Planning On Buying an (ebay) Unlocked Note 10+ To Use On Tmobile. Any Issues? - Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ Questions & Answers

I was planning on getting new phones for myself and my wife. I was planning on buying a note 10+ and possibly a note 9 have seen a few posts about people getting unlocked phones like this on places like amazon and ebay having issues with Tmobile specific stuff like WiFi calling and Visual Voicemail. I have also seen conflicting info about being able to fix this with a firmware flash.
I know this thread is for the Note 10+, and I don't know if the info would be the same for the note 10+ and the note 9, but I read that the US model was basically the same hardware and you could flash it for whichever carrier you are using to get the version of Android tailored to that carrier. I was wondering if anyone could confirm if this is true or not. Also, I'm guessing that the unlocked version might have a slightly less bloated version of Android, so I'm wondering if it's possible to just keep it as-is and add in the features like Visual Voicemail.
When I get the phone, if any type of flashing is recommended, should I do it or anything else before putting my SIM card in and firing the phone up, or should I just do that first and see if the t-mobile specific stuff works before wasting time going any further? Any info is appreciated.

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[Q] Looking to purchase a Note II and had some questions

moved to Q&A
perrin_wolf said:
I'm looking a purchasing a Samsung Note II that will be used on AT&T network. Since my upgrade is a year away, I have a Skyrocket that's only a year old, this phone will be a full price for me. I'm trying to find out some specific questions on the different Note II phone types, euro vs North America and what preloaded software differences are between them.
* the Note II that I purchase MUST have 4G LTE (AT&T FINALLY turned on 4G LTE in North East OKLA about 4 weeks ago! ..LOVEING IT).
* 10 minutes after I purchase the phone and verifying that everything is in working order it gets rooted.
I can purchase the phone from AT&T for full retail for $649. Best Buy said they would match that price (we'll see if they really do). When at Best Buy I asked about the preloaded software on the Note II (sense they do not have a working model on the floor) I was told in a blunt tone that it was an AT&T phone so it would work on AT&T's network. So i got no help on that front.
Questions---
1. Is the AT&T Note II phone that Best Buy sells have the same preloaded junk that comes on the one at the AT&T store?
2. Is the AT&T Note II phone that Best Buy sells been stripped of some of the Note II futures like the one at the AT&T store?
-- I read on a Amazon review the following---- http://www.amazon.com/review/R2Q2WM4I4VO8J7/ref=cm_cr_pr_viewpnt#R2Q2WM4I4VO8J7
Be aware that the AT&T version of the Galaxy Note II is currently missing various standard functionality that Samsung is marketing and the other major carriers provide- missing functionality include:
~Multiview
~Group Shot Camera mode - with the ability to change faces
~Mobile data toggle
~Blocking mode toggle
~Screen Recorder
Since I am trying to get the most bang for my buck (a lot of bucks) which Note II phone that will work on AT&T that has 4G LTE should I be looking at?
(note- I suffered waiting on an ICS update from AT&T, so not having to depended on AT&T for my Android updates is a big plus)
Any advise or pointers is appreciated
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Note II that is in the Best Buy and AT&T stores are going to be exactly the same. Given your concerns with the missing features compared to the international model, keep in mind once you root the device and install a custom recovery on it, you can flash N7105 ROMs to essentially make it function identical to the international model but with AT&T LTE. I've been doing that since I've had the phone and it works perfectly (No AT&T preinstalled apps and all the features you want): http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2016575
TRF-Inferno said:
The Note II that is in the Best Buy and AT&T stores are going to be exactly the same. Given your concerns with the missing features compared to the international model, keep in mind once you root the device and install a custom recovery on it, you can flash N7105 ROMs to essentially make it function identical to the international model but with AT&T LTE. I've been doing that since I've had the phone and it works perfectly (No AT&T preinstalled apps and all the features you want): http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2016575
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool thanks!
^^^ I don't even know why you bothered answering this absurdly asinine question. I'm questioning the seriousness of it. The entire OP statement was a grammatical nightmare. I just told my bestie what was asked, and after he died laughing, he ripped him to shreds. To suggest that Best Buy somehow had some control over what goes inside of a phone ... like they have their own phone service or software peripherals. I don't even know where to begin. Perhaps an iPhone 5 would be more akin to your needs, OP.
Everyone's got to start from somewhere, given the fact how much control U.S. carriers have over handsets to go as far as locking the bootloader or placing their company logo on the device's home button, it's a legitimate concern. As far as grammatical errors go, I've seen much worse.
If I'm not mistaken, Best Buy did sell devices that were exclusive to them such as a white HTC Incredible and a few other handsets.

[Q] Looking to purchase a Note II and had some questions

Looking to purchase a Note II and had some questions
I'm looking a purchasing a Samsung Note II that will be used on AT&T network. Since my upgrade is a year away, I have a Skyrocket that's only a year old, this phone will be a full price for me. I'm trying to find out some specific questions on the different Note II phone types, euro vs North America and what preloaded software differences are between them.
* the Note II that I purchase MUST have 4G LTE (AT&T FINALLY turned on 4G LTE in North East OKLA about 4 weeks ago! ..LOVEING IT).
* 10 minutes after I purchase the phone and verifying that everything is in working order it gets rooted.
I can purchase the phone from AT&T for full retail for $649. Best Buy said they would match that price (we'll see if they really do). When at Best Buy I asked about the preloaded software on the Note II (sense they do not have a working model on the floor) I was told in a blunt tone that it was an AT&T phone so it would work on AT&T's network. So i got no help on that front.
Questions---
1. Is the AT&T Note II phone that Best Buy sells have the same preloaded junk that comes on the one at the AT&T store?
2. Is the AT&T Note II phone that Best Buy sells been stripped of some of the Note II futures like the one at the AT&T store?
-- I read on a Amazon review the following---- http://www.amazon.com/review/R2Q2WM4...R2Q2WM4I4VO8J7
Be aware that the AT&T version of the Galaxy Note II is currently missing various standard functionality that Samsung is marketing and the other major carriers provide- missing functionality include:
~Multiview
~Group Shot Camera mode - with the ability to change faces
~Mobile data toggle
~Blocking mode toggle
~Screen Recorder
Since I am trying to get the most bang for my buck (a lot of bucks) which Note II phone that will work on AT&T that has 4G LTE should I be looking at?
(note- I suffered waiting on an ICS update from AT&T, so not having to depended on AT&T for my Android updates is a big plus)
Any advise or pointers is appreciated
Thanks
Yes: the AT&T Note II phone that Best Buy sells has the same preloaded junk that comes on the one at the AT&T store. i'd go with the at&t Note II. as of today, there are ported international ROMs that will work with the at&t Note II. i only use ported ROMs that exclude the modem (radio) and are posted in and/or linked to from the at&t Note II Forums. i'm currently using a ported, international N-7105, JB 4.1.2 ROM that doesn't include the modem. it also includes the stock multi-view feature. there are some small feature differences between the international and at&t version, e.g., keyboard on international version doesn't have long-press for symbols, but nothing that I would consider a show-stopper. international ROMs use different icons to note 4G/LTE service, but i have LTE connectivity with LTE speeds. everything on my Note II works as i would expect it to. see the pictures below.
i'm amazed at how ridiculiously easy it is to root Samsung Android devices. that being said, be sure to read, read, read and understand what you're doing before you do it. (i apologize is my suggestion appears condescending: i'm basing my suggestion on your low post count ).
A (possible) correction and a suggestion:
I use CleanROM for my ATT Note 2 and it does have a toggle for blocking mode. Dunno if this is or isn't a stock feature but it's out there.
Try negotiating with AT&T. I was able to speak to an ATT supervisor through 611 and get a lowered cost for my Note 2 (line was eligible for an upgrade) and my get my wife an S3 for $100 11 months before she was upgrade eligible. Your experience may vary greatly, but by all means, it's worth a shot. They shipped 2-day UPS for free.
I think the screen recording was pulled from all Note II's. Copyright concerns. I've been keeping my eye open for a mod or ROM that enables it, but haven't seen anything yet.
Sent from my Note ][
Screen recorder and and multiview are both missing, but everything else is there. Sprint added the multiview in via OTA update on their version, so ATT should follow suit with their version of the Note.
I'm coming from Verizon phones, so the bloat on this is minimal compared to what I'm used to. If you're rooting, though, it's not going to matter. You can freeze/uninstall it, anyway. Even without rooting, you can disable all of the bloat through the stock app manager, anyway.
Boyfriend was a year out on his upgrade, got the 199 everyone else got by being nice to the csr, no haggling or retention needed.
-----
I would love to help you, but help yourself first: ask a better question
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

iPhone user just swapped to android

So I used a galaxy s9 and fell in love. I messed up tho because I bought an unlocked att one when I have tmobile and I can’t get some carrier features activated like key WiFi calling. Tmobile said it’s because it can’t recongnize the att firmware. I’m actually surprised Samsung gives the carriers that much power to infect your device.
I remember reading that the galaxy s8 had this BYOD update where it installed a carriers firmware once a sim was installed. The s9 seems to lack this somehow and I contacted Samsung about it and morons work there. Does anyone know if something like the s8 update will be added? If I get desperate I see there are tutorials on how to flash to other carriers firmwares. Can anybody tell me some well respected people in the community who post trustworthy tutorials?
Sadly to my knowledge, take this with a grain of salt Snapdragon version of the S9 have bootloader locked so that means it is harder to change carriers, if you had the international version then you could of done something but don't give up hope keep looking you might find something
I See some people flash u->u1->u to achieve their new carrier. I see some post on Reddit that said once their s9 got updates to Android Oreo it could swap carriers like the s8. Hopefully this is true

T-Mobile un-rootable

Man, I've been having a bad week. First, I break my phone. Then, I search around for a replacement that LineageOS supports. LineageOS has Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ listed on their "Supported Devices" page. Great! So, I run off to T-Mobile and get an S9 for a replacement.
Unfortunately, now I find out that the T-Mobile S9 cannot be rooted! There goes the main reason I was buying it. What is fortunate, though, is that apparently T-Mobile will allow you to return phones within 14 days. (Although there might be a restocking fee. Boo.)
From all I've been able to find on XDA and other places on the web, as far as anybody knows, the T-Mobile S9 is unrootable, and it will remain unrootable for the foreseeable future. My next question is this: Which phone should I get to replace it? I'd like to get something with similar specs. Does the T-Mobile S10 have the same problems with rooting? What's the most root-friendly, modern phone?
(BTW, I am aware that not all S9s have this limitation, but I can't afford to pay full price for a phone right now.)
Your first mistake was running to a carrier for one of their phones.
Pretty much any US carrier branded phone is unrootable. That's one of their requirements from an OEM... a locked bootloader, to prevent someone from doing what you're trying to do.
They feel that if they are supporting it, they should control what's on it.
Your only real option is to buy a factory unlocked model. Meaning, not a carrier branded model.
fajrero said:
Man, I've been having a bad week. First, I break my phone. Then, I search around for a replacement that LineageOS supports. LineageOS has Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ listed on their "Supported Devices" page. Great! So, I run off to T-Mobile and get an S9 for a replacement.
Unfortunately, now I find out that the T-Mobile S9 cannot be rooted! There goes the main reason I was buying it. What is fortunate, though, is that apparently T-Mobile will allow you to return phones within 14 days. (Although there might be a restocking fee. Boo.)
From all I've been able to find on XDA and other places on the web, as far as anybody knows, the T-Mobile S9 is unrootable, and it will remain unrootable for the foreseeable future. My next question is this: Which phone should I get to replace it? I'd like to get something with similar specs. Does the T-Mobile S10 have the same problems with rooting? What's the most root-friendly, modern phone?
(BTW, I am aware that not all S9s have this limitation, but I can't afford to pay full price for a phone right now.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
even if it is unrootable, cant you just flash another carriers firmware that is rootable and go from there? The hardware revisions arent vast and as long as youre flashing a version thats built for your processor type and if its for the regular one or the + model, you should be ok
No US carrier phone after the Samsung Galaxy S6 the bootloaders are locked so flashing another carrier wont do you any good. The only samsung phones that can be root are the international variants so you would want the 960f which will still work on tmobile i believe last i was aware of or the SM-G9650/SM-G9600 variant if you want snapdragon hardware.
But i dont think the SM-G9650/SM-G9600 has LOS though.

Gonna buy a Note 10 + but which one?

Trying to decide which specific model Note 10+ I should get.. GSM network (AT&T) and there are like 20 different models. I was thinking of the SM-N976B mainly cause its readily available new but the ROMs listed don't always say which specific model so I am all for whichever model has the most ROMs. Any suggestions for a specific model?
Its been a bit since I was roming my phone mainly cause the US change to locked bootloader so I kept my note 4 until 2016 when I switched to a "U" so I'm a bit behind and need some quick advice so when I jump back in I'm not kicking myself for getting the wrong phone. The note 20 ultra is also an option but it seems a little too new for lots of development.

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