Carrier Versions of the Note7 support identical LTE bands?

[Dr Claw]

Check this out. For each of the listed Note7 specs, Samsung (on its site, links below) says that T-Mobile, Verizon, and ATT support the same CDMA, HSDPA and LTE bands.

I remember reading somewhere on the sites I've been following that with one Canadian retailer, buying the phone @ retail price would provide you with an unlock code that would "allow you to use the phone with most carriers".

If this is indeed true, this might be one of the best things Samsung has done in a while.
The drawback, if also true, is if you would need an active SIM from the carrier of the phone to get it updated. And of course, your carrier's bloatware.

List of supported bands:
2G CDMA: CDMA800, USPCS1900
2G GSM: GSM850, GSM900,DCS1800, PCS1900
3G CDMA: BC0(800), BC1(1900), BC10(800)
3G UMTS (WCDMA): B1(2100), B2(1900), B4(AWS), B5(850), B8(900)
3G TD-SCDMA: B34(2010), B39(1880)
4G LTE FDD: B1(2100), B2(1900), B3(1800), B4(AWS), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B12(700), B13(700), B17(700), B18(800), B19(800), B20(800), B25(1900), B26(800), B29(700), B30(2300)
4G LTE TDD: B38(2600),B39(1900),B40(2300),B41(2500)

Samsung links:
ATT: SM-N930A Phones - SM-N930AZSAATT | Samsung US
T-Mobile: Galaxy Note7 32GB (T-Mobile) Phones - SM-N930TZSATMB | Samsung US
Verizon: Galaxy Note7 64GB (Verizon) Phones - SM-N930VZSAVZW | Samsung US

Addendum:

For comparison, here is the link to the US Unlocked Galaxy S7 Bands, listed below:

2G CDMA: CDMA800, USPCS1900
2G GSM: GSM850,GSM900, DCS1800, PCS1900
3G CDMA: BC0(800), BC1(1900, BC10(800)
3G UMTS: B1(2100), B2(1900), B4(AWS), B5(850), B8(900)
3G TD-SCDMA: B34(2010), B39(1880)
4G FDD LTE: B1(2100), B2(1900), B3(1800), B4(AWS), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B12(700), B13(700), B18(800), B19(800), B20(800)

Samsung Link: https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...--black-onyx-sm-g930uzkaxaa%2F&token=5jMRxwv-


and the S7 Active at AT&T (note no CDMA support)

2G GSM GSM850,GSM900,DCS1800,PCS1900
2G CDMA N/A
3G UMTS B1(2100),B2(1900),B4(AWS),B5(850)
3G CDMA N/A
3G TD-SCDMA B34(2010),B39(1880)
4G FDD LTE B1(2100),B2(1900),B3(1800),B4(AWS),B5(850),B7(2600),B8(900),B12(700),B18(800),B19(800),B20(800),B29(700),B30(2300)
4G TDD LTE B38(2600),B39(1900),B40(2300),B41(2500)

Samsung Link: https://forums.androidcentral.com/e...t-green-camo-sm-g891azgaatt%2F&token=1udQfS9Q

 

[SpookDroid]

IF US-Cellular's version was like that, then that'd be awesome since they have by far the cheapest price (almos 100 bucks less!)

 

[dpham00]

It would be interesting if this would essentially be the unlocked model

 

[Dr Claw]

IF US-Cellular's version was like that, then that'd be awesome since they have by far the cheapest price (almos 100 bucks less!)

This is also true of the US Cellular model (SM-N930R4): SM-N930R4 Phones - SM-N930RZSAUSC | Samsung US

looks like Samsung's getting one step closer to "Appling" it up, in a good way.

 

[Dr Claw]

More hints:
I saw the Verizon version of the Note 7 recently. Its FCC ID ends with "N930U".
This article from April (back before we knew it would be called a "Note 7") indicates Samsung planned this as "one model" for North America with possible software differences between carriers: Galaxy Note 6 model number list leaks, European model included - SamMobile
Somewhere I read that in Canada, buying the Note 7 retail allows you to "unlock" it with a code that will allow you use it with most US carriers.

Reviewing Samsung's specs across the Galaxy S7 line: across Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T, the only bands they have completely in common is 2G GSM (ironically as two of those are not GSM carriers). Sprint and Verizon don't have the same 3G CDMA bands, no one has the same 4G LTE TDD bands, etc. Link: Samsung

So despite the fact that some of these phones (Verizon and ATT) will have the dreaded "carrier tramp stamp" and their specific brand of bloatware, that they have the same communication bands seems to hint that Samsung is trying to streamline their product line across regions. The S7/S7 Edge US/CAN Unlocked model could have possibly been a proof of this concept?

 

[French]

I hope this is true! I'm w Verizon but keeping my eye on T-Mobile...it's not out of the question that I might do a carrier jump even though I've been w VZW for as long as I can remember.

I actually bought the unlocked S7 and it's still on May security update and does not support VZW wifi calling. If the Note will receive the appropriate updates for the carrier I'm on to support wifi calling then I will grudgingly deal with some bloat. Especially w the increase in internal memory. And Package Disabler Pro.

 

[dpham00]

I hope this is true! I'm w Verizon but keeping my eye on T-Mobile...it's not out of the question that I might do a carrier jump even though I've been w VZW for as long as I can remember.

I actually bought the unlocked S7 and it's still on May security update and does not support VZW wifi calling. If the Note will receive the appropriate updates for the carrier I'm on to support wifi calling then I will grudgingly deal with some bloat. Especially w the increase in internal memory. And Package Disabler Pro.

It's a trade off... The Verizon one has bloat though easily disabled... But everything works and gets security updates quicker on the s7...


The unlocked model works on all carriers but with some minor limitations, no carrier branding, but slower to get security updates.

 

[bhatech]

It's same with S7/S7 if I'm not mistaken, I believe the unlocked S7 G930U/S7 edge G935U model has both GSM and CDMA radios

 

[French]

It's a trade off... The Verizon one has bloat though easily disabled... But everything works and gets security updates quicker on the s7...


The unlocked model works on all carriers but with some minor limitations, no carrier branding, but slower to get security updates.

Unfortunately no wifi calling on the unlocked model w VZW is not a minor limitation (for me).

 

[dpham00]

Unfortunately no wifi calling on the unlocked model w VZW is not a minor limitation (for me).

Yeah I understand... I always recommend carrier versions for full Carrier support,unless someone is an advanced user and understands the limitations