Anyone Flashed Unlocked Firmware To The Verizon S20 FE?

[KPMcClave]

I'm circling back to this now that the S20 FE has been out there a while.

Shortly before it shipped I had a mild dustup with one of the other posters here about whether it was a good idea to flash the unlocked image to the Verizon variant of the S20 FE, due to the fact the actual hardware may be different (the 5G UW radio). For the same reason (though obviously more extreme) that you wouldn't flash an S10 image to your S20. I think at the time it may have been misunderstood that I was against cross-flashing in general. That's not the case.

Of course, none of us have been certain if the hardware is actually different between the unlocked and VZW variants. I just thought it was a better safe than sorry situation until we knew more. I figure phones have been bricked for less.

So, has anyone successfully flashed unlocked to the Verizon handset?

The other remaining lingering question is whether the unlocked variant works on 5G UW or not.

 

[msross]

Based on numerous calls to samsung and Verizon all 5G networks are on the unlocked s20 fe

 

[mustang7757]

Based on numerous calls to samsung and Verizon all 5G networks are on the unlocked s20 fe

I would think so also , but I still like to hear a member on unlocked version say it works .

 

[KPMcClave]

Based on numerous calls to samsung and Verizon all 5G networks are on the unlocked s20 fe

There have been conflicting reports about this. Also, if they're the same, we still don't have a reason for the full price of the Verizon variant being $50 more. The most obvious reason, especially when considering the original S20's history, is that the hardware is different for mmWave purposes.

I also haven't seen anyone in that situation (an unlocked S20 FE on Verizon) actually confirm it's true (that they're receiving UW 5G). Obviously, that's a tough one given we're talking UW 5G.

I'm not saying that it's untrue, only that I don't really trust that info. It's still ridiculous that this answer isn't cut and dried.

 

[KPMcClave]

I would think so also , but I still like to hear a member on unlocked version say it works .

Exactly. Given the state of customer service, as we've been discussing in another thread, I'm skeptical. Especially since there have been conflicting reports from CS reps.

 

[KPMcClave]

The main thing I'm concerned about is someone bricking their phone if they try to flash and the hardware is different. If someone buys unlocked and it doesn't work, they can probably just exchange for the VZW version. Inconvenient, but not tragic.

 

[KPMcClave]

FYI, I posted this within another thread a while back, but the B&H entry for the unlocked phone actually lists the radio bands in the specs. The Verizon mmWave band is not listed.

I have no idea where B&H gets its specs for the products it sells, but I would think that they are in some way official. Either way, Samsung should have the info more overtly on its own site.

 

[KPMcClave]

I just found a PC Mag review I hadn't seen when I did earlier searches on this. It also clearly states that UW 5G (and AT&T WiFi calling) do not work on the unlocked S20 FE. Of course, the reviewer could have been making an incorrect assumption based on there being a different VZW variant that's 50 bucks more, but at the very least it's more conflicting info:

https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/samsung-galaxy-s20-fe-5g

"While there's an unlocked version of the Galaxy S20 FE, you should probably buy the phone from your carrier. The unlocked model doesn't support AT&T's Wi-Fi calling or Verizon's 5G system; it really can only take full advantage of T-Mobile's network features.

The Galaxy S20 FE has the same network hardware as the small Galaxy S20, technically with the same capabilities: seven-carrier aggregation for 4G; sub-6GHz 5G on all models and millimeter-wave on the Verizon model; and Wi-Fi 6."

 

[Mike Dee]

I just found a PC Mag review I hadn't seen when I did earlier searches on this. It also clearly states that UW 5G (and AT&T WiFi calling) do not work on the unlocked S20 FE. Of course, the reviewer could have been making an incorrect assumption based on there being a different VZW variant that's 50 bucks more, but at the very least it's more conflicting info:

https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/samsung-galaxy-s20-fe-5g

"While there's an unlocked version of the Galaxy S20 FE, you should probably buy the phone from your carrier. The unlocked model doesn't support AT&T's Wi-Fi calling or Verizon's 5G system; it really can only take full advantage of T-Mobile's network features.

The Galaxy S20 FE has the same network hardware as the small Galaxy S20, technically with the same capabilities: seven-carrier aggregation for 4G; sub-6GHz 5G on all models and millimeter-wave on the Verizon model; and Wi-Fi 6."

I can't speak to 5G on the SE but AT&T wifi calling doesn't work on any Samsung Unlocked models to my knowledge.

 

[mustang7757]

Exactly. Given the state of customer service, as we've been discussing in another thread, I'm skeptical. Especially since there have been conflicting reports from CS reps.

Yeah with Verizon they do some crazy things on samsung firmware , take features out is one but definitely need someone to come forward to know for sure .

 

[david61983]

There have been conflicting reports about this. Also, if they're the same, we still don't have a reason for the full price of the Verizon variant being $50 more. The most obvious reason, especially when considering the original S20's history, is that the hardware is different for mmWave purposes.

I also haven't seen anyone in that situation (an unlocked S20 FE on Verizon) actually confirm it's true (that they're receiving UW 5G). Obviously, that's a tough one given we're talking UW 5G.

I'm not saying that it's untrue, only that I don't really trust that info. It's still ridiculous that this answer isn't cut and dried.

I'm guessing but I doubt the unlocked version has UW given the price difference between it and the Verizon version. It really doesn't matter though. UW seems to be a total gimmick from everything I've read basically just put out so Verizon could brag that they have the fastest 5G even only a handful of people in the whole country have access to it.

 

[mustang7757]

I can't speak to 5G on the SE but AT&T wifi calling doesn't work on any Samsung Unlocked models to my knowledge.

True , there's some things carrier can take out even in samsung unlocked version.

 

[KPMcClave]

I can't speak to 5G on the SE but AT&T wifi calling doesn't work on any Samsung Unlocked models to my knowledge.

And of course mmWave 5G *does* work on unlocked S20+ and Ultra.

 

[david61983]

There have been conflicting reports about this. Also, if they're the same, we still don't have a reason for the full price of the Verizon variant being $50 more. The most obvious reason, especially when considering the original S20's history, is that the hardware is different for mmWave purposes.

I also haven't seen anyone in that situation (an unlocked S20 FE on Verizon) actually confirm it's true (that they're receiving UW 5G). Obviously, that's a tough one given we're talking UW 5G.

I'm not saying that it's untrue, only that I don't really trust that info. It's still ridiculous that this answer isn't cut and dried.

FWIW the Verizon version does have UW written on the box. The unlocked version does not.

 

[KPMcClave]

I'm guessing but I doubt the unlocked version has UW given the price difference between it and the Verizon version. It really doesn't matter though. UW seems to be a total gimmick from everything I've read basically just put out so Verizon could brag that they have the fastest 5G even only a handful of people in the whole country have access to it.

I agree with all of that.

I live in Syracuse, NY. Last year, the city and Verizon signed a contract to roll out mmWave via mini-towers attached to streetlights throughout the city. They flipped the switch on that yesterday, along with the national 5G, and as expected it covers only small parts of the northern and southern parts of the city. It is also available outside (only) one of our hospitals. However, it isn't near fully rolled out yet. I think this sort of approach is probably a good use for the tech (sort of like mesh WiFi), but I do have to wonder if it still won't be able to penetrate buildings. Not very useful if not.

 

[eshropshire]

I agree with all of that.

I live in Syracuse, NY. Last year, the city and Verizon signed a contract to roll out mmWave via mini-towers attached to streetlights throughout the city. They flipped the switch on that yesterday, along with the national 5G, and as expected it covers only small parts of the northern and southern parts of the city. It is also available outside (only) one of our hospitals. However, it isn't near fully rolled out yet. I think this sort of approach is probably a good use for the tech (sort of like mesh WiFi), but I do have to wonder if it still won't be able to penetrate buildings. Not very useful if not.

AT&T is also building a MMWave 5G network. I know their network has limited coverage to select cities on their network but AT&T talks about building two 5G networks on their website. Do they plan to keep MMWave as a business only offering? Do the current phones only support one 5G network on AT&T?

 

[mustang7757]

AT&T is also building a MMWave 5G network. I know their network has limited coverage to select cities on their network but AT&T talks about building two 5G networks on their website. Do they plan to keep MMWave as a business only offering? Do the current phones only support one 5G network on AT&T?

That's where TMO got both MMwave and low band 600 on 5G for better coverage, I think they using low band more for better penetration at the moment then MMwave.

 

[ratdog1995]

I tried. I downloaded the firmware from SamFirm and connected via Odin. After hitting start I got a red FAILED almost immediately. I tried a couple of different versions of the firmware and Odin and got the same result each time. The Verizon phone is model G781V. I believe the others are G781U so maybe they are not compatible. I did notice that the amount of bloat on the Verizon FE is not nearly as bad as I remember from older Samsung phones. I disabled most of the Verizon stuff and deleted 3 or 4 apps. Facebook is not pre-installed on this phone like it is on some of the other S20 devices.

 

[KPMcClave]

I tried. I downloaded the firmware from SamFirm and connected via Odin. After hitting start I got a red FAILED almost immediately. I tried a couple of different versions of the firmware and Odin and got the same result each time. The Verizon phone is model G781V. I believe the others are G781U so maybe they are not compatible. I did notice that the amount of bloat on the Verizon FE is not nearly as bad as I remember from older Samsung phones. I disabled most of the Verizon stuff and deleted 3 or 4 apps. Facebook is not pre-installed on this phone like it is on some of the other S20 devices.

Interesting. Thank you.

 

[g34h]

I can't get the 5.1 update on the unlocked verison I might insert a track phone sim