Which version to buy? - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi.
I have been wanting to get the Galaxy for some time, and now even more after reading up on the iPhone 5 and slowly losing faith in it's domination of the market. I am currently undecided as far as what version of Samsung Galaxy S3 to buy. I have been reading that the international version is pretty pathetic due to frequency and network speed capability among a few other complaints. I am currently a Tmobile customer. Should I buy the phone from TMobile AND unlock it or should I buy the international version of this device.
Thank you all for your help.

omfgwhat said:
Hi.
I have been wanting to get the Galaxy for some time, and now even more after reading up on the iPhone 5 and slowly losing faith in it's domination of the market. I am currently undecided as far as what version of Samsung Galaxy S3 to buy. I have been reading that the international version is pretty pathetic due to frequency and network speed capability among a few other complaints. I am currently a Tmobile customer. Should I buy the phone from TMobile AND unlock it or should I buy the international version of this device.
Thank you all for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you in the US? If you are in the US then the international will only get 2G speeds on TMO unless you are in one of the newly converted areas(which is unlikely because only 5 or so markets have been converted so far). And the international is HSPA+ which is what TMO is, It's not LTE so it wont be too much faster. I do think the US TMO version is 42mbps HSPA where the International is 21.
I'm on ATT and I had the choice to get either the US version with LTE and 2GB of Ram or get the international version. I chose to get the international. LTE really isnt important to me as I'm on wifi 90% of the time and HSPA+ serves me well for the 10% of the time I'm not on wifi

I will be using 4G most of the time rather than the WiFi, are you suggesting I should go with the TMobile version of this device?
Thanks.

Related

SGS2 for T-mobile USA?

T-Mobile to get Samsung Galaxy S 2 says official Twitter account
ANDROID CENTRAL | FEBRUARY 17, 2011
http://pulsene.ws/11Khk
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk
Nvm didnt read the bottom part mode delete this please.
Sorry I got too happy and didnt read the full article and just copy and pasted the link.
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yup false alarm...........
I don't think the retraction of the tweet is any indication T-Mob wont be getting the S2. With the Galaxy 4G coming out in a few days, if mainstream customers new there was a phone twice as good on the horizon it would obliterate S4G sales. Plus from my understanding there's nothing in the specs that eliminates T-Mob as a possibility. 90% chance T-Mob gets this phone, which I'm of course stoked about.
This phone is said to be shipping with AT&T's 3G, but that it will work with any carrier. So, for you T-Mobile users, it will probably work, but only for 2G speeds. Sorry.
There is absolutely no way Samsung will make this super phone and limit its data potential to Att's ****ty 3G.
sirdowski said:
There is absolutely no way Samsung will make this super phone and limit its data potential to Att's ****ty 3G.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://galaxys2.samsungmobile.com/html/specification.html
dont forget tmobile has a 5gb limit its NOT unlimited
Per the link you supplied:
HSPA+ 21Mbps/ HSUPA 5.76Mbps
EDGE/ GPRS Class 12
Quad band GSM 850/900/1800/1900
Quad band UMTS 850/900/1900/2100
Seems to me T-mobile's HSPA+ will be compatible, unless I'm completely missing something.
And to the above comment, 5G is plenty, even for most heavy users.
Won't this device support both 3G company's? From the specs of the link
false alarm
sirdowski said:
Per the link you supplied:
HSPA+ 21Mbps/ HSUPA 5.76Mbps
EDGE/ GPRS Class 12
Quad band GSM 850/900/1800/1900
Quad band UMTS 850/900/1900/2100
Seems to me T-mobile's HSPA+ will be compatible, unless I'm completely missing something.
And to the above comment, 5G is plenty, even for most heavy users.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, T-Mobile UK is compatible
T-Mobile US's HSPA+ uses 1700/2100 or AWS.
Funk2641 said:
Sure, T-Mobile UK is compatible
T-Mobile US's HSPA+ uses 1700/2100 or AWS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gotcha. I don't see why T-mobile wouldn't get this phone, as i said before, suppressing of information seems to be just a marketing strategy to not crush S4G sales coming up.
they wont get this phone immediatley as it will complete with the sgs 4g which they are getting.. eventually they may get it.
If the device is coming out in march outside the states, I'd think the new one will come out in some form in June or July like the last one did. That will give tmo a few months to sell their vibrant 4g and then allow it to be a decent midrange model thereafter. Considering that the 4g is going to be 149 with contract, its already the price of of a non flagship T-Mobile device. That could mean we have a small chance of getting this phone in April or may. They still need to make an aws version in order for us to have the phone on tmo. Given how much market share they made with the last galaxy I really think Samsung will want to not lose their lead in android market share. We will get at least some version of this phone. I hope now that US carriers all have ffc and the other features left out of the previous galaxy s for the states, that they won't need to give us a stripped gs2. Just my 2 cents.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
i'm waiting for the AWS version of the SGS2.... it's gonna be a long loooooooong wait, with the SGS4G stuck in between
I'm almost certain it is.
At least I'm hoping
MartinB6927 said:
I'm almost certain it is.
At least I'm hoping
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's one thing you do not need to worry about
look at the line of Galaxy S (Generation 1) phones, they have practically 1 variant for each single cell phone carrier on the planet.
some carriers even have 3 models of the same Galaxy S family
for example Tmobile USA have:
Galaxy S Vibrant
Nexus S
Galaxy S 4G
so we'll see our own flavor of SGS2 in due time
knowing their crazy naming scheme
i'll not be surprised to hear Galaxy S Vibrant II LOL
and probably comes with something chopped off like missing FFC or who knows what.
Hopefully they'll get some version of it... ATT blows..
So... any idea on how we're going to know which is the original phone model?
I guess we would just go off of the one coming out in March, and then try to buy that model off of whichever carrier carries it?
Because I wasn't very fond of the different versions of the Galaxy S - the Vibrant, the I9000 (which might be the same), the Captivate, the... who knows what else? Each carrier here (Rogers, Telus and Bell) had different versions. I don't even know what other ones like Virgin or WIND may have had for it (if they carried it).

[Q] Atrix or Atrix 4G?

I'm in New Zealand and i use telecom XT network (umts 850mhz) so obviously the at&t version will work fine. I also perhaps have the opportunity of buying the umts quadband version (850,900,1900,2100) which would probably not have the same restrictions as the at&t 4G.
However, from lurking here i can see that there seems to be more dev happening on the 4G, is this correct or would i be better off with the vanilla quadband 3g version? (im not 100% sure where the local stores source these vanilla phones from)
One day i might change to another provider in which case i would need 900 umts but if there is more chance of getting more bang for my buck with the 4g i will go that way.
Yeah it would be easier just to buy a galaxy 2 but its big and cheap feeling and i just dont trust samsung build quality or gps as much as the Moto.
thanks in advance.
the 4G is a marketing term from AT&T. its just 14mb HSPDA+
Whether a local version vs AT&T version is worth it, that is up to you
tjjensen23 said:
the 4G is a marketing term from AT&T. its just 14mb HSPDA+
Whether a local version vs AT&T version is worth it, that is up to you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep i understand that the 4g is just a marketing buzzword. What i'm asking is to me it looks like the vanilla phone appears to be identical hardware just with an extra 3g band? Also which model is likely to have the better dev support and moto support if they do decide to unlock the bootloader for certain ops?
Is the atrix 4g only sold on AT&T or are other operators also selling htis elsewhere in the world?
I'm just wanting to make sure i buy the model with the best support moving forward as it has to be a keeper for a while. I've flashed the absolute hell out of my milestone and sadly realise that due to the ram its never going to amount to much more.

[Q] Where to buy Galaxy S II LTE?

Hi, I am living close to Europe and am trying to find the Galaxy S II LTE. I have heard its not planned to be released in the US anytime soon but that it is (has?) planned to be sold in Eur. I know that Rogers (carrier in Canada) will be supporting this phone but i get the impression that it will be locked phones only for Rogers customer. Does anyone know of online places that do/will carry unlocked versions of this phone? (in Eu, US, or Canada)
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Cheers,
-Gaiko
you're going to have to end up waiting until it's released in your region. it doesn't look like any region (americas/europe/asia) are going to be sharing LTE bands.
boondoc said:
you're going to have to end up waiting until it's released in your region. it doesn't look like any region (americas/europe/asia) are going to be sharing LTE bands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about non LTE? That is, using the rest of the phone in various areas. I ask because I travel most of the year so using the phone just in one place isn't an option for me (so the LTE aspect is less important to me).
I'll wait for Galaxy S3, it will have the NFC chip (beside the usual hardware upgrades).
I really don't care about download speed on a phone, but I'm very pissed that Bell will relaunch the S2 LTE with an NFC chip. The only think that makes it up is the screen size, 4.3" is the max I can use and the new LTE phone will have a 4.5" screen. I still cannot believe Samsung pulled a fast one like that on all of us and removed the NFC chip last minute.

Development difference International vs North American variants?

I just want to know how different the development will be for the international version compared to either the Canadian/US version (which presumably will be the same with S4 & 2GB RAM). People are posting that Samsung will give the international version updates earlier but is it that much sooner than other variants (or do the NA variants not get updates at all)?
I'm not sure which to order since I'm from the US (I have no use for LTE but price and ease of warranty are factors).
This is my problem too, which to get?. I'd love to have more development options, but at the same time I want faster speeds.
At a glance it appears that the internation one is going to be HSPA+ 21Mbit/s connections. But the LTE North American models will have LTE support and if LTE isn't avalible in your area then it defaults down to DC-HSPA 42Mbit/s not to mention the 2GBs of ram.
This is a hard choice :/
Both will have great development. Look at the intl note and the north america note for example
Sent from my HTC One S using xda premium
I also don't know which version to choose... Less pricy 2gb dual core with LTE or international with more support quadcore better GPU but less ram and no LTE...
I wanna know which one is better for multitasking, also if the battery life is better on the dual core or not and if 2gb vs 1gb really matters...
Id choose the usa version but i just hate that awful carrier logo on the front of the phone, it ruins all the beauty!
Totòòò said:
Id choose the usa version but i just hate that awful carrier logo on the front of the phone, it ruins all the beauty!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thankfully my carrier doesn't brand there model number on the phone itself. I think they do this because they sell there phones in an unbranded/unlock versions to other non-major tel companys in Canada (don't know if this holds true for the SGS3 when it comes out though)
I've made my decision I want more ram and faster connection speeds through LTE and DC-HSPA. So now I'm just waiting for the thing to release lol. Also waiting to hear back from them if i can get it cheaper as an upgrade, otherwise their full price will be $599
Sent from my GT-I9100M using XDA
Don't mean to drag this back up, but I was going to create a new post until I found this one.
I am in the same predicament. I'm wondering if I should get the Intl or US model.
I'm on T-Mobile, and they will be refarming their PCS band for HSPA+. I wonder if it's a safe bet to get the Intl model and rely only on a single 1900 MHz band for data, or go with the carrier's model and enjoy the potential of 2 HSPA+ bands (1700/1900)...
Plus, there's the development support issue as well. I've enjoyed my Intl SGS2 when I was on AT&T because of all the developer support - love the mods and the ROMs. Then I moved to a GNex when I went to TMobile.
My ideal ROM situation: CM9 ROM, stock Android Experience ROM, and modified Samsung ROM (themed to look/feel like ICS so I can keep the camera app while enjoying the stability and the highly optimized framework). I love using Titanium Backup and ROM Manager to basically change ROMs without loosing much data whenever I'm in a different mood.
I'd like to eventually have 1 SGS3, 1 iPhone (the next model, esp when TMobile's PCS band gets refarmed), and I'll keep my GNex for shiz and giggles.
Just not sure which to get - both seem to have their pros and cons.

Big decision on whether to get the international or US Samsung Galaxy S3

Note: Posting this here because...this kinda concerns this version, tmobile, AT&T, and the US version. Not sure if this is the best place to post this topic though. If it isn't, please move it. Anyway
Edit: Dammit, maybe this thread is more appropriate for the Tmobile section. I guess I posted this in the wrong place then.
For the past two days, I've been undecided on whether or not I should get the International Samsung Galaxy S3, or the USA Samsung Galaxy S3. To the point where it's stressing me out.From what I've read, its a pretty debatable subject..and its tiring having to go through "lolz quad core owns all" or "2gb ram is the best. Lol international". I looked at some videos, and they seemed even, more or less.
1. Here is my issue. I have Tmobile.Right now I'm under a prepaid type of plan(as in, I pay for minutes whenever. If I'm out of minutes, I can buy some more at any time. I'm under no type of contract. And the only thing that obviously happens to me if I run out of minutes is that I cant call/text anyone until i add more ). But I would like the option to go to 3g/4g in the future. I don't have the money to do 3g/4G right now , but atleast the option is still there for the future. So for now , I'm on a prepaid "pay whenever I want" thing.
From what I've heard the international version does not support 3g/4g(?) regarding Tmobile. All I will get is edge. Now here is the question. Will this always be the case for the International version? Meaning that the international version will never support 3g and 4g under Tmobile?(if I wanted to get a 3g plan) ?
2. If thats the case, what about the USA version? If I decide to stick under Tmobile, and get the US version, I will still have the option of upgrading to 3G/4g on Tmobile, right ? If so, does it matter which US Samsung Galaxy phone I get?(ignoring Verizon and Sprint)
For example, I heard that the AT&T locks the user from disabling LTE for the USA version. As well as locks other things in general. Even if unlocked. Is this true? Or was the person who said this full of crap?
2.5 Also, lets say I do get The AT&T SGS3. And I unlock it and put my Tmobile sim card in it. Now in the future, If I wanted to upgrade to LTE, would I be able to get LTE on this unlocked AT&T phone under a Tmobile Plan? Or would I need an AT&T SGS3, along with an AT&T plan in order to get LTE? And would the reverse be true(as in, If I get a Tmobile SGS3, and wanted to switch carriers . I would never get LTE because of the change of plan). Should I only get a Tmobile USA Samsung Galaxy S3?
3.What about "rooting"? Would that be a way around #2.5 or any of the above questions?
4. Does AT&T have a good prepaid plan as well?(as in, I can pay for minutes whenever. I'm not under any contract or $30 a month type of thing)
5.In my situation, would you recommend I get the US, or international version? Is it worth getting the international version, or USA version when concerning Tmobile? Should I switch carriers in the future, or am I fine the way I am now?
?
6. IYO, if I were to get the USA version, what would be the best place to get it? Without any type of contracts. Again, I assume that buying it locked(and them me manually unlocking it) is the safest option?
7. In my situation, would you recoomend I get the USA, or international version?
Cliffs.
- Deciding between international SGS3, or USA SGS3.
- I'm under Tmobile(prepaid for now)
- Is it true that the International version of the SGS3 will never support 3g or 4g for Tmobile?
- If that's the case, I will at least have the option of upgrading to 3g/4g/on a USA SGS3 under Tmobile, right?
- If the above is true, would it matter which USA Samsung Galaxy S3 I get?(AT&T, or Tmobile). Ex: Is it true that AT&T locks/prevents the user from disabling LTE(which apparently drains a lot)pa, and other apps on the specific AT&T SGS3? Even if it's unlocked? Or was the person who said this full of crap?)
- If I do get a USA AT&T SGS3, unlock it, and put my Tmobile sim card in it. And in the future, wanted to upgrade to LTE, would I be able to get LTE on this unlocked ATT phone, under a Tmobile plan? If not, does the reverse hold true as well?(as in, If I get a Tmobile SGS3, and wanted to switch carriers . I would never get LTE because of the change of plan)
- Would rooting solve the above issues?
- Does AT&T have a good prepaid plan as well?(as in, I can pay for minutes whenever. I'm not under any contract or $30 a month type of thing)
- What would you guys do in my situation?
- IYO, if I were to get the USA version, what would be the best place to get it? Without any type of contracts
- In my situation, would you recommend I get the US, or international version?
destroyer8888 said:
Note: Posting this here because...this kinda concerns this version, tmobile, AT&T, and the US version. Not sure if this is the best place to post this topic though. If it isn't, please move it. Anyway
For the past two days, I've been undecided on whether or not I should get the International Samsung Galaxy S3, or the USA Samsung Galaxy S3. To the point where it's stressing me out.From what I've read, its a pretty debatable subject..and its tiring having to go through "lolz quad core owns all" or "2gb ram is the best. Lol international". I looked at some videos, and they seemed even, more or less.
1. Here is my issue. I have Tmobile.Right now I'm under a prepaid type of plan(as in, I pay for minutes whenever. If I'm out of minutes, I can buy some more at any time. I'm under no type of contract. And the only thing that obviously happens to me if I run out of minutes is that I cant call/text anyone until i add more ). But I would like the option to go to 3g/4g in the future. I don't have the money to do 3g/4G right now , but atleast the option is still there for the future.
From what I've heard the international version does not support 3g/4g(?) regarding Tmobile. All I will get is edge. Now here is the question. Will this always be the case for the International version? Meaning that the international version will never support 3g and 4g under Tmobile?(if I wanted to get a 3g plan) ?
2. If thats the case, what about the USA version? If I decide to stick under Tmobile, and get the US version, I will still have the option of upgrading to 3G/4g on Tmobile, right ? If so, does it matter which US Samsung Galaxy phone I get?(ignoring Verizon and Sprint)
For example, I heard that the AT&T locks the user from disabling LTE for the USA version. As well as locks other things in general. Even if unlocked. Is this true? Or was the person who said this full of crap?
2.5 Also, lets say I do get The AT&T SGS3. And I unlock it and put my Tmobile sim card in it. Now in the future, If I wanted to upgrade to LTE, would I be able to get LTE on this unlocked AT&T phone under a Tmobile Plan? Or would I need an AT&T SGS3, along with an AT&T plan in order to get LTE? And would the reverse be true(as in, If I get a Tmobile SGS3, and wanted to switch carriers . I would never get LTE because of the change of plan). Should I only get a Tmobile USA Samsung Galaxy S3?
3.What about "rooting"? Would that be a way around #2.5 or any of the above questions?
4. Does AT&T have a good prepaid plan as well?(as in, I can pay for minutes whenever. I'm not under any contract or $30 a month type of thing)
5.What would you guys do in my situation? Is it worth getting the international version, or USA version when concerning Tmobile? Should I switch carriers in the future, or am I fine the way I am now?
6. IYO, if I were to get the USA version, what would be the best place to get it? Without any type of contracts. Again, I assume that buying it locked(and them me manually unlocking it) is the safest option?
Cliffs.
- Deciding between international SGS3, or USA SGS3.
- I'm under Tmobile(prepaid for now)
- Is it true that the International version of the SGS3 will never support 3g or 4g for Tmobile?
- If thats the case, I will atleast have the option of upgrading to 3g/4g/on a USA SGS3 under Tmobile, right?
- If the above is true, would it matter which USA Samsung Galaxy S3 I get?(AT&T, or Tmobile). Ex: Is it true that AT&T locks/prevents the user from disabling LTE(which apparently drains a lot)pa, and other apps on the specific AT&T SGS3? Even if it's unlocked? Or was the person who said this full of crap?)
- If I do get a USA AT&T SGS3, unlock it, and put my Tmobile sim card in it. And in the future, wanted to upgrade to LTE, would I be able to get LTE on this unlocked ATT phone, under a Tmobile plan? If not, does the reverse hold true as well?(as in, If I get a Tmobile SGS3, and wanted to switch carriers . I would never get LTE because of the change of plan)
- Would rooting solve the above issues?
- Does AT&T have a good prepaid plan as well?(as in, I can pay for minutes whenever. I'm not under any contract or $30 a month type of thing)
- What would you guys do in my situation?
- IYO, if I were to get the USA version, what would be the best place to get it? Without any type of contracts
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I live in Germany on T-Mobile and have the International version. I recently travelled back to the US (PA/WV/OH area). T-Mobile only gave me a roaming Edge connection, no 3G (at least in the Columbus OH area). I went to the local AT&T shop to get one of the prepaid SIM's. They sold me one, but no-go on the data. They don't do "4G" data on the prepaid plan, the phone was too cool for them. I was only there for a couple of weeks, so I dealt with it. As for which is better, 2 core or 4 core, flip a coin. They are both good. Use GSM Arena's specs pages along with http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellular_frequencies for carrier frequencies to figure out which phone supports the data connection you want.
michaeljwestii said:
I live in Germany on T-Mobile and have the International version. I recently travelled back to the US (PA/WV/OH area). T-Mobile only gave me a roaming Edge connection, no 3G (at least in the Columbus OH area). I went to the local AT&T shop to get one of the prepaid SIM's. They sold me one, but no-go on the data. They don't do "4G" data on the prepaid plan, the phone was too cool for them. I was only there for a couple of weeks, so I dealt with it. As for which is better, 2 core or 4 core, flip a coin. They are both good. Use GSM Arena's specs pages along with [link] for carrier frequencies to figure out which phone supports the data connection you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh I see. Thanks for the input man Now that I think about it, i'm starting to lean more towards the US version.
also, are there any good guides on how to disable LTE on a US ATT SGS3?

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