Hey all,
I'd like to get a small android phone for t-mobile USA with LTE. The z3 compact looks like the best option, so which version of it should I look for?
Also, do I need to worry about what software version it comes with if I plan to load it with custom roms? Is it easy to unlock the bootloader?
Also, I have been looking for a sale on these but I haven't seen any, is there any recommended places to buy it and get a good price?
Lastly, I know a lot of you probably bought the phone when it was released, but if you were in my shoes and were going to buy a phone now would you still get the z3 compact ? Or what would you get instead?
There are 2 versions of the Z3C, it seems:
D5803 and D5833
Check on gsmarena (link below). You may have to click "expand" on the Network portion to see all of the network info. Try to figure out which of the 2 models are most compatible with the bands that T-Mobile uses.
http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_z3_compact-6538.php
Unlocking the bootloader is sometimes not possible (like, if the phone was purchased from a carrier, they may have set Bootloader Unlock Allowed to "NO"). If you buy straight from Sony then it is more likely to have an unlockable bootloader.
D5803 for the US. B&H Photo probably is your best best for price, I bought mine from England and once it was released in the US used the flashtool to install the US software version.
Very easy to unlock the bootloader and you can restore the features that are lost when unlocking now(except Playstation remote play I believe). I'm still hoping to gain root without unlocking the bootloader, this is by far the longest i have gone without root...honestly don't miss it except for the ability to use Titanium Backup. The software is close to stock Android with some added useful tweaks IMO like Sony's battery management, phone themes, etc. Best camera in a phone I've had, manual mode can take outstanding pics. This will get even better with Lollipop and the new Android Camera software, there are apps out there already taking advantage of this and the results from people is overwhelmingly positive improvements.
Every time I see someone with a large screen phone I think I might want one, then I hold one and say this just doesn't feel comfortable to use. I's buy the Z3C over anything out there if purchasing today if it were me.
sdxda said:
Hey all,
I'd like to get a small android phone for t-mobile USA with LTE. The z3 compact looks like the best option, so which version of it should I look for?
Also, do I need to worry about what software version it comes with if I plan to load it with custom roms? Is it easy to unlock the bootloader?
Also, I have been looking for a sale on these but I haven't seen any, is there any recommended places to buy it and get a good price?
Lastly, I know a lot of you probably bought the phone when it was released, but if you were in my shoes and were going to buy a phone now would you still get the z3 compact ? Or what would you get instead?
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Click to collapse
Related
Heya all, well i just menage to finally buy a new g1 off ebay been trying for awhile now but finally got one for the right price but the thing is.. being new its locked to t-mobile now from what i have found there are only two way's of unlocking both are via unlock codes and from what I've read i can get it free from t-mobile but i also believe you have to of been a t-mobile customer for 2 months plus or something any you guys know if this is true?
The other option is to get one of these websites that give you unlock codes has anyone used these could you if possible tell me what sites are genuine and safe to use?
Another thing is there any other way's of unlocking the phone?? that i have missed? i haven't actually got it yet but its being posted as we speak..
Hope this is the right place to post this and cheers for you input ;D
Dominating said:
Heya all, well i just menage to finally buy a new g1 off ebay been trying for awhile now but finally got one for the right price but the thing is.. being new its locked to t-mobile now from what i have found there are only two way's of unlocking both are via unlock codes and from what I've read i can get it free from t-mobile but i also believe you have to of been a t-mobile customer for 2 months plus or something any you guys know if this is true?
The other option is to get one of these websites that give you unlock codes has anyone used these could you if possible tell me what sites are genuine and safe to use?
Another thing is there any other way's of unlocking the phone?? that i have missed? i haven't actually got it yet but its being posted as we speak..
Hope this is the right place to post this and cheers for you input ;D
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Click to collapse
T-mobile will give it free if your a longstanding customer. If you want to buy it, buy it from ebay. There is another thread in this section (actually more like 20, one of which has a link)
Yea they wont give you the code unless you have been a customer for 90 days or more. The site I used was http://www.unlock-tmobileg1.com it took about 10 hours for the code to arrive, they have detailed instructions on how to register an ATT APN so you can do the initial google setup too. I think they offer codes in 2 hours now, but either way its a good site and I think its just over 20 bucks, like 22 or 23. I looked on ebay but it didn't have a good feel to it, for me anyway.
edit: One great thing about using it on att is that they wont know its a smartphone because its not in there system so you can use the $15/month dumb phone unlimited data plan and it works great, I have been using it for about 3 months now, only downside is att and tmobile use different 3G bands so it is impossible to get 3G with att.
Only use unlock sites who people here say they have used. Don't be fooled by some of them which are *very* cheap (as in, a quater or the cost of most), these will normally tell you *how* to unlock your phone (call t-mobile or buy a code, but they dont give you the code).
I bought my code of eBay, that way you can look at there feed back and you know that the testimonies on their flashy website aren't fake.
Cool cheers guys thought that'd be the case phone still hasn't arrived yet so until then...
Dominating said:
Cool cheers guys thought that'd be the case phone still hasn't arrived yet so until then...
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Some unlocks can be done for free using a custom ROM flash. The operating system is only setup to bar off any non-TMobile sims, so do a flash, and bang, that SIM restriction should be gone.
I have never heard of any rom unlocking the phone, the carrier lock is much deeper in the phone, hence why you dont lose your unlock status when you switch rom's. I did a ton of searching before I unlocked my G1 and never saw anything like what you speak of, I had already rooted and flashed 3 or 4 different roms when my phone was still locked and it never made a difference, so could you please provide a link to this type of rom? And just so you know, in your sig you list phone OS's but what you are talking about is rom's as the only OS for the G1 is Android.
Coburn64 said:
Some unlocks can be done for free using a custom ROM flash. The operating system is only setup to bar off any non-TMobile sims, so do a flash, and bang, that SIM restriction should be gone.
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Click to collapse
I don't think that's right either. I've heard quite a few people say that after rooting and flashing a non-tmo ROM their SIM was still locked...
AdrianK said:
I don't think that's right either. I've heard quite a few people say that after rooting and flashing a non-tmo ROM their SIM was still locked...
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Click to collapse
He might be confused with something else because of all the smartphones I have had I've never heard a rom to unlock your sim/carrier. I wish there was though but if you think about it you would never be able to change your rom because you would lose the unlock status.
Is anyone working on breaking this problem? Hate myself for getting this phone now, everyone else is running away with custom kernels and any soft headed person who decided to go with their provider is also stuck unless their provider didn't ask for it to be locked down.
What is the actual difference between the two phones? Unlockable or not unlockable? Could one not be migrated to the other or is that not possible?
I want to stretch this phones legs and i'm unable to because of it.
Any help, input, pointers would be grateful.
Any "No your a tool for buying from your provider an sony have always done this" is not helpful.
Cheers.
dladz said:
Is anyone working on breaking this problem? Hate myself for getting this phone now, everyone else is running away with custom kernels and any soft headed person who decided to go with their provider is also stuck unless their provider didn't ask for it to be locked down.
What is the actual difference between the two phones? Unlockable or not unlockable? Could one not be migrated to the other or is that not possible?
I want to stretch this phones legs and i'm unable to because of it.
Any help, input, pointers would be grateful.
Any "No your a tool for buying from your provider an sony have always done this" is not helpful.
Cheers.
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Click to collapse
Unfortunately talking from experience with Sony Xperia Z and other Android phones, this has never been possible. Bootloader unlock allowed: No on Xperia Z has not been hacked after all the time that the device has been out, I would not count on a solution for Xperia Z1.
Sorry to put your hopes down, but most likely this will never be possible.
Sent from my C6903 using Tapatalk
No real developers have openely said they are working on it.
A few people have tried a few things but this needs someone with real developing/hacking skills (Like the_laser).
The problem is that all the developers know to get unlockable phones, so they don't have/need to work on the bootloader issue.
Adam Outler was given an Xperia T with an bootloader that says no, and he gave up after a few months.
You aren't missing anything mate.
Before Z1 I had Xperia S, I unlocked bootloader and when I tried every ROM on XDA..... I settled down on @niaboc79 eXistanZ. (stock based ROM for locked and unlocked bootloaders)
Believe me, we'll get many great things on Z1 you just have to be patient.
Now I bought Z1 with a bootloader locked (unlockable), I knew that from the beginning and I didn't care.
When Z1 recive 4.4 and few other devs join here, you'll see you'll have many different ROMs to choose...
Yes, it's true, you can't get custom kernel and maybe you can't OC your CPU or GPU but Z1 has quad on 2.2 Ghz and there's really no need for 2.5Ghz or 3.0Ghz.
Remember, we are using phones, without cooling system and OC will overheating hardware and that's not good...
As I said, you/we are not missing anything.
eXistanZ will, eventually, be released for Z1, just like all other great ROMs and we'll have awesome software for device...
In the next few days/weeks devs will manage to develop tools for rooting Z1 on 4.3 and that's all you need to get 99% of goodies on Z1.
Sent from my Z1
Thanks everyone, I appreciate it.
Sent from my C6903 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
funky0308 said:
You aren't missing anything mate.
Before Z1 I had Xperia S, I unlocked bootloader and when I tried every ROM on XDA..... I settled down on @niaboc79 eXistanZ. (stock based ROM for locked and unlocked bootloaders)
Believe me, we'll get many great things on Z1 you just have to be patient.
Now I bought Z1 with a bootloader locked (unlockable), I knew that from the beginning and I didn't care.
When Z1 recive 4.4 and few other devs join here, you'll see you'll have many different ROMs to choose...
Yes, it's true, you can't get custom kernel and maybe you can't OC your CPU or GPU but Z1 has quad on 2.2 Ghz and there's really no need for 2.5Ghz or 3.0Ghz.
Remember, we are using phones, without cooling system and OC will overheating hardware and that's not good...
As I said, you/we are not missing anything.
eXistanZ will, eventually, be released for Z1, just like all other great ROMs and we'll have awesome software for device...
In the next few days/weeks devs will manage to develop tools for rooting Z1 on 4.3 and that's all you need to get 99% of goodies on Z1.
Sent from my Z1
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Yea you're right m8, I do like the phone, it's just the first time i've not been able to use the other kernels.
What about the likes of PA and AOSP rom's, don't they need a kernel from the likes of doomlord to work?
Great if they don't, i don't stick with them for very long but it's nice to try them out from time to time.
dladz said:
Yea you're right m8, I do like the phone, it's just the first time i've not been able to use the other kernels.
What about the likes of PA and AOSP rom's, don't they need a kernel from the likes of doomlord to work?
Great if they don't, i don't stick with them for very long but it's nice to try them out from time to time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeap, they need custom kernels so without unlocked bootloader you can't use them
Sent from my Z1
funky0308 said:
Yeap, they need custom kernels so without unlocked bootloader you can't use them
Sent from my Z1
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Click to collapse
Bugger.
Thanks again m8, i'm going to avoid the original dev section like the plague.
Google edition should be ok though right?
I got one with locked boot loader from Telenor here in Sweden.
I'm thinking about calling them and complain. There is NOTHING in my contract with them that says anything about locked boot loader.
The only thing that is stated is carrier-locked to Telenor. Ok, so I can unlock that after 12 month or find another webpage that can do it for me.
I talked to Sony Sweden about it and they said the normal jobberish about they don't wan't us to change "software", Their branded software. Well after 12 month they let me unlock the phone. Why not then letting me change "software". No the phone will still be locked. I say that is to not follow the contract. They say I can unlock my phone after 12 month, then why not let me ? No, they only let me unlock the carrier-lock. So in theory the phone will still be locked to Telenor. That's whats wrong with the contract.
Am I barking up the wrong tree here, or might there actually be a little loop-hole that I can use to get my phone unlocked or maybe even get a replaced phone ?
kryddan said:
I got one with locked boot loader from Telenor here in Sweden.
I'm thinking about calling them and complain. There is NOTHING in my contract with them that says anything about locked boot loader.
The only thing that is stated is carrier-locked to Telenor. Ok, so I can unlock that after 12 month or find another webpage that can do it for me.
I talked to Sony Sweden about it and they said the normal jobberish about they don't wan't us to change "software", Their branded software. Well after 12 month they let me unlock the phone. Why not then letting me change "software". No the phone will still be locked. I say that is to not follow the contract. They say I can unlock my phone after 12 month, then why not let me ? No, they only let me unlock the carrier-lock. So in theory the phone will still be locked to Telenor. That's whats wrong with the contract.
Am I barking up the wrong tree here, or might there actually be a little loop-hole that I can use to get my phone unlocked or maybe even get a replaced phone ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No the phones simlock is nothing to do with the fact that the bootloader can't be unlocked, although it is most likely your carrier who is responsible for the bootloader not being able to be unlocked in the first place.
They are unrelated instances, as far as i know and without some serious tinkering the bootloader will remain the way it is, it seriously sucks and I hate myself for doing it now but it is what it is, the only plausible way out would be if sony were to swap the phone out for one with an unlocked bootloader, i'm sure it is our consumer right to do what we want with our property, especially seeing as Sony has an official page on how to unlock the bootloader officially.
I find this approach to their software preposterous and well you've already seen me have a rant, i'm not a happy bunny.
My guess is that if your carrier replaces the phone then you will get another locked BL, but if for some reason you can get Sony to replace it then you may get one with an unlockable BL, that is the only way around it so far as I can see.
dladz said:
No the phones simlock is nothing to do with the fact that the bootloader can't be unlocked, although it is most likely your carrier who is responsible for the bootloader not being able to be unlocked in the first place.
They are unrelated instances, as far as i know and without some serious tinkering the bootloader will remain the way it is, it seriously sucks and I hate myself for doing it now but it is what it is, the only plausible way out would be if sony were to swap the phone out for one with an unlocked bootloader, i'm sure it is our consumer right to do what we want with our property, especially seeing as Sony has an official page on how to unlock the bootloader officially.
I find this approach to their software preposterous and well you've already seen me have a rant, i'm not a happy bunny.
My guess is that if your carrier replaces the phone then you will get another locked BL, but if for some reason you can get Sony to replace it then you may get one with an unlockable BL, that is the only way around it so far as I can see.
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Click to collapse
I called Telenor and talked to them. They put me through to the support. They coulndät do anything they said. I called Telenor again and got connected to what they called their Sony Xperia support. Got to talk with a nice guy who told me that. Yes it is possible to get by this locked boot loader, but I had to go through Telenor. However, he told me NOT to call them, but to go to an actual store and talk to them. So acording to him, Telenor should be able to solve this issue. I'm still not convinced. But I guess if I can get Telenor to accept fault on their part, maybe they can get Sony to fix it ?
kryddan said:
I called Telenor and talked to them. They put me through to the support. They coulndät do anything they said. I called Telenor again and got connected to what they called their Sony Xperia support. Got to talk with a nice guy who told me that. Yes it is possible to get by this locked boot loader, but I had to go through Telenor. However, he told me NOT to call them, but to go to an actual store and talk to them. So acording to him, Telenor should be able to solve this issue. I'm still not convinced. But I guess if I can get Telenor to accept fault on their part, maybe they can get Sony to fix it ?
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Click to collapse
I would take that advice with a pinch of salt, it sounds a little too good to be true, i hope i'm wrong there but my guess is that they won't be able to do anything, I know all the people in the EE store by ours and all of them haven't got a clue what day it is, if i ask about a bootloader they'll probably spaz out.
But hey if it works for you then that's superb.
I am looking for a bit smaller phone than my G2 and the Z3 Compact looks like the one I will go with. I see it isnt even out in the US yet, and I am on ATT. I will be buying the phone off contract though so which model should I get? I want to go with one that supports the LTE bands ATT uses, but also will have a lot of development for it. Also I need to be able to root it, and preferably unlock it, so that means any sort of ATT official model is probably out of the question, if they even get any model. Seems like only TMobile gets the Xperia phones in the US all the time.
You want the D5803. Buying it from either Clove or Handtec will get you the best price.
mattdm said:
You want the D5803. Buying it from either Clove or Handtec will get you the best price.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright thanks
EniGmA1987 said:
Alright thanks
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Just remember, like several of the threads here say, make sure the AT&T store you go to for your nanosim does not use the IMEI from the Z3C. Tell them to use the IMEI from your G2 instead.
Hello forum,
Like many of you I received my Galaxy S6 yesterday. After turning it on I naturally check the XDA forum to see if anyone had obtained root. I didn't realize that root may not even be possible, not to even mention custom ROMs. I wanted to know if it would be advisable to go and buy the T-Mobile version, should I buy an internationally version, or should I wait and hope the boot loader can be unlocked? I really miss Cyanogenmod on Samsung device for a true super Nexus experience like how my GS3 was. Unfortunately, I bought the GS4 and had my boot-loader locked down so the best I could do was Safestrap and the Google Play Edition Rom by Joe-Tech, but I still long for the feeling of the device truly being mine. Another concern is that anytime I had a real issue with the phone, like if I bricked it, or if the charging port stop working I could take it to the AT&T device store and just get a new (Samsung refurbished) phone. My 14 days are ticking away and I don't know what to do, I would really appreciate if some forum members could point me in the right direction. I signed up for the Next program with AT&T at Best Buy when I got it, so how would that be effected if I returned the device. Also, how do I use the menu key, if I hold the Recent key (the menu key) it just the multitasking window?
Thanks,
N7spaceuser
Bump.
Buy the unlocked version. SM-G920I. You can find it on eBay, thepowersellers.com, and a couple other places. Works perfect on AT&T, LTE and all. Unlocked bootloader, no bloat, faster updates, no AT&T bs. What are you people doing buying from AT&T?
I just got the phone from wonda, and didnt think to ask for it cealed. but I want to unlock the bootloader. As the phone has been updated, I can't unlock the bootloader and I don't know how to downgrade it, the downgrader tool says no packages yet, and trying to local update to an older firmware says it cant because its older, anyone have any other way of doing this?
Congrats on getting you X Fold.
Not an answer to your question unfortunately, but have a question on your experience with Wonda,
How long from when you ordered till when you received it and approximate location it was shipped to.
I heard that Wonda was quick getting it here and wanted a confirmation of that. I heard that Gizmo, another option to order from takes about 20 days to get to me in Toronto, Canada.
Appreciate your feedback on this.
Also curious why you want bootloader access on your Vivo... any specific plans (maybe something I should also be considering, if I get this phone)?
Q-Prof said:
Congrats on getting you X Fold.
Not an answer to your question unfortunately, but have a question on your experience with Wonda,
How long from when you ordered till when you received it and approximate location it was shipped to.
I heard that Wonda was quick getting it here and wanted a confirmation of that. I heard that Gizmo, another option to order from takes about 20 days to get to me in Toronto, Canada.
Appreciate your feedback on this.
Also curious why you want bootloader access on your Vivo... any specific plans (maybe something I should also be considering, if I get this phone)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, im in the uk in it took 3 days from ordering to get here. im considering returning tho and ordering a sealed x fold so i can have a chance to unlock the bootloader.
Edit: the reason i want to unnlock the bootloader is because i cannot live without root lmao
Yeah, I have heard by default they are known to open the box and update the software for the customer but you can send them a note when you purchase to leave it in the sealed box. If you do, then you have to deal with a translator to get it going yourself in Chinese until you can get to the language settings, but of course if that means you can get access to the bootloader then I guess it it worth it for you. Its a shame the downgrader tool is not working for you.
Thanks for letting me know how your shipping went, being in Canada, I have heard that Wanda is quick, and three days is amazingly quick to the UK.
Good luck on whatever you decide, from what I have seen in reviews, looks to be an excellent phone that you will enjoy.
I am really interested in it also, but recently found out the VoLTE 4G (voice over LTE) is not working on the phone in Canada from one of the members who is also in Canada with the Vivo X Fold, so I am pausing on this and looking for a solution, if there is one.