Does anyone else not care about a locked bootloader on Verizon?

[xxtdxx]

Not a diss or meant to be offensive by any means but I find it mildly annoying that all I hear is "don't get the Verizon model! Don't get the Verizon model!" I'm past the days of switching ROMs every other day and if google is handling the security updates, aren't those the most important updates in this day and age? I may not be in the majority but I typically get a new phone annually so if a new version of android comes out I'll probably get it on a new device next year. I left android in 2014 for the iPhone 6 because I didn't see anything intriguing but I'm so ready to pass my 7 plus to my wife and get back to android with a pixel XL.

 

[Aquila]

I'm also not too terribly worried about that part because you don't need the bootloader unlocked to flash OTA scripts ... but um, WiFi calling is the only potential difference between the two and still needs to be confirmed whether or not Verizon's WiFi calling works on Pixels bought from Not Verizon. Otherwise they're seeming very interchangeable for how I typically use my phones. That said, both of mine are from Google and I have Verizon on two of my phones, so it's pretty much certain that a Verizon SIM is going in it at some point.

You're definitely not alone on that.

 

[tdizzel]

Not a diss or meant to be offensive by any means but I find it mildly annoying that all I hear is "don't get the Verizon model! Don't get the Verizon model!" I'm past the days of switching ROMs every other day and if google is handling the security updates, aren't those the most important updates in this day and age? I may not be in the majority but I typically get a new phone annually so if a new version of android comes out I'll probably get it on a new device next year. I left android in 2014 for the iPhone 6 because I didn't see anything intriguing but I'm so ready to pass my 7 plus to my wife and get back to android with a pixel XL.

Based on the comments to the articles about that, I'm guessing you are in the majority of not caring about bootloaders anymore, but for some reason that agenda keeps getting pushed by a certain author

 

[SteelGator]

I too am done flashing ROMs. I just don't have the time to do it any longer, and the benefits I get from a custom ROM has much decreased over the years.

As far as getting the Verizon version, I thought I read somewhere that HD calling will require it. I could not find that reference quickly thought. I assume WiFi calling would be in a similar bucket.

 

[anon(596177)]

Unless you are the type to stress about not being able to install a custom ROM on your phone, the bootloader being encrypted means absolutely nothing. 5 years ago, that would have pissed me off. Today I could care less. Stock android doesnt leave much to be desired from a custom rom anymore.

 

[Aquila]

Based on the comments to the articles about that, I'm guessing you are in the majority of not caring about bootloaders anymore, but for some reason that agenda keeps getting pushed by a certain author

George RR Martin?

 

[Clocks]

I haven't found a ROM worth using since the Galaxy S3. Got really tired of random stuff being broken, poor camera performance, etc. Also I'm old now and use my phone as my exclusive work phone, I dont have time to deal with it any more.

 

[SteelGator]

George RR Martin?

Don't be ridiculous, he has not written anything in forever . . . .

still frustrated the HBO is now ahead of the books.

 

[craigrn16]

Not a diss or meant to be offensive by any means but I find it mildly annoying that all I hear is "don't get the Verizon model! Don't get the Verizon model!" I'm past the days of switching ROMs every other day and if google is handling the security updates, aren't those the most important updates in this day and age? I may not be in the majority but I typically get a new phone annually so if a new version of android comes out I'll probably get it on a new device next year. I left android in 2014 for the iPhone 6 because I didn't see anything intriguing but I'm so ready to pass my 7 plus to my wife and get back to android with a pixel XL.

I stopped rooting and caring about Roms since Marshmallow but it's still nice to have the option. That's why I went the unlocked route

 

[Almeuit]

I am not going to be on Verizon but the locked bootloader wouldn't bother me since I haven't rooted in a long time. I just don't see a need for it anymore. Either that or I am lazy .. One of the two .

 

[bmoguy]

Not a diss or meant to be offensive by any means but I find it mildly annoying that all I hear is "don't get the Verizon model! Don't get the Verizon model!" I'm past the days of switching ROMs every other day and if google is handling the security updates, aren't those the most important updates in this day and age? I may not be in the majority but I typically get a new phone annually so if a new version of android comes out I'll probably get it on a new device next year. I left android in 2014 for the iPhone 6 because I didn't see anything intriguing but I'm so ready to pass my 7 plus to my wife and get back to android with a pixel XL.

Pretty much my thinking too. I'm probably just getting old, I just want it to work.

 

[Aquila]

Don't be ridiculous, he has not written anything in forever . . . .

still frustrated the HBO is now ahead of the books.

Good point.

 

[tdizzel]

Don't be ridiculous, he has not written anything in forever . . . .

still frustrated the HBO is now ahead of the books.

I don't know. Season 6 was pretty amazing.

 

[Stang68]

I haven't ROMed my phone since the S3, so nope! Still bought through the Google Store, though.

 

[SteelGator]

I don't know. Season 6 was pretty amazing.

I'm not watching, I don't enjoy reading after watching and reading is still better.

George and Patrick Rothfuss are both on my shhhtuff list until they get their next book out.

 

[jrvtecaccord]

Agreed completely.

 

[cbreze]

Don't care about rooting anymore so could care less about the boot loader. WiFi calling I only would use rarely, but still nice to have in those instances. I'd go unlocked but would go for the Verizon version only if WiFi calling was not doable in the Google Store model.

 

[Ry]

I understand why.

It doesn't bother me.

 

[harrison17]

Be patient, but I've never purchased an unlocked phone or rooted one. I'd like to use my phone for a wifi hotspot occasionally. I'm on an old unlimited data Verizon plan. Do I need an unlocked bootloader to be able to do that without paying for some extra service from Verizon?

 

[Lheajo Croce]

Here's my dilemma with Verizon and a locked bootloader: If you buy verizon, you will have bloatware which you cannot uninstall without root and if you buy from Google there will be no bloatware and no need for an unlocked bootloader to uninstall unwanted apps. Quite the conundrum.

All that aside, there will be a workaround to unlock the bootloader on verizon in time. So it's not really anything to worry about to begin with.