I think anti-rollback (ARB1) started with 10P, but anyway, the newer rooting method works on all versions, even the older ones on ARB0. And I guess the only available stock-based H918 Oreo ROM, Alpha Omega Oreo, and the newer LineageOS versions, too, would have ARB1 when installed. So basically, if you plan on installing any of the newer ROMs, you'll probably end up with anti-rollback enabled on the H918. At this point, the only advantage I see with having ARB0 would be that you could still install older Nougat ROMs from before ARB1 existed. All the more recent ROMs should be compatible with the H918 on ARB1.
Need Help With Choosing V20 Variant With The Most Support
- Thread starter mickeyasamoah
- Start date
Its not really LG, blame US carriers and their love of sodomizing their customers. AT&T and Sprint explicitly chose not to release stock ROM, and Sprint/T-Mobile increment ARB. Manufacturer hands the base device to the carrier, and the carrier decide what security features they want to enable. It could be worse, American Samsung flagship are practically impenetrable, the S7 was only rooted because an engineering firmware was leaked, but it had serious performance issues and minor side effects. The Verizon Pixel is locked tight as well, as with Verizon phone in general historically.
But generally, the only model to avoid is LS997 because only a tiny number of them floating around are still rootable, and even rooted you're restricted as hell because you're stuck using the ancient ZV6 modem. H918 has a slightly more involved rooting process, but once you're done its set and forget. Anti Rollback is only ever an issue if you need to go back to a pre-ARB version to root, and with the H918 that's not the case.
S tier: F800/Korean. First in line for OTA, last to get support dropped.
A tier: US996 (free market). Official bootloader unlock
B tier: US996 (carrier), VS995, H910, H915. Fully flashable to US996 bloat-free firmware, can take US996 modem firmware without losing signal. Some people reported signal issues with crossflashing on the H910/H915, but it easily could just be user errors. The H915 has official KDZ, and the H910 can just flash a custom made return to stock package even if it doesn't have an official KDZ.
C tier: H918. Roundabout methods required compared to DirtySanta compatible models.
D tier: H910PR/etc.... Unpopular models from "literally who?" countries, dual SIM models. It might work, or it might not. Dual SIM model seems to have issues due to the hardware difference, and there's no dev with the actual phone.
E tier: Rootable LS997.
F tier: Unrootable LS997
As for the FM Radio thing, its enabled/disabled kernel side. A lot of people reported losing FM Radio after rooting and installing a custom kernel in the early days threads because its built from the US996 source tree. Its well known at this point that hardware/mobo wise all single SIM V20 are equal (refurbished American V20 popping up with F800 coded mobo), just a difference in software and eFuse pop. Hence some model can take cross flashed modem well, and some can't. It might actually be just software, because the V30 had an early Nougat firmware for the US998 that could be flashed onto any carrier device and modem would work fine. You can then upgrade from this version to any later firmware, and modem will still continue to work, even if straight flashing newer firmware doesn't.
But generally, the only model to avoid is LS997 because only a tiny number of them floating around are still rootable, and even rooted you're restricted as hell because you're stuck using the ancient ZV6 modem. H918 has a slightly more involved rooting process, but once you're done its set and forget. Anti Rollback is only ever an issue if you need to go back to a pre-ARB version to root, and with the H918 that's not the case.
S tier: F800/Korean. First in line for OTA, last to get support dropped.
A tier: US996 (free market). Official bootloader unlock
B tier: US996 (carrier), VS995, H910, H915. Fully flashable to US996 bloat-free firmware, can take US996 modem firmware without losing signal. Some people reported signal issues with crossflashing on the H910/H915, but it easily could just be user errors. The H915 has official KDZ, and the H910 can just flash a custom made return to stock package even if it doesn't have an official KDZ.
C tier: H918. Roundabout methods required compared to DirtySanta compatible models.
D tier: H910PR/etc.... Unpopular models from "literally who?" countries, dual SIM models. It might work, or it might not. Dual SIM model seems to have issues due to the hardware difference, and there's no dev with the actual phone.
E tier: Rootable LS997.
F tier: Unrootable LS997
As for the FM Radio thing, its enabled/disabled kernel side. A lot of people reported losing FM Radio after rooting and installing a custom kernel in the early days threads because its built from the US996 source tree. Its well known at this point that hardware/mobo wise all single SIM V20 are equal (refurbished American V20 popping up with F800 coded mobo), just a difference in software and eFuse pop. Hence some model can take cross flashed modem well, and some can't. It might actually be just software, because the V30 had an early Nougat firmware for the US998 that could be flashed onto any carrier device and modem would work fine. You can then upgrade from this version to any later firmware, and modem will still continue to work, even if straight flashing newer firmware doesn't.
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Wow! Thank you very much! This is lots of information.
I was down to the H918 (T-Mo) and the H910 (AT&T). And since the H918 had the anti-rollback, i was a little skeptical as i would love to be able to try out Nougat ROMs as well as Oreo ROMs and even Pie ROMs should they be available.
Now that it's being made clear that the H910 (AT&T) has no anti-rollback and is likely to be flashed with the US996 firmware makes it the best variant of the V20 for modding.
I guess I can confidently say i would be going in for the H910 now.
Only things i wanna clarify are:
- Is the US996 firmware which you made mention of a KDZ which can be flashed from download mode?
I am just making sure that there's a KDZ rescue for the H910 in case of a brick. (loss of system and TWRP) - Does the H910 have lot's of custom ROMs spanning from Nougat up to Oreo?
I know for a fact that with the H918s, you are either able to flash Nougat ROMs which i understand have the ARB 0 or the Oreo ROMs which seem to have the ARB 1. In other words, it's once you go Oreo u never go back with the H918s.
Yet since all H910s have no anti-rollback, I understand it should be able to flash Nougat and Oreo ROMs with ease.
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Thank you @C D. You have been really helpful with clearing up things regarding the V20's variants for me and everyone else.
The H910 seems more promising and the best option as it is possible to flash it with the US996 stock firmware in addition to it having no anti-rollbacks.
The only thing i want know is if the US996 firmware which can be cross flashed onto the H910 is indeed a KDZ.
If the firmware turns out to be a KDZ, it would mean in the unlikely event where TWRP and System is inaccessible, the device would be unbrickable by flashing the US996 firmware via download mode.
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As far as I'm aware, all cross-flashing on the V20s are done through KDZs. (As an aside: H918 KDZs are only compatible with the H918 and will permanently brick any other model while an H918 can only accept H918 KDZs and will get bricked by any other model's KDZ. You may see huge warnings mentioning this in ROM threads.)
From what I've seen, people have cross-flashed the H910 with either H915 or US996 firmwares in the past. If you stick with US996 throughout the rooting process and don't want to return to H910 firmware (remember, it has FM radio while US996 does not), then I think you'll need to assume it's a "Dirty Santa" US996 (like UCL and BPT) and not an unlocked USA one. Some ROMs have different files to distinguish the US996 models.
And I'd say that the H910 has pretty much the same ROM support as the other rootable U.S. variants (H918, US996, VS995).
Hey bro. Just get yourself an H910. I use H910. Rooting following the steps accurately isn't dat difficult. And yes, H910 takes unlocked us996 and H915 kdz should u run into any problem which can be flashed via download mode using modified lgup. And all the available custom ROMs is available for H910.. personally this is my 3rd H910 device cos i do sell them and i am enjoying every bit of it.
Just get one of it then let us know what u have got. And the android version that comes with it so as to lead u on rooting. It isn't really that difficult...
But please get an unlocked version. Thanks
Just get one of it then let us know what u have got. And the android version that comes with it so as to lead u on rooting. It isn't really that difficult...
But please get an unlocked version. Thanks
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Thank you, I am definitely getting the AT&T variant (H910).
And by "get an unlocked version", I presume u were referring to a SIM Unlocked version and not a bootloader unlocked version as the H910 doesn't have an unlockable bootloader.
All V20 are/can be unlocked by flashing to a non-locked variant's firmware.
>Is the US996 firmware which you made mention of a KDZ which can be flashed from download mode?
Yes
>Does the H910 have lot's of custom ROMs spanning from Nougat up to Oreo?
No. Well, the entire V20 line effectively has 1 custom ROM - LineageOS. ResurrectionRemix is built from the LOS device tree and has the exact same bugs. Everything else is just out of date stock ROM with a coat of paint and a large helping of snakeoil. You're always better off just getting whatever the latest stock OS is and debloat/modify it to your need in these cases.
>Is the US996 firmware which you made mention of a KDZ which can be flashed from download mode?
Yes
>Does the H910 have lot's of custom ROMs spanning from Nougat up to Oreo?
No. Well, the entire V20 line effectively has 1 custom ROM - LineageOS. ResurrectionRemix is built from the LOS device tree and has the exact same bugs. Everything else is just out of date stock ROM with a coat of paint and a large helping of snakeoil. You're always better off just getting whatever the latest stock OS is and debloat/modify it to your need in these cases.
Mmmm...this is just music to my ears. I guess i have no doubts about going for the H910 now.
I have a couple of follow up questions if you don't mind.
- After an H910 has been crossed flashed to with US996 or H915 firmware, Is it possible to revert back to H910 firmware since there aren't any H910 KDZs?
Not that it really matters or anything, but just wanted to know. - By unlock, did u mean bootloader unlock or SIM unlock?
> Is it possible to revert back to H910 firmware since there aren't any H910 KDZs?
Yes, people has made TWRP flashable package containing the full stock dump from a newly updated device. And SIM Unlock. VS995 are fine as well.
Yes, people has made TWRP flashable package containing the full stock dump from a newly updated device. And SIM Unlock. VS995 are fine as well.
Yeah. Network unlocked
---------- Post added at 12:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:29 PM ----------
If u are using an h910 with a newer firmware for example. For u to unlock bootloader and root. U will need to flash a kdz of an older firmware of h915. Can't remember the version but it's on the root thread for h910. After flashing the firmware. Then the next step is to flash a custom recovery and root. After rooting and recovery installed u can then flash an h910 rom.
This is simple. Get an h910 device the steps to root is available on here.... U worry too much i think.
It's Here!!!!
I got an H910 running Nougat, I think. I am not sure which build of Nougat tho (I would send a screenshot soon.)
I am charging it at the moment.
Everything seemed to work. The only weird thing was when i typed "adb reboot bootloader", it just rebooted back to android.
Also when i inserted an SD Card, it kept booting into download mode even tho i had no USB connected until i cleaned the connectors on the SD Card.
Don't know if that was normal.
I got an H910 running Nougat, I think. I am not sure which build of Nougat tho (I would send a screenshot soon.)
I am charging it at the moment.
Everything seemed to work. The only weird thing was when i typed "adb reboot bootloader", it just rebooted back to android.
Also when i inserted an SD Card, it kept booting into download mode even tho i had no USB connected until i cleaned the connectors on the SD Card.
Don't know if that was normal.
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@C D, @princedede, @crumbling9999
That's the software details.
Unfortunately, this unit has screen retention just like my V10
That's the software details.
Unfortunately, this unit has screen retention just like my V10
Attachments
Pretty much every V20 has screen retention.Unfortunately, this unit has screen retention just like my V10
But once you have root access, you can easily keep it from happening by using screen color adjustments:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/v20/how-to/lg-v20-screen-burn-fixed-t3661631
And more different color settings that others have used:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/v20/themes/post-kcal-values-t3865442
Oh.... Ohkay. I was starting to think of returning this unit as the retention seems to happen minutes after the screen have been turned on.
I can currently see lines forming on the left and right side of the device.
Do you think it's normal for image retention to occur under 15 minutes of use?
All I can tell you is with all my used V20s, before the KCAL fix, if I look at a mostly white screen on high brightness for just 15 seconds, I'll already see a shadow around the screen's edges the moment it displays something darker. After the fix, I have not seen any retention inside Android since. I only get it on the white factory reset screen, but that's outside the OS that you can't fix. This is one of those things you'll have to do yourself to believe it.
Thanks for the assurance. Really appreciated.
I wanna use the device for a while (2 or 3 days) to make sure there aren't any serious defects that would require me to return the device, then i will go ahead and root and apply this mode.
I read from the post u shared that the fix requires me to flash a kernel that has KCAL. Would i still be able to use FM radio with such kernels? I am really enjoying the FM radio and i wish to keep it
Checked your software version and I recommend using dirty santa to unlock the bootloader, if you decide to go with a stock based rom then go with the mk2000 kernel which has kcal support@C D, @princedede, @crumbling9999
That's the software details.
Unfortunately, this unit has screen retention just like my V10
Sent from my LG-H910 using XDA Labs
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