Samsung Now Selling Unlocked Galaxy S7 And S7 Edge In U.S. Sans Carrier Bloatware
While unlocked, international versions of the Samsung Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge have been available for U.S. customers to purchase since day one, they came with two BIG downsides. First, the smartphones don’t come with a U.S. warranty, which means that you’re up a creek without a paddle should a hardware failure occur. The second issue is that international versions of both smartphones lack support for Samsung Pay in the U.S.
That all changes today, as Samsung is now selling unlocked versions of the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge that are specifically geared towards an American audience. The phones are compatible with CDMA and GSM networks, which means that they’ll work on all four major wireless carriers (Verizon Wireless, AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint) along with the myriad of MVNOs that operate within the country.
"At Samsung, we listen to our customers to deliver meaningful innovation by offering an ecosystem of mobile products, services and experiences designed to enhance their mobile lifestyle," said president of Samsung Electronics America President Tim Baxter. "The unlocked Galaxy S7 and S7 edge offer more U.S. customers a way to join the Galaxy family, giving them access to a portfolio of seamless mobile experiences including connectivity to wearables, making payments right from your phone and even virtual reality worlds."
Hardware specs are exactly the same as what you’d find on carrier-provided smartphones, although there’s one added bonus that comes with the unlocked versions — they don’t come loaded with carrier bloatware. You’ll still have to put up with Samsung’s often redundant bundled apps, but we’ll take what we can get.
The smartphones will be available from a wide range of retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, Target, and Sam’s Club. The unlocked Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge are priced at $669.99 and $769.99 respectively.
To see HotHardware’s take on the Galaxy S7 and Galaxy S7 Edge, which was very favorable, check out Dave’s review right here.
