Verizon to offer Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Developer Edition with unlocked bootloader

posted by Alan F. / Oct 11, 2013, 6:35 PM

Verizon to offer Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Developer Edition with unlocked bootloader

Verizon and Samsung teamed up in June to offer the Samsung Galaxy S4 Developer Edition with an unlocked bootloader allowing owners of the device to customize it to their heart's content. Now, the pair appear to be collaborating again, this time with a Developer Edition of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. If you go to Samsung's support site and start to plug in the Galaxy Note 3 model number; the following pops up: "Coming Soon! Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (Verizon) Developer Edition | SM-N900VMKEVZW".

Until this device is officially announced, it remains speculative even though there are a couple of good reasons to expect this to be legit. One is that the listing shows up on Samsung's support site and two is that there is precedence for such a phone with the Galaxy S4 Developer Edition.

If you like messing around with your Android handset, flashing custom ROMs and the like, you might want to keep an eye out for news about when to expect the Developer Edition of the Galaxy Note 3 to launch. No doubt it is going to have a pretty high price tag so you might want to start saving up now.

Samsung's support site says that a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Developer Edition is coming

source: SamsungSupport via AndroidCentral

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22 Comments

1. rallyguy

Posts: 620; Member since: Mar 13, 2012

Wow no mention of the iPhone. I would suspect the price will be not be much more than the current N3 at $299.

posted on Oct 11, 2013, 6:41 PM 0

3. appleDOESNT.com

Posts: 456; Member since: Nov 19, 2011

I think these are only sold at full price, so $699

posted on Oct 11, 2013, 7:08 PM 0

6. Droid_X_Doug

Posts: 5993; Member since: Dec 22, 2010

+1 if pricing model for the GS4 DE holds - unsubsidized price of $699.

posted on Oct 11, 2013, 7:31 PM 0

20. appleDOESNT.com

So doe this mean it is totally gimped on the s-pen, like none of that sammy software works?

posted on Oct 12, 2013, 11:27 AM 0

2. corporateJP

Posts: 2458; Member since: Nov 28, 2009

Wow. Unlocked boot loader. And in trade, I'm sure you'll get a logo-stamped home key.

posted on Oct 11, 2013, 6:48 PM 1

5. tedkord

Posts: 17093; Member since: Jun 17, 2009

Well worth the trade.

18. Droid_X_Doug

Especially if the VZW bloatware can be removed.

posted on Oct 12, 2013, 1:51 AM 0

4. V3TTOO

Posts: 27; Member since: Nov 29, 2012

If this is being allowed, why is it such an issue to have Nexus devices on their network?

posted on Oct 11, 2013, 7:13 PM 3

21. fanboy1974

Posts: 1345; Member since: Nov 12, 2011

Because Samsung is able to make full price upfront directly from the customer. Pretty positive Verizon does not give Samsung full price if you buy the phone on contract. That's why Samsung has a vested interested in keeping these bootloaders locked. It's a big scam if you ask me. The days of seeing unlocked bootloaders on contract phones (I mean fully unlocked) is over on Verizon. Verizon hits you with a 2 year contract or Samsung hits you with full price while Verizon still gets paid. Very sick!!!

posted on Oct 12, 2013, 2:46 PM 0

7. fanboy1974

Maybe it's Samsung locking boottloaders so that they can sale unlocked phones at full price. Sure Verizon thought of it first but Oem's are starting to catch on.

posted on Oct 11, 2013, 7:33 PM 1

8. ocilfa

Posts: 334; Member since: Aug 03, 2012

No matter what, you are paying full price on the phone. Subsidised phones only give you a lower upfront cost, but then you pay the rest during your monthly billing. Verizon is the one to blame with the locked boot loader, not Samsung.

posted on Oct 11, 2013, 7:47 PM 0

9. tedkord

Since you get no discount on Verizon for paying full retail, you're actually paying it twice (unless you leave early)

posted on Oct 11, 2013, 7:53 PM 2

12. ocilfa

Isn't that why we love them though?

posted on Oct 11, 2013, 8:29 PM 0

15. fanboy1974

Exactly! This is why buying a developer phone at full price is stupid on Verizon. If I wanted I could get a Note 3 for $209 after 30% discount. My monthly payments are the same if I got contract pricing or paid full cost. The only time it makes perfect sense to buy a Verizon phone out right is if you want to keep your unlimited data. Otherwise no one is going to buy this phone thus no developers will support it.

posted on Oct 11, 2013, 10:26 PM 0

16. tedkord

That's why I buy at retail or on craigslist. There will be devs for this phone (the standard GS3). Even before they got the BL unlocked on the GS3, it had devs. They had kexec exploit roms.

posted on Oct 11, 2013, 10:48 PM 0

19. laheelahee

Posts: 213; Member since: Apr 09, 2012

verizon30 not working for note3 anymore.. bummer /when is the pink note3 coming out? ::sigh::

posted on Oct 12, 2013, 9:08 AM 0

10. Kevro_86

Posts: 65; Member since: Oct 19, 2011

I'm sure the xda community will unlock the regular Note 3 in short order. Now, if the xda guys eventually throw their arms up... then it may be time to look at this developer edition.