Samsung Announces Official Rollout of One UI 7 Starting From April 7

FrancoDT · Thursday at 6:39 PM

Anibor_11 said:
An "unbranded" phone is not a Samsung phone. Obviously it´s not possible to update it using a Samsung update.

I think by unbranded he means not chipped for a specific carrier like AT&T or Sprint. Most US phones are linked and locked to a specific carrier.

cereberus · Friday at 7:13 AM

Anibor_11 said:
An "unbranded" phone is not a Samsung phone. Obviously it´s not possible to update it using a Samsung update.

This is not true. The Samsung sites list my phone as unbranded.

I have now found the correct update file for my mobile

cereberus · Friday at 7:15 AM

FrancoDT said:
I think by unbranded he means not chipped for a specific carrier like AT&T or Sprint. Most US phones are linked and locked to a specific carrier.

Correct - I have found the right update file. I just neeed to transfer my esim to a physical sim first.

trevo · Friday at 12:40 PM

FrancoDT said:
I think by unbranded he means not chipped for a specific carrier like AT&T or Sprint. Most US phones are linked and locked to a specific carrier.

That used to be the case, but I read recently that 60-70% of phones are now unlocked.

FWIW, Sprint no longer exist.

FrancoDT · Friday at 12:51 PM

trevo said:
That used to be the case, but I read recently that 60-70% of phones are now unlocked.

FWIW, Sprint no longer exist.

Lol, for some reason Sprint was the first one to pop into my head.

trevo · Friday at 1:00 PM

Winuser · Saturday at 11:57 AM

I'm very disappointed with the updates that my Galaxy S22+ phone has received lately. The first problem was when the phone switched to using Gemini. I didn't know until when my wife wanted to call her sister from our car. Hey Google started to work until we got the message that the phone needed to be unlocked. After doing a online search I found how to allow the phone to work without having to unlock it first. The next problems I found was when using my phone in my truck. I had to turn up the radio volume to be able to hear the person we called. When I tried to end the call I pushed the phone button on the radio. The phone wouldn't hang up. Luckily I found that I could use the phone button on the steering wheel. That lead to my next problem. When the radio switched back the music volume didn't return back to the music volume I had it set to and I was blasted with loud music. The last problem that I have found is when making a call when the phone is connected to my hearing aids. I can barely hear the person I'm talking to. I haven't tried it but I think I have to now adjust the volume on my hearing aids instead of using the volume control on my phone. If these problems don't get fixed I may switch to a iPhone.

MisterEd · Sunday at 1:45 AM

In the U.S. most Samsung phones come locked to a specific carrier. However, they can be unlocked so you can switch carriers. However, which carrier depends upon whether the phone has the GSM or CDMA technology:
* GSM version works with AT&T, T-Moble, or compatible carriers only
* CDMA version works with Verizon or compatible carriers only

Once a phone is locked to a carrier you just can't just switch to another carrier. You must first contact the original carrier and ask for the the phone to be unlocked. Once that is done you can have it locked to the new carrier.

In the U.S. you can also buy a USA unlocked Samsung phone. That means that it does not come pre-locked to any carrier. Unlike the regular model it comes with both the GMS and CDMA technologies. That means that it can be used with any carrier in the U.S.

Examples of Samsung S22 models:
SM-S901U (USA)
SM-S901U1 (USA unlocked)
SM-S901W (Canada)
SM-S901B, SM-S901B/DS (International)

BTW, Sprint was bought by T-Mobile in 2020. Sprint phones originally supported CDMA used by Verizon. However, after 2020 all users had to switch to GSM phones supported by T-Mobile.

MisterEd · Sunday at 2:37 AM

cereberus said:
OK I have worked out why I cannot update my Galaxy S22+ as I bought it cheap on Amazon but the model turns out to be a US unbranded phone (CSC = XAU i.e. unbranded unlocked phone not for any specific carrier).
As I live in UK, I do not get a suitable OTA.

I can download an update easily enough for my model SM-S906U but I cannot find a specific firmware for an unbranded phone.

After a lot of googling, it seems you can flash a carrier specific update to a branded phone but I am not sure if the phone will be locked to a US carrier thereafter.

My understand is if you have the right model, you can flash any US firmware regardless of carrier but I am not certain about this?

In UK very few phones are locked to one carrier these days. Is that true of US?

Also, I use an esim for my main carrier (vodafone UK) and I wonder if that would be a problem?

Does anybody have knowledge/experience of flashing updates to an unbranded phone?

I guess my key question is how do you update an unbranded phone?

Any thoughts guys?

You have the terminology wrong. When new a locked phone means comes locked to a specific carrier. When new a factory unlocked phone means not locked to any specific carrier. That means it doesn't come with a SIM card.

That is different than simply locked or unlocked. When you subscribe to a cell phone service the phone is locked to that service. If you want to change cell phone providers you must first asked them to unlock it. Once they do you can have it locked to the new provider.

Examples of Samsung S22+ models:
SM-S906U (USA)
SM-S906U1 (USA unlocked)
SM-S906W (Canada)
SM-S906B, SM-S906B/DS (International)

Exactly which phone model do you have? The Samsung SM-S906U is for the USA only. It either supports GSM or CDMA. Which one determines which carrier you can use. GSM for AT&T and CDMA is for Verizon. The Samsung SM-S906U1 is factory unlocked to any specific US carrier. It supports both GSM and CDMA. It can't be updated outside its USA region.

Maybe you should have bought the International model.

I have an Samsung S21 phone model SM-G991U1. One of the differences between it and the SM-G991U model is where the updates come from.
SM-S906U (USA): updates come from current U.S. carrier such as AT&T.
SM-S906U1 (USA unlocked): updates come from Samsung itself (only in the U.S)

Everyone I know buys phones from stores that sell phones. For example they go to an AT&T store and buy a phone locked to AT&T. Some time in the future (after their phone is paid off) they can switch to another carrier that also supports GSM such as T-Mobile.

In the U.S. there are only three cellphone network providers:

AT&T (GSM)
T-Mobile (GSM)
Verizon (CDMA)

There are a lot of smaller phone providers but they lease network services (and cell towers) from the big three.

Since most phones are either GSM or CDMA you have to stay with a phone provider that supports the same technology. The only exceptions are factory unlocked phones which supports both technologies.

Note that both Apple iPhones and Android phones come in locked and unlocked versions.

cereberus · Sunday at 8:39 AM

MisterEd said:
You have the terminology wrong. When new a locked phone means comes locked to a specific carrier. When new a factory unlocked phone means not locked to any specific carrier. That means it doesn't come with a SIM card.

That is different than simply locked or unlocked. When you subscribe to a cell phone service the phone is locked to that service. If you want to change cell phone providers you must first asked them to unlock it. Once they do you can have it locked to the new provider.

Examples of Samsung S22+ models:
SM-S906U (USA)
SM-S906U1 (USA unlocked)
SM-S906W (Canada)
SM-S906B, SM-S906B/DS (International)

Exactly which phone model do you have? The Samsung SM-S906U is for the USA only. It either supports GSM or CDMA. Which one determines which carrier you can use. GSM for AT&T and CDMA is for Verizon. The Samsung SM-S906U1 is factory unlocked to any specific US carrier. It supports both GSM and CDMA. It can't be updated outside its USA region.

Maybe you should have bought the International model.

I have an Samsung S21 phone model SM-G991U1. One of the differences between it and the SM-G991U model is where the updates come from.
SM-S906U (USA): updates come from current U.S. carrier such as AT&T.
SM-S906U1 (USA unlocked): updates come from Samsung itself (only in the U.S)

Everyone I know buys phones from stores that sell phones. For example they go to an AT&T store and buy a phone locked to AT&T. Some time in the future (after their phone is paid off) they can switch to another carrier that also supports GSM such as T-Mobile.

In the U.S. there are only three cellphone network providers:

AT&T (GSM)

T-Mobile (GSM)

Verizon (CDMA)

There are a lot of smaller phone providers but they lease network services (and cell towers) from the big three.

Since most phones are either GSM or CDMA you have to stay with a phone provider that supports the same technology. The only exceptions are factory unlocked phones which supports both technologies.

Note that both Apple iPhones and Android phones come in locked and unlocked versions.

I tried to flash the updated firmware usin ODIN but it kep failing with sha256 failure. After a bit of googling, I found that there was a patched version of ODIN that fixed this.

So I crossed two fingers and had a go.

Well Flabber my Gast - It worked 1st time and now on Android 15 UI7!

Now restoring backup from SmartSwitch.

trevo · Sunday at 9:13 AM

MisterEd said:
Since most phones are either GSM or CDMA you have to stay with a phone provider that supports the same technology. The only exceptions are factory unlocked phones which supports both technologies.

Not any longer, all carriers are now LTE and 5G.

cheaterslick · Sunday at 10:44 PM

trevo said:
Not any longer, all carriers are now LTE and 5G.

So GSM and CDMA are a thing of the past?

cereberus · Monday at 6:20 AM

cheaterslick said:
So GSM and CDMA are a thing of the past?

In UK - 3G has been shutdown.

2G still exists mainly for emergency calls in remote areas. Not sure if any

Only 4G (LTE) and 5G really exist now in UK, and I think US (probably all major developed countries e.g. EU)

So yeah, GSM and CDMA are pretty much a thing of the past. Some older handsets no longer work but most handset less than 10 years or so will work on 4G (LTE) and more recent ones on 5G as well.

It looks like 4G will be around for quite a while yet in UK as it has pretty much full UK coverage but 5G is still a bit sketchy.

trevo · Monday at 9:04 AM

cheaterslick said:
So GSM and CDMA are a thing of the past?

As of January 3rd, 2023, Verizon has decommissioned its CDMA Network.

Edwin · Monday at 8:18 PM

In case you didn't know...,
you can't interact with certain objects, such as a media OSD, on the Always-On-Display with a single click, but, double clicking works.
(Sh*tty pic, I know..., couldn't screen capture the AOD screen!)

Stigg · Monday at 8:43 PM

I always have "Always On Display" enabled.

It's useful with a Samsung Smart View Wallet Case. A single tap is all it takes to view anything, receive calls or control music from the Smart View display.

Edwin · Monday at 8:53 PM

Stigg said:
It's useful with a Samsung Smart View Wallet Case.

Yuppers! Best, (smartest), case I ever bought!

Stigg · Monday at 8:59 PM

Edwin said:
Yuppers! Best, (smartest), case I ever bought!

View attachment 137082

I bought a second one as a spare before they go out of stock.

I've dropped my phone a few times onto concrete, and it hasn't broken yet. I don't know whether it has anything to do with the case, or just good luck.

Edwin · Monday at 9:06 PM

Stigg said:
I bought a second one as a spare before they go out of stock.

I have one for my A54 and one for my A35. Best case! Saves the entire phone from getting beat to sh*t! I don't do screen protectors!
My only regret is that the pocket only holds one Credit Card, if you want the case to close nicely!

Stigg · Monday at 9:27 PM

Edwin said:
I have one for my A54 and one for my A35. Best case! Saves the entire phone from getting beat to sh*t! I don't do screen protectors!
My only regret is that the pocket only holds one Credit Card, if you want the case to close nicely!

I don't use screen protectors either.
The case is good enough for me.

I use that case pocket to put my hotel room access card in when I'm travelling.
I can either swipe my phone across the door reader, or leave it in my top shirt pocket and lean towards the door.

One UI 7 Eligible Models
Galaxy S Series · Galaxy S24 Series · Galaxy S24 FE · Galaxy S23 Series · Galaxy S23 FE · Galaxy S22 Series · Galaxy S21 Series · Galaxy S21 FE
Galaxy Z Series · Galaxy Z Fold6 and Galaxy Z Flip6 · Galaxy Z Fold5 and Galaxy Z Flip5 · Galaxy Z Fold4 and Galaxy Z Flip4 · Galaxy Z Fold3 and Galaxy Z Flip3
Galaxy Tab · Galaxy Tab S10 Series · Galaxy Tab S9 Series · Galaxy Tab S9 FE Series · Galaxy Tab S8 Series · Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Samsung Announces Official Rollout of One UI 7 Starting From April 7

Bold New Design for Greater Personalization​

Smarter AI Features for More Intuitive Experience​

Availability​

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