Should I unlock my bootloader for safety reasons

[Sab3elbromba]

I've always had my devices rooted and running a custom rom or at least a custom kernel or something of the sort "But" ever since I got my pixel about a year ago I haven't felt the need to root at all, stock rom is just perfect and so battery life and I don't see a reason to.
However I was just thinking that now with locked bootloader if for any reason my phone gets bricked then I'm probably [email protected]*t out of luck because I won't be able to flash a factory image to bring the phone back to life.

Should I unlock my bootloader just in case the worse does happen or is there another workaround for such a situation?

 

[nabbed]

Getting bricked is the direct result of flashing images.

 

[Pain-N-Panic]

Getting bricked is the direct result of flashing images.

I could not disagree more. There are countless threads of individuals taking OTAs and running into boot loop. Additionally I have read through multiple threads where individuals were simply using their phone to play a game, text, phone call etc and the phone shuts off and goes into a loop.

The users with an unlocked bootloader were able to salvage the device. Users without a locked bootloader looked for a RMA.

To the OP- I personally will never own an Android device with a constantly locked bootloader. The safety net of being able to factory reset and flash stock images is something I've always cherished and do not wish to get rid of.

There are security risks to having an unlocked BL. If an Android savvy criminal were to steal your device they could do a lot of damage with obtaining personal information. For me, I'm much more worried about my phone going in to boot loop than I am some criminal being able to take my phone from me.

 

[GuestK0037]

Should I unlock my bootloader just in case the worse does happen or is there another workaround for such a situation?

if for any reason, something did get corrupted on your phone with a lockedbootloader and it tripped verified boot. you would be locked out, no course of action but to get an RMA... so if u plan on tinkering with your phone or just would like a failsafe, at least with an unlocked phone. you would be able to flash firmware, etc...

just remember, not to relock your bootloader; unless your phone is running stock firmware and is wiped.... otherwise you will trip verified boot and brick it...

Getting bricked is the direct result of flashing images.

no, it's not. getting a bricked phone is pretty much always because the person did something ill advised or dumb... like relocking their bootloader running custom firmware...

so a diect result of user error, nothing to do with flashing images.