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I still don't understand why Samsung stuck with the Snapdragon when the Exynos blows every Android processor away? Canada got the Exynos yet the US and China have Snapdragons...
Can't speak to China, but I have heard the U.S. is that way because of Verizon and Sprint. The Snapdragon has CDMA network support built in. Exynos doesn't and would require an extra bit of hardware, thus more cost.
 
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Can't speak to China, but I have heard the U.S. is that way because of Verizon and Sprint. The Snapdragon has CDMA network support built in. Exynos doesn't and would require an extra bit of hardware, thus more cost.

But they did it last year heat issues aside. Samsung could sell more phones if they made a one size fit all method. Fully unlocked device with no bootloader issues. Perfect for development and avoiding carriers, so that can make up for rising hardware and software costs.
 
But they did it last year heat issues aside. Samsung could sell more phones if they made a one size fit all method. Fully unlocked device with no bootloader issues. Perfect for development and avoiding carriers, so that can make up for rising hardware and software costs.
Not only that, but if they did only sell one version in all countries then updates would be much easier. I've always wondered why apple is the only one who can do this, you would think other companies would do this to save money on support and r&d.
 
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Not only that, but if they did only sell one version in all countries then updates would be much easier. I've always wondered why apple is the only one who can do this, you would think other companies would do this to save money on support and r&d.
Even Apple does not fully embrace this concept though. They often have to source components from more than one manufacturer in order to have enough supply. I also think they have had to vary the hardware a bit over the years to accommodate different carrier frequencies in different countries. More similar than different to be sure. But still not a "one size for all" approach out of necessity.
 
Even Apple does not fully embrace this concept though. They often have to source components from more than one manufacturer in order to have enough supply. I also think they have had to vary the hardware a bit over the years to accommodate different carrier frequencies in different countries. More similar than different to be sure. But still not a "one size for all" approach out of necessity.
I thought the only variants are the chinese model and sprint, and that the rest were the same?
 
Can't speak to China, but I have heard the U.S. is that way because of Verizon and Sprint. The Snapdragon has CDMA network support built in. Exynos doesn't and would require an extra bit of hardware, thus more cost.

But they did it last year heat issues aside. Samsung could sell more phones if they made a one size fit all method. Fully unlocked device with no bootloader issues. Perfect for development and avoiding carriers, so that can make up for rising hardware and software costs.

I didn't see anything specifically asserting this but my guess is that Samsung came to an agreement with Qualcomm to use the 820 in some variants as part of the deal to do its fabrication.
 
But they did it last year heat issues aside. Samsung could sell more phones if they made a one size fit all method. Fully unlocked device with no bootloader issues. Perfect for development and avoiding carriers, so that can make up for rising hardware and software costs.

I don't think they can do it right now. Even now my understanding is at least for the us there's little or no after sales support for unlocked s7s and Samsung pay does not work. They right now still feel like they need the carriers hence the carrier variants and carrier bloat. Even Apple needs the carriers to a degree.
 
Can't speak to China, but I have heard the U.S. is that way because of Verizon and Sprint. The Snapdragon has CDMA network support built in. Exynos doesn't and would require an extra bit of hardware, thus more cost.
the rest of the world relies on GSM,

only on verizon and sprint does samsung need a cdma capable chip
 
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I don't understand why Samsung Pay being activated or not has anything to do with whether a phone is unlocked or not. Apple didn't have any problems only activating Apple Pay based on territory---why can't Samsung do the same?
 
So I got a very good deal on brand new GS7 and bought it again. Was hoping for black color this time but I guess gold isn't bad either.

Surprisingly the finger print scanner works better than my first S7.

Any good screen protector recommendation for S7 flat? I've tried the Nilkin tempered glass before and it was really bad.
 
Got the AT&T update last night. Only noticed two things... one is the display is less sensitive which is great. Before I would get all kinds of 'false' presses by just grabbing the phone. It was so sensitive I could actually launch apps and stuff without even touching the screen. The other thing is they have dimmed the Always On Display. It's barely visible now and useless. I would not mind or care if it was like that when carrying it (off the charger) but I got used to looking at it for the time. Now I can't see it because it's just too dim. Useless now. Oh well.
 
So I got a very good deal on brand new GS7 and bought it again. Was hoping for black color this time but I guess gold isn't bad either.

Surprisingly the finger print scanner works better than my first S7.

Any good screen protector recommendation for S7 flat? I've tried the Nilkin tempered glass before and it was really bad.

How much did you sell your old one? My Nexus 5X came in and I decided to run its paces for what an Android phone means for my daily driver. I am closing on a S7 Edge for $600 brand new in Gold myself. Leaning towards the S7 Edge so far, but the Nexus needs a fair evaluation now that I have an opportunity to give it since I hardly used my last one before I returned it.
 
I don't understand why Samsung Pay being activated or not has anything to do with whether a phone is unlocked or not. Apple didn't have any problems only activating Apple Pay based on territory---why can't Samsung do the same?

You looking at buying the international variant or something?

Not sure exactly why but Samsung pay will definitely not work
 
You looking at buying the international variant or something?

Not sure exactly why but Samsung pay will definitely not work

Not looking at all but have seen many assume that if an unlocked version was actually sold by Samsung here that it wouldn't work. Does look like using an international variant here in the US means Samsung Pay doesn't work. My confusion is why? When Apple Pay was first released, it wasn't available in the Canada but I don't believe this restriction was device specific but rather dictated by region, meaingn if I bought an unlocked model from somewhere in Canada, I could set up Apple Pay for use in the US, as long as I was using a US based credit card. Maybe, I'm wrong but that's I remember it.
 
How much did you sell your old one? My Nexus 5X came in and I decided to run its paces for what an Android phone means for my daily driver. I am closing on a S7 Edge for $600 brand new in Gold myself. Leaning towards the S7 Edge so far, but the Nexus needs a fair evaluation now that I have an opportunity to give it since I hardly used my last one before I returned it.
Around $500.
$600 for S7 edge is good deal, but edge is to big for me as I prefer smaller phone for one handed operation.
 
Around $500.
$600 for S7 edge is good deal, but edge is to big for me as I prefer smaller phone for one handed operation.

One hand operating mode works on the Edge too! But I get it and respect it. Did you buy it off that eBay deal two days ago? I didn't bite on a $500 cost for the regular S7. Preferred the ergonomics of the Edge.
 
One hand operating mode works on the Edge too! But I get it and respect it. Did you buy it off that eBay deal two days ago? I didn't bite on a $500 cost for the regular S7. Preferred the ergonomics of the Edge.
I mean handling the phone using one hand, not the triple click home one-hand feature. Tbh, even flat S7 is a little big for me lol

No, I bought it from someone who got it as present but didn't wanna use it. If you don't mind the size, edge if definitely the better device.
 
I mean handling the phone using one hand, not the triple click home one-hand feature. Tbh, even flat S7 is a little big for me lol

No, I bought it from someone who got it as present but didn't wanna use it. If you don't mind the size, edge if definitely the better device.

If the S7 is too big, you can always go with the iPhone SE or LG G5 SE/ Galaxy S7 Mini at some point?
 
If the S7 is too big, you can always go with the iPhone SE or LG G5 SE/ Galaxy S7 Mini at some point?
I'm using it alongside iPhone SE. For me, the perfect phone size is iPhone 6S, but I can go as small as iPhone SE and as big as flat S7.
 
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Not looking at all but have seen many assume that if an unlocked version was actually sold by Samsung here that it wouldn't work. Does look like using an international variant here in the US means Samsung Pay doesn't work. My confusion is why? When Apple Pay was first released, it wasn't available in the Canada but I don't believe this restriction was device specific but rather dictated by region, meaingn if I bought an unlocked model from somewhere in Canada, I could set up Apple Pay for use in the US, as long as I was using a US based credit card. Maybe, I'm wrong but that's I remember it.

my hunch would be that they tied it to snapdragon, I believe only the US got snapdragon?

it would seem to be on purpose , samsung seems to try to hamper grey market imports, maybe at the command of US carriers - since that is the only real sanctioned way to buy one here. perhaps it is about the locked bootloader on snapdragon? samsung doesnt want people with unlockable exynos fiddling with samsung pay looking for vulnerabilities? who knows, but IMO it is intentional

apples use of the secure enclave for apple pay is more ideal for security. jailbreaking has no effect on its use. Maybe samsung was too scared to lock the whole world down? It's hard for me to believe they still care about leaving it open, but if they werent going to offer samsung pay worldwide as the tradeoff.. maybe it would indeed piss enough geeks off

Just throwing it out there, who knows :p
 
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my hunch would be that they tied it to snapdragon, I believe only the US got snapdragon?

it would seem to be on purpose , samsung seems to try to hamper grey market imports, maybe at the command of US carriers - since that is the only real sanctioned way to buy one here. perhaps it is about the locked bootloader on snapdragon? samsung doesnt want people with unlockable exynos fiddling with samsung pay looking for vulnerabilities? who knows, but IMO it is intentional

apples use of the secure enclave for apple pay is more ideal for security. jailbreaking has no effect on its use. Maybe samsung was too scared to lock the whole world down? It's hard for me to believe they still care about leaving it open, but if they werent going to offer samsung pay worldwide as the tradeoff.. maybe it would indeed piss enough geeks off

Just throwing it out there, who knows :p

Yup, who know but certainly a possible reason.

I haven't checked but has Google locked down Android Pay to only specific regions?
 
Yup, who know but certainly a possible reason.

I haven't checked but has Google locked down Android Pay to only specific regions?

I believe that is a yes, but there should be no trouble bringing a device from a different country and using it in one with android pay. I wager it is like Apple Pay
 
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