Root [T-Mobile] Galaxy S4 for T-mobile, to root or not to root

zanthal · Nov 24, 2013

I was wondering if I could catch the words from the wise about something.

I know exactly jack squat about the stock apps and ROM for the Samsung Galaxy S4 for T-mobile, or any Samsung phone, I've never owned one before (still waiting on it to arrive).

I'd like a little help deciding if root is highly desirable, in the case that Samsung's stock apps and ROM are no more than useless memory hogs, or if Samsung does it right and allows for a high amount of user configuration, allowing you to avoid being force fed functions and apps you have no use for.

Many thanks for your expert opinions -- cheers!

alextop30 · Nov 24, 2013

I think you pretty much covered it. If I were you I'd root just to remove some of the Samsung / T-Mobile annoying apps which I really do not want to be on my phone and I do not have the option of deleting out of the box.

In addition there are also many nice root only apps you can use to enhance your phone experience without making it into developer toy which may work only some of the time. For example Multi Window Manager is an app that requires root but will add any application on your phone to the applications that you can use as multi tasking. So you can have your screen split between any two apps not just the ones Samsung allows.

I also like added functionality of root into the backup process - complete image of my system backing up my apps and data with titanium backup and so on.

So my side of the verdict!!!! TO ROOT!!!!

Rukbat · Nov 24, 2013

Rooting gives you administrative access to Android, it has nothing to do with the bloat that Samsung puts on the phone (other than allowing you to remove it).

Rooting allows you to do a lot that you can't do with an unrooted phone, but if you need a warranty repair you're out of luck - rooting voids the warranty. It also prevents you from getting OTA upgrades. Until someone forces the industry to adhere to the agreements they pretend to agree to, we'll all have to make that decision - to root and gain the use of a lot more, or to not root and maintain the warranty. (Even if Samsung damages your phone with a bad upgrade, if it's rooted, you pay for the repair.)

alextop30 · Nov 24, 2013

You can unroot your phone and gain your warranty back! The only thing you have to make sure is not to install ROMs with ODIN. If a ROM is installed with recovery and it does not trip the counter therefore you can flash stock unrooted image with ODIN and boom - you are back into warranty and get that phone serviced.

zanthal · Nov 24, 2013

Any suggestions for a new ROM?

alextop30 · Nov 24, 2013

zanthal said:
Any suggestions for a new ROM?

Really the question is what are you planning to gain from putting a new ROM on there?

1. Battery Life - Infamous ROM
2. Customization - Find something Deodexed (lots of them Blazed thread is right below it is good rom and 3mint app of the playstore)
3. Latest software KitKat / 4.3 - Google Edition Galaxy S4 Rom - I am pretty sure KitKat is not available out yet though.
4. Cool Skins and more - really xda forums development thread for our phone is full of cool stuff

T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S 4 Android Development - xda-developers

look at some of the rest of the forums there - there is big themes and apps forum which got some cool stuff!!!!

SOMETHING IMPORTANT: NEVER INSTALL ROMs WITH ODIN! ALWAYS CUSTOM RECOVERY (TWRP OR CLOCKWORK MOD) - THIS WAY YOU KEEP THE OPTION OF HAVING YOUR WARRANTY!

dcap0187 · Nov 24, 2013

My main reason for root is wifi teather. Whats the point of having unlimited data if I can't use my data the way I want. Even though rooting for the the purpose of debloating is not as bad as it used to be, its still nice to have the ability to kill those apps that are just wasteing space. Another plus of having root is the ability to make a full backup and be able to restore using a custom recovery which is something you would never be able to do with an unrooted phone.I had to make an insurance claim and it was much easier to make a back up and restore the image on the new phone as opposed to set the phone up from stock. My only gripe about having root is not having the ability to check for OTA's, but I have managed to unroot and triangle away to gain the ability to do so.

xXchrizhurtyXx · Nov 24, 2013

I'd say root. Rooting unlocks alot more to what your device can do. Your able to mess around and flash roms which offer different things. You can flash sound mods and delete all the bloat Samsung and tmobile put in. Derooting is easy as well and it's not hard. I honestly rooted my phone withing the first 10 minutes of owning it.

jtw1216 · Nov 25, 2013

I agree with all the opinions here. My reason for rooting is performance with battery life, & to customize it to my tastes.

Kelmar · Nov 26, 2013

I concur, I refuse to buy a phone until it's able to be rooted.

However I NEVER recommend anyone else root their phone until they do research about it on their own. What's right for me isn't right for everyone. There are inherent "risks" that are taken by rooting and jumping into it blindly (as I did the first time I rooted) can be quite a headache.

Ask questions, that's what we're all here for.

Root [T-Mobile] Galaxy S4 for T-mobile, to root or not to root

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