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spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
Well, when I bought my Galaxy S4 from t-mobile, I did it online. I'm not really sure how pushy the sales reps are in making sure I switch over my phone number or if they want to install the sim card in, I really didn't want to deal with that lol. But if they make you pay the first month service, and you cancel it within 15 days, they will refund you that money. I doubt Samsung will require you to have service. it seems that they mainly want you to pre order it and have it paid off if you're going to use it on another network.

Well, yes, it isn't very hard to get unlocked codes for Android phones. But if you are going to use that phone on AT&T, it will have to be unlocked, otherwise you will get a message once you put in the AT&T GSM card saying that the phone is locked. T-mobile will keep it locked to their network, same way as AT&T keeps it locked into their network until you use their services for 60 days, after which, they will unlock it.

All of this is going off my ordeal on July 2013 when I bought the T-Mobile Galaxy S4. I learned all those things. Not sure if things have drastically changed since then, just look into well. As long as you can easily get an unlocked code, you won't have an issue. On xda I also saw a way to unlock the GS4. I followed the steps, but I never found out if it unlocked the phone or not since I used Metro PCS and they use T-Mobile's network

Make sure both models have the same frequency bands too. A friend of mine bought an AT&T unlocked Galaxy S4 and ran it on T-Mobile. He wouldn't get such good service if he wasn't on a 4G LTE area. Might work different with AT&T or the Note 4 just includes all those bands.

Hmm, it looks like the unlocked part might throw a roadblock temporarily. I know it's very easy and cheap to get a Note 3 unlock code, but who knows what new security Samsung has put into the new phone, would suck to have a big paper weight.

thanks for the info!

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Cool, just did a search and there is a way to unlock the Note 3 that seems pretty easy and reliable. Maybe it will work on the N4 assuming we will get a root quickly. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2475552

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In terms of being unlocked, aren't all Verizon phones unlocked now? Maybe I should consider buying the Verizon version, that's actually what I did with my 5s. Although I'm not sure if there will be an issue with the LTE bands.

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Hmm from phonescoop:

GSM versions: LTE 700 / 700 / 850 / 1700 / 1900

CDMA versions: LTE 750 / 1700

So looks like I'm back to the Tmobile version to ensure I get all the LTE bands.
 
Last edited:

Bishope1999

macrumors regular
Dec 31, 2010
223
22
Hmm, it looks like the unlocked part might throw a roadblock temporarily. I know it's very easy and cheap to get a Note 3 unlock code, but who knows what new security Samsung has put into the new phone, would suck to have a big paper weight.

thanks for the info!

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Cool, just did a search and there is a way to unlock the Note 3 that seems pretty easy and reliable. Maybe it will work on the N4 assuming we will get a root quickly. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2475552

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In terms of being unlocked, aren't all Verizon phones unlocked now? Maybe I should consider buying the Verizon version, that's actually what I did with my 5s. Although I'm not sure if there will be an issue with the LTE bands.
Yeah, I followed similar steps with my GS4, as those posted on XDA, but you always want to be 100% sure when you are spending that much money. Good thing that you looked up and check all that up before buying it.

I don't really know if all Verizon phones are unlocked, I really have no idea. I may be a bit concerned about the LTE bands. Maybe the iPhones are the ones sold unlocked only? Not sure. Also, I'm not sure if Verizon has mentioned the price they are going to sell the Note 4 for.

Good luck with your search either way.
 

F123D

macrumors 68040
Sep 16, 2008
3,776
16
Del Mar, CA
As long as the carrier/retailer gives you at least $10 for the trade in. Then Samsung gives you the remaining balance of the $200. So check to make sure the phone is eligible for trade in.
 

maximus96

macrumors 6502a
Sep 25, 2007
751
153
As long as the carrier/retailer gives you at least $10 for the trade in. Then Samsung gives you the remaining balance of the $200. So check to make sure the phone is eligible for trade in.

oh, so there is a catch, where can i find a list of eligible phones?
 

Zwhaler

macrumors 604
Jun 10, 2006
7,267
1,965
so can i buy a cheap smartphone to trade in for $200?
like this one? http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/mob/4674318906.html

As long as the carrier/retailer gives you at least $10 for the trade in. Then Samsung gives you the remaining balance of the $200. So check to make sure the phone is eligible for trade in.

I read somewhere that they want the original receipt of the trade in phone.

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just put my order in...AT&T is giving me a 10/14 date

Nice, what color did you get?
 

tbayrgs

macrumors 604
Jul 5, 2009
7,467
5,097
The full retail price difference between AT&T and Verison is shocking--$850 vs. $700?? :eek:
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
F*$* AT&T, I'm buying the Tmobile one. $749 minus the $200 Samsung credit, unlocked bootloader, rootable out of the gate, etc. Heck I'd switch service if Tmobile wasn't so god awful in my area.

The only annoying thing is I won't be able to go to AT&T for warranty work, I'll have to deal with Samsung.
 

bmt134

macrumors 6502
Dec 6, 2012
378
4
F*$* AT&T, I'm buying the Tmobile one. $749 minus the $200 Samsung credit, unlocked bootloader, rootable out of the gate, etc. Heck I'd switch service if Tmobile wasn't so god awful in my area.

The only annoying thing is I won't be able to go to AT&T for warranty work, I'll have to deal with Samsung.
Amazon has the ATT version for $749 if that is worth anything
 

weespeed

macrumors 6502
Jul 9, 2010
430
0
I read somewhere that they want the original receipt of the trade in phone.

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Nice, what color did you get?

On the promotion it just wants the receipt of the phone and receipt of the trade in. This is to show that you actually traded a phone in worth $10 or more.
 

aeboi

macrumors 65816
Sep 20, 2009
1,094
0
Bay Area
I contacted Samsung Support and they said that the trade-in needs to be at the same carrier/retail store that you pre-ordered from.

I'd be weary of the Amazon trade-in especially since it's not Amazon or Verizon or AT&T that's buying your phone. It's some 3rd party seller that's buying it. You might want to get more clarification on whether Amazon trade-in will work.
 

spinedoc77

macrumors G4
Jun 11, 2009
11,488
5,413
Man, I'm amazed at how much money people will throw out just for the latest and greatest device that they'll ditch in a year!

Wait, your sig says you own an iphone 6. Are you amazed at your own stupidity for how much money you "will throw out just for the latest and greatest device that they'll ditch in a year"?
 

rockitdog

macrumors 68030
Mar 25, 2013
2,724
1,241
Wait, your sig says you own an iphone 6. Are you amazed at your own stupidity for how much money you "will throw out just for the latest and greatest device that they'll ditch in a year"?


Lol, I bought it subsidized. Fail, try again try hard!

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Says the person with the latest and greatest......


Got it on 2 year contract so I didn't she'll out full price. Oh and I came from an iPhone 4! Thanks for playing but try again.
 

Bishope1999

macrumors regular
Dec 31, 2010
223
22
Lol, I bought it subsidized. Fail, try again try hard!

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Got it on 2 year contract so I didn't she'll out full price. Oh and I came from an iPhone 4! Thanks for playing but try again.

I don't get why wouldn't you pay full price for the phone and prefe to be stuck on a 2 year contract. You end up paying the same amount for the phone over a 2 year period anyways, you just don't pay it all at once.

I bought my Galaxy S4 last year for $620, with tax, Now I can buy the Note 4 for $802, with tax, and I can sell or keep my old phone without having to wait another year to buy a new phone.

It's like buying a camera, camcorder, HDTV, Blu-ray player, tablet, computer, or gaming system. Buy it cash, keep it or sell it and buy a new one when you want. If you have no need to upgrade, then you know the phone is yours and you can freely switch carriers.
 
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