Carrier config

[Flipper7]

If you buy an unlocked phone from Samsung does your Carrier change the build or lock down your phone some how my model number changed as well as build number just curious if I got hacked or what I also have over 300 pre-installed apps now is this normal. If not what can I do

[Jeremiechasse28]

ummm well depends, did you buy a Samsung Unlocked Z Flip or a carrier version/device? Because even if you buy from Samsung, if you chose carrier version rather then the samsung unlocked model, it will be model ending with U but a Samsung unlocked model will end with U1...many ppl get confused thinking buying from Samsung but carrier variant still means unlocked

[Flipper7]

I bought an unlocked model from samsung

[Flipper7]

It's even registered the day I bought it as a sm-731UZAAXAA

[Jeremiechasse28]

okay, well in that case when you put in the SIM, it may ask to switch certain things like a restart to make it compatible for the SIM or carrier, which ultimately just turns on or off certain LTE 5G bands that the carrier use or don't as opposed to unlocked it has all the bands automatically but they do have a little bit of control on the I guess you can say software settings a bit as they limit or the phone only gives the options that are conformed with the carrier, but I mean usually the model number and the build number well the model shouldn't change, but the build number may appear different in certain parts of it every now and then as every firmware is a different build but you should have the same continuous ending part of it and model number like I myself and running a T-Mobile s22 S901U carrier locked to T-Mobile, but for the beta and stuff the only way I made it eligible was I used HOME_CSC on Odin with the unlocked firmware and flashed it over which turned my model number into S901U1 and made me eligible to get the beta even though on the Samsung app it's still shown under the devices info tab as a S901U, wasn't very hard or long as long as I use that above CSC to keep all my settings and files but yeah that's honestly the only way to change your model number from ending with U or U1 is The flash different firmware, so yeah if your build number or model number got changed otherwise then that I would be wondering how technically

[DanG92263]

It is my understanding, that carriers can flash your phone to match their phone varient so that you can take advantage of all their network features, which would update the model number to match and would lock you into their network and add their carrier specific apps.

[LongHiker]

@Flipper7 In my experience with AT&T, this does not happen. The phone model number remains a U1 and no carrier apps are loaded. It does set the update server and other network information to point to AT&T. 

[vetthees]

No I purchased mine unlocked. Just put in my old sim card. Same carrier