Help me pick a new phone, please! - General Questions and Answers

I got the green light (from the wife) to order a new phone. A new phone from Verizon in the U.S. This will be my first time picking a phone depending if it can be rooted or not. Actually, if the Bootloader can be unlocked. I got lucky with my previous Samsung phones. The S8 got root but my Note 10 was able to have the Bootloader unlocked. I will not have a locked Bootloader if I have the option.
I was looking at the "Samsung S20 FE", "Pixel 6", or possibly the "Motorola Edge+". What do you guys think? Maybe something else? I will be making payments, so that limits my options.
Number 1 factor is Bootloader unlock, even if I need to pay to have it unlocked like I did with the Note 10.
Thanks Guys!

I go for either a Note 10+ or a N20Ultra, preferably running on Q. You can still find new ones, personally I went with another new N10+ Snapdragon running on Q, no plans to root it.
The new flagship phones aren't worth a rat's arse. Overpriced, no SD card slot, running on R and many have multiple issues.
Or simply wait. So far nothing good in the pipeline from Samsung. I'm not holding my either as I think it may be close to a year or longer until Samsung gets it together.
That I have 2 N10+'s is shows how much confidence I have in new Samsung's and Android OS's releases at this point. Zero. Expect more dropped balls from both.

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Related

Future Samsung Purchases

This S4 boot loader debacle has turned me against U.S. carrier based phones. I can't giving $600+ for something as they please without our permission. I'll have to investigate/research which International version I want to buy.
I was aware of it. The seller I bought it from does care about these matters. I bought as it as a learning experience. I sure aren't trying to start any arguments or fights. I was just hoping it could be discussed normally.
scott14719 said:
How do you interpret that as smugness? Did you not see the emoticons in my post?
Actually this is the kind of thread people start that are only looking for arguments. It adds nothing to the community. However, I understand your frustration with Samsung and I am sure others feel the same way. But don't think it's OK to post your opinion about a subject and it isn't OK for others to do the same. Not everyone's opinion is going to be the same as yours and creating a thread like this invites ALL opinions on the matter. That is why it's better to not make them in the first place.
Personally (again, my opinion), I knew the phone had a locked boot loader when I bought it. So I am sorry you were lied to about it.
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Click to collapse
No, I didn't see the emoticons. I guess I wasn't expecting your response. Sorry!
Your best bet is to stop buying AT&T contracts, as it's they who request for the lock and it's not like Samsung is gonna turn down millions of dollars because a couple thousand modders disagree :/
sholsten said:
This S4 boot loader debacle has turned me against U.S. carrier based phones. I can't giving $600+ for something as they please without our permission. I'll have to investigate/research which International version I want to buy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wait for the lg optimus g2 or the moto x. those phones look amazing. they might come with an unlocked bootloader. i was just pondering this the other day. ive only purchased two new phones that were not samsung in my smartphone history. that was the iphone 4s (which i traded for a skyrocket) and the htc surround (wanted to give wp7 a shot). ive had other htcs and one sony. but they were craigslist deals. my next phone is most likely going to be the g2 or moto x. i think its about time for me to give someone else a fair shot.
Thermalwolf said:
Your best bet is to stop buying AT&T contracts, as it's they who request for the lock and it's not like Samsung is gonna turn down millions of dollars because a couple thousand modders disagree :/
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Click to collapse
I don't have an AT&T contract. ST is cheaper per month.
sholsten said:
This S4 boot loader debacle has turned me against U.S. carrier based phones. I can't giving $600+ for something as they please without our permission. I'll have to investigate/research which International version I want to buy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that the S4 has made me a heretic in XDA's eyes. The stock experience, especially after this update, has been marvelous. I've had a bunch of Android devices since 2010 and this is the first time that I think futzing around with custom ROMs is mostly useless. Sure, it's locked down, but it works great. I just shake my head seeing bug reports on the dev threads and wonder why an end user would want to cripple functionality on one of the best phones yet.
Anyway, maybe I got most of the flashing out of my system with my Nexus One and then later with the hooptie Viewsonic gTab 10.1. I think now that the platform is maturing and devices become even more complex, flashing homebrew ROMs will start to fall out of style.
Just my BTC .02, though. I'd like to see amateur/recreactional custom Android development to continue to thrive, though--perhaps on the next to wave of wearable computing and the like. I just want my bling phone to work as advertised.
Er, sorry for droning on.
burhanistan said:
I think that the S4 has made me a heretic in XDA's eyes. The stock experience, especially after this update, has been marvelous. I've had a bunch of Android devices since 2010 and this is the first time that I think futzing around with custom ROMs is mostly useless. Sure, it's locked down, but it works great. I just shake my head seeing bug reports on the dev threads and wonder why an end user would want to cripple functionality on one of the best phones yet.
Anyway, maybe I got most of the flashing out of my system with my Nexus One and then later with the hooptie Viewsonic gTab 10.1. I think now that the platform is maturing and devices become even more complex, flashing homebrew ROMs will start to fall out of style.
Just my BTC .02, though. I'd like to see amateur/recreactional custom Android development to continue to thrive, though--perhaps on the next to wave of wearable computing and the like. I just want my bling phone to work as advertised.
Er, sorry for droning on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Thanks for your input. I have a whole another perspective now.
burhanistan said:
I think that the S4 has made me a heretic in XDA's eyes. The stock experience, especially after this update, has been marvelous. I've had a bunch of Android devices since 2010 and this is the first time that I think futzing around with custom ROMs is mostly useless. Sure, it's locked down, but it works great. I just shake my head seeing bug reports on the dev threads and wonder why an end user would want to cripple functionality on one of the best phones yet.
Anyway, maybe I got most of the flashing out of my system with my Nexus One and then later with the hooptie Viewsonic gTab 10.1. I think now that the platform is maturing and devices become even more complex, flashing homebrew ROMs will start to fall out of style.
Just my BTC .02, though. I'd like to see amateur/recreactional custom Android development to continue to thrive, though--perhaps on the next to wave of wearable computing and the like. I just want my bling phone to work as advertised.
Er, sorry for droning on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know to be honest I hope your right. Custom roms and XDA were never really ment for the normal person. Only for those that wished to learn to do development and programing. With Android flashing a device became the cool thing to do. Now we see less real development then ever. So I really hope your right.
Wayne Tech Nexus
zelendel said:
You know to be honest I hope your right. Custom roms and XDA were never really ment for the normal person. Only for those that wished to learn to do development and programing. With Android flashing a device became the cool thing to do. Now we see less real development then ever. So I really hope your right.
Wayne Tech Nexus
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Click to collapse
I couldn't have said it any better. It won't be long til we see roms named "swag" or "#yolo" or even named "freelilwayne". Everyone just expects everything to work 100% with no development. All I see are now spammers for apps and themes or someone asking why something doesn't work even though there are 48 other threads about it. I miss the old XDA.
Sent from my SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
toxicpaulution said:
I couldn't have said it any better. It won't be long til we see roms named "swag" or "#yolo" or even named "freelilwayne". Everyone just expects everything to work 100% with no development. All I see are now spammers for apps and themes or someone asking why something doesn't work even though there are 48 other threads about it. I miss the old XDA.
Sent from my SGH-I337 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
The Q & A section in this forum is nearly unusable. There are a few legitimate threads, but almost exclusively it is filled with the same (sometimes noob) crap over and over again all because they are too lazy to do a little searching and reading. And like you said, several of the same questions (that have already been answered) all on the first page or two. Sometimes it's not even the noobs doing it. And that's not taking into consideration the multitudes of the same types of posts (needless questions) being posted in the General section. So I agree, there should be some type of test(s) that people need to pass before they can even enter XDA at this point.
sholsten said:
I don't have an AT&T contract. ST is cheaper per month.
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I mean don't buy anything branded from AT&T or Verizon or any carrier whose device is locked. If you went with the T-Mobile model you wouldn't have been locked down.
Honestly I felt the same way initially. Then I asked myself what Android company am I going to buy then?
HTC - they typically have locked boot loaders (though the One does not)
Moto - Nope always locked and they don't make any cool phones right now.
LG - locked typically
Sony - wouldn't know since they have like No US phones.
So would I rather pay $600 for a phone with boot loader unlocked or $200 for a locked one, I pick the $200. I am assuming must people would also.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
My take; I have had AT&T locked phones in the past and usually someone finds a way to either hack the bootloader or make a bypass, it just takes a lot more time. Still fun to have the phone and customize. Then I've also paid the big dollars and bought the international version unlocked phone. It was great because of lots of customizing, and support however if you run into a warranty issue you are screwed. Unless you know someone in the country your phone came from. I have an international SGS3 but a couple small glitches in the graphics and the worry of the bad system board that causes the instant black screen of death (or whatever it was) I started looking at the S4. I was ready to buy another international phone but it came down to features and actual function. I wanted 4G LTE. Well back when I bought the S3 there were 2 international SGS3 phones. I bought the one with LTE first (9305) turns out the frequencies the phone runs for 3G+ did not work with AT&T in the US. I had to sell it on eBay, forget having LTE, lose a gig of Ram and get the 9300. Then I decided about going back to AT&T and get S4 because I would be covered under warranty and I get all the features that are going to work where I live. Cool thing is its the same hardware as the 9505 so there's still quite a bit of customizing with the SGH-I337. For me it will come down to the features and what works for me in my area. I learned the hard way with the SGS3. Frequencies and no warranty.
Sent from my GT-I9505 converted SGH-I337
sholsten said:
This S4 boot loader debacle has turned me against U.S. carrier based phones. I can't giving $600+ for something as they please without our permission. I'll have to investigate/research which International version I want to buy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just buy a canadian version, they have identical hardware and you will know will have full compatibility with american wireless networks
I feel cheated. I paid $650 out of contract to AT&T for this phone coming from a iPhone, a locked platform I was getting tired of, especially with Jailbreaking becoming harder on it, for the reason to "play" with my phone. With a locked bootloader, and a carrier locked, I cannot do that.
In the world of DRM losing ground you would think they would learn? Moto dropping their locked boot loaders... DRM being removed from Google Play Music and iTunes... people are sick of it adding complication to their lives. I had a P3113 Galaxy Tab 2 7" WiFi only and loved it because of how open it was. Currently running CM10.1.2 on it. Yet their phones are so locked down.
It's not entirely Samsung's fault. AT&T requests a locked bootloader. Samsung provides. A bug around it is found, Samsung has to patch it from a security standpoint. Not their fault. However with the popularity of this phone they could have easily said "No locked bootloaders" and shoved it down AT&T and other carriers throats if they had the balls to do it.
WoodburyMan said:
I feel cheated. I paid $650 out of contract to AT&T for this phone coming from a iPhone, a locked platform I was getting tired of, especially with Jailbreaking becoming harder on it, for the reason to "play" with my phone. With a locked bootloader, and a carrier locked, I cannot do that.
In the world of DRM losing ground you would think they would learn? Moto dropping their locked boot loaders... DRM being removed from Google Play Music and iTunes... people are sick of it adding complication to their lives. I had a P3113 Galaxy Tab 2 7" WiFi only and loved it because of how open it was. Currently running CM10.1.2 on it. Yet their phones are so locked down.
It's not entirely Samsung's fault. AT&T requests a locked bootloader. Samsung provides. A bug around it is found, Samsung has to patch it from a security standpoint. Not their fault. However with the popularity of this phone they could have easily said "No locked bootloaders" and shoved it down AT&T and other carriers throats if they had the balls to do it.
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Click to collapse
They were not gonna miss out on the millions of devices sold just for the .1% of people that mode the device. That is why they came out with the GE versions.
Wayne Tech Nexus
zelendel said:
They were not gonna miss out on the millions of devices sold just for the .1% of people that mode the device. That is why they came out with the GE versions.
Wayne Tech Nexus
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True enough. Had I known about the Google Edition I would have waited a bit. If I really wanted I could buy it and sell my current SGH-I337 for a little less than I bought it for. However I kinda wanted to retain the ability to run full Touchwiz / Stock based roms easily.
I'm still happy as I am now running CM10.1 on my phone, and running Goldeneye ROM if I want a stock full Touchwiz ROM. Flash AMF3 model.. and keeping my AMDL Odin package safe. Just had I bought the phone with AMF3 on it I would be totally turned off and be unusable for me because of patched Loki.
personally, i mod or mess with everything. camera rigs i do myself, computers i build myself. cars i mod (and have rebuilt one with help) myself. my house i work on or change.
it is a fundamental hallmark of humanity that we change our environment and create or modify tools around us to suit our needs. so flashing ROMs or trying to customize or even just tinker with these devices is, in my opinion, simply an extension of what it means to be human, to create, express, and change. anything that limits that creativity is a bad thing IMO.
this is where locked bootloaders, fragmentation, and endless carrier variants become bad things, and where i do like apples' approach; one nearly universal product (hardware wise other than LTE/GSM/CDMA or storage size). However, apple is horrible for locked down software.
i will always root/unlock my phones as long as that is possible, because i can. i will always build my own computers, because i can. and i will always drive stick and for sure it wont be stock either; because i can.
Thermalwolf said:
I mean don't buy anything branded from AT&T or Verizon or any carrier whose device is locked. If you went with the T-Mobile model you wouldn't have been locked down.
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Click to collapse
Thanks. I didn't realize T-mobile wasn't locked. I wish I'd known when I bought mine.
I wonder if things will stay the same on near new models like the Note 3.

SUMMARY of Android, root-friendly handsets and bootloaders

Galaxy Note II user here, rooted, running CM, happy. This fall, I will be due a free or cheap handset upgrade. I've been loosely following the GN3, even though I will probably wait for the GN4, and reading about KNOX. Then I got to thinking, maybe if Samsung is so interested in putting up barriers to rooters, maybe I don't need to give them my money next time I upgrade handsets. I recall a few years back, HTC decided to stop locking it's bootloaders... Good news. but then I didn't follow through to see how that turned out.
So is there a way to list the companies and/or specific handsets that are "friendly" to rooting?
-peter
pcrussell50 said:
Galaxy Note II user here, rooted, running CM, happy. This fall, I will be due a free or cheap handset upgrade. I've been loosely following the GN3, even though I will probably wait for the GN4, and reading about KNOX. Then I got to thinking, maybe if Samsung is so interested in putting up barriers to rooters, maybe I don't need to give them my money next time I upgrade handsets. I recall a few years back, HTC decided to stop locking it's bootloaders... Good news. but then I didn't follow through to see how that turned out.
So is there a way to list the companies and/or specific handsets that are "friendly" to rooting?
-peter
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its not all specifically Samsung's fault for the locked boot loaders, their devices have some of the best specs in android so why get rid of the option to opensource? its the carriers fault, like for AT&T for instance, all of the carrier variants of the Galaxy s3 had unlocked boot loader (i could be wrong) when the Galaxy s4 came out they like a few others decided to lock the boot loaders, why? i wanna say they Want people to tether lots and if we were to have a unlocked boot loader we could root it faster and get free tethering, they think they are losing money with all the flashaholics and root users. as for knox yeah its Samsung's fault and i think we all think its a big no no, there is a bounty (over $3000!) going on for it. its really disappointing that Samsung would act this way, Samsung's my hero and i hopped to work with them one day but since they are moving away from open source i think im gonna stick with someone else. as for a new company for phones you should probably go with HTC, LG is terrible, they only care for you if you buy their flagships and their UI is pretty much copying Samsung's.

[Q] Time to upgrade

I'm still using the charge for my daily driver. The original one I had died and for $50 and a trip to ebay, I'm back in business.
The phone is EP5 with tweaked 3.2. The phone works but has lag and the ROM is loosing support. I know about Tweaked lite 1.0 but the themes and boot animations are missing...
It has been a long time since I've shopped phones and am starting to think about it again. Now I have some questions:
1. Since I have Verizon's unlimited data, I have to buy phones outright in order to keep data. What phones are worth buying now or waiting for?
2. If I buy a new phone like the galaxy S5, how easy will it be to root? Will I have to wait for a ROM to be developed or can I just add root to the stock phone?
3. What are the benefits of kitkat versus the old OS that charge has?
4. Why do phone manufactures insist that bigger is better? I like the size of the charge and if I get another phone the same size, I am forced to get a "less than the best" model.
5. With flash no longer being supported on android, has someone cooked a batch that will work with kitkat or are we SOL? I do use the phone every year to watch football games online. It sucks that I live out of market for the Vikings and am stuck with Jets, bills and other teams I could care less about.
I think that's about it. I guess I'm just weary of shelling out hundreds of dollars to get a new phone when the one I have does most of the stuff I want.
Mike
beavermjr said:
I'm still using the charge for my daily driver. The original one I had died and for $50 and a trip to ebay, I'm back in business.
The phone is EP5 with tweaked 3.2. The phone works but has lag and the ROM is loosing support. I know about Tweaked lite 1.0 but the themes and boot animations are missing...
It has been a long time since I've shopped phones and am starting to think about it again. Now I have some questions:
1. Since I have Verizon's unlimited data, I have to buy phones outright in order to keep data. What phones are worth buying now or waiting for?
2. If I buy a new phone like the galaxy S5, how easy will it be to root? Will I have to wait for a ROM to be developed or can I just add root to the stock phone?
3. What are the benefits of kitkat versus the old OS that charge has?
4. Why do phone manufactures insist that bigger is better? I like the size of the charge and if I get another phone the same size, I am forced to get a "less than the best" model.
5. With flash no longer being supported on android, has someone cooked a batch that will work with kitkat or are we SOL? I do use the phone every year to watch football games online. It sucks that I live out of market for the Vikings and am stuck with Jets, bills and other teams I could care less about.
I think that's about it. I guess I'm just weary of shelling out hundreds of dollars to get a new phone when the one I have does most of the stuff I want.
Mike
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I upgraded from the Charge to the Note 3 in December. While the Charge was a good starter phone for me, I was chomping at the bit for a new phone.
1. I love my Note 3, but it is BIG.
2. Since Verizon hasn't released the s5, don't know about rooting it. However, if past behavior is any guide, the Note 3 has a locked bootloader so you can't flash kernels(no ASOP). I rooted it with Kingo and have safestrap installed to test non-stock roms.
3. I have the kitkat version of PacRom on my Galaxy Tab2 7.0; I've noticed very little difference between 4.4 and 4.3.
4. That kind of bugs me too, they should have a Galaxy s5 Mini with the same specs but a smaller screen. On the other hand, the new phones are thinner and the larger screens look really nice. Also I have "old eyes", hence the Note 3(I also like the S-pen).
5. It could be worse, you could have TWO teams leave your market the same year(damn Rams and Raiders). My understanding that discontinuing Flash support was more of an Adobe decision. Other than that I've got nothing.
Did I mention I love my Note 3?
10amla said:
I upgraded from the Charge to the Note 3 in December. While the Charge was a good starter phone for me, I was chomping at the bit for a new phone.
1. I love my Note 3, but it is BIG.
2. Since Verizon hasn't released the s5, don't know about rooting it. However, if past behavior is any guide, the Note 3 has a locked bootloader so you can't flash kernels(no ASOP). I rooted it with Kingo and have safestrap installed to test non-stock roms.
3. I have the kitkat version of PacRom on my Galaxy Tab2 7.0; I've noticed very little difference between 4.4 and 4.3.
4. That kind of bugs me too, they should have a Galaxy s5 Mini with the same specs but a smaller screen. On the other hand, the new phones are thinner and the larger screens look really nice. Also I have "old eyes", hence the Note 3(I also like the S-pen).
5. It could be worse, you could have TWO teams leave your market the same year(damn Rams and Raiders). My understanding that discontinuing Flash support was more of an Adobe decision. Other than that I've got nothing.
Did I mention I love my Note 3?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
#3 the charge has android 2.3.6. new phones have kit kat 4.4? what is the difference?
#5 I've read about browsers with built in flash and hacked versions of flash. Do any of them work?
#5b. 2 teams? How do you manage? It's bad enough watching one team limp through last season. oh and don't get me started on Jared Allen.
beavermjr said:
#3 the charge has android 2.3.6. new phones have kit kat 4.4? what is the difference?
#5 I've read about browsers with built in flash and hacked versions of flash. Do any of them work?
#5b. 2 teams? How do you manage? It's bad enough watching one team limp through last season. oh and don't get me started on Jared Allen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
#3 My comparison was based on 4.3 vs 4.4. The difference between 2.3 and 4.4 is the difference between night and day. One of the problem that I began running in to, was many apps that would only work on 4.0+.
#5 Not sure about browsers with build-in flash.
#5b I wasn't too great a loss to me, I was always more of a college football fan. One team in particular(Go Bruins).

Why do people buy Samsung Devices ?

Really !!! Why do people buy Samsung Devices ?
Yes I own a Galaxy S7 and yes I know what board this is but
The phone provided to me by work and I am stuck with it
This is a work phone I can not debloat, root, do custom ROMs
So what do I have,
I have a device that will never see Android 8.1, hell even the S 9 is at 8.0 "You know the S 9 may get Android 9.0 in the summer of 2019 if they are lucky.
I will not hold my breath for even 8.0
Every second day it seems Samsung pushes on my device some "Samsung" bloat they think I want, I which I can never uninstall and if I try to disable it, it will turn back on.
They feel they have a great, interface..... Without Nova Launcher I will be lost.
Thank you for not having Bixby..... maybe Samsung will decide to push that piece of junk to the S7 but for now I am free
Really I hate the S7, the bloat, being locked down, the lack of updates but people still buy them ?
Why ?
Maybe a major market is Corporations that like locked down devices.
Yes the company says here is your S7 ..... enjoy.
I hate the Samsung S9 so much I may actually buy my own device for work "The Pixel", think I will wait for the Pixel 3 but then ..... to Samsung so long and thanks for the Bloat.
Because they are good at making commercials so they lie people. And people are stupid and buying every year the new Samsung. They don't give a damn about android, they just want the latest model from Samsung.
@andrei1412
Not really... Samsung is simply the best hardware manufacturer, best amoled display (always the brightest every year), best camera (yes other manufacurer are building nice ones too), really good build quality overall, Samsung theme store (to establish android vanilla look, who else is featureing this?). You don't need to debloat since you don't neeed to use the samsung apps. Debloating can lead to increased battery drain.
As they said above, usually the best hardware for droid phones at that point in time and the Samsung hype makes it same league as iPhone so anyone who dislikes Apple usually go Samsung if they don't go HTC, or moto. For me I have owned the majority of every galaxy s and these phones with custom roms always seemed to be the best droid phone on the market in terms of battery life and performance.
stuey25 said:
As they said above, usually the best hardware for droid phones at that point in time and the Samsung hype makes it same league as iPhone so anyone who dislikes Apple usually go Samsung if they don't go HTC, or moto. For me I have owned the majority of every galaxy s and these phones with custom roms always seemed to be the best droid phone on the market in terms of battery life and performance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What custom rom you think is the best for galaxy s7? And also it`s worth to root it and lose spay & other things that work only with knox? Thanks
cristiandiaconu6 said:
What custom rom you think is the best for galaxy s7? And also it`s worth to root it and lose spay & other things that work only with knox? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably not worth it if you use those features, I think some of the roms can be ran with no root cause there based on stock and still use that stuff but I'm not sure about Knox. I've only had this s7 flat for a week and tried, bobcat rom, slim stable 2.0, and I'm on ultimate nougat now. I'm really liking ultimate nougats look with the theme,battery life so far, and the debloat.
These 3 seem stable but there's a ton of roms to choose from so you would have to test for yourself to determine your best and read/ sift through the threads and see what people are saying about the rom.
You can disable all bloat using a package disabler, which works without root. Android 8.0 is coming in 2 weeks, and I don't know why you even want 8.1 because there are almost no changes to talk about. Even 8.0's most notable feature PIP has been available in Samsung devices for a long time.
Your problems about rooting and custom ROMs are only because it's a work phone.
It looks like you didn't research any of your problems before coming to rant here :/
AstroDigital said:
Really !!! Why do people buy Samsung Devices ?
Yes I own a Galaxy S7 and yes I know what board this is but
The phone provided to me by work and I am stuck with it
This is a work phone I can not debloat, root, do custom ROMs
So what do I have,
I have a device that will never see Android 8.1, hell even the S 9 is at 8.0 "You know the S 9 may get Android 9.0 in the summer of 2019 if they are lucky.
I will not hold my breath for even 8.0
Every second day it seems Samsung pushes on my device some "Samsung" bloat they think I want, I which I can never uninstall and if I try to disable it, it will turn back on.
They feel they have a great, interface..... Without Nova Launcher I will be lost.
Thank you for not having Bixby..... maybe Samsung will decide to push that piece of junk to the S7 but for now I am free
Really I hate the S7, the bloat, being locked down, the lack of updates but people still buy them ?
Why ?
Maybe a major market is Corporations that like locked down devices.
Yes the company says here is your S7 ..... enjoy.
I hate the Samsung S9 so much I may actually buy my own device for work "The Pixel", think I will wait for the Pixel 3 but then ..... to Samsung so long and thanks for the Bloat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to build your own device.
Bcs Samsung is damn good in hardware software and build quality.
Now I'm texting this post with my 4th S7.
And my Past list is like below just read it and u can understand why we use Samsung devices.
1 galaxy Grand.
3 galaxy s7
1 galaxy s4
2 galaxy s5
2 galaxy note3
2 galaxy note4
1 galaxy note5
1 galaxy a6 edge 64gb
2 galaxy s6 64gb
1 galaxy a7 edge
4 galaxy s7
All this bcs of build quality
Awesome software
Awesome ui
And best resale value
And others for time pass is
3 Nexus 5
1 moto g4
1 mi 4i.
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app
rahul1533 said:
Try to build your own device.
Bcs Samsung is damn good in hardware software and build quality.
Now I'm texting this post with my 4th S7.
And my Past list is like below just read it and u can understand why we use Samsung devices.
1 galaxy Grand.
3 galaxy s7
1 galaxy s4
2 galaxy s5
2 galaxy note3
2 galaxy note4
1 galaxy note5
1 galaxy a6 edge 64gb
2 galaxy s6 64gb
1 galaxy a7 edge
4 galaxy s7
All this bcs of build quality
Awesome software
Awesome ui
And best resale value
And others for time pass is
3 Nexus 5
1 moto g4
1 mi 4i.
Sent from my [device_name] using XDA-Developers Legacy app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We (as a household) have a rather large number of Samsung devices - the S7 is, in fact, the first one that was NOT purchased deliberately (I got it as a gift) and replaced the far-older Galaxy Nexus (which I got from my mother). We also have two Galaxy tablets and four Samsung HDTVs (and two Samsung optical drives). Why all the Samsung hardware? Three words - bang for buck. Look at ALL the areas in which Samsung makes hardware (from Android to PC to appliances they have (and rather consistently) offered top-ten bang-for-buck - and not just in the US; if you do that, your products will sell. Are they perfect? No; however, who is? Even the folks that have DINGED Samsung admit that it is often due to issues with a specific Samsung product or a specific lack (in the case of the S7, it's about the locked bootloader). Still, is an unlocked bootloader that big a plus on the devices that compete with the S7 and up? How many of those devices have issues WORSE than those of the S7 and above - even with the locked bootloader (such as the Pixel and Pixel2)?
DarkerJava said:
You can disable all bloat using a package disabler, which works without root. Android 8.0 is coming in 2 weeks, and I don't know why you even want 8.1 because there are almost no changes to talk about. Even 8.0's most notable feature PIP has been available in Samsung devices for a long time.
Your problems about rooting and custom ROMs are only because it's a work phone.
It looks like you didn't research any of your problems before coming to rant here :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
8.0 Not in Canada and I do not know if Rogers ever plans on it. "Think I seen somewhere Summer 2018, oh sure"
BK Package Manager only disables and freezes, nothing that you can not do without buy it. "Can not uninstall and with only 5Gig left it would be good to get rid of some bloat"
DarkerJava said:
You can disable all bloat using a package disabler, which works without root. Android 8.0 is coming in 2 weeks, and I don't know why you even want 8.1 because there are almost no changes to talk about. Even 8.0's most notable feature PIP has been available in Samsung devices for a long time.
Your problems about rooting and custom ROMs are only because it's a work phone.
It looks like you didn't research any of your problems before coming to rant here :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2 weeks ? They said summer.
Ah, if a phone ain't got the latest and greatest government tracking software I don't want it. So I'm gonna go to xda and post a "why do people buy" but talk about samdung bloat over all mighty Google. I hate I hate I hate. People should just buy Google devices cause I like them!!!! They push the only thing I care about, the .1's, and oh, you need to see what they do when they jump a full .0 again. Oh man
What 8.0/8.1 feature are you desperate for?
What other sub 5.3" phone has best amoled screen, top camera, large battery, top procecessor, wireless charging, ip68? Please tell me of this other phone
AstroDigital said:
8.0 Not in Canada and I do not know if Rogers ever plans on it. "Think I seen somewhere Summer 2018, oh sure"
BK Package Manager only disables and freezes, nothing that you can not do without buy it. "Can not uninstall and with only 5Gig left it would be good to get rid of some bloat"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm also in Canada and usually we get updates without delay after their release from Samsung. From what I've seen (on their OS upgrade schedule), they only announce the release dates for updates a couple of days before we actually get them. My source is another phone carrier in another country: http://www.guncelmiyiz.com/akilli-telefon .
For the bloatware, you can uninstall all updates and keep the stubs (which will remove most of the app), and then freeze the app using AdHell or SABS. Although there isn't much bloatware to start with on phones in Canada.
---------- Post added at 08:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:01 PM ----------
Soufiansky said:
2 weeks ? They said summer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.guncelmiyiz.com/akilli-telefon
DarkerJava said:
I'm also in Canada and usually we get updates without delay after their release from Samsung. From what I've seen (on their OS upgrade schedule), they only announce the release dates for updates a couple of days before we actually get them. My source is another phone carrier in another country: http://www.guncelmiyiz.com/akilli-telefon .
For the bloatware, you can uninstall all updates and keep the stubs (which will remove most of the app), and then freeze the app using AdHell or SABS. Although there isn't much bloatware to start with on phones in Canada.
---------- Post added at 08:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:01 PM ----------
http://www.guncelmiyiz.com/akilli-telefon
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not official. I would only trust samsung website,sammobile or some other known websites.
AstroDigital said:
Really !!! Why do people buy Samsung Devices ?
Yes I own a Galaxy S7 and yes I know what board this is but
The phone provided to me by work and I am stuck with it
This is a work phone I can not debloat, root, do custom ROMs
So what do I have,
I have a device that will never see Android 8.1, hell even the S 9 is at 8.0 "You know the S 9 may get Android 9.0 in the summer of 2019 if they are lucky.
I will not hold my breath for even 8.0
Every second day it seems Samsung pushes on my device some "Samsung" bloat they think I want, I which I can never uninstall and if I try to disable it, it will turn back on.
They feel they have a great, interface..... Without Nova Launcher I will be lost.
Thank you for not having Bixby..... maybe Samsung will decide to push that piece of junk to the S7 but for now I am free
Really I hate the S7, the bloat, being locked down, the lack of updates but people still buy them ?
Why ?
Maybe a major market is Corporations that like locked down devices.
Yes the company says here is your S7 ..... enjoy.
I hate the Samsung S9 so much I may actually buy my own device for work "The Pixel", think I will wait for the Pixel 3 but then ..... to Samsung so long and thanks for the Bloat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is one of the most imbecile rant I read on XDA so far: the real question is why your company is giving you a phone you don't like and you should ask your company.
Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 10:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:16 PM ----------
vand3537 said:
What 8.0/8.1 feature are you desperate for?
What other sub 5.3" phone has best amoled screen, top camera, large battery, top procecessor, wireless charging, ip68? Please tell me of this other phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think the feature he wants is when he is looking at Software Information and Android Version to see the Number 8.1. He can't name other feature because he doesn't know one.
Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
most imbecile rant I do not call people names maybe you should look in a mirror.
You know what I find imbecilic is Samsung fanboys, you claim you like Android yet you sign up with a company that does not give you a pure Android Experience.
You are so blind to Samsung you do not realize their hardware is not significantly better than from other manufacturers.
Amoled unless if you are and anal idiot, displays are subjective
Top Camera this is a S7 while the camera is good "it is not the best"
Large battery do you suppose other phone have significantly worse better live ?
Top processor many phones have newer generation processors, but like the "best" display the processor even on a 2 year old device runs everything fine.
Wireless Charging is at times convenient but not a deal maker you do know Wireless chargers are slower and not as efficient as chargers that some people have a hard time with figuring out. "Do some research look it up"
IP68 once again, you know out of the several dozen Android devices I purchased ....... not one ever got water damaged.
Out of all of these ......
I rather have Android as it is meet to be from the inventors non modified and non skinned
Hardware be damned
And yes I know what Google introduced in 8.1 https://www.xda-developers.com/android-8-1-oreo-developer-preview-features/
The Essential phone skipped Android 8.0 and when directly to 8.1
Samsung S9 and S9+ released with 8.0
Rogers at the time only had the Samsung S7, no other devices.
Flaming is not tolerated on XDA and any escalation in this thread will result in action against the users at fault and/or the thread being closed.
Hopefully this discussion can be a civil exchange of opinions from both Samsung haters and lovers alike. We must all accept that as human beings, each one of us is entitled to our opinion and/or preferences, regardless of whether they're seen as logical or not by others.
Keep it cool, dudes.
AstroDigital said:
most imbecile rant I do not call people names maybe you should look in a mirror.
You know what I find imbecilic is Samsung fanboys, you claim you like Android yet you sign up with a company that does not give you a pure Android Experience.
You are so blind to Samsung you do not realize their hardware is not significantly better than from other manufacturers.
Amoled unless if you are and anal idiot, displays are subjective
Top Camera this is a S7 while the camera is good "it is not the best"
Large battery do you suppose other phone have significantly worse better live ?
Top processor many phones have newer generation processors, but like the "best" display the processor even on a 2 year old device runs everything fine.
Wireless Charging is at times convenient but not a deal maker you do know Wireless chargers are slower and not as efficient as chargers that some people have a hard time with figuring out. "Do some research look it up"
IP68 once again, you know out of the several dozen Android devices I purchased ....... not one ever got water damaged.
Out of all of these ......
I rather have Android as it is meet to be from the inventors non modified and non skinned
Hardware be damned
And yes I know what Google introduced in 8.1 https://www.xda-developers.com/android-8-1-oreo-developer-preview-features/
The Essential phone skipped Android 8.0 and when directly to 8.1
Samsung S9 and S9+ released with 8.0
Rogers at the time only had the Samsung S7, no other devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They may not have significantly better hardware now, but it was still the best of its time. The camera was the best until the Pixel came out half a year later. There were no compromises with this phone, and as much as you try make hardware features not seem not as important, they make a difference when choosing between something like a iPhone 6s/7 and another device.
And now I ask, how is anything of what you've said detract from the Android experience? Samsung may add features to Android, but they don't ever take away. I can also fully reskin Touchwiz to look like stock with any theme I like using Substratum and Nova Launcher. I also don't know why Android 8.1 is so important to you, as everything is just a UI change.
You probably shouldn't have bought a 2 year old non-Google phone if you wanted to jerk off to having the latest UI from Google. Also, you should realize that many people don't care about simple UI changes or optical differences. Maybe if we were iOS users, we would care, but this is a forum for Android enthusiasts.
Don't call others fanboys or other silly names just because they have different expectations when they buy a device.
---------- Post added at 04:51 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:49 PM ----------
Soufiansky said:
It's not official. I would only trust samsung website,sammobile or some other known websites.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess we will see in 2 weeks. Again, when is the last time Samsung announced the specific date for an update well before it releases?
I did not start the name calling but when "coradux" called me an imbecile, who would not take it personally.
I own a S7 now, will likely be buying a Pixel XL 3 "or whatever it is called in October"
Some people like me want quick updates and pure Android, others do not care.
I really did not know what I hoped to prove from this post. I think it should be closed.

Question To root or not to root, that is the question.

So, I d like to get your opinions on rooting the S22 U
I've always been a fan of rooting, it would be the 1st thing I did after buying a new Samsung/android phone (coming from the HTC hero days followed by a Samsung Galaxy S2, with a bunch of phonessince then and now upgraded from an S10 ) regardless of how it would affect warranty.
But now, it doesn't seem as much as a necessity as it once was. The phone has been out for a few months , rom development is kinda stagnant ( not complaining ) no real Dev initiatives like it used to be. Debloating can be done without root.
So what is the REAL need to root the S 22 U right now? It pains me to as this question. I ve had my phone for about a week now and don't see the need for rooting like I once used to.
Would like to hear your perspectives on it.
Thanks !
Honestly if you have bank apps on that phone, rooting is a no go since rooting blocks the bank app from even opening. If you dont, rooting is the best way to gain the performance out of your new phone, since its still a new phone, I wouldnt flash anything cause of warranty for about 2-3 years I havent had any kind of experience with warranty since most of the devices I flashed on are old devices which the warranty expired years ago.
I have 2 stock N10+'s that run like bats out of hell. They fulfill their mission and require very little maintenance. The load on this one in my hand is over 2 yo. I see no tangible benefits worth rooting in my case, just the opposite.
syonox said:
Honestly if you have bank apps on that phone, rooting is a no go since rooting blocks the bank app from even opening. If you dont, rooting is the best way to gain the performance out of your new phone, since its still a new phone, I wouldnt flash anything cause of warranty for about 2-3 years I havent had any kind of experience with warranty since most of the devices I flashed on are old devices which the warranty expired years ago.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fair point and I agree. But with nothing happening for months, so far, I wounder what would be going on with the phone from a development perspective, years from now.
Devs used to jump on new phone releases to put out roms, apps, kernels etc .
I don't quite see it here with the S22U
blackhawk said:
I have 2 stock N10+'s that run like bats out of hell. They fulfill their mission and require very little maintenance. The load on this one in my hand is over 2 yo. I see no tangible benefits worth rooting in my case, just the opposite.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you see no benefits just dont root it, if you spot something you like and it requires root just root it simple as that
blackhawk said:
I have 2 stock N10+'s that run like bats out of hell. They fulfill their mission and require very little maintenance. The load on this one in my hand is over 2 yo. I see no tangible benefits worth rooting in my case, just the opposite.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. My old s10 serves as my backup at the moment and I still use it out of comfort and habit. I miss it already !
nayak.aj said:
Fair point and I agree. But with nothing happening for months, so far, I wounder what would be going on with the phone from a development perspective, years from now.
Devs used to jump on new phone releases to put out roms, apps, kernels etc .
I don't quite see it here with the S22U
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It comes with time, most roms take ages to get made cause of the vendors,kernel and device tree, although your phone just got released (25 of february 2022) It mostly will take a year for something interesting to popup.
syonox said:
If you see no benefits just dont root it, if you spot something you like and it requires root just root it simple as that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess that's the way to go now.
syonox said:
It comes with time, most roms take ages to get made cause of the vendors,kernel and device tree, although your phone just got released (25 of february 2022) It mostly will take a year for something interesting to popup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand. Samsung hasn't made it easy either. Fingers crossed man !
nayak.aj said:
Exactly. My old s10 serves as my backup at the moment and I still use it out of comfort and habit. I miss it already !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory sealed new N10+'s are still for sale... the Beast is fun to use, plenty of snap without the power draining junk. Best of all it's loaded with Android 10. The one in my hand is still running on Pie though, which I prefer.
The display still out does the variable refresh rate displays in terms of color rendering index and gamma range. That was a big selling point for me. Not as bright or smooth but better color calibration. The expandable storage clinched it.
I not happy with Samsung's flagship progress; the N10+ was their last well balanced offering.
It's sad that I would knowledgeably choose a 3 generation year old flagship over a new one... because Samsung just keeps dropping the ball.
The reliability of the S22U is untested because it's so new. Variable refresh rate displays have demonstrated a higher failure rate across the board. For this reason alone I would wait before breaking the warranty by rooting.
Funny thing is I dont even own a S22 U, nor any samsung device expect the J1 (J100H) and the S3 Mini (I8190) which are phones that are from 2015 and 2012, The main device I use is a stupid P40 Lite, its a bad phone cause of no GMS and rooting or adding a custom recovery Is practically impossible, I also own a ZTE KIS 3 which I absolutely ADORE.
syonox said:
Funny thing is I dont even own a S22 U, nor any samsung device expect the J1 (J100H) and the S3 Mini (I8190) which are phones that are from 2015 and 2012, The main device I use is a stupid P40 Lite, its a bad phone cause of no GMS and rooting or adding a custom recovery Is practically impossible, I also own a ZTE KIS 3 which I absolutely ADORE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a S4+ and a ruggedized Motorola flip top relic. Samsung was firing on all cylinders with the N10+, their zenith in my opinion. This one (always in a Bolt case) will be 3 yo in October. The only repair has been a battery, due for another. It's heavily used. It looks and runs like new, zero display degradation. Both my N10+'s will likely be my #1's for 2-3+ more years. Maybe the global recession will kick some sense into Samsung... I'm not holding my breath though as the fail is strong with make an excuse Samsung.
Samsung lost their minds, Google Android lost their minds; they are more iPhone than Android now. I predict this year and likely next year will be a dismal wash for both.
Maybe 2025 will be better...
As of right now there is no root, no bootloader unlock anyway. Each user is different. If you think you need it for certain apps then root. But again S22U doesn't even have it so.....
blackhawk said:
Factory sealed new N10+'s are still for sale... the Beast is fun to use, plenty of snap without the power draining junk. Best of all it's loaded with Android 10. The one in my hand is still running on Pie though, which I prefer.
The display still out does the variable refresh rate displays in terms of color rendering index and gamma range. That was a big selling point for me. Not as bright or smooth but better color calibration. The expandable storage clinched it.
I not happy with Samsung's flagship progress; the N10+ was their last well balanced offering.
It's sad that I would knowledgeably choose a 3 generation year old flagship over a new one... because Samsung just keeps dropping the ball.
The reliability of the S22U is untested because it's so new. Variable refresh rate displays have demonstrated a higher failure rate across the board. For this reason alone I would wait before breaking the warranty by rooting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Inthink the 10 series in both note and galaxy was Samsung's peak !
butchieboy said:
As of right now there is no root, no bootloader unlock anyway. Each user is different. If you think you need it for certain apps then root. But again S22U doesn't even have it so.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We do have root. Check the forums. But it depends on which variant you have , I think thenorth American versions have a locked bootloader, hence not possible at the moment
nayak.aj said:
We do have root. Check the forums. But it depends on which variant you have , I think thenorth American versions have a locked bootloader, hence not possible at the moment
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well poster did say U version my response was geared to that.
nayak.aj said:
So, I d like to get your opinions on rooting the S22 U
I've always been a fan of rooting, it would be the 1st thing I did after buying a new Samsung/android phone (coming from the HTC hero days followed by a Samsung Galaxy S2, with a bunch of phonessince then and now upgraded from an S10 ) regardless of how it would affect warranty.
But now, it doesn't seem as much as a necessity as it once was. The phone has been out for a few months , rom development is kinda stagnant ( not complaining ) no real Dev initiatives like it used to be. Debloating can be done without root.
So what is the REAL need to root the S 22 U right now? It pains me to as this question. I ve had my phone for about a week now and don't see the need for rooting like I once used to.
Would like to hear your perspectives on it.
Thanks !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I rooted all my phones since ever. I admit the several reasons for rooting aren't a thing anymore. However there are still some left.
I rooted my S22U because of sound apps like Viper4Android (which unfortunately didn't work) and JamesDSP (this one works nicely). I also like to tweak appearance, like statusbar icons.
To be fair, if I don't have a rooted phone I feel that I don't have control of my own phone. Kinda like an Apple user lol.
To conclude, I do use several banks and etc apps that shouldn't work in rooted phones, but magisk hide root pretty well. The only downside of rooting for me are samasung pay (i use GooglePay) and samsung pass (also use google for passwords and logins) besides warranty. Which I never used in any phone.
butchieboy said:
Well poster did say U version my response was geared to that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought you meant U = Ultra . Nevermind my bad
nayak.aj said:
So, I d like to get your opinions on rooting the S22 U
I've always been a fan of rooting, it would be the 1st thing I did after buying a new Samsung/android phone (coming from the HTC hero days followed by a Samsung Galaxy S2, with a bunch of phonessince then and now upgraded from an S10 ) regardless of how it would affect warranty.
But now, it doesn't seem as much as a necessity as it once was. The phone has been out for a few months , rom development is kinda stagnant ( not complaining ) no real Dev initiatives like it used to be. Debloating can be done without root.
So what is the REAL need to root the S 22 U right now? It pains me to as this question. I ve had my phone for about a week now and don't see the need for rooting like I once used to.
Would like to hear your perspectives on it.
Thanks !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have bank/crypto apps then don't or wait for another 3 years before rooting or if you get new phone. For me rooting now is not that important coz how powerful phones now. I've been rooting on the past coz phones back then has slow processors.
Back in the day when I had a Samsung Galaxy Nexus (Verizon), I had to root if I wanted to use Google Wallet (now Google Pay). Verizon had locked down its phones and if you wanted to use non-Verizon apps like Google Maps or Google Wallet (now Google Pay), you had to root.
Since then, I haven't rooted any of my subsequent Android phones (Note 2, HTC One M9, S8+, Note 8, and Note 10+ 5G). They all did what I needed (or wanted) without rooting.
If you are a tinkerer or there is an app or capability that you need that requires you to root your phone, then root away. Just be mindful that there are 2nd and 3rd order effects to rooting and not all of them are obvious.

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