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Galaxy S7 - No Carrier Branding

S

Stacked

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 9, 2012
173
46
Hey everyone! I've never owned anything other than an iPhone so I'm not sure how this works.

If I wanted the S7 minus the carrier branding and bloat ware what would be the best method? I'm not sure how it worked when the S6 just came out since I know you can get that unlocked on Amazon and other retailers now.
 
You do it the same way ... buy it unlocked. Samsung's bloatware will still be on there though.
 
\-V-/ said:
You do it the same way ... buy it unlocked. Samsung's bloatware will still be on there though.
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Do they offer it unlocked for pre order through samsung's website or through AT&T (my carrier)?
 
I'm not sure about pre-order, but you can definitely buy it directly through Samsung's website. I've never used AT&T so I don't know.
 
\-V-/ said:
I'm not sure about pre-order, but you can definitely buy it directly through Samsung's website. I've never used AT&T so I don't know.
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I'm not sure Samsung sells direct in the US. I looked on their site and found no mention of pricing, just links to carrier websites for purchasing the phone (looking at the S6).
 
\-V-/ said:
I'm not sure about pre-order, but you can definitely buy it directly through Samsung's website. I've never used AT&T so I don't know.
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hallux said:
I'm not sure Samsung sells direct in the US. I looked on their site and found no mention of pricing, just links to carrier websites for purchasing the phone (looking at the S6).
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Yup, Samsung hasn't sold an unlocked, unbranded version of their Galaxy or Note devices directly in the US as long as I can remember--one of the biggest reasons why I've refused to purchase one to this point. I had a Note 2 from AT&T and after that experience, I refuse to buy any phones that's not unlocked/unbranded.
 
The T-mobile version is the one that usually doesn't have carrier branding on the phone (when you turn it on, it's there). If you want an unlocked version, you're going to have wait a couple of months for Best Buy to get it. B&H most likely will have the phone unlocked, but I don't know how long it will take for them to get one.
 
Little to no Samsung bloat on new devices. You'll still have Microsoft suite and carrier bloat but my understanding is you'll have less carrier bloat as well (as much as 5-7 less apps per carrier). You'll also have Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram.
 
mel823 said:
The T-mobile version is the one that usually doesn't have carrier branding on the phone (when you turn it on, it's there). If you want an unlocked version, you're going to have wait a couple of months for Best Buy to get it. B&H most likely will have the phone unlocked, but I don't know how long it will take for them to get one.
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Hopefully just in time for some price breaks. ;)
 
mel823 said:
The T-mobile version is the one that usually doesn't have carrier branding on the phone (when you turn it on, it's there). If you want an unlocked version, you're going to have wait a couple of months for Best Buy to get it. B&H most likely will have the phone unlocked, but I don't know how long it will take for them to get one.
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This is correct although it does say T-Mobile on the boot up screen as you have said.
 
Thanks for all the replies everyone. Well based on today's reveal for the S7 I'm pretty much set on getting one. Wish I didn't have to wait several months to get it minus the carrier branding.

I'm guessing the T-Mobile logo on boot is embedded in the software? I just want the device as intended from Samsung minus the carrier bloatware.
 
Stacked said:
Thanks for all the replies everyone. Well based on today's reveal for the S7 I'm pretty much set on getting one. Wish I didn't have to wait several months to get it minus the carrier branding.

I'm guessing the T-Mobile logo on boot is embedded in the software? I just want the device as intended from Samsung minus the carrier bloatware.
Click to expand...

I think the carrier bloat is about as bad as what Samsung is forcing upon us. Upon turning on my Note 5 for the first time and when it started downloading apps and updates, it started to download ALL of the MS Office apps. I have no use or want for any of those and yet since they are forced on my phone. All I can do is disable them but they are still there.

On T-Mobile, you have the My T-Mobile app and the T-Mobile TV app and a few more apps. None of these can be deleted but they can be disabled but of course, they are still installed. I think Samsung bloatware is much worse then T-Mobiles.
 
The tmobile model is great aside from them still having their fingers on the update process. Don't think I can buy Samsung until they offer a model in the USA that has absolutely no carrier control
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ucfgrad93 said:
I really love that Apple has the clout to keep bloat ware off the iPhone.
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Not only bloat ware, but no carrier certification of updates
 
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ucfgrad93 said:
I really love that Apple has the clout to keep bloat ware off the iPhone.
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My 6s+ doesn't have carrier bloat but it still has some apps I will never use and cannot delete. But no where near what others have.
 
hallux said:
So does Google, with the Nexus phones. Granted, they are not available through carriers (unless you go to Fi).
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Dunno what "unless you go to Fi" is supposed to mean. No, you can't buy them through a carrier, you can only get them through Google (or Amazon or wherever), but they come unlocked ... so they can be used on any carrier. Fi isn't a carrier you buy the phone through, it's just another service you can get through Google. The service itself is disabled by default on the Nexus phones until you insert a Fi SIM card. I'm using Fi right now and I love it.
 
Stacked said:
Hey everyone! I've never owned anything other than an iPhone so I'm not sure how this works.

If I wanted the S7 minus the carrier branding and bloat ware what would be the best method? I'm not sure how it worked when the S6 just came out since I know you can get that unlocked on Amazon and other retailers now.
Click to expand...
The problem with the Galaxy line isn't the carrier bloat, it's the built in bloat.
 
I can live with oem bloat I don't want carriers messing with the updates (and locking the phones down) or carrier bloat. Carriers are dumb pipes don't mess with my phone
 
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Will the unlocked versions that eventually make their way to best buy support all of T-Mobile's LTE bands, especially band 12?
 
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