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Best source for Samsung S7

B

BrandonT

Member
I live in Denver and am currently with AT&T. Finally replacing my HTC M7 with the Sammy S7. Where would be the best place to buy the phone outright (in case I change carriers some day)? Is there a vendor without the bloatware? Are unlocked phones easy to get working on a carrier? I seen a mention of the radios being slightly different, so even though it will work for example on AT&T, it might not have all the bands available? Any other considerations?
 
Buy the international version on Amazon. It'll work with GSM carriers here (ATT and Tmobile) and doesn't have carrier bloat.
 
Thanks. The amazon description says "may not have US warranty"? Also is there a model that can switch from AT&T to Sprint or possibly Verizon? Those would be the likely candidates in my area. Or is the radio different?
 
The US models are all actually the same hardware IIRC. The only issue is carrier lock (and the locked bootloader).

The international version should work perfectly on T-Mo and AT&T, but not on Sprint/VZ. And I'm not sure whether anyone has confirmed Samsung Pay.

edit - Apparently the international device firmware doesn't enable Samsung Pay because there's no non-US zone (besides Korea, which has a different model) that has it. But flashing the UK firmware after Samsung Pay launches there should work.
 
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Text from Verizon's site:
http://www.verizonwireless.com/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s7/
How to take advantage of this offer.
If you’re an existing Verizon customer, you can upgrade one line and add a line to your account, or just add two new lines. If you’re new to Verizon, just add two new lines of service.

Add two Samsung Galaxy S7 edge or Galaxy S7 smartphones (you can mix and match) with monthly device payments to your cart.

Complete the checkout process and order your two smartphones.

Visit www.yourdigitalrebatecenter.com/ with your order confirmation details and use promo code S7-PROMO to complete the redemption process.

Receive your Visa prepaid gift card within 8-10 weeks by mail.

*Free phone of equal or lesser value when you activate a new line and purchase both with monthly device payments. Each phone: $28/mo or $33/mo for 24 mos; 0% APR: Retail price of S7 ($672) or S7 edge ($792) less up to $792 mail-in Visa prepaid card. Taxes on retail prices at sale. Lines must remain active for 6mos. Limited time offer.
Click to expand...

It's not really BOGO - it's upsell->discount->rebate. Bummer.
 
jdoggg12 said:
I don't suppose there's an unlocked version that'll work on Verizon anywhere...?
Click to expand...

No, there isn't. Verizon, Sprint, and U.S. Cellular use completely different frequencies and a completely different technology than every other (major/large) cell phone company on Earth, and it's called CDMA. AT&T & T-Mobile & StraightTalk & MetroPCS & every other cell phone company in the US, and more or less every other cell phone company on Earth use what is called GSM.

The fairly large differences between the two technologies are described pretty well by this author, I thought.
 
jdoggg12 said:
I don't suppose there's an unlocked version that'll work on Verizon anywhere...?
Click to expand...

Of course not. That kind of ease would be Apple-like. (Though Samsung does like to copy Apple. 😛)

Seriously, even though it looks like the hardware is the same for each model number, various bands/radios are disabled in firmware. Though this does bring up the possibility that Samsung could sell a SIM-free version of the GS7 if they wanted to (like the SIM-free iPhone, which will work on almost any carrier).

http://s4gru.com/index.php?/blog/1/...one-of-us-one-variant-each-for-all-of-the-us/

This link has a chart.

http://www.tmonews.com/2016/02/sams...c-filings-offer-info-on-network-band-support/
 
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