Unlocked Phones for VZW

[pheatton]

It looks like it maybe time to retire the 6P. Been having all kinds of battery issues with and the first refurb replacement phone I was sent has glue residue around the screen and the bottom speaker has no tonal fidelity and crackles like crazy. Im trying to get a different one sent to me now but I dont have high hopes that I will get one that meets my approval. So Im looking at possible replacements. I REALLY dont want a VZQ branded phone due to all the bloatware and lack up updates.

I know I can get the following unlocked that will work on VZW:

Google Pixel
LG G6
Samsung S8/+
Motorola something or rather...

Im leaning towards the G6 because the Pixel is just way to damn expensive and I really dont like the UI from Samsung, really wish HTC made a nice high end unlocked phone that worked on VZW. Any others that I should look at?

 

[Aquila]

Should be hearing about the HTC U 11 very shortly, HTC U 11 it should be announced Tuesday. Otherwise, Pixel is the best phone overall, but if you're looking to save money, the LG G6 is definitely a solid device.

 

[dpham00]

If your main concerns are bloatware and lack of updates then i would suggest the pixel. It will beat all other options hands down.

G6 is cheaper but too many LG with bootloop problems. If you do get an LG, make sure it is a USA release... I had an international unlocked g4 which worked in the USA fine but LG wouldn't warranty it due to it being not a USA release.

 

[t84a]

I'm going through the same process. It seems odd that buying a new phone from VZW is more costly than buying on the open market. Of course, unless I'm missing something. To upgrade to a S7, they want $576 plus a $30 upgrade fee. My line charge will then increase from the $30/month (2 lines) to $40. Then it looks like they still threaten a $350 early termination fee. I have fulfilled my current obligation. I can get a 930U for $530 and be done. No upgrade fee and no increase in line fee. Am I missing something? Is the Pixel really that good? I like my S6. I dropped it and it's doing strange things like calling and texting own its own. Thans for any help you can offer.

 

[Ry]

I'm going through the same process. It seems odd that buying a new phone from VZW is more costly than buying on the open market. Of course, unless I'm missing something. To upgrade to a S7, they want $576 plus a $30 upgrade fee. My line charge will then increase from the $30/month (2 lines) to $40. Then it looks like they still threaten a $350 early termination fee. I have fulfilled my current obligation. I can get a 930U for $530 and be done. No upgrade fee and no increase in line fee. Am I missing something? Is the Pixel really that good? I like my S6. I dropped it and it's doing strange things like calling and texting own its own. Thans for any help you can offer.

What plan are you on?

 

[t84a]

Just a regular family plan 10G. I pay $80 +$30 for 2 lines. It was more when I was paying off 2 phones but they are paid off now.

 

[t84a]

I just returned my s7 to Amazon. It wouldn't support Verizon's HD calling which is wifi calling. I need this in my home. Back to square 1. Cool of Amazon to take the thing back.

 

[eshropshire]

I require Verizon's HD calling - I use wifi calling exclusively on my trips to India (I go travel there 3-4 times a year). Wifi calling works for about 90% of the time I am there, the other 10% I can live without coverage. I like the HTC U 11, but their exclusive with Sprint eliminates the phone. I am willing to put up with the bloat on Verizon's phones (I just disable it) to get the other Verizon features you can't get on an unlocked phone.

 

[BuffOrange]

What's the story with Verizon's BYOD policy these days? Can you bring any compatible phone to them? Does it depend on your plan?

 

[Almeuit]

What's the story with Verizon's BYOD policy these days? Can you bring any compatible phone to them? Does it depend on your plan?

Pretty much if you have an active SIM card. They usually won't active a new SIM on a device they don't support but let's say you have a S8 and want to slap that active SIM into another phone that'll work.

 

[Almighty1]

In my case, on the iPhone front, they have the sim unlocked any carrier which supports pretty much all the LTE bands in the US and worldwide. Does anything like that exist on the Android side that works for Verizon and has LTE bands so traveling will still be 4G LTE worldwide? I know the Essentials seems to support a lot but it lacks MicroSD, anything else? Also, if someone did a BYOD with a phone that VZW doesn't sell, would their insurance even cover it?

 

[L0n3N1nja]

In my case, on the iPhone front, they have the sim unlocked any carrier which supports pretty much all the LTE bands in the US and worldwide. Does anything like that exist on the Android side that works for Verizon and has LTE bands so traveling will still be 4G LTE worldwide? I know the Essentials seems to support a lot but it lacks MicroSD, anything else? Also, if someone did a BYOD with a phone that VZW doesn't sell, would their insurance even cover it?

From my experience Samsung has really stepped up their game with including all the band's needed for different networks, but I wouldn't rely on just my input on that. You can usually look up all the exact band's supported on the device, I don't travel internationally so I don't know what is required where.

I'm a former Verizon rep, we could only insure phones that were bought new from us, and it had to be within 30 days of purchase.

 

[dpham00]

Things like wifi calling and visual voicemail tend to be missing from non verizon Androids, even ones that claim Verizon compatibility line the s8.

Also Verizon will not insure a non verizon phone.

 

[BuffOrange]

Pretty much if you have an active SIM card. They usually won't active a new SIM on a device they don't support but let's say you have a S8 and want to slap that active SIM into another phone that'll work.

Right I figure they can't stop anyone from doing that.
I guess what's unclear to me is "devices they support". When I enter the imei # for my unlocked S7 their website says I can bring it. But they won't do that for the Moto G5+?

 

[BuffOrange]

In my case, on the iPhone front, they have the sim unlocked any carrier which supports pretty much all the LTE bands in the US and worldwide. Does anything like that exist on the Android side that works for Verizon and has LTE bands so traveling will still be 4G LTE worldwide? I know the Essentials seems to support a lot but it lacks MicroSD, anything else? Also, if someone did a BYOD with a phone that VZW doesn't sell, would their insurance even cover it?

All the phones in the OP afaik, assuming 'worldwide' = Tmobile/AT&T in the US. Unlocked Sammy S7/8, LG G6, MotoG5+ [all @Best Buy] and the Pixel.

IDK why their insurance would cover a phone you bought elsewhere.

 

[Almighty1]

From my experience Samsung has really stepped up their game with including all the band's needed for different networks, but I wouldn't rely on just my input on that. You can usually look up all the exact band's supported on the device, I don't travel internationally so I don't know what is required where.

I'm a former Verizon rep, we could only insure phones that were bought new from us, and it had to be within 30 days of purchase.

Samsung's including of all bands is generally for the US and North America and not outside the US for example. I've had Verizon Wireless service since 1996 when it was still known as GTE Wireless with the insurance and it seems as long as it's a Verizon Branded device, i can activate it whenever and it will always be covered by the insurance for both warranty and insurance replacement as long as the insurance was already on the account when the phone was activated even though the phone might have been purchased a long time ago as I activated a LG G3 only 3 months ago for a week but it was still covered by the insurance even though the phone was bought in 2015.

 

[Almighty1]

All the phones in the OP afaik, assuming 'worldwide' = Tmobile/AT&T in the US. Unlocked Sammy S7/8, LG G6, MotoG5+ [all @Best Buy] and the Pixel.

IDK why their insurance would cover a phone you bought elsewhere.

Worldwide means it supports 4G LTE with bands outside the US when traveling as Verizon phones such as even the LG G4 which is 4G LTE would only work as 3G outside the U.S. due to it not having support of the bands. If you look at a Apple iPhone like the A1661 iPhone 7Plus which is the sim unlocked carrier free model and even sold as the Verizon model, it supports the following:

FDD-LTE bands 1 (2100 MHz), 2 (1900 MHz), 3 (1800 MHz), 4 (AWS), 5 (850 MHz), 7 (2600 MHz), 8 (900 MHz), 12 (700 a MHz), 13 (700c MHz), 17 (700b MHz), 18 (800 MHz), 19 (800 MHz), 20 (800 DD), 25 (1900 MHz), 26 (800 MHz), 27 (800 SMR), 28 (700 APT MHz), 29 (700 de MHz), 30 (2300 WCS)
TD-LTE bands 38 (TD 2600 MHz), 39 (TD 1900 MHz), 40 (TD 2300 MHz), 41 (TD 2500 MHz)
TD-SCDMA 1900 (F), 2000 (A)
CDMA EV-DO Rev. A (800, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)
GSM/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA (850, 900, 1700/2100, 1900, 2100 MHz)

The Essential phone which is made by the guy who headed Google's Android before as seen here:
»www.essential.com/

as a example is probably the closest one will get as far as bands go:
Network / Bands
UMTS/HSPA+: 1, 2, 4, 5 6, 8
GSM: 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz
CDMA EV-DO Rev. A: 0, 1, 10
FDD-LTE: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 17, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 66
TDD-LTE: 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43
TD-SCDMA: 34, 39

It has FDD-LTE 11, 21 that the iPhone lacks but not FDD-LTE 18, 19, 27 that the iPhone has.
It has TD-LTE 42, 43 which the iPhone lacks.
It has 800 UMTS/HSPA+/DC-HSDPA which the iPhone lacks.

Now compare that to what the Samsung S8 Unlocked model supports:
B1(2100), B2(1900), B3(1800), B4(AWS), B5(850), B7(2600), B8(900), B12(700), B13(700), B17(700), B18(800), B19(800), B20(800), B25(1900), B26(800), B28(700), B29(700), B30(2300), B66(AWS-3)

which means it's missing FDD-LTE 27
It doesn't mention anything about TD-LTE/TD-SCDMA support either

It would actually be harder to go looking at different make/models to list the bands compared to listing the bands and generate a list of the devices that have support for those bands since it seems like the companies that make multiple models of the same device for different carriers usually will have the T-Mobile and AT&T models which will work worldwide with 4G LTE because they lack the support for CDMA but the devices made for the CDMA carriers will generally lose the 4G LTE outside the US because the CDMA support would be taking it's place.

Their insurance covers phones bought from Best Buy and even Radio Shack as long as it's a Verizon branded device but if you already had insurance on your account that you are paying for monthly, they should need to cover it since otherwise they should not have charged for the insurance as they can easily check if the device is a Verizon device or not to continue billing for the insurance. It would be different if you activated the device and then try to get insurance since they would then not sell you the insurance.