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Edited March 20, 2024
at 10:38 PM
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https://www.bestbuy.com/site/sams...Id=6530811
S23 for $299
S23+ for $399
S23 ultra for $549
IMO great price for S23U
The VZW S23 is $50 more. VZW one unlocks after 60 days even if you cancel the account. For ATT read below for instant unlock.
1. There are two timelines for the cancellation. If you cancel a line before 3 days it was active then the activation fee is waived. If you cancel it within 14 days from activation under buyers remorse then no bill is charged but activation fees need to be paid. The line activates on right when you place the order not the day you receive the phone on hand so you might have to pay the activation fee of $35.
2. You can get a new number in a best buy store or you can use a tello number and port to ATT to do this all online but you would have to make sure porting is successful by going to
https://www.att.com/portstatus/.
3. You can use SIM swap method method to unlock the device.
4. When you receive the phone activate it on ATT with the SIM provided. Make sure it shows up on myATT app/in the web so ATT knows and registers the IMEI in the network. Then put the SIM in another unlocked phone, reboot, make some calls and make sure this unlocked phone is now showing under the line in app/web portal.
5. Now go to ATT unlock portal
https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/ and then choose not an ATT customer and use the IMEI of s23 and submit an unlock request.
6.Confirm the unlock request email and receive the unlock code.
7. Only cancel the line after you have unlocked the phone.
Then after unlocking if you are feeling adventurous and want to flash the phone to an unlocked firmware to get rid of ATT bloat you can follow these steps. It's actually very easy to do with Odin.
1. There are many models of s23U but in US two models are imp. S918U is carrier locked version and S918U1 is the unlocked US version. The firmware for these versions are interchangeable so you can flash the ATT model with S918U1 firmware.
2. Download patched odin v3.14.1_3B_PatchedD.zip from
https://xdaforums.com/t/patched-o...1.3762572/ as regular odin does not allow flashing mismatched firmware.
3. Download the firmware from S918U1 XAA version from
https://samfrew.com/firmware/mode.../Desc/0/10 Extract as there will be multiple files.
4. Connect S23U to the windows PC. Make sure developer mode is turned on in the phone.
5 .Put s23u in download/recovery/odin mode. Power down. Press Volume up and down together and then press Volume up to go into recovery (a green screen would appear).
6. Start odin and then select different files for different categories and then start.
7, It should be now the US unlocked version.
Cancellation of the ATT account and bill thereafter
== Will ATT send me a bill after the account is cancelled?
Firstly, keep the ATT buyers remorse policy handy when you talk to them. See
https://www.att.com/wireless/return-policy/ click on "Consumer and Signature Customer Program Devices and Accessories" and here are the policy terms
"Service Cancellations within 14 Days. You may call us at 800-331-0500 to cancel wireless service. You are responsible for all applicable fees, prorated access charges, taxes, surcharges, or other charges through the termination date. AT&T will refund your activation fee, if any, if service is terminated within 3 days of activation. The charges for service used on the account before the service termination date may be applied against any down payment."
ATT will send you a bill with the full amount even after you cancel your account so you have to do couple of things to get rid of charges.
1. When you open the bill in myATT app/att website there will be something called "Don't recognize this fee" under the activation. You can click on it to get rid of a activation fee. This is an instant and automatic credit. Also this works even if you cancelled the account after 3 days.
2. Chat with CS to get rid of rest of the charges. Make sure to not fall for credit in the next bill/adjusted in the next bill, Be polite but persistent that you want charges to be credited now. Bring up the policy if you have to.
See
https://slickdeals.net/f/17327499-oneplus-nord-n30-5g-128gb-unlocked-chromatic-gray-cph2513-best-buy-0 recent interactions with ATT CS.
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Believe it or not, that type of gaming is tracked and no one will be able to fix that for you.
Ex-AT&T employee.
PS: If you don't care, that's fine. But If you do, then you should be aware of this and pick your deals carefully.
Also s24 have similar att offers through best buy for +$100 to $150
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If you mean by calling in frequently, every decision is typically noted in the account.
So, if you call and one rep says "no" to an unlock and documents a reason, then chances are every CS rep afterwards will read that decision and uphold it.
So, you can keep calling and see if you get lucky, but I wouldn't get my hopes up.
(Ex-att employee)
4. When you receive the phone activate it on ATT with the SIM provided. Make sure it shows up on myATT app/in the web so ATT knows and registers the IMEI in the network. Then put the SIM in another unlocked phone, reboot, make some calls and make sure this unlocked phone is now showing under the line in app/web portal.
5. Now go to ATT unlock portal https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/ and then choose not an ATT customer and use the IMEI of s23 and submit an unlock request.
So as per these guidelines : You register the phone on ATT , then use the ATT sim on another unlocked phone (so that it registers that phone on ATT network ?) and then request an unlock request ?
So basically the new original Samsung phone will be like its not on ATT network ?
4. When you receive the phone activate it on ATT with the SIM provided. Make sure it shows up on myATT app/in the web so ATT knows and registers the IMEI in the network. Then put the SIM in another unlocked phone, reboot, make some calls and make sure this unlocked phone is now showing under the line in app/web portal.
5. Now go to ATT unlock portal https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/ and then choose not an ATT customer and use the IMEI of s23 and submit an unlock request.
So as per these guidelines : You register the phone on ATT , then use the ATT sim on another unlocked phone (so that it registers that phone on ATT network ?) and then request an unlock request ?
So basically the new original Samsung phone will be like its not on ATT network ?
However, I seem to get stuck on step 4 because using a different phone that is unlocked, I couldn't get ATT to see my Samsung S20 unlocked phone. I did send some text and make calls to try and get the network to register a different device, but nothing has changed on my ATT's online account (I used web, not app). It still shows Samsung S23 on my account's Home dashboard (two places: left and center). Manually changing the device to another device that I have when going under "Refresh my connection" doesn't seem to work either (and actually using the referesh my connection).
Update: I downloaded myAT&T app to my S20 phone and it actually sees S20 and not S23. I'm going to go with that the website is slow to update. Going to continue on with OP's steps to see where I get.
6.Confirm the unlock request email and receive the unlock code.
#6: After putting in the request, it says up to 24 hours is given to confirm the unlock request in the email they sent that you've entered in for the unlock. I think within 24 hours should be emphasized before the device unlock request expires.
Thanks to gadgetNerd, I successfully unlocked the S23. The unlock request was processed within 1 minute with another email sent with the unlock code.
4. When you receive the phone activate it on ATT with the SIM provided. Make sure it shows up on myATT app/in the web so ATT knows and registers the IMEI in the network. Then put the SIM in another unlocked phone, reboot, make some calls and make sure this unlocked phone is now showing under the line in app/web portal.
5. Now go to ATT unlock portal https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/ and then choose not an ATT customer and use the IMEI of s23 and submit an unlock request.
So as per these guidelines : You register the phone on ATT , then use the ATT sim on another unlocked phone (so that it registers that phone on ATT network ?) and then request an unlock request ?
So basically the new original Samsung phone will be like its not on ATT network ?
Yup and then you cancel the line.
#5: Going to https://www.att.com/deviceunlock/ does not have "choose not an ATT customer". It's actually click on "Start an unlock request" button under "Device unlock request" section. Once you click on that button, the question is: "Do you have a mobile number from AT&T" and you are asked to select Yes or No. In the interest of unlocking, you must select "No" to reveal IMEI box. There, you can enter in the IMEI of the S23 (get the IMEI by going into the Settings and search for IMEI) and a checkbox regarding legal info about device unlocking.
#6: After putting in the request, it says up to 24 hours is given to confirm the unlock request in the email they sent that you've entered in for the unlock. I think within 24 hours should be emphasized before the device unlock request expires.
Thanks to gadgetNerd, I successfully unlocked the S23. The unlock request was processed within 1 minute with another email sent with the unlock code.
Yes that's right. I had those instructions not in the literal sense but for general direction of doing that as someone who does not have ATT number. But feel free to update the wiki with more detailed steps.
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In any case, I've been w/ Verizon forever, have never seriously considered switching companies, but that's mostly out of complacency / lack of consideration for getting a better deal, which I'm now at least considering considering, lol. (I don't even know what the general opinion of Verizon is but I wouldn't be surprised if there's better services out there).
I'm really ignorant to a lot of this stuff so please excuse that.
In any case, I've been w/ Verizon forever, have never seriously considered switching companies, but that's mostly out of complacency / lack of consideration for getting a better deal, which I'm now at least considering considering, lol. (I don't even know what the general opinion of Verizon is but I wouldn't be surprised if there's better services out there).
I'm really ignorant to a lot of this stuff so please excuse that.
If you want to get an readily unlocked phone with low price then not. If you are with VZW and will continue to be then perhaps you can do the VZW but I just checked and I don't think the vzw base S23 is available anymore?
Edit: Am I the only who didnt notice it was for S23 series and not the S24? How is this even popular?
2. Download patched odin v3.14.1_3B_PatchedD.zip from https://xdaforums.com/t/patched-o...1.3762572/ as regular odin does not allow flashing mismatched firmware.
3. Download the firmware from S918U1 XAA version from https://samfrew.com/firmware/mode.../Desc/0/10 Extract as there will be multiple files.
4. Connect S23U to the windows PC. Make sure developer mode is turned on in the phone.
5 .Put s23u in download/recovery/odin mode. Power down. Press Volume up and down together and then press Volume up to go into recovery (a green screen would appear).
6. Start odin and then select different files for different categories and then start.
7, It should be now the US unlocked version.
Edit: Am I the only who didnt notice it was for S23 series and not the S24? How is this even popular?
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Seems like the instructions are referring to Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra (SM-S918U1) by the use of "S23U" in step 1. If one were to buy, say Samsung Galaxy S23+ (SM-S916U), one should be flashing S916U1 XAA version, or even a Samsung Galaxy S23 (SM-S911U), one should be flashing S911U1 XAA version. Am I correct on this?