Wife is thinking about going with the Galaxy Note 2 when we switch to Straight Talk

[G+_Tim Davis]

Wife is thinking about going with the Galaxy Note 2 when we switch to Straight Talk.  Which version of the Note 2 is "best" to get?  I know the T-Mo one supports DC-HSPA (aka HSPA-42), but we're using the AT&T SIMs as T-Mo coverage is lacking.  Plus, I've heard AT&T might open up their LTE to MVNOs, so that might make the AT&T variant better...but then again, international unlocked version would likely get updated the fastest.

[G+_Joseph Cappellino]

I would suggest the International version (N7100) if it supports all the bands needed. The problem is that the LTE (N7105) version doesn't support AT&T's HSPA+ band. You might also have similar problems with T-Mobile's and AT&T's versions. They usually don't play nice with the other's HSPA+.

 

Good luck.

[G+_Tim Davis]

According to this table, all three variants support HSPA+ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Note_II#Table_of_variants

 

However, only the International w/ LTE (N7105) and the T-Mobile variant (SGH-T889) support DC-HSPA+, and the LTE bands on the N7105 aren't in use in the US.  I guess what I need to determine is which (if any) LTE bands a MVNO might support down the road, and whether I want DC-HSPA+ if I ever decide to switch to T-Mo.

[G+_Tim Davis]

Well, might have just found some evidence to push me to the T-Mobile version.  According to +AnandTech the T-Mobile variant supports the same LTE bands as AT&T, but also has DC-HSPA+

 

http://www.anandtech.com/show/6386/samsung-galaxy-note-2-review-t-mobile-/9

[G+_Joseph Cappellino]

Excellent, Tim Davis

 

I think you may have found the winner. I love my Galaxy Note 2 from Verizon (which is carrier unlocked, but bootloader locked) and is also a world phone. Unfortunately, it won't work on anyone else's LTE.