Slower speeds with Unlocked ver. on T-Mobile?

goji26

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Mar 10, 2018
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I've noticed the same issue sitting at my desk at work. The signal and data speed on my Note 10+ is much lower than my Pixel 3 XL.
 

CKwik240

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I think it should be clear that network speeds and signal strength are two different things. Network speeds can certainly be affected by signal strength, but you can have great networks speeds without having full bars. Conversely, you can have great signal and have terrible latency. Especially in congested areas.
 

nuangel2

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This is my first unlocked on t-mobile. I don't notice a difference. My note 9 and S10+ were both tmobile phonesScreenshot_20190826-193646_Speedtest.jpeg
 

Lepa79

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Seems like something is holding back the speed at my work. Away from work, speeds are much higher. I think I am okay and not Note 10/unlocked related.

SmartSelect_20190826-184904_Speedtest.jpeg
 

jlangner

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Screenshot_20190826-161308_Speedtest.jpg


This was at work today. I flashed TMO firmware tonight. I will do same test at work tomorrow and see if any different
 

jlangner

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Waiting for your update

Ok, I updated to TMO. All went good. Signal strength meter looks higher but its not. Looks like TMO just makes meter look stronger. I do have HD voice now so thats good though.

t-mobile before.jpg

Unlocked firmware

t-mobile.jpg

TMO firmware
 

bhatech

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You can see even though signal strength about same, TMO meter shows 4 bars.
Glad you squashed the signal weaker on unlocked model news

Some people get the unlocked model for the first time and see the less number of bars to come to these conclusions.
 

kolyan2k

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I havent tried TMobile firmware yet but I was at this place where my Pixel 3 worked fine on T-Mobile via Google Fi and Note 10 switched from zero bars to no service. So there is definitely some sort of issue
 

CKwik240

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I havent tried TMobile firmware yet but I was at this place where my Pixel 3 worked fine on T-Mobile via Google Fi and Note 10 switched from zero bars to no service. So there is definitely some sort of issue

Don't think it's an issue with the phone. I had a Sony Z3 international unlocked and a T-mobile version of the same phone side by side on seperate lines side by side. They performed pretty much the same. I've had several Samsung phones, both T-Mobile and unlocked versions over the years and I have not noticed a difference in connection performance at all.

Not saying you're not having some kind of issue, but it's not ubiquitous to an unlocked phone.
 

kolyan2k

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Don't think it's an issue with the phone. I had a Sony Z3 international unlocked and a T-mobile version of the same phone side by side on seperate lines side by side. They performed pretty much the same. I've had several Samsung phones, both T-Mobile and unlocked versions over the years and I have not noticed a difference in connection performance at all.

Not saying you're not having some kind of issue, but it's not ubiquitous to an unlocked phone.

It depends on the area. At home I don't have any issues, in that area with bad signal Note was simply unusable
 

Lepa79

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There is truth to Note 10+ not grabbing much signal. I had pixel 3 xl before and in our basement, I used to get 2 bars easily. With Note 10, I am at zero bars to 1 very rarely. Both unlocked.
 

kolyan2k

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I wonder what's going on, Note isn't connecting to certain bands maybe? I know how to check bands on Note but it sees to be on Pixel 3 you need root
 

CKwik240

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There is truth to Note 10+ not grabbing much signal. I had pixel 3 xl before and in our basement, I used to get 2 bars easily. With Note 10, I am at zero bars to 1 very rarely. Both unlocked.

Bars don't matter. T-Mobile software fudges them to make the network appear stronger. Look for a numerical signal strength value:
 

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