hi, i want to get a 512GB note9 for use with spectrum mobile, they're a small mvno carrier that uses the verizon network. i think the CSC code for spectrum is "CHA" because they are owned by charter.
the carrier is stupid and can't tell me what models they will accept, or how to ensure all the features like wifi calling are supported, they keep asking for an IMEI to check it, and i don't have one because I haven't bought the damn phone yet... and buying one directly from them is overpriced.
what do you think is the best model for me to buy? i might want to root someday if it ever becomes possible, but for now i just want to use oreo, block the pieUI and bootloader updates, and prevent knox from tripping to preserve any warranty.
some extra concerns are:
#1 i see a lot of people complaining that unlocked phones from samsung.com & bestbuy don't support wifi calling, and neither do the international ones.
#2 if i buy an international version phone from amazon, supposedly I won't have any warranty???
#3 would a carrier refuse to activate a phone if it's not from my region? (usa)
thanks!
The SM-N960U1 is the US unlocked version, with the same hardware as all the other US variants, and the reason it is different than the international version is the international version is built with the Samsung/Exynos SOC which is GSM only, while the Qualcomm/Snapdragon hardware variant must be used for the USA because of Sprint/Verizon (CDMA). The USA version is what you must get to support the CDMA bands (international version will not work on the Verizon network). And You will be not only at the mercy of what Verizon only allows, but also Spectrum, which uses the Verizon network. It's very unlikely you will get wifi calling, but you may get data during calls. I bought my unlocked USA version SM-N960U1 brand new from ebay for $635 about three weeks ago. If you buy a US variant that is carrier specific AND not unlocked by that carrier, you may not be able to use it on any carrier except the one it is locked to.
https://forums.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-note-9/945781-unlocked-note-9-verizon.html
also..... Pie runs BEAUTIFULLY out of the box (do all the incremental security updates then Oreo>Pie before installing any apps). Night Mode (native dark UI) is very nice too. ..... and I agree, Spectum sucks.
i have seen lots of people complaining that they didn't like the pie update because of oneUI, it breaks the camera pro-mode, removes the video taking button, removes the minimize taskbar button, makes split-screen mode harder to use, and it wastes half of the screen in the menus, lots of complaints like that.
the wasting of half the screen seems pretty stupid to me, because the whole idea of this phone is to have a big useful screen. i don't think its going to make it any easier to control with a thumb just by removing half the items from the screen it just means now you have to do a bunch of scrolling to find what you wanted. am i wrong, or what is your experience with it?
i have also heard that if you let the phone update, the bootloader version will increment and that prevents you from ever re-flashing oreo again, and like it or not you'll be stuck with pie forever. so i'm really hesitant to even try pie out to see if i like using it or not.
dumbfone said:
i have seen lots of people complaining that they didn't like the pie update because of oneUI, it breaks the camera pro-mode, removes the video taking button, removes the minimize taskbar button, makes split-screen mode harder to use, and it wastes half of the screen in the menus, lots of complaints like that.
the wasting of half the screen seems pretty stupid to me, because the whole idea of this phone is to have a big useful screen. i don't think its going to make it any easier to control with a thumb just by removing half the items from the screen it just means now you have to do a bunch of scrolling to find what you wanted. am i wrong, or what is your experience with it?
i have also heard that if you let the phone update, the bootloader version will increment and that prevents you from ever re-flashing oreo again, and like it or not you'll be stuck with pie forever. so i'm really hesitant to even try pie out to see if i like using it or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I read a few issues too, and so when I got the phone, some here said people who factory reset after update, or update right after setup before installing apps have no problems. That's what I did, and I have no problems. Not one thing yet have I discovered is not working as designed.
I write and test software and I trust that Samsung releases good software. They cannot test with everyone's weird setups, but they do test with clean setups, and they wouldn't have released if it was as bad as people claim. As long as you update before installing anything or factory reset after install, you'll have a great running system like Samsung tests on.
I've installed many apps since. All good.
Also extremely impressed with battery performance. I use this phone a lot, and my S7 on Oreo would often be at 10% by the end of the day. Note 9 on Pie doesn't go below 50%
I've read and struggled with this for days, so it's time to ask. I plan to live in Colombia and the US.
1. I'm with Verizon with a rooted Note 3, KitKat, and KNOX not tripped. My phone is not a toy for me. It gets used for recording calls so I don't need to take notes, for charging customers for my time and proving my time, for finding network bands being used, for viewing and finding Wi-Fi signals, for doing Wi-Fi site surveys, for RDPing into remote servers and computers from anywhere, for making and having my US number forward to a Google voice number when I'm out of country, writing notes, signing POs, and getting a real backup of my phone so I can restore it back to the way it was if something happens. Yes, it is rooted, on Kit-Kat, Lollipop was blocked, and KNOX is not tripped. I have no use for games or symphonic sound. The only thing I care about is if it is loud enough for loud areas and bright enough for bright areas, and 1080p resolution is fine. The problems with keeping the Note 3 are it does not have LTE-A, which means it will not be able to work on the Verizon network past the end of the year, and it doesn't support the Colombian bands where I intend to live most of the time.
2. The first Verizon Note to enable Verizon and Colombian carriers is the Note 8. US carriers seem to be retarded when it comes to handling band aggregation and have VoLTE issues unless you use their phones. LTE-Pro and 5G will enforce end to that. In the mean time, foreign carriers even in 3rd-world countries do not have those issues as long as the phone supports their bands. Since both the Note 8 and Note 9 get Pie and Q rammed down their throat, and since call recording is broken in both versions, the only way out is root. As far as I have read, you cannot root the Verizon Note 8 and 9, and you cannot stop the update from Oreo to Pie. I've had stylus phones since the TouchPro2 and wouldn't move to Android until they finally developed the apps I needed and they had a phone with an integrated stylus.
If you see a good way out of carrying two phones, let me know. I could care less if the way to get what I need is not a Samsung. Having a KNOX that cannot be reset if you wipe the phone back to stock is almost as asinine as Google releasing Android with broken call recording.
Thanks!
Hey all! Forgive my ignorance, it's been a long time since I've done anything with firmware on Android phones (since I flashed a custom ROM to my Motorola Droid X about 10 years ago, lol). I've been poring over these forums for a few hours now and trying to piece some information together, but I could really use a hand from some more experienced folks.
Here's my situation: I'm in the U.S. I own an AT&T SM-N950U, and a Verizon SM-N950U. The Verizon phone is no longer being used (since April of 2018). I accidentally dropped the AT&T phone and heavily damaged the screen/digitizer and chassis, and would like to go back to using the Verizon phone, but on AT&T's network. I swapped the AT&T SIM to the VZW phone, and I was surprised to see that after a reboot, the AT&T splash screen came up, and after a factory reset, acted just like a new AT&T phone. It will send and receive data, SMS, and phone calls. However, the phone is still running Oreo, and when I tried to update it through OTA or through Samsung Smart Switch, it said that the phone was up to date. A little digging in the settings shows me that the phone is still considered a VZW-branded phone (ATT/ATT/VZW), and I believe this is the reason why I'm not able to receive the OTA updates. I also noticed that I no longer get 5G service, and I'm worried that there may be other functions missing too. I've seen BlueFox721's guide on carrier switching, and decided to do a bit more research before making an attempt, but I figured I would ask some questions.
First off, my main goal is to get this VZW Note 8 to work with all intended functionality of an up-to-date AT&T Note 8, including future OTA updates, bloatware, the whole deal. Is this actually possible?
If it is possible, can it be done without tripping Knox and hindering Samsung functionality?
I've read that root isn't possible with any bootloader past v3... I'm running v4 (N950USQU4CRF3). Is root necessary to switch carriers, or is it as simple as flashing an AT&T firmware with a newer bootloader version than what I currently use?
Again, I know a lot of this information is out there, but there's just so much to comb through I thought it might be better to just ask in regards to my particular situation, in case I'm not understanding something correctly. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Back in July I got a steal on a new US Cellular Galaxy Note 9, so I immediately threw my iPhone 6S SIM card into it and went through several rounds of software updates. After the last update the splash screen switched to AT&T and it suddenly had several AT&T apps. It didn't TOTALLY eliminate the US Cellular stuff because I had to delete at least one app and change the Samsung browser's default home page.
Due to the iPhone SIM card and some stuff on AT&T's side, it would not do VoLTE or WiFi calling until I got a new SIM and had AT&T use the IMEI from an AT&T Galaxy Note 9 (read it off one from the store). I did that in late August and the only remaining issue O noticed was that my MMS messages will not download as long as I am on WiFi.
I just noticed what may be a new issue: I think I stopped getting carrier updates. Looking on AT&T's site, I see that they have multiple newer updates with the latest from September 18th:
https://www.att.com/devicehowto/tut...tep_KM1278532?make=Samsung&model=SamsungN960U
My "Security Patch Level" says May 1, 2019, while AT&T's website says that there have been 4 updates since then (latest at Security Patch Level September 1, 2019).
My baseband version doesn't quite match any of the ones associated with AT&T updates, though their May 22nd update seems to be the most similar (AT&T's N960USQS1CSE1 compared with my N960USQU1CSE3).
I recall that the new phone updated multiple times and was still on Oreo before it updated again to Pie, and again to AT&T-flavored Pie. I figure the final update was really just adding the AT&T apps and splash screen, but it somehow stopped me from getting further updates from US Cellular. I'm pretty sure I had an AT&T SIM card inserted for all of my updates.
On that note, I believe I tossed the original SIM and US Cellular does not operate in my region (only showed up here through a salvage store). I'm not easily able to get another US Cellular SIM for triggering it to revert to a US Cellular ROM. I'm not interested in custom ROMs and all that and ultimately just want to keep my phone up to date the same way a normal AT&T customer would after buying theirs from AT&T. I thought the Note 9 adding carrier customizations to match the inserted SIM would take care of all this automatically (half the point, right?) but I guess I was wrong.
Is it possible to get carrier updates like I was getting before? If not, what would you guys recommend for getting up to date and staying up to date? Thanks!
CZroe said:
Back in July I got a steal on a new US Cellular Galaxy Note 9, so I immediately threw my iPhone 6S SIM card into it and went through several rounds of software updates. After the last update the splash screen switched to AT&T and it suddenly had several AT&T apps. It didn't TOTALLY eliminate the US Cellular stuff because I had to delete at least one app and change the Samsung browser's default home page.
Due to the iPhone SIM card and some stuff on AT&T's side, it would not do VoLTE or WiFi calling until I got a new SIM and had AT&T use the IMEI from an AT&T Galaxy Note 9 (read it off one from the store). I did that in late August and the only remaining issue O noticed was that my MMS messages will not download as long as I am on WiFi.
I just noticed what may be a new issue: I think I stopped getting carrier updates. Looking on AT&T's site, I see that they have multiple newer updates with the latest from September 18th:
https://www.att.com/devicehowto/tut...tep_KM1278532?make=Samsung&model=SamsungN960U
My "Security Patch Level" says May 1, 2019, while AT&T's website says that there have been 4 updates since then (latest at Security Patch Level September 1, 2019).
My baseband version doesn't quite match any of the ones associated with AT&T updates, though their May 22nd update seems to be the most similar (AT&T's N960USQS1CSE1 compared with my N960USQU1CSE3).
I recall that the new phone updated multiple times and was still on Oreo before it updated again to Pie, and again to AT&T-flavored Pie. I figure the final update was really just adding the AT&T apps and splash screen, but it somehow stopped me from getting further updates from US Cellular. I'm pretty sure I had an AT&T SIM card inserted for all of my updates.
On that note, I believe I tossed the original SIM and US Cellular does not operate in my region (only showed up here through a salvage store). I'm not easily able to get another US Cellular SIM for triggering it to revert to a US Cellular ROM. I'm not interested in custom ROMs and all that and ultimately just want to keep my phone up to date the same way a normal AT&T customer would after buying theirs from AT&T. I thought the Note 9 adding carrier customizations to match the inserted SIM would take care of all this automatically (half the point, right?) but I guess I was wrong.
Is it possible to get carrier updates like I was getting before? If not, what would you guys recommend for getting up to date and staying up to date? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Attached is the link for my last update , I'm using it on AT&T , phone is original from AT&T, and all is Ok for me, I hope can help you.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/forum....note-9-att-rom-update-sept-2019-t3979303/amp/
Thunderxxx said:
Attached is the link for my last update , I'm using it on AT&T , phone is original from AT&T, and all is Ok for me, I hope can help you.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/forum....note-9-att-rom-update-sept-2019-t3979303/amp/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll check it out when I get back to my PC. Thanks! I assume it's something I need to flash with Odin?
I've purchased the new Galaxy Tab A 8.4 2020 directly from Samsung. There are only carrier-locked versions, but as Google Fi user, I picked the T-Mobile version as likely the 'most compatible' with Fi, which uses T-Mobile/Sprint for most of its connectivity.
As I don't want to pay for another Fi account, I ordered (for free) a data-only SIM from Google - it works perfectly. Normally, I run off of wifi only, turning Airplane Mode on first, then turning on wifi. I've traveled with it outside the house once, and used the data SIM very nicely. As a Fi user, I can also make calls from it, over data, wifi or LTE.
Some notes on the tablet:
Good:
1. It is fast enough for all my needs, and with a micro SD in addition to the SIM, set as additional storage, I have plenty of room for my needs. NOTE: I don't play games, so I can't comment on game performance.
2. Face recognition works well as long as there is enough light - in dim light, you will have to use PIN/Password, as there is no fingerprint reader.
3. I was able to source a case via Amazon, there are a number of choices.
4. USB C
Not So Good:
1. No fingerprint reader.
2. No ambient light sensor, so you will be adjusting lighting manually. There are apps which use the camera for this, but then you will lose face recognition unlocking.
3. Samsung's Usual Bloatware: I use virtually none of it, not even Touchwiz, as I prefer Nova.
4. Although the case has magnets, they won't turn off the screen when the cover is closed, you will have to turn it off manually or wait for it to timeout.
5. Running Android 9, and nothing available as to when, if ever, it will get an upgrade.
6. Security patch is Feb 1, 2020 and no idea if/when it will get another.
Using the XDA app.. it identifies as an AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 3 !
All in all, I judge this to be an 'OK' but not great effort from Samsung for $264. For a few more bucks, it could have been a lot better. If the Lenovo new M8 had not been out of stock, I might have bought it instead and saved $130.
You can find the T-Mobile version at: https://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/t...-8-4-2020-32gb-mocha-t-mobile-sm-t307uznatmb/
regards, John
Did some Geekbench 5 testing, comparing it against my Huawei Mediapad M3 running an in-process version of Lineage 15.
The M3 runs Kirin 950, 4 cores @ 1.8 and 4 cores @ 2.3 The Tab A runs an ARMv8, 6 cores @ 1.59 and 2 cores @ 1.77
The M3 won the CPU test, single core 351 multi core 1267, with the Tab A at single core 271 and multi core 965
The M3 has a Mali T880, and the Tab A has a newer Mali G71 graphics engine.
Trying to run the Compute test (Vucan), the M3 failed to run a number of tests, giving it a very low 105, while the Tab A got a 774
However, until the M3 started failing to run tests, and having started both at the same time, they were literally neck-in-neck for speed. The supposed advantage of the G71 is 20% reduction in power use.
I will run the Huawei numbers again after the Lineage ROM is more stable.
Update Received! 6/15/2020
Received update this morning - I was hoping for update to Android 10, but this one was to May Security update, May kernel update. New build number is PPR1.180610.011.T307USQS2ATE3
I am happy to see an indication that this tablet is going to get updates!
I'm not yet noting any differences from before the update.
At&T Samsung Tab A 8.4 SM-T307U
I wanted to buy unlock version of this tablet from samsung but unfortunately they only sell carrier version.
I have a T-Mobile free line that wasn't in use so thought i should buy this tablet use it in my car for music, GPS, OBDII etc. I didn't buy the T-mobile version because the free line that i have is for cellphone and If i would buy T-mobile version of this tablet, they would ask me to change the line to data only and wouldn't be unlimited anymore. So i went with AT&T version and was cheaper also, AT&T unlocked it for me in about 48hrs after request.
It works fine with T-mobile and was hoping it would switch the firmware to T-mobile once i put the sim like it does with Samsung phone that it initializes the sim and reboots with that carrier software but the Tablet doesn't do that. I even flash T-Mobile Firmware, it flashes successfully but still AT&T stuff is on the tablet. I was able to uninstall/disable most of the At&t bloat but not all. So came to XDA to find root or custom firmware but unfortunately nothing yet.
Update - Occasional Freezing
I use the Brave browser, and on this Tab A, I occasionally run into the screen freezing for no apparent reason. It eventually unfreeze, but is disconcerting.
OP, how did you manage to get the SIM card to authenticate on your Google Fi account? I purchased this tablet to use for work as I am an Uber driver and tried to authenticate the device with a data-only SIM card. The device manages to use 3g and technically works without authentication through the Fi app but is worthlessly slow this way. I can't rely on a 3g connection for the Uber driver application. When I try to authenticate the device using the Fi app, it takes awhile before stating the device isn't compatible with Fi.
Did you authenticate the app with a different device and then insert it into the tab A 8.4 2020? Just to confirm ahead of time, I too have the T-Mobile version of the tablet.
Thank you if you get this and have the time to explain how you managed to make the device work!
HateToConform said:
OP, how did you manage to get the SIM card to authenticate on your Google Fi account? I purchased this tablet to use for work as I am an Uber driver and tried to authenticate the device with a data-only SIM card. The device manages to use 3g and technically works without authentication through the Fi app but is worthlessly slow this way. I can't rely on a 3g connection for the Uber driver application. When I try to authenticate the device using the Fi app, it takes awhile before stating the device isn't compatible with Fi.
Did you authenticate the app with a different device and then insert it into the tab A 8.4 2020? Just to confirm ahead of time, I too have the T-Mobile version of the tablet.
Thank you if you get this and have the time to explain how you managed to make the device work!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually use it for news, reading etc. I have not tried to make Fi calls over 3g/LTE - just tried to do so, did not work, but I will try it again. It has worked fine for data over LTE. You can now have both Fi and Google Voice numbers, maybe get a Google Voice number and try calling over 3G with that?
friedsonjm said:
I actually use it for news, reading etc. I have not tried to make Fi calls over 3g/LTE - just tried to do so, did not work, but I will try it again. It has worked fine for data over LTE. You can now have both Fi and Google Voice numbers, maybe get a Google Voice number and try calling over 3G with that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not too worried about the ability to make/receive calls and my tablet states that my device is on LTE but I can be sure by the incredibly slow speeds I'm getting that it is locked to 3g. It takes minutes to load simple web pages. When you go to the Fi app does it state that your device is authenticated with the SIM associated to a tab A 8.4?
I just want LTE to use for Uber so I don't have my main phone pinned at maximum brightness all the time as this can cause burn in issues with the OLED display.
Edit: I was able to solve the issue with the help of tech support. The solution is to activate the SIM manually through the Fi website (fi.google.com/data) and restart the device with the SIM inserted (also the support rep had me delete the Fi app before restarting). Hope this helps anyone who finds this thread in the same way I did!
HateToConform said:
I'm not too worried about the ability to make/receive calls and my tablet states that my device is on LTE but I can be sure by the incredibly slow speeds I'm getting that it is locked to 3g. It takes minutes to load simple web pages. When you go to the Fi app does it state that your device is authenticated with the SIM associated to a tab A 8.4?
I just want LTE to use for Uber so I don't have my main phone pinned at maximum brightness all the time as this can cause burn in issues with the OLED display.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using a full Fi voice/data SIM, or just data? I'm using just a data SIM...
Updated today, 108MB download, security patch level 1 July 2020. Kernel 4.4.177-18047720 Jul 8. Seems like a large patch for just security, but no other major changes observable. Still Android 9. Unable to find any public information on if/when upgrade to Android 10 will occur.
I'm surprised that a 2020 device doesn't even have any public info when it's going to catch up with present time's Android 10 (while there are already plans in the industry for Android 11). Very disappointing...
Update to Android 10 has been published by Samsung, and apparently is being sent out by Verizon. Nothing from T-Mobile yet... https://doc.samsungmobile.com/sm-t307u/glw/doc.html
T-Mobile Upgrading to 10 Today
Updated to Android 10, so far without issue. Security patch level Sept 1, 2020
I have sadly figured out that my old Huewei Mediapad 3 running a custom ROM https://forum.xda-developers.com/mediapad-m3/development/rom-t4085115/page58 has much better wifi reception that my new Galaxy Tab 8.4 2020
Unexpected update received today; still on Android 10, One UI 2.1, kernel 4.4.177-19484886, Build QP1A.190711.020.T307USQS3BTJ1
Security patch level Oct-2020 Release 1
This is the first time I've seen security patch levels updated two months in a row. The lack of an update to Android 11 is still very disappointing.
I have one too. How did you remove all the bloatware? Is possible to root it?
dr.dido89 said:
I have one too. How did you remove all the bloatware? Is possible to root it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have not removed bloatware, and it is not rooted. Mine is still not even unlocked, as I refuse to pay T-Mobile for 6 months of service I don't need.
I have Google Fi data chip in it, which works fine, and I use Nova launcher on all my phones and tablets so as to have a consistent interface.
As far as I know, no developer is working on unlocking/rooting or custom ROM.
dr.dido89 said:
I have one too. How did you remove all the bloatware? Is possible to root it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed Canadian Samsung tab A 8.4 Firmware (XAC)which is unlocked LTE version of this tablet. Not a single bloat and is faster than At&t firmware. I'm able to send/receive sms and mms, Hotspot but no call. So my t-mobile phone sim works in this unlocked At&t tablet with unlimited data.
XAA USA unlocked
XAC CANADA Unlocked.
mha1021 said:
I flashed Canadian Samsung tab A 8.4 Firmware (XAC)which is unlocked LTE version of this tablet. Not a single bloat and is faster than At&t firmware. I'm able to send/receive sms and mms, Hotspot but no call. So my t-mobile phone sim works in this unlocked At&t tablet with unlimited data.
XAA USA unlocked
XAC CANADA Unlocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My problem is, I don't believe I can flash any firmware until I can unlock the tablet - which I can't do without T-Mobile. Or am I missing something?
Updated today to Android 10, One UI 2.1, Jan 1 Security patch. I thought that the One UI 3.0 came with Android 10, but that's not what sys info says. I use Nova so I don't much care.
Running Geekbench 5, results are Single Core, 271 and multi-core, 998 virtually the same as day 1.