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After Apple’s release of the iPhone X, tech geeks always thought Samsung would come up with something as explosive and grandiose as that of the iPhone X, and that everyone thought of phones that are “foldable” coming from Samsung.

The tech giant already admitted that they are far from making that possible on the Samsung S9, but we are still lowkey expecting something that spectacular is going to happen.

Nonetheless, Samsung S9 is still a commendable phone with commendable features. Looking at it at first glance would make you think it is just like its predecessors Samsung S7 or S8, but it is definitely a notch higher than these phones.

Who champs? S9 vis-a-vis S8

You are probably wondering whether you should upgrade to the S9 or if it’s better for you to just wait and save up for the much grander Android coming up later this year (who knows?). However, Samsung S9 is considerably one of the best phones available in the market today and it has the best specs we expect from a flagship so far.

The Samsung Galaxy S9 may look like only an upgraded version of the S8 but it has a more advanced and capable hardware, which can greatly help preserve the battery life, and it also has a more ergonomic design and user interface that adds convenience and character to the flagship phone.

However, if you don’t own an S8 or S8+ yet and you plan to own a Samsung flagship next, you are better advised to settle with the S8. With the S9 coming in the shelves to replace the S8, the prices are surely going to go down as service providers are sure to offer big discounts and deals on the previous flagship.

Also, an unlocked Samsung S8 is currently over a $100 less than the current price of the factory unlocked Samsung S9, and the price is surely going to go down a few more hundred bucks once the S9 takes off in the market and S8 is going to be replaced.

We will compare both of the phone models in the sections below to help you know just what you are letting go when you choose the S8 over the S9.

Design: S9

• Premium glass and metal build

• Minimalized curve bezels

• 5.8 inches for S9, 6.2 inches for S9+

• 3000mAh (same as S8)

For the design, we’d like to say S9 is the winner. Although they look just similar, the Samsung S9 is a combination of customer inputs from the previous S- series phones that the company had gathered over the years.

S9 still has a 5.8 inch Infinity Display, which is practically the same size with the S8, except that there’s a slight difference on how they designed it. The infinity display on the S8 goes edge-to-edge, that it is almost impossible not to accidentally press the screen and unknowingly open apps when you are merely just holding the phone. Although this design became a novelty with the S6 Edge, it was also quite annoying.

Samsung got the public’s message (3 years later) and that’s why they had changed how the Infinity Display on the S9 looks like. Technically, it is still edge-to-edge except that the curve on the sides is no longer part of the screen.

Samsung S9 looks like a typical 2017 phone; it’s bezel-less and gargantuan in size. We are not sure if the Samsung S9 design is going to be a trendsetter this year, since it’s the first flagship phone to come out this year.

Security

• Ergonomic Fingerprint Sensor

• Combined Iris Scanner and Face Unlock

Aside from the screen, the S9 also has a more ergonomic placement of the fingerprint sensor. You can easily reach for the fingerprint sensor and it works quite fast as well. We consider this a smart move from Samsung because Apple didn’t keep the Touch ID- which many iPhone fans didn’t like.

Samsung also tried to enhance their Face Unlock by combining the Iris Scanner, which they termed as the Intelligent Scanner . The intelligent scanner works in the same way as that of the iPhone Face Unlock, however, it uses two different biometric data simultaneously.

There were no issues about the Face Unlock with the Samsung S9 as it is smart enough to deny an unlock using a photo. The security seemed very perfectly tailored, the only caveat is that you can only unlock the phone at a certain angle as the phone needs to scan your irises clearly for it to unlock. Unlike the iPhone X which can unlock your phone from multiple angles, the Samsung S9’s Intelligent Scanner doesn’t have 360 degree view to detect your face from any angle.  

This results to a rather awkward and unnatural way of unlocking the phone, but we are hopeful that Samsung will be able to improve this feature on the upcoming models.

Display: S9- Slightly better

• 5.8-inch AMOLED (1440 x 2560)

• 5.8-inch OLED (1440 x 2560)

Samsung s9’s display is slightly better than that of the S8. It still has an AMOLED screen + HDR for better video quality- pretty much the same specs. The S9 also has a brighter screen and it performs better than its predecessor.

Audio: S9

• 3.5mm Headphone jack

• Front-facing speakers (not present on S8)

Samsung is keeping the headphone jack despite the ditch-the-headphone-jack trend that other phone manufacturers are doing.

Apple did it first and now phone manufacturers such as Sony are following the tracks and replacing the headphone jack with a USB type C of audio hub. That certainly doesn’t invite the audiophiles who loves immersive music they can only enjoy with a headphone. That’s one ball in the basket for the Samsung S9.

Also, Samsung S9 now has front-facing speakers which also improves the way sound gets out of the device.

Camera

• 12 MP sensor at the back

• Mechanical aperture shift f/2.4 and f/1.5 depending on the environment

• S9+ has two times optical zoom (similar to Note 8)

• Super slow motion 960fps (HDR)

The S9 also has an improved camera, with two different apertures that shifts mechanically depending on the light. That ensures you can have awesome images both in high and low light and especially useful such as when taking images at night.

Aside from mechanical aperture shift,  the Samsung S9 also has a super slow motion feature just like that of the Sony Xperia XZ Pro, and at 960 frames per second, you are sure to get awesome videos out of a mere second in your life.

It seemed like Samsung went all out with their camera this year, because the Samsung S9 also has two times optical zoom which is similar to last year’s flagship Galaxy Note 8. Combine these awesome features and you have an amazing camera phone that you can take with you day and night.

Hardware and Specs

• IP68 Water Resistant

• MicroSD Slot

• USB Type-C

• Snapdragon 845/ Exynos 8895 (Europe) way better than the S8

It’s no surprise that the Samsung S9 has an IP68 level of water resistance as what the previous models have. What’s surprisingly awesome this time is that Samsung S9 runs on the best chipset available to day, Snapdragon 845. The Samsung Galaxy S8 runs on a Snapdragon 835 headset, which as the numbers suggests, is a second-rate chipset compared to the new one.

The super fast chipset is expected to help the Samsung S9 save and manage its battery life for longer use. With an efficient chipset onboard, multitasking on this phone will not only be seamless, it will also be power efficient.

Software: S9

• Novelty: AR Emoji

• Enhanced Bixby

• 4GB RAM (S9); 6GB RAM (S9+)

• 64GB or 256GB ROM

• Android Oreo

Samsung may have been short of time when they created the AR Emoji as it clearly seemed like a rush development. It’s easy to assume this is how Samsung claps back on the Animoji of the iPhone X, but it wasn’t a bad try.

On the other hand, Samsung runs on Android Oreo, which is the latest version so far, and for that we give Samsung a thumbs up. Samsung S9 is also available on two different memory capacity versions 64GB or 256 GB and that means you can store a whole lot of data on this one.

While that is not a new thing, it’s sad to note that the Samsung S9 only has 4GB RAM, and only the S9+ has a 6GB RAM capacity. That’s a pretty clever marketing tactic right there, but we’re not sure if the Samsung S9+ can rely on that alone  to sell.

Takeaway

Although there was clearly no novelty on the Samsung S9, it is surely a sophisticated and convenient upgrade to that of its predecessors. Samsung finally applied the rules of constructive criticism among its flagship products, and they made the Samsung S9 almost infallible in every angle.

They can do better with the AR Emoji and the Intelligent scanner, though.

Among the common phone unlock errors is the “Invalid MMI Code Error”. This error happens rarely on other phone brands except the Samsung Galaxy series that are dual sim, or phones that can cater two different sim cards from two different networks at the same time.

Before we hop onto the troubleshooting, let’s briefly go through the technical aspect of MMI codes. 

What Are MMI Codes?

MMI codes or Man-Machine Codes, are special codes you dial on your phone to communicate with your phone,  SIM, or with your service provider’s network operator computers. By dialing MMI codes on your phone you will be able to obtain valuable data or change phone/ sim settings you can’t access through the phone’s user interface.

MMI codes usually contain special characters such as the asterisk * and the # hash.

Among the most common MMI codes used to communicate with your phone is  *#06#, and it is the code to get your phone’s IMEI/Serial number.

Another set of MMI codes are USSD codes. They are also known as Quick Codes or Feature Codes, and they are used in GSM cellular telephones to communicate with their mobile network operators. You often use USSD codes to check your prepaid card balance.

How do MMI Codes work?

When you dial the MMI code in your phone, it is processed by your phone’s MMI reader, and if or when it does not recognize the code, it is then sent to the network verbatim.

Say for example, you have sent the code *09876*54321# your phone’s MMI parser will send the “command” to the phone, and if it doesn’t recognize the code as an internal command, it will then send it to your network operator verbatim.

Your network has a specific list of MMI codes they use on their own so if it returns with a “Connection Problem or invalid MMI code” message, it means that the MMI code you have used is not recognized or your phone failed to connect to your network.

How To Resolve MMI Code Error

Fixing an MMI code error is fairly easy and in order to resolve the issue, we need to isolate the probable causes. To do this, we need to examine the path that the MMI code goes to before it reaches your network.

First, the MMI code is processed by your phone. The phone then checks whether the MMI code is an internal command; if not, the phone then sends it to the network or your service provider. Your service provider’s network computers then reads the code and sends the message back to your phone.

If you are getting an invalid MMI code error, there are only three possibilities.

(1) You have poor signal or not getting network connection.

(2) You have dialed the wrong MMI code.

(3) Your MMI code was sent to the wrong network. (Dual-sim phones)

Note: Do not mistake the MMI Code to be the same code UnlockBase has sent you. UnlockBase only sends Sim Unlock Codes and do not personally have your MMI code information. You can get the correct MMI code from your current service provider (see sim card information).

Here are 5 quick and easy ways to solve Invalid MMI Code error

1. Check the code you are using. Add additional special characters.

You can try adding a comma ( , )at the end of the code before you send it. The comma, as an additional character will tell your phone to overlook other errors on the phone and send it to the network.

Here’s an example:

If your code is *3457*9# and it results to an error, you can dial it with an added comma in the end. Like this,

*3457*9#,

If the comma doesn’t work, you can insert + after the asterisk and before the first digit. However, this code only works when the first character when your code starts with an asterisk *. For example:

*+3457*9#

The plus ( + ) sign will tell your phone to force process the execution and overlook other phone errors that may be in the way.

2. Check your Network Connection Settings.

Another reason why your phone sends you an MMI error is the lack of network connection. If the MMI code you are sending is a code to check your prepaid balance, or anything that is specifically a function of your network operator, you need to make sure that your phone is connected to your network.

If you are otherwise not getting any signal bars, your phone is probably not yet connected to your network and you have to reconnect to it manually. Most of the time it connects automatically but there are also times when you have to manually select your service provider in order to connect to their network.

Here’s how you do it:

• Go to Settings
• Choose Wireless and Networks
• More Networks (If you are using two different sim cards, choose the sim card you wish to use)
• Select Mobile Network
• Choose Network
• Manual Selection (Phone will start searching for available networks)
• Choose the network you wish to connect to. You have to wait a few seconds for the phone to connect or you may have to repeat the process over until your phone is connected. Unless you get the signal bars going, you won’t be able solve the MMI code error (network-specific functions).

This is the usual process for most Android devices with stock Android ROM and user interface. You know your phone is already connected to your mobile network when you are getting signal bars that shows 4G, LTE, 3G, etc. You can try dialling the MMI code again.

3. Disable or use only one sim card.

If you are using two sim cards and your calls, text, or data automatically route to one specific network on your phone without asking you to manually choose network, there’s a possibility that your phone is sending the MMI code to the wrong network.

In order to isolate the issue you have three possible options; (1)  set your phone to prompt for manual selection of network, (2) disable one of the sim cards, and (3) remove the other sim card physically.

You have to set your phone to prompt for manual mobile network selection to “Always ask” before making a call. You can do this by going into Settings > Sim Settings /Dual Sim Settings >  Voice/Call > Always Ask.

On the other hand, if you wish to disable the other sim card, just slide off the network name of the sim card you want to disable using the same route as earlier. The third option no matter how inconvenient, can be the most effective way to isolate the problem. Removing the other sim card physically will automatically make your phone choose the network of the only sim card left.

4. Restart your phone.

Restarting your phone refreshes it from its most recent operations. Sometimes errors on the phone are just a product of simple system hiccups that can be solved only through a restart, so it’s advisable your restart your phone when all the other steps have been taken. Most of the time simply restarting your phone resolves the issue.

5.  Go To Safe Mode

There are also cases when the phone’s MMI code error is caused by an app or a specific software installed the phone. Many users have been able to resolve the MMI code error by removing certain apps on their phone that’s hindering the code to go through the network operator.

When you reboot into Safe Mode, your phone will not load any third-party apps and only the stock apps that came with the original OS will be available. Furthermore, this means that all the apps you have downloaded will not be available in Safe mode, and this will help you determine whether any of the apps you have manually downloaded and installed are causing the MMI code error.

Going to Safe Mode is the second to the last resort, if only all the before mentioned possible resolutions have been attempted many times. It is fairly easy to do and your phone will go back to its normal state once you reboot it again.

Here’s how to enter into Safe Mode:

• Tap and hold power button (off) for a few seconds until your phone flashes a prompt box that confirms you want to reboot into safe mode.
• Tap ok and phone will not restart to Safe Mode.

Once you are in Safe Mode, try entering the MMI code again and see if you are seeing the same error. If you are able to go through this time, then it means one of the apps you downloaded in your phone is causing the problem.

Conclusion

MMI code errors are easy to fix and if you think you are lost or are needing help with this problem, don’t hesitate to talk to us. We are a global enterprise with 24/7 support and we are ready to help you anytime!

Did we miss anything here? Did you experience this error in the past? How did you solve it? Drop it in the comments!

If you still haven’t gotten yourself a new phone or if you are looking for a cheap steal, then MetroPCS has got something for you. ZTE Avid 4 is out in MetroPCS and just like its brothers in the ZTE family, it is mid-ranged price and a perfect budget phone for anyone who wants value for money more than fancy brands or flagships.

The phone comes at a bargain price of $39USD (*after all discount and rebates) without contract and you can easily pick one from any MetroPCS stores near you. If this phone doesn’t convince you enough or if you are looking for more options you can take a look at these MetroPCS Phones of 2017 Under $100USD.

You’ll be amazed how far your one hundred bucks is going to get you, but for now, let’s take a look at what ZTE Avid 4 has got to offer by comparing it to other phones in the budget phone department.

Build

ZTE Avid 4 isn’t a show-stopper type because it doesn’t have a glossy glass front and back cover, but what it boasts instead is a big 5” screen with an FWVGA display. It does look like a mini ZTE Blade Z Max, standing at 6”, which you can get at a meager *$99 (after all discount and rebate offers).

It is 4G LTE enabled which runs perfectly on the fast MetroPCS network. The biggest caveat on this specific model is that it comes only in one color – BLACK. On the other hand, if you are fan of headsets, this phone will not disappoint you because it has a 3.5mm headphone jack sitting at the top.

Software Interface

Unlike most mid-range phones, this ZTE Avid 4 doesn’t have any fingerprint sensors for security so you’ll have to stick with the basic password or pin to lock your phone.

The ZTE Avid 4 also has a clean and spacious dock that gives you the basic apps and features like most Android devices. It’s running on Ice Cream Sandwich and it has 1.1GHz Quad Core Processor, so you can consider that it is fast, interactive, and smooth when using multiple apps at the same time.

The phone’s Settings is organized just like any stock Android. It has 32GB ROM and 2GB RAM which gives a pretty decent amount of storage for all your pictures and a seamless music and video streaming, and mobile gaming. The internal memory is unfortunately not expandable via MicroSD Card but only up to 32GB.

The phone is also pretty straightforward to use – that is if you are used to using Android.

Camera and Battery Life

The battery life in the ZTE Avid 4 is pretty disappointing because it only has an average of 9 hours talk time from its 2520mAh battery. And compared to the ZTE Blade Z Max it does come almost half the battery life because it has a whopping 4080mAh and can handle up to 31 hours of talk time.

You can use its USB port to charge it or in transferring data from your phone to your computer or vise versa.

This phone isn’t really the best in the mid-range camera department but it prides a few features that you might also like. It has a 5MP autofocus main camera. You can take videos in Panorama mode and you can also take photos while recording a video at the same time.

Other than this, the camera on this one is pretty average and wouldn’t stand out in the tight mid-range or budget phone competition. It is not even on par with other ZTE released mid-range phones. However, considering the price, it surely is a bang for the buck.

Takeaway

The ZTE Avid 4 wouldn’t really stand out compared to its other ZTE brothers nor to other mid-range phones out there. Nonetheless, considering its specs and features, we can safely assume that it does more for its price tag.

Want to Unlock Your ZTE Avid 4?

An unlocked ZTE Avid 4 phone is a good gift for yourself or for a friend. It could serve as your budget back up phone or you can give it to someone who is using a different network or maybe living in a different country.

UnlockBase can unlock your ZTE Avid 4 phone in a fast, easy, and convenient way. You wouldn’t have to break the bank or send your phone over to get it unlocked. If you’re ready to unlock your ZTE Avid 4 now, you can go here.

If you have questions or if you need help you can also contact our chat and email support team who are online 24/7 to cater your needs.

Unlocking a Sony mobile device is a unique process compared to other android or smart devices. There may be several locks applied to your Sony phone and we have to know how many lock levels apply for us to successfully unlock it permanently. Also, it is necessary for us to know your phone unlock eligibility

4 Things You Need To Get Your Sony Phone Unlocked:

1. Non-carrier SIM Card
2. IMEI number
3. IMEI/Carrier Status (Make sure it’s not Blacklisted/ Reported Lost or Stolen)
4. Unlock Eligibility

It is important for us to know your phone’s IMEI number because that will be our only guide to calculate or create the unlock code specifically assigned to it. Also, your phone’s IMEI status lets us set proper expectations whether your phone can be unlocked or not and if you can use it after it is unlocked.

If your phone is blacklisted by your carrier, there’s a slim chance we can unlock it and even if we can successfully unlock it, you will still be unable to use it in your own country even with a different carrier.

Blacklisted phones have their IMEI registered in a national database that is shared among the carriers in your country. This is the reason why Blacklisted phones can’t be of use to anyone unless it’s unlocked and used in a different country.

How To Unlock A Sony Phone

You can unlock your Sony phone through 2 different ways:

1. Your Carrier
2. UnlockBase

If you choose the latter which is to unlock your phone with us, you can order an unlock code for your Sony phone. All you need to do is to enter the information being asked and follow the process as is.

Your device’s IMEI number and carrier, as well as your working email address,  will be needed for us to communicate.

If you already received an email confirmation about your unlock code order from us you will see the instructions for identifying it’s SIM-lock state and its unlock eligibility. If you already did it as per instruction, you can now proceed to the actual unlock process.

1. Switch ON your Sony phone with a non-accepted SIM Card.
2. Sony phone will ask you to enter SIM Unlock PIN.
3. Enter Unlock Code (16 digit code).
4. Your Sony phone will be unlocked!

Read: More about SIM Unlock Eligibility on the latter part of this article. (Jump to explanation)

If you choose to unlock with your carrier, there’s a high likelihood that you will have to pay for the remaining device balance if you got your phone through a plan.

Nonetheless, unlocking your phone with them successfully works almost all the time. The process of unlocking it with them may involve technical needs or you can go straight to their nearby store if you need help.

Some carriers, like T-Mobile and MetroPCS (for the US only), lets you unlock your phone remotely through a pre-installed app called the Mobile Device Unlock App.

What Are The Instances That The Unlock Codes Fail?

We can guarantee you that there’s a zero chance our codes fail to unlock your phone. We work with several vendors and service providers that assure us that the codes we have generated are specifically for your device and for the specific IMEI you have provided us.

If in the unlikely chance the code we gave you didn’t work, we always own the mistake and process a refund for you if you insist or give up and stop finding another way.

*We may have missed something along the way, so in the process, our customer service representative who’s handling your concern may be able to find out why and resolve the issue.

However, if the codes we gave you didn’t work, here are the possible reasons why:

1. You gave the wrong IMEI
2. Your phone is rooted or is running a custom ROM
3. Your phone is not eligible for unlock

If the unsuccessful unlock is caused by any of the above reasons, we are afraid we will be unable to give you a full refund. We always list the refund eligibility on our initial email interaction with you, and all disclosures, including what’s mentioned above, are mentioned.

Moreover, we always advise our customers to do the unlock eligibility status check on their Sony phone before proceeding on the code order process. All the instructions are included in our email and should you feel lost or if you are afraid because it’s too technical for your level, you can always contact our customer service team, with no charge.

If you want to get a heads up about your phone’s sim unlock eligibility, please check the article below.

How To Check if Your Sony Phone is Eligible for Unlock

Your phone will be ineligible for unlocking when it is already hard locked to your carrier. Hard locked phones are permanently locked to a carrier and your phone will become hard locked if you enter the wrong code many times and have used up all the unlock attempts allowed by your phone.

Here’s how you check your phone’s SIM-lock status:

1. Open the Dialer and enter the following sequence: *#*#7378423#*#*
2. A menu will appear.
3. Go to: SERVICE INFO.
4. Go to: SIMLOCK.
5. Check where is X.
6. If X is on NETWORK and value is different than 0, you can unlock the phone with our codes. In case if Sony Xperia Z shows (X) network lower than 5 and not 0, that means we can’t unlock it.

Please check the following images for your guidance.

As you have seen in the images, the image where the value next to Network is 7 is the only phone that’s unlockable or eligible for unlocking. It means we have 7 more unlock attempts to use.

We don’t support values before 5 because we are unsure about the allowable unlock attempts. We always put a safety margin for unlocking attempts to set proper expectations.

Another image shows the value next to Network is 0, so that means there are no more available unlock attempts available for you to enter an unlock code and that the phone has already hard locked itself to its carrier.

If you are seeing a higher value than 5, then you can now proceed with the unlock process and order a SIM unlock code from us. Please choose your phone’s model correctly.

Unlock Your Sony With UnlockBase!

UnlockBase has over eight thousand reviews from different third-party review sites and has unlocked over eight million phones since 2004- still counting to this date!

We can even deliver your codes *real-time or in as early as the first hour we receive your order*; quicker and faster than any of our competitors.  Not only that, we offer the lowest price guarantee if you have lower offers from any of our legit competitors.

Our 24/7 customer service team are always ready and available to answer your emails real-time and you can also contact our chat support team anytime if you have questions or other related concerns.

We assure you that all our unlock instructions are created with you in mind – meaning we make it easier, complete, and basic in every model we support, but that’s not the sweetest part yet.

We provide *100% money back guarantee in the event that our codes don’t work! If we can’t unlock it, we’ll give you your money back!

*Depends on the type of service, please check this page to know more.*

*Please read full refund eligibility disclosure statement for more details.*

HTC U11 Life may be an ordinary budget phone at first glance, but this phone is way above average that it deserves a second look. With the price ranging from $300USD (depending on your location), this phone considerably belongs to the group of phones that most can afford.

The U11 Life has multiple versions and global versions differ from those which are meant for the US market. They run on different OS, RAM, storage, and LTE bands. Before you brush this not-so-flashy phone off of your mind, let’s take a look at how much you can bargain with a 300-dollar phone.

We compared the HTC U11 and the HTC U11 Life and we have highlighted all the major differences between the two phones:

*For a complete spec sheet for HTC U11 and HTC U11 Life, check the official HTC page.

Judging by the colors you can really tell there’s just so much difference between the two, but that practically tells us why the other one is a flagship, right? That, hopefully, should justify the HTC U11 flagship price.

Nonetheless, judging by the overall experience, you really can’t see much difference between the U11 and its little brother U11 Life.

The HTC U11 Life is meant for a one-handed use and it comes in a comfortable size of 5.2 in, not that far from HTC U11’s 5.5 in. Although, some physical applications may be a little challenging like the “Squeeze”, it varies on how big your hands are, and will likely fit most.

The HTC Squeeze is a feature that is both clever and practical. This function applies ever so easily like how they say it is. You can squeeze the sides, basically the home button on the right-hand side to launch the camera. You can add another app if you customize the squeeze feature.

This phone offers so many features that are exclusively HTC and we’ll go through each one of them later. Let’s discuss first the ordinary things that make this phone stand out.

Camera

 
The HTC U11 Life is built with a 16MP front and rear camera, we’re talking about the same camera you get with an LG V30, minus a few hundred dollars. What’s more unbelievable is that you can shoot a 4k video with it!

The U11 Life’s camera has been a talk of the town around YouTube Vloggers and you can find one particular review that used HTC U11 Life front camera for the whole video recording. Results? Mind blown!

You can’t even recognize the difference between the U11 and the U11 Life’s video recordings. However, the U11 is built for low-light recording with a f/1.7 aperture.

If you are looking for a budget phone that gives you clear, crisp, and awesome photos, the HTC U11 Life will never disappoint you.

You can easily launch your camera by squeezing your phone. Although some say there are slight shutter lags with the camera, it still doesn’t happen that often. This might be something that HTC will address in their next software update.

Build and Display

 
The HTC U11 Life is still made of Corning Gorilla Glass, however, it’s not the same version as the flagship devices like its brother HTC U11. It has a “plastic” build and so is the reason for its lightweightness.

This is the reason why the U11 Life doesn’t have that premium feeling, but overall, it still has the same multi-color and glossy back cover.

Nonetheless, HTC made both the U11 and the U11 Life water resistant at IP67, which could be the best move HTC did this year. It also has 2600mAh battery which could very well last you a day, and you’ll have to diligently charge it every night for the next day’s use.

If there’s anything that we hate about the U11 Life, it is the lack of a headphone jack. I also thought that would be the deal breaker, but luckily, it comes with a USB Type C earbuds that have an active noise canceling feature.

The only downside is if you have a 3.5mm headphone plug you will have to buy the adapter yourself.

As expected it has a speaker, which sounds nice on par with other mid-range phones in the market.

It has a fingerprint scanner that is mounted in front for easy access and it’s accurate, fast, and easy to set up. Overall the HTC Sense UI runs smoothly on this phone and goes on fluidly without any annoying hiccups or lags.

Software, Features, and How-To’s

The HTC U11 Life is running on Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 and Adreno 508, this maybe not the loveliest selling point but it has a massive storage that starts at 32GB (3GB RAM) and 64GB (4GB RAM). Expandable with a microSD up to 256GB.

Like the U11, U11 Life is meant to work with Amazon Alexa, but there were reported issues of being able to use it at all. If you aren’t a fan of the Amazon ecosystem, you’d be happy to know that the U11 Life runs on *Android Oreo.

HTC has packed this phone series with a handful of apps that are aimed to help you in many ways practical and ingenious. Let’s go through each of them.

Edge Sense

The Edge Sense will be the app that will welcome you to your U11 Life’s initial setup. It will allow you to set up the “Squeeze” feature so you can customize the apps that you want to launch using it.

Activate Edge Sense and you can select the squeeze sensitivity that you prefer and the app that you want to associate with them. The camera is the default app that will open when you squeeze and no other feature, but you’re free to change it via the phone’s Settings.

You can also add another app aside from the camera, by choosing to Enable Advanced Mode you can have the long squeeze feature. You can customize all the actions thereafter using the Customize Short Squeeze or Customize Long Squeeze options.

It’s quite easy and self-explanatory, so feel free to play around and discover!

HTC Sense Companion

This feature is not golden but it’s quite the initiative to anticipate their customer’s needs. The Companion learns your daily patterns, remind you of upcoming events, warn you of bad weather and even recommend restaurants when you are in a new city.

Yeah, this is not original but if you are already annoyed of messages from your phone like getting your phone charged up, you can easily get rid of it by swiping the icon to the top of the phone.

Motion Launch Gestures

The Motion Launch Gestures is similar to that of the air shuffle on some cell phone brands and it might be a little tricky to setup but you’ll love it once you’ve gotten used to it.

There are 5 different motion gestures you can choose from and they are all useful and easy to use. You can wake the screen with a double tap, swipe left to lock it or go to home screen. There is more in store for you to discover.

USonic Earbuds

As mentioned earlier, your HTC U11 Life comes with a USB Type-C earbuds, and they are undoubtedly amazing unless you neglected to set it up on your phone.

Yes, there is a setup necessary for you to take advantage of the active noise canceling feature and customize the sound according to your physical hearing preferences. Head over to Settings and choose HTC USonic with Active Noise Cancelling put the earbuds on and complete the setup process.

The HTC USonic earbuds will create a sound profile based on ears’ shape, if you don’t like it, you can go through the process again.

Alexa App

Since the processor on the U11 Life is not as powerful as that which is in U11, it cannot handle two “trigger” words that launches the Alexa and Google Assistant. It can handle one trigger word which is for Google Assistance and that means you will have to open the Alexa App or add it to your Edge Sense options.

Although you may not be able to activate Alexa by simply saying its name, you can still integrate into your Amazon ecosystem. It makes everything easy and convenient.

HTC and Amazon worked hard to achieve this, so it must be an answer to a major pain point.

Themes

HTC U11 Life has the most customizable interface ever! You can use the free themes, paid themes, or the customize themes if you have one. They are all easy to download and you can open it through the HTC Theme App.

Simply hold the home screen down and wait for the Theme icon to appear, sign in to your HTC account (create one if you don’t have one). Once signed in, voila! You will be overwhelmed by the number of themes you will see!

You can also change how your apps look like so you can integrate your theme altogether with the apps you installed on your phone.

Boost+

HTC really went one more mile for your battery saving game, because they added a utility app that not only saves your power but also locks the apps you don’t want to use or which you think eats up a lot of power.

That’s right, it lets you lock some apps so if ever some people want to touch your phone and use it, they can’t get the locked app/s to open unless you enter your unlock pin/pattern for them.

Ain’t that marvelous?

Unlock Your HTC U11 Life Now!

Get the most out of your HTC U11 Life and permanently sim unlock your device today!

Unlock your device for only $4.90! Head on to our HTC U11 Life unlock page and just enter your device’s IMEI number and locked-to carrier. Our support team will be ready to help you.

Get the most of life and HTC U11 Life with UnlockBase!

Unlocking your ZTE device should be easy and straightforward. In fact, just like any other phone brand, you only need three things to get your ZTE device successfully and permanently unlocked.

1. Non- carrier SIM card
2. Your phone’s IMEI number (Dial*#06#)
3. IMEI Status (Make sure your phone is not blacklisted or reported lost or stolen)

If you have these ready, you can then order an unlock code specifically for your phone. We usually send you 3 or more codes as we see necessary, but in most cases, you will only use one code which is the NCK code or the Network Code Key or simply the unlock code.

Codes You Will Receive:

• Unfreeze Code
• Reset Key
• Service Provider Code
• Network Code (NCK)

All the other codes will be used depending on how your phone reacts with a non -carrier SIM card the moment you turn it on. Just simply follow the instruction that your phone prompts you to do. If in case, you are lost or you need help, you can always contact our customer service team via live chat or email.

How To Unlock ZTE Through An Unlock Code

1. Insert SIM card from a source different than your original Service Provider (i.e. if you have a Rogers phone, use a non-Rogers SIM card)
2. Phone will ask you to enter SIM unlock PIN
3. Enter unlock code
4. Your ZTE phone will be unlocked!

That’s how easy it is! If you want to unlock your phone now, just go to this page and choose your device model number correctly. You will be prompted to enter your IMEI number and your carrier’s information. Just follow through the process and you will receive an email confirmation from us about your payment.

Our email confirmation will inform you about the turn around time for us to generate an unlock code specifically for your phone. It will also contain the instructions necessary to get your phone permanently unlocked.

How To Unlock ZTE Through Mobile Device Unlock App (MetroPCS and T-Mobile USA)

If you got your phone through MetroPCS and T-Mobile USA, it is most likely that you will not need to buy an unlock code because your phone has a pre-installed app that will unlock your phone without a code. This pre-installed app is what the Mobile Device Unlock App.

If you have the Mobile Device Unlock App on your phone, try to unlock your phone using the app.

1. From that application list, tap on Device Unlock.
2. Hit Continue.
3. Choose Permanent Unlock.

Your device will give you two possible prompts if your phone is off-contract or eligible for unlock by your carrier it will unlock successfully and it will ask you to restart your phone. If it otherwise tells you,

It means that your phone is not yet eligible for unlock by your carrier. If you are seeing a different kind of error, you can look up the troubleshooting steps here.

If this is the error you get, you don’t need to go to the MetroPCS or T-Mobile store to get your phone unlocked. We can remotely register your IMEI to your carrier’s database, just click on your carrier below and choose your device make and model correctly.

Pick your carrier correctly and just follow through our order process. You will receive an email confirmation from us and this will guide you throughout the unlocking process.

If in case you feel lost or you need help, we have 24-hour support that can answer your questions through live chat or email. Don’t hesitate to shoot us a message anytime.

The LG V30 is nothing like its prehistoric parents. This slick phone is making noise in the tech world and here’s why some guys would ditch their plans with Samsung Note 8 and forget about the iPhone X to get themselves an LG V30.

*Data not ours. Specs are from tech authority sites gsmarena.com and androidauthority.com* 

Hardware Durability

We have seen a huge surge of flagship comparisons online and in fact, LG V30 went with a drop test with the Samsung Note 8  and bet who won? LG V30.

According to the test, which you can see in Youtube, Samsung Note 8 suffered with the least screen damage, more probably because of its edge to edge screen, but you can hardly open any app and the screen starts to become unresponsive after 10 drops.

On the other hand, LG V30 may look more physically damaged with the selfie cam slightly altered, but miraculously, the screen is still responsive and you can use it BAU! What’s more interesting is that, the back cover of the LG V30 suffered visibly no damage. Lovely, just lovely for every clumsy buff.  

That’s right, 10 drops folks. 10 drops to a steel plate is all you need to prove the LG V30 is worth every penny you invested.

LG V30 is also water and dust resistant, ain’t new thing but as LG put it, it has passed 14 different military standard durability test, which we say is proven by tech buffs on so many Youtube drop and durability tests.

(We don’t want to talk about the iPhone X drop test. Thinking about throwing $1K down the bin is already making me cry, but you can watch the test here.)

Camera Quality

Well, honestly speaking, LG V30 isn’t the best in the camera department. It’s not the only phone with the DSLR- like camera you expect, but you will never have enough of its features, which LG filled to the brim.

You can record videos with the preset filter that you want to have, ain’t that cool? Not only that, you can control your zoom, which practically lets you zoom in any area within the frame.

Talk about smooth transition!

It also comes with a standard and wide angle lenses that lets you take the ultimate panorama and group selfies without sweating it out.

You can even edit videos on your phone! You can add sound, cut and paste video footages, and add a theme! You can add up to 50 files, like GIFs, photos, and videos to make one single awesome video.

Seriously, you can’t even get a decent video out of some computer softwares, aside from the fact that they are too technical to use. The LG V30 definitely brings out our side of filmmaker- wannabe.

That said, LG V30 is outrageously underrated folks.

(But if you want to look how LG V30 camera fares with S8 and the X, here you go.)

Design Ergonomics

LG V30 is a big, bezel-less phone but it is easy to handle. It’s not your typical size at 6.0” but you can operate it single-handed. It has a P-OLED display, not much difference with Samsung and Apple AMOLED. More importantly it says that for the sake of branding, but technically speaking, there’s virtually no difference from what we can see.

LG V30 is also very convenient to use because it has its fingerprint sensor from the back, which is not awkward for any user (no matter how short your finger is).

*It’s super lightweight and probably the thinnest among the most coveted flagships*

It also has a radio tuner that lets you listen to your favorite local radio whenever you run out of data to stream (lol) but it always comes handy, especially on places where even 3G doesn’t exist. Yes, LG thought of you having the soundtrip of your life even when you are in the woods.

Compared to X and Note 8, V30 is the only phone to ever think about audiophiles, like they always do. Yup, they kept the B&O partnership and you can enjoy Hi-Fi at a lesser cost.

Welcome to my awesome world, baby.

Software

LG V30 is running on a Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor, with a 4GB RAM, and Adreno 540 GPU. You can run several programs, play games, and watch movies without ever experiencing a lag. With it’s capability, it’s like a laptop you can fit in your hands. You can also check out the software speed test LG V30 vis-a-vis on iPhone X here.

The V30 is running on Android Nougat and it admittedly said they are not ready to update it until early next year. That’s something you might want to take note. Although the phone is performing supremely, there are still bloatwares that you might not want to uninstall.

LG loves to fill your phone with apps they never thought you’d never like, anyhow, you’re free to uninstall when you want to.

Overall Evaluation

What we think is awesome about LG V30:

? Waterproof

? Qi Wireless Charging

? High- Resolution display

? Always-On display (with customizable clock designs and dock notifications)

? Latest processor

? Hi-Fi Dac Audio System

? Bigger battery and longer life

? Glass front and back body

? Lightweight and thinner than most

? Huge storage

? Dual camera system

? Cine- Video video recording function

? Point-zoom video recording function

? f/ 1.6 aperture

? Always- On display

? 3.55mm headphone jack

? Slick, bezel-less, zero-notch screen

What we think is not cool about LG V30:

Of course, nothing is perfect and you will always find a flaw in whatever device or thing you have. And although LG V30 is close to perfection, there are some things that people wished they could change with this LG flagship.

☒ Not running on latest Android Version Oreo (when they had the chance)

☒ Front selfie cam images aren’t so realistic

☒ Bloatwares

☒ Non-removable battery

Some people don’t like the LG software, but IMO, if you aren’t bothered about how your phone looks but on how it works, you shouldn’t be so concerned about that. Plus, it’s highly customizable, so that shouldn’t be a problem.

If you are the audiophile-type or the selfie-expert who wants awesome IG photos, this phone has built-in filters that lets you create that professional look real-time or preset. This is how LG confronts iPhone X’s camera filters.

If you are going to look at what LG V30 offers, you’ll see it weighs more and for a lesser price. LG isn’t the best at marketing as we know it, but the LG V30 deserves a second look and IMO, a recognition as the best flagship today.

Unlocking Your LG? We Match Competitor Pricing!

If you would want to further enjoy the best out this phone, you can contact us for unlocking LG V30. We will help you make switching SIM networks possible faster.

We guarantee you that we match competitor pricing, on top of that, you get 24/7 support for your LG unlocking concerns and queries as they arise.

Do you like the LG V30? What do you think about it? Tell us on the comments section below.

Want to unlock your Samsung phone? Seeing a lot of errors? If you want to unlock your Samsung phone from its carrier, then you’re in the right place. Here at UnlockBase, we continue to innovate and create better and easier ways to get your phone unlocked in a timely manner.

Just like any Android phone, unlocking Samsung is relatively easy and should go smoothly. In fact, we have discovered 3 (three) different ways to get your phone unlocked from its carrier.

Here are your options:

➤ Get an unlock code – for those who don’t want the hassle of unlocking technicalities/ not tech-savvy
➤ Cable Unlock Software – For those who want to unlock their phones sooner and faster
➤  Mobile Device Unlock App (Only applies to T-Mobile and MetroPCS phones)

3 Things To Consider Before Getting Any Unlock Service Or Buying Any Unlock Code:

1. Make sure your phone is NOT BLACKLISTED.
2. Make sure you have all the necessary information about your phone.
3. Make sure your phone is running on STOCK ROM.

1. How To Get An Unlock Code And How To Use It

If getting an unlock code is the way you want to go, you have to prepare 3 vital information about your phone:

1. IMEI Number,
2. Locked-to Carrier, and
3. IMEI status ( Not blacklisted/lost/stolen).

How to Get the Samsung IMEI number:

1. Dial *#06#
2. Go to Settings
3. Tap System
4. Go to About Device
5. Tap Status
6. You phone will display IMEI Information

We need to know your IMEI number and locked-to carrier because that’s what we will use to generate an unlock code for your Samsung. Note that we don’t randomly create codes through black magic and second-guessing, we are connected to several vendors and carriers to get the code specific for your phone. This is how we guarantee you that your unlock codes work.

In addition to that, your phone’s IMEI status also lets us set proper expectations if we can unlock it and if you can still use your phone if we can unlock it.

If you don’t know your IMEI Status, you can check it here. If you otherwise know that your phone is “clean” and you have all the necessary information ready, you can proceed to the Samsung unlock page and enter all the necessary information.

The email that we will send you will not only contain one, but 3 or more codes to use. This is because there are several lock levels for many Samsung models.

Most Samsung phones will only ask for the NCK code, however, SCK or SPCK codes apply when 2 or more codes are needed to unlock. You will know which code to apply depending on how your phone responded or prompted after you put a non-carrier sim card.

The Unfreeze code is needed when your phone prompts “Phone Freeze” or “Return for Service” whenever you enter an unlock code. In that case, you have to enter the Unfreeze code first before the NCK code.

However, please note that the Unfreeze code does not guarantee or warranty success as they are issued free of charge as an added bonus with certain Samsung unlocking services. To help you get rid of the Phone Freeze, you can contact a local smartphone specialist or Samsung itself so you can get to the page where you can enter the unlock code you got from us.

The following are the most common scenarios for unlocking through codes:

For older Samsung models, like the Galaxy Note 4, you have to identify how many lock levels your phone has. Please follow the following instructions:

➤Insert sim from your carrier.

➤ Dial *#7465625#

➤Your phone will prompt you a slightly different colored screen that will usually look like this:

1. [xxx] Network lock
2. [xxx] Subset lock
3. [xxx] SP lock

(xxx = Value ON or OFF)

• Network Lock ON: Enter NCK code
• Subset Lock ON: Enter SCK code
• SP Lock ON: Enter SPCK Code

If your phone isn’t giving you any menu after dialing the code, then you can follow the usual unlock process, like that of the S7 Edge that you can see below.

For newer Samsung models, it’s pretty straightforward, for Samsung S7 edge the process is more likely this:

1. Insert SIM card from a source different than your original Service Provider (i.e. if you have a Rogers phone, use a non-Rogers SIM card).
2. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge will ask you to enter SIM Unlock PIN.
3. Enter Unlock Code.
4. Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge will be unlocked!

That’s how it looks like for S7 Edge, but for the model before that like the Samsung S6 Edge Plus, this is how it’s going to be like:

1. Switch ON your Samsung with a noncompatible SIM card
2. Wait for your phone to ask for “SIM Network Unlock PIN” or “Enter Network Lock Control Key“
3. If you received one, please enter your MCK (Unfreeze Key) and hit “Unlock” button.  Note: You will get “Unsuccessful message” but don’t worry that’s fine when you type MCK
4. Now type the NCK (Network Code) and hit the “Unlock” button.
5. Your phone is now Unlocked !

EXTRA INSTRUCTIONS: if you get “Unsuccessful” again after type the NCK then:

6. Hit “Dismiss” button and compose *2767*3855# on phone keypad.

7. Wait for the phone to restart, this operation will erase all data from your phone!

8. Retry the step 1 to 5 above !

2. Cable Unlock: Faster Software Unlocker Exclusively from UnlockBase!

If you think you are techy enough to download, install and run a software to unlock your device, then our Cable Unlock software must be what you are looking for.
If you have Windows PC and a USB cable you can use and you want to unlock your phone faster or real time, you can order the cable unlock software directly from us!

Supported Brands:

• Blackberry
• LG
• Samsung

You don’t need to root your Samsung phone to unlock your phone, in fact, the unlock process will only ask you a few basic steps. Here’s how:

1. Download the UnlockBase cable unlock software through the link we sent to your email
2. Right-click on the icon on your desktop, and select “Run as administrator”
3. Enter the license, hit APPLY
4. Wait to load details. Click on “Next Tutorial.”
5. Connect phone through a USB cable.
6. Click “Next Direct Unlock”
7. Wait for the software to detect the phone
8. Wait for load bars to complete 100%
9. Your phone is now unlocked!

It is also important to remember that we do not unlock CDMA phones and we only unlock GSM phones through this method. If your phone is not detecting the computer, simply unplug and replug the USB cable, make sure it’s tightly connected and select “debug” on your phone’s USB settings.

If in the unlikely reason that your phone will not be unlocked using this process, you can always ask for a refund and we will void your license and process a refund for you. No questions asked! Your happiness is what we guarantee and you can always try other unlock options for your phone, don’t hesitate to shoot us an email or message.

3. Mobile Device Unlock App (T-Mobile and MetroPCS)

If you have a MetroPCS or T-Mobile locked phone it is now easier for you to get it unlocked! By simply using the Mobile Device Unlock App that is pre-installed on your phone, you can have your phone unlocked permanently from its carrier.

However, these two carriers have unlock requirements that you may not be qualified yet at the moment. Nonetheless, UnlockBase can help you unlock your device using the same mobile app. We can remotely register your device’s IMEI as “eligible” on your carrier’s database without any unlock code.

We have created an article specifically for the Mobile Device Unlock App including the troubleshooting steps that you may encounter when using this option for unlocking your device.

Please be sure to check your device’s model number on the list of supported devices. Also, if your device is blacklisted or reported as lost or stolen, we will not be able to unlock it.

Select one of these two services below to unlock with “Mobile Device Unlock“

If you already purchase our Mobile Device Unlock App service, you can follow these easy instructions to guide you in your phone’s unlock:

1. From that Application list, tap Device Unlock.
2. Tap Continue.
3. Choose the desired device unlock type: Permanent Unlock
4. If successful, restart the device to apply the settings.

Note: If you do not restart the device, you will have a persistent alert in the notification tray.)

Unlocking an android phone like an LG phone doesn’t really asks for a set of complicated procedures. Just like most, it follows a set of 3-4 instructions to make an LG carrier-unlocked. Although it varies per model, you only need to take note of the specific code it’s asking for.

Remember: TMobile USA and MetroPCS has pre-installed the Mobile Device Unlock App on your LG phone and that means there’s NO NEED FOR A CODE to unlock your phone. More information about mobile device unlock here.

Here’s a list of possible codes your phone might ask you for:

• IMEI_NO = IMEI (It’s not a code, just ignore this)
• NCK = SIM_Unlock = Network Lock = SIM Network Unlock PIN
• NSCK = Network Subset Lock
• SPCK = SP_Lock = Service Provider Lock
• CPCK = Corporate Lock
• SIMCK = SIM/USIM Lock
• SPC = Useless just ignore
• OTKSL = Useless just ignore

Woah! That’s a lot, but most LG models only asks for 3 codes: NCK, NSCK, and SPCK. We usually send you three to five different sets of codes but only one gets your phone unlocked, so be very careful to read the screen prompt because you only have 10 chances of getting it right!

If you fail 2 or 3 times, please contact us. We have 24/7 support that can help you unlock your device or tell you what’s wrong. Save your unlock attempts and contact us right away!

Generally speaking, here’s how you unlock an LG (not-model specific):

1. Insert a non-accepted SIM.
2. Turn ON device.
3. Screen prompt asking for a code (NCK, NSCK, SPCK).
4. Read email instructions before entering the code.
5. Enter the code being asked for.
6. Your LG phone is now successfully unlocked!

Ideally, your phone should prompt for the “SIM Unlock Code” screen automatically, but if it doesn’t do that, here’s how you get it:

• Dial 2945#*ModelNumber#

If in the unlikely chance that doesn’t work, you can try:

• Dial *#865625#

Now, you might be wondering how to type the letter on the dialer but it doesn’t have to be as complicated as you think.

If for example your phone is an LG G3, find out its exact version. For example, AT&T LG G3 is version number D850, so this is what you type in the dialer:

• 2945#*850#

Another example is the LG G3 from T-Mobile. Its exact version is D851, so this is what you type in the dialer:

• 2945#*851#

If you don’t know where to get the exact model and version number of your phone, there are two ways to find out:

1. Go to Settings ⇨ About.
2. Remove your phone’s back cover and you will see the exact model number on the rear housing.

Easy as that!

Now, don’t worry about having to go that route. It is not going to be complicated. Here’s how you can unlock your phone from there:

1. Insert a non-accepted SIM card
2. Dial 2945#*ModelNumber#
3. Select “Network Lock” or “Service Provider Lock”
4. Enter the Unlock Code it is asking for. Remember there are several code types, pick the specific code it is asking for
5. Some phones ask you to enter the same code twice, otherwise just follow the screen prompt.
6. Click “Done”
7. Click “Unlock”
8. Your phone might reboot. If it doesn’t you will see the signal bars lighting up.
9. Congratulations! Your device is not permanently unlocked.

Ideally, it should prompt for “Invalid Smart Chip Error” or “Phone Restricted”. If you are seeing that you can just hit “Cancel” and proceed on the “SIM Unlock Code” screen just oOn the other hand, if it doesn’t prompt for you to enter an unlock code, please follow the next steps.

There are exemptions to this, though, here are some LG models who have unique sim unlocking process.

• LG P769 Optimus L9 – It’s almost the same as others’ but you don’t need to insert a non-accepted SIM card to get it unlocked. Follow the above steps to start the unlock process.

• LG Fathom VS750 – There’s no need to remove the sim or change into a different one. Just go to Settings ⇨ Advanced Settings ⇨ Personal ⇨ Security ⇨ Hit “Sim Lock” ⇨ Enter Code ⇨ Phone unlocked

• LG GD570 – For this model, you’ll have to keep the carrier sim card. Follow the steps below to unlock your phone.

1. Dial *#865625#
2. Hit OK on screen prompt
3. Type the code twice
4. Hit OK
5. Wait for the phone to reboot and load up
6. Your phone is now successfully unlocked!

How To Troubleshoot Common LG Unlock Errors

We want to save you from all the technicalities of error messages, but we will list the common error messages that won’t ask you to call for customer service because the troubleshooting steps are straightforward and easy. So, here we go!

Error 1: “Enter Code” prompt does not appear

After dialing the code or inserting a non-carrier SIM you are supposed to see a prompt that would ask you to enter the code, otherwise, that’s both a good news and a bad news.

Good news: Your phone was already unlocked, you just didn’t know. 

Bad news: Your SIM card slot is broken or your device’s IMEI is blacklisted by the original owner.

The last one you can easily rule out if you are the original owner of the phone but you can try to isolate and troubleshoot further. If you’re lost, don’t hesitate to contact us.

Also, it is recommended to turn off your phone, remove the battery, and wait for a short while before powering the phone back on. You can also try to remove or re-insert the SIM card while on the process.

Error 2: “Code Error” or “Sim Network Unlock Unsuccessful”

If you are getting this error, it means that the code we gave you didn’t work or you entered the wrong code.

To isolate the issue let us start from the basi. If the code was wrong, you might have given us the wrong information about your phone’s IMEI, model number, or locked-to carrier. In that case, we have to generate another code for a new IMEI, which discredits you of a refund.

To troubleshoot further, always make sure to follow our email instructions when entering the code. As mentioned we usually generate 3-5 unlocking codes, but you’ll only use one and it depends entirely on what you are being prompted on your phone screen.

Remember, you don’t have unlimited unlock attempts. So if you get it wrong at three times, save your remaining attempts and don’t hesitate to contact us.

Error 3: Asking for “PUK” or “Security Pin” or “Password”

If you are prompted for a “PUK”, “Security Pin”, or “Password”, it is asking for a user-set password or pin to operate or device. If you are the original user, you should be able to figure out this on your own.

Error 4: No service

If you are still not getting any service, it means your phone is already successfully unlocked but it isn’t detecting your new carrier’s network. To resolve this, you have to manually enter your new network under your phone’s APN settings.

If you can make calls or texts but internet or data, you have to double check your phone’s compatibility to your new carrier’s network frequency.

Unlocking Your LG? We Match Competitor Pricing!

We know you’ve been all over the web trying to get your phone unlocked. So if you think you found a better pricing than what we offer, don’t hesitate to tell us!
We guarantee you that we match competitor pricing, on top of that, you get 24/7 support for your LG unlocking concerns and queries as they arise.

Check out this page if you are ready to unlock your LG!

If you’ve been thinking about running a custom OS on your smartphone, my kind advice is for you to better think again. Is it really worth all the trouble to install a custom OS on your phone and break your warranty?

Average reading time: 6 min 12 sec for average reader

TL;DR – Warning: A custom OS can cause critical problems in phone and installed applications. You may have good reasons why you want to install custom OS, but here are the 5 reasons why you’ll regret it:

1. Bugs, bugs, bugs
2. Compromised Camera Features
3. Unsupported Hardware and Apps Issues
4. Shorter Battery Life
5. Losing OEM Warranty

Free Your Phone And Lock Yourself

A lot of people want to install a custom OS on their phones, most commonly Cyanogen, because they believed it gives them more freedom with their devices. True enough, installing a custom OS comes with a lot of benefits, like privacy, flexibility with apps, and constant updates.

The Android operating system is an open source system that allows individual developers to explore and customize their own software or firmware based on it. However, OEMs (original equipment manufacturer) hold the responsibility in providing firmware updates to all the handsets they made available in the market; they take this game seriously, and in fact, it is one of their selling points.

Changing your phone’s firmware is really going to compromise your OEM Warranty, some phone features, and some must-have OEM-installed apps.

1. Bugs

Who likes Bugs? These tiny creatures are seriously cute but having them run your phone will make you want to pull your hair out. Bugs, as some people call it, are tiny firmware hiccups that can annoyingly ruin your device (and day) in the long run if not taken care of.

You’d sure hate to restart your device every time it lags or misbehaves, but this is what bugs do. They love to interrupt and whether you like it or not, carelessly installing a custom OS without investigating further about its compatibility with your device is a sure reason for regret.

Also, we generally discourage installing a custom OS that has just been recently released;

1. It’s not fully tested
2. You won’t see device compatibility updates from customers themselves.

As a general rule of thumb in a world full of doubt, always read reviews. Customer reviews can come from forums or third party communities and it’s the best and most helpful way to get genuine replies and working solutions.

2. Compromised Phone Features

Forget about taking the perfect selfie if you install a custom OS because there’s a really high likelihood that all the camera features installed by your phone’s OEM is erased once you replace the original OS.

Software design plays a big role in the function and output of the camera. Some open source OS did not write optimized apps like the camera that is specifically for your hardware model/type. You will have lesser flexibility when it comes to taking photos, editing them and even storing them.

Asking for a little more privacy shouldn’t sacrifice a major phone function, but if you don’t like taking photos, it might be worth the price to pay.

3. Unsupported Hardware and App Issues

More often than not, you would realize that you don’t entirely hate your phone and there are apps or hardware features you would want to keep. However, it doesn’t always work with custom OS.

Custom OS developers focus on more practical aspects of the phone like the level of customizability, privacy, longevity, and performance. Also, the apps that you want to keep may be exclusive to your phone’s OEM in which case, they really don’t have access to tweak or modify to start with.

Since custom OS apply to any android-running phone brand or model, the chances of tweaking or fixing a specific app aren’t something that is usually covered.

However, one of the most important promises of custom OS is the higher level of privacy it offers when it comes to app installation or use. Mindlessly allowing or giving apps “permissions” to your contacts, camera, location, SMS, etc is dangerous to your privacy.

Most custom OS give you another layer of privacy by disabling “permissions,” or giving better customization options that you want to sync when you are trying to install an app. On the other hand, OEM OS isn’t as flexible when it comes to this, but they have added features that let you know whenever something fishy is happening to your device or to the apps installed in it.

4. Shorter Battery Life

A lot of people install custom OS because they wanted to prolong battery life, however, it isn’t successful all the time. Fortunately, rooting your phone or installing a custom OS aren’t the only ways available to increase your battery life.

Some custom OS let you tweak the amount of power being used by underclocking or undervolting your phone. Contrary to what most believe, some handsets actually drain their battery faster with custom OS than with the original OS it used.

This is because the custom ROM may not be optimized to your phone’s specific model or there are bugs that affect your phone’s performance. In the end, it does otherwise what it’s supposed to do. If you are after longer battery life, you need to manage your phone usage better.

Switching to airplane mode or closing the apps running in the background can also help increase your battery’s life.

5. Losing OEM Warranty

Ok so, everyone probably experienced hating how their phone’s interface appears, like wanting to have a specific picture or theme run in the background. Unfortunately, some OEMs don’t have this level of customization, and that’s why a lot of Android users choose custom OS.

However, installing a custom OS is like throwing the baby out with the bathwater. For you to be truly satisfied with your new custom OS you need to have a certain level of skill and understanding on how it works.

Unless you have the technical knowledge to tweak or play with it, you will most likely end up frustrated. In most cases, custom OS isn’t user-friendly and since it isn’t tied to any manufacturer, getting customer support for the software may not even be part of your options.

Also, software design varies per manufacturer, model, and country. As mentioned earlier bugs, fixes, and updates have now become the responsibility of the software developer and not your phone’s OEM.

Nonetheless, some manufacturers estimate only 2-3 years for a handset’s lifespan which means no more software updates for your device leaving it more vulnerable to privacy threats or hackers and this is one reason for the need to install custom OS.

If you are past your warranty and you’re ready for a newer phone if this quick fix didn’t work, then you can give this option a shot.