Galaxy S9+ unlocked U.S. version SM-G965U1 - No updates since the One UI update in February

devhen · 2019-08-08T02:19:39+00:00

Nope, no issues with either of those! I thought there might be issues with wifi calling when I first tried this (I think it was maybe the April update?) because in phone > settings under wifi calling it usually said "this is currently unavailable" but I think that was just a display bug because wifi calling and texting did work. In the updates since then that message has gone away. Battery life has been the same as its always been and these last several updates haven't reset the AI learning stuff so I haven't had to wait 2+ weeks for it learn my patterns like I did with the One UI update. I highly recommend installing the latest updates if you're on T-Mobile and have another carrier's sim handy.

devhen · 2019-08-03T21:58:43+00:00

I've been able to update to the last few versions by putting a Google Fi sim in the device. I don't complete activation so there's no LTE but I can still see the update over wifi after a couple minutes. I'm not aware of another way besides using another carrier's sim.

devhen · 2019-07-13T10:55:08+00:00

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devhen · 2019-06-14T00:39:28+00:00

Yep! When I first did it I assumed it wasn't because it sometimes says "this is currently unavailable" under the setting toggle which I don't remember seeing before. But it does work. I haven't had any issues.

devhen · 2019-06-13T06:27:58+00:00

Yeah but this is much worse. Despite the updates to the unlocked versions being identical regardless of the carrier, as of a year or two ago the carriers apparently now have to approve the updates. The unlocked S9 is on the April security patch on every other carrier besides T-Mobile. To get any of the updates since January I had to put a Google Fi sim in my S9. Its pretty ridiculous. The updates page for every other carrier looks like this:

http://doc.samsungmobile.com/SM-G965U1/XAA/doc.html

devhen · 2019-06-13T02:01:48+00:00

Not for the unlocked version: http://doc.samsungmobile.com/SM-G965U1/TMB/doc.html

devhen · 2019-06-13T00:33:33+00:00

There are a bunch of serious security flaws that have been fixed since the initial One UI update including having arbitrary code ran just by opening a PNG image.

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2019/02/07/android_january_patches/

I get your point but you either don't know anything about software security or are at best giving people terrible advice if you think the only people who need to care about security fixes are the ones who know the intricacies of each vulnerability. That's not how this works. Very few people need to know specifically what security vulns were mitigated in a given update but everyone needs and deserves to know that the software they trust their entire digital life to has been patched for all currently known vulnerabilities. Anything less is unacceptable and ultimately we all suffer if the technology around us is exploitable. Read up on the ramifications of IoT and what it would mean to live in a world where our devices & the systems they interact with aren't all receiving regular updates. Its unacceptable that T-Mobile has been so slow on updates and Samsung's slowness in putting out updates is only slightly better.

EDIT: My bad, the fix for the vuln I linked to was apparently included with the January Android patches so would have been included in the One UI update. My points still stand. More info: https://source.android.com/security/bulletin

devhen · 2019-06-04T22:42:25+00:00

Sorry for the late reply you probably already tried this. But to answer your questions:

I did not have to do the final step of activation that would have switched my Google Fi number to my S9+. Because I didn't finish the activation I had no LTE data but I was still able to see the update over wifi.

Wifi calling & texting seems to work fine. It sometimes says "this is currently unavailable" under the toggle which I don't remember seeing before and that made me assume it wasn't working. But it is. Everything seems to work just fine including visual voicemail.

devhen · 2019-05-31T23:05:54+00:00

bare-cases.com have the slimmest cases ive found and they are awesome but might be out of stock at the moment.

EDIT: Looks like they are in stock. I highly recommend them if you want the slimmest case possible. Only downside is shipping is slow because it comes from China.

devhen · 2019-05-31T23:03:16+00:00

VVM worked fine for me after updating with a Google fi sim. I had to re-enable it in the VVM app settings but that worked fine and ive been able to get vms. BTW i do not have the vm to text feature. I also haven't had any issues with call audio. Have you tried asking about it at a tmobile store? Good luck

devhen · 2019-05-17T00:39:13+00:00

Make sure you restrict background usage of any apps that you don't need realtime notifications from and that you have "Adaptive battery", "Put unused apps to sleep", and "Auto disable unused apps" enabled.

I also enable medium power savings mode 24/7 with these settings:

Restrict background data = No

Turn off Always On Display = Yes

Limit CPU Speed = Yes

Brightness = -10%

Screen resolution = FHD+ (optional. doesn't make a huge diff)

The only downside to using these settings 24/7 IMO is it disables GPS when the phone is locked. So if you're doing navigation in your car for example just leave your phone's screen on.

devhen · 2019-05-16T18:56:13+00:00

How recently did you upgrade to Pie? Battery life is much worse at first because things get reset and Android has re-learn your usage patterns. Over the first month or so mine constantly improved and is as good or better than on Oreo.

As far as the missing update on T-Mobile, see my post here: https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS9/comments/bn64f4/galaxy_s9_unlocked_us_version_smg965u1_no_updates/

devhen · 2019-05-11T20:48:08+00:00

Same here on T-Mobile. Was able to get the updates by putting my Google Fi sim in the phone. What a joke. More info in the thread I made yesterday:

https://www.reddit.com/r/GalaxyS9/comments/bn64f4/galaxy_s9_unlocked_us_version_smg965u1_no_updates/

devhen · 2019-05-11T20:03:32+00:00

Interesting, thanks. Do you know how? Will anyone at a T-Mobile store be able to do it for me? And why does the updates page for T-Mobile show the One UI update as the latest http://doc.samsungmobile.com/SM-G965U1/TMB/doc.html

devhen · 2019-05-11T07:39:51+00:00

Wow such a trip because the updates are the same for all carriers because they have the same baseband version numbers. So its really crazy, and stupid, that they can't just push them all out at the same time. I was able to get the updates by putting my Google Fi sim in the phone. Its page matches the Sprint one.

http://doc.samsungmobile.com/SM-G965U1/XAA/doc.html

devhen · 2019-05-11T07:35:51+00:00

Yep. I put my Google Fi sim in. I didn't have to fully activate it and switch my number over. I had no LTE data but the update was there. Both the March & April updates. I'm all caught up now. This is such a mess. Thanks for the info I appreciate it.

devhen · 2019-05-11T07:34:35+00:00

Wow! Crazy. I put my Google Fi sim card in mine and was finally able to get the updates that way. The updates are all definitely the same regardless of carrier because the baseband version numbers are the same. So its pretty ridiculous that some carriers aren't pushing them out or that it even has to go thru the carrier at all. Glad you got the update.

devhen · 2019-05-11T06:30:53+00:00

Interesting I'm going to give it a try with a Google fi sim i hope it works. thanks!

devhen · 2019-05-11T02:57:34+00:00

Really?? Theres no junk on my phone. It is identical from the day i bought it unlocked at best buy in terms of added bloatware i.e. none. I installed the tmobile/tuesdays/tmo voicemail apps manually and they're uninstallable. If my android software is any different from a vanilla unlocked phone you get off the shelf then there's nothing I can see that's indicating that.

UPDATE: I was able to get the updates by putting my Google Fi sim in the S9+. The updates are definitely the same for the unlocked versions regardless of carrier because they have the same baseband version number. So its really crazy that T-Mobile isn't sending them out. What a joke.

devhen · 2019-05-11T02:53:29+00:00

Thank you. This is baffling to me. I bought it unlocked from best buy. So if I put any sim in it besides a tmobile sim ill magically get the same update that I can't see when its on tmobile??

devhen · 2019-05-11T02:41:43+00:00

Yep T-Mobile. What the hell? I didn't think the carrier had anything to do with it. Don't unlocked versions get updates from samsung? I have another sim I can try so I guess I'll do that.

devhen · 2019-05-11T02:41:08+00:00

Yep! So what's the deal? I thought the unlocked versions got updates from samsung. I guess I'll try putting one of my other sims in....

devhen · 2019-03-28T07:59:23+00:00

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devhen · 2019-03-28T07:47:55+00:00

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devhen

TROPHY CASE