Do the non-Verizon Pixels sold by Best Buy have unlockable bootloaders, or is it safer to buy direct from Google?

    Blastoidea Do the non-Verizon Pixels sold by Best Buy have unlockable bootloaders, or is it safer to buy direct from Google?

    I don't know. At one point there was worrisome fine print on Best Buy's 6a web page saying that once you activate with a carrier the phone will be locked. That scared me off. It's still there if you click on one of the little circle-i buttons:

    Carrier
    Verizon, AT&T or Sprint
    Choose your preferred carrier and we'll connect this device to your account, or help you create a new one. Once it's activated, it's locked to that carrier (Note: Your carrier may be able to unlock your phone upon request).

    That's when I went to the Google store. I think in the U.S. the Google store definitely sells unlocked Pixels. I would not buy from anybody else without a clear written guarantee.

    Maybe the Best Buy text means you can buy Verizon-locked or AT&T-locked phones if you want to? But those phones are locked before activation, so if that's what they mean they aren't writing accurate text, so I'll stay away.

      Also consider ebay. I've seen some great deals there. I bought mine there.

      I think we are using the words “lock/unlock” to mean two entirely different things, which is unfortunate.

      I am not asking if the phones are carrier locked, but if the bootloader can be unlocked in order to install GrapheneOS.

      Sorry if I have caused confusion.

      • de0u replied to this.

        Blastoidea I am not asking if the phones are carrier locked, but if the bootloader can be unlocked in order to install GrapheneOS.

        I'm not actually sure, but I think it's plausible that all carrier-locked Pixels also have locked bootloaders. That's why Best Buy talking about carrier activation resulting in carrier locking steered me away.

            de0u
            Thanks.

            I wil not buy a carrier-locked phone, nor will ever buy a phone from a carrier.

              Blastoidea The 'Unlocked' version model number from BestBuy is the same one from the Google store. As long as you buy the 'Unlocked' model you will be able to unlock the bootloader without issues.

              Note - BestBuy offers 4 versions (Unlocked, AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon)

                  Magook The 'Unlocked' version model number from BestBuy is the same one from the Google store. As long as you buy the 'Unlocked' model you will be able to unlock the bootloader without issues.

                  Assuming you've done so, can you say roughly when and report the Best Buy SKU?

                    Blastoidea I purchased a Pixel 6 from Best Buy because FedEX stole the Pixel 6 I ordered from the Google Store. The Best Buy phone was the Google version and has an un-lockable boot loader. I'm running Graphene on it.

                      All I can attest to is that a while back I purchased my Galaxy Note8 at BB as a pricey unlocked phone. Now at that time I knew nothing about OEM and bootloader (actually still don't),but all I know is I purchased a new phone as "unlocked." Today, I go look and there is no option for OEM. That said, I have Verizon. So I cannot say whether or not BB sold me the phone as Network unlocked or that at the time, the phone was also bootlegged unlocked. In other words, did Verizon lock the phone? I don't know.

                      Got my 6a @ BB last summer and no issues getting GOS up and running on it.

                      • [deleted]

                      • Post #13

                      So I took a trip over to xda to check on bootloader unlocking.

                      The Verizon variant will never have the ability unlock the bootloader.

                      AT&T and T-Mobile will be able to unlock the bootloader once the device is paid off and carrier unlocked. I know with T-Mobile that if you purchase a device up front they will not carrier unlock unless the device has been active for 45 days.

                      Your best bet is to buy it from Google and or make sure best buy actually sells the unlocked version.