Upgrade or wait? - Verizon Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

With the CyberMonday discount, I'm VERY tempted to upgrade now. But I need root, and it doesn't seem to have anything reliable yet. Should I upgrade and hope for a root soon, or wait?
I'm not sure I'd call not having Root a 'deal breaker', but it's pretty close for me. I'm content with my Note 2 but it IS showing it's age and I have problems now and then with it.

I took the upgrade and really enjoying this phone. Yes, I prefer root but haven't gotten bored yet.

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6 months to achieve root?

Hey all. I am looking to upgrade to the Note 4. I have used my Note 3 T- mobile version on AT&T for the past year which had an unlocked bootloader so it got root and custom recovery almost right away. Did it really take 6 months to just get root on the ATT version of the Note 3? And if so, what are the chances it will take that long again?
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
drmacrofish said:
Hey all. I am looking to upgrade to the Note 4. I have used my Note 3 T- mobile version on AT&T for the past year which had an unlocked bootloader so it got root and custom recovery almost right away. Did it really take 6 months to just get root on the ATT version of the Note 3? And if so, what are the chances it will take that long again?
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
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No one will work on it. Even with a bounty no one really seemed to care about getting root on the N3, we all just gave up hope when suddenly GeoHot swooped in with towelroot totally surprising everyone, but this was months later. There are still no custom ROMs and with safestrap development going away it just seems there is little incentive to root, especially when it's possible we may get the L upgrade in the spring.
But we won't know until the phones are released. Maybe there is a simple exploit and we get lucky, maybe not and we wait months or forever and it never gets rooted.
Oh wow. I didn't realize the ATT version didn't get root till towelroot. Man, that was forever. I am debating getting the Note 4 on T mobile, but to get it right away may be a pain, plus I don't think I will be able to get the 200$ off from Samsung if I go that route. I kinda want to just buy the phone outright and 200$ off is pretty nice.
Maybe I will just go with the ATT version and see how it goes and if development sucks and I really want to root or run custom ROMS I could always sell it in the future and get a T mobile one later....
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
drmacrofish said:
Oh wow. I didn't realize the ATT version didn't get root till towelroot. Man, that was forever. I am debating getting the Note 4 on T mobile, but to get it right away may be a pain, plus I don't think I will be able to get the 200$ off from Samsung if I go that route. I kinda want to just buy the phone outright and 200$ off is pretty nice.
Maybe I will just go with the ATT version and see how it goes and if development sucks and I really want to root or run custom ROMS I could always sell it in the future and get a T mobile one later....
Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk
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I believe it did have Root when it was first released. But the update to KK fixed that root exploit, that's when we waited 5 or so months before towelroot came out. So the smart guys didn't update to KK, of course I was one of the stupid ones who did upgrade and I remember painfully waiting for root. Most of us had given up and assumed it would never happen, then literally one day GeoHot released towelroot with no warning at all.
I had the Tmobile one preordered, but I am pretty sure I'm going to cancel it and go with the ATT one. I'm reading here and there of reception and LTE issues with the Tmobile one on the Note 3 and really don't want to deal with that as my phone actually working is much more important than being rooted. I'll miss root greatly, but if I want to stay with ATT I guess that's the price I pay. And maybe we get lucky and a root pops up. Otherwise the only things I'm missing are titanium, and xposed which I mainly use for the multi windows module. I don't bother flashing custom ROM's so don't really care about that.
It did have root at launch and even with the first update. However for those who took the KK update, they were stuck until towelroot.
spinedoc said:
I believe it did have Root when it was first released. But the update to KK fixed that root exploit, that's when we waited 5 or so months before towelroot came out. So the smart guys didn't update to KK, of course I was one of the stupid ones who did upgrade and I remember painfully waiting for root. Most of us had given up and assumed it would never happen, then literally one day GeoHot released towelroot with no warning at all.
I had the Tmobile one preordered, but I am pretty sure I'm going to cancel it and go with the ATT one. I'm reading here and there of reception and LTE issues with the Tmobile one on the Note 3 and really don't want to deal with that as my phone actually working is much more important than being rooted. I'll miss root greatly, but if I want to stay with ATT I guess that's the price I pay. And maybe we get lucky and a root pops up. Otherwise the only things I'm missing are titanium, and xposed which I mainly use for the multi windows module. I don't bother flashing custom ROM's so don't really care about that.
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Ok, that makes more sense. That is kinda what I remember now. Had forgotten all that and didn't pay too much attention cause I had the T mobile version. That was with that Root De La Vega or whatever.
Yeah, I am pretty sure I am gonna go with AT&T version at least at first. I can do it through Best Buy that way and get the 200$ instant credit with turning in a phone. Then on top of that hopefully sell my Note 3 and come out pretty good. At least that is the current idea. Will see for sure. At least now I know I don't want the iPhone 6+ after seeing the Note 4 in person.
As to reception issues, yeah, I don't think my Note 3 T mobile version ever got quit as good a signal or data speeds as the ATT note 3 does on AT&T network, which makes sense really. You don't have the ATT modem installed.
I initially had the Note 3 ATT phone too, and then the t mobile one which I got off ebay. I had both at the same time and did do some initial testing. The db signal was close, but not quite as good as the ATT version one was. That I do recall for sure. Not that the t mobile one was horrible, but just not as good. I am not sure about the data speeds however. I guess if you really want to be sure the phone is working the best it can, then better to use the one designed for the network you will use it on.
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The way I figure it is the Tmobile version is almost always cheaper on swappa/ebay. So if I really get sick of the locked bootloader, and also read reports on XDA that there are no reception issues I can always sell my ATT Note 4 and pick up a Tmobile one. Samsung phones seem to drop a bit in value at that 2-3 month mark, that plus the $200 rebate will mean I will prob make money off such a trade. That's the worst case scenario, realistically I'll probably just adjust to no root and keep the ATT one.

Sad panda here :(

This is horrible not having root this long. It's a completely new and raw feeling. Every android phone I've ever had had got root the same day I picked it up. The og DROID was a development veteran. The Droid X, eh.. The galaxy nexus speaks for itself. The note 2 had great development as did my note 3. Then I pick up a AT&T note 4 thinking I had nothing to worry about as this is my first AT&T phone. A month later and even though this phone is awesome, its horrible not having root. I don't blame anyone but AT&T. What's a**holes. I LONG for Viper Audio & Xposed...
I feel your pain...which is exactly why I'm chomping at the bit for my Nexus 6 to arrive . I'll probably carry them both, as I think the camera is better in the Note 4..........but I want my Xposed! I gotta save those snapchats! LOL
treytreytaylor said:
This is horrible not having root this long. It's a completely new and raw feeling. Every android phone I've ever had had got root the same day I picked it up. The og DROID was a development veteran. The Droid X, eh.. The galaxy nexus speaks for itself. The note 2 had great development as did my note 3. Then I pick up a AT&T note 4 thinking I had nothing to worry about as this is my first AT&T phone. A month later and even though this phone is awesome, its horrible not having root. I don't blame anyone but AT&T. What's a**holes. I LONG for Viper Audio & Xposed...
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Hard to believe you didn't do your research.. AT&T has been requesting locked bootloaders from the OEMs since before the Note 3.
Sad to say this phone will probably not get cracked before Lollipop gets pushed down. After that, thenodds are probably even more unlikely. I don't think, (even though there is a long list of folks donating), that we have actually gotten confirmation that any devs are working on an exploit for this one.
If you just must have root, you'd be better off using the T-Mobile variant.
treytreytaylor said:
I don't blame anyone but AT&T. What's a**holes. I LONG for Viper Audio & Xposed...
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it sucks but its the price we pay for having a more secure device.
nyydynasty said:
it sucks but its the price we pay for having a more secure device.
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If I wanted a "more secure" device, I would have bought an iPhone. Not having root on the N4 is frustrating.
Sell the phone and get a T-Mobile... That's what I'm going to do if no root come out soon
flexfield said:
If I wanted a "more secure" device, I would have bought an iPhone. Not having root on the N4 is frustrating.
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That would make sense except the iPhone is actually less secure... Already has jailbreak...
The fact is that AT&T and Verizon want non rootable phones. Period. And that isn't likely to change.
People that 'need' root need to make 100% sure a phone is rooted before they buy it. It is going to be more and more unlikely that phones with locked boot loaders will be rooted.
If you buy a phone that doesn't have root, then don't complain.
JasonJoel said:
People that 'need' root need to make 100% sure a phone is rooted before they buy it. It is going to be more and more unlikely that phones with locked boot loaders will be rooted.
If you buy a phone that doesn't have root, then don't complain.
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Exactly, this has been said enough, and most people have happily moved on to non root apps.
Honestly I can't believe I didn't do the research either. I should have known better smh. might have been a little to excited to snatch one up on my own line. But I'll definitely be selling it for a SM-N910T as soon as I can. What the f*ck AT&T.
Meh. You should have known before you bought it.
I am having a hard time believing all of this as well. I'm actually putting off my upgrade because of it. Sitting here with my year-old Note 3 that I rooted 2 hours after I bought it, kinda thinking about going another direction, I just really like my current plan
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
How long did it take for the ATT note 3 to get rooted?
Blame Samsung
The bottom line is SAMSUNG makes the phone, not ATT. They should stop being a bunch of ******* and just say our phone comes with an unlocked bootloader. PERIOD. What are they going to do? Not carry the hottest device out there? I doubt it
I might be in the minority but to me, for the first time ever since I started using Android, I don't feel like root is necessary. Sure, it would be nice to have Xposed and TiBu, but I seem to manage fine with this phone.
redstar299 said:
The bottom line is SAMSUNG makes the phone, not ATT. They should stop being a bunch of ******* and just say our phone comes with an unlocked bootloader. PERIOD. What are they going to do? Not carry the hottest device out there? I doubt it
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And what business reason is there for Samsung to do that? As long as people are buying the phones, they won't bother.
If sales falter (people buying tmobile instead of the att version doesn't count) and people are vocal on why, then something may change... But I doubt it.
Nexus 6
Mistake!
I bought my nexus 6 3 week ago.. I noticed immediately that the phone is faster that my note buy that's about it because my note had way more features, better hardware and I miss all of that now....
redstar299 said:
The bottom line is SAMSUNG makes the phone, not ATT. They should stop being a bunch of ******* and just say our phone comes with an unlocked bootloader. PERIOD. What are they going to do? Not carry the hottest device out there? I doubt it
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Amen... just upgraded to Note 4 from Note 2, two weeks after my AT&T contract expired and got a note from AT&T that I could now unlock my phone... whoops for them, a bit too late. Patiently waiting for these phone manufacturers to stop bending over for the carriers and start insisting on unlocked devices right out of the factory.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N910A using XDA Premium HD app
If you have chosen to buy an AT&T/Verizon phone then you're gonna have to live with it, buddy. That's why I kept my N3 and didn't rush for the N4. That's what I've always done. Once a phone (from those two carriers) comes out, I'd just wait and watch for a couple of months if it gets rooted. If not then sell the old one and add a little bit of money and buy me an unlocked one.
From my Allianced S5!
If you want root figure a way to do it yourself, otherwise just wait patiently.
I got over not having root after maybe 5 or 6 days. Ads suck but the Note performs better than my old rooted phone, and the camera is epic, I can live without root...

Getting it now a good idea?

I'm currently on S5, which needs to go back to warrenty. I consider selling it when it comes back and get an LG G3 instead as I'm severely tired of the damn phone and need root (with unroot possible).
Would it be a good idea getting an LG G3 now to avoid pre-lollipoped phones that may not be rootable right away or won't it matter? I've tried figured this out by searching but it's kind of vague. All I find is warnings against OTA's when rooted.
Go get it. It has good price and phone is great.
If I honestly had the chance again to buy this phone I'm not sure I would, I probably would go for a Samsung note 4, or a Sony Z4. The only reason I ended up with the G3 is because 3, here in the UK, gave me a good deal - £35 pm for unlimited 4g data, unlimited calls, unlimited texts, 4gb PC tethering.
If you go for it I would personally root it and install twrp, FIRST, then you have a fresh stock rooted Kitkat, ready to go in case anything goes wrong with Lollipop, or ota. Don't forget to include the modem in the backup. Get yourself as big as you can afford sdcard, 32gb, 64gb, to keep a backup on.
You will get some lag, unfortunately the Lg software has many things in the background that are pure bloatware and cause a bit of lag. There are a few guides in these forums for what can be frozen with titanium backup.
Good luck.
JohnRM said:
If I honestly had the chance again to buy this phone I'm not sure I would, I probably would go for a Samsung note 4, or a Sony Z4. The only reason I ended up with the G3 is because 3, here in the UK, gave me a good deal - £35 pm for unlimited 4g data, unlimited calls, unlimited texts, 4gb PC tethering.
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Dont know how would you get Z4 if its not out on market and even not announced.
The Z4 is thought to be coming out in the UK sometime around April. I was thinking of keeping my old Nexus 4 until the Z4 release.
I dont think so ,The version of G3 too much, and rom not very much
Thanks for the replies.
Yeah I've heard the G4 "may" be coming soon. This is always the situation however. A new phone i always on it's way and from a financial point of view buying the latest is a very poor choice. I purchased the S5 when it was released. It's at almost 50% of that price new now.

Pre-ordered!

Well, I bit the bullet and pre-ordered. I was undecided if I was going to upgrade to the S6 since it doesn't have microSD or easily changed batteries. I ordered the 64GB version. I currently have a Sprint S4.
BTW - I pre-ordered from Best Buy and it comes with the wireless charging pad for free. =)
Now, someone please tell me I won't have to wait very long for root and an AOSP ROM...
It will undoubtedly be a nice upgrade from S4. I had the s4 and had gotten sick of having to root/upgrade rom manually every single time there was an update to hold onto tether. Two years ago I found Nexus 5 which lets me tether without root and have been using that since. My contract is up so the s6 is tempting, but I am on the fence currently, esp as it relates to tether.
Please continue the discussion in the following thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/sprint-galaxy-s6/general/s6-s6-edge-live-sprint-com-t3065717
Will be closing this one. Thanks!

any working root method for the note?

hello,
apologizes for making a thread for this if its already been answered however just wondering if there is any working root method for the n910v? i see quite a few seeing that it has to be the dev edition. so im curious, is there any working instructions for unlocking the bootloader? since it being locked is the reason for lack of root access...thanks in advance and also another quick question is, are there any good roms for the verizon s3? want to install something else on it. again thanks
Friend, just a brief scan will tell you that the answer to your question is no. There is no bootloader unlock for the Verizon Note 4 n910v. Allegedly devs are working on something, but given that it's been out for over a year and nothing has happened yet, I would wager that we will never see it happen in our lifetime. It took me a while, but I've learned to live without rooting my Note 4.
I'm still within the 14 days to return or exchange my Note 4, but I've made the decision to keep it, even though it might never get root, and I've rooted everything I've had. Once I made the decision to buy the unlock code for FoxFi, it made the decision easier, considering all I really needed root for was the tether feature. If for some reason FoxFi stops working again, I can always use my S4 for the same purpose. Do I wish I could get rid of the ads in some of my apps, sure, but they're apps that I can always find better versions of. Plus, if I really need more room for games and such, I can use my Tab 3 that is rooted.
I personally think that the Note 4 without root, with Nova launcher Prime is an awesome phone that I will keep till it dies! My phone kicks butt, better than any of my previous phones!
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk
outcasted2003 said:
I personally think that the Note 4 without root, with Nova launcher Prime is an awesome phone that I will keep till it dies! My phone kicks butt, better than any of my previous phones!
Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Note 4 using Tapatalk
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Are you running on 4.4.4?
no root is very, very unpleasant. for example, i can't pull my authenticator credentials. worst, i can't secure the device. vz can pull anything on me, which means i am vulnerable to social and financial loss.
Personally, I USE ADW Launcher EX.
Root would be great for themed OS'S and getting rid bloatware.
will4958 said:
I'm still within the 14 days to return or exchange my Note 4, but I've made the decision to keep it, even though it might never get root, and I've rooted everything I've had. Once I made the decision to buy the unlock code for FoxFi, it made the decision easier, considering all I really needed root for was the tether feature. If for some reason FoxFi stops working again, I can always use my S4 for the same purpose. Do I wish I could get rid of the ads in some of my apps, sure, but they're apps that I can always find better versions of. Plus, if I really need more room for games and such, I can use my Tab 3 that is rooted.
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yea i just got my note 4 about a week ago lol so i could return it. but i like the device itself. just annoyed that i cant delete some of the bloatware and **** that comes preinstalled lol oh well. guess ill keep an eye out for any one who might just find a way of rooting. thanks to all who commented. i figured by what i was reading that there is no current root =/ but oh well.

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