Geeks! Help me decide - LG v20 Unlocked, OR LG v20 Verizon model...

[juliesdroidsync]

OK, this is one of the things that drive me crazy!

I have the Verizon version, the VS995 (yes, gotta stick with Big Red) on order at Best Buy...
this one - LG V20™ Verizon in Titan (VS995): Pre-Order Now | LG USA

But... there is also an unlocked version that will work with Verizon... that I could still take to Verizon and have them activate.
this one - LG V20™ Unlocked Titan (US996): Pre-Order Now | LG USA

Would I maybe get some features back that Big Red took away? Like the FM radio? BTW; I don't mind if I have to wait longer... Note 7 until then!

Help me decide before Best Buy ships on 10/27! Thanks...

 

[Mike-Mike]

Verizon is cheaper

BH unlocked - $799

Verizon - $672

 

[Mike Dee]

OK, this is one of the things that drive me crazy!

I have the Verizon version, the VS995 (yes, gotta stick with Big Red) on order at Best Buy...
this one - LG V20™ Verizon in Titan (VS995): Pre-Order Now | LG USA

But... there is also an unlocked version that will work with Verizon... that I could still take to Verizon and have them activate.
this one - LG V20™ Unlocked Titan (US996): Pre-Order Now | LG USA

Would I maybe get some features back that Big Red took away? Like the FM radio? BTW; I don't mind if I have to wait longer... Note 7 until then!

Help me decide before Best Buy ships on 10/27! Thanks...

You might lose WIFi calling and visual voicemail. Visual voicemail is easy enough to work around by using 3rd party app. I love having WIFi calling when I'm in remote areas of the state with poor or no cell service and I have access to WIFi.

 

[Mooncatt]

I haven't ever used an unlocked phone, but reading of other users experiences, it seems like customer service is better when buying the carrier version. They would be your point of contact and you wouldn't be one of the people coming on here with a problem and asking who to turn to. Plus, Verizon is good about warranty exchanges. They usually overnight you the replacement, then you send off your defective one. There's usually no need to go direct through the manufacturer, sending yours off and waiting a week or two. I've also heard the unlocked one may not work with Verizon's Wi-Fi calling feature. With the carrier version, all the functions should work (unless they full disabled them, obviously).

For me, the customer service is a big plus buying the Verizon specific phone. The few things they do disable don't really bother me. I don't like that it happens, but it's stuff I wouldn't use anyway, so it goes down on my priority list.

 

[d3t99]

Verizon
Cheaper
Unlocked phones are more "finicky" with non GSM networks

 

[cyanogenmod]

Verizon is definitely cheaper but comes with the bloatware... that's basically why it's cheaper at the same time. I always think of it that way. I have a unlocked S7 930F and I love it. It was hard to decide which variant to get but after finally paying the extra $129 I saw the benefit compared to my brothers 930T with all the bloatware lol.

 

[juliesdroidsync]

Verizon is definitely cheaper but comes with the bloatware... that's basically why it's cheaper at the same time. I always think of it that way. I have a unlocked S7 930F and I love it. It was hard to decide which variant to get but after finally paying the extra $129 I saw the benefit compared to my brothers 930T with all the bloatware lol.

...the anarchist in me wants to go with the unlocked... the subjugated consumer in me is afraid to...

 

[juliesdroidsync]

I haven't ever used an unlocked phone, but reading of other users experiences, it seems like customer service is better when buying the carrier version. They would be your point of contact and you wouldn't be one of the people coming on here with a problem and asking who to turn to. Plus, Verizon is good about warranty exchanges. They usually overnight you the replacement, then you send off your defective one. There's usually no need to go direct through the manufacturer, sending yours off and waiting a week or two. I've also heard the unlocked one may not work with Verizon's Wi-Fi calling feature. With the carrier version, all the functions should work (unless they full disabled them, obviously).

For me, the customer service is a big plus buying the Verizon specific phone. The few things they do disable don't really bother me. I don't like that it happens, but it's stuff I wouldn't use anyway, so it goes down on my priority list.

Good points all. Thank you.

 

[TheMarcus]

If money or customer service wasn't an issue, I'd get unlocked.

I've never used a Verizon phone, so I'm not sure what kind of bloat I can expect, but, as usual, I'm sure it's all easily disabled or just ignored.

 

[KwantemMekanik]

Unlocked gets you everything. I believe I read somewhere in these forums that Verizon has disabled the FM radio, for example.

 

[rushmore]

Verizon is cheaper

BH unlocked - $799

Verizon - $672

And $200 BB card for trade for any smart phone that powers on and not cracked.

 

[Mooncatt]

Depending on the phone you trade in, Verizon is offering $300. I also took them up on the offer of the $1/mo Stylo 2V offer since I already have an active line to put it on.

 

[rushmore]

Depending on the phone you trade in, Verizon is offering $300. I also took them up on the offer of the $1/mo Stylo 2V offer since I already have an active line to put it on.

The catch being it has to be a really really good phone for that, where the BB trade is a "tad" more lenient

 

[SupraLB]

For what its worth , the Verizon bloatware is not that bad. There are 3 games you can completely uninstall. The usual Verizon apps, which all but 1 are useful to me (that strange verizon navigation app). Then the Slacker Radio and IMDB apps, which I wish I could remove.

 

[Mooncatt]

The catch being it has to be a really really good phone for that, where the BB trade is a "tad" more lenient

They are accepting the G4, so the "really good phone" claim could be debatable. Lol (what with the bootloop history of the G4)

 

[mholdr]

Verizon
Cheaper
Unlocked phones are more "finicky" with non GSM networks

exactly!!! Look carefully at the frequencies --- I believe the Verizon version will have every single freq rather than just SOME of them vs the unlocked version.

 

[mholdr]

unlocked version frequencies:
CDMA 1.9 GHz CDMA PCS/800 MHz CDMA; GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz; LTE Bands 2/3/4/5/7/12/13/17/20/25

Verizon version frequencies:
1.9 GHz CDMA PCS, 800 MHz CDMA; GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz; UMTS 850/900/1900/2100 MHz; LTE Bands 2/3/4/5/7/13/20/66* and CA

 

[juliesdroidsync]

Thank you all! Great information and opinions from everyone . For now, especially considering I live in an outlying area where reception can be a problem, I'm going to keep my order from Best Buy, which is supposed to be shipping today, and get the Verizon version of the phone.

The anarchist in me is shaking her head...