Pixel 4a models with unlockable bootloader

Remisc

Hi all,
I am aiming to purchase a suitable pixel 4a to install GrapheneOS
but I am having trouble finding one with unlockable bootloader.
I'd wager that people on this forum may be more informed about which models are more or less likely to have that option available.
(Yes, I know 4a is on it's last leg and newer models are strongly encouraged. But 4a is a last small pixel with a jack and I am willing to compromise)

Basically when looking through the similar topics on this and other forums there are a few
takeaways when it comes to estimating chances of unlockable bootloader:

Verizon version: basically 0% chance, distributed most probably as part of G025J line
Not all G025J (US region) are non-unlockable - there are reports of many being fine
IMEI that starts with 35 is supposedly less likely to be unlockable
IMEI that starts with 99 is supposedly more likely to be unlockable

The question is are there any other indications?
I for example got a G025J from a Canadian distribution but it was not unlockable and I had to return it. (Tried updating, tried with or without internet, 2 different internet providers, with/without SIM, 2 sim operators, one from EU, one from Japan, waiting for a day: basically nothing worked and the "OEM unlocking" option stayed greyed-out)

There are for example G025N international models. Are there any indicators that would make some of them more or less likely to be unlockable? Counties of origin? IMEI numbers? Other markings on a box?, etc.

Anything That I could ask a seller short of unpacking , going through setup, connecting to the internet and checking in the dev options...

[deleted]

Remisc (Yes, I know 4a is on it's last leg and newer models are strongly encouraged. But 4a is a last small pixel with a jack and I am willing to compromise)

Completely off topic, but I was at the same point. Never wanted a phone without a headphone jack and never wanting a phone bigger than original Pixel. I went with 6a because its the smallest of the new phones. I compromised a lot, because I like headphone jack and notification LED and physical fingerprint scanner at the back.
With the new phone I realize that I like the GOS, I like the innards of the phone, but boy how I don't like anything related to physical appearance of the phone.
It is - for me - uselessly big, with stupid in display fingerprint reader (if you compare it to the OG Pixel) and I miss the headphone jack and notification LED. Those new Pixel phones are in my opinion worse in almost everything than previous generations. The phone is incredibly slippery. It happened twice already that it fall of the table because I put it on the slippery display. The protruding camera is also bad design. I wouldn't buy it again.
The problem can be for some, that there won't be any more options, if you want a phone from Google.

treequell

Remisc Why don't you buy one of latest Pixel phones and a set of USB-C headphones?

[deleted]

To the topic:

Remisc IMEI that starts with 35 is supposedly less likely to be unlockable

I know for sure that at least one Pixel 4a with IMEI starting 35 can be unlocked. The phone is from Germany. One person in my family use it.

Basically, I wouldn't buy a phone from a carrier. BTW when you tried to unlock the settings in developer options, did you have the security PIN on your phone set? I know that we had to confirm the PIN to turn on OEM Unlocking. I wouldn't try to search for any logic here, it's just something that you can try...
Second question, did you have a brand new phone or used? If it was not a brand new device, did you check the bootloader wasn't already unlocked?

Remisc

@treequell Because there are no small latest pixels, and usb-c headphones would mean I would actually need 2 pairs (one of my phone and one for my laptop without usb-c port).
Additionally there is much less USB-C heaphones available on the market to chose from.
On top of that USB-C is much less repairable. And I like to use my headphones until they die, then I usually prolong their life by changing the jack along with a few cm of a cable that stopped working due to repeated bending.

This thread isn't really about the "why I want 4a" but "how to buy 4a"

abcZ

Remisc Because there are no small latest pixels

This Pixel 6 pro feels pretty damned small to me. I wish they'd make them at least 1/4 inch wider (1/2 inch even better) so the OSK would work reasonably well for an adult male.

wonder75

Remisc

You don't need 2 pairs, because you could buy an adapter.
Standard Headphones -> Adapter Audio Jack -> Apapter -> Adapter USB-C jack -> Phone

So you can just remove the adapter when using a standard audio jack.
Repairing your cable would work too.

Remisc

abcZ I've had Xperia X for more than 4 years and I still feel it's too big - never got used to it.
For people that use a phone for content consumption / gaming bigger screen can be a godsend but when I use it mainly to communicate while having a PC with a big monitor at home the big phone is just an uncomfortable brick I have to haul around.

Honestly I am still missing my N900, sure it was thicker but man was it a joy to use. Sometimes when I need a backup phone and take it out I still feel it's not just nostalgia. This small form-factor with a stylus is just plain better for me. If it was usable in everyday life I'd still be using it.

So yeah, it's all subjective

[deleted]

Remisc when I use it mainly to communicate while having a PC with a big monitor at home the big phone is just an uncomfortable brick I have to haul around.

Nicely said. BTW N900 is also my backup phone.

abcZ

Remisc use it mainly to communicate

Unless its for voice only, communication includes typing things like emails, which is virtually impossible with an OSK unless its big enough to actually work.

Remisc

[deleted] BTW when you tried to unlock the settings in developer options, did you have the security PIN on your phone set?

No, I did not have a pin set. I didn't notice suggestions to have one set. Now that you mention it when unlocking bootloader on other devices it does ask for PIN. So maybe I returned it too soon.

[deleted] did you have a brand new phone or used

New, in box, and I checked if it was already unlocked in fastboot (besides I think there would have been a notice page during startup)

Remisc

[deleted] Basically, I wouldn't buy a phone from a carrier.

At this point the only people who are selling new 4a phones are some resellers that got leftover stock from unknown sources, maybe from carriers, maybe not, maybe from other resellers of resellers, etc. No Carrier that I know of is selling 4a directly.

Remisc

Remisc No, I did not have a pin set. I didn't notice suggestions to have one set. Now that you mention it when unlocking bootloader on other devices it does ask for PIN. So maybe I returned it too soon.

I found this video of 4a being unlocked right after initial setup without a pin set:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkxzA7av-iU
so either that's a requirement only on some models or it was not a factor.

But I will check the PIN theory if I get another problematic 4a

[deleted]

Remisc
I meant carrier locked, but phrased it badly:-)
Good luck.

Remisc

abcZ
For emails longer than a few sentences I do use a PC. Even if the screen were bigger it wouldn't really fix any other issues. OSK taking a bit too much space on a smaller phone is nothing next to lack of external tools for tables, quick clipboard access, easy internet referencing while typing, managing and signing documents to attach, or just having half-a-dozen documents opened at a time, etc...

While it's possible that bigger phone would be less torturous it's just plain more convenient to use proper tool for a given job.

abcZ

Remisc Yes obviously use the better tool when circumstances permit, which is not all of the time. So yes, "less torturous" is the key :)

Remisc

wonder75

Yes, of course I could start using adapters, but that's a compromise that I am not will to take.
If I were willing then I'd buy the pixel 5 with adapters which has only a few months of additional support over 4a after which I'd be left with both no support or a jack. All newer pixels are too big to even consider.

Also: Respectfully please, I know that jack vs no jack and small vs big phone discussion is something that many people are passionate about, but can we stop this off-top? I think I made it clear that I am not here to ask about what phone to chose, I already made that decision after considering downsides of 4a.
What I would like to hear about is but how to make an informed purchase of 4a that could yield me a grapheneOS enabled device.

abcZ

As long as it wasn't purchased from VERIZON, it should be unlockable.
If you're worried about it, put a condition in the sale's contract, or buy it from somewhere you can inspect and unlock it before walking out with it.

Remisc

abcZ That's what I was hoping for when I bought the phone I had to return.
It was not marked in any way that would indicate verizon, had a sticker that said something about being imported to Canada, it did not have a US charger in a box, about>legal information also didn't mention verizon. I'd say those are strong indicators of not being verizon phone.

I agree that phones not purchased from verizon have the best chance but the one I got didn't seem to be and still was not unlockable so I'd say not to be that optimistic.
That, or I did something wrong when checking, or that magical server that the phone supposedly needs to call before enabling that option was somehow unavailable.

Does anyone of you know what that server URL is? Maybe one of you bothered to put a packet sniffer in between your device and the gateway when unlocking...

Remisc

I got a second 4a, brand new, sealed in box.
This time unlocking a bootloader was not an issue.

It is from a German google store
G025N model
IMEI starts with: 35960677
I did not have to insert a sim
I did not have to login to google
I did not set a PIN
I refused all tracking and completed the initial setup offline
I did not install any security patches (the phone was on Android 11 out of a box)
Right after setting up and enabling dev options the oem unlock was greyed out
It became toggle-able within 10 seconds of connecting to wifi (after which I could immediately switch to bootloader and run fastboot flashing unlock)