Hey guys. After researching many possible smartphones in the market right now, I am going to go with my first smartphone ever and possibly the best one right now (in my opinion): the Samsung Galaxy S2.
However, I live in the U.S. in which I do not think the SIM-capable unnerfed galaxy S2 will ever be coming out here.
Anyhow, I was hoping people who have bought the unlocked version of the S2 would be able to help me. My questions are as follows:
1) Which online vendor is the best place to buy an unlocked version of the S2? I have been researching many possible sites for the past few months. It seems NewEgg.com, Amazon.com, and Expansys-usa.com are most mentioned contenders. The question then becomes… which one to buy from? Who to trust? Anyone have experience in this arena?
2) From several reviews online, it seems people worldwide have been getting unlocked S2s with different starting languages/manuals. Are they all the same? Are there any fundamental differences in hardware or settings? If so, which one is best? It seems there are different versions with various configurations, such as with/without NFC. Hmm...
3) My main carrier in the U.S. is AT&T. What would I need to do to experience compatibility with this network? I would like to get HSPA+ (~ 4G speeds as claimed by AT&T, so to speak). Is there a special SIM from AT&T or tweaking within the phone I need to do to achieve this? Do I have to tell notify AT&T as well? What do I need to do to ensure compatibility with that network & the speeds I would like to achieve?
Phew. That is all. Thank you!!!!
As far as I know, the international version of i9100 is quad-brand 3G which matches AT&T. You can get 1 on amazon for around $700 USD
OR
you can get a LOCKED i9100m from Bell or Virgin Canada, then unlock it. This phone is 599.99 in Canada.
Isn't the Bell version CDMA-only? Does it offer SIM?
Anyhow, I'll try my hands on an international unlocked version. Now, the question still remains... which one to buy from? Amazon.com has many resellers. NewEgg and Expansys-USA are single resellers, but I would probably have to ask where they get theirs from.
Are there any differences in getting it via from the UK, Korea, India, etc? I would also need an adapter that can be plugged in the US.
Ok there lots of information if you used search feature
Cheapest place to buy currently is www.expansys-usa.com, you get it for 658.99 and you get additional $10 off with lsjuly10 voucher.
You get hspa+ speeds with att and you can also use $15 unlimited non smartphone plan with sgs2.
Search around and you can find lots of info on this. Hope this helps
Edit : just to answer your other question, you get us adapter along with the phone from expansys, amazon. You might mostly get a phone with uk firmware but it shouldn't really matter. Once you get the phone you can flash whatever firmware you want thru odin.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Thank you very much for the coupon!!!
Searching around, it seems like Expansys-USA might be the best bang for the buck to purchase the unlocked version.
I also tried e-mailing NewEgg.com and some Amazon.com vendors. NewEgg.com said their S2 was "made in China." Hmm. I am unsure if it means it is a Chinese version. One vendor from Amazon.com said it was "unsure of where the device came from."
I'm assuming since there's an Expansys-UK, the Expansys-USA may be coming from UK. Is the UK version good? I guess UK (since it's in English) would be best for me...
I've also heard some versions do not have NFC. Does the UK version have NFC or working NFC in the states?
Just get the bell one from canada and save yourself some money, its full hspa+ , meaning it will work with att 3g in the states. If you buy the european ones you'll likely pay upwards of 800$ I'm thinking...
Are the Bell ones unlocked? Where would I be able to find one? Any online resellers that are selling them? I thought the Bell ones were CDMA-only? Or do they also have SIM-card capabilities?
Driving up to Canada and purchasing one is not too feasible for me.
Alazarin said:
Are the Bell ones unlocked? Where would I be able to find one? Any online resellers that are selling them? I thought the Bell ones were CDMA-only? Or do they also have SIM-card capabilities?
Driving up to Canada and purchasing one is not too feasible for me.
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The bell ones are locked. Can be easly unlocked. They are sim ones. I using the one i bought with bell on telus
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Alazarin said:
Are the Bell ones unlocked? Where would I be able to find one? Any online resellers that are selling them? I thought the Bell ones were CDMA-only? Or do they also have SIM-card capabilities?
Driving up to Canada and purchasing one is not too feasible for me.
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Nope, bell has been ditching its CDMA network for well over a year... All their new phones are gsm. Well not just driving up I'm saying ordering online from canada would probably even be cheaper than buying a european phone, and they are the same phone, no nfc, same model.
I`m living in UK and I bought my SGS2 1 month ago from ebay. was sealed and is factory unlocked. It`s 100% original, not a fake. As far as I now if is factory unlocked it`s working in USA on At&t H+ speed, and you don`t need to unlock. If you want you can order from UK or wait when will be release in USA. Hope this help. Good luck!
unleashed12 said:
Nope, bell has been ditching its CDMA network for well over a year... All their new phones are gsm. Well not just driving up I'm saying ordering online from canada would probably even be cheaper than buying a european phone, and they are the same phone, no nfc, same model.
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Do you have any recommendations to reliable online Canadian resellers?
The hard part is that I'm still deciding whether to buy from Expansys-USA (cheaper), Clove (great reviews + most reliable), or from an online Canadian reseller (could be even cheaper + more reliable since I live in the U.S.?). My main criteria is that:
I would like to buy the phone that was made in Korea, but for the UK/CA market (thus, factory sealed) and comes with a US adapter (not add-on). That seems to be the best one, but I am unsure which one would provide that.
I am in the process of selling my iphone to buy the m8. I am buying non subsidized and was wondering which variant would be the best for flashing roms and possibly doing the GPe conversions. Should I spend a little more to get either the unlocked or developer edition, or would the AT&T variant work fine after being unlocked?
Thanks!
get the unlocked.
if you are already decided on rooting and flashing to GPe roms why would you even consider the ATT variant? too bad too cuz you missed out on the $649 pricing for the unlocked. it's $700 now
I have just bought myself the new WIFI only versoin of the Z2 tablet, i will be selling my Z1 soon, but when i bought it from ebay, the guy told me he got it from an EE store, it is the SGP321, wifi and sim, although i have never used a sim card in it.
At the time i got it for a really good pricew, probably on par with the price of a wifi only model, but with me now wanting to sell it, i am unsure if i would need to list it as locked to EE or if its unlocked?
Is there any easy way i can find out?
Thanks
James
Buying a used z2 tablet off ebay. Its the verizon version. I don't have verizon/nor plan to use it on lte. Just wondering if it is rootable?
It is rootable. It is slightly involved and is limited to lollipop. Bootloader also cannot be unlocked.
rapiollymega said:
Buying a used z2 tablet off ebay. Its the verizon version. I don't have verizon/nor plan to use it on lte. Just wondering if it is rootable?
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i think we all fall in the same trap of unclear description from the seller but please see;
http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z2-tablet/help/updating-verizon-locked-z2-tablet-lte-t3362294
Hey everyone,
I've been looking for a new phone for some time now. I was playing around based on specifications I'd like my next phone to have, I currently have a Oneplus One and would like something a little more updated. I found the G5 to meet my requirements but it seems there are a ton of models and I'm not quite sure which one is good? I intend to root/rom/etc so which one would you guys recommend getting for someone with T-Mobile? Thanks in advance
gotham2krazy said:
Hey everyone,
I've been looking for a new phone for some time now. I was playing around based on specifications I'd like my next phone to have, I currently have a Oneplus One and would like something a little more updated. I found the G5 to meet my requirements but it seems there are a ton of models and I'm not quite sure which one is good? I intend to root/rom/etc so which one would you guys recommend getting for someone with T-Mobile? Thanks in advance
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Click to collapse
The H830 is the T Mobile model and is rootable, and you can unlock the bootloader, the only other one I am aware of is the H850, only the EU model can be unlocked
Sent from my LG-H820 using Tapatalk
gotham2krazy said:
Hey everyone,
I've been looking for a new phone for some time now. I was playing around based on specifications I'd like my next phone to have, I currently have a Oneplus One and would like something a little more updated. I found the G5 to meet my requirements but it seems there are a ton of models and I'm not quite sure which one is good? I intend to root/rom/etc so which one would you guys recommend getting for someone with T-Mobile? Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Besides the H830 (which TMobile doesn't sell any longer the only other US model that is unlockable is the RS988. B&H photo has them on sale for 250 right now. They are brand new with full warranty. I just bought one from there last month which I rooted an am using on Verizon. I had the VS987 prior and also the H830. Which I rooted. But had an issue getting it sim unlocked for other carriers. The only thing that the RS988 can't do is wifi calling but I've never needed that anyway. The RS988 I got from B&H also was manufactured in 3/2017 so they have newer builds not old stock laying around. Verizon recently stopped selling this phone as well so it's only a matter of time before there are no new ones left.
Good Luck