Did anyone buy the Unlocked version yet?

[Jnorton2724]

got my updated today, 7/29/17 unlocked US on T-Mobile

 

[kurtd]

According to some specs online, the Unlocked version is missing LTE band 66 for t-mobile so is it better to buy the carrier version, then unlock and flash? If so, what do you use to flash firmware versions?

 

[pduffer]

According to some specs online, the Unlocked version is missing LTE band 66 for t-mobile so is it better to buy the carrier version, then unlock and flash? If so, what do you use to flash firmware versions?

My understanding is the unlocked version can be used with any carrier. All you need is the proper Sim and it will download and configure.

 

[torbach1]

According to some specs online, the Unlocked version is missing LTE band 66 for t-mobile so is it better to buy the carrier version, then unlock and flash? If so, what do you use to flash firmware versions?

I don't believe any of the Notes have the new LTE band for rural areas. The first phone to have those is the LG V30.

 

[kurtd]

I don't believe any of the Notes have the new LTE band for rural areas. The first phone to have those is the LG V30.

You're thinking of lte band 71 600 mhz. T-Mobile did say the LG V30 was the first phone to have that band but I haven't seen a single site list it in the specs so not sure if it has it or not.

Notice the band differences between the S8 TMO version and Unlocked version:

S8 G950T (T-Mobile)
LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 12(700), 13(700), 18(800), 19(800), 20(800), 25(1900), 26(850), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500), 66(1700/2100)

S8 G950U (Unlocked US)
LTE band 1(2100), 2(1900), 3(1800), 4(1700/2100), 5(850), 7(2600), 8(900), 12(700), 13(700), 17(700), 18(800), 19(800), 20(800), 25(1900), 26(850), 28(700), 29(700), 30(2300), 38(2600), 39(1900), 40(2300), 41(2500)

Can anyone confirm if changing the sim or firmware really changes the lte bands?