What USA buyers need to know
- All Blackview Phones are network unlocked.
- Only SOME Blackview phones have the 3G and 4G bands to work in the USA.
- HD Voice is required for phones as 2G and 3G networks are being retired.
- Not all carriers are welcoming on BYOD Phones.
In short, we have tested BV5100 on AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile and have verified that the phone works great with these two major USA carriers.
AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon and the device works pretty well especially on the 4G/LTE Network.
AT&T AND VERIZON ACTIVATION UPDATE
Please be warned that AT&T and Verizon will be phasing out 2G and 3G connectivity in a couple of years. Because of this, they have made some big adjustments with activations. Some of the tier 1 reps from ATT or Verizon might tell you that your Blackview phone will only run 3G - which is completely not true.
A few of our ATT and Verizon users reported having the same experience but they were able to resolve the issue eventually. Some of these reps just either don't know what to do, or they are mandated to not activate unlocked phones, for some reason. But one thing's certain - Our phones DO WORK GREAT on the ATT 2G/3G/4G networks and Verizon's 4G network.
(See the full blogpost on this here:
https://us.blackview.store/blog/can-blackview-phones-work-on-at-t-verizon-t-mobile)
1. Blackview BV5100 is Unlocked
Compatibility to local carrier provider is 1# problem buyers face in buying foreign manufactured smartphones. This makes you can't buy every phone you want and expect it to work on USA Carriers. You should never buy a network locked Blackview set. They are also rare so this point should be easy to fulfill.
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Blackview BV5100 is unlocked by default.
2. BV5100 has bands that work on AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile
Based on data in
devicesranks, frequencycheck, & kimovil.com, Blackview BV5100 should work with most USA Carriers. BV5100 supports many bands' frequency.
BV5100 USA Version Bands:
2G GSM: B2/B5/
3G WCDMA: B1/B2/B4/B5/B8
4G FDD-LTE: B2/B4/B5/B7/B12/B17/B40; TDD-LTE: B41
Carriers can use many bands but there are only a few which is important. Please see the
BOLD 4G LTE Bands:
Main bands for use in USA: 2,4,12,13,17,25,41, 66,71
As you can see in this bar chart, the vast majority of 4G LTE mobile data volume goes through mid-band spectrum. That would be the 1900MHz band 2 (B2) for AT&T; the 1900MHz B2 together with 1700MHz AWS bands B4 and B66 for Verizon; and pretty much the same combination of B2, B4 and B66 for T-Mobile.
Those bands make the backbone of 4G LTE network coverage especially for urban areas .In rural areas of the United States, the importance of low-band spectrum (below 1GHz) has a greater importance. Here, Verizon Wireless is particularly well invested with its 700MHz bands B13, B14, and B17. AT&T and T-Mobile, on the other hand, rely on 700MHz band B12.
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Blackview BV5100 has all of the main bands used by Carriers in the USA
3. HD Voice is needed from 2022
Come 2022,
3G networks will be retired. This means that your Voice Calls must use the 4G network. Hence some carriers like AT&T and Verizon have stopped activating non HD Voice Phones. Most new phones should have HD voice and BV5100 has no problems getting HD Voice on AT&T and Verizon.
A simple test to see if your phone is HD Voice Capable is to
See if there is a HD or VoLTE icon at the signal barMake a phone call and see if your network connection stays on 4G. It should not drop to 3GWhile on a phone call, surf the internet.
If your phone can do all three, you most likely have a HD Voice Phone.
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Blackview BV5100 has all HD Voice working on AT&T, Verizon & T-Mobile
4. Not all carriers are welcoming on BYOD
To activate your Blackview to mobile providers in United States such as AT&T, Boost Mobile, Cricket Wireless, FreedomPop, Google Project Fi, H2O Wireless, Lycamobile, Sprint, T-Mobile, Ting (GSM), U.S. Cellular, Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS, Mint Mobile, Straight Talk.
Find your phone IMEIRegister / call to your carrier mobile providerThen it will be activated
Here is a guide from AT&T:
https://www.att.com/wireless/byod/
Sometimes carriers just won't activate your unlocked or BYOD phone. This is true if you do not have a BYOD plan or on some more restrictive carriers like Verizon/Sprint. In this case, feel free to use our
30 days refund/return policy.
BV5100 DETAILED SPECIFICATIONS
Display
Resolution: 1440x720
Glass Types: Gorilla glass 3
Screen size: 5.7 inches
Design
Dimensions: 159.4*77.7*13.7mm
Weight: 325 g
Body type: Plastics and rubber
WATERPROOFNESS AND DUST RESISTANCE
IP68, IP69K, MIL-STD-810G
PERFORMANCE
Operating system (OS): Android 10.0
Model Helio: MT6762V/WD Octacore
Clock Speed: 1.8GHz
Process technology: 12 nm
GPU: IMG GE8320
GPU frequency: 600 Mhz
Storage
RAM (Memory): 4 Gb RAM
Storage (ROM): 64 GB
Card slot: MicroSD (TF), supports cards up to 128Gb
Camera
Rear Camera
16 MP Sony Main Camera + 8 MP + 0.3 MP (HI-1634/IMX134/GC032A)
Flash Dual LED flash
Selfie Camera
IMX214 13MP f2.2 Apperture
Video
1080P @30FPS H.264/H.265
Networks
Frequency 2G (GSM): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz 3G (WCDMA): 850 / 900 / 2100 MHz 4G (FDD-LTE): B1(2100) / B3(1800) / B7(2600)
Network Type 4G
SIM Card nanoSIM + nanoSIM or microSD (TF)
Network Connectivity
Wi-Fi
Bluetooth
NFC
Location
GPS+GLONASS+Beidou+Galileo
Battery
Battery capacity (mAh): 5580mAh
Type: Non-removable
Fast charging: YES
Wireless charging: YES/Supported
Sensors
Notifications Led
Gyroscope
Magnetic
Fingerprint Sensor
Ambient light sensor
Accelerometer
Compass
FM
OTG
Sound
Audio processor Integrated
Loudspeaker
Microphone
Headphone Jack : NO
Interfaces / connectors
USB Type-C