Possibly getting a Verizon Samsung S7, keep on Android 6.0?

[jaydee]

We have an LG G2 that just broke (cracked screen, half of the touchscreen does not work). I don't need the latest/greatest by any means (as old as it was, the G2 was fine), I just need something that's smallish sized, runs on Verizon and looking to keep it on Android 6 or older so we can keep doing PDAnet FoxFi for wifi tether: http://pdanet.co/help/devices.php

The two I've narrowed down to are the Sony Z3V for ~$150 used and the Galaxy S7 for $350 used. My question is, if I go for the S7, how can I make sure that it stays on Android 6.0 and doesn't upgrade to 7.0/7.1? If I buy it used and it already has 7.0, can I just do a factory reset and it will go back to 6.0?

 

[Raduque]

A Galaxy S7 is going to eventually update on it's own unless it's never on wifi, or you sacrifice performance and battery life to root it and disable the updater.
Since one of your requirements is pdanet or whatever, your best bet would be to find a device that will never get an update to 7.0 - but it seems even low-end devices are getting updates to it.

 

[jaydee]

Would it make a difference if I buy an unlocked version?

Would Verizon only enforce an update to a Verizon-branded Galaxy S7, and I could put off indefinitely an OTA update on a factory unlocked Galaxy S7? Or would they be handled the same way if they are both on the Verizon network?

 

[NutBucket]

Buy my Note 4. I'm sure it will never get a 7.0 update.

 

[jaydee]

Buy my Note 4. I'm sure it will never get a 7.0 update.

Thanks for the offer, but it's too big for me.

 

[NutBucket]

At any rate, I agree your only real options are to either buy an older phone or buy a rootable phone and disable the auto updater.

 

[Raduque]

Would it make a difference if I buy an unlocked version?

Would Verizon only enforce an update to a Verizon-branded Galaxy S7, and I could put off indefinitely an OTA update on a factory unlocked Galaxy S7? Or would they be handled the same way if they are both on the Verizon network?

The only Unlocked version that works on Verizon is the 930U and it will get 7.0 by April-ish. Again, you'd have to root it using an engineering kernel which will compromise performance and battery life.

edit: Kernel not bootloader

 

[NutBucket]

What am I missing? Why would rooting it compromise performance and battery life?

 

[Raduque]

What am I missing? Why would rooting it compromise performance and battery life?

You have to use engineering kernels to achieve root, and they are not optimized. They don't use the hardware as efficiently as shipping kernels and cause battery drain and overheating.

 

[NutBucket]

Ah, OK. Thanks for the info.

 

[Raduque]

No problem. Somebody on XDA has found a root method for 7.0, and it seems promising - he hasn't tripped Knock and the device is still saying it's "Official" instead of "custom", but it's still using engineering bootloader, so I have no idea how it performs.

 

[NutBucket]

Interesting. I basically stopped paying attention to rooting and such when I got a Verizon Note 4 in '14.

 

[Insomniator]

Isn't tethering included with Verizon plans now? Are you still clinging to the ancient unlimited plan?

 

[jaydee]

Isn't tethering included with Verizon plans now? Are you still clinging to the ancient unlimited plan?

Yep, still grandfathered unlimited. Tethering is only good for 10GB/month with the new "unlimited" plan. We use about 15-20GB/month.

 

[Raduque]

Might be time to consider a Jetpack instead of a phone.

 

[jaydee]

Thanks guys. Ended up ordering the Sony Z3V for $190 (new). Hope to get it sometime this week.

 

[slag]

I have a S7 edge and got android Nougat (7) the other day. Battery life has almost doubled. It's amazing how much better nougat is on this phone. Why wouldn't you want the latest and greatest version of Android on your phone?

 

[Raduque]

I have a S7 edge and got android Nougat (7) the other day. Battery life has almost doubled. It's amazing how much better nougat is on this phone. Why wouldn't you want the latest and greatest version of Android on your phone?

He's on a grandfathered UDP and is using PDANet for tethering.

 

[jhansman]

FWIW, my Verizon 7 Edge is daily bugging me to update to 7.0, and I keep saying no. Cannot tell you how many threads I've read chock full of complaints about the update and how users wish they had stayed with 6.01, so I am. That is, until N is forced upon me. I am hopeful that by then it will have been worked over so it is more usable. I doubt my phone will ever see O (whatever they decide to call it).

 

[Raduque]

Well, it's not really worth anything. The people complaining about 7.0 basically boils down to "they changed it now it sucks". Period.

7.0 on the S7e runs Grace UX from the Note 7, it's better looking, more responsive and has better battery life.

 

[Zaap]

Well, it's not really worth anything. The people complaining about 7.0 basically boils down to "they changed it now it sucks". Period.

7.0 on the S7e runs Grace UX from the Note 7, it's better looking, more responsive and has better battery life.

First people complain they don't get updates fast enough, then when the get the update... people complain about the update. Can't win.

I've noticed nothing negative about 7.0 on my S7e. Not sure why anyone is mounting a stand not to install it or what if any legit complaints there are with it that'd keep someone steadfastly refusing the update.

 

[daveybrat]

FWIW, my Verizon 7 Edge is daily bugging me to update to 7.0, and I keep saying no. Cannot tell you how many threads I've read chock full of complaints about the update and how users wish they had stayed with 6.01, so I am. That is, until N is forced upon me. I am hopeful that by then it will have been worked over so it is more usable. I doubt my phone will ever see O (whatever they decide to call it).

You're missing out over misinformation. Battery life and speed are much better on my S7 since i upgraded to Nougat 7.0. Haven't had any bugs or issues at all.

 

[slag]

You're missing out over misinformation. Battery life and speed are much better on my S7 since i upgraded to Nougat 7.0. Haven't had any bugs or issues at all.

I said the same thing earlier and no one listened. Zero problems, better battery life than before, and just in general a good experience. Literally no reason not to update.

 

[Muadib]

7.0 has been great on my S7 edge, but my battery life hasn't changed. Did you guys wipe the phone once you had Nougat?

 

[daveybrat]

7.0 has been great on my S7 edge, but my battery life hasn't changed. Did you guys wipe the phone once you had Nougat?

Nope, just installed it and rebooted. I actually like the newer GUI better than the old one, but the battery life is what i like most.