Unlocked models behind Carrier ones

[Kendahl Titcomb]

I decided on the most recent upgrade to an S21 Ultra that I would go the route of buying an unlocked straight from Samsung phone rather be locked to my carrier. Then I heard about the new update and got excited only to find the Dang carrier phones gets the update before I did. Like WTF shouldn't it be the other way around. I know this is more a venting that a question but come on carrier phones have to go through so much more bloat and other hardware testing beyond that of Unlocked versions so why the delay to what I guess you could call pure versions of their phone. I guess I am just disappointed.

 

[DLewis13]

I agree. But dems the breaks.

 

[GoNavy79]

I decided on the most recent upgrade to an S21 Ultra that I would go the route of buying an unlocked straight from Samsung phone rather be locked to my carrier. Then I heard about the new update and got excited only to find the Dang carrier phones gets the update before I did. Like WTF shouldn't it be the other way around. I know this is more a venting that a question but come on carrier phones have to go through so much more bloat and other hardware testing beyond that of Unlocked versions so why the delay to what I guess you could call pure versions of their phone. I guess I am just disappointed.

Sometimes my unlocked s21ultra on at&t gets updates before the locked versions do, sometimes they put me at the back of the line. I too was under the impression that unlocked got updated before locked.

 

[notforhire]

From a poster on the beta forums: "The unlocked firmware is a combination of all of the carrier firmwares, minus the bloat (for the US, at least). Unlike the rest of the world, there's really no all-in-one CSC for unlocked US devices (unless you count XAA, which is used for non-US SIMS or carriers that don't have their own CSC, like Google Fi)........Samsung doesn't usually release unlocked updates separately because the updates still need to be approved by carriers."

 

[Kendahl Titcomb]

That's interesting I guess I didn't think of it in that manor.

 

[mustang7757]

I decided on the most recent upgrade to an S21 Ultra that I would go the route of buying an unlocked straight from Samsung phone rather be locked to my carrier. Then I heard about the new update and got excited only to find the Dang carrier phones gets the update before I did. Like WTF shouldn't it be the other way around. I know this is more a venting that a question but come on carrier phones have to go through so much more bloat and other hardware testing beyond that of Unlocked versions so why the delay to what I guess you could call pure versions of their phone. I guess I am just disappointed.

Most of the time my Unlocked version, my Note20U on Att or Tmobile get security updates before Carrier version most of the time , I believe same with my Unlocked fold3 , carrier version are usually first when a new Andriod update is available. Carriers do control who gets updates first and lot of times can be different build numbers where Unlocked version still depends on carrier but all sane build number so whoever comes out first with Unlocked u can flash through odin if don't want to wait.

 

[Kendahl Titcomb]

Most of the time my Unlocked version, my Note20U on Att or Tmobile get security updates before Carrier version most of the time , I believe same with my Unlocked fold3 , carrier version are usually first when a new Andriod update is available. Carriers do control who gets updates first and lot of times can be different build numbers where Unlocked version still depends on carrier but all sane build number so whoever comes out first with Unlocked u can flash through odin if don't want to wait.

I will have to try that. I've seen a few suggest that for other flash options and maybe now would be a good time to try it out.

 

[mustang7757]

I will have to try that. I've seen a few suggest that for other flash options and maybe now would be a good time to try it out.

Yeah definitely, if you need help just tag me .

 

[retomex]

My US unlocked S21 just got the update for Thanksgiving!

 

[mustang7757]

My US unlocked S21 just got the update for Thanksgiving!

Awesome, does yours have ESim support?

 

[retomex]

Yes it does!

 

[mustang7757]

Yes it does!
View attachment 339291

Glad to hear that , thanks

 

[DLewis13]

Didn't know it until this thread, S21+ 5G SM-G996U1 on T-Mobile has eSIM.

 

[htcrazy]

Users on Reddit say the Galaxy Max HZ app fixes the lag. You can lock in any refresh rate such as 120.

 

[Gary02468]

Users on Reddit say the Galaxy Max HZ app fixes the lag. You can lock in any refresh rate such as 120.

That's not a fix. It's a workaround that comes at the cost of excessive battery drain. That might be worth it for some users, but there's still a bug that has to be fixed.

 

[htcrazy]

That's not a fix. It's a workaround that comes at the cost of excessive battery drain. That might be worth it for some users, but there's still a bug that has to be fixed.

You are correct. It is merely a workaround and yes, if you lock 120, it would impact battery life.