An
"unlockable bootloader" refers to the ability to access and modify the software code of a device, like a smartphone or tablet. By unlocking the bootloader, users can customize and install different operating systems or software on their device, giving them more control and freedom to personalize their user experience.
Full definition
So to bolster FRP on devices
with unlockable bootloaders like the Nexus series, Google added a hidden setting within Android that prevents bootloader unlocking and makes fastboot flashing impossible unless it's enabled.
The Sony Xperia XA2 and the Sony Xperia XA2 Ultra are some of the first mainstream devices to launch with Android 8.0 Oreo, and they have
fully unlockable bootloaders and support for Project Treble.
Unlockable bootloaders allow for the installation of custom ROMs, and while we doubt anyone is going to flash Gingerbread onto the Xoom, it could lead to cosmetic changes with the UI, in the form of themes and other modification.
If you have either the SM - G9600 or SM - G9650, which I believe are the Snapdragon Samsung Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 + models
with unlockable bootloaders, then you can install AOSP ROMs from our Treble - Enabled Device Development forum.
The Xperia XA2 Ultra, like the Xperia XA2, comes with Google's Project Treble and a
fully unlockable bootloader, among other developer - friendly features, so the link will likely be up in the near future; there doesn't seem to be any real reason for Sony not to offer it.
The V10 had
an unlockable bootloader and was dead - easy to modify — nearly the same process as a Nexus (fastboot oem unlock, fastboot flash recovery, etc...).
Moreover, it is equipped with
the unlockable bootloader, which is quite friendly with the Android Open Source Project (AOSP).
Motorola is rather picky as to which devices will have
unlockable bootloaders, which in turn further stokes the flames of annoyance from customers.
Would you choose Moto if they allowed more phones to have
unlockable bootloaders?
Being the flagship Honeycomb tablet, the Xoom having
an unlockable bootloader will help developers test out applications made for the tablet in mind.
We see why the first Android 3.0 Honeycomb tablet would have
an unlockable bootloader — for the developers, but Moto shouldn't be so fickle with their handsets.
Recently we've heard about the first custom ROM for the Asus Transformer Prime — now that it has
an unlockable bootloader — and now the manufacturer is making an official Ice Cream Sandwich announcement, though for a previous model.
We all breathed a collective sigh of relief when we learned that Motorola provided the Xoom with
an unlockable bootloader, giving developers and hackers easy access to the hardware.
Motorola just confirmed via Twitter that the Xoom will have
an unlockable bootloader to aid developers in app development.
Remember that
unlockable bootloader can also kill the warranty of your product and Google video rental will also be unavailable.
Both are Project Treble compatible which is great news for the modding community — in the future, we expect to see the Galaxy S9 and S9 + boot generic Android Open Source Project images in the future (but only for the Exynos models, which have
unlockable bootloaders).
As to why the Pixel ranks so highly on our list, let's start with
its unlockable bootloader.
For this reason, we only included devices with unlocked or
unlockable bootloaders, and we excluded devices that did not have a Fastboot interface for flashing said images.
For the Snapdragon models without
an unlockable bootloader, unfortunately it won't help you to get AOSP at all since you need to be able to flash a generic system image (GSI) which requires an unlocked bootloader in the first place.
As we reported first here on Gadget Hacks, the Google Pixel and Pixel XL have
unlockable bootloaders, with the exception of models purchased from Verizon.
We already knew that Pixel phones purchased from Verizon will not have
unlockable bootloaders, but it's great to hear that the Google Store version will not suffer from this same issue.
The Verizon version of the Pixel will have
a unlockable bootloader, preventing you from modifying your phone, and will also ship with three Verizon apps preinstalled.
The Google Pixel 2 on Verizon isn't supposed to have
an unlockable bootloader, but some users are discovering that this isn't necessarily the case.
Fortunately, Google has put those fears to rest, confirming that the Google Pixel and Pixel XL will, in fact, have
unlockable bootloaders, which means they can be rooted, but with some caveats.
What you won't be able to do is unlock your bootloader: Verizon's version of the Pixel will come with
an unlockable bootloader.
The one big question remaining about Google's upcoming Pixel phones has finally been answered: Yes, the Pixel and Pixel XL have
unlockable bootloaders — at least, if you buy directly from Google.
When the latest Samsung Galaxy flagship pair was made official, we feared that only a handful of users would be able to grab the model with
an unlockable bootloader.
This means that one can choose from a wide variety of custom ROMs, kernels and other tweaks — modifications that other devices with locked bootloaders would largely be bereft of, and that even competing flagships with
an unlockable bootloader yet less development don't always get to savor.
The T - Mobile variant of the LG G6 features
an unlockable bootloader, while most other North American variants come with a tightly locked down bootloader, which effectively limits the full potential of your brand new fairly expensive phone.
-- The device has
an unlockable bootloader through HTC's Dev portal, though there are no custom ROMs currently available.
On the other hand, the Exynos 9810 model is able to run AOSP - based ROMs such as this generic build of LineageOS 15.1 as the international Galaxy S9 / S9 + models have
unlockable bootloaders.
Unfortunately, the model sold in the U.S. is usually impossible to bootloader - unlock, so the only way to get a Snapdragon Galaxy flagship with
an unlockable bootloader is by importing one from China.
If your device does have
an unlockable bootloader, however, then read on.
In this article, we'll primarily be discussing users who fall into the first camp, who have
an unlockable bootloader.
16 GB of on board storage expandable via microSD card, LTE,
unlockable bootloader, and prompt software updates.
You could purchase one of the international Exynos - powered Galaxy variants, which do have
unlockable bootloaders, but you'd have issues connecting to some North American cell towers.
Like I said, we'll update this page as we find more phones with
unlockable bootloaders.
On a Pixel device or another phone with
an unlockable bootloader, you can choose to unlock your bootloader, which allows you to install another operating system, like the LineageOS custom ROM.
As we first reported here on Gadget Hacks, Google's new Pixel and Pixel XL smartphones come with
an unlockable bootloader, with the exception of models sold by Verizon.
Custom kernels like ElementalX, custom recoveries like TWRP — none of this happens unless you buy a phone with
an unlockable bootloader.
Any carrier - branded phone sold by Verizon or AT&T will not have
an unlockable bootloader.
Choose a handset with
an unlockable bootloader, and preferably with a microSD slot too, and check that an international ROM is available.
And of course if you aren't satisfied with what OnePlus has created, you can blow it all away and install something else thanks to
an unlockable bootloader.
With the blame being pointed squarely at Verizon, Samsung made a decision to offer full retail cost Galaxy S III models for Verizon with
an unlockable bootloader.
How would a customer know whether or not he / she is getting a device that has
an unlockable bootloader?
Unfortunately, we do not have an ETA on when Samsung will begin offering the Developer Edition Galaxy S III with
the unlockable bootloader.