Samsung Introduces Carrier Unlocked Galaxy S7 In The US
by Brandon Chester on June 30, 2016 8:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Samsung
- Samsung Galaxy S7
- Samsung Galaxy S7 edge
One of the large complaints about the Galaxy S7 is that it is a carrier-locked device even when purchased without any sort of contract or payment plan. There are some exceptions, such as Samsung Experience Stores here in Canada that sell the phone with an unlock code included, but this doesn't prevent the phone from loading bloatware that corresponds to the carrier that you use with it once you put in your SIM. Given that contracts seem to actually be falling out of favor, it makes sense to offer an unlocked version of a smartphone for buyers who are willing to pay for the device outright, and who want to avoid preinstalled apps and customizations from their carriers.
Today Samsung announced that they are introducing a carrier-unlocked Galaxy S7 in the United States for the sort of consumers that I just described. The new unlocked Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are launching today, and Samsung states that they work on all the top US carriers, with network compatibility presumably being the same as a Galaxy S7 that you would purchase from a carrier and unlock yourself. These new unlocked phones are available from a number of retailers starting today, including Amazon, Best Buy, and Target. The Galaxy S7 is priced at $669.99, while the Galaxy S7 Edge is $769.99.
Facebook
Twitter
RSS
14 Comments
View All Comments
ImSpartacus - Thursday, June 30, 2016 - link
Wait, so this works on the cdma carriers as well add the gsm carriers? Or has lte made that distinction negligible?CoreyWat - Thursday, June 30, 2016 - link
I would assume both, lots of devices already do, iPhones, Nexus'es, Moto X'smikelward - Thursday, June 30, 2016 - link
The press release says Yes*"Wireless voice, data and messaging services compatible with GSM networks such as AT&T and T-Mobile and CDMA networks such as Verizon, Sprint and US Cellular®. Support for certain features and services such as VoWiFi and hotspot, vary by wireless service provider. See provider for details."
Impulses - Friday, July 1, 2016 - link
No, if anything LTE bands made it even more complicated... Phone makers (well, SoC/radio makers) just got more clever about being able to support as many frequency bands as possible.The N5 already worked (w/LTE) on three out of the four mayor carriers, and that was 3 years ago...
SunLord - Thursday, June 30, 2016 - link
For data yes but for voice you need cdma support to get a phone onto Sprint and Verizon its gonna be several more years before cdma finally starts to die and probably a decade or more before its fully gone i believe CDMA currently gets better usable signal range vs volte on the same frequencyfanofanand - Thursday, June 30, 2016 - link
$670 for last year's phone. That's rich.GTRagnarok - Thursday, June 30, 2016 - link
Whoa, it's 2017 already!? 2016 went by really fast.Trixanity - Thursday, June 30, 2016 - link
"last year's phone" released March 11th 2016 - less than 4 months ago. Cocaine's one hell of a drug.kabel_mk - Thursday, June 30, 2016 - link
I see no unlocked and carrier unbranded S7 nor S7 Edge on Samsung USA website. Where is the official Samsung release statement? bestbuy.com, amazon.com and target.com shows "0" as in zero carrier unbranded s7 in USA. Is this is a joke?mikelward - Thursday, June 30, 2016 - link
http://news.samsung.com/us/2016/06/30/samsung-intr...