Related
I bought a G4 from Verizon and ended up returning it just now because of the missing features and bloatware.
I'd like a G4 that has no carrier bloatware (Carrier unlocked?) have all my features that the phone SHOULD come with and has the boot loader unlocked.
There is this listing which I'm thinking on buying (Grey one).
So what I need to know is..
Is there ANY model of the G4 that has it's boot loader unlocked?
If so, which ones?
If not, are we able to unlock them manually yet?
Which carrier disable features, just Verizon?
Do all carriers have their own bloatware on the G4 or just Verizon?
Whats different from the US to the International version or the H815?
I plan on using Cricket and the H815 on that Amazon link should work with Cricket, doesn't have any carrier bloatware and has all the G4 features. Unless I'm seeing this wrong?
So which model is best to go with? Should I snatch up this H815? I heard the H811 is good? What model should I get?
Once this thread helps me choose which one to buy, I'm going to buy it like now. Just wanting to buy the best one. Thanks!!
Just to clarify, you do not intend to use this on Verizon correct? I see that you said you will use it on Cricket, but I'm confused why you bought a Verizon model in the first place.
Well I had a dumb old flip phone from Verizon. I wanted the G4, Verizon had it, Cricket didn't. I heard about missing features, but I thought they were just disabled, so I could re-enable them. I found out this clearly wasn't the case. But I figured I'd buy the phone from Verizon since Cricket doesn't have it and I was already signed up with Verizon, and go to Cricket with it afterwards. But... I saw all the bloatware, missing features, etc. So I just took it back.
After today's research I'm down to the T-Mobile H811 version or the H815 since both of those models have the boot loader unlocked. The problem with T-Mobile is I'd have to have service with them for 45 days before they would carrier unlock the phone. So I'd have to wait 45 days to see if it works at Cricket and get it switched over. Or I can buy the H815 which has the boot loader unlocked and is carrier unlocked, so I don't know if it will have carrier bloat since its carrier unlocked? Some people selling the H815 told me they got it from ATT, Verizon, etc. So not sure how that works.... since Verizon's model is VS986...
Anyways, it seems my best bet is the H815 because I can buy it and take it straight to Cricket when I get it. The issue now is there are many versions or the H815, I hear there is a International and a US version, not sure the difference. I hear there are many other models like the H815T, etc. Guess these are for other counties or something?
I believe all G4's should work with Cricket, the G4's seem to have the correct bands and Frequencies, unless I'm wrong. I know Cricket uses ATT service / towers now. I know we can change the APN and Network Mode to get them working if there is an issue. I without a doubt want to use Cricket.
So I need to know which H815 to buy and if there are US and International versions and the difference between them and I guess which is best to buy with unlocked boot loader, no bloat and works with Cricket.
Get yourself an H815 international version and ditch Verizon. The suckers do mess up bootloaders and AOSP really bad and they corporate readily and heavily with the NSA. Worst carrier ever.
Sent from outer space using telepathy
You need to be careful, look at the bands you need as well. The Verizon G4 lacks many bands that ATT/Cricket uses.
Sent from my VS986 using Tapatalk
Verizon model has unlocked GSM bands too. You can throw a GSM sim in there and enjoy.
What missing features are you referring to? Themes from the stock launcher? Stock themes are just icon packs. Use a 3rd party launcher that is better supported.
All models are have locked bootloaders except specific international models. But if you unlock, you'll be giving up access to DRM content and such. It is not desirable at this point to unlock normally.
All models can root now. The phone is still like 2 months old, development is active. Root was just achieved a couple weeks ago. Custom recoveries and stuff are still in the works.
Nice to see someone else from Cincinnati. Anyways, they take out:
LG SmartWorld
Smart Settings
Multi-user accounts
FM Radio
Themes
Custom lock screen
Then the bloatware, so I jsut got fed up. What will I be missing out with DRM content? I was going to buy the H815. If anything the H811. These both have unlocked boot loaders.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2018/0...lg-v30-674-99-150-off-bh-no-tax-except-ny-nj/
Wow.
But ignore the misinformation in the article about it not being unlocked. The writer says you need the LG V30+ to be "unlocked". Yet, their screenshot even shows the wording that the B&H Photo LG V30 is carrier unlocked. And LG bootloader unlock is coming soon, for both the V30 and V30+. But then a lot of these tech writers are totally ignorant.
Hopefully b and h photo will also offer that 150 off on the v30+ once they realize they sold like 3 of them
stu5797 said:
Hopefully b and h photo will also offer that 150 off on the v30+ once they realize they sold like 3 of them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I bought one of their V30+. It was my 2nd LG device purchase, to get the $400 rebate card. So, my average price was $665 for the two phones.
But now that the time limit has almost passed to fulfill that promotion (45 days from December 2), yeah a discount would be nice.
ChazzMatt said:
Wow.
But ignore the misinformation in the article about it not being unlocked. The writer says you need the LG V30+ to be "unlocked". Yet, their screenshot even shows the wording that the B&H Photo LG V30 is carrier unlocked. And LG bootloader unlock is coming soon, for both the V30 and V30+. But then a lot of these tech writers are totally ignorant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't say it's not unlocked, says you need to buy v30+ for an unlocked unit in black
LRiley said:
Doesn't say it's not unlocked, says you need to buy v30+ for an unlocked unit in black
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YES, it did. My comments made them correct it. Here's the direct quote from the original article:
"you'll need to buy the not-discounted $929.99 V30+ to get unlocked".
They've since edited the article, so you now see what the writer Richard Gao says he meant to say -- not what he actually wrote originally. I pointed out their error in the comments at the bottom of the article, with that direct quote.
In fact below my comments, the writer Richard Gao says he's now changed it --- due to my comments:
That was poor wording on my part. I meant to say that you'd have to buy the V30+ to get an unlocked model in black
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The V30+ on Amazon is down to $903, despite still being out of stock. Not a significant change but hope it will drop more soon.
http://a.co/hxi1h39
yeah I pulled the trigger and bought the V30 from B&H, should be here tomorrow, my essential phone is going back to Best buy tomorrow.
You will like this phone. Good move. I'm waiting for the v30 plus to ha e a realistic price
I've been waiting on this phone to go down in price. I killed my Moto x pure trying to change the battery. Twelve hours before it was discounted I bought a V30 off eBay and paid more than I should've. I wasn't even thinking about the warranty. Just my luck.
The V30+ just dropped down to $775 on B&H.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1379518-REG/lg_lgus998u_a1usbk_v30_unlocked_phone_black.html
Nice find! Still having a hard time pulling the trigger. Even though I believe this is the best phone out, I doubt it will have any developer support... I can't believe lg won't even allow the boot loader to be unlocked yet. Come on!
stu5797 said:
Nice find! Still having a hard time pulling the trigger. Even though I believe this is the best phone out, I doubt it will have any developer support... I can't believe lg won't even allow the boot loader to be unlocked yet. Come on!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is frustrating. It shouldn't take that long.
Yes, I know LG waited six weeks for the US997 G6 (mid May, to very end of June), but that was ridiculous. Still, after that was dev support.
By the way, January 15 will be six weeks mark for our open market US998 V30. Let's hope the V30+ release at end of December didn't reset the timer?
Yet, Europe H930 was only three weeks after release.
LG doesn't seem to understand their phones would be more popular if they preemptively put them on their Bootloader Unlock list. So you would know for sure when the phone have out, you could immediately root it.
Sent from my official carrier unlocked LG V30+ US998
stu5797 said:
Nice find! Still having a hard time pulling the trigger. Even though I believe this is the best phone out, I doubt it will have any developer support... I can't believe lg won't even allow the boot loader to be unlocked yet. Come on!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm beginning to feel the same way. Looking like oneplus will own the dev community from here on out. Even at the discounted price, it's hard to say that the v30 is $200+ more of a phone than the 5t is especially if you are into roms and such. If you want the latest hardware with unlockable bootloaders out of the gate, I'm not sure where else to look. For me personally, Id like external sd, a solid camera, AOSP roms and ip67/68. Difficult to find nowadays. Anyone?
bacon612 said:
I'm beginning to feel the same way. Looking like oneplus will own the dev community from here on out. Even at the discounted price, it's hard to say that the v30 is $200+ more of a phone than the 5t is especially if you are into roms and such.
If you want the latest hardware with unlockable bootloaders out of the gate, I'm not sure where else to look. For me personally, Id like external sd, a solid camera, AOSP roms and ip67/68. Difficult to find nowadays. Anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROMs can't add QHD, Qi wireless charging, and IP68 rating. Until OnePlus releases a true premium phone, I can't stand them. Even the Nexus phones were the first or some of the first to have 1080p and then 1440p QHD as well as Qi wireless charging. The people who say the Nexus phones didn't have the best specs aren't talking about hardware specs or features. Yeah, Google skimped on battery and their cameras weren't FANTASTIC, but the hardware specs and features were always cutting edge. So, NO OnePlus is not a "Nexus" replacement. To me, they are hype masters and pretenders.
The only other option is the Exynos Samsung variants which have OEM bootloader unlock out of the gate OR the Hong Kong Snapdragon Samsung variants which have OEM bootloader unlock. Hong Kong and mainland China Galaxy Snapdragon 835 S8/S8+ have had TWRP and root since last July, because they have simple OEM bootloader unlock. And they have all the U.S. carrier bands. Great to import via eBay. But I'm not a huge Samsung fan.
Now whether there are any custom ROMs for the Snapdragon 835 bootloader unlocked Hong Kong/mainland China variants, I do not know. I do know there are lots for the Exynos bootloader unlocked variants.
As soon as LG gets off their butt and puts the US998 on the bootloader unlock list you will see dev interest, just like the LG G6 starting in last July.
ChazzMatt said:
ROMs can't add QHD, Qi wireless charging, and IP68 rating. Until OnePlus releases a true premium phone, I can't stand them. Even the Nexus phones were the first or some of the first to have 1080p and then 1440p QHD as well as Qi wireless charging. The people who say the Nexus phones didn't have the best specs aren't talking about hardware specs or features. Yeah, Google skimped on battery and their cameras weren't FANTASTIC, but the hardware specs and features were always cutting edge. So, NO OnePlus is not a "Nexus" replacement. To me, they are hype masters and pretenders.
The only other option is the Exynos Samsung variants which have OEM bootloader unlock out of the gate OR the Hong Kong Snapdragon Samsung variants which have OEM bootloader unlock. Hong Kong and mainland China Galaxy Snapdragon 835 S8/S8+ have had TWRP and root since last July, because they have simple OEM bootloader unlock. And they have all the U.S. carrier bands. Great to import via eBay. But I'm not a huge Samsung fan.
Now whether there are any custom ROMs for the Snapdragon 835 bootloader unlocked Hong Kong/mainland China variants, I do not know. I do know there are lots for the Exynos bootloader unlocked variants.
As soon as LG gets off their butt and puts the US998 on the bootloader unlock list you will see dev interest, just like the LG G6 starting in last July.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope you are right and I'll be on board. I'm never going to buy a device until I see the proof in the pudding, though. Even if you look at the most popular device threads on xda, I think my statement above about oneplus has merit. We don't have to agree with what the masses want, but ultimately popularity will dictate the direction things will go for the development community.
bacon612 said:
I hope you are right and I'll be on board. I'm never going to buy a device until I see the proof in the pudding, though. Even if you look at the most popular device threads on xda, I think my statement above about oneplus has merit. We don't have to agree with what the masses want, but ultimately popularity will dictate the direction things will go for the development community.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I normally wait until I can root from the first day I own the phone, but this time I had to go ahead and buy... but knowing LG would/should soon place the open market LG US998 on the LG Developer Bootloader Unlock list.
My rants against OnePlus are the same as against last year's Essential. They both pretend to be premium phones, but really are not. They're just missing too much stuff. There's also a whole cadre of Chinese 1080p slabs that fit that category too.
The only real competition LG V30 has is the Samsung Note 8. Maybe the Pixel 2 XL if you lower your standards a little. Yes, for dev work, the Pixel 2 XL has an advantage... But just no Qi wireless charging (one of my requirements) nor headset jack.
(I bet Google adds Qi wireless charging back for the 2018 Pixels, now that Apple has added it.)
Sent from my official carrier unlocked LG V30+ US998
ChazzMatt said:
I normally wait until I can root from the first day I own the phone, but this time I had to go ahead and buy... but knowing LG would/should soon place the open market LG US998 on the LG Developer Bootloader Unlock list.
My rants against OnePlus are the same as against last year's Essential. They both pretend to be premium phones but really are not. They're just missing too much stuff. There's also a whole cadre of Chinese 1080p slabs that fit that category too.
The only real competition V30 has is the Samsung Note 8. Maybe the Pixel 2 XL if you lower your standards a little. For dev work, the Pixel 2 XL has an advantage... But just no Qi wireless charging (one of my requirements) nor headset jack.
(I bet Google adds Qi wireless charging back for the 2018 Pixels, now that Apple has added it.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's the 'would/should' thing I'm worried about. Plus I'm willing to wait for the prices to fall even farther (unless we get unlocked bootloaders soon) as we get into Snapdragon 845 device territory. After all SD 835 is soooooo last year . I get the suspicion that the v30 isn't selling well at all as evidenced by the b+h sales as well as carrier BOGO offers. We usually only see BOGO on devices that sell crazy volume or inventory they are trying to clear. The v30 is likely the latter.
Either way, I spend way too much time refreshing these xda v30 threads and wait impatiently for good news sooner than later.
This of course is completely anecdotal but after I talked up the V30 at work, three iPhone users switched over to the V30 (they purchased from their respective carriers) and they all love it. It could be true it isn't selling that well but LG isn't and hasn't ever really been a market leader, they always seem to discount phones quickly, have promos, etc. In any case, I'm confident in ChazzMatt's prediction of the phone being on the bootloader unlock list pretty soon and I don't think there is a better phone out there for my needs. It's not perfect but it's enough for me.
I am an idiot... I just pulled the trigger on the v30+.
In my dream it will be rooted with Resurrection remix installed. Don't know why I did this cause the chance of that are so slim...
This phone is amazing though!
Not sure which I prefer first anymore but anyone care to guess which will happen first?
mr3p said:
Not sure which I prefer first anymore but anyone care to guess which will happen first?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its LG something will happen only if they decide it
mr3p said:
Not sure which I prefer first anymore but anyone care to guess which will happen first?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They will never release bootloader unlock code for any US carrier based model.. You can bet on that.
doubledragon5 said:
They will never release bootloader unlock code for any US carrier based model.. You can bet on that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm no fan of LG and I can appreciate your dissatisfaction based on your experiences trying to unlock your G7 (Sprint) however LG released bootloader unlock codes for the G6 USA carrier free model somewhere around this time last year. It's anyone's guess what they will do going forward.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g6/how-to/official-lg-g6-bootloader-unlock-t3614719
Currently supported devices which can be unlocked:
https://developer.lge.com/resource/mobile/RetrieveBootloader.dev
mr3p said:
I'm no fan of LG and I can appreciate your dissatisfaction based on your experiences trying to unlock your G7 (Sprint) however LG released bootloader unlock codes for the G6 USA carrier free model somewhere around this time last year. It's anyone's guess what they will do going forward.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g6/how-to/official-lg-g6-bootloader-unlock-t3614719
Currently supported devices which can be unlocked:
https://developer.lge.com/resource/mobile/RetrieveBootloader.dev
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's great for those who have it.. But I still believe for any phone, Samsung, LG, Google, if it is for a carrier then bootloader unlock his highly doubtful. I wish they never bowed to the carriers in the first place.. They should have said NO period.. But it is what it is...
doubledragon5 said:
That's great for those who have it.. But I still believe for any phone, Samsung, LG, Google, if it is for a carrier then bootloader unlock his highly doubtful. I wish they never bowed to the carriers in the first place.. They should have said NO period.. But it is what it is...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree totally.
Even though I use Mint Mobile (US-based prepaid plan that uses the T-Mobile network), I picked up a 2nd-hand G710ULM (vs G710TM) in hopes that LG would offer an unlocked bootloader code at some point (I like to use my phones for 4+ years and after ~2 all phones seem to get sluggish given dev targets if you stay on stock).
That being said I hope and am betting on Pie getting pushed out first (hopefully before Q official release) because I think it'd benefit the most amount of users (Pie really does have some unique and useful features, even though I've seen others say that they are purely gimmicks).
I went from flip-phone, to HTC Incredible (great phone with a great hacking community), to hand-me-down Samsung G3 (same, although Knox sux), and finally a 2nd-hand LG G7 (unaware of LG's history and actually believing their "Quick Update Program" or whatever they called it). Just because I'm able, doesn't mean I'm willing to pay ~$1,000 USD just to buy an unlocked Pixel device. Maybe some more feature-rich Android One entries will join the bunch. I can see how/why people get into the Apple ecosystem x.x
DeeBG said:
Even though I use Mint Mobile (US-based prepaid plan that uses the T-Mobile network), I picked up a 2nd-hand G710ULM (vs G710TM) in hopes that LG would offer an unlocked bootloader code at some point (I like to use my phones for 4+ years and after ~2 all phones seem to get sluggish given dev targets if you stay on stock).
That being said I hope and am betting on Pie getting pushed out first (hopefully before Q official release) because I think it'd benefit the most amount of users (Pie really does have some unique and useful features, even though I've seen others say that they are purely gimmicks).
I went from flip-phone, to HTC Incredible (great phone with a great hacking community), to hand-me-down Samsung G3 (same, although Knox sux), and finally a 2nd-hand LG G7 (unaware of LG's history and actually believing their "Quick Update Program" or whatever they called it). Just because I'm able, doesn't mean I'm willing to pay ~$1,000 USD just to buy an unlocked Pixel device. Maybe some more feature-rich Android One entries will join the bunch. I can see how/why people get into the Apple ecosystem x.x
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a pixel 3a XL now, which is on Sprint.. I do not care about the unlock status of this phone.. Reason. It has every thing I want, a good camera, and absolutely no bloat of any kind...
doubledragon5 said:
I have a pixel 3a XL now, which is on Sprint.. I do not care about the unlock status of this phone.. Reason. It has every thing I want, a good camera, and absolutely no bloat of any kind...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, the reviews make it look like my ideal phone; I hope Google keeps making a midtier phone like the 3a as they release new lines. 3a/3a XL even reintroduced a standard headphone jack
I know this usually requires root. However, my wife's unlocked Sprint LG G8 does not have the Sprint boot and off screens. It is not rooted and it is from the same seller. So it's possible for sure.
Unless someone secretly has root, I don't see how this is possible. Yet it's a fact that it has been done.
Of interest to this thread.
I just bought an lg g8 thinq from the US. (I'm in Australia). Locked to sprint. It doesn't boot up with the sprint logo. Just the lg one.
I also haven't been able to unlock it. I didn't realise there was such an issue getting the sprint version unlocked.
If anyone has any legitimate hot tip it would be appreciated.
I am currently looking at Verizon for phones (needs to be Verizon based in my area as the GSM signals are weak to non-existent, whereas the CDMA signal is usable). I am looking at phones through the website and see they have a G7 Play (SKU# MOTXT19523) for free, and I want to do my research before placing an order to see if the bootloader of this phone is unlockable. I look at the moto bootloader support page and see that G7 Play's should be unlockable, but I can also remember getting burned on other moto devices because of it being a verizon device and they don't seem to like unlocking the bootloaders to their devices. If that is the case, would I be able to unlock the bootloader of any of the devices that verizon is trying to sell me? I appreciate any assistance that can be provided, and I am sorry if this is a repeat, but I could not come up with anything that I could tell was the right answer... and I don't want to waste time and money if I don't have to. Thank you.
brpaaron said:
I am currently looking at Verizon for phones (needs to be Verizon based in my area as the GSM signals are weak to non-existent, whereas the CDMA signal is usable). I am looking at phones through the website and see they have a G7 Play (SKU# MOTXT19523) for free, and I want to do my research before placing an order to see if the bootloader of this phone is unlockable. I look at the moto bootloader support page and see that G7 Play's should be unlockable, but I can also remember getting burned on other moto devices because of it being a verizon device and they don't seem to like unlocking the bootloaders to their devices. If that is the case, would I be able to unlock the bootloader of any of the devices that verizon is trying to sell me? I appreciate any assistance that can be provided, and I am sorry if this is a repeat, but I could not come up with anything that I could tell was the right answer... and I don't want to waste time and money if I don't have to. Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Carrier exclusive models (ex. Verizon, AT&T, Tracfone) are almost never unlockable.
Bootloader unlock codes are not available for Amazon Branded devices
Sent from my Moto E (4) using Tapatalk