• kadu@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I don’t understand why Samsung devices can’t be unlocked in the US. They can be anywhere else.

    Is it a carrier thing? I’m always shocked when I hear about how carriers work in the US - I don’t even understand why people buy phones from the carriers in the first place. I don’t buy my computer from my ISP.

    • quicksand@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      Unlocking from the carrier (sim unlock) is a different thing from unlocking the bootloader. The sim lock is what is common in the US. Carriers often offer the phones cheaper than buying direct from manufacturer and offer payment plans. Usually when the phone is fully paid off they’ll unlock the sim.

      • kadu@lemmy.world
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        1 year ago

        unlocking from the carriers (sim unlock) is a different thing from unlocking the bootloader

        I’m aware. But Samsung allows unlocking the bootloader everywhere but the US, and the US is the place where carriers can add bizarre restrictions to devices, so I’m wondering if that’s the reason.

        • quicksand@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          Oh that’s wild. I had no idea. I’m in the US and don’t have the OEM unlock available in developer settings. I think it’s Samsung that is limiting the bootloader unlock, don’t know if it’s due to pressure from the carriers though