Will you root your Note8?

[xocomaox]

Until Google or a manufacturer can properly bake in features like theme support (this is now available for S8/S8+ without root via Substratum!), Navbar modification so you can move the back button if you are left/right handed, and enabling useful wake gestures like sweep to wake, tap to wake and squeeze to wake, rooting is still very much preferred by me.

The other essentials rooting offers is the ability to freeze system apps you cannot disable (important on most non-Google phones), true app backups via TitaniumBackup, and true ad blocking via modified hosts file.

I think that most people buying a Samsung phone like this wouldn't be considering root because it usually takes months for an exploit to be released anyways. Since these phones (except global variant) have a locked bootloader, the real benefits are tied up in that. You can run an excellent custom firmware that has these options baked in do you don't need root.

The other huge advancement for making root an even more viable option is the ability to hide it and circumvent SafteyNet checks for things like Android Pay (not SPay I'm afraid), Netflix and Pokémon Go. No more worry about being blocked because you chose to modify your phone.

If you want to take advantage of the above with less difficulty waiting for an exploit or complexity around the exploit, go with OnePlus or Google Pixel phones instead. Makes all of this much easier.

 

[Golfdriver97]

Root access has been dying. I used to root alot, and now I don't as a lot of root functions are now in Android proper. Which is kind of nice as people don't need to make a change like that to do something simple. 2.3 Gingerbread needed root just to disable apps.

 

[LeoRex]

Oh... one feature that requires root.... tweaking kernel settings... For people who like to tinker and fine tune things to meet their needs exactly, that's more or less impossible without root access.

Kernels, the low level software the controls your phone's operation, comes from the factory configured to give the best balance of performance and power consumption for the 'general user'.... some phones let to pick from a small number of generic power profiles, but kernels have a ton of tweaks. An enterprising person can set things in such a way that perfectly matches their usage needs.... giving them the holy grail of both excellent performance and efficient power usage.

As an aside, a lot of the lag that people complain about doesn't so much have to do with any heavy OEM modifications to Android, as it does with how the OEM configured the kernel governor. That occasional hiccup when you unlock your phone, or switch back to the homescreen after watching a video, etc? Often that's the kernel adjusting the processor speeds to meet demands.

 

[brau0303]

I used to root within a day of getting a new device. I no longer feel the need or really see a real benefit to doing so any more. So, No I will not (even if it was possible on a Samsung/AT&T device) I will usually enable developer mode to access some settings tho.

Cheers,
BR

 

[toenail_flicker]

great info, all. thank you.

things have changed a lot with rooting and devices. handled the N8 today and the first thing I wanted to do was rip Bixby off it and the screen. that alone might cause me to root. time will tell. if I can get my needs met without root I would prefer it. hopefully there'll be some sort of workaround for that.

and I guess need to learn a few new things like the ad blocking workaround (without root) while I'm still in my quiet time before tax season.

I just use a VPN for ad blocking. Works well

 

[dlgus]

Rooting sucked for me. most of the time there are all sorts of bugs and crap that go un-fixed, newer phones come out and they stop updating the builds ota updates are disabled, etc. In my experience, just to get rid of the bloat wasn't worth all the extra baggage you have to worry about with a hacked image. I trust Samsung engineers over some kid in his bedroom eating nachos. My 2c.

I disable/hide the stuff I don't want, and keep it moving. Outa sight, outa mind.

 

[Almeuit]

great info, all. thank you.

things have changed a lot with rooting and devices. handled the N8 today and the first thing I wanted to do was rip Bixby off it and the screen. that alone might cause me to root. time will tell. if I can get my needs met without root I would prefer it. hopefully there'll be some sort of workaround for that.

and I guess need to learn a few new things like the ad blocking workaround (without root) while I'm still in my quiet time before tax season.

Yeah I mean a VPN does work but I sit on my VPN whenever on WiFi so that is why I don't notice ads much since my VPN blocks them. If you are mobile you may want to use your root method -- I mean you can sit on a VPN on mobile but depending on carrier varies how they treat it and such.

 

[toenail_flicker]

Yeah I mean a VPN does work but I sit on my VPN whenever on WiFi so that is why I don't notice ads much since my VPN blocks them. If you are mobile you may want to use your root method -- I mean you can sit on a VPN on mobile but depending on carrier varies how they treat it and such.

thank you for the clarification! I appreciate you taking the time.

 

[YoYZ]

I'm pretty sure rooting breaks the warranty unless you are able to restore back to factory

I've rooted phones back to the Thunderbolt and never had issues with sending back for RMA replacements or trading in. Just wiped and returned, they don't care.

 

[Golfdriver97]

Mod note: thread moved to a newly created Rooting section.

 

[ChuckLIII]

The only reason I would root a phone now would be to get Titanium Backup working again. I miss that app.

 

[swazedahustla]

Of course I am, if only for the tethering and being able to remove some bloatware. Its more than worth it IMO.

 

[Face_The_Raven]

I would be very tempted to root, assuming it's an easy enough process, in order to install an ad-blocker, delete bloatware like Samsung's "me too!" apps, and to map Google Assistant to the button currently wasted on Bixby.

 

[dev-slash-null]

Um, no.

 

[reinbeau]

If I can rid the phone of bloatware and avoid ads I will not root. I'm hearing bad stuff about Bixby and good stuff about Google Assistant, so remapping that button would be nice also.

 

[Tony9ball68]

I have always rooted phones, but reset s7 edge and unrooted ready for selling it and don't miss it, so I won't be rooting N8, well not to start with, but may do after I have had it a while.
Does bxactions app not remap the bixby button, I was gonna use that to change it to camera?

 

[H3aTeRzz]

No I won't, the last rooted phone I had was the Note 4. Don't see a reason for it really anymore. You can disable most everything that would be bloatware.

 

[toenail_flicker]

this thing seriously needs rooting, if for no other reason than to rid it of the overlord Samsung and it's over-pervasive ads. Bixby sucks and is everywhere and it's only about buy, buy, buy. actually considering returning the phone and taking a hit on the restock.

 

[TwistedUmbrella]

this thing seriously needs rooting, if for no other reason than to rid it of the overlord Samsung and it's over-pervasive ads. Bixby sucks and is everywhere and it's only about buy, buy, buy. actually considering returning the phone and taking a hit on the restock.

You mean to tell me that software, which has the possibility to be removed or disabled, is justification to return new high-end hardware?

Technology has changed a lot recently. In my day, that would have been considered an ignorant statement.

 

[Respond321]

No, won't do that.
It is not safety to our phone and will loss the support from Samsung company.