shaglord said:

Hey fellas

I heard that you can't downgrade to a previous Android version but what about the same Android version?

I'm on Android 10 (not the latest Android 10) and consider trying the latest Android 10 build. I'm just afraid that there will be some odd battery drain or something making me want to go back.

Thanks for replying!

On Samsung devices, the only thing preventing a downgrade is the bootloader binary version. If your device launched with, let's say version 3, and at some point was updated to version 4, you can only downgrade as far back as the first version 4 firmware - you can't downgrade to version 3.

If the bootloader version never changed, there is nothing preventing a downgrade, although you may have to unlock the bootloader.

V0latyle said:

On Samsung devices, the only thing preventing a downgrade is the bootloader binary version. If your device launched with, let's say version 3, and at some point was updated to version 4, you can only downgrade as far back as the first version 4 firmware - you can't downgrade to version 3.

If the bootloader version never changed, there is nothing preventing a downgrade, although you may have to unlock the bootloader.

Excellent information. Thank you very much.

In the pursuit of battery performance under root/bl-unlock, have you ever heard of anyone successfully downgrading their bootloader binary?

shaglord said:

Excellent information. Thank you very much.

In the pursuit of battery performance under root/bl-unlock, have you ever heard of anyone successfully downgrading their bootloader binary?

No, it isn't possible. When the bootloader version is incremented, it also increments a write-once register in the hardware, like an "e-fuse", that cannot be reversed. Even if you could somehow flash the older binary, the anti-rollback mechanism would prevent it from booting.

V0latyle said:

No, it isn't possible. When the bootloader version is incremented, it also increments a write-once register in the hardware, like an "e-fuse", that cannot be reversed. Even if you could somehow flash the older binary, the anti-rollback mechanism would prevent it from booting.

You sir, are a saint. Thank you for taking the time and explain this. I bet I'm not the first to ask.

Are you running an older build on your Samsung(s)? What do you like about it?

shaglord said:

You sir, are a saint. Thank you for taking the time and explain this. I bet I'm not the first to ask.

Are you running an older build on your Samsung(s)? What do you like about it?

My daily driver is a Pixel 5, but I have a Tab A 8.0 (T290) that I am running a Google GSI on.

This would actually be the easiest way to run an older build - unlock your bootloader, install TWRP, and use it to flash a modified stock ROM. It wouldn't quite be the same as the factory firmware of course, but at least you have more freedom