Weightless
Newbie
im using the sm-n9500 model of the note 8 , can i change the rom to another country or universal or something ?
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Installing a different ROM
- Thread starter Weightless
- Start date
Do you mean SM-N950?
If it is an unlocked, international version, it would be less of a problem than one that is tied to a carrier or geographical area, as they have hardware that is specific to those carriers/areas. But if it's the international version, a ROM will not tie it to another country. If there is an app or something blocked because of your location, then it's a matter of masking your location - a good VPN or proxy app can do that.
If it is an unlocked, international version, it would be less of a problem than one that is tied to a carrier or geographical area, as they have hardware that is specific to those carriers/areas. But if it's the international version, a ROM will not tie it to another country. If there is an app or something blocked because of your location, then it's a matter of masking your location - a good VPN or proxy app can do that.
There is a SM-9500 model as well. That's the Chinese market version. You certainly won't be able to install the global version's software on that as it's got a Qualcomm SoC rather than the Exynos used in most of the world.
Whether you can install unbranded US firmware on it I don't know. The North American models use the same SoC, but I don't know about baseband compatibility: their supported frequency bands are different, which is not promising, but I don't know for sure whether there are hardware differences or just firmware.
I would be very cautious and not attempt this until I'd found first-hand confirmation from a reliable source that it is OK. Actually I'd hope that official flash tools would not allow you to flash incompatible firmware, but I'm not an expert on Samsung and if you have to use unofficial methods to do this then you certainly need to think about such things.
Whether you can install unbranded US firmware on it I don't know. The North American models use the same SoC, but I don't know about baseband compatibility: their supported frequency bands are different, which is not promising, but I don't know for sure whether there are hardware differences or just firmware.
I would be very cautious and not attempt this until I'd found first-hand confirmation from a reliable source that it is OK. Actually I'd hope that official flash tools would not allow you to flash incompatible firmware, but I'm not an expert on Samsung and if you have to use unofficial methods to do this then you certainly need to think about such things.
InfernalByte
Android Expert
Be aware also that flashing AOSP's trip the Knox counter, and things like banking apps and other security features will be rendered useless. As I study your question, I'm minded to say DO NOT attempt to root!
AMEN! I know that Samsung's Knox counter will trip, which instantly voids any warranty and renders many financial apps inoperable. And Samsung ODIN and KIES will only allow signed firmware to be installed. Even if you can unlock the bootloader, you will be challenged to get past the flash process. If you insist, proceed with extreme caution... otherwise you will end up with a very expensive paperweight on your desk.