Choice... Buy an AT&T N8 for use on AT&T or get Verizon N8 for AT&T?

[donm527]

I'm on AT&T so I can buy an AT&T Note 8 and have no problems. But I also have the option of buying a Note 8 from Verizon and just dropping my AT&T sim in and should be good to go.

So wondering if anyone knows if the two carrier phones have support the same GSM channels or is the Verizon version missing any frequencies/channels that AT&T use?

The reason I'm considering a Verizon is because I want an unlocked GSM for when I am traveling out of country like China, the Verizons are unlocked by default for GSM so no need to deal with carrier to unlock for traveling or if I change carriers in the future.

I've done this with iPhones because fortunately iPhones are pretty much universal phones.

TIA

 

[donm527]

Hmm... doing my own homework after posting...

From the AT&T site...
Wireless Technology
4G LTE
Bands 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 29, 30, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 66
4G
HSPA+ with enhanced backhaul
3G – UMTS
850/900/1900/2100MHz
GSM/GPRS/EDGE
850/900/1800/1900MHz
World phone

On Verizon site...
Network
CDMA 1 X and EvDO Rev 0/RevA
LTE (Domestic): B13, B4, B2, B5, B66 LTE (Global): B3/B7/B8/B18/B19/B20/B28/B26
GSM Quad: B5, B8, B3, B2 (850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz)
UTMS Quad: B5, B8, B2, B1 (850, 900, 1900, 2100MHz) CAT 4, CAT 6, CAT 9, CAT 11

 

[Almeuit]

AT&T will still unlock you for use in China before you go if that really is your only concern. I wouldn't worry about it and just snag the AT&T one.

I assume if you got the Verizon one you would buy it full price? If so just do that with AT&T. If you do that you can have them perma unlock it so it will be like the Verizon one.

 

[blopez24]

AT&T will still unlock you for use in China before you go if that really is your only concern. I wouldn't worry about it and just snag the AT&T one.

I assume if you got the Verizon one you would buy it full price? If so just do that with AT&T. If you do that you can have them perma unlock it so it will be like the Verizon one.

Yes what he said. Ive never had a issue with AT&T unlocking a phone for me.

 

[donm527]

Yeah I can call when needed to unlock for trips... and even though I've been with AT&T when I was with Cingular(lol) and no plans on switching, it's just kinda nice knowing my phone is unlocked and don't have to deal it being locked for 2 years.

I'm currently using a Verizon iPhone 6S with my AT&T sim and it's been flawless and able to pop a T-Mobile sim when needed in and no problems. Just find the idea convenient.

Whichever carrier I decide, I would pay "full price" but my full price is different. My company has a corp account with each carrier and they still sell phones at subsidized pricing with 2-year contract and my boss gave me the OK today to use an upgrade as long as I pay for the phone out of my pocket. We deploy enough phones where we don't have any plans to cancel for foreseeable future and we don't upgrade phones that often for users.

Decision time... been wanting to do this since Note 7 until it got recalled... and then waited for G6, S8/+ but still held back... V30 announcing tomorrow and iPhone 8 and Pixel news out soon... and as many criticisms I've had about the Note 8 about it being ridiculously huge or the FPS sensor or price, there hasn't been anything to make it a deal breaker so I'm ready to make a choice really soon.

Staying with AT&T is the easiest and no problems... just that with the option I have just weighing it.

 

[Almeuit]

Yeah I can call when needed to unlock for trips... and even though I've been with AT&T when I was with Cingular(lol) and no plans on switching, it's just kinda nice knowing my phone is unlocked and don't have to deal it being locked for 2 years.

I'm currently using a Verizon iPhone 6S with my AT&T sim and it's been flawless and able to pop a T-Mobile sim when needed in and no problems. Just find the idea convenient.

Whichever carrier I decide, I would pay "full price" but my full price is different. My company has a corp account with each carrier and they still sell phones at subsidized pricing with 2-year contract and my boss gave me the OK today to use an upgrade as long as I pay for the phone out of my pocket. We deploy enough phones where we don't have any plans to cancel for foreseeable future and we don't upgrade phones that often for users.

Decision time... been wanting to do this since Note 7 until it got recalled... and then waited for G6, S8/+ but still held back... V30 announcing tomorrow and iPhone 8 and Pixel news out soon... and as many criticisms I've had about the Note 8 about it being ridiculously huge or the FPS sensor or price, there hasn't been anything to make it a deal breaker so I'm ready to make a choice really soon.

Staying with AT&T is the easiest and no problems... just that with the option I have just weighing it.

For me.. having VoLTE would be more worth getting the AT&T version if something as simple as a call to unlock when going abroad was all I had to do. How often do you go out of country ?

 

[donm527]

When my daughter was younger going to China every summer was the norm but with her in H.S. Maybe 1 or more times before she graduates.

I didn’t think about VoLTE. I had wondered if one carriers bloatware was less worse than the others but I guess they are both about the same.

Price difference between the two doesn’t matter... only $15 cheaper going Verizon.

For me.. having VoLTE would be more worth getting the AT&T version if something as simple as a call to unlock when going abroad was all I had to do. How often do you go out of country ?

 

[Almeuit]

When my daughter was younger going to China every summer was the norm but with her in H.S. Maybe 1 or more times before she graduates.

I didn’t think about VoLTE. I had wondered if one carriers bloatware was less worse than the others but I guess they are both about the same.

Price difference between the two doesn’t matter... only $15 cheaper going Verizon.

Yeah AT&T is pretty strict in terms of their VoLTE working and they force a branded phone to get it done.

If it's only once or twice a year I'd personally go with the AT&T version. That one or two times you can ask and I'm sure they will assist you without fuss.