if it's actually possible to do that and have a working phone, as they're essentially different devices.
or it's a G930T motherboard, which had a blocked IMEI number, and has had the IMEI overwritten with a clean one taken from a dead G930F board.

I used the Samsung Info app and it said that it's a Snapdragon. I'm curious though because on one hand, I might have a rootable device. On the other hand, I am scared to start flashing random stuff because this whole situation started because I tried to downgrade the firmware and got a brick.

I think it's likely that it is the snapdragon version if the info app says that. what does cpu-z say about it?
another thing you could do is go to imei.info and enter the IMEI number. once it's checked the IMEI and given you the basic info, select CHECK SN / WARRANTY / CARRIER.
that might take a little while, but it is free. have a look at the serial number that comes up. if the serial number associated with that IMEI number is different from the one reported in the about section of your settings menu, then it has had the IMEI number modified.
you can also see info like what country it was intended to be sold in, and what network it was locked to. if these are anything other than US T mobile, then that's pretty strong evidence that it's been given the IMEI of another device.
in which case you can probably go ahead and treat it like it's what it says it is, a snapdragon model.

Can someone decipher this CSC code on my Galaxy Note5 SM-N920i

I went to the *#1234# menu to find my CSC code (to be able to download the correct firmware) and it shows this: N920IOLC4CRG1
I read it's supposed to be the 3 letters after the model #, so "OLC" it looks like, but I don't see that referenced as a correct CSC code anywhere. Or is it? Have you heard of OLC? I just need to find and install the original stock Lollipop ROM for my Note5 model SM-N920i (unlocked international version). Any help appreciated.

OK i think I figured it out. I think OLC is for Singapore.
But doesn't matter where, really, I found the firmware with both N920I and OLC in the name on this website: https://www.imei.info/download-firmware/samsung/samsung-galaxy-note5/SM-N920I/MM1/pda/
I can't download the old Lollipops version from there, but I googled the exact name I wanted, which was the last version of Lollipop, so Googled for: "N920IOLC1AOH2" and was able to find a direct download on Samfrew:
https://samfrew.com/download/Galaxy__Note__5__4G+__/gs86/STH/N920IDVU1AOH6/N920IOLC1AOH2/
I'm writing this here for anyone else in the future who is looking. So if you is also wondering which firmware to get with those long confusing filenames, just make sure it starts with your model number, in this case N920I, then, followed by the CSC code, in this case OLC, then the rest of the digits refer to the Android version, so they will vary depening on the version you want, although I don't know exactly what each character stands for.
And in case you're wondering- the reason I want to revert is because I can no longer make or receive calls. The 3 leading theories why are 1) ATT possibly un-provisioning a blacklisted device from the now LTE only network, or 2) a defective internal antenna, or 3) a past update broke the modem drivers and cannot pick up the LTE bands correctly. Theory #3 would apply in this case.
So before I attempt this reversion, I will be trying a T-Mobile SIM card instead of ATT, since it's an unlocked GSM. If that works, then great. If not, well there's not much I can do about a possibly defective internal antenna, very difficult repair. but if it's by some chance the broken modem drivers, this reversion to Lollipop will be the very last hope for my Note5.