Great news! Stop buying them.
this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2025
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That would be illegal here, so I'm assuming this will depend on regional differences.
Doesn't this break laws in the EU, JP, and US?
As long as they grease the right palms in the US it’s fine.
There's definitely no law in the US. In fact the vast majority of Android device bootloaders come locked. Pretty much just Pixels and Galaxies that allow this.
And even when it comes to Galaxies, you can't buy from a carrier in the US or you'll often get a special version that, you guessed right, has a locked bootloader. (Two phones now, never again).
I bought unlocked (no carrier) phones from samsung's website and got locked bootloaders. I'm in the US.
Yeah they might come locked, but the owner needs to be able to remove that lock if they want to.
I can't remember owning an Android device it wasn't possible on. What do you mean just pixel and galaxy allow it?
Bootloader unlocking used to be much more widespread, but manufacturers are removing that option to prevent users from having control over their devices.
I think computers are gonna be next on the chopping block.
It is moving that way for sure. But PC gamer is kicking still... Despite these gpu prices
That's Carrier Unlocking, not Bootloader Unlocking.
OT but form factor looks like a Sony Xperia. The trend points to sleek now?
Edit: right, it's a foldable.
I have a foldable, and it's the best thing to happen to phones since they started creeping up in size towards phablets. One UI is terrible for the amount of bloatware that comes with it, though.
When they say One UI 8 does this include phones besides the Galaxy S25? I have an S24 and am hoping it won't hit me
I have a s24 here and the last update to One Ui 7 removed the bootloader unlocking option in dev mode. But that was mounts ago and no one talked about it back then so they did it hidden in the dark. Disgusting. See by your self and confirm it.
I just checked my s23 and you're right, the bootloader unlock option is completley gone - this is a disturbing trend of manufacturers taking away control of devices we actualy own.
Huh, I have the s23 and just updated yesterday. I still have it in dev options (haven't tried enabling it though)
Wierd if they allow it for older but not newer phones on the same os version.
I would hate that though, I am really hoping to flash some other OS when Samsung stops with security updates.
No it's gone for s24 one UI 7.
Next major Samsung OS update is One UI 8 and the S24 is getting that update