Why your next cell phone should be unlocked

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	TOP STORY Why your next cell phone should be unlocked
	By Lincoln Spector Purchasing a smartphone from your cellular-service provider typically comes with all sorts of compromises, restrictions, and limitations. But an unlocked Nexus phone can eliminate many, if not all, of these problems.

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The full text of this column is posted at windowssecrets.com/top-story/why-your-next-cell-phone-should-be-unlocked/ (opens in a new window/tab).

Columnists typically cannot reply to comments here, but do incorporate the best tips into future columns.[/td]

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Hi Lincoln,

Very interesting reading this story – however if you log into your google play account from a PC, you can access the MY APPS section and then install the apps to your individual phone(s) or tablet(s) providing you have already set your account up on that device. It is much easier doing it from a PC with a full sized keyboard and screen

Happy Holidays,
Phil.

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I purchased the same phone from Google but I had a very different experience with Verizon. I have the Verizon Pre-Paid plan and two trips to my corporate store in Florida were a total waste of time. Even after discussing this with Verizon customer and tech support via phone the store was not able to activate a sim. I ended going to a local independent phone repair store where for no charge they cut my sim down to the smaller size. That worked fine. Verizon really needs to get their act together about supporting unlocked phones they do not sell.

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‘Why your next cell phone should be unlocked’
More like an advertisement for Nexus.

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’Why your next cell phone should be unlocked’
More like an advertisement for Nexus.

And kinda like and ad for NOT buying an unlocked phone. IMHO

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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I also purchased the Nexus 6P and had the same positive experience with my local Verizon store providing and activating a new nano-SIM card at no cost.

With respect to the USB C port, it supports OTG, although it is USB 2.0 only. You should have also received a short USB C male to USB 2.0 A female cable with the phone. You can plug a thumb drive into that and use it as extra memory, with some restrictions. Apps like Nexus Media Importer will allow you to access music, pictures, etc from the USB memory without rooting the phone. If you root your phone (I did, but not everyone should – you need to know what you are doing), the StickMount app will allow you to use memory on external devices as if it were an SD card. Kingston makes a tiny USB 3.0 flash drive with both USB C and USB A connectors – the 64GB version sells for about $25 on Amazon. It plugs directly into the Nexus 6P port and I can attest that it works just fine with both the apps I mentioned.

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I offer a comment on the “wet finger” failure to unlock. A similar problem occurred with my small biometric safe, I’d just washed my hands and my print was not recognized. The solution: When setting up the prints to recognized, include a print of a “just washed” finger along with the more normal prints.

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Hi Lincoln,

It is much easier doing it from a PC with a full sized keyboard and screen

Happy Holidays,
Phil.

Yeah, I say that everyday

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Seems that you need to “go Nexus” purely because of the need to know that Android will be updated.

But if instead of merely being unlocked from your telecommunications company you could also be unlocked from your operating system perhaps there would be more ports of non-Apple, non-Android, non-Windows operating systems. (Thinking Ubuntu Touch, FirefoxOS etc.)

Then we could control what gets put on the computer in our pocket. If we can do so for our laptops and desktops why not for our phones?

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Best of greetings, Lincoln !

THANKS so very much for this insightful and informative article. I have been seriously considering a Nexus 5x (I prefer the smaller model footprint). I will likely make the move but I have been reluctant and “dragging my feet” because of the USB-C. I do understand that because of the benefits, over time USB-C will (slowly) become the standard. Like so many others, I currently have several devices that use and charge via a micro USB. I have several chargers at home, at work, in my vehicles and also portable chargers that all have cables with Micro USB. I have been reluctant to make the move to a Nexus 5x at the thought of having to replace all those, etc. Most (but not all) of those have USB 2.0 to Micro USB removable cables.

My specific question that I could use some help with is if you know of a source(s) for either inexpensive Micro USB to USB-C adapters –and/or– USB 2.0 to USB-C cables?? I’d prefer small inexpensive Micro USB to USB-C adapters, then I could just put one on the end of my existing USB 2.0 to Micro USB cables and that solves the problem, while also retaining the same USB 2.0 to Micro USB cable for use with my other devices that will still require Micro USB.

Any advice and/or assistance with this question/need would be greatly appreciated!!!

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I know many will sigh, but, unlocked Nokia windows phones are way cheaper, have SD Card slots, and are super reliable. It’s what I tried two years ago, and I’ve not looked back. If I would ever desire an Android phone, I would shop around for the above features. Blu phones seem to fit that profile.

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You can get micro-usb to usb-C adapters at Amazon to convert the chargers and cables you already have to work with the Nexus 6P/5X…they just charge/transfer at the old, slower, rates.

I picked up a half dozen for my wife and I to use in the car or at my desk, etc. Anywhere that you don’t necessarily need speed. I use the supplied quick charger in the kitchen where I primarily charge my phone and the super short transfer cable at my desk.

I’ve used the D & K ones from here with no issues so far:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B011SVP0V8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00

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Why your next cell phone should be unlocked

I had the same experience with the Nexus 5. If it can be avoided always buy an unlocked phone so you do not have al of the bloatware
installed by the carrier. I went from the Nexus 5 which unfortunately had poor battery life to the Galaxy S6. I bought the Verizon
version which was unlocked, but it would not work with the AT&T network so Best Buy sold me the one which was a locked phone.
Compared to the clean google phone there were 70 or so extra apps that could not be removed without jailbreaking it. From what I
understand one can not buy a pure android unlocked Samsung Galaxy S6. So I bought an unlocked iPhone 6S. What a relief!
I am in the car a lot and use the GPS so even the Galaxy S6 had not very good battery life. The iPhone is much better.

When going from the Nexus 5 to the S6 I had to get a cutter to trim the SIM as well. The company I work for is rigid about what phone they
give us so getting a new SIM for the S6 was not going to happen. What they do not seem to realize is how poor the phone that they provided is,
so many of us went rogue and figured a way around their trivialities.

I would still be using the Nexus 5 if not for the battery life and Google gave me 2 replacements and still the same problem. But as you stated
Google has a pretty good way of transferring apps to a new phone. However Apple’s iTunes beats them all. Back up your old iPhone to your computer then restore it on your new iPhone and voila! I like the fact that Apple has a controlled environment and most of the shady players if not all of them are rooted out of the app store, whereas in the Google android space you never really know.

Bottom line if I have to get an android phone despite the Nexus 5 problem, I will go Google phone pure android.

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Why your next cell phone should be unlocked

I would still be using the Nexus 5 if not for the battery life and Google gave me 2 replacements and still the same problem.

I’ve had my Nexus 5 since they first came out. Yes, the battery life was poor and only got worse as the battery wore out.

I will only buy a pure Android phone, so was looking forward to the new version based on the rumor mill leading up to the unveiling of the 5x and 6P on 9/29.

However, my battery was deteriorating so much that by August, I had to keep it on charger nearly all the time. Off charger, I was lucky if it would work 2 hours and it would often just go from 40% battery to zero and shut down. So not very reliable or useful.

Since the new Nexus phones had not been unveiled yet, I had to do something and in early September decided to change the battery in the Nexus 5 (even though it is a technically non-removable battery). I picked up a new battery on eBay for maybe $9 or so and followed the instructions on Youtube to effect the change. It was fairly easy and everything worked fine afterwards.

Now the battery performance was much better but still wasn’t that great, especially if you listened to internet radio on the phone like I do.

When I saw the new Nexus phones, I was less than impressed. The 6P was too big, had only 3GB RAM and the 810 CPU (even the V2 model) seems to have overheating problems leading to almost constant throttling when any load is put on it) while the 5x was only marginally improved over the Nexus 5 (same 2GB RAM, only a 400mAh bigger battery, no 64GB memory choice and a slightly larger screen but with a lower pixel density than the Nexus 5). So I was on the fence about replacing the Nexus 5.

Then in early October, about a week after the new Nexus phone unveiling, Marshmallow/Android 6.0 was downloaded to my phone. I was almost immediately blown away by the improvements in battery life! Now my Nexus 5 easily lasts a whole day without seeing the charger, no matter what I throw at it.

So I have decided to stay with the Nexus 5 and see what Google comes out with next year (or perhaps some other manufactures will jump on the pure Android bandwagon).

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Very good article. I have a Nexus 6P too with T-Mobile. Works fine so far. 32GB is enough for me. The size is almost identical to the Iphone 6plus and fits in my jeans front pocket. But yes, it’s a big phone (phablet).

I would add that the fingerprint reader works well with Lastpass on the Nexus 6P. A nice way to get at your passwords with your fingerprint. So memorizing a bunch of password stuff is not required. Lastpass will ask you for your fingerprint to log in and you can set it up to force another fingerprint to look at any particular site’s password.

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Nice article, Lincoln.

My Verizon iPhone 6 was sold to me unlocked by Verizon. When travelling in other parts of the world, we simply remove our Verizon Sim cards, tape them to the back of the phone, and install locally purchased ones. It works terrific and is very inexpensive to gain local phone and data access. In the USA, Verizon works well for us.

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I’m confused…
I thought that SIM cards were installed in cell phones that use the GSM network (i.e. AT&T and T-Mobile) but not in CDMA phones (i.e. Verizon and Sprint).

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Deciding against trimming the card with scissors… where’s your American gumption? Faced with the same problem I hacked my old amaysim (Optus Singtel) SIM card down to size with scissors and it just worked! Lots of tutorials online, e.g. http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-trim-your-sim-to-iphone-5-nano-sim-size/

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Deciding against trimming the card with scissors… where’s your American gumption? Faced with the same problem I hacked my old amaysim (Optus Singtel) SIM card down to size with scissors and it just worked! Lots of tutorials online, e.g. http://www.cnet.com/how-to/how-to-trim-your-sim-to-iphone-5-nano-sim-size/

You get trays to go back to a bigger sim and it works great

http://www.amazon.com/Cutter-Aerb-Standard-iPhone-Adapters/dp/B009P16FKY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1448589699&sr=8-1&keywords=nano+trimmer

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Timmer, the iPhone 5 and all subsequent iPhones are unlocked. I do the same thing with an old 5, switching SIM’s and keep a $3/month T-Mobile SIM in it for utility when not traveling. My major service is a company iPhone 6 on Verizon. Useful combo!

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Why am I reading an article about a Google Nexus 6P phone on Windows Secrets? I have both Android Asus Zenfone 2 (Personal) and Windows Lumia 925 (Work) phones but I don’t come to Windows secrets to read about Android. I recently upgraded my Lumia 925 to Windows 10 and it is the best phone experience I have ever had. Microsoft was late to the smart phone game but they by far have the best platform on the market and I have had iPhones for work as well. I only have the Zenfone 2 (unlocked) because there are a few apps that I need that aren’t available on Windows. If someone ports the apps, I’ll ditch the Zenfone in favor of the Windows Platform. You should point out how Verizon won’t allow unlocked Windows phones on their network, one reason I would never use them for a carrier….. Waiting on the 950XL to be released so I can upgrade my work phone…….

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Microsoft was late to the smart phone game but they by far have the best platform on the market and I have had iPhones for work as well. I only have the Zenfone 2 (unlocked) because there are a few apps that I need that aren’t available on Windows. If someone ports the apps, I’ll ditch the Zenfone in favor of the Windows Platform. You should point out how Verizon won’t allow unlocked Windows phones on their network, one reason I would never use them for a carrier….. Waiting on the 950XL to be released so I can upgrade my work phone…….

Can you do a barebones back up on the win10 phone? Or how do you back it up. I have a friend who I helped in purchasing a smartphone using Cricket as the carrier. The phone was a win phone. For him I thought it was a better way to go rather than trying to learn android or iOS9. And it was very inexpensive.

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Why am I reading an article about a Google Nexus 6P phone on Windows Secrets?

I did not know that Microsoft had brought Windows Secrets recently!

Just because this site started out focusing on Windows, does not mean that they can’t branch out. Most of us use a variety of technologies from different vendors including Microsoft, Apple, various Linux/Unix manufacturers, Android, etc.

For the record, the last usage statistics I saw had Android phone usage at 83%, Apple at about 14% and Windows at about 3%. If they were to focus only on Windows cell phones, the vast majority of people here would probably say “why are you writing about Windows phones when so few people actually use them?”.

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And the Windows Secrets newsletter already reviewed its one Windows phone this decade.

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Hi Lincoln,
I agree it is wise to buy an unlocked cell phone, and I always have, because I travel outside the US and use local SIM cards. However, with my last phone I ran into a glitch that annoyed me. I bought an unlocked used Samsung S3 that was advertised as “good for AT&T and t-mobile” (ie a GSM phone). I use t-mobile so figured it was fine. And it is, except for one thing: it was originally an AT&T branded phone, and it will not and cannot be enabled as a wifi hotspot. I’ve taken it to the t-mobile store, and they confirmed.
all the best
Hilary

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it was originally an AT&T branded phone, and it will not and cannot be enabled as a wifi hotspot. I’ve taken it to the t-mobile store, and they confirmed.
all the best
Hilary

Have you tried 3rd party apps?

:cheers:

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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Have you tried 3rd party apps?

:cheers:

Yes, I found 2-3 in Google Playstore, and googled around for advice, and nothing worked.

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Yes, I found 2-3 in Google Playstore, and googled around for advice, and nothing worked.

The folk here http://www.howardforums.com/forums.php are very knowledgeable, you might post a question there.

Just because you don't know where you are going doesn't mean any road will get you there.

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The fingerprint reader needs a bit of oil on your fingertip in order to “see” what’s on the other side of the glass; a washed and dried fingertip is nearly invisible. Rub your fingertip along the side of your nose, and you’ll find that it works just fine.

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	TOP STORY Why your next cell phone should be unlocked
	By Lincoln Spector Purchasing a smartphone from your cellular-service provider typically comes with all sorts of compromises, restrictions, and limitations. But an unlocked Nexus phone can eliminate many, if not all, of these problems.

---

The full text of this column is posted at windowssecrets.com/top-story/why-your-next-cell-phone-should-be-unlocked/ (opens in a new window/tab).

Columnists typically cannot reply to comments here, but do incorporate the best tips into future columns.[/td]

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This is supposed to be a newsletter about Windows, not Android.

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This is supposed to be a newsletter about Windows, not Android.

A shame that you didn’t read the prior posts before spouting off, for you would find your concern had already been addressed. Sheeze.

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Up above I had stated that I was going to stick with my Nexus 5 phone. However, After Google dropped the 5X price by $80 on Black Friday, I decided to pick up the Nexus 5X 32GB for $349.

So far it is working nicely. In fact, there has already been an Android 6.x update to 6.0.1.

One caution I would give to others is that with both the power and volume buttons on the same (right) side of the phone, unless you have a big hand, you are going to have to use both hands to take a screenshot (Power + Lower volume buttons). Also this positioning of both power and volume buttons on the right phone side seems to indicate that the phone was designed mainly for right-handed people who tend to carry the phone in their left hands. You may also find that the volume button in the center of the phone is blocked by some holster type hard cases.

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