Why do Pixels and Samsungs have such restricted mobile data features?

I am trying to set up a plan with a smaller carrier, but I have a feeling that since they are not on Google's allowlist (even though I live in Canada), they will not let me use 5G with them. The Pixel watch supported carrier list also makes no sense, because for some reason the new carriers for the watch 2 don't support the first version? I was thinking about switching to Samsung, but it seems they also pull off shenanigans in the way of region locking. Why are these practices in place?

JohnnyCanuck ,
@JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca avatar

The Pixel watch supported carrier list also makes no sense, because for some reason the new carriers for the watch 2 don't support the first version?

They often don't update the list for older devices. The supported list is whatever it was when the device came out.

I actually don't know what you mean by "Google's allowlist" but the underlying carrier might matter more than whatever small "carrier" you want to go with. E.g. Telus, Bell, Rogers(/Shaw), Videotron basically run all of the cell networks and then lease them out to the small carriers (which they actually either own, or will eventually).

So if those big guys are on the list, you're probably fine (but I don't actually know how it works). You can google "{name of carrier} mobile network" to find out whose network(s) they're on.

tester1121 OP ,
@tester1121@lemmy.world avatar

I am trying to use SaskTel, which is the opposite: all carriers (except Rogers?) have an agreement to use SaskTel towers, and SaskTel uses other carriers' towers in different provinces. I know that Bell and Telus work, but not SaskTel? They both use the same tower, so I don't know why there is still no 5G for SaskTel on my Pixel.

JohnnyCanuck ,
@JohnnyCanuck@lemmy.ca avatar

https://support.sasktel.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/26177/~/5g-certified-phones

Blip6338 ,

Canadian here who used both small and big providers with pixel phones (3, 5 and 7 pro) bought directly from Google (not financed through the provider).

Not all smaller providers provide 5G but they all have LTE or LTE+. I had 5G working with my Pixel 5 without issue when I was with one of the large providers. I'm with a smaller provider now on my Pixel 7 pro and have no issue connecting to LTE(+).

But, you also mention the Pixel watch. I never used a watch with a sim card and I have to say that it is not always clear from the provider's website if they are supported or if they will provide a esim for them or not, and at what cost. This is something that looks a lot more straightforward when with Apple than Android.

tester1121 OP ,
@tester1121@lemmy.world avatar

The provider that I use has 5G antennas/towers all over roads, and the capital also has some 5G+ locations. It also annoys me that I seem to need the 5G option to show up or else LTE+ does not work at all.

Kelly ,

You can always just check that a carriers bands are supported by the hardware yourself.

https://lemmy.world/pictrs/image/08349057-0727-46f7-857d-0489922c96a1.png

https://gsmarena.com/google_pixel_8_pro-12545.php

BearOfaTime ,

This is the answer - what frequencies does the device support?

tester1121 OP ,
@tester1121@lemmy.world avatar

They are. All carriers use the same tower infrastructure, but I can't use 5G from the tower operator carrier.

henfredemars ,

This is not strictly true based on how I read this comment.

Carriers may use different towers and different antennas on the same towers. This is because carriers might have different access rights to different frequency bands, and the owner of a tower could be an unrelated carrier.

PM_ME_YOUR_SNDCLOUD ,

I can’t speak for Canada but at least here in the US, I’ve used every Pixel on any carrier I wanted. And most of them were small ones. Straight Talk, Ting, T-Mobile, and one more I can’t even remember the name of.

IIRC, the “allowlist” stuff was just “known carriers that use towers that are compatible with this phone.” As in, different carriers use different “bands”, or frequency ranges, for their transmissions. Your phone has to have hardware support for those bands. So the “allowlist” is really just “we know these work.” I’m pretty sure neither Samsung nor Google will stop you from using an unlocked phone bought from them with any carrier that’ll accept it. These days, I just stick a SIM (or eSIM) into my phone and just go.

themurphy ,

This seems very weird, as it shouldn't matter at all. Are you talking about eSIM support, or just 5G?

They may be something with different wavelengths for 5G, but I'm not the right one to answer on that one.

tester1121 OP ,
@tester1121@lemmy.world avatar

eSIM works, but 5G doesn't work.

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