Related
I am going to switch to T-Mobile in 2 months so was wondering if it will work with T-Mobile's HSPA + Network.
AFAIK It won't, but the frequenceies are listed on both carrier's sites so you can have a look at that.
No.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/0...nt-4g-hspa-phone-will-not-be-covered-by-both/
Couldn't we just flash the t-mobile radio like with the t-mobile sgs2 and the skyrocket from at&t?
It should be possible. Check out the specs of the two: http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=4804&idPhone2=4803
This is EXACTLY the same as Tmobile S2 and ATT S2 LTE: http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=4129&idPhone2=4303
Some awesome dev needs to do some radio hacking to make the two phones interchangeable as they did for the S2/S2 LTE.
pvc_ said:
No.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2011/0...nt-4g-hspa-phone-will-not-be-covered-by-both/
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Click to collapse
that article is over a year old. there are many devices that work on both carriers via 4g. looking at the frequencies on att version it should work with a radio flash.
There's hope then
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57460125-94/t-mobiles-pricier-samsung-galaxy-s3-will-not-get-lte/
same hardware in all US S3's so theoretically even a sprint or verizon one can be flashed if its just going to be software limitations
tspx23 said:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-57460125-94/t-mobiles-pricier-samsung-galaxy-s3-will-not-get-lte/
same hardware in all US S3's so theoretically even a sprint or verizon one can be flashed if its just going to be software limitations
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The CDMA and TDMA versions are different and not compatible. A sprint or Verizon model will not work on GSM networks due to the different protocols used. AFAIK no phone is universally portable amongst US carriers.
Verizon/Sprint/US Cellular phones are 100% different in terms of radio hardware and software.
It is possible the T-Mobile/AT&T ones will likely work together, but why? Also something to consider is the AT&T Note on T-Mobile gets HORRIBLE battery life.
malaeum said:
The CDMA and TDMA versions are different and not compatible. A sprint or Verizon model will not work on GSM networks due to the different protocols used. AFAIK no phone is universally portable amongst US carriers.
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Click to collapse
You sure about this? Verizon model will have a sim card and has GSM support. Verizon will probably block T-Mobile and ATT with all of their GSM/devices.
tspx23 said:
You sure about this? Verizon model will have a sim card and has GSM support. Verizon will probably block T-Mobile and ATT with all of their GSM/devices.
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Click to collapse
The SIM card is for LTE. The only way to get 3G on a CDMA device would be through CDMA.
joshnichols189 said:
The SIM card is for LTE. The only way to get 3G on a CDMA device would be through CDMA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not exactly true... After a "hack" to my VZW Moto Bionic and dropping in an ATT sim from a demo Galaxy Note, we got working H+ on the Bionic.
Even after hack, the Bionic doesn't appear to support T-Mobile's 1700mhz so I get EDGE only when I use the T-Mo SIM out of my Galaxy S2.
But I wont have a Verizon Galaxy S3 to play with to see how that works.
KidJoe said:
Not exactly true... After a "hack" to my VZW Moto Bionic and dropping in an ATT sim from a demo Galaxy Note, we got working H+ on the Bionic.
Even after hack, the Bionic doesn't appear to support T-Mobile's 1700mhz so I get EDGE only when I use the T-Mo SIM out of my Galaxy S2.
But I wont have a Verizon Galaxy S3 to play with to see how that works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting, have not heard of that one but I will take your word for it. Either way, most phones do not have AWS bands for T-Mobile unless they are T-Mobile phones.
Assuming the Verizon version has GSM 3G radios in it (what they call a "Global" phone) I don't see why even it could be flashed if someone could get the radio hacked.
For example, my current phone, the Droid 2 Global, normally runs on Verizon's CMDA bands. Being a global phone, it has GSM radios in it which can be activated if you get an unlock code from Verizon (not difficult).
Here's the catch- the baseband locks the phone so that it does not work on AT&T and T-Mobile's frequency bands! However, some clever hackers at TeamBlackHat were able to hack the baseband to allow it to work on US carriers as well.
tl;dr if the CDMA versions have GSM radios it should be feasible to make them work on AT&T and T-Mobile.
ExodusC said:
Assuming the Verizon version has GSM 3G radios in it (what they call a "Global" phone) I don't see why even it could be flashed if someone could get the radio hacked.
For example, my current phone, the Droid 2 Global, normally runs on Verizon's CMDA bands. Being a global phone, it has GSM radios in it which can be activated if you get an unlock code from Verizon (not difficult).
Here's the catch- the baseband locks the phone so that it does not work on AT&T and T-Mobile's frequency bands! However, some clever hackers at TeamBlackHat were able to hack the baseband to allow it to work on US carriers as well.
tl;dr if the CDMA versions have GSM radios it should be feasible to make them work on AT&T and T-Mobile.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So basically, all world phones can literally be made into world phones? Nice!
SaHiLzZ said:
It should be possible. Check out the specs of the two: gsmarena /compare.php3?idPhone1=4804&idPhone2=4803
This is EXACTLY the same as Tmobile S2 and ATT S2 LTE: gsmarena /compare.php3?idPhone1=4129&idPhone2=4303
Some awesome dev needs to do some radio hacking to make the two phones interchangeable as they did for the S2/S2 LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You raise a really good point.
joshnichols189 said:
Verizon/Sprint/US Cellular phones are 100% different in terms of radio hardware and software.
It is possible the T-Mobile/AT&T ones will likely work together, but why? Also something to consider is the AT&T Note on T-Mobile gets HORRIBLE battery life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the S2 and S2 LTE (skyrocket) succumb to bad battery life like the note does when their networks are interchanged?
Or even flash it in At&T SG3. Samsung said the hardware are the same and have all the frequencies. i believe it might not be advertised this way from the carriers. Just thinking out loud.
Sorry i posted in the wrong section. Admin please move to Q&A
sorry again
Eh, I dont think so. Not at first anyway... after some hackery it might be possible.
The US versions are all the same.
The International version is very different.
It will never work.
I have yet to get 5 bars on my SGS3. Kinda odd.
Not a good idea as someone already stated they're different. I did that once by accident with the original galaxy s. Flashed the canadian firmware for the US version of the phone and ended up bricking it. Not even a jig bought it back to life.
It should work with the at&t and t-mobile sgs3 just like with the skyrocket and t-mobile's sgs2
htc fan89 said:
It should work with the at&t and t-mobile sgs3 just like with the skyrocket and t-mobile's sgs2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure? Can you reference someone or someplace that has had success with this?
}{Alienz}{ said:
Are you sure? Can you reference someone or someplace that has had success with this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Skyrocket forums.. the AT&T Note also works because it also has the same SoC. The international version will never work with AWS though.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
... if this is true, I'm getting an AT&T S3 at retail and then flash the radio to T-Mobile.
Chances are I won't resist temptation and get the t-mobile one anyway
Lekz said:
... if this is true, I'm getting an AT&T S3 at retail and then flash the radio to T-Mobile.
Chances are I won't resist temptation and get the t-mobile one anyway
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It hasn't been tested yet on the S3. And while it works on the Note, it is far from optimal. I have not read since the early stages but it would freeze and get awful battery life on T-Mobile.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
The US [GSM] models, ok. The international model, 100% no.
And as I understood, the T-Mobile version is pentaband out of the box (it will get AT&T 3G/4G 1900 MHz) because T-Mobile is moving to that frequency. So if anything, get the T-Mobile one and use it on AT&T if you don't care about LTE.
Product F(RED) said:
The US [GSM] models, ok. The international model, 100% no.
And as I understood, the T-Mobile version is pentaband out of the box (it will get AT&T 3G/4G 1900 MHz) because T-Mobile is moving to that frequency. So if anything, get the T-Mobile one and use it on AT&T if you don't care about LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what about the other way around, since at&t version is cheaper to get than t-mobile? My skyrocket had good battery life when I flashed t-mobile radio on to it...not sure about the note
htc fan89 said:
what about the other way around, since at&t version is cheaper to get than t-mobile? My skyrocket had good battery life when I flashed t-mobile radio on to it...not sure about the note
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Note had abysmal battery life from what I read. Just wait for someone to do it (they will) so you don't have to possibly return whichever one you buy.
joshnichols189 said:
It hasn't been tested yet on the S3. And while it works on the Note, it is far from optimal. I have not read since the early stages but it would freeze and get awful battery life on T-Mobile.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the At&T Galaxy Note is what inspired me to think it might be doable!! The At&T Note i have is working fine with Simple Mobile and picking up 4g all the way. the battery sucks anyways even with the At&T modem. Also, you guys should note that stationed in Kuwait and im using the At&T Note with T-mobile modem overseas and still working great. Yes i have 3G as they dont have 4G here. they funny thing is that i still shows 4G and run about 19Mbps in most places.
I can get the international SGIII in Kuwait for $250 16G unlocked (NICE RIGHT?) but when im home i use the Simple mobile network(T-mobile).
you can call it greed but i want to have 2GB RAM, LTE, T-mobile 4G and the ablity to use every network in the world
I hope someone can make this happen
The reason it worked with the AT&T Note is because the T-Mobile S2 used the same SoC (Snapdragons S3). The US Galaxy S3's have Snapdragon S4's, the International has an Exynos 4412. The SoC's (CPU, RAM, Radios, DAC) are COMPLETELY different. It will NOT work. It's not software magic that got the Note to work. It's the fact that it supported the 1700 MHz frequency. The Exynos SoC's radio doesn't. You'll end up bricking the phone and requiring a JTAG.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA Premium HD app
Product F(RED) said:
The reason it worked with the AT&T Note is because the T-Mobile S2 used the same SoC (Snapdragons S3). The US Galaxy S3's have Snapdragon S4's, the International has an Exynos 4412. The SoC's (CPU, RAM, Radios, DAC) are COMPLETELY different. It will NOT work. It's not software magic that got the Note to work. It's the fact that it supported the 1700 MHz frequency. The Exynos SoC's radio doesn't. You'll end up bricking the phone and requiring a JTAG.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using XDA Premium HD app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No one listens to me :'( thanks for the backup Fred. Haha
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
To be fair, I never meant the International S3
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using Tapatalk 2
Product F(RED) said:
The US [GSM] models, ok. The international model, 100% no.
And as I understood, the T-Mobile version is pentaband out of the box (it will get AT&T 3G/4G 1900 MHz) because T-Mobile is moving to that frequency. So if anything, get the T-Mobile one and use it on AT&T if you don't care about LTE.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please confirm this, if I get the T-mobile version, and get it unlocked and use my existing AT&T sim on it, it will get 3G/4G speeds?. Would the international version also not give the same?. 4G speeds with AT&T?.
Thanks.
RizSher said:
Can you please confirm this, if I get the T-mobile version, and get it unlocked and use my existing AT&T sim on it, it will get 3G/4G speeds?. Would the international version also not give the same?. 4G speeds with AT&T?.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using the i9300 (International) on Straight Talk AT&T, which runs on AT&T's base network, and I get full HSPA+ (of course, no LTE). The i9300 runs on AT&T's bands, so if you used it on T-Mobile you'd only get EDGE (for now, because they're moving their network onto the same frequency as AT&T). If the T-Mobile version is indeed pentaband as I suspect, then unlocking it and using it on AT&T will give you the same data speeds as using the international version on AT&T.
I've got an unlocked AT&T Galaxy SIII, and I only get Edge for my data connection. Do I need to flash a T-Mobile radio? APN settings look okay, as far as I can see.
Also, can I flash a T-Mobile ROM and use Wifi calling, or is that asking too much?
I searched and couldn't find anyone asking these questions in the Q&A forum....
there are already like 3 threads below this one concerning the 3g/4g topic on a att sg3 working on tmobile. No it will not work because att sg3 does not support the aws tmobile frequencies. you will only be able to get edge. NOW if it were a tmobile sg3 on att then it would work.
All the threads I could find in this form on my search went the other way: T-Mo phone on AT&T.
Does anyone actually know whether a T-Mobile modem on an AT&T phone would work or not? I looked at the main board in my phone, and it's labelled with both SGH-I747 and SGH-T999, which makes me think the internals are fully identical.
I'd like to know this too! I also have an AT&T Galaxy SIII and was seriously considering moving to T-Mobile because of the new unlimited data plan they were going to start offering on 9/5. I had also looked through this forum, and could only find questions of the situation the other way around, T-Mob GSIII phone on AT&T network.
Basically, was wondering:
- is there a hardware limitation that APN settings and/or installing a new modem will not get me good data speeds?
- would I need to burn a new modem?
- I'm assuming at minimum I'd need new APN settings, and am assuming T-Mobile would be able to help with that. Right?
Thanks, really interested in being able to do this!
---------- Post added at 03:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:13 PM ----------
Hey oblib - looks like there's an unfortunate hardware limitation we won't be able to get around: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1771021
oblib__ said:
All the threads I could find in this form on my search went the other way: T-Mo phone on AT&T.
Does anyone actually know whether a T-Mobile modem on an AT&T phone would work or not? I looked at the main board in my phone, and it's labelled with both SGH-I747 and SGH-T999, which makes me think the internals are fully identical.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you see that the boards were labelled the same?
AFAIK, the radio's are different and flashing a T-mobile modem could possibly brick your device. It would be much easier to buy a T999 and use it on T-Mobile (it'll even work on AT&T 3G if you want to switch back, no LTE though).
The SoCs are different. Flashing a T-Mobile modem will not give you T-Mobile HSPA.
Looks like I didn't take any pictures of that side of the phone while I had it open, and I'm not eager to pop it open again. It definitely listed both models on the PCB. If I'm remembering correctly, it's on the same side as the SIM and SD card slots, so it's just matter of removing the back plate to see it, no more disassembly than that.
joshnichols189 said:
The SoCs are different. Flashing a T-Mobile modem will not give you T-Mobile HSPA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have part numbers for the two? According to wikipedia, they are the same Snapdragon S4 MSM8960. I just find it hard to believe that they would be different, though if they have the same pinout, that would explain the markings on my PCB.
This has been rehashed countless times. They are not the same phone. If the phones were the same, people would not be in here asking if they were the same. The MSM8960 comes in more than one flavor, with different modem parts. Yes, the CPU's are the same, but the MODEMS ARE DIFFERENT. It is an S4 Qualcomm part that comes in many different configurations. Instead of just reading until you get to some information that reinforces your preconceived notion, try reading a little further into the links at the bottom of the page and elsewhere. Seriously, if you really really don't think that Qualcomm would make different versions of the same chip, or configure them differently for the hundreds of different customer requirements, then fine, don't believe me, but it defies logic. Sorry about being an ass.
oblib__ said:
Looks like I didn't take any pictures of that side of the phone while I had it open, and I'm not eager to pop it open again. It definitely listed both models on the PCB. If I'm remembering correctly, it's on the same side as the SIM and SD card slots, so it's just matter of removing the back plate to see it, no more disassembly than that.
Do you have part numbers for the two? According to wikipedia, they are the same Snapdragon S4 MSM8960. I just find it hard to believe that they would be different, though if they have the same pinout, that would explain the markings on my PCB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The T-Mobile version uses an MSM8260a. This SoC is the Krait with an adreno 225 GPU and no LTE. The MSM8960 has all three.
Sent from my SGH-T999
joshnichols189 said:
The T-Mobile version uses an MSM8260a. This SoC is the Krait with an adreno 225 GPU and no LTE. The MSM8960 has all three.
Sent from my SGH-T999
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the useful response. For those looking for even more detail, here's a link: http://www.qualcomm.com/sites/default/files/common/snapdragon-specs-06.07.12.pdf
According to that the MSM8960 (chip in I747?) has a "World Mode" modem, while the MSM8260a has a UMTS modem.
Edit: Ah, and I see both of you have answered this question before, which I would have found if I searched on MSM8260a. The threads have been dead for over a week, so I'm not surprised I missed them, but thanks for answering the same questions again.
T-Mobile HSPA not support i747 right now.
oblib__ said:
I've got an unlocked AT&T Galaxy SIII, and I only get Edge for my data connection. Do I need to flash a T-Mobile radio? APN settings look okay, as far as I can see.
Also, can I flash a T-Mobile ROM and use Wifi calling, or is that asking too much?
I searched and couldn't find anyone asking these questions in the Q&A forum....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
T-Mobile uses a frequency for their 3g and 4g network that only T-Mobile branded phones have. Any other GSM phone will never get 3g or 4g on T-Mobile network unless it supports the T-Mobile band, which I believe is 1700MHz. It's limited by hardware. Nothing you can do to the phone will give you the 3g/4g you have to have a T-Mobile branded device.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
elesbb said:
T-Mobile uses a frequency for their 3g and 4g network that only T-Mobile branded phones have. Any other GSM phone will never get 3g or 4g on T-Mobile network unless it supports the T-Mobile band, which I believe is 1700MHz. It's limited by hardware. Nothing you can do to the phone will give you the 3g/4g you have to have a T-Mobile branded device.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not completely true. Since The Galaxy SII and the Galaxy Note (AT&T) have software radios, you can flash a radio from the TMO GSII and get 4G on TMO. I was running mine and many customers of mine like that for months until i switched phones.
Making your AT&T i747 GS3 work on T-Mobile 4G (without rooting)
oblib__ said:
I've got an unlocked AT&T Galaxy SIII, and I only get Edge for my data connection. Do I need to flash a T-Mobile radio? APN settings look okay, as far as I can see.
Also, can I flash a T-Mobile ROM and use Wifi calling, or is that asking too much?
I searched and couldn't find anyone asking these questions in the Q&A forum....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It works fine for me, the area i'm in does not support 4G on the 1900MHz frequency so I can definitely confirm my stock non-rooted AT&T i747 galaxy SIII is working on T-Mobile USA's 4G data network. I've uploaded a video to youtube of how to get this to work, should also work for the AT&T i317 note II as well. I can't post links on here I guess so just type my youtube username and search my videos.
youtube username: 6italia0
Video title: How to get AT&T gs3 i747 to work with Tmobile 4G (no root!)
6italia0 said:
It works fine for me, the area i'm in does not support 4G on the 1900MHz frequency so I can definitely confirm my stock non-rooted AT&T i747 galaxy SIII is working on T-Mobile USA's 4G data network. I've uploaded a video to youtube of how to get this to work, should also work for the AT&T i317 note II as well. I can't post links on here I guess so just type my youtube username and search my videos.
youtube username: 6italia0
Video title: How to get AT&T gs3 i747 to work with Tmobile 4G (no root!)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you just got it to work because T-Mobile launched 1900Mhz 4G starting 2013?
doutlaw said:
I think you just got it to work because T-Mobile launched 1900Mhz 4G starting 2013?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ive got a friend whos got this working, im gonna try and let you know!
I just picked up a t-mobile sim on ebay for a florida trip in a few weeks. Im hoping to get the $3 a day plan for my unlocked Galaxy s3 and hoping to get 1900mhz 4g service.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk 2
Same with the s2 flash an tmobile radio combo on the skyrocket and get 4g but with the s3 might be different
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
IT CAN WORK (see details!)
elesbb said:
T-Mobile uses a frequency for their 3g and 4g network that only T-Mobile branded phones have. Any other GSM phone will never get 3g or 4g on T-Mobile network unless it supports the T-Mobile band, which I believe is 1700MHz. It's limited by hardware. Nothing you can do to the phone will give you the 3g/4g you have to have a T-Mobile branded device.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is NOT TRUE, please be careful when making such "absolute" statements -- I just got a ATT i747 from craigslist, and it DOES work with the $30 Walmart plan - on 4G and LTE (depending on location).
The TRUE ANSWER IS -- IT DEPENDS -- if you live in an area that was recently upgraded to LTE (in my area was 02/13), you can get LTE/4G since t-mobile added support for it on 700 MHz (band 4) AWS (unverified - source: youtube video named "Tmobile 4G on att i747 gs3 data fix". Sorry I am not allowed to post web-links yet).
Anyway, I DO get 4G/LTE, I guess I was lucky
momchi said:
This is NOT TRUE, please be careful when making such "absolute" statements -- I just got a ATT i747 from craigslist, and it DOES work with the $30 Walmart plan - on 4G and LTE (depending on location).
The TRUE ANSWER IS -- IT DEPENDS -- if you live in an area that was recently upgraded to LTE (in my area was 02/13), you can get LTE/4G since t-mobile added support for it on 700 MHz (band 4) AWS (unverified - source: youtube video named "Tmobile 4G on att i747 gs3 data fix". Sorry I am not allowed to post web-links yet).
Anyway, I DO get 4G/LTE, I guess I was lucky
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do realize you resurrected an old thread, and responded to a post that was made a year ago??? Long before LTE rolled out. At the time of his post, he was 100% correct.
I dont think this is the intended way to get your 10 posts btw. There are plenty of recent issues to respond to. Thx.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda premium
I see that both notes from att and tmo support band IV. This begs the question, would an att note 2 work on the tmobile network?
thanks
privatewarrior1 said:
I see that both notes from att and tmo support band IV. This begs the question, would an att note 2 work on the tmobile network?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Possibly. With T-mobile refarming their network to use the 1900 band, all newer T-mobile phones are pentaband. AT&T will never use the 1700 AWS band which t-mobile currently uses, so it is not included in the phone. The only way that the AT&T version will work on T-mobile is if Samsung mass produced the versions together to save money (which is very possible).
privatewarrior1 said:
I see that both notes from att and tmo support band IV. This begs the question, would an att note 2 work on the tmobile network?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
According to multiple websites, engadget/gizmodo, The T-Mobile and AT&T internals are identical. All you would need to do is unlock
steve45058 said:
According to multiple websites, engadget/gizmodo, The T-Mobile and AT&T internals are identical. All you would need to do is unlock
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that's what it looks like. I was comparing the specs from tmobile.com and att.com and couldn't tell that there exists much difference.
Do you happen to have some links to the engadget/giz article?
thanks
privatewarrior1 said:
Yeah that's what it looks like. I was comparing the specs from tmobile.com and att.com and couldn't tell that there exists much difference.
Do you happen to have some links to the engadget/giz article?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not home right now so I cant find it in my history, but this article should help.
theverge.com/2012/10/25/3554328/t-mobile-galaxy-note-ii-lte-support
"Samsung's Galaxy Note II has been announced for multiple US carriers, but T-Mobile's version of the device contains an interesting surprise: hardware support for LTE. As noted by AnandTech, T-Mobile's variant is essentially the same hardware as AT&T's, including support for LTE. Of course, T-Mobile doesn't yet have an LTE network launched for the NoteII to run on, but it does plan to have it by the end of 2013. The big question, then, is whether the Note II will support it — T-Mobile's answer is yes, but with caveats:"
After considering a number of things I've been led on deciding I'd probably want to get an S4 over the other currently available smartphones. I've held off because I had wanted a more premium feeling phone other than plastic, but I realize now I can easily buy an aluminum backing+bumper replacement to give it that look and feel.
Anyways now to the question part of it... I was preferring an unlocked device, but the Internationally sold i9505 and i9500 do not have faster than 3G in the US, or so I've read.
I'm not looking to get a specific phone service right away, for now I want a solid device I'll be happy with for some years to come. Mainly as a portable device with storage and apps, and a little down the road to use it as my mobile phone.
I need some confirmation, but from what I understand the T-Mobile version would probably be the best? Due to once unlocked you can use it on both T-Mobile, or AT&T with 4G/LTE speeds. Also I am led to believe the AT&T S4 does not have the right frequencies for T-Mobile 4G/LTE.
Aside the above wireless speed question, I'd like to know:
1. What would be the point in flashing the i9505/i9500 ROM on the T-Mobile version? To remove T-Mobile association more from the phone... boot screen/software?
2. Does T-Mobile actually sell their version of the S4 at full price, not linked to any plan? Will they provide an unlock code same day, assuming I don't use the free method posted publically. I'm dreading the possibility of having to jump through hoops.
Below I have summerized what I understand about a few non-carrier specific phones....
i9505: International LTE "not working in USA", quad core CPU.
i9500: International 8 core CPU, better GPU.
S4 Google Edition: 4G/LTE capabile, Quad Core CPU, No touchwiz, comes in white color only.
Anyways looking for S4 owner's knowledge, experience and opinions here!
if youre going to pay full price you might want to consider the LTE-A version aka snapdragon 800 version
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Samsung-Gal...1271471972?pt=Cell_Phones&hash=item3384ceb764
32gb+snapdragon 800
According to that auction, it says it wont have 4G/LTE in the US? "I'm a frequency noob" One of my concerns was having something I could use on either TMobile or AT&T so I have options... if I was just looking at a 3g phone and cpu power I could just do this, or the i9500 "8 cores".
Dreamgun said:
According to that auction, it says it wont have 4G/LTE in the US? "I'm a frequency noob" One of my concerns was having something I could use on either TMobile or AT&T so I have options... if I was just looking at a 3g phone and cpu power I could just do this, or the i9500 "8 cores".
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it gets hspa+ on tmobile and att it might be able to use LTE-A when tmobile and att add it to their networks
and the 8core isnt really 8 core its 4+4 = 4 low power 4 high power cores, only 1 pair of cores work at a time so its only quad core
Several threads say the 9505 can work on TMobile if you flash a compatible kernel but the 9500 is not compatible. With regard to AT&T vs. TMO compatibility, search for AWS mod. A T-Mobile salesman told me he got his girlfriend's AT&T phone to work on TMO network using that patch.
Sent from my SGH-M919
@OP
My experience is that yes, I could buy the S4 from TMO without plan, just pre-paid with a small credit. I do not live in the US,and had no problem with documentation or payment. Of course it is full price.
What the sales person told me is they will give you an unlock code only after 3 months if you are using it, reloading credit I guess. This doesn't work at all for me, but unlocking is actually real easy with the Samsun embedded app. I bought the phone and tried, it worked immediately (if it doesn't you can hand it back and have it refunded, for the restocking fee of 50USD).
Recently I used the ROM code here from Jamal (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2348272), to turn the M919 TMO into a i9505 Nexus. For me it is a massive improvement as I just cannot stand bloatware. It also free up much memory, and battery lasts longer.
The 9505 and 9500 will not get you LTE nor H+ on T-Mobile.
They will ONLY *possibly* get you 4G on AT&T.
The AT&T S4 is locked, yes. Your best bet is the T-Mobile S4.
You can flash 9505 ROMs on the T-Mobile version as well as some other ones.
Additionally, the development for the T-Mobile s4 is outstanding.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
How do the Verizon and Sprint Galaxy S4 compare to the T-Mobile S4?
Nate2 said:
How do the Verizon and Sprint Galaxy S4 compare to the T-Mobile S4?
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cant use them on tmobile - cdma phones
haldi15 said:
cant use them on tmobile - cdma phones
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Click to collapse
I hear the Verizon S4 has a SIM card. Aren't SIM cards for GSM phones?
Hi,
I m also freq noob and as much as I have searched the forum I cannot find the answer...I have SGH-M919 TMO and I am using it in Serbia but have network problems: receiving missed call TXT msg from operator, dropping out of network and difficulty in reconnecting to home network (need restarting).
Since TMO version supports all bands what can be the problem that phone is acting like that?
It works fine when i m on the network...we dont have LTE here nor will we for some time...
Please some help/direction to the thread dealing with this kind of problem...
Thanks
I had a stock unlocked att s4 on T-Mobile getting LTE without any mods.
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