Differences between m8_ul and m8_wl

[forgiveMySin]

Hey guys,

I saw these two codenames flying around here and I just wanted to know what the difference is.

Greetz.

 

[gsmyth]

Hey guys,

I saw these two codenames flying around here and I just wanted to know what the difference is.

Greetz.

These are product numbers, the m8_ul is the sim unlocked/unbranded model, whereas the m8_wl is the Verizon carrier model

More info and how to check your number below:

http://droider.eu/2014/09/20/htc-one-m8-models/

 

[redpoint73]

whereas the m8_wl is the Verizon carrier model

Some additional observations: Based on your link, codenames with wl, wlv or whl are for CDMA variants (Sprint, Verizon).

While all GSM variants are essentially the same hardware (only some minor cosmetic differences on some carrier branded versions) the CDMA variant is actually different hardware and should be avoided unless your carrier uses CDMA (probably want to avoid unless you are on US Sprint or Verizon).

Additionally, you should not flash any mods on a GSM variant that are intended for CDMA versions; or vice versa. Doing so may result in a brick!

 

[forgiveMySin]

Thanks you two,

I already knew that with CDMA, but thanks anyway

 

[Captain_Throwback]

Some additional observations: Based on your link, codenames with wl, wlv or whl are for CDMA variants (Sprint, Verizon).

While all GSM variants are essentially the same hardware (only some minor cosmetic differences on some carrier branded versions) the CDMA variant is actually different hardware and should be avoided unless your carrier uses CDMA (probably want to avoid unless you are on US Sprint or Verizon).

Additionally, you should not flash any mods on a GSM variant that are intended for CDMA versions; or vice versa. Doing so may result in a brick!

What hardware is different? This is news to me . . . How are all the AOSP ROMs unified then? How is the HK adsp flashable on all variants?

 

[BerndM14]

What hardware is different? This is news to me . . . How are all the AOSP ROMs unified then? How is the HK adsp flashable on all variants?

Would have been nice if we actually had service manuals to make these types of comparisons without having to disassemble the phone just to take a look at actual hardware differences.

But it's not like they'd put in something like that seeing as the phone only costs $700 At least they could have a service manual book that they can sell seperately.

http://provinspc2.free.fr/ftpSM/index.php/HTC/

...

 

[AmbitiousDonut]

What hardware is different? This is news to me . . . How are all the AOSP ROMs unified then? How is the HK adsp flashable on all variants?

I was told over and over when I first started messing with my phone that I couldn't flash an international version of a ROM on my VZW phone but I thought really, how different can they be?
I live outside the US and don't use CDMA at all and couldn't get my ****ty MVNO provider to work for data no matter how many APN settings I tried. I flashed a int'l version of the ROM and then the stock VZW kernel.
It works 100% fine, I have none of the verizon crap on my phone including perpetual roaming notifications. LTE hasn't worked (I think there's a band difference with my type of phone) but I don't really want to pay a bunch extra for it anyway so I don't care; i'll stick with 3G and wifi.

I'm not going to go flash some non-VZW firmware or anything but you're not going to brick your phone with a non-CDMA ROM. You just might have a phone that doesn't want to connect to the network or access wifi.

 

[redpoint73]

I'm not going to go flash some non-VZW firmware or anything but you're not going to brick your phone with a non-CDMA ROM. You just might have a phone that doesn't want to connect to the network or access wifi.

I'd tread carefully about doing any such thing. I've seen at least 1 or 2 folks on here that bricked their CDMA M8 after flashing a GSM ROM or recovery (can't remember precisely which).

---------- Post added at 10:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------

What hardware is different? This is news to me . . . How are all the AOSP ROMs unified then? How is the HK adsp flashable on all variants?

Maybe I've got the details wrong. But that was my understanding based on post by others. And as just mentioned, I've seen at least a report or 2 of bricking after flashing a GSM mod on a CDMA phone.

I just saw it mentioned on another thread that CM11 supports CDMA variants, so I'm curious about that as well. But if the hardware is the same, why are the recoveries (at least TWRP) different? I'm asking as much as making a point here, as again I'm curious.

I'd still maintain folks should not flash ROMs not meant for their type (GSM versus CDMA); or at a minimum to tread very carefully if you decide you want to. It should go without saying, if a ROM is not stated to support your carrier version, you should proceed with caution and at least do some research before proceeding.

And not sure what the intent of the OP is; but if they are looking to make a purchase, I also do not recommend any of the CDMA variants unless your carrier has a CDMA network (which is very unlikely unless you are on Verizon or Sprint in the US).

 

[Captain_Throwback]

I'd tread carefully about doing any such thing. I've seen at least 1 or 2 folks on here that bricked their CDMA M8 after flashing a GSM ROM or recovery (can't remember precisely which).

---------- Post added at 10:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------



Maybe I've got the details wrong. But that was my understanding based on post by others. And as just mentioned, I've seen at least a report or 2 of bricking after flashing a GSM mod on a CDMA phone.

I just saw it mentioned on another thread that CM11 supports CDMA variants, so I'm curious about that as well. But if the hardware is the same, why are the recoveries (at least TWRP) different? I'm asking as much as making a point here, as again I'm curious.

I'd still maintain folks should not flash ROMs not meant for their type (GSM versus CDMA); or at a minimum to tread very carefully if you decide you want to. It should go without saying, if a ROM is not stated to support your carrier version, you should proceed with caution and at least do some research before proceeding.

And not sure what the intent of the OP is; but if they are looking to make a purchase, I also do not recommend any of the CDMA variants unless your carrier has a CDMA network (which is very unlikely unless you are on Verizon or Sprint in the US).

The recoveries aren't different (anymore) - at least not TWRP.

The hardware is the same on all M8 variants (besides Dual SIM). The radios differ, and there is some carrier customization in the ramdisk and build.prop. But that's it.

 

[AmbitiousDonut]

I'd tread carefully about doing any such thing. I've seen at least 1 or 2 folks on here that bricked their CDMA M8 after flashing a GSM ROM or recovery (can't remember precisely which).

---------- Post added at 10:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------



Maybe I've got the details wrong. But that was my understanding based on post by others. And as just mentioned, I've seen at least a report or 2 of bricking after flashing a GSM mod on a CDMA phone.

I just saw it mentioned on another thread that CM11 supports CDMA variants, so I'm curious about that as well. But if the hardware is the same, why are the recoveries (at least TWRP) different? I'm asking as much as making a point here, as again I'm curious.

I'd still maintain folks should not flash ROMs not meant for their type (GSM versus CDMA); or at a minimum to tread very carefully if you decide you want to. It should go without saying, if a ROM is not stated to support your carrier version, you should proceed with caution and at least do some research before proceeding.

And not sure what the intent of the OP is; but if they are looking to make a purchase, I also do not recommend any of the CDMA variants unless your carrier has a CDMA network (which is very unlikely unless you are on Verizon or Sprint in the US).

I would bet 99% they bricked it from installing the wrong recovery and not the wrong ROM. Or it was for a totally different phone, not just the GSM version of the ROM for their phone.

Correct me if I'm wrong (still new to this), but I didn't think the ROMs changed enough (like partitions and such) to actually brick the phone if you say, select the wrong one in aroma on install. If you were to flash a different recovery, or hboot, or....pretty much anything other than a ROM, I could see there being issues. Or flashing anything (ROM included) for a totally different phone (like the m7), as opposed to the other cell provider variant of the same phone.

But, like you said, I wouldn't get a CDMA phone unless I absolutely had to....and in my case it was $100 for a brand new CDMA m8 as opposed to the $600 for the int'l version I ideally wanted. Opportunity cost of $500 and CDMA phone was worth it to me. At least now I can help people traveling to Europe with their Verizon phone and whether or not certain things will work....

 

[Captain_Throwback]

I would bet 99% they bricked it from installing the wrong recovery and not the wrong ROM. Or it was for a totally different phone, not just the GSM version of the ROM for their phone.

Correct me if I'm wrong (still new to this), but I didn't think the ROMs changed enough (like partitions and such) to actually brick the phone if you say, select the wrong one in aroma on install. If you were to flash a different recovery, or hboot, or....pretty much anything other than a ROM, I could see there being issues. Or flashing anything (ROM included) for a totally different phone (like the m7), as opposed to the other cell provider variant of the same phone.

But, like you said, I wouldn't get a CDMA phone unless I absolutely had to....and in my case it was $100 for a brand new CDMA m8 as opposed to the $600 for the int'l version I ideally wanted. Opportunity cost of $500 and CDMA phone was worth it to me. At least now I can help people traveling to Europe with their Verizon phone and whether or not certain things will work....

This isn't necessarily true. While most of the variants share the same partition layout, the Verizon variant has an extra partition, shifting out the number of the block devices by one when compared to the other variants. If the ROM zip flashed uses the block device number for flashing, this can indeed "soft brick" a device.

NOTE: This is NOT a hardware difference. It's the same nand/emmc, just partitioned slightly differently for Verizon.

 

[jshamlet]

This isn't necessarily true. While most of the variants share the same partition layout, the Verizon variant has an extra partition, shifting out the number of the block devices by one when compared to the other variants. If the ROM zip flashed uses the block device number for flashing, this can indeed "soft brick" a device.

NOTE: This is NOT a hardware difference. It's the same nand/emmc, just partitioned slightly differently for Verizon.

I don't have a dog in this hunt, since I've got a GSM M8, so this is just out of curiosity.

Couldn't you S-off, switch your CID/MID to Sprint, and run a Sprint RUU to "fix" that, then reload the Verizon radio to recover network function? That assumes that both Sprint and Verizon phones use the same radio hardware, of course.

 

[Captain_Throwback]

I don't have a dog in this hunt, since I've got a GSM M8, so this is just out of curiosity.

Couldn't you S-off, switch your CID/MID to Sprint, and run a Sprint RUU to "fix" that, then reload the Verizon radio to recover network function? That assumes that both Sprint and Verizon phones use the same radio hardware, of course.

I refuse to speculate about the effects of doing something like this. As this goes beyond the purview of this thread, I will digress.

 

[AmbitiousDonut]

This isn't necessarily true. While most of the variants share the same partition layout, the Verizon variant has an extra partition, shifting out the number of the block devices by one when compared to the other variants. If the ROM zip flashed uses the block device number for flashing, this can indeed "soft brick" a device.

NOTE: This is NOT a hardware difference. It's the same nand/emmc, just partitioned slightly differently for Verizon.

Interesting, didn't know that. Thanks.
I guess since I learned how to use adb/fastboot for things instead of relying on an app like Flashify I've gotten a bit more fearless about potentially soft-bricking it. I figure worst case I'll learn something new and be using my old N4 until I get it fixed.

 

[BerndM14]

Interesting, didn't know that. Thanks.
I guess since I learned how to use adb/fastboot for things instead of relying on an app like Flashify I've gotten a bit more fearless about potentially soft-bricking it. I figure worst case I'll learn something new and be using my old N4 until I get it fixed.

Yeah partition is out by one which is why some Verizon users had a bootloop when flashing TWRP.

TWRP developers place the command as

dd if=/sdcard/twrp.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p43

instead of

dd if=/sdcard/twrp.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p44

As the recovery on the GSM is in block43 but block 43 on the Verizon was the boot partition. :laugh:

 

[Captain_Throwback]

Yeah partition is out by one which is why some Verizon users had a bootloop when flashing TWRP.

TWRP developers place the command as

dd if=/sdcard/twrp.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p43

instead of

dd if=/sdcard/twrp.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p44

As the recovery on the GSM is in block43 but block 43 on the Verizon was the boot partition. :laugh:

That's been updated for a while now, though . . .

 

[BerndM14]

That's been updated for a while now, though . . .

Yeah I know, just adding to your post about the 1 extra partition on Verizon and how it caused some "fun" early on by having them "flash" recovery to boot partition because the partition block was out by 1.

 

[redpoint73]

I would bet 99% they bricked it from installing the wrong recovery and not the wrong ROM. Or it was for a totally different phone, not just the GSM version of the ROM for their phone.

That could be. I'm just throwing out what I can remember reading.

I'll still maintain that one should take care flashing anything that doesn't specifically support the CDMA variant, or verified to work by others. Even if a brick is not possible when flashing a GSM ROM, other issues can still occur. I'm seeing a couple other posts right now where the Sprint/Verizon GPS files are apparently different, causing GPS to be broken after flashing some ROMs.

Like Post #12 put well, I don't have a dog in this myself either. Just mentioning what I've see reported as FYI to others.

---------- Post added at 12:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:41 PM ----------

this goes beyond the purview of this thread

In think much of this discussion has gone far beyond what the OP intended. But interesting, nonetheless!

---------- Post added at 12:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:49 PM ----------

The hardware is the same on all M8 variants (besides Dual SIM). The radios differ, and there is some carrier customization in the ramdisk and build.prop. But that's it.

I stand corrected. I've seen more than a few posts about not flashing ROMs and other things between the versions (GSM vs. CDMA), and there being a hardware difference. So I was just relaying what I read.

Thanks for setting me straight.

 

[jerryspring]

That could be. I'm just throwing out what I can remember reading.

I'll still maintain that one should take care flashing anything that doesn't specifically support the CDMA variant, or verified to work by others. Even if a brick is not possible when flashing a GSM ROM, other issues can still occur. I'm seeing a couple other posts right now where the Sprint/Verizon GPS files are apparently different, causing GPS to be broken after flashing some ROMs.

Like Post #12 put well, I don't have a dog in this myself either. Just mentioning what I've see reported as FYI to others.

---------- Post added at 12:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:41 PM ----------



In think much of this discussion has gone far beyond what the OP intended. But interesting, nonetheless!

---------- Post added at 12:52 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:49 PM ----------



I stand corrected. I've seen more than a few posts about not flashing ROMs and other things between the versions (GSM vs. CDMA), and there being a hardware difference. So I was just relaying what I read.

Thanks for setting me straight.

I have tried weaksauce and it won't open. I'm on 5.0. how is this puppy rooted? I tried kingroot but I keep getting root auth error

 

[redpoint73]

I have tried weaksauce and it won't open. I'm on 5.0. how is this puppy rooted? I tried kingroot but I keep getting root auth error

Which "puppy" would that be? This thread refers to two different variants (m8_ul versus m8_wl) which also have different root methods.

For most M8 versions (m8_ul) root method is to unlock bootloader, flash custom recovery and flash SuperSU.