Differences between factory unlocked and US carrier S20 FE 5Gs?

[Mike Dee]

"Verizon customers only: The Unlocked Galaxy S20 5G is not compatible with Verizon 5G Ultra Wideband network but will work with Verizon’s 4G LTE service. Please consider the Verizon 5G-ready Galaxy S20 5G UW, Galaxy S20+ 5G or Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G.Show Less- Disclaimer

UVerizon 5G Ultra Wideband available only in parts of select cities. $999.99 device payment purchase and activation of new line or upgrade req'd. Less $150 promo credit applied over 24 mosShow More"

That's only with regard to the S20 not being compatible with Ultra Wideband because it doesn't have it. The Unlocked S20+ and S20Ultra have all the bands necessary to work on Verizon.

 

[david61983]

That's only with regard to the S20 not being compatible with Ultra Wideband because it doesn't have it. The Unlocked S20+ and S20Ultra have all the bands necessary to work on Verizon.

So then the unlocked FE must work on Verizon 5G I presume.

 

[KPMcClave]

What fine print are you referring to? There are members here who have the S20+ and S20 Ultra unlocked on Verizon and have access to 5G

He lumped the S20+ and Ultra in by mistake. The disclaimer only mentions the S20 not working on Verizon.

 

[KPMcClave]

So then the unlocked FE must work on Verizon 5G I presume.

We still don't know what that extra $50 on the full retail price of the VZW version is for. It isn't an "activation" fee. In multiple articles about the lines release, writer's pointed out that Verizon has its own unique variant. That variant at full price costs more than the others. Why?

For the similar situation with the original S20, "built from the ground up," they removed features to keep the price the same. Maybe in not removing features they had to up the price by $50?

If the unlocked version works out of the box with Verizon UW 5G, then why couldn't they just have loaded one up with VZW bloatware and had that be the Verizon model? That's essentially what the other carrier variants are, right?

I have no skin in this game. I got the Verizon model and I'm not going to cross-flash any OS version. I'm hoping that clarifying this will help people not brick their phone, or at the very least lessen confusion.

 

[mustang7757]

So then the unlocked FE must work on Verizon 5G I presume.

You don't have to worry about flashing, its not rooting the phone , its same thing if you take phone to Samsung to get re flashed, stock Samsung firmwares, I helped others countless times on the forums , if you wanted to go that way let me know . You'll be fine either carrier or unlocked version .

 

[KPMcClave]

So then the unlocked FE must work on Verizon 5G I presume.

For what it's worth, this Reddit thread indicates it won't. The guys saying so could be wrong, of course, but if you look at the last reply someone apparently was told by Samsung that the "UW" in the unlocked version is a typo:

https://www.reddit.com/r/verizon/co...urce=amp&utm_medium=&utm_content=more_replies

Also, take a look at the last paragraph in this article:

https://www.phonearena.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s20-fe-5g-best-buy-amazon-launch-deals_id127390

 

[david61983]

For what it's worth, this Reddit thread indicates it won't. The guys saying so could be wrong, of course, but if you look at the last reply someone apparently was told by Samsung that the "UW" in the unlocked version is a typo:

https://www.reddit.com/r/verizon/co...urce=amp&utm_medium=&utm_content=more_replies

Also, take a look at the last paragraph in this article:

https://www.phonearena.com/news/samsung-galaxy-s20-fe-5g-best-buy-amazon-launch-deals_id127390

Will an unlocked Verizon version support 5G on other carriers? I'm with Verizon now but will probably switch eventually.

 

[KPMcClave]

Will an unlocked Verizon version support 5G on other carriers? I'm with Verizon now but will probably switch eventually.

Yes.

 

[david61983]

So I just got done chatting with Samsung. They confirmed twice that the unlocked version does support 5G UW on Verizon.

 

[bkdodger2]

I will find out soon...

 

[KPMcClave]

So I just got done chatting with Samsung. They confirmed twice that the unlocked version does support 5G UW on Verizon.

You probably mentioned this already, but will you be able to tell when you get it? Is VZW UW available where you are?

For most of us it won't even matter one way or the other due to a lack of widespread availability of their 5G. The main reason I've been arguing here has been more about whether the hardware is different (which it would be if the unlocked doesn't support UW). Flashing another image to a phone with different hardware seems dangerous.

 

[KPMcClave]

I will find out soon...

So, you're the guy with Verizon 5G!

 

[mustang7757]

I will find out soon...

You ordered one , sweet!

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Good to know I'll be able to flash generic Samsung down the road.

I originally pre-ordered S20 FE 5G in red at Amazon for $599.

Then I saw Best Buy offered a free 3 months of Office 365 with theirs, plus could pick up the phone on day one. So I pre-ordered there and canceled the Amazon order. I already have almost 2 years of Office 365 but figured I could tack on another 3 months with this or use it as a stocking stuffer.

Then I found I could get an S20 FE 5G from T-Mobile for free with a new line right when my sister was looking to jump to T-Mobile with her iPhone. Hard to pass up a $599 discount even if its a carrier version and blue instead of red. Of course it took a call to Best Buy customer support to get get a refund on the "free" Office365 after it turned into a $39 charge the instant I cancelled the phone. I suppose they kill the key they sent me.

Now waiting.

 

[mustang7757]

Good to know I'll be able to flash generic Samsung down the road.

I originally pre-ordered S20 FE 5G in red at Amazon for $599.

Then I saw Best Buy offered a free 3 months of Office 365 with theirs, plus could pick up the phone on day one. So I pre-ordered there and canceled the Amazon order. I already have almost 2 years of Office 365 but figured I could tack on another 3 months with this or use it as a stocking stuffer.

Then I found I could get an S20 FE 5G from T-Mobile for free with a new line right when my sister was looking to jump to T-Mobile with her iPhone. Hard to pass up a $599 discount even if its a carrier version and blue instead of red. Of course it took a call to Best Buy customer support to get get a refund on the "free" Office365 after it turned into a $39 charge the instant I cancelled the phone. I suppose they kill the key they sent me.

Now waiting.

Yeah if you need any help don't hesitate to ask me .

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Yeah if you need any help don't hesitate to ask me .

Thanks "Mustang"!

 

[mustang7757]

Thanks "Mustang"!

View attachment 327132

Your welcome!

Thats sharp , with red interior

 

[californiajay]

The Verizon version is capable of mmwave 5G bands which is what Verizon 5G relies on. That's why it costs $50 more.
According to Samsung, the unlocked version of this phone does not support mmwave.

https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Galaxy-S20/Galaxy-S20-FE-Unlocked-amp-Verizon/m-p/1453097

 

[KPMcClave]

The Verizon version is capable of mmwave 5G bands which is what Verizon 5G relies on. That's why it costs $50 more.
According to Samsung, the unlocked version of this phone does not support mmwave.

https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Galaxy-S20/Galaxy-S20-FE-Unlocked-amp-Verizon/m-p/1453097

Thanks. As you may have seen earlier in this thread, there is conflicting info being given by Samsung reps, etc. on this question. Even the post you linked winds up conflicting with itself.

Your first paragraph sums up my conclusion, too. However, I think I won't be entirely sure until someone who has VZW 5G available confirms the unlocked S20 FE either works on 5G or it doesn't.

It's annoying that this isn't a yes or no answer.

 

[david61983]

Thanks. As you may have seen earlier in this thread, there is conflicting info being given by Samsung reps, etc. on this question. Even the post you linked winds up conflicting with itself.

Your first paragraph sums up my conclusion, too. However, I think I won't be entirely sure until someone who has VZW 5G available confirms the unlocked S20 FE either works on 5G or it doesn't.

It's annoying that this isn't a yes or no answer.

It is ridiculous that we can't get a sound answer from the people who actually made the damn phone. That said I was just getting 80 mbps down from Verizon 4G this morning. 5G is really a complete non-issue for 99% of the population especially since they likely won't even have access to Verizon mmwave for years.