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Looking to get an Unlocked Note 5...Model?

I am looking to get an Unlocked Note 5 in Silver (does anyone have this or have you seen it - does it look as good in person)
My question is:
There are many unlocked versions, but I believe there are several versions that may work in the US
But I am thinking it is one of: N920C or N9200 or N920I (I am thinking it is the N920I, with the "I" standing for International?)
Can anyone tell me which works on GSM in US, T-Mobile
Thanks

eric0668 said:
I am looking to get an Unlocked Note 5 in Silver (does anyone have this or have you seen it - does it look as good in person)
My question is:
There are many unlocked versions, but I believe there are several versions that may work in the US
But I am thinking it is one of: N920C or N9200 or N920I (I am thinking it is the N920I, with the "I" standing for International?)
Can anyone tell me which works on GSM in US, T-Mobile
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would stay away from the N920C if you are going to use it in the US. I have the N920C and on ATT network it is getting only 3G and the signal is considerably weaker than on other phones compatible with ATT.

What does the N920C stand for. I think I need the "I" don't you.

eric0668 said:
What does the N920C stand for. I think I need the "I" don't you.
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They are designed for different continents. The N920I is for - Australia, New Zealand, Singapore. The N920C is for middle east, russia, africa, israel ...etc. If you can get the Unlocked T-mobile variant, you're good. Otherwise checkout the willmyphonework.net or the "The Ulimate Note 5 Band Guide."

Are you sure the I isnf for international.
That's what I wanna know. What one is able to be used. There is no such thing as a T-Mobile unlocked version. Yes there is one that works on T-Mobile, ATT etc. If you hear of the specific model I'd be grateful.

eric0668 said:
Are you sure the I isnf for international.
That's what I wanna know. What one is able to be used. There is no such thing as a T-Mobile unlocked version. Yes there is one that works on T-Mobile, ATT etc. If you hear of the specific model I'd be grateful.
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http://www.willmyphonework.net/

Thank you really ALot. I tried that and they got 2 blue checks and a yellow. So the same #frustrating

I bought the N920i version and work perfectly with ATT and TMOBILE. It have an amazing internet speed, i'm talking about more than 45MBPS.
Is a grate phone.

Thank you. I was thinking that was for International. Then I saw some sites (Expansys) who was selling the N9200 and was told they were the same.
thanks so much

Yes, N9200 is pretty much the same as N920i but dual sim card model. It should work in US. Be careful, this model can come from China and Google apps may be a problem.
I have ordered this model from Expansys and it should come from South Korea.

Spoke to Samsung via chat, NewEgg and Best Buy most will work to some degree here . BUT they said the one made for gsm carriers in US is the N920G. It can be had on NewEgg or Expansys but def eBay Amazon and Best Buy for $100 more than other places

just adding my 2 cents worth: i'm using a 64GB Silver SM-N9208 (Taiwan - CSC is BRI) dual SIM Note 5 on ATT & T-Mobile and it's working great. no network issues at all. 5 of the 10 people on my current project use Note 5's (including me); the other 4 Note 5 users are in awe of my device, especially the Silver color and the fact that i can make/receive calls from both SIMs at the same time.

jtOttawa said:
http://www.willmyphonework.net/
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There are so many threads dealing with this issue.
You should either use the above website or use pdadb.net to see which LTE bands a particular model uses and then compare that to the LTE bands your carrier uses (which is what the above website actually does)
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Both N920C and N920I should work fine in US except one 3G band for T-Mobile....but when it comes to Software updates...what do you think is first to get official updates? N920I being the Australia model, would it be after N920C? I heard sometimes its after even US models...Thoughts?

4G/LTE Samsung tablets also region locked?

I saw a surprising note on clove.co.uk I think it was, they said all Samsungs shipped after 2013 are region locked. This was a note on the bottom of the page for a Tab S2 LTE. They went as far to say they were no longer selling sealed boxes because they are region unlocking all devices before selling to international buyers.
Can anyone confirm/deny there's a region lock on Samsung's 4G/LTE tablets? Thanks.

midnightrider said:
I saw a surprising note on clove.co.uk I think it was, they said all Samsungs shipped after 2013 are region locked. This was a note on the bottom of the page for a Tab S2 LTE. They went as far to say they were no longer selling sealed boxes because they are region unlocking all devices before selling to international buyers.
Can anyone confirm/deny there's a region lock on Samsung's 4G/LTE tablets? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont think that's true. My Tab S LTE is international unlocked made in mid 2014 and sealed.
Tab A 9.7 lte I bought last year same thing.

Thanks. I didn't buy from them after I read that, I bought from another place to make sure I didn't get an open box item for the prices everybody is charging. It has not been shipped yet although it was supposed to go out Friday. I guess I will use it on wifi just to be safe until I get to the region where I bought it. Heading there for work anyway. BTW I didn't mean carrier unlocked, I meant region unlocked. Not sure if that came through ok.

midnightrider said:
Thanks. I didn't buy from them after I read that, I bought from another place to make sure I didn't get an open box item for the prices everybody is charging. It has not been shipped yet although it was supposed to go out Friday. I guess I will use it on wifi just to be safe until I get to the region where I bought it. Heading there for work anyway. BTW I didn't mean carrier unlocked, I meant region unlocked. Not sure if that came through ok.
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I bought my 715Y from Amazon in USA.
It is unlocked but I still haven't gotten MM and it is out for 715Y for more than a week.
However my local SIM card works fine.
There was a time when you had to activate the SIM in the country you bought it from (mine is built in Vietnam, impossible for me) and then it was OK anywhere.
None of that merry go round with the 715Y.

Shofar1 said:
I bought my 715Y from Amazon in USA.
It is unlocked but I still haven't gotten MM and it is out for 715Y for more than a week.
However my local SIM card works fine.
There was a time when you had to activate the SIM in the country you bought it from (mine is built in Vietnam, impossible for me) and then it was OK anywhere.
None of that merry go round with the 715Y.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty much all of them are built in Vietnam.

In the end I couldn't find anyone to ship me an LTE model so I got the wifi only model which kinda sucks but is ok for now. I couldn't get the Exynos version either, the stores that would ship here only had the new one. I got a T819 with the Qualcom. I'll try to pick up an LTE version when I go to Europe for work later. Thanks guys.

ashyx said:
Pretty much all of them are built in Vietnam.
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Yeah it even says "designed and built in Vietnam" Kinda interesting, I had no idea Vietnam was a high tech center or that Samsung had a facility there.

Samsung UK support says LTE tablets are definitely region locked. I don't know if I believe them since they were trying to push me to buy a tablet in my country- which has no Samsung store, and no Samsung presence except for a company that is the "official importer" that has nothing in stock and doesn't import the tab s2 in lte anyway. I call B.S. and I would bet money the tablets aren't region locked like you guys seem to be saying. But I can't prove it until I see an LTE tab box with the region lock warning.

My S2 bought in Hungary died the day after i took it to the usa and put in a local sim. Specially the imei and the baseband went null. Hungary tech support says it's due to the out of region sim. Believe it or not.

The whole thing is kinda stupid. It seems to make some sick kind of sense with phones from a corporate strong-arming the customer point of view. On the phones they say you have to make an actual 5 minute voice call to unlock, they specifically say using data won't work. The whole point of an LTE tablet is not to make calls, although you can. It's supposed to keep you connected when you're away from wifi. So what are people supposed to do? Hold up a ten inch brick to their heads and make a 5 minute call to region unlock it?
The phones that are region locked are supposed to come with a warning sticker on the box. Unless your tablet packaging specifically warns of the region lock I call B.S. on Samsung support on this topic. Otherwise they've been reasonably helpful.

N9500 UK - anyone used this and is it any good?

Unfortunately in the UK, the only way to get the Deep Sea Blue variant would be to buy the N9500. I understand that this was built specifically for China markets, but it should have the right network frequencies for the UK. I was just wondering if anyone has bought one of these before, and whether there's any quirks in the device compared to the UK model? Cheers

Using Note8 N-9500 for 3 weeks now
doubleluckstur said:
Unfortunately in the UK, the only way to get the Deep Sea Blue variant would be to buy the N9500. I understand that this was built specifically for China markets, but it should have the right network frequencies for the UK. I was just wondering if anyone has bought one of these before, and whether there's any quirks in the device compared to the UK model? Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Note 8 N-9500 is Hong Kong/China version. I have been using it for 3 weeks now, but I would not recommend it.
I have Hong Kong version. (China version doesn't support Google Play Store. Avoid it!)
Here are some negative things that I found out so far.
1. It works perfectly with UK network frequencies, however, you can't enable VoLTE or wifi cailling.
This is really downside. it keeps saying my current software does not support VoLTE.
2. It doesn't have Samsung Pass. Some apps require it to log in with your bio info (cf. finger print etc.), so it is bit annoying.
3. Android Pay works fine.
I have not use Samsung Pay yet, but Samsung Pay is registered as Hong Kong so you will get promotions from Hong Kong market only and you can't change it.
4. If you contact customer service through handset it automatically connect with Samsung Hong Kong Service centre. ha ha
I have tried to change it with other CSC roms such as Europe versions, but Note 8 N-9500 uses Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 not Exynos as Europe or Korean version.
At this point as far as I know it is impossible to use other CSC roms.

twotoy said:
Yes. Note 8 N-9500 is Hong Kong/China version. I have been using it for 3 weeks now, but I would not recommend it.
I have Hong Kong version. (China version doesn't support Google Play Store. Avoid it!)
Here are some negative things that I found out so far.
1. It works perfectly with UK network frequencies, however, you can't enable VoLTE or wifi cailling.
This is really downside. it keeps saying my current software does not support VoLTE.
2. It doesn't have Samsung Pass. Some apps require it to log in with your bio info (cf. finger print etc.), so it is bit annoying.
3. Android Pay works fine.
I have not use Samsung Pay yet, but Samsung Pay is registered as Hong Kong so you will get promotions from Hong Kong market only and you can't change it.
4. If you contact customer service through handset it automatically connect with Samsung Hong Kong Service centre. ha ha
I have tried to change it with other CSC roms such as Europe versions, but Note 8 N-9500 uses Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 not Exynos as Europe or Korean version.
At this point as far as I know it is impossible to use other CSC roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you managed to flash Europe firmware successfully?
I've also got N9500 deep sea blue, the only reason I bought this version was for the colour!
I quite like it but would like to have volte

SM N9500
No I haven't. As far as I know EU firmware doesn't work with this SM-N9500.
I ask some questions to Samsung customer service Hong Kong, but I haven't got the answer yet.
If I do, I will post it here. cheers!

Note 8 n9500
doubleluckstur said:
Unfortunately in the UK, the only way to get the Deep Sea Blue variant would be to buy the N9500. I understand that this was built specifically for China markets, but it should have the right network frequencies for the UK. I was just wondering if anyone has bought one of these before, and whether there's any quirks in the device compared to the UK model? Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the China variant of the N9500 in Deep sea blue
I I've had it for 3 months with no problems. I saw from one of the other posts that there had been some issues they had found with theirs. Just to comment on mine Samsung pay initially wouldn't let me load a card and work but now it works fine with no issues. Google play was installed and works without issue also. Unfortunately I have not been able to get VoLTE or WiFi calling to work as the firmware installed does not support the former and the latter, I'm still trying to get to work, but neither I or EE can come up with a reason why it doesn't. I've also not been able to install a European /UK firmware due to the Exynos/qualcom incompatability issue. mind you there are only a few reasons why you'd want to install the firmware as the phone works fine with the firmware installed bar the issues I've mentioned and f you can live without WiFi calling or VoLTE then there's no reason to use it. They are a great bit of kit as I they come with a much larger internal storage than is available over here. This was the reason I got mine in the first place as I store loads of books and music as well as videos and as an amateur photographer alongside my DSLR I still use this for photos as the shots are quite comparable in lots of cases. I hope this has helped, oh and one more thing, I i got mine new from a online phone store via ebay I ended up paying about £750-800 for it which was cheaper than the lower storage version that you can get in the UK so that's another plus

NDB19573 said:
I have the China variant of the N9500 in Deep sea blue
I I've had it for 3 months with no problems. I saw from one of the other posts that there had been some issues they had found with theirs. Just to comment on mine Samsung pay initially wouldn't let me load a card and work but now it works fine with no issues. Google play was installed and works without issue also. Unfortunately I have not been able to get VoLTE or WiFi calling to work as the firmware installed does not support the former and the latter, I'm still trying to get to work, but neither I or EE can come up with a reason why it doesn't. I've also not been able to install a European /UK firmware due to the Exynos/qualcom incompatability issue. mind you there are only a few reasons why you'd want to install the firmware as the phone works fine with the firmware installed bar the issues I've mentioned and f you can live without WiFi calling or VoLTE then there's no reason to use it. They are a great bit of kit as I they come with a much larger internal storage than is available over here. This was the reason I got mine in the first place as I store loads of books and music as well as videos and as an amateur photographer alongside my DSLR I still use this for photos as the shots are quite comparable in lots of cases. I hope this has helped, oh and one more thing, I i got mine new from a online phone store via ebay I ended up paying about £750-800 for it which was cheaper than the lower storage version that you can get in the UK so that's another plus
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No volte is a biggie for some.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

i wonder if the wifi calling would work on the proper csc for n9500's or if like my provider, regardless of what mods are done to the phone's software, if its not a device purchased from them, they black list imei. well i should say they white list theirs and simply block everything else.
people on rooted 9500:
have you manualy extracted csc from relevant provider firmware and copyed to system/omc?

Limeybastard said:
No volte is a biggie for some.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
/ appreciate that it must a deal breaker for some out. there .I guess its just never been such a huge issue for me really. Its the inactive wifi calling that's the pain in the rear for me. It's not that
its not working that annoys me the most, its more
that there is no actual reason why it shouldn't work. that's the most annoying thing. its just so usefull to have.
Sent from my SM-N9500 using Tapatalk

Using an unlocked att device outside USA

I want to buy a galaxy note 5 from Amazon while I'm in America and use it in a different country where I live.
The device I am considering is the sm-n920a. I've checked the cellular bands and they Mach.
I'm have a few questions since it is not the international version or the sm-n920c that is sold in my country.
1. I heard people saying that it won't fully support my language since it is an att phone. It seemed odd to me because I thought that if the international version supports the language any module should.
2. Will there be a problem with OTA updates?
3. At the price point of 360$, is the note 5 really the best phone to buy?
Thanks

chaimgross said:
I want to buy a galaxy note 5 from Amazon while I'm in America and use it in a different country where I live.
The device I am considering is the sm-n920a. I've checked the cellular bands and they Mach.
I'm have a few questions since it is not the international version or the sm-n920c that is sold in my country.
1. I heard people saying that it won't fully support my language since it is an att phone. It seemed odd to me because I thought that if the international version supports the language any module should.
2. Will there be a problem with OTA updates?
3. At the price point of 360$, is the note 5 really the best phone to buy?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have an unlocked AT&T Note 5 and an international one, both work perfectly even though I live outside America. And about updates I am not sure but you can always search for custom roms with the latest features for the device on the forum. And overall the n5 is a great phone in my opinion, has everything you need in a phone and more.

Status of Getting the Asus ROG II on 07/10/2019

Hey guys. So I've been a samsung user for years now and I stopped checking XDA or rooting for a long time now. So please bear with me.
I am interested in getting this phone from AliExpress (the only way for me in the middle east).
It's obviously the chinese tencent version. The seller mentions that it is flashed with a multilanguage ROM but with no OTA updates.
He says that we can ask for pre chinese phone in a completely sealed box (running unmodified software, chinese original rom).
I personally use my phone in English only and don't care about the multilanguage thing. In fact, I've previously perfectly used a Xiaomi device running the chinese rom.
So here goes my questions:
1- Any downsides of getting the chinese version and keeping it that way to keep getting OTAs?
2- Will I be able to flash google services and apps?
3- Is it rootable and unrootable on chinese rom?
If so, will we still be able to receive OTAs when rooted?
4- Is there's any way to have call recording without root? (I mean built-in support like xiaomi phones for example)?
5- Is the RAM management really as bad as I've heard? (check this review at 6:10). I mean I want to have full use of the full use of those 8GB ram.
6- Is there any way to flash a global rom and keep getting OTAs?
Thank guys.

Buy the North American version from the Asus website and save yourself a ton of trouble. Just be aware this phone will not do VoLTE or VoWiFi with any of the USA carriers.

docfong said:
Buy the North American version from the Asus website and save yourself a ton of trouble. Just be aware this phone will not do VoLTE or VoWiFi with any of the USA carriers.
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Click to collapse
Thank you for the reply man but seems you missed the part where I said "AliExpress" is the only way I can get this phone. Also I'm not planning to pay 1000$+ for a phone.

Life Engineer said:
Thank you for the reply man but seems you missed the part where I said "AliExpress" is the only way I can get this phone. Also I'm not planning to pay 1000$+ for a phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was actually $970 with tax directly from Asus but that gets you a valid warranty and the North American LTE bands so the phone will work properly here. You may want to read through the other threads here. All of your other questions have been asked and responded to. Good luck

docfong said:
It was actually $970 with tax directly from Asus but that gets you a valid warranty and the North American LTE bands so the phone will work properly here. You may want to read through the other threads here. All of your other questions have been asked and responded to. Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why would he need NA LTE bands when he is in middle-east Asia?

DeMockCracy said:
Why would he need NA LTE bands when he is in middle-east Asia?
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Click to collapse
I don't. Can you help with my questions?