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T-Mobile or metro branded S4

averagewonder

Android Enthusiast
Jul 23, 2012
532
86
Palm Coast, Fla
So I've decided to get the s4 love my s3 but it's the CDMA one and the s4 just seems like a logical replacement. Now I know I can finance a metro branded s4 like I did with my s3. I also know that I can get a T-Mobile branded s4 on payment from shophq.com. Now besides the fact that the T-Mobile one is black which I would prefer. Is there any pros or cons to either one?
 
Same phones. Not a difference at all.

And how do you know that?

Do you have a T-Mo one that tether's perfectly with no root and using the on board native WiFi spot? Have you SEEN this yourself?

Unless you have then you are likely WRONG. They AREN'T the EXACT same phone.

I will make this more clear.

There are models being sold right now where the Metro branded phone can tether with no issues while the T-Mo model of the same phone can't with either rooting or paying T-Mo.

Bruce in Ocala, Fl
 
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They are EXACTLY THE SAME PHONE. Yes ive owned both models. The ONLY difference is the apn they connect to. Otherwise they are IDENTICAL PHONES.

You can simply just switch the APN if need be. It's been shown that you have a harder time getting around the tether block on tmobile branded phones than metro branded ones. Its a discussion so please don't go around telling people if they have a reason to comment or not :)
 
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Yes. Because there IDENTICAL phones. Which is what i said in the start. Now your a smart dude know what your talking about. Are or are not the t mobile branded and metro branded s4's the same? Cmon its ok to say im right :) i wont tell anyone
Heck you can even flash the t mobile firmware on the metro s4 and it would work just fine.
 
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And gman i found a post of yours from july of last year telling someone else that there the exact same phone :)

How much money would you like to bet on that?


Show the post that doesn't exist. (Especially since I'll readily admit to not knowing about, caring about a BIT about, nor I believe EVER POSTING about the S4.)


Please show what the two of you have. :rolleyes: Or more precisely, don't
have.


Bruce in Ocala, Fl
 
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...the metro s4 and the t mobile s4 are IDENTICAL PHONES.

And gman i found a post of yours from july of last year telling someone else that there the exact same phone :)

http://androidforums.com/samsung-galaxy-s4/741921-tmobile-model-same-metro.html#post5994796
This one? I posted that before the difficulties bypassing the tether block arose. At that time everyone was more concerned about if it was the same exact network they'd be accessing as tmobile. They're exactly the same hardware wise and access the same network and that's what I was posting about at that time.
 
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Alright, some posts had to be edited or deleted because things got a little personal. It stops now.

Now besides the fact that the T-Mobile one is black which I would prefer. Is there any pros or cons to either one?

^^^This is what this thread is about, so lets get back on that topic.
 
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let me say this, the hardware is the same, you like the t mobile branding on the phone, the color choice offered by metro? go with that phone, it appears, I stress appears that you can just load metro rom onto the phone for what ever reason you want it on.


Yeah that was really part of my concern if I can just use the metro roms or not. Also Yes the tethering is also a concern as well.
 
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They are the same phone. You cant do anything on the metro version that cant be done on the t mobile version. Ive had both. If your gonna rom it and root it tethering isnt an issue at all. The roms are all interchangable...at least everyone i tried. T mobile roms work on metro version and metro roms work on the t mobile version. The only difference is the color selection. Thats it. Oh and the t mobile one says t mobile on the back and the metro version has the stock samsung back with no carrier on it. If you like the t mobile version get it it will do everything the metro version does.
 
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They are the same phone. You cant do anything on the metro version that cant be done on the t mobile version. Ive had both. If your gonna rom it and root it tethering isnt an issue at all.

I am going to say this one more time.


Then I am done with this.


Timmy you probably had an S4 MONTHS ago, BEFORE T-Mo strengthened the anti-throttling measures on THEIR phones.


The *CURRENT* T-Mo phones that Metro sells the same model of need to be rooted and STILL played around with to tether with no issues.


The Metro model will tether unrooted.


That makes them NOT EXACTLY the same phone.


Bruce in Ocala, Fl
 
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Seeing as you never used either model your point is invalid. There both the same phone. Call samsung t mobile metro or obama for all i care they will tell you. On top of that the op said he wanted to put a metro rom on the phone which will work just fine with the t mobile phone. So again your point is invalid. Nothing you said has any relevance to the point anymore.
 
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My question would be are you concerned about having a warranty on the device first and foremost? If not, and you are concerned about tethering, just go with a T-mobile device since it can be found much cheaper then the metro branded device, root it, rom it, and you'll be right as rain, I'm not saying anyone else in here is wrong, but thats my opinion.
 
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Seeing as you never used either model your point is invalid. There both the same phone.

The point is perfectly valid. Metro and T-Mobile both sell the SGH-M919 variant of the Galaxy S4. However the firmware installed, and perhaps ancillary software, are not. Therefore they are the same hardware platform but not "the same phone". It's a minor but nevertheless important distinction.

Yes, flashing an alternative firmware can negate this fact but almost three years of dealing with the confusing mess that is the Galaxy S2 range has taught me that inaccuracy only leads to frustration and heartache. :)
 
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As said before both phones have the SAME hardware, the only difference is the firmware installed. I own a GS4 from Metro and I've installed several stock and modified ROMs from T-Mobil on it, even you can install any ROM from the International I9505 on it just the same way as you can do it with the T-M GS4.
 
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