Note 9 came pre installed with magisk manager

[ahmed123004]

Bought a used phone on olx, when i factory reset the phone it has magisk manager installed and device status is custom in the about phone menu, meanwhile its on jan 1 2019 security patch android 9 and there is no software update option either. Model is 960F/DS dual sim variant, plus i had to install google play games and some google apps are just not downloading from the playstore like netflix,spotify etc saying app is incompatible with my phone. Imei is matching with the device details and it is pta registered on both sims, signals are tough to catch thou. Can i recover the phone to stock software ?

 

[error]

Ask the seller to install original rom back or return the device.

 

[ahmed123004]

Ask the seller to install original rom back or return the device.

The number is turned off now, is it a clone ?

 

[murtaza12]

The number is turned off now, is it a clone ?

Not necessarily. Power off the phone, hold volume down + bixby button and then connect the phone with your PC.

Press Vol Up to continue and enter download mode. It will show the actual model number of the phone in the top left corner.

It might be a Korean variant Note 9 (SM-N960N) but the seller installed a custom ROM to mask the model number and make it look like the international Note 9 (SM-N960F).

 

[ahmed123004]

Not necessarily. Power off the phone, hold volume down + bixby button and then connect the phone with your PC.

Press Vol Up to continue and enter download mode. It will show the actual model number of the phone in the top left corner.

It might be a Korean variant Note 9 (SM-N960N) but the seller installed a custom ROM to mask the model number and make it look like the international Note 9 (SM-N960F).

Ill check it in a bit. Anyway to return it to stock rom of 960F variant and continue using it as normal ? Its bootloader is unlocked and non rooted as far as ive checked. And like how risky will it be to remove this rom in terms of stability of device etc

 

[murtaza12]

Ill check it in a bit. Anyway to return it to stock rom of 960F variant and continue using it as normal ? Its bootloader is unlocked and non rooted as far as ive checked. And like how risky will it be to remove this rom in terms of stability of device etc

You'll only be able to return to N960F stock ROM if the device is actually an N960F.

If it's an N960N, then you'll have to flash the Korean stock ROM.

It won't be risky at all. Once you find the correct model number of the device, just flash the latest stock firmware with Odin and do a factory reset.

 

[ahmed123004]

I just checked like you said its the korean model, and its imei says its the f model, i also found its using dr Ketan software to make the korean model run with 2 sims and display itself as being a global F model.
I have been royally cucked by the seller

 

[murtaza12]

I just checked like you said its the korean model, and its imei says its the f model, i also found its using dr Ketan software to make the korean model run with 2 sims and display itself as being a global F model.
I have been royally cucked by the seller

Yup. Unfortunately this is quite common and many shopkeepers do this to try and increase the resale value of the phone.

You can flash the stock N960N ROM or find another ROM on XDA that you can continue using.

 

[ahmed123004]

Yup. Unfortunately this is quite common and many shopkeepers do this to try and increase the resale value of the phone.

You can flash the stock N960N ROM or find another ROM on XDA that you can continue using.

I fear that if i change the rom then the current two fake imeis will go, and i will have to pay pta tax again on the actual imei of this phone.

 

[murtaza12]

I fear that if i change the rom then the current two fake imeis will go, and i will have to pay pta tax again on the actual imei of this phone.

The original IMEI of the phone will not return from flashing stock ROM.

However, you could either lose the second IMEI and continue using the device as single SIM, or you'll end up losing both IMEIs and will have to get them reflashed at some repair shop.

 

[ahmed123004]

Now i have to ask is it worth it, i need some suggestions

 

[murtaza12]

Now i have to ask is it worth it, i need some suggestions

Depends how much you bought the phone for. If it was significantly cheaper than regular market price for a used Note 9, then keep using it.

If it wasn't, try selling it or returning to the seller and finding a different phone.

And this is yet another reason not to use OLX for buying phones... or anything for that matter.

 

[ahmed123004]

Depends how much you bought the phone for. If it was significantly cheaper than regular market price for a used Note 9, then keep using it.

If it wasn't, try selling it or returning to the seller and finding a different phone.

And this is yet another reason not to use OLX for buying phones... or anything for that matter.

I got it for 67k, market rate was around 72-75k round about, yea i mean the pros are slightly more tempting, but tmrw ill visit the guy who sold me this phone, not attending his calls but i know his address, might get some cash back or return the phone entirely. Scary sight seeing this...

 

[LiV3 WiR3]

Just checked a galaxy s9 which I bought dirt cheap from hall rd lahore recently. It has also been converted to G960F from G960N. Not really an issue for me though as long as it works fine (which it does). It has fake imeis of course. I kinda want to return to original stock ROM of this device but its not super necessary.

 

[ahmed123004]

Just checked a galaxy s9 which I bought dirt cheap from hall rd lahore recently. It has also been converted to G960F from G960N. Not really an issue for me though as long as it works fine (which it does). It has fake imeis of course. I kinda want to return to original stock ROM of this device but its not super necessary.

As a daily driver do you face any issues ?

 

[LiV3 WiR3]

As a daily driver do you face any issues ?

Not really. There's a tiny problem that people who call me hear their own voice back when Im on loud speaker, but that is their problem, not mine lol
I got the checking warranty claimed and the guy I bought it from replaced the mic strip, but the problem still persists. Might be a custom firmware glitch which is making the noise cancellation feature not work properly. Not a big deal though as it only happens sometimes.

 

[ahmed123004]

Not really. There's a tiny problem that people who call me hear their own voice back when Im on loud speaker, but that is their problem, not mine lol
I got the checking warranty claimed and the guy I bought it from replaced the mic strip, but the problem still persists. Might be a custom firmware glitch which is making the noise cancellation feature not work properly. Not a big deal though as it only happens sometimes.

So basically its a good phone to use if its price is cheaper than the market. Thanks for the info, i might end up keeping this phone and see how it goes.

 

[mbk99]

Well i saw some Note 9 F varaint "non PTA" being sold for under 60K online on some popular Facebook page.

 

[mbk99]

I fear that if i change the rom then the current two fake imeis will go, and i will have to pay pta tax again on the actual imei of this phone.

U can flash the stock rom and then root the smartphone and then maybe u can punch some dual IMEI of PTA approved cheaper smartphones like Nokia or Qmobiles ones into Note 9.

 

[ahmed123004]

U can flash the stock rom and then root the smartphone and then maybe u can punch some dual IMEI of PTA approved cheaper smartphones like Nokia or Qmobiles ones into Note 9.

Its working fine as it is for now so i guess no need to change to android 10 just yet.