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from what i've read it's not Samsung but the carriers that require it to be locked. outside the states you can get an unlockable bootloader on both Snapdragon a
by leeoniya 9y ago
from what i've read it's not Samsung but the carriers that require it to be locked. outside the states you can get an unlockable bootloader on both Snapdragon and Exynos variants.
it pisses me off because my wife purchased a Sprint flavor S8 (full price, no contract) because its radios are better for Sprint's bands but i cannot unlock it to install Lineage or TWRP >:(
EDIT: i might be wrong, all Snapdragon variants are locked. the best that's been achieved is root with a bunch of caveats:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/development/root-g955u-g955u1-snapdragon-sampwnd-t3658911 https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s8+/development/root...
- ac29 9y agoCarriers don't seem to have an issue with any of Google's phones being unlocked, I don't see why they would only require it on other manufacturers. They might prefer locked bootloaders, but Samsung has enough sales volume that I imagine they could do whatever they wanted.
- ThatPlayer 9y agoCarriers don't tend to sell Google's phone. Verizon seems to be the only carrier selling Google's Pixel, and they have a locked bootloader on that version.
- Vanav 9y agoYou are right, some regions can be unlocked. For example, N9500 (Snapdragon, Note8), can be unlocked (https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-8/how-to/guide-n9500-unlocking-bl-twrp-t3696103 https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-note-8/how-to/guide-...).