lobsters score: 50 · tags: android
It’s kiiinda strange that Sony gets away with
Sony requires you to request an unlock code from their Unlock Service. They can pull the plug anytime. You have to send your IMEI and agree to warranty voiding
to stay in “Proceed with caution”, but Motorola’s supposed “confusion” pushes it into “Avoid at all costs”.
score 6 · canonical
At the scale that these devices sell, and the razor-thin margins the manufacturers earn, it makes sense to not increase the support burden by allowing all and sundry to unlock their devices. Some of hurdles do seem quite steep though.
score 1 · canonical
This is good to know and wish I knew this before getting a XiaoMi. Nobody at all should buy a XiaoMi phone, their stock OS is just complete spyware, and unlocking it is nearly impossible.
score 8 · canonical
Before I buy a phone, I look at LineageOS and see their install instructions. If it’s not listed as supported and running the latest release with an active commit history in that handset!s branch, no sale.
Sadly, I doubt people like me make a measurable impact on sales.
score 11 · canonical
At least with Xiaomi you have some chance of unlocking it with the app and some community support with the ROMs, but it’s a very cumbersome process (and now limited to 2000 unlocks per day for the whole world!) made to force you to desist in the process.
score 3 · canonical
I found the previous list of requirements, and it’s crazy:
- reach “level 5” on their forum
- signup to be an “internal tester”
- provide your passport
- provide a Chinese bank account
- renew it every year
- and more requirements preexisting before the article was written, such as the 2000 per day limit
Now, according to the Lobsters post’s link, it’s just fully disabled. Xiaomi is saying they’ll re-enable it outside of China in 2025.
This all sounds like they’re trying to soften the blow by making the disabling gradual, but I think they’re tarnishing their reputation much more like this.
score 6 · canonical