Question Feature question

[Korothi]

Im considering getting one but i have few questions:
1. Is/will it be possible to lock the bootloader? (Not relock, just lock aka return it to original?)
2. Is it possible to have paralel apps? Like Island app but no root needed?
3. Is it possible to block bloat installing every update/disable the wizard? (Again, no root)
4. Can you hide/disable every unwanted app or via adb?
5. Hows watching movies on it?
6. Will custom roms exist?
7. Apparently Samsung doesnt use A/B. Is this true?

 

[V0latyle]

Im considering getting one but i have few questions:
1. Is/will it be possible to lock the bootloader? (Not relock, just lock aka return it to original?)

Please clarify on what you're asking. The bootloader comes locked by default. On unlockable devices, it is always possible to relock the bootloader, but you must perform a clean flash of the factory firmware before doing so. Attempting to lock the bootloader on custom firmware will render your device inoperable.

2. Is it possible to have paralel apps? Like Island app but no root needed?

What do you mean by "parallel apps"?

3. Is it possible to block bloat installing every update/disable the wizard? (Again, no root)

No. Root is required to remove bloat.

4. Can you hide/disable every unwanted app or via adb?

Not without root.

5. Hows watching movies on it?

This is a flagship device; I would expect movies would be just fine.

6. Will custom roms exist?

Eventually.

7. Apparently Samsung doesnt use A/B. Is this true?

Yes. Samsung has continued to use the bespoke recovery model. This makes Samsung devices slightly more complicated to flash, but TWRP helps make it easier.

 

[Fl1nt91]

I managed to have a duplicated app (Revolut) setting up the personal area

For social like WhatsApp this feature is integrated and easier.

 

[dr.ketan]

Please clarify on what you're asking. The bootloader comes locked by default. On unlockable devices, it is always possible to relock the bootloader, but you must perform a clean flash of the factory firmware before doing so. Attempting to lock the bootloader on custom firmware will render your device inoperable.

Im considering getting one but i have few questions:
1. Is/will it be possible to lock the bootloader? (Not relock, just lock aka return it to original?)

Worth to mention, Once you unlock bootloader and flash custom binary, you can relock bootloader later after flashing stock firmware first but still it leaves footprint and certain features will be stopped working forever. e.g Samsung Pass and Pay and may be more.

 

[Klaudas]

No. Root is required to remove bloat.

Not without root.

Yes you can remove, disable unwanted bloatware via ADB commands. Personally I've disabled samsung dex and similiar unwanted programs, removed swiftkey and other bloat....

 

[Fl1nt91]

Yes you can remove, disable unwanted bloatware via ADB commands. Personally I've disabled samsung dex and similiar unwanted programs, removed swiftkey and other bloat....

Any guide and list of what is safe to remove?

 

[Klaudas]

Any guide and list of what is safe to remove?

There is a guide. Search XDA for this thread "Samsung Galaxy One UI - Optimization Guide". You will find there everything you need to debloat by your needs.

 

[Korothi]

Worth to mention, Once you unlock bootloader and flash custom binary, you can relock bootloader later after flashing stock firmware first but still it leaves footprint and certain features will be stopped working forever. e.g Samsung Pass and Pay and may be more.

Safetynet fix will not help?
Also what i meant was not relock state for bootloader. I meant lock. For example MSM tool in oneplus locks bootloader (locks, not relocks)

Also "parallel apps" is a feature where you can setup 2 discords for example. It can be built in or if you have root - island app.

 

[dr.ketan]

Safetynet fix will not help?
Also what i meant was not relock state for bootloader. I meant lock. For example MSM tool in oneplus locks bootloader (locks, not relocks)

Also "parallel apps" is a feature where you can setup 2 discords for example. It can be built in or if you have root - island app.

I don't understand still between lock and relock
As explained above by @V0latyle default state of device is locked. If you want you can unlock it. But once you unlock and flash custom binary you can never lock again as same state before you unlocked. You can relock bootloader with missing some features forever. Nothing can help to restore said functions.
Samsung have two features which give you dual app
1.Dual Apps
2.Secure folder
With both these utilities you can use same app in two environments. Again not all apps may supported.

 

[V0latyle]

I don't understand still between lock and relock
As explained above by @V0latyle default state of device is locked. If you want you can unlock it. But once you unlock and flash custom binary you can never lock again as same state before you unlocked. You can relock bootloader with missing some features forever. Nothing can help to restore said functions.

To expand on this: Samsung uses Knox Guard and other features to detect whether custom images have been flashed to the device. If this is true, some apps and functions that depend on Knox status may not work.

This is in contrast to other OEMs such as Google - the Pixel series can be restored to factory stock with a locked bootloader, and there will be no trace of the device ever having been modified.

What you can do, on either stock or custom firmware, as long as you're rooted with Magisk, is use Magisk modules such as Universal SafetyNet Fix to spoof device responses to Play Integrity attestation, as well as "hide" Knox status. However, again, this requires root. Magisk modules cannot be used without Magisk root.

To try to explain this simply:

1. Stock firmware, never unlocked: Knox OK: secure functions will work.
2. Stock firmware, locked but previously unlocked, custom firmware never installed including Magisk patch and/or recovery, Knox should be OK.
3. Stock firmware, locked but previously unlocked with custom firmware, Knox tripped: secure functions will not work.
4. Stock/custom firmware, unlocked, rooted with Magisk, attestation responses fixed via Magisk module: Knox status should not matter, Android/Google secure functions should work but Samsung apps that depend on Knox may not.

It is not possible to reset Knox status once tripped.

Therefore, if the device has ever been modified, even if it's just a Magisk patch, re-locking the bootloader will not return it to the "pure" factory state. So, if you are wondering whether to unlock the bootloader, understand that once anything is modified, you are committed and there is no way back. If you don't intend on modifying anything, don't unlock.