Question about the new Google S4 and T-Mobile

[quietlybrilliant]

T-Mobile says their phones become unlocked after a month. Does this mean that I will be able to use a T-Mobile S4 I purchase today as a Google S4 (receiving stock Android and direct software updates from Google) come June 26?

Or is the hardware of the current S4 and the Google S4 not identical?

 

[Suda]

No. If you buy an S4 from a carrier it's a Samsung device w/ TouchWiz, and you'll get updates through Samsung. The "Google Edition S4" is the only Galaxy S4 with stock and Google updates. Hardware is identical, software is different.

 

[scorpiodsu]

No. If you buy an S4 from a carrier it's a Samsung device w/ TouchWiz, and you'll get updates through Samsung. The "Google Edition S4" is the only Galaxy S4 with stock and Google updates. Hardware is identical, software is different.

This is what I was trying to say in the other thread:

http://forums.androidcentral.com/google-nexus-4/279246-phone-wars-over-samsung-just-won.html

I'm with you that these devices are mostly for enthusiasts and I was pointing that out. But that doesn't stop some from going overboard LOL

 

[quietlybrilliant]

I'm confused. What in the hardware prevents me from simply switching the device to becoming a Google Nexus device, once T-Mobile unlocks it for me??

 

[JHBThree]

Unlocking ha nothing to do with the software. The unlocking you're talking about is related to the wireless.

The IMEI of your handset is tied to being updated by Samsung, and there's nothing you can do to change that.

 

[quietlybrilliant]

OK. Thanks for letting me know. I guess I will get the Samsung version for a month and return it to get the Google version next month.

 

[JHBThree]

You only have 14 days to return it.