Is it worth returning my ATT Note 4, to get a T-mobile version (for root capability)?

[motoguy1]

Title sums it up. After years of iPhone ownership (since the 2G version), the wife and I jumped ship to Android last week. We went from our iPhone 4S (each) to S5 (her) and Note4 (me). I wasn't planning on necessarily upgrading, but after seeing her S5, the screen on my 4S felt like a calculator watch.

Of course, over the past few days I've learned of the root limitations (locked bootloader) on the ATT (and Verizon, I guess) Samsung devices. I have a Sero 7 Pro tablet I've been using for a year or so, and I like it. I think it's still running 4.1. I rooted it the day after purchase, but I think the only benefit I've gained is the ability to cheat on the Hill Climb game. lol I'm still within my 14 day return window for the ATT phone.

My iPhone was jailbroken, mainly for the MyWi hotspot app. I ended up getting some other apps from Cydia to change visual aspects (screen animations, winterboard, etc), but nothing of significance. Still, I liked having the OPTION of changing stuff if I wanted. I have the mobile hotspot feature on the new phones (different plan), so that isn't really an issue.

Which brings me to my question...should I return this ATT Note 4, and get the t-mobile version? It seems plenty of people are successfully using the tmobile version on ATT, after getting the IMEI issue squared away (I'd just use the one off the existing ATT Note 4). The ONLY reason I'd be doing this, is to gain the ability to root. I'd like to remove bloatware, and possibly tweak stuff to increase battery life, but that's all I immediately have in mind. Visual / screen layout stuff would come later.

What do the experts think? For someone who has proven to be a "light" root/jailbreak user, is it worth it? I'd be out the restock fee ($30, I think?) as well as the tempered glass screensaver I have on the phone. Oh, and I put the phone on our plan (payment option), rather than putting it on a card or paying outright. We're closing on a house in a month or so, and I didn't want to 1) increase our used/available credit ratio, or deplete our actual cash on hand. The $160 (or so) premium (ATT phone price + tax, vs ordering online from Amazon, etc) seemed to be a worth trade.

 

[LaTuFu]

I used to root every device I got, the minute I got it, or as soon as it was available, whichever came first. Early on, it was a lot of fun playing with this setting, flashing that ROM, blahblahblah.

But after a while, I realized that rooting meant something was always buggy on the phone. This didn't work right or that would make the phone crash, or I had to reload in recovery to get this to work right. Some days I just wanted it to work, and I'd live with the rest of it.

Now that you can disable bloat software, change your launcher without issue, and generally tweak around the majority of the settings, I haven't bothered with it. I ran bone stock on my S4 and currently on my Note 4 as well. I'm getting outstanding battery life and performance out of it, so I do not want to mess with a good thing. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

Unless you're going to lay awake at night in despair because you don't have SU on your phone, I wouldn't bother. If your phone is lacking in performance in some way to you, and root is the only means of addressing it...then by all means.

 

[wase4711]

One of the main reasons to use android is to customize the phone the way YOU want it.
I always root a phone for a variety of reasons, so to me, there isn't a question about whether to root or not..
And, I NEVER have issues with anything when I root, as I have been doing this for many many years, and I know what I am doing

As usual, it YOUR choice on what you want to do with your phone..If nothing else, I would switch to Tmobile ASAP, just to not have to deal with ATT and their heavy handed rules on many of these issues.
Plus, you'll save alot of $$, and t mobile pays your ETF, and will buy your old phone

 

[dpham00]

One of the main reasons to use android is to customize the phone the way YOU want it.
I always root a phone for a variety of reasons, so to me, there isn't a question about whether to root or not..
And, I NEVER have issues with anything when I root, as I have been doing this for many many years, and I know what I am doing

As usual, it YOUR choice on what you want to do with your phone..If nothing else, I would switch to Tmobile ASAP, just to not have to deal with ATT and their heavy handed rules on many of these issues.
Plus, you'll save alot of $$, and t mobile pays your ETF, and will buy your old phone

They will buy your old phone, but at nowhere near the $825 retail price. I doubt that they would even give you half that much on trade in. The op would be better off returning the AT&T phone and getting a junk phone as a trade in

Sent from my Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 4

 

[wase4711]

ATT charges 825 for a note 4? Thats almost 100 dollars more than Tmobile charges..

Agree that returning the phone to ATT, and getting a junker t mobile phone on ebay for 20 dollars or so to use as a trade in to t mobile makes alot more sense

 

[LaTuFu]

Plus, you'll save alot of $$, and t mobile pays your ETF, and will buy your old phone

Pay a higher price at AT&T for a phone, to trade it in to T-Mo at less than that?

 

[wase4711]

please read the entire thread before making silly comments; he can return the phone to ATT and cancel his service, so he doesnt have to trade it in for a lower value.
plus, amortize the cost of 24 months with Tmobile, versus 24 months with the Death Star, and its easy to see how much less expensive it is to have service with T-mobile..plus, no locked boot loader with T Mobile, so you can do what ever you like with YOUR phone..

 

[motoguy1]

please read the entire thread before making silly comments; he can return the phone to ATT and cancel his service, so he doesnt have to trade it in for a lower value.
plus, amortize the cost of 24 months with Tmobile, versus 24 months with the Death Star, and its easy to see how much less expensive it is to have service with T-mobile..plus, no locked boot loader with T Mobile, so you can do what ever you like with YOUR phone..

I would love to! However, we're moving in a week and a half, in a much more rural area. ATT shows 4G LTE service all throughout the area surrounding the new home. T-Mobile coverage plan shows 2G, with a lot of "service partner" coverage as well. It would be less expensive, but probably also wanting to throw the phone out the window... :/

 

[jlczl]

I did exactly what you're contemplating and I would recommend it 100%. I am using a T-Mobile Note 4 with at&t service because I want to have the CHOICE to root MY phone if I want to.

Since you're within the return window I would most definitely do it. I returned mine without a restocking fee because I bought it from Best Buy.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[LaTuFu]

please read the entire thread before making silly comments; he can return the phone to ATT and cancel his service, so he doesnt have to trade it in for a lower value.
plus, amortize the cost of 24 months with Tmobile, versus 24 months with the Death Star, and its easy to see how much less expensive it is to have service with T-mobile..plus, no locked boot loader with T Mobile, so you can do what ever you like with YOUR phone..

Just going by what you wrote, nothing else. That's why I quoted you. No harm intended, just good fun.

 

[wase4711]

actually, unfortunately, you might be better sticking with ATT; although, you can go into t-mobile, and do a "7 day test drive", where they will give you an iphone 5 for 7 days, free of charge, to try in your area and see how the coverage is..
although, if you are in the process of moving, that might be something you dont want to deal with..

either way, good luck

 

[jlczl]

actually, unfortunately, you might be better sticking with ATT; although, you can go into t-mobile, and do a "7 day test drive", where they will give you an iphone 5 for 7 days, free of charge, to try in your area and see how the coverage is..
although, if you are in the process of moving, that might be something you dont want to deal with..

either way, good luck

I don't think he wants T-Mobile service, just a T-Mobile Note 4 to use with his existing at&t service.

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[all the best user names are taken]

Trust me, root is worth it. This phone is lightning fast once all the bloat is removed and I get insanely good battery life. I have the extra battery and charger kit, never even touched it. Note 4 with root= best phone I've ever had.

Posted via my rooted, debloated VZW Galaxy Note 4 Developer Edition

 

[ArtVandelay]

I also did exactly what the OP is considering. Great decision.

I bought a TMo Note 4 outright from their store, bought an unlock code from cellunlocker.net, received the code within seconds, then region-unlocked it by making a call from a coworker's TMo SIM for 5 minutes, then unlocked it with code, and the rest was history.

Being rooted betters the phone in many ways, and I just was on Cyanogen Mod 12 aka Lollipop for a few days. Totally worth it.

 

[tarush13]

I also did exactly what the OP is considering. Great decision.

I bought a TMo Note 4 outright from their store, bought an unlock code from cellunlocker.net, received the code within seconds, then region-unlocked it by making a call from a coworker's TMo SIM for 5 minutes, then unlocked it with code, and the rest was history.

Being rooted betters the phone in many ways, and I just was on Cyanogen Mod 12 aka Lollipop for a few days. Totally worth it.

What did you do about the LTE loss issue? Where did you buy your device from? I am currently an ATT user with a google nexus 4. I currently get HSPA+ speeds, so if I buy the tmobile note 4 and get it unlocked from cellunlocker.net will I be ok or will I have to do something about the LTE issue? Thanks