So I am looking forward to buy the S8 and I do want the unlocked bootloader. I heard that if you buy an S8 or S8+ from T Mobile then you get the U variant instead of T. Is it true? Because as far as I know the S8 and S8+ US variants got the U after the numbers which shows that the bootloader is unlocked.
T-mobile bootloader on the s8/s8+ is locked
KidKnowsTech said:
So I am looking forward to buy the S8 and I do want the unlocked bootloader. I heard that if you buy an S8 or S8+ from T Mobile then you get the U variant instead of T. Is it true? Because as far as I know the S8 and S8+ US variants got the U after the numbers which shows that the bootloader is unlocked.
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Every North American model is the U model, simply with different firmware. Whether you buy a carrier version or the US unlocked model (U1) they are all quite literally the very same U model. This means you CAN do carrier switching, with some work (for instance, install firmware from T-Mobile on to an unlocked model, or Verizon, or whatever) - this DOES NOT however, SIM unlock the device. There was misinformation on the internet that the model numbers would be like they were in the past, but it's not true. If you buy a T-Mobile model, it's the G950U, just like it's the G950U on Verizon and all other carriers (no longer are there "T" models, "V" models, etc). The unlocked model is the G950U1, but it's still the very same model, so the firmwares are interchangeable.
Currently, there is no known way to unlock the bootloader. As of this week, root is available (with some caveats), but no way to unlock the bootloader. The only models you can do that with are the international Exynos models, and the more rare Hong Kong Snapdragon model. I sincerely doubt we'll ever be able to unlock the bootloader, but I'd love to see the XDA community make it happen.
Damn, I guess the International version is better.
The U = carrier unlocked. Not unlockable bootloader. Besides most glass Mashers and text-while-driving people don't even know what the heck a bootloader is lol
Bootloader ? oem
I have been thinking about get a S8+, now my wife's S7 phone and tab S2 tablet you just go to developer options and turn on oem unlock dose the S8 not have that?
brightjh01 said:
I have been thinking about get a S8+, now my wife's S7 phone and tab S2 tablet you just go to developer options and turn on oem unlock dose the S8 not have that?
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No
stmims1124 said:
Every North American model is the U model, simply with different firmware. Whether you buy a carrier version or the US unlocked model (U1) they are all quite literally the very same U model. This means you CAN do carrier switching, with some work (for instance, install firmware from T-Mobile on to an unlocked model, or Verizon, or whatever) - this DOES NOT however, SIM unlock the device. There was misinformation on the internet that the model numbers would be like they were in the past, but it's not true. If you buy a T-Mobile model, it's the G950U, just like it's the G950U on Verizon and all other carriers (no longer are there "T" models, "V" models, etc). The unlocked model is the G950U1, but it's still the very same model, so the firmwares are interchangeable.
Currently, there is no known way to unlock the bootloader. As of this week, root is available (with some caveats), but no way to unlock the bootloader. The only models you can do that with are the international Exynos models, and the more rare Hong Kong Snapdragon model. I sincerely doubt we'll ever be able to unlock the bootloader, but I'd love to see the XDA community make it happen.
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So what you are basically saying is, 950U s8 models even though unlocked can only be used on other US carries and not internationally??
captainkbj said:
So what you are basically saying is, 950U s8 models even though unlocked can only be used on other US carries and not internationally??
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No, you should be able to use the U1 (North American implied variant) internationally, mostly without issue. I believe it supports most, if not all GSM/LTE bands (CDMA may be a different story). I was just saying you cannot unlock the bootloader on the North American models... Different than SIM/Carrier unlock
How to enable oem, try find it in developer option but not found, any guide guy's?
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-8/help/info-note-8-exynos-n950f-fd-oem-unlock-t3673140
N930F is Note 7? you are in Note 8 forum.
If you made a mistake in the model number then you should be aware that some models are not showing the oem unlock despite being international "unlocked" phones. Mine is an FD from Singapore and doesn't have it. Not sure what that means but it's looking grim right now.
I'm interested in purchasing a Note 8 and would like to know which one is more flash friendly for someone living in the US. I'd like to be able to root and flash custom roms. Is unlocking the bootloader even an option on any Note 8?
I tried searching for a thread on this and was unable to find one. Right now I'm using an AT&T mvno and have my eyes on the unlocked refurb Note 8 on Amazon for $699.
Thanks in advance!
You really need to sharpen your searching skills then.
Sent from my Galaxy Note8 using XDA Labs
exynos.
if possible the n950n. the F models have a potential issue with oem unlock wich can be quite nasty. but ill let you read/search on the OEM unlock issues....
Hello!
I've been interested in buying a Galaxy Note 9 for some time, but I'd like a Snapdragon version (from what I can tell by reviews and tests it's better than the Exynos in performance, heat and battery and I don't really want to install custom ROMs, so no problem about the locked bootloader). Today I happened to stumble across an offer on a retail website where a seller just 20 km away from me is offering a Galaxy Note 9 which he says is new and bought from Samsung store in the USA (so I'm assuming it's the N960U carrier unlocked USA version), but he's also stating that it needs to be region unlocked. I've been searching online and I don't really understand what that's all about. I know the first step in purchasing a phone from retail is asking for the IMEI, but what can I exactly do with it? Does it provide the phone's exact model? And what does region unlocking imply?
I'd be glad if anyone could help me with this situation, as it's quite a rare chance and I'd be extremely happy to buy it, but I firstly want to be sure I can use it.
Provided it's not CDMA, the GSM bands should be comaptible with my carrier (Orange), or so I think. Any information is much appreciated.
Thanks and have a great day!
I'd like to know what are all the differences between all of the Note 9 variants, in terms of what's BL locked and what's rootable.
First of all, I'm under the impression that the Exynos phones are unlockable/rootable. It is also not available in the United States, as I understand, correct? Does that mean it won't work with US Carriers at all?
Also, the Snapdragon version. Now, I don't know what are all of the Snapdragon variants, as I can only speak for my phone and the various posts I've seen about it. I'm on the SM-N960U. Is it fair to say that having a GN9 with a Snapdragon processor mean that your phone cannot be BL Unlocked/Rooted? If any Snapdragon phones can be Unlocked/Rooted, which ones are these and are they compatible with US Carriers?
I don't plan on replacing my Note 9 yet, but maybe next year with another Samsung. I read that the Note line might be going away, in space of the S-line "Ultra". But anyways, my point being when I get a new Samsung Phone, is it possible to get one that is BL Unlockable and Rootable, AND fully compatible with my US Carrier, Tmobile?
afaik, you have the Note 9's US version already (snapdragon chip version) so its certainly compatible with US carriers in the 1st place.
rooting/bootloader unlocking is another story, irrelevant to what you are concerned.
I think only US sd version is unlockable.
N960F compatability https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-9/help/note-9-model-sm-n960f-ds-dual-sim-t3903528
It's funny you'd ask this today.... I own an international version (unlocked) Snapdragon variant that *is* rootable... the SM-N9600 (not to be mistaken for the N960u and so on which are NOT rootable). But though my phone is *technically* rootable, there's a very messy issue with it not allowing flashing TWRP / rooting even after the OEM unlock switch is thrown. I oughta know... just again spent hours in vain trying to get it to root. It's a long story and you can find it just by googling "N9600 prenormal" or some such. Anyway, at least on paper there is a Snapdragon Note 9 that is rootable.