What is the main difference between the carrier phones of the Note 5?

[AC Question]

What is the main difference between the carrier phones of the Note 5

Are there huge differences between the Note 5 on Verizon vs T-Mobile? Is the firmware the same, style, durability, etc?

 

[Rukbat]

Re: What is the main difference between the carrier phones of the Note 5

The firmware is different, the Verizon bootloader is locked, the bloatware is different. Some of the LTE frequencies may be different (I can't find full specs on either the T or the V yet).

Choose the carrier by the coverage, not by the phone. The best phone in the world, free with free service, is less useful for communications than a rock if you have no service.

 

[dpham00]

Re: What is the main difference between the carrier phones of the Note 5

The Verizon one is factory sim unlocked (though as pointed out, the bootloader is locked).

Different carriers also support different frequencies.

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 5

 

[tanson1011]

Re: What is the main difference between the carrier phones of the Note 5

Canadian carriers don't put any ugly logos on their phones... Usually leave the software alone with the exception of a couple of carrier apps.

 

[browri]

I know this is an old ticket, but I thought I would point out the two biggest differences that I've noticed.

Firstly, the bands. Verizon has SEVERELY restricted the radio to the following frequences:

LTE: 13(700), 4(1700/2100 AWS), 2(1900 PCS), 3(1800), 7(2600), LTE CA 13+4 (10+10)

...and then T-Mobile:

LTE: 1(2100), 2(1900 PCS), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100 AWS), 5(800 CLR), 7(2600), 8(900), 12(700), 20(800 EUDD, not SMR)

So essentially, the Verizon Note 5 may have some compatibility with other carriers because of band 4 and band 2, but Verizon's band 5 is missing from the picture. What happens when Verizon starts refarming that?

Additionally, as stated earlier the bootloader is locked. Samsung Knox #FTW. Rooting your phone turns it into a really pretty looking paper weight. This is not the case for the carriers.

Hope this sheds some light on things.