Using a Sprint phone with Verizon

[greg9840]

I have a broken Sprint LG G5 that I am thinking about reparing and then activating on Verizon. A guy at my local phone repair shop said that a Sprint LG G5 is not going to work as well as a Verizon LG G5. He said it is because of antenna encryption or something like that. I have no idea what he is talking about. Is there any truth to the idea that a Verizon phone would better on Verizon than a Sprint phone of the same model on Verizon?

 

[Unforgiven]

I have a broken Sprint LG G5 that I am thinking about reparing and then activating on Verizon. A guy at my local phone repair shop said that a Sprint LG G5 is not going to work as well as a Verizon LG G5. He said it is because of antenna encryption or something like that. I have no idea what he is talking about. Is there any truth to the idea that a Verizon phone would better on Verizon than a Sprint phone of the same model on Verizon?

I think he meant Sprint and Verizon use different frequencies on CDMA, so when you aren't using LTE or VoLTE (if the G5 supports it) you probably won't have CDMA signal on Verizon.

 

[greg9840]

I researched this further online and saw on frequencycheck.com that the Sprint version of the phone only supports 2 of the 3 Verizon LTE bands, while the Verizon version of the phone supports all 3 LTE bands. Does this mean the Sprint version of the phone might not work as well on Verizon as the Verizon version of the phone? Is this a known issue, in general, when switching carriers, where they say your phone is compatible but it's really only partially compatible and doesn't work as well as a phone that was actually built for the carrier?

 

[mikedt]

I'm pretty sure with CDMA carriers in the US you also need to check with that carrier if they'll register and activate a particular BYOD phone they they haven't supplied, by submitting its MEID, IMEI, etc.

Also it's been reported a few times on AF with Sprint devices, they have a particularly nasty MSL(Master Subsidy Lock), and you need to be certain that's been completely unlocked, or it won't get Internet at all apparently.

 

[joe71]

My question is why waste money fixing a broken phone to try to use with a carrier that may or may not be compatible?
Why not get a Verizon phone?

 

[greg9840]

I'm pretty sure with CDMA carriers in the US you also need to check with that carrier if they'll register and activate a particular BYOD phone they they haven't supplied, by submitting its MEID, IMEI, etc.

Also it's been reported a few times on AF with Sprint devices, they have a particularly nasty MSL(Master Subsidy Lock), and you need to be certain that's been completely unlocked, or it won't get Internet at all apparently.

I checked and Verizon says the IMEI on my Sprint phone is compatible with Verizon. So Verizon says the phone will work. But since it only supports 2 of the 3 LTE bands, will it really work optimally or will it always work less well than the Verizon version of the phone?

 

[greg9840]

My question is why waste money fixing a broken phone to try to use with a carrier that may or may not be compatible?
Why not get a Verizon phone?

I love the LG G5 because it has a removable/swappable battery so I can always have a spare battery charged, ready to go. It would probably be cheaper to repair my Sprint LG G5 than buy a new Verizon LG G5. But if the Sprint phone won't work as well, I'd buy a Verizon LG G5.

 

[kate]

I checked and Verizon says the IMEI on my Sprint phone is compatible with Verizon. So Verizon says the phone will work. But since it only supports 2 of the 3 LTE bands, will it really work optimally or will it always work less well than the Verizon version of the phone?

That will vary by location. In an area that only uses the missing band you'll obviously have no LTE, an area that has coverage for all three bands your signal will probably be similar or slightly worse then the Verizon phone with all three.

As @mikedt mentioned the phone has to be SIM unlocked, here is unlocking info for Sprint...

Sprint unlocking policy:
https://www.sprint.com/en/legal/unlocking-your-sprint-device

Sprint Postpaid Devices - Sprint will unlock a device from Sprint's network under the following circumstances:

1. The device is Domestic SIM Unlock capable
2. The device must be or have been active on the Sprint network for a minimum of 50 days
3. Any associated Service Agreement, Installment Billing Agreement, or Lease Agreement has been fulfilled including payment in full of any applicable early termination fees or end-of-lease purchase options. Because leased devices are not owned by the user, the end of lease purchase option must be exercised and paid in full before the Domestic SIM unlock is completed.
4. The associated account is in good standing
5. The device has not been reported as lost or stolen, associated with fraudulent activity, or otherwise flagged as ineligible to be unlocked

For inactive devices, customers must contact Sprint Customer Care to request that their SIM unlock-capable device be unlocked and may have to take steps to perform an over-the-air update to ensure the unlock programming has been relayed to the device. Additional validation may be required to ensure eligibility.


Sprint Prepaid will assist with unlocking a Sprint Forward device under the following circumstances:

1. The device has not been reported as lost or stolen or otherwise flagged as ineligible to be unlocked.
2. The device has been active on the associated account for at least 12 months with the account active at that time.

 

[joe71]

I love the LG G5 because it has a removable/swappable battery so I can always have a spare battery charged, ready to go. It would probably be cheaper to repair my Sprint LG G5 than buy a new Verizon LG G5. But if the Sprint phone won't work as well, I'd buy a Verizon LG G5.

Isn't the LG G9 coming out soon? I understand why you like the LG G5 for the removable battery, but beyond that it seems your throwing money away, I know TMobile, Verizon and probably all the other carriers are rolling out the 5g network my new question is will older devices such as the LG G5 work?

 

[greg9840]

I would think that the LG G5 will not be phased out for at least a few years. I'm all for 5G, but I would need a phone with either a removable battery or a battery that consistently lasts all day, from the moment I wake up until the moment I go to bed, without additional charging during the day. I can't be dealing with having to charge my phone in the afternoon/evening just to get through the day.

 

[Mikestony]

Heck, I'll sell you my LG G5 Verizon device in perfect working order I don't use it.

Just food for thought

 

[Jfalls63]

I know that in my area, Verizon relies heavily on band 13.

 

[greg9840]

I'm I the only one who thinks it's crazy that Verizon would say that a Sprint phone would work great on Verizon, even though the phone will be missing a band? That seems pretty way off.