Question Upgrade from S21 Ultra experiences? - Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

Hello! Recently, i got very very lucky and got this amazing opportunity to upgrade to s23 ultra for not too much money. I didn't really needed the upgrade, but it was such a nice offer that I couldn't deny it.
Anyone coming from S21 Ultra? I actually got the Exynos 2100 variant, and i'd like to know if you felt any differences, or your personal experience.
Thanks!

DaftAns said:
Hello! Recently, i got very very lucky and got this amazing opportunity to upgrade to s23 ultra for not too much money. I didn't really needed the upgrade, but it was such a nice offer that I couldn't deny it.
Anyone coming from S21 Ultra? I actually got the Exynos 2100 variant, and i'd like to know if you felt any differences, or your personal experience.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not easy answer especially of you are happy with s21U which still is great device. S23U have different build ( more rectangular like Galaxy Note) compare to s21U and not everyone like this.
In other case S23U is overall better device.
More over if in you country official was exynos version s21u probably next year S24 will be too exynos so safe choice is great S23U with snapdragon

I went S21ULTRA SD to S23ULTRA and still don't regret the move although I was fully prepared to keep the old phone at least another year.
The built in pen, better cameras and better battery (even if I had excellent results with S21ULTRA) were worth it.
Not impressed with Gorilla glass victus 2 ( scratch prone) and with Scamsung ditching the factory screen protector (I won't get tired of accusing them of hypocrisy, since I had to buy a protector from Scamazon, adding MORE plastic, gas and ultimately money to the deal). Scamsung hasn't saved the planet, just 25 cents per phone. Lame.
/rant

Do it and install the Gcam as first action.
You'll have the perfect smartphone.
Battery life, performance, screen, audio, microphones, software and customization, support, foto (with gcam), video, S Pen (sometimes is useful), design... everything at the top

Related

Just purchased a Moto Z, is it too late?

Hello all,
I'm new to XDA and impressed by the amount of information available for all different phones!
I would love to get your suggestions on this -
I recently purchased the Moto Z unlocked at around $288 (in a deal). Just because it was such a low price, I pulled the trigger on this deal, but now thinking if I did the right thing. Though the phone performs very good, camera is a huge disappointment, always giving "hold camera steady" message.
Since I am still within return period for this phone, it would be great to hear from you experts if this phone is good value for money I paid for it, or should I wait to get OnePlus 5 or the Huawei Mate 9 pro or something very current gen (HTC U which will launch next month?)
I'm ready to put few extra $ if the upgrade seems worth it, but I'm confused right now if such upgrade would really give extra value. Your thoughts please?
Thanks!
Hi all,
Waiting for your expert suggestions please...
With that price it's the best phone you got.
And there's nothing exciting about the new phones launching this year. Just the jump from snapdragon 820 to 835, 4gb ram to 6gb.. and other unwanted stuff. Even theres nothing new about the upcoming Moto Z2. I think you got the best phone with that price.
(And next time whenever you think of buying a Moto, don't ever think that you'll get an amazing camera)
The camera is good enough. Maybe not as S7, but very very close, and in some situations even better. And the front flash is awesome
My wife bought a LG G5 and I got the Moto Z. I can safely say the camera is better than a G5. Haven't used a Samsung. But I'd say it's an average or above phone camera.
For low light, and zoom, I will soon get the camera mod, and use it for those situations.
Just my personal opinion, but I don't let cameras worry me. If I want great pics, I use my camera. No phone can compete with even the cheapest of real cameras. I get a phone based on my phone needs, since a small digital camera can be used when I go anywhere knowing I'm going to take a lot of pics.
But to each their own. :good:
Darth said:
My wife bought a LG G5 and I got the Moto Z. I can safely say the camera is better than a G5. Haven't used a Samsung. But I'd say it's an average or above phone camera.
For low light, and zoom, I will soon get the camera mod, and use it for those situations.
Just my personal opinion, but I don't let cameras worry me. If I want great pics, I use my camera. No phone can compete with even the cheapest of real cameras. I get a phone based on my phone needs, since a small digital camera can be used when I go anywhere knowing I'm going to take a lot of pics.
But to each their own. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi? I just got this too off craigslist with no charger . When I got a charger for it and it came up, and ended up having pin code enabled. How do I get this off? I'm new to moto. I'm used to flashing on samsung with Odin and stuffs. So not exactly a noob. It might have a Google lock, I don't mind. Can always find a way around that
Thanks all for the responses!
How bad is the Samsung bloatware? I have a week more remaining in my return period but this $288 price tag for this phone looks very good at which I bought this. The S7 edge is also selling today at the same price, though a refurbished one. Still not sure which one to go for.

Switch to G5 from note 4?

Note 4 is getting kind of old and G5 seems like the only feasible upgrade since it has sd card slot, ir blaster, unlocked bootloader (H850), removable battery. You think it is worth the upgrade? Seems like these types of phones will not be made again in favor of boring iphone clones (I don't really care how the phone looks since i always put a case on it anyways, even metal and glass will scratch if dropped). If I wanted an iphone clone, I would just buy an iphone. I don't want to the v20 because of locked bootloader and the US996 variant doesn't support all the ATT bands I need.
Note 4 Pros:
- Camera lens doesn't crack like g5 (not sure if overplayed though), no bootloop issues (again I think over exaggerated compared to g4 which I had) but does have emmc issues.
- Larger screen (I can live without, g4 screen was big enough and g5 is similar)
- AMOLED (can be a con also)
- S pen, I hardly ever use it honestly.
- build quality is probably better
- micro usb (g5 has type c which means more cable adapters but is the future honestly)
G5 Pros:
- Faster and newer cpu
- 1GB more of ram
- Supports Andriod 7
- Better camera (plus wide angle camera)
- Better IR Blaster (able to learn codes)
- More LTE band support
Can I expect the same longevity out of the g5 compared to note 4? I have had my note 4 in a case with tempered glass, few drops no issues. Replaced battery once and still going strong. I like to root but run stock rom.
I would get the h850 variant, seems there are actually variants of the h850, how can you tell if it is Europe h850 vs some other? Thanks for any feedback.
+1
I'm actualy thinking the same thing. N4 to G5. My phone before the N4 was a nexus 4 and I've grew to hate the touchwiz interface in favour of a cleaner android experience. How's the G5 regarding this?
I am not going to sugarcoat anything for y'all. Depends. How much you spending? I know it various for place to place. I am waiting for Note 8 myself. I'd say the G5 is the best bang for your buck flagship right now. But be careful this phone has issues.
Bad*
Notorious GPS issues-
Screen ghosting-
Build quality crap-
Few others-
Good*
Great price-
Good Specs-
Great camera-
Pretty good development-
Few others-
If money is not an issue for you wait and go with note 8. If it is then maybe g5 or OnePlus. Don't waste your money on galaxy S8 or G6 overpriced no true upgrade.
Only issue I've had is screen ghosting. If you do buy g5 get a newer issue manufacturer, less issues.
I will be buying used. I paid $200 for note 4 tmobile version a year ago and see the prices of G5 near $300 h850 at least. Harder to find of course. I use ATT towers (cricket and h20 mainly) so looking to get the international version since it has unlocked bootloader. I may be able to get away with tmobile g5 version but I don't like they stripped away the fm radio and added some other things/took other things away. I miss the good ole days of google play edition phones. Andriod 7.0 has almost matched samsung touchwiz now in terms of features with multi-window apps, etc. Back in the day samsung and lg software had a lot more features but now the difference is almost zero with of course andriod vanilla being much smoother.
My note 4 had gps issues, very weak antenna and I had to adjust it a few times. Fails to lock sometimes though, only negative I have to say. Also there are some others note 4 people starting to have memory and motherboard issues so pretty much no different than g5. Do the g5 camera lens really fracture easy, if so best way to protect it? I run a dual layer case on my note 4, hard plastic outer shell with tpu inner and tempered glass on front. The case is really thin, not otterbox thick.
I plan on using the g5 for the next 3 years or so until they start phasing out lte compatible bands and forcing upgrades. I can probably get like $125 for note 4 so g5 would only be like $150-$175.
To answer other guys question about touchwiz vs sense, sense seems less bloated at least it did when I had the g4. I think samsung has optimized touchwiz a lot over the years and is probably pretty fast on the s8 but then again they don't have to add so many custom features like multi-window/etc since andriod 7.0 comes with it now standard.
How do you tell if the phone is newer manufactured and what is the cut-off date to avoid ghosting issues on the g5?
Mr Joegernaut said:
I will be buying used. I paid $200 for note 4 tmobile version a year ago and see the prices of G5 near $300 h850 at least. Harder to find of course. I use ATT towers (cricket and h20 mainly) so looking to get the international version since it has unlocked bootloader. I may be able to get away with tmobile g5 version but I don't like they stripped away the fm radio and added some other things/took other things away. I miss the good ole days of google play edition phones. Andriod 7.0 has almost matched samsung touchwiz now in terms of features with multi-window apps, etc. Back in the day samsung and lg software had a lot more features but now the difference is almost zero with of course andriod vanilla being much smoother.
My note 4 had gps issues, very weak antenna and I had to adjust it a few times. Fails to lock sometimes though, only negative I have to say. Also there are some others note 4 people starting to have memory and motherboard issues so pretty much no different than g5. Do the g5 camera lens really fracture easy, if so best way to protect it? I run a dual layer case on my note 4, hard plastic outer shell with tpu inner and tempered glass on front. The case is really thin, not otterbox thick.
I plan on using the g5 for the next 3 years or so until they start phasing out lte compatible bands and forcing upgrades. I can probably get like $125 for note 4 so g5 would only be like $150-$175.
To answer other guys question about touchwiz vs sense, sense seems less bloated at least it did when I had the g4. I think samsung has optimized touchwiz a lot over the years and is probably pretty fast on the s8 but then again they don't have to add so many custom features like multi-window/etc since andriod 7.0 comes with it now standard.
How do you tell if the phone is newer manufactured and what is the cut-off date to avoid ghosting issues on the g5?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get a good case aka outter box, bulky but that thing can take a beating. I've dropped mine a million times and device looks new.
Ghosting issues seem like a guaranteed to happen. There's filter apps that help with it. The newer built issues seem to have less of the other issues GPS and few others. Well because your buying it used might not have original box. But it says it on the box far as manufacturing date. You could also ask the seller, they may know.
Consider LG V20.
Csetoue said:
Consider LG V20.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would of mention that op says he's not interested because of locked bootloader.

Samsung s9 plus vs xiaomi mi8

Hi guys! Does it worth to move from mi8 to s9+ exynos version?
Any plus and cons?
Thank you in advance!
The power of Mi8 be with you
johnnyman25 said:
Hi guys! Does it worth to move from mi8 to s9+ exynos version?
Any plus and cons?
Thank you in advance!
The power of Mi8 be with you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I came from the Oneplus 6 which was better than the Mi 8 and the S9+ is better than the OP6, so you figure.
The performance isn't too different ( even though the Exynos9810 is actually stronger than the SD845 in raw performance ) but the screen difference is as plain as day ( you don't even need to hold the phones next to each other to see that the screen of the S9+ kicks ass both in looks and quality ) .
Pros:
-certified water resistance
-MicroSD suppot
-a great screen
-great hardware
-a headphone jack
-fully working Pie-based custom roms
Cons:
-stock roms are lackluster
-if you crack the screen, be ready to cough up a decent amount of money ( you can pretty much get a Whitestone Dome type curved tempered glass on Aliexpress for 4$ and the cases are cheap as well --- if you actually crack a screen, you can't say protection wasn't available )
-?
I used to switch phones every couple of months because I'd find a flaw and get annoyed with it but the only annoying thing with the S9+ is that I still can't find a flaw.
So yeah, the phone is definitely worth it if you plan to unlock the bootloader and use custom roms.
The Marionette said:
I came from the Oneplus 6 which was better than the Mi 8 and the S9+ is better than the OP6, so you figure.
The performance isn't too different ( even though the Exynos9810 is actually stronger than the SD845 in raw performance ) but the screen difference is as plain as day ( you don't even need to hold the phones next to each other to see that the screen of the S9+ kicks ass both in looks and quality ) .
Pros:
-certified water resistance
-MicroSD suppot
-a great screen
-great hardware
-a headphone jack
-fully working Pie-based custom roms
Cons:
-stock roms are lackluster
-if you crack the screen, be ready to cough up a decent amount of money ( you can pretty much get a Whitestone Dome type curved tempered glass on Aliexpress for 4$ and the cases are cheap as well --- if you actually crack a screen, you can't say protection wasn't available )
-?
I used to switch phones every couple of months because I'd find a flaw and get annoyed with it but the only annoying thing with the S9+ is that I still can't find a flaw.
So yeah, the phone is definitely worth it if you plan to unlock the bootloader and use custom roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for ur answer.
I was between oneplus 6t or s9+.
S9+ better than op6?
I don't plan to unlock and root.
I'm tired all these years rooting devices are and play with custom roms.
Is the stock rom of s9+ lag free?
How is battery life?
The deal is to give my mi8 6/64 plus 150 euros for s9+ that is 10 days old.
The power of Mi8 be with you
johnnyman25 said:
Thank you very much for ur answer.
I was between oneplus 6t or s9+.
S9+ better than op6?
I don't plan to unlock and root.
I'm tired all these years rooting devices are and play with custom roms.
Is the stock rom of s9+ lag free?
The deal is to give my mi8 6/64 plus 150 euros for s9+ that is 10 days old.
The power of Mi8 be with you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The stock rom isn't bad but it isn't pure Android, it's heavily skinned and Samsung was confirmed to be slowing down phones with updates.
Honestly, I'd only recommend getting an S9/+ if you plan to use custom roms on it because it's more or less "excellent hardware marred by software".
And to be honest, OP phones aren't worth the money now that the S9+ price has dropped to the one of the OP6T.
The OP6 wasn't necessarily bad, I changed it primarily because I wanted a 1440p screen, but since most people aren't bothered with 1080p screens, you might not be either.
If you ask me, it's a waste not to unlock the bootloader, but if you really don't want custom roms, Oneplus devices should satisfy you because OxygenOS is probably the best stock rom.
Other than the software ( which is solved by flashing a custom rom ) the S9+ is the best choice overall.
Probably i will stay with mi8.. I don't use wireless charging, don't care about ip rating..
The screen on mi8 is allrdy very good as all the others.
Most important thing is headphone jack and it's quality. S9+ has the best speaker system i have ever seen. With dolby it is way ahead of its game... I tried iphone 7plus for a week and boy i couldnt handle the no headphone jack... It is just cancer to me. Cant use headphones while charging(especially gaming). So i learned a lesson from this, i will never buy a phone without jack. I dont have the kind of budget to buy high quality bluetooth earbuds. Also akg buds are the best i have seen that it comes inside the box. I had razer hammerhead pro v2, akg is way better than that. I also love tuning my sound with v4a so im into sound quality more.
S9+ will rock with custom roms no matter what. I also hate notches... It is like a blank space that i cant use the screen fully.
Best things to look for before getting a phone,
Your preferences
Headphone jack
Software compatibilty and development support
Performance
Overall quality
Phone's own headphones
Overall user experiences and reviews
What you expect from a phone
Notch(it may really annoy you, so go to a store and get your hands on a demo device/i got my hands on s9+ before buying it\)
So before you make a purchase or get the device, make a list of important things for you, go and see the devices by hands, compare them, look for custom rom development(you may want to try diffrent interfaces/i like lineageos a lot\).
Dont forget that the phone you will get will be with you for a long time. Pick it like you are picking your soul mate ?.
I had note 8, it was satisfying me a lot, but when i had the opportunity to get s9+ i went for it. In my social areas, most of the people are using apple or samsung. From what i heard i never heard someone with a bad look to samsung phones. I have been using samsung galaxy devices for almost 2 years now.(my dad had note 3 and he had switched to note 8 1 year ago. He changed many phones and he is prefering Samsung more.) Some things may be a pain in the ass but if you are looking for a long term usage, i would say go for s9+. Mi8 is also nice but i prefer s9+ over it. So like i said go see both devices. Touch both devices, feel the phones and listen to what your heart says. (The phone you will pick will be your best friend. Remember that)
Edit, i forgot you had mi8 already, you can just look at other devices at the same prices. Or if your phone just suits you and gets the job done, no need to move. You can do another things for that money. It is like buying a car or buying a house for the same price. Also your deal is a good one. Just 150 euros for a 4 days old s9+... I traded my note 8 and gave 150-200 dollars more for 4 months old s9+. My phone was bought outside of Turkey, Samsung Turkey doesnt cover any warranty for phones outside Turkey and it has a big impact on second hand sales cause of no warranty. I made the choice before it was too late, if i waited longer my phone would lose more value over time. 2nd hand phones purchased outside Turkey prices are around 2600₺ while Samsung Turkey warranty covered devices prices are 3500₺. Got my s9+ for around 3900₺/I knew the seller and my relationship with him is good, he counted my device for 3000₺\( non used s9+ are like 4200-4300₺. )
Sent from my Galaxy S9+ using XDA Labs

Galaxy vs the Competition

So the S10 quad (excluding the fold) has been launched, pre orders are being placed daily, has Samsung got the 10th Anniversary of the Galaxy right?
Ok ok we haven't got our hands on the device yet, this is all early assessment, however going by what you have seen, is it enough against what's been announced at MWC, and the upcoming?
The likes of the Mi 9 Pro is very compelling, and will be priced well, Mi Mix 3 5G, Sonys new range and LG G8, the OnePlus 7, Vivo,.
LG well they are hanging around but they are not a big influence, they are trying new things, but not nailing it. The new devices announced are more of the same, no flair, just stale, yet they are specced well.
The Mi 9 Pro, Mi Mix 3 5G, Vivo, OnePlus I see these as more of a threat and competition to Samsung.
However despite the likes of Vivo, Xiaomi offering up truly full screen displays. I funnily believe some are really curious about the punch hole despite it cutting out (pun intended) the display.
For me this year I found the S10 quad to be refreshing, ok admittedly yes they could have placed a 48mgp sensor , perhaps went with a pop up camera also. That said it was intentional the cutout is a way to make it fresh stand out, it's new tech, as is the ultrasonic sensor.
For me I think what Samsung did was/is clever and very much in keeping with trend, They sell premium flagships and this is no exemption, keeping that and enhancing it more but to a point where it's not the same as others, ok Huawei have it, but that's LCD and not AMOLED, they can now also sell this displays to others, clever.
I think all that was announced and the line up was for me just right, mind you I never expect everything, although Samsung gives us pretty much that.
What do you all think Vs what's been announced, is it enough? Or will OnePlus steal the thunder?
I think we'll know fairly early how it's going to shake out. You left out one maker for good reason and it's a shame. Motorola used to be a player and my goto phone for years. Now they're just a shell of what they once were and offer no serious competition. It's still one of the best for developers but that's about it.
I'm really curious what the other companies are going to come up with this year. Funny thing is I wasn't even planning on pre-ordering or purchasing a S10+, I was looking at phones last month and was going to get the OP6t. Then I decided I would wait for the OP7 since the first versions of the year usually are the most drastic changewise. I then went onto Samsungs website and seen they offered trade-in credit for the S10 lineup. Well I put in my LG G6 and was surprised they were offering me $300 for it.. I could wait for the OP7 that will most likely skip on wireless charging, headphone jack, and have the same optical fingerprint reader as the OP6t for around $650-750 which is what my budget is or I could get the S10+ with the buds for $742 out the door and have it sooner as well. I'm definitely not disappointed in my decision as I think the S10+ is definitely a huge upgrade from phones the past year and I think it has set the bar pretty high.. If it wasn't for their trade-in program I wouldn't have ordered one.
If the S10 is this it’s going to be scary what the note 10 will be...
Galaxy S10's for the win! ???
In the case of the S10e, AFAIK there is no other manufacturer offering a phone in such a compact form factor with anywhere near the quality of SOC, screen, RAM, storage, etc. There are many competitors for the S10 and the Plus, but the S10e seems to be a unique product.

Question Surface Duo 2

Just watched the Surface Duo 2 announcement & reveal. I gotta say, I'm excited.
A few key complaints were solved, and some far beyond what I expected.
The glance bar seen at the hinge when closed...that's effin fantastic. Can see notifications with device closed.
Camera improvements (well not so much improved as it is actually in existence now, lol) - Though I imagine the camera bump will create some awkwardness when device fully open or laying flat on table, etc.
Pen magnetically attached to cover. I like it a lot...but can foresee issues with device protection options.
The curved screens...I guess they are supposed to help lessen the gap between screens visually. Got me curious here. (and, how do you protect that?)
No mention of water / dust resistance - maybe we'll see something in spec sheet.
Obviously thankful for the Snapdragon 888 and 5G connectivity!!
oh, and BLACK!
What do you guys think?
It's a hard pass for me. Upgrades are minimal, and there's no reason to think that this new version won't contain all of the same problems that my current Duo has. At a starting price of $1,499, all you're really getting is the addition of a mid-range camera and a notification hinge.
Even with the Android 11 update, Duo owners will still be a solid year behind other new flagships in software. If the Duo 2 drops to $400 like the first one did, I'll buy it. But not at this price. Very disappointed.
XDARoni said:
It's a hard pass for me. Upgrades are minimal, and there's no reason to think that this new version won't contain all of the same problems that my current Duo has. At a starting price of $1,499, all you're really getting is the addition of a mid-range camera and a notification hinge.
Even with the Android 11 update, Duo owners will still be a solid year behind other new flagships in software. If the Duo 2 drops to $400 like the first one did, I'll buy it. But not at this price. Very disappointed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good points for sure.
I think Microsoft is trying to put themselves in the same tier as Apple and Samsung...without the credibility and established trust with consumer. They want their pricing structure to be in line with those companies, yet they haven't proven themselves capable at this point.
There is appeal for the business community, and in the large corporate sector there isn't quite the issue with pricing as your average consumer. For productivity the Duo stands mostly alone in it's form factor, IF it works as intended.
I am really shocked that in looking to pre-order, there is NO trade in option at all. This kinda pisses me off, truth be told. I fully expected to be able to trade in my Duo 1 towards the Duo 2. THIS is a huge slap in the face in my opinion. SCRATCH THAT, found it...their process is different from what I've been used to. TRADE IN VALUE FOR AT&T MODEL IS $475 - 1st Gen Galaxy Fold $600
XDARoni said:
It's a hard pass for me. Upgrades are minimal, and there's no reason to think that this new version won't contain all of the same problems that my current Duo has. At a starting price of $1,499, all you're really getting is the addition of a mid-range camera and a notification hinge.
Even with the Android 11 update, Duo owners will still be a solid year behind other new flagships in software. If the Duo 2 drops to $400 like the first one did, I'll buy it. But not at this price. Very disappointed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you are underestimating this upgrade Roni. The higher RAM + high refresh screens gets this product closer to its vision (of being a portable productivity tool) more than you think. We'll have to wait for the reviews.
Also, Roni, you got the Surface 1 on firesale at Woot. Imagine getting Duo 2 for $500...then would you get it?
svetius said:
I think you are underestimating this upgrade Roni. The higher RAM + high refresh screens gets this product closer to its vision (of being a portable productivity tool) more than you think. We'll have to wait for the reviews.
Also, Roni, you got the Surface 1 on firesale at Woot. Imagine getting Duo 2 for $500...then would you get it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah but 8GB of RAM and a 90Hz display upgrade is just giving this phone what every other flagship has already had for over a year. These are just obligatory minor upgrades. I don't see that these will add any value to the productivity aspect. Checking my email in 90Hz doesn't change the fact that my muscles are small and unimpressive.
Even though Microsoft made some big improvements, I'm going to pass this time. I've gotten used to wireless charging (been using it for over 5 years).
I have a Note 10+ 5G and a Tab S7 (both running Microsoft Launcher and 512GB). I've got the best of both worlds right now.
XDARoni said:
Yeah but 8GB of RAM and a 90Hz display upgrade is just giving this phone what every other flagship has already had for over a year. These are just obligatory minor upgrades. I don't see that these will add any value to the productivity aspect. Checking my email in 90Hz doesn't change the fact that my muscles are small and unimpressive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then what evolutions whould you like to see?

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