Thing that gets me is that AC is endorsing the S8(+) U.. And, knowing that Samsung is really dragging their feet with timely updates both security and OS for the US Unlocked editions of the S7's, they again today reposted an article adding the S8U's to their recommended Unlocked devices..
I have not posted to it, again, since it is also 10 months old (iirc).
AC really needs to inform folks that yes without a doubt, the US Unlocked S7's out preform the Carrier hacked editions and have been shown to have better battery life, as they should. However when it comes to providing sound and informed customer service and support for the Unlocked editions, Samsung is so tight lipped that many of the service personnel don't even know that Samsung released an Unlocked edition(s) in the US. They are instructed to pass you to your Carrier for support. Guess what your Carrier tells you, yep, "we don't have any way to offer you support for a device without our logo and you didn't buy from (carrier name here) so we are not responsible for any questions or concerns you may have, Call Samsung....)
Samsung needs not only to be more transparent about their support plan for the US Unlocked editions, they need to educate their own staff how to properly provide support to it's customers.
I have a sm-g930u. It's on Marshmallow 6.0.1 March 1st Security Patch Level. All Carrier supported devices have received Nougat.
Samsung says "soon" as their "official" word on Nougat. Soon? If my boss asked me when I would have my task done, and I replied "soon"; my boss asks for clarification and I stick with "soon"; he angrily requests a more specific time frame and still I reply " soon"; I suspect his final reply would be "great news. hey, tell ya what take the rest of the day off and if we need you to come back in tomorrow, someone will be in touch with you... Soon!" And I will tell you, they have been getting beaten for an answer.
It's really mind boggling that the Carriers are able to to not only push the hacked and mutilated code faster than the company who has the unmarred and clean code, which by the way was ready to go and sent to the Carriers for their corruption, yet Samsung is just sitting on it.
Ok, it may have some bugs. That's why there is a BETA Program! But, for reasons that developers and power-users alike are completely baffled, Samsung excluded an UNLOCKED Edition (meaning they have sole control over the 'official' Firmware) from such testing! Now, I'm not the most Linux / Ubuntu educated guy out there, but just generally speaking, the whole reason for buying into the Unlocked market is to get Updates and Upgrades faster and directly from the manufacturer! So, ummm WTF?
The crowd that would be interested in an Unlocked device is the same crowd that everyone goes to for suggestions and advice on their next new Smartphone. Let's face it, there's no moral way to suggest a device that will likely be treated as if it doesn't exist. I just can't do it. It really is a shame, because, DAMN if this edition hasn't out performed several of my friends who have Carrier Branded editions. That is until they got Nougat, and I'm looking at MAYBE seeing the update sometime mid May.
It has been because of a dedicated community of Unlocked S7 owners blasting away through Samsung's 'official?' forum (
https://us.community.samsung.com/t5/Galaxy-S-Phones/bd-p/GalaxyS ) and constant calls to their help line ( 1-800-726-7864 ) demanding an explanation why the US Unlocked editions were Not receiving the PROMISED Monthly Security Updates but had for no explained reason had been placed on the Quarterly Update Schedule that their Mid-Tier devices were on, yet internationally, the Unlocked editions were receiving them on time, monthly. Now Samsung "CLAIMS" to have moved them to a monthly schedule. Yet we are ⅔ of the way through April and yet to see this month's, relatively small, update yet, let alone Nougat.
Would I recommend this (SM-G930U) to anyone looking for an Unlocked device? At this moment, NO! I would recommend the Pixel (XL).
IF Samsung takes the US Unlocked Market seriously, and makes good on the claim for Monthly Security Updates, and it starts to take advantage of the serious type of crowd, that has been patiently waiting, and brings BETA type updates for the improvements Google has pushed out to Nougat in 7.1.x and really steps up their Unlocked game, I would be more than happy to not only recommend the S7U's and S8U's to friends, family and anyone who asks, I would actively participate in the various forums and promote the devices. I would love to have that option. But, with the current state of Samsung Customer Service and Support, I will not.
I will be using this barely supported device running on antiquated Firmware for the next few years due to my personal upgrade schedule, but it remains to be seen if my next Flagship Level smartphone will be a Samsung, but it will be Unlocked. Pixel 3 or 4 if Samsung doesn't get it together quick!