Samsung: No longer unlockable on One UI 8

horde

https://github.com/melontini/bootloader-unlock-wall-of-shame/blob/main/brands/samsung/README.md

grayway2

horde sounds bad for the Pixel 10 series

spl4tt

Samsung doesn't really matter on this forum and isn't really any related to our phones at all. Just because Pixels used exynos chips until now, doesn't automatically mean samsung sucking more will apply to our device as well.

One month to go, and we'll see.

grayway2

spl4tt You don't understand. If Samsung will sell its future devices with a non unlockable bootloader then it might be also the choice of Google.

We must be ready to hear something like " bootloader will be locked starting Android 16 QPR1 or Android 17 on all our eligible Pixel devices "

de0u

grayway2 You don't understand. If Samsung will sell its future devices with a non unlockable bootloader then it might be also the choice of Google.

I don't follow this.

Google had unlockable bootloaders after Apple did not.

Fairphone had unlockable bootloaders with relocking after Samsung had unlockable bootkoaders without relocking.

Some things get worse, some things get better. Sometimes a bunch of things get worse together, sometimes a bunch of things get better together, sometimes some things get better while others get worse.

Apple Macs got better for a lot of years in a row, then they got worse ("Performa"), then they got better for a while, then they got thinner and thinner and sillier for a while, now they are better.

Starling Bank's app worked on GrapheneOS, then they blocked it on GrapheneOS, then they deliberately decided to support GrapheneOS. Then it quit working and then they fixed it.

Does "understanding" mean predicting that any negative event will be followed by more negative events without any positive events ever?

phone-company

grayway2 thougt same... I think this is the future.... :(

IcyScroll

I guess our hope for Samsung to stop crippling their hardware security features after flashing a different OS just got the final nail in the coffin. What a shame. So much potential. Wasted... For what?

grayway2

de0u Why are we even talking about Apple in the first place ?

Fairphone does not really count on the market. They barely sell 100 000 units per year.

Samsung is close to 1/4 of South Korea GDP and second in worldwide smartphone market share.

I do believe that its decision has hugh impact and influence on Google.

Don't forget that Google already removed device trees of Pixels. The decision of Samsung was maybe the last green light that they were waiting to do what they were planning to do since the beginning (put an end on alternative operating systems)

I don't expect anything good from Google in the future.

andrej567

de0u

then they got worse ("Performa")

Performa was not that bad imho,
the first G3's with usb and pci, the first with round colored design, around 2000, these were very unstable.
so long ago

Leafy

grayway2
I'm glad I'm reading your comment now... I'm about to buy a used Pixel and install GOS, but I have looked at other options too, and some Samsung devices seemed pretty good... as long as I can get rid of stock Android and keep the device and my data safe at the same time.
One issue was actually that the bootloader cannot always be re-locked after installation. That compromises the security of the device, right?

Graphene seems to be the most convenient and advanced of all the various options, hence my interest in it. I just discovered /e/ OS. Promising at first glance, but the list of officially supported devices isn't very impressive.

Sigismund

grayway2 Samsung is close to 1/4 of South Korea GDP and second in worldwide smartphone market share.

I do believe that its decision has hugh impact and influence on Google.

GDP matters how exactly here? They sell everything including a fridge and a kitchen sink.

As for their moves affecting google, youre wrong. They target a different market with this decisions, namely corporate clients and/or gov clients.

de0u

Leafy I just discovered /e/ OS. Promising at first glance, but the list of officially supported devices isn't very impressive.

https://discuss.grapheneos.org/d/24422-recommendation-on-tablet/12

Leafy

de0u
Thanks!
To be very honest, I'm not completely comfortable with /e/ OS, but it is an idea. Divest OS is discontinued, Lineage OS never had the reputation of being particularly secure/private. So what else is there other than Graphene? I'm not an experienced Linux user.
And if Graphene, which device? Looking at all the regularly reported various issues with most Pixels, which makes me want to hedge my bets and spend as little as possible ( honestly... a lot of things can change in seven years, including regulations and support for alternative OS on Pixels, and a Pixel with stock Android is not at all attractive to me). This is not to say I wouldn't like the idea of a new(er) Pixel... but there are these uncertainties, and even a used 6th or 7th generation device may work. Looking at prices of used Pixels, I won't get my hopes up about the price of 9th gen devices dropping much after the 10th gen is released soon.

grayway2

Leafy What else is there other than Graphene ? Nothing. If you want real privacy and the highest security GrapheneOS is the only choice you have.

Which device ?

If you are low on budget, a used Pixel 6 or 6a is fine.

The most interesting are for me the 8 and the 8 pro if you want to keep your phone for a long time.

The best are the 9, 9 pro and the 9 pro XL but also the most expensive right now. As you know, prices could go down once the 10 series will be available so it's worth to wait a little longer.

Leafy

grayway2
The problems seem to be the worst with 6th and 7th gen devices, but the low price of the 6a may still convince me. Not a huge loss if it fails. 8th gen ones are still way too expensive for me to take any risks with them, but I'll definitely wait until the release of the 10th gen and see prices then. 9th gen will still be too expensive I think. For context, I have never owned a phone that had issues reported about the Pixels. Sure, I used stock Android (bad), but the hardware was always solid (good).

Usually I would love the long support, BUT .... things are changing fast in the world and Pixels also have these issues, so I honestly wouldn't expect a 9th or 10th gen device to last with full Graphene support at least until support ends. I have no idea what I myself will be doing then or whether my preferences/needs will change to be honest.

My phone use is pretty simple, I just need a decent device that works as a phone and doesn't compromise my privacy and data security.