I live in Greece. Based on all I've read, the exynos S20 isn't as good as the snapdragon version for battery (my #1 issue), general performance, and graphics. I can get a pretty decent price on the HK one. It supports all the bands Vodafone-Greece uses, and it comes with 12gb ram (instead of 8gb) and some 5G ability. 5G won't exist here for a while, so that's unimportant to me. Normally, the no-brainer answer is to buy the HK S20, but I am already aware that Samsung Greece will not honor the warranty because it's from a non-EU region (thought I think there is a recent EU law that says they must). So, a couple of questions before I make a purchase:
- What won't work in Europe, like VOLTE?
- Will I get the normal OTA updates (Android 11 and security patches) or will I have to download and install the firmwares updates myself
corvus.corax said:
I live in Greece. Based on all I've read, the exynos S20 isn't as good as the snapdragon version for battery (my #1 issue), general performance, and graphics. I can get a pretty decent price on the HK one. It supports all the bands Vodafone-Greece uses, and it comes with 12gb ram (instead of 8gb) and some 5G ability. 5G won't exist here for a while, so that's unimportant to me. Normally, the no-brainer answer is to buy the HK S20, but I am already aware that Samsung Greece will not honor the warranty because it's from a non-EU region (thought I think there is a recent EU law that says they must). So, a couple of questions before I make a purchase:
- What won't work in Europe, like VOLTE?
- Will I get the normal OTA updates (Android 11 and security patches) or will I have to download and install the firmwares updates myself
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whether or not you'll get VoLTE, WiFi Calling depends on the carrier. In some cases CSR's for Carrier Branded devices will say none of their features will work as they want potential customer's to purchase their device but that's not always the case. You won't know for certain until you test your device on their network. If the service provider's features are a priority then your best option is aquire their smartphone, you'll know they'll work. If you buy their Exynos device and it overheats or has fast battery drain you can return it under warranty for replacement or a refund. As much as we read about Exynos pitfalls there are many users who are pleased with the performance and have no issues. A lot of concerns come from users who put heavy workloads on their processers like gaming so it depends on your individual usage. I decided on the HK variant because most carrier features I can live without and I enjoy gaming. VoLTE and WiFi Calling features work on my T-Mobile's network, I also have access to Samsung Pay. Be aware you can't flash your service provider's firmware on a Snapdragon variant. You likely won't have some Carrier Aggeration like fast download speeds. You will get OTA Updates since they're distributed by Samsung, not your service provider.
Thank you for the thoughtful reply. Here in Greece, Vodafone doesn't currently support VOLTE or WiFi calling. I haven't used Samsung Pay up till now, but my bank doesn't support it, only Apple Pay & Google Pay, so not a big inconvenience. As to carrier aggregation, do you know why that wouldn't be fully supported and does your remark apply to 4G or just 5G? Does it have to do with the particular chipset & modem?
After all updates on Exynos, it performs great. No heating uo and battery life improved a lot.
djoxie said:
After all updates on Exynos, it performs great. No heating uo and battery life improved a lot.
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Click to collapse
Same experience here (s20+ exynos variant) i wouldnt risk buying from grey market as you may get unit with poor oled uniformity and then be stuck with it
djoxie said:
After all updates on Exynos, it performs great. No heating uo and battery life improved a lot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's good to know.
Related
I'm leaning towards a new phone after one of my beloved S6 edge logic board went bad all of a sudden. I have a backup S6 edge but I'm concerned this one will one day give out too. This is not a root debate I want to keep root for various reasons.
Question is for those who are using an unlocked and rooted international version 960F on ATT, what features are not working, lack radio bands (i believe 30 and maybe more depending on source) missing is affecting your daily usage. Wifi Calling/Video calling. etc
Bands S9 missing more than S8 according to site below but other sites contradict
https://www.frequencycheck.com/carr...axy-s9-td-lte-samsung-star/at-t-united-states
https://www.clove.co.uk/samsung-galaxy-s9
http://www.samsung.com/uk/smartphones/galaxy-s9/specs/
Looking for user feedback and experience.
Thanks
If for some reason the S9 Exynos doesn't have the correct radio bands like all the previous one have you could look into the Latin American Variant with unlock-able bootloader.
I have not, I looked at Clove b/c it seems like a reliable source to purchase and they are aware of Region lock.
That said based on the specs only Band 30 is missing which is not a deal breaker i checked a few different sites and Band 30 is not even in my area.
I would still like feedback on other issues with using Exynos out here in the USA on ATT network.
bump
Hi all
I just realised that my Samsung UK Note 10+ is not using Snapdragon 855 but the Exynos 9825. I thought the Exynos CPU is only available in Canada and the far east.
I have to say, if I knew that Samsung were selling the Exynos edition on their website I wouldn't have ordered it. I'm afraid to ask if I'm missing anything as I was under the impression that the Exynos are inferior to the Snapdragon CPUs.
Exynos is the European chip.
Sent from my SM-N975F using Tapatalk
Snapdragons are mainly gor USA, Canada and Hong Kong, because of some country/carrier regulations, the rest of the world use exynos, which are somewhat "inferior" in some areas, not all, mainly batt usage, as for performance, side by side the difference is really little
winol said:
Snapdragons are mainly for USA, Canada, and Hong Kong, because of some country/carrier regulations, the rest of the world use exynos, which are somewhat "inferior" in some areas, not all, mainly batt usage, as for performance, side by side the difference is really little
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe it's the other way around in the best case. Battery usage is almost the same (They claim SD to have better standby drain, but I can't tell). While performance is way better on the SD, especially in gaming where the Adrino graphics processor performs much better than the Mali.
What's wrong with the Exynos variants ?
I'm in the UK and my S8+ / Note 9 where both Exynos and there was absolutely no perceivable difference after years of using a SD powered device.
Frankly not getting a device because of the processor difference between SD / Exy is just pure arrogance / stupidity.
Both vairents are Rootable so people can't even argue that anymore.
I agree with you, exynos variants are indeed excellent, SD versions may be slightly better, but not as to despise Exynos ones
hutzdani said:
What's wrong with the Exynos variants ?
I'm in the UK and my S8+ / Note 9 where both Exynos and there was absolutely no perceivable difference after years of using a SD powered device.
Frankly not getting a device because of the processor difference between SD / Exy is just pure arrogance / stupidity.
Both vairents are Rootable so people can't even argue that anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Battery drain on the Exynos variant is a fact. I have both versions of the phone and with SD I have far better cellular reception and WiFi and less to non battery drain on standby.
I live in London.
Sent from my SM-N9750 using Tapatalk
geovass said:
Battery drain on the Exynos variant is a fact. I have both versions of the phone and with SD I have far better cellular reception and WiFi and less to non battery drain on standby.
I live in London.
Sent from my SM-N9750 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can I ask if the SD Note 10+ gets OTA updates in the UK and (at least) Google Pay works?
There are some reasonably priced handsets on eBay, mostly from Switzerland that look quite attractive (4G variants),
TIA
mzm70 said:
Can I ask if the SD Note 10+ gets OTA updates in the UK and (at least) Google Pay works?
There are some reasonably priced handsets on eBay, mostly from Switzerland that look quite attractive (4G variants),
TIA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes and yes!
I got it from an eBay seller - shipped from Swiss
Sent from my SM-N9750 using Tapatalk
Any reason to get an Exynos version over Snap Dragon?
I am mainly hesitating between 2 Snapdragon variants... N9750 from Hong Kong or the global N975F. Both dual sim.
Anyone know of a reason to go with one va the other? For one, the 9750 seems to have only 2 CSCs. Slower roll-out of patches maybe?
Exynos If you plan to root and mod the phone. There's always more development for Exynos phones.
Thanks. I need to keep it stock for mobile payment and other apps that won’t run if rooted. Any feature related reasons or availability of anything else outside of customization or development?
I seem to be missing the advantage of the TGY or BRI variants.
Thanks,
lbarouf said:
Any reason to get an Exynos version over Snap Dragon?
I am mainly hesitating between 2 Snapdragon variants... N9750 from Hong Kong or the global N975F. Both dual sim.
Anyone know of a reason to go with one va the other? For one, the 9750 seems to have only 2 CSCs. Slower roll-out of patches maybe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only reason I went with the 9750 was that supposedly Snapdragon variants have better performance and battery life, however, unlike the G9650 (analogous variant for the S9+), the N9750 actually lost a couple frequency bands compared to the N975F, rendering the former useless on carriers that utilize 3G AWS.
The 975F would be, I would expect, the superior choice if you love tinkering with ROM variants and especially if you plan on signing up for the next OS beta, but don't happen to live in the US, India or Germany (for example)
Last but not least, some users I have exchanged information with on XDA are more or less convinced that the SD variants have much better RF.
Ah, thanks. Slightly better RF is a common comment I heard so far. I was hoping to hear a real world comment on the newer Exynos though. Compared to the S10, the note is said to have access to a newer Exynos SoC.
I don’t plan on using nothing but stick firmware. Which CSC is the question as I travel a lot and use 3 sims from different csc.
With this in mind, are you happy you got the 9750 vs the 975F? Should I care at this point or both are really so similar? I am not looking for any Hong Kong Specific features. And when I roam there I don’t even use a local sim.
Thanks,
waqqas.khokhar said:
The only reason I went with the 9750 was that supposedly Snapdragon variants have better performance and battery life, however, unlike the G9650 (analogous variant for the S9+), the N9750 actually lost a couple frequency bands compared to the N975F, rendering the former useless on carriers that utilize 3G AWS.
The 975F would be, I would expect, the superior choice if you love tinkering with ROM variants and especially if you plan on signing up for the next OS beta, but don't happen to live in the US, India or Germany (for example)
Last but not least, some users I have exchanged information with on XDA are more or less convinced that the SD variants have much better RF.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, and are you running a multi csc firmware? If so, does OZW or OZS?
lbarouf said:
Ah, thanks. Slightly better RF is a common comment I heard so far. I was hoping to hear a real world comment on the newer Exynos though. Compared to the S10, the note is said to have access to a newer Exynos SoC.
I don’t plan on using nothing but stick firmware. Which CSC is the question as I travel a lot and use 3 sims from different csc.
With this in mind, are you happy you got the 9750 vs the 975F? Should I care at this point or both are really so similar? I am not looking for any Hong Kong Specific features. And when I roam there I don’t even use a local sim.
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm happy in that my device is definitely stable and fast, while I have admittedly never held a N975F, however.
My only gripe is that the 9750 is among the last Note 10 4G models to get updates. That said, it's not like Samsung is holding out on 9750 users (without reason) as the update version eventually released does have a newer version and build than the others that preceded it.
---------- Post added at 10:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 AM ----------
lbarouf said:
Oh, and are you running a multi csc firmware? If so, does OZW or OZS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm running the only multi CSC firmware available for the 9750, which is for BRI and TGY. BRI is the default, but I have used Samkey to switch the CSC to TGY.
waqqas.khokhar said:
I'm happy in that my device is definitely stable and fast, while I have admittedly never held a N975F, however.
My only gripe is that the 9750 is among the last Note 10 4G models to get updates. That said, it's not like Samsung is holding out on 9750 users (without reason) as the update version eventually released does have a newer version and build than the others that preceded it.
---------- Post added at 10:53 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:50 AM ----------
I'm running the only multi CSC firmware available for the 9750, which is for BRI and TGY. BRI is the default, but I have used Samkey to switch the CSC to TGY.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this. I was just reading in another thread where a user got the Star Wars firmware supposedly for the 9750 variant. Have you tried it? I wonder if it's still limited to BRI/TGY. You have not tried it by any chance?
cachanilla86 said:
Exynos If you plan to root and mod the phone. There's always more development for Exynos phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One of the main SIM I use with the phone is Telcel. I rotate between 3/4 sims with 2 at a time obviously. You wouldn't have tried AT&T or Telcel (MX for both) in that model would you by any chance? If so, which ROM and did VoLTE and Wifi calling work?
lbarouf said:
Thanks for this. I was just reading in another thread where a user got the Star Wars firmware supposedly for the 9750 variant. Have you tried it? I wonder if it's still limited to BRI/TGY. You have not tried it by any chance?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I have not heard of it (for the 9750) nor tried it.
LineageOS exists a version for Samsung Galaxy S10e with Exynos processor, but not for Snapdragon, is there a way to install it on Snapdragon?
Isakman said:
LineageOS exists a version for Samsung Galaxy S10e with Exynos processor, but not for Snapdragon, is there a way to install it on Snapdragon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In short, yes.
See here for unofficial Lineage build. Limitation is no IMS (volte) though.
I'm considering buying a G970U (US version) with 8GB RAM and paying for bootloader unlock code, see here.
Perhaps best option is to continue work of OP in that thread and build your own with security updates.
ParkourPaul said:
In short, yes.
See here for unofficial Lineage build. Limitation is no IMS (volte) though.
I'm considering buying a G970U (US version) with 8GB RAM and paying for bootloader unlock code, see here.
Perhaps best option is to continue work of OP in that thread and build your own with security updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you tell me what the holdup is with the no IMS / VoLTE development on Snapdragon models, and when this is expected to change if at all, and what forum I need to follow to track this status? I live in the US and I just acquired a S10e G9700U1 thinking I could put LineageOS 18 or 19 on the phone and have VoLTE work. From what I've read, all of the carriers are pretty much mandating VoLTE as a matter of policy for the sake of 4G system management. Ever since the carriers dumped 3G I've been forced to resort to T-Mobile which has an awful footprint in order to keep running LineageOS with my S9 Dual Sim unit as Red Pocket refused to activate Verizon after AT&T shut down 3G and gave me the boot.
andyhoy said:
Can you tell me what the holdup is with the no IMS / VoLTE development on Snapdragon models, and when this is expected to change if at all, and what forum I need to follow to track this status? I live in the US and I just acquired a S10e G9700U1 thinking I could put LineageOS 18 or 19 on the phone and have VoLTE work. From what I've read, all of the carriers are pretty much mandating VoLTE as a matter of policy for the sake of 4G system management. Ever since the carriers dumped 3G I've been forced to resort to T-Mobile which has an awful footprint in order to keep running LineageOS with my S9 Dual Sim unit as Red Pocket refused to activate Verizon after AT&T shut down 3G and gave me the boot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no idea what the issues are with this though I've seen it with multiple devices so I assume the code stack for IMS services is custom to each device/ROM and come with their own idiosyncrasies/bugs to work out.
Perhaps shout up @klabit87 or other devs in the relevant forums for pointers.
I was extremely lucky and managed to get a free xperia 1 iv as it was refunded/cancelled but still delivered so I'm no longer pursuing a S10e solution.
EDIT: To add to this, the 'holdup' as you put, mostly comes down to the US snapdragon model not having official bootloader unlock support therefor there are very few devs, if any, working on it. The international version uses exynos chipset, the bootloader of which is unlock supported. This is why all the ROMs are exynos only.
ParkourPaul said:
I have no idea what the issues are with this though I've seen it with multiple devices so I assume the code stack for IMS services is custom to each device/ROM and come with their own idiosyncrasies/bugs to work out.
Perhaps shout up @klabit87 or other devs in the relevant forums for pointers.
I was extremely lucky and managed to get a free xperia 1 iv as it was refunded/cancelled but still delivered so I'm no longer pursuing a S10e solution.
EDIT: To add to this, the 'holdup' as you put, mostly comes down to the US snapdragon model not having official bootloader unlock support therefor there are very few devs, if any, working on it. The international version uses exynos chipset, the bootloader of which is unlock supported. This is why all the ROMs are exynos only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the insight. From what I've read this is probably between Samsung and Qualcom where Qualcom charges Samsung for VoLTE/IMS licensing and subsequently Samsung can't or won't share the content, and it sounds like it's a lot of effort to reverse engineer. I have a Samsung S9 Duos which is international and running LOS 17.1, but I can only set it up with T-Mobile, and possibly not using VoLTE as it only says on my mobile carrier menu LTE and not VoLTE. From what I read Verizon and AT&T are forcing everyone to use VoLTE and won't let phones without it on their networks. So this makes Samsung custom ROMs in the US mostly useless.
I was considering trying to get a Exynos for the S10e as I love the formfactor and the 256GB memory, but if I wanted a Duos Exynos I'd have to pay 4 or 5 times what my US S10e version cost me, and then I'd probably be in the same boat as I was before with my S9. I'm shifting to a Pixel 5a or possibly a Moto G7 power as those are both reported to work on VoLTE, at least that's what I've heard.
Jumping the Feb 7 outside of China launch date. (Also looks like US variant will be lesser specced than Int top model).
T-Mobile has 3CA now, only possible on the latest chipset for Apple, Google & Snapdragon- but they're notoriously slow in releasing firmware updates- esp. for OnePlus. It's almost 3 months and no sign of Oxygen 13- although to be fair OP 13 latest bricking some phones.
Officially getting T-Mo 3ca: S22 first, then Pixel 7. iPhone who knows when...And no mention for any \ all others.
XDA workaround for Samsungs
The follow-up question is to be able to use OP 11 Int. Version phone on T-Mobile w\o losing any bands,
as it looks like US version model will have lesser storage & charging capacity.