Database Develop

Flagship? Disappointment!

Note 9 has a lot of good things going for it . . . but a flagship?
Oreo instead of Pie?
No 5G?
Broadcom‘s new super accurate dual frequency GPS chip not part of the package? (Chip introduced almost a year ago and Xaomi’s already released the M8 with this chip)
Remember 2016? The Samsung A9 had a safe 5,000 mAh battery. Why can’t we put this in this note?
Feel free to add to this list of disappointments. Perhaps some of them will be fixed with the S 10?

Would a 5000mah battery in this years Note be a 'safe' marketing move? As a tech enthusiast I'd love to see it, however, I understand why they have played it safe, they need a couple of generations of solid performers without any hiccups before ramping back up. Imagine poor sales vs Note 7 repeat, they can't afford a repeat - I believe the Note would be a doomed product if it happened again.
The latest GPS chip: Samsung recently explained that a highly competitive high end market coupled with a difficulty in adding compelling new features led to poor sales of the S9 group. It's swings and roundabouts, on one hand you could throw everything into your latest and greatest devices, but next year?
Note 9 makes a safe and just about interesting enough entry, it gives Samsung breathing room for next years model. Even the presentation had mention of how difficult it is to come up with new features.
Note 10 - 4500/5000mah battery, 5G, New GPS chip + 1 or 2 more features, makes more sense for a '10' iteration than the '9'.

Technically the Note 8 can support the 1GB speeds. The Note 9 will as well.
https://phandroid.com/2017/09/08/att-gigabit-lte-galaxy-note-8/
5G is not a real tech yet, it's actually called 5G evolution which is a fast LTE which the Note supports.
https://www.computerworld.com/artic...ess/why-atts-5g-evolution-isnt-really-5g.html

nizmoz said:
Technically the Note 8 can support the 1GB speeds. The Note 9 will as well.
https://phandroid.com/2017/09/08/att-gigabit-lte-galaxy-note-8/
5G is not a real tech yet, it's actually called 5G evolution which is a fast LTE which the Note supports.
https://www.computerworld.com/artic...ess/why-atts-5g-evolution-isnt-really-5g.html
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Personally I think the real challenge that Samsung Has is in the processor. Snapdragaon and Exynos have both seen decent improvments over the years but they don't hold a candle to what Apple has done with theirs. Not sure if they will ever win that battle, but I hope they can get closer.
I also believe that we are all going to be blown away by the S10 when it comes out. Samsung is putting ALL of the new HOT stuff they have been working on - INscreen Fingerprint scanner to name one - and I bet there will be bunch more!
I am getting the note 9, I just can't help myself - I am an addict when it comes to these devices - but I am really excited to see what is giong to happen when the S10 comes out.

You're getting too edgy with this. Pie was not relased during the development and 5g is still far away. Talking about the gps thing even my s7edge gets 4meter accuracy while driving what else do u need? An inch of accuracy!

The only things I wanted, and still hope come true . 1 )flat glass on the screen again, I mean it's a note right, easier to write on. 2) Alcantara case 3) dbrand grip case.
5g is way off, probably 2 generations before wide adoption. GPS has been great since Note 4 so not really seeing the need for that either.
Sent from my Galaxy Note8 using XDA Labs

alltaken123 said:
Would a 5000mah battery in this years Note be a 'safe' marketing move? As a tech enthusiast I'd love to see it, however, I understand why they have played it safe, they need a couple of generations of solid performers without any hiccups before ramping back up. Imagine poor sales vs Note 7 repeat, they can't afford a repeat - I believe the Note would be a doomed product if it happened again.
The latest GPS chip: Samsung recently explained that a highly competitive high end market coupled with a difficulty in adding compelling new features led to poor sales of the S9 group. It's swings and roundabouts, on one hand you could throw everything into your latest and greatest devices, but next year?
Note 9 makes a safe and just about interesting enough entry, it gives Samsung breathing room for next years model. Even the presentation had mention of how difficult it is to come up with new features.
Note 10 - 4500/5000mah battery, 5G, New GPS chip + 1 or 2 more features, makes more sense for a '10' iteration than the '9'.
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Click to collapse
Very well said.

onepiece said:
Note 9 has a lot of good things going for it . . . but a flagship?
Oreo instead of Pie?
No 5G?
Broadcom‘s new super accurate dual frequency GPS chip not part of the package? (Chip introduced almost a year ago and Xaomi’s already released the M8 with this chip)
Remember 2016? The Samsung A9 had a safe 5,000 mAh battery. Why can’t we put this in this note?
Feel free to add to this list of disappointments. Perhaps some of them will be fixed with the S 10?
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Click to collapse
Name one note that released with that years version of android.
Complaining about not being on the latest version of android (that was just released) while ignoring all the added samsung functionality is kind of a short sighted comparison..

Good Discussion
alltaken123 said:
Would a 5000mah battery in this years Note be a 'safe' marketing move? As a tech enthusiast I'd love to see it, however, I understand why they have played it safe, they need a couple of generations of solid performers without any hiccups before ramping back up. Imagine poor sales vs Note 7 repeat, they can't afford a repeat - I believe the Note would be a doomed product if it happened again.
The latest GPS chip: Samsung recently explained that a highly competitive high end market coupled with a difficulty in adding compelling new features led to poor sales of the S9 group. It's swings and roundabouts, on one hand you could throw everything into your latest and greatest devices, but next year?
Note 9 makes a safe and just about interesting enough entry, it gives Samsung breathing room for next years model. Even the presentation had mention of how difficult it is to come up with new features.
Note 10 - 4500/5000mah battery, 5G, New GPS chip + 1 or 2 more features, makes more sense for a '10' iteration than the '9'.
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Click to collapse
Alltaken123,
I would definitely hire you as a customer service rep for Samsung! You have a plausible explanation for the concerns mentioned and your words are very well spoken. Thank you.
Couple of points to consider…
On the GPS chip: anybody who has walked the streets of Tokyo using any current smartphone GPS knows the frustration when you walk around the block three times because reflected GPS signals keep causing the blue dot to jump 100’s of meters when you think you are at your destination. It would be great to have the accuracy and reflected signal rejection Broadcom’s new chip promises.
On the “in glass fingerprint recognition“ that feature is dubious when a phone has facial recognition & a great back side fingerprint scanner... but it’s something new to hype.
And now my favorite… Larger batteries and the direction the industry has moved towards. Your explanation of Samsung being extremely cautious makes perfect sense and is a likely driver for their decision. That’s said, Samsung’s A9 realeased in 2016 with a 5,000 mah battery had no issues. Because it had a mid tier CPU it truly delivered 2 days of heavy use.
I probably should put this one in a separate thread but here’s the short version of what’s going on with battery capacities: phone makers match their battery mah capacity to approximately one day’s worth of power consumption. Why? Because when you charge your phone every day you’ll end up wearing the battery out within two years. In the “old days with replaceable batteries“ you could extend the life of your phone a few years by changing the battery. Now with sealed-in batteries you are virtually compelled to buy a new $800 electronic monitoring bracelet every two years. Pretty slick from a business perspective. Before someone jumps in and tells me you can’t have a water resistant phone with a removable battery, let me share my experience with phones in the Japanese domestic market. Japanese have had replaceable batteries in many of their water resistant cell phones since the 1990s. All it takes is a good o-ring and a decent latch. Today, however, Japan is “mostly” onboard with the lucrative (albeit wasteful) sealed-in battery scheme.

nuclearrage said:
The only things I wanted, and still hope come true . 1 )flat glass on the screen again, I mean it's a note right, easier to write on. 2) Alcantara case 3) dbrand grip case.
5g is way off, probably 2 generations before wide adoption. GPS has been great since Note 4 so not really seeing the need for that either.
Sent from my Galaxy Note8 using XDA Labs
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5g evolution is already in many cities like dfw. And the note 8 supports it. Full 5g won’t be here anytime in the next couple of years.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

nuclearrage said:
The only things I wanted, and still hope come true . 1 )flat glass on the screen again, I mean it's a note right, easier to write on. 2) Alcantara case 3) dbrand grip case.
5g is way off, probably 2 generations before wide adoption. GPS has been great since Note 4 so not really seeing the need for that either.
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Click to collapse
+1 for the flat glass. I'm not buying any phone with the curved screen gimmick.

papashex said:
+1 for the flat glass. I'm not buying any phone with the curved screen gimmick.
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Another +1 for USEABLE flat glass....and for recognizing the curve as an artsy gimmick. Narrow 2mm bezels are fine. After all the flesh of one’s hand covers anywhere from 2 to 4 mm of bezel/screen anyway.

Guess I'm the only person that actually likes the curved screen. Function over form is what I always go for.

Jammol said:
Guess I'm the only person that actually likes the curved screen. Function over form is what I always go for.
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Then why do you like the curved glass? It's absolutely not function over form...

papashex said:
+1 for the flat glass. I'm not buying any phone with the curved screen gimmick.
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I feel exactly the opposite. The curve makes edge swipe gestures far more useful, and I have come to rely on them significantly.

Jammol said:
Guess I'm the only person that actually likes the curved screen.
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Not alone! To be honest I just like the way the curved glass looks... I always found it gave the phone a more premium feel. Given the choice I would still take curved over flat edges, even though I don't even use the Edge features. Purely an aesthetic preference for me, but others of course may have different tastes and requirements.

Jammol said:
Guess I'm the only person that actually likes the curved screen. Function over form is what I always go for.
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Sometimes the screen protector situation bothers me but Im all for curved glass. Looks sexy

PsiPhiDan said:
Then why do you like the curved glass? It's absolutely not function over form...
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I like the curved glass screen because of edge display and the edge features. Yes it can be a but annoying with accidental touches but the trade off is worth it for me.
As far as the screen protector issue, that has nothing to do with Samsung. All those screen protector makers are being cheap and stupid. They make full coverage ones with only adhesive on the sides, and they also make case friendly ones with full adhesive. Why the heck can they not make a full coverage one with full adhesive?! Seems very stupid to me that they are having such a hard time making a dang protector that handles both things.
---------- Post added at 11:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:29 PM ----------
papashex said:
+1 for the flat glass. I'm not buying any phone with the curved screen gimmick.
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onepiece said:
Another +1 for USEABLE flat glass....and for recognizing the curve as an artsy gimmick. Narrow 2mm bezels are fine. After all the flesh of one’s hand covers anywhere from 2 to 4 mm of bezel/screen anyway.
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It's only a gimmick if you don't find a use for it. I can think of a lot of people that classifies the SPen as a gimmick. I use the heck out of mine, at least I thought I did until I met a guy that has to replace the tip of his SPen every month! He hooked me up with 3 bags of tips a few months ago after I got my Note 8. I haven't even replaced the tip yet for my original one.

I come to rely Alot on the apps edge since I started using the s7 edge. It helps me switch apps much faster than using the recent button. Well we can have apps That do the same thing but the curve makes it very smooth and natural to use

onepiece said:
Note 9 has a lot of good things going for it . . . but a flagship?
Oreo instead of Pie?
No 5G?
Broadcom‘s new super accurate dual frequency GPS chip not part of the package? (Chip introduced almost a year ago and Xaomi’s already released the M8 with this chip)
Remember 2016? The Samsung A9 had a safe 5,000 mAh battery. Why can’t we put this in this note?
Feel free to add to this list of disappointments. Perhaps some of them will be fixed with the S 10?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excited for the Note 9. Pre-ordered the 512gb already.
What does Android P have that Samsung's Oreo does not have more of?
What's the point of hurriedly introducing 5G when the tech is not yet mature. That would make the Note 9 a beta phone which I'm glad it's not.
I agree with the missing GPS chip.
I also agree with a 5kmAh battery
Overall I'm very happy with the Note 9 and consider it a big upgrade over the Note 8.

Note 9 users, will you be getting the Note 10+?

Every year there is the debate of whether to upgrade or not. On the positives, you'll get a bigger screen, faster processor, 4-6 GB more RAM, more camera options, slightly bigger battery and sleeker design. However, you'd be giving up the headphone jack, have to deal with the punch hole camera, and potentially having more accidental screen presses with the all screen design.
Given the aggressive discounts, it still might be worth it for some. Will you be upgrading?

Absolutely getting it. I'll be paying for a device anyway, may as well be the latest
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

absolutely freaking not. its too gimmicky for me

Yea, preordered it. 600 in trade 250 in Samsung dollars plus cashed in rewards. Looking at 260 shipped to my door. I can easily sell it for more than my note 9 unlocked.
Ordered 10+ 512 black unlocked.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

To many features of the 9 were dropped like the heart rate sensor that I use daily so for me the 10+ would be a major downgrade from my note9 512gb.
Plus the hole punch would drive me nuts.

No. It's literally a S10+ with a stylus and removed a feature. The headphone jack.

If there was a trade-in option like in the USA then I would consider, but in Sweden there are no good incentives and it's quite expensive for such a small upgrade. Maybe later if they will have some good deals for Blackfriday or christmas.

The hole in the screen is a deal breaker for me. I'm keeping my Note 9.

dugryce said:
The hole in the screen is a deal breaker for me. I'm keeping my Note 9.
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The same by me,keep the Note 9,maybe there are good customroms in the future,but not before update to Android 10.......at the moment i dont see a reason to change anything;the Note 9 is running nearly perfect....love it!

Yes! But for the first time I'll lose features, in order of personal importance: force touch button, headphone jack, hearth rate sensor.
Let's just call the Note 10 "Note10e".

Sprov said:
Yes! But for the first time I'll lose features, in order of personal importance: force touch button, headphone jack, hearth rate sensor.
Let's just call the Note 10 "Note10e".
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Most does not mention it nor care, but the iris scanner is also no more.

Not enough for me to upgrade, the freaking punch hole and the lack of a headphone jack and the heart rate sensor I used to upgrade my devices almost every year or year and a half, smartphones tech has evolved so much that I can't really see the need to upgrade so often..

Today, I had a chance to check out the Note 10 and Plus models at Best Buy. After checking it out for about 15 minutes, it felt like a purely cosmetic upgrade. Yes, it looks more sleek than the Note 9, especially in the Aura Blue color, but the reality is it ends up in a case anyways which adds bulk to the bezels. The hole punch was nearly invisible using night mode. The power button on the left is where one's index finger rests, so that change likely won't be an issue. Once the wow factor of the huge screen wore off, you realize that Samsung is basically using the same formula as the Note 9 and S10 series. Sure, it's a bit faster with the SD 855, EFS 3.0, and 12 GB RAM, but do they make a real world difference? Not really. I have a OnePlus 7 Pro as well, and the 90 Hz display combined with smoother software experience give the Note 10+ serious competition.
With 5G so sparsely available and carriers still figuring out what bands to use, I'd say the 5G model is premature. Even when 5G gains steam in 2020/2021, it's likely that the X50 modem will pale in comparison to the performance and versatility of upcoming 5G modems. As for the smaller Note 10, I can see it being popular with those coming from an S7 or S8. It is very comfortable to hold and offers good specs, though it will need to come down in price to compete with the S10/S10+.
The best summary of the situation mentioned is that the Note 9 was a phone that offered everything with no compromises. The Note 10+ offers extreme specs and gimmicky features, but gives up basics that Note 8 and Note 9 users appreciated. It is a very good looking phone with great performance, but not worth paying such a hefty price after one year with the expensive Note 9. Don't be shocked if this is deeply discounted for the holidays.

No headphone jack for a $100 more and not even a damn dongle or a 45 w charger in the box. Never paying more for less. Samsung is going the direction of apple's after mocking them for years for the same things they're doing right now. They've even removed their mocking videos from everywhere. Now, even the price is the same. Claiming that they removed the headphone jack to have space for the spen and a bigger battery. Turned out the bigger battery is only 300 mAh extra and the pen is the same size as ever. Asus managed to put a 5000 mAh battery in a phone WITH a headphone jack and two USB-C ports. Samsung is starting to cut corners to save some money on production and make more of it on sales since the phone market is basically saturated. They're freaking out because they're not selling as many phones as they used to. If they keep going on this direction, this note 9 will be the last phone I get from them even though this has been my decision even before the note 10, but now I won't even consider them.

Well for those that can afford to pay full price for a device then trade said device in I'm sure getting the 10 is a good deal. It would end up costing what a decent mid range device cost. But for most of us we are on contract..lol. For me I could care less about on screen finger print. Some will say well I don't have to pick up phone to unlock it now. Have we become so lazy that picking up your phone is that hard. For me and this is just me, I don't think the 10 is much of an upgrade. Yeah I have 2 upgrades just sitting and waiting to be used at At&t but I don't think I will waste them on the 10 when the 9 is great..sucky camera but still a power house. Don't care about the gimmicky pen gestures I'm not a blogger and most average user will not use it. I'm a simple man will never have to convert my off screen notes to word documents, what I have to say isn't that important [emoji1787]. But to each person it may be seen different. But for me it's not an upgrade. The 10 to me is a midrange device, the 10 plus is beautiful but it's just not enough to justify the price.
Sent from my SM-N935F using Tapatalk

Lol...I don't know maybe.
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Probably going back to a pixel phone... Tired of waiting for security updates and main updates....
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

butchieboy said:
Lol...I don't know maybe.
Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk
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You WILL buy both the note 10 and the plus and that's a promise. You have every note that's ever existed, Butchie. [emoji23]

butchieboy said:
Lol...I don't know maybe.
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I will see you in the Note 10 Forums lol.
Sent from my SM-N960U using XDA Labs

Nop, first cuz updates....J7 pro 2017 have lastes OneUI 1.1 and we dont? Wtf sammy?
Waiting for next huawei and than i go

Question Worth pre-ordering S21 Ultra now to get Galaxy Buds Pro (Exynos version)?

Where I live they are offering a free Galaxy Buds Pro for anyone who pre-orders the S21 Ultra during this week. I am still waiting for comprehensive reviews and comparisons between the SD 888 and Exynos 2100.
Is the Galaxy Buds Pro worth it and risking with pre-ordering right now?

Depending on where you're based, you have a return window. The pre-order deal & trade in value was really good so I've traded in my S10+.
In the UK it's 28 days, and you can let them know on the 28th day that you intend to return, doesn't have to be in their hand by that point. Just don't send your trade-in until you're sure you don't want to return the ultra. obviously you have to return the buds as well.
Whilst reviews are a good indication, its always best to use the phone and see how you feel, from what I've seen so far, there is still a gap but it's much smaller than last year. There aren't many great phones available that aren't Chinese branded ( OnePlus ) which I'm trying to avoid for ethical reasons, so my choices are limited, fingers crossed the exynos delivers!

Here it is difficult to return, I might be able to do so but not easy.
I currently have a OnePlus 6, so even if the Exynos is slower than the SD 888, it is still better than the current SD845, but I want to be sure the Exynos is good, last year it was a terrible choice with overheating and worst battery.

Seems delivery times are starting to lengthen, Sunday now in the UK so hurry up!

Batfink33 said:
Seems delivery times are starting to lengthen, Sunday now in the UK so hurry up!
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I am not in a hurry to get the smartphone itself, I can wait, but if the Galaxy Buds Pro are worth it and I can get them for free if I preorder now then I will preorder.

Where are you based? Double check the Samsung website and see what they say, but obviously only go ahead if you're comfortable. You can get comparable if not better earbuds for less than the RRP of the pros so don't risk it if you aren't comfortable! You'd be able to buy say the one plus 9 pro and headphones of your choice for less than the ultra price

Fyi I've seen a pc mark battery test that claimed around 12 hours for the sd888 and 10.25 for the Exynos, but no idea how legit it was (was in Chinese).

mtm1401 said:
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So in all fairness, I did go back and look at the speed test video he did between the two and noticed a few things
Looks like different people kicking off the tests (based on the table they are on and skin colour).
SD is in aeroplane mode and Exynos is connected to cellular but no wifi/mobile data.
Resolutions are very slightly different, but both look like they are in FHD, but the SD has a slightly lower resolution as the navigation bar is different and makes the screen slightly smaller. QHD makes a minimal difference to battery life unless you're doing something GPU intensive.
In all fairness, I've seen mixed reviews of both chips, but no idea how people are setting up their phones (always do a clean install!!!). Have to wait and see how it performs when the phone arrives.

Question Is it worth the upgrade?

I currently have and use a Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. I love the phone but it feel it's time to upgrade and I'll add this S20 to my pile of phones to play with. So far I like the S21 Ultra better because of the build quality over the S20 Ultra. I like the metal around the camera lens over the glass of the S20 Ultra. I also like the bigger fingerprint scanner behind the screen. Mine bugs out occasionally and can be irritating. The screen is phenomenal on the S20 Ultra and even better on the S21 Ultra. So should I upgrade or wait for an S22 Ultra? Or should I branch away from Samsung? I was a long time HTC user and switched fully to Samsung back at the release of the Galaxy Note 5. I've used and played with many Nexus, Motorola, OnePlus, LG and other phones and I'm stuck on Samsung. Hell I even went back to an iPhone XS Max because my family all has them, and let me tell you, that didn't last long. So I'm just wanting your guys opinions, worth the upgrade now? Wait? Branch away?

Not sure I'd upgrade but my upgrade span is normally two years. But the facts are that the camera is far better, the chipset is far better (regardless of region), it has S-pen support, the screen is better and it looks better.
If you think that's worth the price then go for it.
Check the video below for a more in depth comparison.

Beefheart said:
Not sure I'd upgrade but my upgrade span is normally two years. But the facts are that the camera is far better, the chipset is far better (regardless of region), it has S-pen support, the screen is better and it looks better.
If you think that's worth the price then go for it.
Check the video below for a more in depth comparison.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do agree that it's a better handset all around. I love my S20, but I hate it at the same time with all of its quirks. I guess I haven't looked yet, but I'm sure they are planning the S22 very soon, and it might be worth me waiting for that. I've just had small minuscule issues with my S20 Ultra, like currently waiting on my replacement since my screen quit entirely as well as all the rear camera sensors. I'm using my spare Galaxy A20 that was brand new in the box until my new S20 Ultra gets here. This A20 is super disappointing in terms of performance so I'm trying to not use it as much as I dont have to.

KaydenMcCurdyTech said:
I currently have and use a Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra. I love the phone but it feel it's time to upgrade and I'll add this S20 to my pile of phones to play with. So far I like the S21 Ultra better because of the build quality over the S20 Ultra. I like the metal around the camera lens over the glass of the S20 Ultra. I also like the bigger fingerprint scanner behind the screen. Mine bugs out occasionally and can be irritating. The screen is phenomenal on the S20 Ultra and even better on the S21 Ultra. So should I upgrade or wait for an S22 Ultra? Or should I branch away from Samsung? I was a long time HTC user and switched fully to Samsung back at the release of the Galaxy Note 5. I've used and played with many Nexus, Motorola, OnePlus, LG and other phones and I'm stuck on Samsung. Hell I even went back to an iPhone XS Max because my family all has them, and let me tell you, that didn't last long. So I'm just wanting your guys opinions, worth the upgrade now? Wait? Branch away?
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It's not going to be a night and day differnce. Cameras are definitely better and focus issues are fixed. Screen is only a minor upgrade in terms of quality - unless you want to leverage the new processor to run it a WQHD+ at adaptive refresh rate. Even that is barely discernible against the FHD+ with VRR. At least to my eyes.
Is it worth it monetarily? No. It doesn't make any financial sense dropping that kind of money every year on a handset. THe S21U is definitely better than the S20U, but not $1000 better
Is it worth it as a shiny new toy for playing around (provided money isn't that big a concern for you)? Hell, yeah.
Depends how you define "worth" and what your yearly budget is for gadgets.

enigmaamit said:
It's not going to be a night and day differnce. Cameras are definitely better and focus issues are fixed. Screen is only a minor upgrade in terms of quality - unless you want to leverage the new processor to run it a WQHD+ at adaptive refresh rate. Even that is barely discernible against the FHD+ with VRR. At least to my eyes.
Is it worth it monetarily? No. It doesn't make any financial sense dropping that kind of money every year on a handset. THe S21U is definitely better than the S20U, but not $1000 better
Is it worth it as a shiny new toy for playing around (provided money isn't that big a concern for you)? Hell, yeah.
Depends how you define "worth" and what your yearly budget is for gadgets.
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Personally I don't feel its worth dropping $1,000 every year, maybe every 2, sometimes 3 years. I actually paid $1,500 for my S20 Ultra right when it came out. I've just only started to get bored of it or irritated with little issues. But really, I think I'll wait it through and get the next Galaxy that jumps out ahead of competition in relation to specs. They usually wait to see what Apple will do, and try and get a couple steps ahead of them, not just 1 or the same. Sadly enough, Apple is competing side by side now with their new chips and they aren't doing too bad. I'm kind of wanting to try the 12 Pro Max but that would go against my religion.

KaydenMcCurdyTech said:
Personally I don't feel its worth dropping $1,000 every year, maybe every 2, sometimes 3 years. I actually paid $1,500 for my S20 Ultra right when it came out. I've just only started to get bored of it or irritated with little issues. But really, I think I'll wait it through and get the next Galaxy that jumps out ahead of competition in relation to specs. They usually wait to see what Apple will do, and try and get a couple steps ahead of them, not just 1 or the same. Sadly enough, Apple is competing side by side now with their new chips and they aren't doing too bad. I'm kind of wanting to try the 12 Pro Max but that would go against my religion.
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I think it's a sensible decision to wait for the next galaxy, especially since you have a "relatively" recent device already. Who knows, you may fall for the Z Fold 3 ?
Don't wait for Samsung to copy Apple too much though.... next thing you know, they'll stop including the phone in the box

enigmaamit said:
I think it's a sensible decision to wait for the next galaxy, especially since you have a "relatively" recent device already. Who knows, you may fall for the Z Fold 3 ?
Don't wait for Samsung to copy Apple too much though.... next thing you know, they'll stop including the phone in the box
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I very well could fall for the Z Fold 3, but who knows, I really am not sure I like the folding or flipping phones. I tried that a few times, even sliders, and they just weren't for me. I had every generation of Motorola Droid with the slider since first introduced, actually still have them lol, but the slider I wasn't a fan of. I had a Palm Pre Plus, and I had a Kyocera Echo. Cool concept and way ahead of it's time in 2013/2014, but was glitchy and cheap. I like a solid build. Probably the only flipping or sliding I liked was the original Motorola Razr V3m/or VE20. The Palm slider was nice though.
And you're not wrong on the Apple part . Thanks for the laugh. I think in terms of new phones, Samsung has had the cat in the bag for a long time.

IMHO the decision to upgrade or not comes down to value. By the time the S22 is released the S21 will be a better value and from rumors online it doesn't look as though the S22 Ultra (or whatever it's labeled) will have enough improvements to justify the additional cost. I'm thinking Samsung released the S21 Ultra earlier than previous devices because the S20 Ultra had some issues and it didn't generate sales volume they anticipated. As far as the Fold goes I see only one advantage, it can fold for a larger display. When one compares features with the S21 Ultra it's nowhere near the value especially if the focus is on features. I kinda feel sorry for users who dropped a bundle of money for the S20 Ultra, it's a bit of a tweener who's features were eclipsed in a significant way by the S21 Ultra.

varcor said:
IMHO the decision to upgrade or not comes down to value. By the time the S22 is released the S21 will be a better value and from rumors online it doesn't look as though the S22 Ultra (or whatever it's labeled) will have enough improvements to justify the additional cost. I'm thinking Samsung released the S21 Ultra earlier than previous devices because the S20 Ultra had some issues and it didn't generate sales volume they anticipated. As far as the Fold goes I see only one advantage, it can fold. When one compares features with the S21 Ultra it's nowhere near the value especially if the focus is on features. I kinda feel sorry for users who dropped a bundle of money for the S20 Ultra, it's a bit of a tweener who's features were eclipsed in a significant way by the S21 Ultra.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldn't agree more. Now the S20 Ultra is a significantly better phone than the iPhone XS Max I used shortly before it, and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge I was using before the iPhone. I had the Galaxy S8+ before going back to the S7 Edge, but that phone the first day I got it, it was dropped not even 3 feet onto a carpeted floor and cracked the screen. I immediately sent in for a replacement and not even 6 months of using it, it died. So I dug the trusty S7 Edge out of my drawer and put it back to use.
I did overspend on the S20 Ultra sitting back and looking at it now because I wanted the newest greatest phone and I was eligible for the upgrade, so I just did it. It's little issues with the fingerprint scanner are definitely annoying and the camera was good, but not what I thought it was shook up to be. I also have issues randomly dropping service, even in full bar areas. It games nicely, and the specs are great. I hate that I spent the money I did to get the lower RAM/storage version. But they didnt have a 256 or 512gb in stock. Next one I get will definitely be a 512gb with the highest RAM option. Granted this phone has never slowed down with a bunch of apps, I just ran out of 128gb faster than I thought I would.

KaydenMcCurdyTech said:
I couldn't agree more. Now the S20 Ultra is a significantly better phone than the iPhone XS Max I used shortly before it, and the Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge I was using before the iPhone. I had the Galaxy S8+ before going back to the S7 Edge, but that phone the first day I got it, it was dropped not even 3 feet onto a carpeted floor and cracked the screen. I immediately sent in for a replacement and not even 6 months of using it, it died. So I dug the trusty S7 Edge out of my drawer and put it back to use.
I did overspend on the S20 Ultra sitting back and looking at it now because I wanted the newest greatest phone and I was eligible for the upgrade, so I just did it. It's little issues with the fingerprint scanner are definitely annoying and the camera was good, but not what I thought it was shook up to be. I also have issues randomly dropping service, even in full bar areas. It games nicely, and the specs are great. I hate that I spent the money I did to get the lower RAM/storage version. But they didnt have a 256 or 512gb in stock. Next one I get will definitely be a 512gb with the highest RAM option. Granted this phone has never slowed down with a bunch of apps, I just ran out of 128gb faster than I thought I would.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, with no MicroSD available some users like myself understand the 256GB (about 200GB after system use is deducted) isn't enough. Lots of users are comfortable with this available internal storage for their purposes and utilize external storage devices to compensate but I'm not one of them. I have zero faith in Cloud Storage for privacy and security concerns.
Since you're in the US, if you decide on acquiring a 512GB device the Branded Service Provider's have no 512GB units available, not sure if some of them ever did offer it. Then that leaves you with a couple of options, the Snapdragon or Exynos Global variants. Given a choice I prefer the Snapdragon 888 SoC.
I opted for the Hong Kong (CSC - TGY) 512GB device. In addition to the largest internal storage it offers no carrier bloatware, dual sim's, unlocked bootloader and faster OTA's. There are some downsides as well. It's more expensive since there's no trade-in promotion, so you'd need to sell the S20 Ultra private party if you don't want to add it to your other older units. There is a 1 year warranty but that requires it be shipped back to the original retailer. That didn't bother me since I've never had repair issues with any of my previous Galaxy devices. Lastly, certain Branded Carrier Call Features like 5G and Carrier Aggregation may not work. My device does enable 4G LTE, WI-FI Calling which are sufficient for my usage. My S9+, S10 Plus were Hong Kong variants as well and I had no issues other than what I've already shared.
A Carrier Branded device may be the best value for you based on overall costs but the internal storage constraints killed it for me, 200GB just doesn't cut it. With my S10 Plus it made sense to buy the 128GB variant at a lower price and drop in the MicroSD, problem solved! If the S21 Ultra had external memory I would have done the same workaround and saved about $400 USD. I like the S21 Ultra alot, it's the best device available IMHO, if it had MicroSD I'd LOVE IT!

varcor said:
Agreed, with no MicroSD available some users like myself understand the 256GB (about 200GB after system use is deducted) isn't enough. Lots of users are comfortable with this available internal storage for their purposes and utilize external storage devices to compensate but I'm not one of them. I have zero faith in Cloud Storage for privacy and security concerns.
Since you're in the US, if you decide on acquiring a 512GB device the Branded Service Provider's have no 512GB units available, not sure if some of them ever did offer it. Then that leaves you with a couple of options, the Snapdragon or Exynos Global variants. Given a choice I prefer the Snapdragon 888 SoC.
I opted for the Hong Kong (CSC - TGY) 512GB device. In addition to the largest internal storage it offers no carrier bloatware, dual sim's, unlocked bootloader and faster OTA's. There are some downsides as well. It's more expensive since there's no trade-in promotion, so you'd need to sell the S20 Ultra private party if you don't want to add it to your other older units. There is a 1 year warranty but that requires it be shipped back to the original retailer. That didn't bother me since I've never had repair issues with any of my previous Galaxy devices. Lastly, certain Branded Carrier Call Features like 5G and Carrier Aggregation may not work. My device does enable 4G LTE, WI-FI Calling which are sufficient for my usage. My S9+, S10 Plus were Hong Kong variants as well and I had no issues other than what I've already shared.
A Carrier Branded device may be the best value for you based on overall costs but the internal storage constraints killed it for me, 200GB just doesn't cut it. With my S10 Plus it made sense to buy the 128GB variant at a lower price and drop in the MicroSD, problem solved! If the S21 Ultra had external memory I would have done the same workaround and saved about $400 USD. I like the S21 Ultra alot, it's the best device available IMHO, if it had MicroSD I'd LOVE IT!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh my, I didn't even pay attention to them not including a MicroSD. They did that in the S8 but only the S8, and that's not okay with me. I have a 512gb SD I transfer from phone to phone for photos and file management. That's not going to cut it for me relying strictly on internal storage. Although I seen they make a type C to micro SD adapter that's inexpensive and works well, so I guess if I do upgrade I could do that. But, idk, I'm liking the Note 20 Ultra right now as well.

You should want an SD card.
Samsung's are the most customizable stock Androids on the planet... if you haven't noticed.
The only thing I would consider at this time personally is the Note 20 U or another Note 10+ 512gb Snapdragon variant. I'll wait another year to see if Samsung and Android can get recover from their high G flat spin.
Otherwise I'll default to my former choices. My preferred OS is still Pie and the 10+ is a solid, fast, stable performer. Decisions, decisions...
Samsung's offerings this year so far are weak. Android 11 is looking like another Vista.
That's 2 strikes and the 3rd strike be making the mistake of buying it

blackhawk said:
You should want an SD card.
Samsung's are the most customizable stock Androids on the planet... if you haven't noticed.
The only thing I would consider at this time personally is the Note 20 U or another Note 10+ 512gb Snapdragon variant. I'll wait another year to see if Samsung and Android can get recover from their high G flat spin.
Otherwise I'll default to my former choices. My preferred OS is still Pie and the 10+ is a solid, fast, stable performer. Decisions, decisions...
Samsung's offerings this year so far are weak. Android 11 is looking like another Vista.
That's 2 strikes and the 3rd strike be making the mistake of buying it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't had any issues with Android 11 as of yet, there just wasn't much added. Having no SD Card is a downside for me. I do love how customizable Samsungs are right out of the box. I'll probably get a Note 20 Ultra because why not. I'd get the largest variant available to me.

KaydenMcCurdyTech said:
I haven't had any issues with Android 11 as of yet, there just wasn't much added. Having no SD Card is a downside for me. I do love how customizable Samsungs are right out of the box. I'll probably get a Note 20 Ultra because why not. I'd get the largest variant available to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 20U is a solid platform. Get a good case before you start using it. They are beautiful slippery fish.
The Notes wuv to corner hit and face plant when dropped. The spen corner seems to be their favorite corner to land on
I use the Zizo Bolt and the Gorilla IQ Sheild screen protector. Zero damage in 1.5+ years in spite of nearly a dozen drops from 2-4 feet onto concrete.
A SD card allows you to have a data drive.
All critical data goes here including everything you need to do a full reload including installable app copies. No Playstore needed. This drive is then redundantly backed up to at least 2 hdds that are physically and electronically isolated from each other. Use a V30 rated card or higher.
Lexar's work right out of the box.
The internal memory regardless of its size is the OS drive. Loaded apps and the temporary DCIM and download* folders go here.
You now have a dual drive 1+tb computer in your hand
This is how my 10+ is set up. It runs like a bat out of hell. Current load is over a year old, still running fast and stable. A complete reload takes about 2 hours to set it back up, no internet or PC required.
*transferred to data drive once vetted

blackhawk said:
The 20U is a solid platform. Get a good case before you start using it. They are beautiful slippery fish.
The Notes wuv to corner hit and face plant when dropped. The spen corner seems to be their favorite corner to land on
I use the Zizo Bolt and the Gorilla IQ Sheild screen protector. Zero damage in 1.5+ years in spite of nearly a dozen drops from 2-4 feet onto concrete.
A SD card allows you to have a data drive.
All critical data goes here including everything you need to do a full reload including installable app copies. No Playstore needed. This drive is then redundantly backed up to at least 2 hdds that are physically and electronically isolated from each other. Use a V30 rated card or higher.
Lexar's work right out of the box.
The internal memory regardless of its size is the OS drive. Loaded apps and the temporary DCIM and download* folders go here.
You now have a dual drive 1+tb computer in your hand
This is how my 10+ is set up. It runs like a bat out of hell. Current load is over a year old, still running fast and stable. A complete reload takes about 2 hours to set it back up, no internet or PC required.
*transferred to data drive once vetted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How big is your SD Card? I'm considering ordering a 1TB card and transferring everything over. I use my phone for editing video, photos, rendering, office, receipts etc. Which is why I haven't played with its OS and such because it just works. I have a 256gb that's nearly full. I'll get a note 20 U and buy a 1tb card and leave my 256gb in my S20 U.

KaydenMcCurdyTech said:
How big is your SD Card? I'm considering ordering a 1TB card and transferring everything over. I use my phone for editing video, photos, rendering, office, receipts etc. Which is why I haven't played with its OS and such because it just works. I have a 256gb that's nearly full. I'll get a note 20 U and buy a 1tb card and leave my 256gb in my S20 U.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a 512gb Lexar V30 card ($65) and currently using about 340gb.
Thinking about upgrading to a 1tb V30 card but they aren't cheap ($180-240).
The V30 is fast enough to stream video and wav files from with no issues. The Lexar writes around a [email protected]
The 20U has a faster bus than the 10+ so it may benefit from a faster card. Not sure as it doesn't apply to me and I haven't pursued it; V30 is fast enough for what I need.
If you have a large database you'll chew up one 1tb fast. My current database is about 1.5tb; really I like to see dual SD card slots

blackhawk said:
I have a 512gb Lexar V30 card ($65) and currently using about 340gb.
Thinking about upgrading to a 1tb V30 card but they aren't cheap ($180-240).
The V30 is fast enough to stream video and wav files from with no issues. The Lexar writes around a [email protected]
The 20U has a faster bus than the 10+ so it may benefit from a faster card. Not sure as it doesn't apply to me and I haven't pursued it; V30 is fast enough for what I need.
If you have a large database you'll chew up one 1tb fast. My current database is about 1.5tb; really I like to see dual SD card slots
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now theres an idea I can get behind! I have a large database for sure. I sort everything in folders and label everything etc. My phone is my computer lol. I even run my GoPro through my phone to edit and upload video. I would love to see dual SD Cards someday. Maybe even faster cards as well. Phone already are coming out with 16gb of RAM, there is no reason they couldn't do dual storage cards. Actually I know it's possible because I have my SD card in my s20U and I use a USB c to micro USB to my S7 edge with another SD card in it to transfer data, and I set the S7 edge up as a storage drive on my s20U. So they just need to do it already. I think Nvidia needs to try and develop another mobile GPU that's insane and Samung needs to build a media based work usable phone. Like bring back the Galaxy Mega with some decent specs instead of garbage. Use a 120hz OLED panel, like 5.5-6 inches, with a 500+ pixel density, dual SIM, dual SD card, nvidia GPU, best 8 core Snapdragon, 16-20gb ram, s pen, amazing cameras front and rear and just have it blow away the competition. I'd spend 1500 on that all day. That phone would appeal to a fair amount of people. The galaxy Mega didnt sell well along side the note series because they limited it to a single carrier in the US, the specs were ehh at best, the screen was trash and no SPen support.

The Note held a niche until the battery drama and the S Series increased the size of the display. Samsung axed it knowing sales volume would be limited and it would directly compete with the S Series. It's a good device but shaded compared to the S21 Ultra. SoC, CPU, battery, cameras, bluetooth and display resolution. It's less expensive and still offers MicroSD but other than that it's second fiddle. At least you'll have the last of a dying breed. If I were to weight value for the Note 20 Ultra it would be against the A72 at half the price, not the S21 Ultra.

varcor said:
The Note held a niche until the battery drama and the S Series increased the size of the display. Samsung axed it knowing sales volume would be limited and it would directly compete with the S Series. It's a good device but shaded compared to the S21 Ultra. SoC, CPU, battery, cameras, bluetooth and display resolution. It's less expensive and still offers MicroSD but other than that it's second fiddle. At least you'll have the last of a dying breed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True, I would. But it's pretty comparable with my current S20U except for camera and so forth but still a great device. I've been thinking that's what I'll do instead of the s21U. I'd like to not step away from Samsung. Who knows, if dont like the Note, then I might check out the Z fold. I just know I won't like it though.

varcor said:
The Note held a niche until the battery drama and the S Series increased the size of the display. Samsung axed it knowing sales volume would be limited and it would directly compete with the S Series. It's a good device but shaded compared to the S21 Ultra. SoC, CPU, battery, cameras, bluetooth and display resolution. It's less expensive and still offers MicroSD but other than that it's second fiddle. At least you'll have the last of a dying breed. If I were to weight value for the Note 20 Ultra it would be against the A72 at half the price, not the S21 Ultra.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The rounded display corners suck. In pictures they don't seem bad but in person they look horrible compared to the modern Notes. The colors and gamma of the 10+ are spot on. The display is one of a kind and just drop dead gorgeous. I stream vids constantly on mine.
The 12 gb ram variant of the 10+ or 16gb for the 20U are needed for a power user. The Snapdragon variant is the most desirable but difficult to root.
Battery excursions were a one shot deal although any Li can fail at any time especially when degraded.
The intergrated spen can't be replaced and even though I don't use it a lot, when I need it, I need.
As I learned battery and the C port PCB are relatively easy to replace once you know the tricks. Not near as bad as the reviews rate it.
A case is mandatory or it will get destroyed... sooner or latter.
If you can swing it and are tech savvy, get a Note.
As for being dead, doubtful. Sammy loves to play that to the hilt.
Samsung needs to rethink what their customer base wants rather than dictate what they can have. If Sammy fails to do this or fidgets like LG, they will suffer badly... if you can't rock it, somebody will.
But hey, how much can you expect from a rabid box of gerbils anyway?

General To trade or not to trade, that is the question.

I'm seriously thinking about getting the Fold 3. Maybe I'm just caught up in the hype but I can't stop thinking about trading the Ultra in for a Fold 3. What do you all think, why or why not?

When the s21U vs Fold 3 comparisons come out, then take a few weeks and make up your decision.

Will trade it in for the Pixel 6 Pro.

Man i love the s21, but the software is sooooo bad. Can't get over oneui. The amount of bloat is just insane. Pixel 6 pro will be my next phone most likely.

seen reviews the fold 3 is a pile of crap specs not as good as s21 ultra

Nah...I was all about the fold 2 when I was moving from the mate 20x as I wanted the biggest phone I could find.
I was very disappointed with it though. First is really not that big and the fold part is horrible looking. Plus it does not help much for media in the end and that front screen is like a KitKat.
Worse is the camera cannot match the s21 ultra either and looks like the fold 3 is more of the same in terms of camera and even smaller?
I need a bigger phone with at least same cameras as the s21 ultra to be happy. Better yet a 16:10 format instead of the current KitKat trend but that ain't happening

Screen protectors are not available for internal screen, at the moment - so if you drop Fold3 unfolded, it will cost you like 1000 EUR Not worth. Spec is s h i t t y. Cameras are bad. Maybe Fold4 or 5 will be better. If so - I will consider it.

Bro why you making a POLL? Just trade it and come back in a few weeks to tell us how you feel about it.
Happy or not.

Smartphone and iPhone innovation has reached a plateau, the manufacturer's are leaning on camera additions and 5G to boost market share. Devices now have 5 or 6 cameras, more camera functions aren't a major driver when it comes to buying decisions, enough is enough! At this point 5G has few practical applications besides faster download speeds. Hardware is pretty much the same as it was 3 to 4 years ago. The focus should be on superior software and UI where the bulk of users express their dissatisfaction.

varcor said:
Smartphone and iPhone innovation has reached a plateau, the manufacturer's are leaning on camera additions and 5G to boost market share. Devices now have 5 or 6 cameras, more camera functions aren't a major driver when it comes to buying decisions, enough is enough! At this point 5G has few practical applications besides faster download speeds. Hardware is pretty much the same as it was 3 to 4 years ago. The focus should be on superior software and UI where the bulk of users express their dissatisfaction.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Meh, don't get me started, for starters...
I think Android dropped the ball with their Apple like fixation on security when there wasn't major issues. Result both 11 and 12 are a pain the use.
Samsung is bent on cutting edge hardware but forgot the basics, like an SD card slot.
They fouled on every flagship model this year.
Problems with variable frequency displays and 5G, the cam hump, back to lame rounded display corners then were saddle bagged with Android 11, killing the ugly horse.
The Fold is a stuck together mess that seems more like a prototype than a polished flagship phone. Two batteries and a less than functional huge display prone to delamination.
I didn't want any of those headaches, just a phone that's fun, fast, stable, reliable, can capture good images and fulfills its mission. My N10+ Snapdragon is 2 years old, runs great and is drop dead gorgeous. Current OS load is 1.5 yo, still fast and stable with minimal maintenance. Good battery life.
Looks/runs like new, only repair was a replacement battery.
So... why fight it? I bought a second one new N10+ for $800. A premium price for a factory sealed perfect 10+. Good to go.
That's what I think about the new phones and so far 2022 is looking just as bad. The 10+ is more fun today then it was 2 years ago. I'm still exploring it's features and rarely burdened with troubleshooting. The longevity of the OS load is testimony to that. Security; running on Pie it has never had a malware forced reload. The newer one is running on Q, so far it's running good. However Q is as high as it will be upgraded.
Eventually I may upgrade from P to Q on the original 10+... maybe.

blackhawk said:
Meh, don't get me started, for starters...
I think Android dropped the ball with their Apple like fixation on security when there wasn't major issues. Result both 11 and 12 are a pain the use.
Samsung is bent on cutting edge hardware but forgot the basics, like an SD card slot.
They fouled on every flagship model this year.
Problems with variable frequency displays and 5G, the cam hump, back to lame rounded display corners then were saddle bagged with Android 11, killing the ugly horse.
The Fold is a stuck together mess that seems more like a prototype than a polished flagship phone. Two batteries and a less than functional huge display prone to delamination.
I didn't want any of those headaches, just a phone that's fun, fast, stable, reliable, can capture good images and fulfills its mission. My N10+ Snapdragon is 2 years old, runs great and is drop dead gorgeous. Current OS load is 1.5 yo, still fast and stable with minimal maintenance. Good battery life.
Looks/runs like new, only repair was a replacement battery.
So... why fight it? I bought a second one new N10+ for $800. A premium price for a factory sealed perfect 10+. Good to go.
That's what I think about the new phones and so far 2022 is looking just as bad. The 10+ is more fun today then it was 2 years ago. I'm still exploring it's features and rarely burdened with troubleshooting. The longevity of the OS load is testimony to that. Security; running on Pie it has never had a malware forced reload. The newer one is running on Q, so far it's running good. However Q is as high as it will be upgraded.
Eventually I may upgrade from P to Q on the original 10+... maybe.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I'm not going to defend Android 11 or 12 but the UI on Samsung has made substantial improvements since TouchWiz. Google was correct in efforts to make a more secure platform, it lagged far behind Apple. It has improved however it's still not as secure as iOS. The real advantages in Android 11 and 12 are more apparent on a Pixel Device, it's designed for that device, not a Galaxy, just as iOS is for iPhone's. I still use my S10+ often since I like it's smaller profile, MicroSD and 3.5 Jack. Call me outdated but I'm accustomed to these features and appreciate them. It's not on the same tier as my S21 Ultra but still a solid performer. Most new cellphones still use rounded corners which you don't like but it's much more convenient to slide in or out of my pocket. For me form follows function. Samsung is expecting a huge sales increase in the Fold 3. That may be the case and Samsung better pray it happens since the Galaxy S Series has been in a serious sales decline since the S20. Plus the Fold is no longer innovative, it's been around a few years and competitors are offering similar platforms. To me it's a novelty which is way overpriced when features are compared to other flagship devices. To spend close to 2K on anything that gives you maybe 4 hours SOT isn't something I'd place in a value added category.

varcor said:
Well, I'm not going to defend Android 11 or 12 but the UI on Samsung has made substantial improvements since TouchWiz. Google was correct in efforts to make a more secure platform, it lagged far behind Apple. It has improved however it's still not as secure as iOS. The real advantages in Android 11 and 12 are more apparent on a Pixel Device, it's designed for that device, not a Galaxy, just as iOS is for iPhone's. I still use my S10+ often since I like it's smaller profile, MicroSD and 3.5 Jack. Call me outdated but I'm accustomed to these features and appreciate them. It's not on the same tier as my S21 Ultra but still a solid performer. Most new cellphones still use rounded corners which you don't like but it's much more convenient to slide in or out of my pocket. For me form follows function. Samsung is expecting a huge sales increase in the Fold 3. That may be the case and Samsung better pray it happens since the Galaxy S Series has been in a serious sales decline since the S20. Plus the Fold is no longer innovative, it's been around a few years and competitors are offering similar platforms. To me it's a novelty which is way overpriced when features are compared to other flagship devices. To spend close to 2K on anything that gives you maybe 4 hours SOT isn't something I'd place in a value added category.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, I was using a S4+ running on Kitkat before I got the N10+. Huge difference in the IU. A bit of future shock but it was fun. The customizable is stunning; it looks and functions like I want it too.
TouchWiz was quit crude in comparison. I don't like slow PCs and the 10+ is snappy. I just don't ever run out of ram The other thing I really just go to pieces over is having a 1.5 dual drive PC in my hand. I require that SD card slot.
I'm running a .5tb now but thinking of going to 1tb.
The 10+ now seems small to me, the Bolt case isn't that bulky but provides excellent protection.
I like the 10+ 7mm profile with no cam hump.
This keeps it's bulk down.
I wear BDU pant so I just put it in the cargo pocket, it never falls out and easy to grab.
Or I'll stash it in the inner vest pocket.
Having watched CRTs for decades, screw rounded display corners! Who frames pictures and paintings with round corners? Very few.
Does Cinemascope have round corners?
Security is mostly hype. The user is almost always responsible for installing or downloading viruses, etc. No saving dumb bunnies...
Trying to make it safe for everyone ruins it for all.
The dumb bunnies still get wacked.
I'm running Pie with no issues, a rootkit could wiggle in but a full reload cost would me a few hours at worst.
Much better than constantly having scoped storage suck cpu cycles/battery and the headaches of nonfunctional/dysfunctional trusted apps because of it.
Scare tactics don't work well on a pragmatist...
Variable rate displays in addition to screwing with color rendering (which is very noticeable to me) also uses more battery. The 10+ handles color profiles so well I don't even think about it.
5G and scoped storage also use more power. My download speeds are good enough to stream vids. Scooped storage has nothing I want, zip.
Battery life is important to me.
SOT time using browser 7-8%@hr
Watching vids in the browser 9-12%@hr.
At night with cell and internet active, tap on AOD less than .5%@hr.
I can use the 10+ for at least 2-3 more years and be happy rather than run the tech gauntlet. This isn't what Google, Samsung or the carriers want, tough. Got tired of the bs and products that don't deliver what I want... so I cancelled them

I am still not convinced by foldables. My big butt and my butter fingers will find a way to break foldables screens easily. Plus invested a bit in the S21 Ultra - Spigen cases and Screen protectors + 2 years of Samsung care.
I think I am going to keep my S21 Ultra for a while (i've upgraded to the latest S phone ever since the S8). I've turned off 5g and enabled FHD+. And stopped charging at 85%+.
Not related to the Fold3; felt like ranting -
The Pixel 6 and 6 pro did catch my attention however they have slow finger print readers (not the next gen ultrasonic ones that we have on the S21 Ultra. Most reviews are focusing features like Magic eraser and faster translation which are gimmicky and I feel I wont miss them in my everyday life.

imankareem said:
I am still not convinced by foldables. My big butt and my butter fingers will find a way to break foldables screens easily. Plus invested a bit in the S21 Ultra - Spigen cases and Screen protectors + 2 years of Samsung care.
I think I am going to keep my S21 Ultra for a while (i've upgraded to the latest S phone ever since the S8). I've turned off 5g and enabled FHD+. And stopped charging at 85%+.
Not related to the Fold3; felt like ranting -
The Pixel 6 and 6 pro did catch my attention however they have slow finger print readers (not the next gen ultrasonic ones that we have on the S21 Ultra. Most reviews are focusing features like Magic eraser and faster translation which are gimmicky and I feel I wont miss them in my everyday life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree with everything you've shared. I've upgraded every time since the S6 until the S10. Skipped the S20 and glad I did, the S21 is more refined. Won't be upgrading to the S22 based on what's broadly reported. Pretty sure the difference between a 4 nm and a 5 nm Chipset is negligible and the Exynos 2200 is plagued with production issues. So what's the point, a 108 MP Camera Upgrade, maybe 45W Charging, New Color? Sorry Samsung, these minor additions aren't worth the trouble or $$$. If you've been using a S10 or earlier model MAYBE, otherwise think twice.

blackhawk said:
Lol, I was using a S4+ running on Kitkat before I got the N10+. Huge difference in the IU. A bit of future shock but it was fun. The customizable is stunning; it looks and functions like I want it too.
TouchWiz was quit crude in comparison. I don't like slow PCs and the 10+ is snappy. I just don't ever run out of ram The other thing I really just go to pieces over is having a 1.5 dual drive PC in my hand. I require that SD card slot.
I'm running a .5tb now but thinking of going to 1tb.
The 10+ now seems small to me, the Bolt case isn't that bulky but provides excellent protection.
I like the 10+ 7mm profile with no cam hump.
This keeps it's bulk down.
I wear BDU pant so I just put it in the cargo pocket, it never falls out and easy to grab.
Or I'll stash it in the inner vest pocket.
Having watched CRTs for decades, screw rounded display corners! Who frames pictures and paintings with round corners? Very few.
Does Cinemascope have round corners?
Security is mostly hype. The user is almost always responsible for installing or downloading viruses, etc. No saving dumb bunnies...
Trying to make it safe for everyone ruins it for all.
The dumb bunnies still get wacked.
I'm running Pie with no issues, a rootkit could wiggle in but a full reload cost would me a few hours at worst.
Much better than constantly having scoped storage suck cpu cycles/battery and the headaches of nonfunctional/dysfunctional trusted apps because of it.
Scare tactics don't work well on a pragmatist...
Variable rate displays in addition to screwing with color rendering (which is very noticeable to me) also uses more battery. The 10+ handles color profiles so well I don't even think about it.
5G and scoped storage also use more power. My download speeds are good enough to stream vids. Scooped storage has nothing I want, zip.
Battery life is important to me.
SOT time using browser 7-8%@hr
Watching vids in the browser 9-12%@hr.
At night with cell and internet active, tap on AOD less than .5%@hr.
I can use the 10+ for at least 2-3 more years and be happy rather than run the tech gauntlet. This isn't what Google, Samsung or the carriers want, tough. Got tired of the bs and products that don't deliver what I want... so I cancelled them
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After I become a pilot and have cargo pockets to spare I'll consider a box phone, don't hold your breath...

imankareem said:
I am still not convinced by foldables. My big butt and my butter fingers will find a way to break foldables screens easily. Plus invested a bit in the S21 Ultra - Spigen cases and Screen protectors + 2 years of Samsung care.
I think I am going to keep my S21 Ultra for a while (i've upgraded to the latest S phone ever since the S8). I've turned off 5g and enabled FHD+. And stopped charging at 85%+.
Not related to the Fold3; felt like ranting -
The Pixel 6 and 6 pro did catch my attention however they have slow finger print readers (not the next gen ultrasonic ones that we have on the S21 Ultra. Most reviews are focusing features like Magic eraser and faster translation which are gimmicky and I feel I wont miss them in my everyday life.
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If it's the magic eraser in google photos that's attracting you, don't sweat it. In about 6 months the update will be rolled out to all devices given Google's track record. But as someone said here, Android is best used as stock and google does a good job at it. All others add a huge load of bells and whistles on the OS making their versions just clunky and bug ridden...Oxygen OS included...

varcor said:
After I become a pilot and have cargo pockets to spare I'll consider a box phone, don't hold your breath...
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Lol, stop wearing Levi's long time ago.
Always carry a Gerber Strongarm too

I like the fold and it is my second choice but I pick my phone for its photography and camera abilities and fold 3 is lacking in the area.

Honestly unless you are returning to apple, what's the point. It's pretty much a given the s21 ultra is an all round beast of a phone. Is it perfect no but it's getting to that point now the phones are so similar beyond some minor hardware changes

Peanuttree said:
I'm seriously thinking about getting the Fold 3. Maybe I'm just caught up in the hype but I can't stop thinking about trading the Ultra in for a Fold 3. What do you all think, why or why not?
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