Second hand Samsung devices are quite good as long as you buy the higher end range. A few years down the line you may not receive any security updates for the OS, but the screens are usually excellent and the chips inside them still play video just fine. You just need a seller who doesn’t sell it because their kid cracked the screen…
When I bought my tablet I went to a physical store (crazy, I know) and quickly rules out any of Lenovo’s e-waste. I picked one of the Samsung FE tablets (basically last generation’s high end device with a mid range chip) but I also considered last gen’s top end model.
I had no problem unlocking my secondhand Tab S6. There usually aren’t 3rd party ROMs or recovery images available though, software modification is limited to grabbing the factory Samsung ROM and installing magisk on it.
Is the problem just with mobiles then? I have never had an S series mobile but I’ve heard about how Samsung devices can’t be unlocked even if they are not bought from a carrier
No idea. I avoid their phones but their tablets are the best option for solid performance and AMOLED so I buy them periodically on fleaBay. I suspect it’s just a phone thing, I’ve unlocked every tablet I’ve owned.
I just need a cheap tablet that can be rooted (hopefully) with an FHD+ display to watch a few episodes on. Which one do you recommend?
Second hand Samsung devices are quite good as long as you buy the higher end range. A few years down the line you may not receive any security updates for the OS, but the screens are usually excellent and the chips inside them still play video just fine. You just need a seller who doesn’t sell it because their kid cracked the screen…
When I bought my tablet I went to a physical store (crazy, I know) and quickly rules out any of Lenovo’s e-waste. I picked one of the Samsung FE tablets (basically last generation’s high end device with a mid range chip) but I also considered last gen’s top end model.
I’d like a decent Samsung tab but I can’t unlock their bootloaders in the US
I had no problem unlocking my secondhand Tab S6. There usually aren’t 3rd party ROMs or recovery images available though, software modification is limited to grabbing the factory Samsung ROM and installing magisk on it.
Whatever you can get second hand
What about battery life for used devices?
I think the Galaxy Tab A8 may be a good option. While I’ve only flashed a custom ROM, there are root guides at XDA.
Unfortunately, Samsung devices in the US come with locked bootloaders that can’t be unlocked (even if bought directly and not from a carrier)
I’ve unlocked my US Tab S, Tab S2, Tab S5e and Tab S6. I’ve never had trouble unlocking one.
Is the problem just with mobiles then? I have never had an S series mobile but I’ve heard about how Samsung devices can’t be unlocked even if they are not bought from a carrier
No idea. I avoid their phones but their tablets are the best option for solid performance and AMOLED so I buy them periodically on fleaBay. I suspect it’s just a phone thing, I’ve unlocked every tablet I’ve owned.
You don’t need to root a tablet to watch videos on it.
You don’t need to not do it either!
Yes