In America I wanted to use an old moto g5, since it had 4g LTE and was all I needed. Every version of android between 7-14 is available for it through custom ROMs, and some people are still releasing security updates. But it turned out ATT and others “Whitelisted” it from their networks for being too old. Apparently when the switchover happened ATT sent everyone with a whitelisted phone a cheapo garbage phone as consolation, and nudged them to buy a new phone. Super scummy behavior.
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Thanks for explaining, I didn’t know it was such a mess.
This also explains why I had so many problems with calling when I tried to use unlocked flip phones and dumb phones in years past. There were always issues with my voice not coming through, it being to quiet, or missing calls altogether. After that I ditched them for a Pixel, only to have the mic in it die at 6 months. I’m legitimately cursed with calling issues.
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In my case, AT&T sent me a Galaxy Note 9 to replace my Google Pixel XL, which I ended up never using and just used as trade-in value to get a Pixel 5a.
Thats better, it must have been some sort of equivalent exchange deal. Was it vendor locked?
It was indeed carrier locked, which was why I used it as trade-in value for a phone rather just selling it and later buying a newer phone.
