Discussion
simonwhite2000 said:
dontlookdown said:
I dropped Samsung before xmas after more than 10yrs as a happy customer due to the cost of their flagship phones and the short support life of their cheaper ones.
Got a Pixel 6a instead, a good phone that does have some minor limitations but is solid where it counts. Overall great value and has several years of support from Google (assuming they don't renege on that promise). I paid £300 and got a free pair of pixelbuds thrown in.
The specs of the S23 haven't made me think I made a mistake. Yes it seems significantly better than the 6a in some respects, esp the screen. But is it more than 2.5x as good? No.
As an aside, Google's pricing is v aggressive right now. They are clearly trying to buy marketshare. Can't see them making much - or even any - margin at current prices.
Pixel 6a a good phone for sure - have played around with one. Happy with the S23 Ultra purchase though especially as all the discounts trade in, selling another phone, cashback etc means I only have to dig out £158Got a Pixel 6a instead, a good phone that does have some minor limitations but is solid where it counts. Overall great value and has several years of support from Google (assuming they don't renege on that promise). I paid £300 and got a free pair of pixelbuds thrown in.
The specs of the S23 haven't made me think I made a mistake. Yes it seems significantly better than the 6a in some respects, esp the screen. But is it more than 2.5x as good? No.
As an aside, Google's pricing is v aggressive right now. They are clearly trying to buy marketshare. Can't see them making much - or even any - margin at current prices.
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Yep, my bad too.
Interesting chat thread if people are considering an order https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/samsung-galaxy-s2...
Interesting chat thread if people are considering an order https://www.hotukdeals.com/deals/samsung-galaxy-s2...
Recent phone history:
S9 -> S20FE -> S22.
Each new phone offers less features. First the loss of headphone jack, heart rate monitor and notification light. Now the loss of a memory card slot (yet 2 sim card slots).
How is this progress? I also hate the unlock and volume buttons on the same side.
What does the S23 offer besides (I'm assuming) more power/ memory/ battery life? And does it affect normal daily use?
S9 -> S20FE -> S22.
Each new phone offers less features. First the loss of headphone jack, heart rate monitor and notification light. Now the loss of a memory card slot (yet 2 sim card slots).
How is this progress? I also hate the unlock and volume buttons on the same side.
What does the S23 offer besides (I'm assuming) more power/ memory/ battery life? And does it affect normal daily use?
DKS said:
Recent phone history:
S9 -> S20FE -> S22.
Each new phone offers less features. First the loss of headphone jack, heart rate monitor and notification light. Now the loss of a memory card slot (yet 2 sim card slots).
How is this progress? I also hate the unlock and volume buttons on the same side.
What does the S23 offer besides (I'm assuming) more power/ memory/ battery life? And does it affect normal daily use?
I'm about to go from S9 plus -> S23 ultra (if it ever arrives!), so I will let you know. I would've stuck with the S9+ if the battery was keeping charge and if the phone still received updates, but it isn't. S9 -> S20FE -> S22.
Each new phone offers less features. First the loss of headphone jack, heart rate monitor and notification light. Now the loss of a memory card slot (yet 2 sim card slots).
How is this progress? I also hate the unlock and volume buttons on the same side.
What does the S23 offer besides (I'm assuming) more power/ memory/ battery life? And does it affect normal daily use?
The reviews of the S23 ultra seem unanimously very positive. I think all the negatives you've highlighted can be overcome/mitigated - I won't ever use up my 512GB storage, headphones I'm happy to move to wireless, and the notification light I think you can get an app for that?
HammyHamster said:
I'm about to go from S9 plus -> S23 ultra (if it ever arrives!), so I will let you know. I would've stuck with the S9+ if the battery was keeping charge and if the phone still received updates, but it isn't.
The reviews of the S23 ultra seem unanimously very positive. I think all the negatives you've highlighted can be overcome/mitigated - I won't ever use up my 512GB storage, headphones I'm happy to move to wireless, and the notification light I think you can get an app for that?
I don't think you are going to be disappointed!The reviews of the S23 ultra seem unanimously very positive. I think all the negatives you've highlighted can be overcome/mitigated - I won't ever use up my 512GB storage, headphones I'm happy to move to wireless, and the notification light I think you can get an app for that?
Been using the S23U for around a week now and even having upgraded from S22U I am very happy with it. Last year's model was great but it had a few little issues, this year these have been ironed out (significant processor bump, especially outside of US, leading to significant battery life improvement and a decent camera upgrade, the curved screen is slightly less curved and its a bit more square making it easier to hold). Battery life is probably the most noticeable upgrade for me so far as I mentioned above. When I went to bed last night I still had 41% remaining from regular use and no charging throughout the day. I can see myself keeping this phone for beyond a year for the first time in a while.
I never really understand the hoo ha around headphone jacks. I was only too happy to ditch wired headphones as soon as possible, do that many people really still use them? If you are after serious sound quality above and beyond what bluetooth can provide, surely you'd have a dedicated music player that is capable of playing hi-fi audio (I have a Sony NWA105 for example and a set of decent wired cans but never use it because I find my phone is perfectly adequate when on the move).
Expandable storage? Maybe, but like you I'll never come close to the 512GB this phone has and in any case I have multiple TBs to play with from the likes of OneDrive, Google Drive, Dropbox et al should I need more.
Notification light? I never even knew this was a thing, but with always on displays do you really need it? You can set the edges to flash on notifications too which could help.
If these things are all dealbreakers then the phone (and probably most phones) aren't for you, but you know all this before you buy one so just buy something that ticks all the boxes or learn to adapt, I guess.
DKS said:
Recent phone history:
S9 -> S20FE -> S22.
Each new phone offers less features. First the loss of headphone jack, heart rate monitor and notification light. Now the loss of a memory card slot (yet 2 sim card slots).
How is this progress? I also hate the unlock and volume buttons on the same side.
What does the S23 offer besides (I'm assuming) more power/ memory/ battery life? And does it affect normal daily use?
Agreed. I currently have an S10e and any Samsung upgrade I can make is going to see me lose the SD card and headphone jack. Since my headphone jack broke due to use, I've adapted to using BT headphones but it's still a once-standard feature I would want to see on the phone due to having lots of wired headphones that I could use with it. SD card means you don't have to pay the inflated fees that makers charge for their models with higher amounts of internal memory.S9 -> S20FE -> S22.
Each new phone offers less features. First the loss of headphone jack, heart rate monitor and notification light. Now the loss of a memory card slot (yet 2 sim card slots).
How is this progress? I also hate the unlock and volume buttons on the same side.
What does the S23 offer besides (I'm assuming) more power/ memory/ battery life? And does it affect normal daily use?
Also a suitable 'outgoing model' S22 with 256gigs (needed as it doesn't have SD card capability) is still super-expensive, never mind the cost of the current all-new S23. I bought my S10e just as the S20 range was taking over from the S10 for about £360 sim-free which has proven to be great value for money. I can't say that about any of what is now available.
simonwhite2000 said:
HammyHamster said:
BlueJazz said:
Sadly delayed until the 28th due to 'unforseen circumstances.'
Mine was due today, now I get a last minute email that it's delayed until 3rd March due to unforseen circumstances. WTF.DKS said:
Recent phone history:
S9 -> S20FE -> S22.
Each new phone offers less features. First the loss of headphone jack, heart rate monitor and notification light. Now the loss of a memory card slot (yet 2 sim card slots).
How is this progress? I also hate the unlock and volume buttons on the same side.
What does the S23 offer besides (I'm assuming) more power/ memory/ battery life? And does it affect normal daily use?
I agree with everything there. My current phone doesn't have those features an I find it a downgrade in those terms. I've adapted and worked around it, but still miss those features.S9 -> S20FE -> S22.
Each new phone offers less features. First the loss of headphone jack, heart rate monitor and notification light. Now the loss of a memory card slot (yet 2 sim card slots).
How is this progress? I also hate the unlock and volume buttons on the same side.
What does the S23 offer besides (I'm assuming) more power/ memory/ battery life? And does it affect normal daily use?
Got mine today. 512GB version in black. Argos had it in stock ready to collect right away, which surprised me in a good way, so I grabbed it while it was there. Also got a Belkin charger which can supply 35W. It's a bit annoying that you no longer get a charger in the box, but I guess that the connection is being standardised to USB-C so it's easier to buy one yourself and then keep it for years.
I really don't need 512GB but the price differential between that and the lower models is not that much for something that I intend to keep for 4 years so I figured that I might as well have it, maybe I will find a use for it...
So far I'm loving it. I came from a Galaxy Note 9 and so far it's clearly much faster, the display is better, the audio is better and I'm enjoying the new software.
I'm generally in the Microsoft ecosystem so I've got all the usual MS apps (Outlook, OneDrive etc.) plus Microsoft Launcher to replace the Samsung software. All works great so far.
I would say that fingerprint unlock works first time about 75% of the time, the rest of the time it needs a second press, and very occasionally it gives up and asks for a PIN. I'm hoping that will improve over time. The Note 9 also had fingerprint unlock using a dedicated sensor on the back, but I never got it to work well enough so I didn't use it, the S23 is a massive step up.
To turn it off it's Power and Volume Down, the Note 9 was just the power button, on the S23 just pressing the Power button brings up Bixby which I have no use for, that's a bit annoying. Need to find out if that can be changed. But that is the level of annoyance we are at so far. Overall it's great.
But crikey it was expensive. Going to be beans on toast for the next month or two...
I really don't need 512GB but the price differential between that and the lower models is not that much for something that I intend to keep for 4 years so I figured that I might as well have it, maybe I will find a use for it...
So far I'm loving it. I came from a Galaxy Note 9 and so far it's clearly much faster, the display is better, the audio is better and I'm enjoying the new software.
I'm generally in the Microsoft ecosystem so I've got all the usual MS apps (Outlook, OneDrive etc.) plus Microsoft Launcher to replace the Samsung software. All works great so far.
I would say that fingerprint unlock works first time about 75% of the time, the rest of the time it needs a second press, and very occasionally it gives up and asks for a PIN. I'm hoping that will improve over time. The Note 9 also had fingerprint unlock using a dedicated sensor on the back, but I never got it to work well enough so I didn't use it, the S23 is a massive step up.
To turn it off it's Power and Volume Down, the Note 9 was just the power button, on the S23 just pressing the Power button brings up Bixby which I have no use for, that's a bit annoying. Need to find out if that can be changed. But that is the level of annoyance we are at so far. Overall it's great.
But crikey it was expensive. Going to be beans on toast for the next month or two...
What cases are people using? I bought the Spigen Liquid air ans and it looks great and fits like a glove but it's just way too slippy, only a matter of time before I drop it. I had a silicone type one on my S21 Ultra and it was super grippy. Anyone seen anything like that for the S23? I know I should use some big chunky thing but I hate those.
Oh yeah, phone is awesome by the way, really happy with it, camera is outstanding.
Oh yeah, phone is awesome by the way, really happy with it, camera is outstanding.
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