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Post by Emig5m on Feb 22, 2022 0:46:10 GMT -5
![]()  I got the S22 Ultra 512Gb & Tab S8 Ultra four days before the stores get them therefore I'm the man and you're not lol. The only problem is the Great Reset disappointed me. I wasn't supposed to own anything and I was supposed to be happy. Well I own these and I'm the opposite of happy and wanna kill everyone. Word ™ IMO. |
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Post by ForRealTho on Feb 28, 2022 12:33:07 GMT -5
The S22 Ultra looks cool and all but I am hoping the S21 Ultra lasts me 3 years. I want a significant upgrade when I get a new phone. The SPen is cool but I hardly used it so I ended up swapping to a case that didn't have an SPen.
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Post by Emig5m on Feb 28, 2022 13:11:32 GMT -5
The S22 Ultra looks cool and all but I am hoping the S21 Ultra lasts me 3 years. I want a significant upgrade when I get a new phone. The SPen is cool but I hardly used it so I ended up swapping to a case that didn't have an SPen. I never got into the S-Pens myself. The thing is, with the aggressive trade-in and pre-order discounts and credits you don't even save by waiting years to upgrade anymore because every year that passes your trade-in device loses value. I got the S22 Ultra 512GB for $599.99 from $1399.99, the Tab S8 Ultra for $624.99 from $1099.99 and on top that, got the $350 Tab S8 Ultra keyboard/cover thrown in for free plus another $50 credit after my stuff shipped in which I got the 45 watt charger basically for free with that credit (this extra $50 credit was for early reservations before they took pre-orders). So looking at the huge discounts that I got, it really doesn't save money to wait three years and wind up paying full retail anyway. Heck even if I kept my S21 Ultra and just went to Best Buy and paid full retail for the Tab S8 Ultra I would of been losing out on basically a free S22 Ultra plus free $350 keyboard/cover. I basically got $1750 off paying full retail for everything.
A couple things that are nice about the design of the S22U over the S21U, the S22U although being the same weight actually feels a lot lighter in hand due to it being perfectly balanced and not top heavy with the camera bump of the S21 and even with a thin case like the official Samsung leather case it sits flat on the back side and doesn't sit uneven and wobble anymore. The max zoom is supposed to be a little better, the night mode is a little better (didn't test the camera too much yet). Even the haptic feedback is supposed to be better and feel more premium. It's all 'small refinements' like that but nearly the same performing at the end of the day. If it wasn't for those deep discounts I totally would of skipped it but the fact that I wanted to ditch the Tab S6 because the 60Hz screen was irritating to use being used to 120Hz screens on phones and also wanted my tablet to perform on par with my flagship phone so that going from my phone to my tablet I wasn't feeling multiple generations behind so I was planning on getting a new tablet anyway and with all these discounts it was like, buy one and get one free lol. I think the 200mp sensor is coming out next year for the phones so that should be a nice jump in the camera performance. I actually don't think it's too late to get a good deal. Some people are reporting some phone models are getting an extra $100 credit trade-in now. Don't know how the math would work out at the end of the day factoring in all the other credits they where throwing in for early pre-orders.
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Post by Babel-17 on Feb 28, 2022 14:12:04 GMT -5
Very nice, Congratulations! I have the S21 Ultra, the Tab S7+, the Tab S4, and a Pixel 3XL, so I'm in a pretty good position to comment about the bumps in Snapdragon SOC performance relative to an improved user experience. For browsing the internet, there's an appreciable speed increase in how "busy" pages load between the Tab S4, and the Tab S7+ and S21 Ultra. Not as much of an increase if loading Reddit, or Facebook. Less of a noticeable improvement loading pages if coming from the Snapdragon 845 in the Pixel 3XL, and by the time we get to the Snapdragon 865+ of the S7+, it's already providing near desktop speeds, so the bump to the Snapdragon 888 hasn't made much difference in daily operations. Apple's devices have much more powerful processors that are much faster at performing business related tasks, but in terms of web browsing they aren't really faster. So we Android users have had a peek at the future, and it's one where upgrades are less about speed, except when it comes to the most demanding games, or pushing the AI that works with the cameras. Though even there we see Apple's advantage not being a deciding factor. Though the AI for photography is on top of the brute power of the CPU. Qualcomm claims its AI for photos has been getting much better every year, and Samsung is really trying to leverage that this year with its "nightography", and layering together the output of multiple shots from its main shooter. And for watching video on Netflix or YouTube there isn't an improved experience in a normally lit room, the OLED displays on all my Samsung devices are fantastic. The 120 Hz refresh rate on the S7+ is nice to have though. My point is that as media consumption devices go, Samsung products have already nailed it. My S4 Tablet, like all Samsung devices, allowed me to tweak the audio output to match how my ears work, and while laying in bed its audio is excellent. For tweaking the UI I didn't do much, my S4 can't be tapped to go to sleep, though it can to be woken up, but thanks to the volunteer work of Samsung employees with Good Lock/Fine Lock utilities I was able to add a display off thingy to the bottom of my screen. I also have one for Accessibility options so I can raise and lower volume through software. On my S7+ and my Ultra I have icons for Volume up, and Volume Down. With the Bixby routines I have power saving enabled at bedtime. I just remembered, afaik the display tech for the S8+ and S8 Ultra hasn't changed, so while they remain awesome there are routines you can enable to limit their refresh rate while playing YouTube, Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon Prime video to less than the default of 120Hz. I'll link to a video at the bottom. P.S. I recently bought a second Lamicall Tablet Stand, and it's really nice, as was the first one I bought. This one offers some flexibility with the height though. Overkill for my S21 Ultra, but it fits nicely. The first one I bought has "grips" that are slightly less obtrusive for a phone. I use a Speck case for my Ultra, without it the Tablet stand might cover more screen of a phone with minimal bezels than some might care for. My new stand: smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08T96C31GMy older one: smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01DBV1OKYMy S21 Ultra case:
P.S. Ha, funny enough both my tablets are charging, so I just now used my S21 Ultra to jot down a note. I keep the function turned off to save a tiny bit of power, but it can be quickly turned back on. I use the pen from S4, and it works really well.
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Post by ForRealTho on Feb 3, 2023 12:39:26 GMT -5
Debating preordering the S23 Ultra, my S21 Ultra 512 gig is still going strong but if you preorder the S12 Ultra they bump you from 256 gigs of storage to 512 gigs of storage completely free.
Would be $819 with the trade in.
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Post by sj on Feb 3, 2023 14:05:03 GMT -5
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Post by ForRealTho on Feb 3, 2023 14:25:15 GMT -5
You aren't wrong Google has a horrible track record but do you think Apple is any better? Duopolies are bad for anyone, even if Microsoft made inroads with Windows Phone they are just as into data harvesting and metrics as anyone else in FAANG. I'm familiar with iPhones and iOS just from work and I prefer the way Android phones work especially with Nova Launcher. I've been using the same app for Music since I got the Droid X in 2011. While the UI has been updated multiple times over the years and added features its functionally identical in 2023. Unlike iPhones which require you to use iTunes and have this ridiculous database that scrambles the files the way music is handled on Android is very simple. I've been collecting MP3s since 1996(these days I do lossless FLAC but I do have a couple of files floating around that are 27 years old). Like most people on Windows I keep my music collection in C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Music If you hook up your Android phone to Windows via USB you can then view the Android folder structure and in the root of Android there is a Music folder. So I simply copy my Music folder on Windows to Android. Done. Thats it. Then my music app PowerAmp scans the folder. As phones have gotten faster this takes almost no time. If I hear a song I like I use an app called NewPipe and it lets me download songs from YouTube to the Music folder on Android, then it shows up in my music player PowerAmp. I don't think there is similar functionality on iPhone Periodically if I want to can plug my phone back into my Windows PC and copy music back over but if I really like a song I will go buy it lossless. Android vs iPhone is similar to Windows vs Mac. Yes Macs work well but the complete lack of customization is a turnoff. |
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Post by sj on Feb 3, 2023 15:06:56 GMT -5
You aren't wrong Google has a horrible track record but do you think Apple is any better? Duopolies are bad for anyone, even if Microsoft made inroads with Windows Phone they are just as into data harvesting and metrics as anyone else in FAANG. I'm familiar with iPhones and iOS just from work and I prefer the way Android phones work especially with Nova Launcher. I've been using the same app for Music since I got the Droid X in 2011. While the UI has been updated multiple times over the years and added features its functionally identical in 2023. Unlike iPhones which require you to use iTunes and have this ridiculous database that scrambles the files the way music is handled on Android is very simple. I've been collecting MP3s since 1996(these days I do lossless FLAC but I do have a couple of files floating around that are 27 years old). Like most people on Windows I keep my music collection in C:\Users\%USERNAME%\Music If you hook up your Android phone to Windows via USB you can then view the Android folder structure and in the root of Android there is a Music folder. So I simply copy my Music folder on Windows to Android. Done. Thats it. Then my music app PowerAmp scans the folder. As phones have gotten faster this takes almost no time. If I hear a song I like I use an app called NewPipe and it lets me download songs from YouTube to the Music folder on Android, then it shows up in my music player PowerAmp. I don't think there is similar functionality on iPhone Periodically if I want to can plug my phone back into my Windows PC and copy music back over but if I really like a song I will go buy it lossless. Android vs iPhone is similar to Windows vs Mac. Yes Macs work well but the complete lack of customization is a turnoff. Yes. They certainly aren't perfect either, but they do have a better track record on consumer privacy. Apple requires law enforcement and govt agencies to go through proper legal (judicial) channels prior to giving out consumer info. www.apple.com/legal/privacy/law-enforcement-guidelines-us.pdfWhereas, many other companies will just give out the info upon request when provided with credentials. |
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Post by ForRealTho on Feb 3, 2023 15:40:24 GMT -5
I know iPhones are great on having all your stuff there when you swap phones. Same thing on Samsung.
First you sign into your Google account, then you load up the Samsung switch app on both phones. The phone comes with a USBC to USBC cable. You plug in the phones to each other. Pick your old phone in the app, and the new phone in the app. Then it copies everything over. Over USBC this takes no time.
Then last move over your SIM card. Done. Everything is exactly the same.
I use Google Voice to handle my voicemail and to do the initial setup for that I had to type in a bunch of numbers. I thought I would have to do that again, nope. Once you do that it is done for good.
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Post by Cop on Feb 4, 2023 10:41:03 GMT -5
![]() View AttachmentI got the S22 Ultra 512Gb & Tab S8 Ultra four days before the stores get them therefore I'm the man and you're not lol. The only problem is the Great Reset disappointed me. I wasn't supposed to own anything and I was supposed to be happy. Well I own these and I'm the opposite of happy and wanna kill everyone. Word ™ IMO. I wasn't sure what you were talking about and then I clicked on the picture to make it larger and I'm still not sure. It's a tablet, I'm guessing? I didn't even know those were still a thing (to be excited about). Our tablet has been a youtube-player exclusively for the past years. |
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Post by Babel-17 on Feb 4, 2023 12:15:46 GMT -5
Samsung OLED, so arguably the best screen you could be looking at. Lol, it makes it easier to notice and appreciate good cinematography, though if you can't help but notice CGI and Green Screen, it makes those more obvious as well. My Tab S4 has an arguably quite outdated SOC, the Snapdragon 835*, but its OLED screen remains as good as anything I can think of for watching video, as long as there's no bright light shining on it. Newer OLEDs have the edge there. And its four "AKG tuned" speakers offer way more volume than I need. I used the built-in Samsung audio tuning utility to customize sound to my ears. I really like it. *There's been the 845, 855, 865, 888, Snapdragon 8 Gen One, and now Snapdragon 8 Gen Two, since its roll out. I don't count plus versions, as they are merely versions with higher clock speeds. My Tab S7+ has the 865+. P.S. I'm holding out for now for devices that will come with Snapdragon 8 Gen Three. "Third time's the charm", albeit the Gen Two is already a monster, and it might really show off the new input from those engineers that had been customizing Apple chips, but left to get really wealthy, and who got snapped up Qualcomm, maker of the Snapdragon SOC. But even there I'd want to wait for a big sale, Amazon Prime Day, Black Friday events, or possibly even wait for "Like New" open box sale prices, or later on a Renewed device. Given the number of OS and security updates my S21 Ultra (256 GB) gets, I might ride it out until the end, and thus be positioned to see devices that had massive improvements getting offered. In a few more years we could see the option for satellite connections in emergencies, and some kind of boosts to what we see on the screen. Refresh rates, pixel density/screen resolution, brightness, possibly Dolby Vision (Samsung has avoided that royalty so far), and refinements to color accuracy. Speakers can always be improved, the S23 line up afaik has an improvement, and the competition from Apple there is fierce, with Apple having had a bit of an edge over the last several years, according to reviewers. I use ear buds with my phone, sometimes buds or headphones with my tablets, but generally just the speakers.
P.P.S. The new 256 GB and above models come with the new memory modules which offer substantially faster read and write speeds. Though of course on phones with lots of ram, it's all about loading apps from that. And I presume Samsung is using faster, and more energy efficient ram. From what I've read they'll be rolling out even faster ram in the future too. The new modules can't be readily made in the 128 GB form factor, so it's not like Samsung chose to make that slower. This year or the next could see the end of that size option for flagship devices, imo, especially as the option to insert memory cards has vanished from flagship/IP68 phones.
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Post by sj on Feb 4, 2023 12:32:53 GMT -5
![]() View AttachmentI got the S22 Ultra 512Gb & Tab S8 Ultra four days before the stores get them therefore I'm the man and you're not lol. The only problem is the Great Reset disappointed me. I wasn't supposed to own anything and I was supposed to be happy. Well I own these and I'm the opposite of happy and wanna kill everyone. Word ™ IMO. I wasn't sure what you were talking about and then I clicked on the picture to make it larger and I'm still not sure. It's a tablet, I'm guessing? I didn't even know those were still a thing (to be excited about). Our tablet has been a youtube-player exclusively for the past years. Also true. hahah.. I require a keyboard - tablets are useless to me. I know you can buy separate/attachable keyboards for tablets. But the add-ons & accessories make them more expensive than just getting a laptop (which are usually sturdier, better constructed anyway). |
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Post by ForRealTho on Feb 4, 2023 23:01:30 GMT -5
P.S. I'm holding out for now for devices that will come with Snapdragon 8 Gen Three. "Third time's the charm", albeit the Gen Two is already a monster, and it might really show off the new input from those engineers that had been customizing Apple chips, but left to get really wealthy, and who got snapped up Qualcomm, maker of the Snapdragon SOC. I'm debating preordering the S23 Ultra, Samsung has custom Snapdragon 8 Gen Twos tweaked and overclocked just for them |
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Post by Babel-17 on Feb 6, 2023 18:27:15 GMT -5
Early report suggested a nice improvement in battery life.
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Post by Emig5m on Mar 5, 2023 23:27:08 GMT -5
So like always, I pre-ordered directly from Samsung and got it earlier than the brick and mortar release day. But this year I chose to keep my most recent phone (S22U) as a backup and send in an older phone (S7) since the trade in deals were really poor this year and decided that it was time to have a better backup device than an S7.
S23U has a more natural, less vivid screen (I don't see reviewers reporting this). I really noticed the speed difference of the new processor/storage/ram when updating 17 apps on both the S22U and S23U. I let the S22U get down to the last four app updates before starting it on the S23U. Where the S22U took a long time to install an update after downloading, the S23U was easily four times faster and finished 17 updates faster than the S22U with only four remaining! Woah!~ Talk about catching up from way behind and winning!~ The camera is slightly better in certain situations but IMO not a great upgrade there across the board. Same old Samsung shutter lag remains causing blur on moving objects. As always, the high megapixel mode is useless 75% of the time because it requires so much light to fully utilize it and you're better off using the regular mode most of the time to get much better dynamic range and shadow detail. There is tons of complaints on social media about S22U battery life but I'm in the lucky bunch who always had good battery life on it. The S23U is better, but it's not a deal breaker really to not stick with the S22U. I did a hyperlapse recording tonight for 1hr30mins starting at about 67% battery and it was down to 35% when the recording was completed. Maybe I should of did the same recording on the S22U to see what drained more. Supposedly the cooling is a lot better and there will be less throttling but I don't game on a phone. It would probably only help me when recording 4k in the summer heat for long periods of time.
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Post by ForRealTho on Mar 6, 2023 14:26:09 GMT -5
I was super close to getting the S23 Ultra, I had everything in the cart ready to press order. Then at the last minute I decided not to order it and wait one more year. That way I will be going from the S21 to the S24 and hopefully really feel the difference.
When I went from my Moto X Pure with a dying battery to the Galaxy S9+ there was a huge speed difference. It wasn't exactly fair to the Moto X Pure because at that point it was hot to the touch and would drop from 100% down to 85% in less then 5 minutes but still. Its also a testament to how far phones have come that I can keep the S21 as long as I have. The battery life has gone down but not by a massive amount. I got a little power brick I got in the habit of carrying with me just in case. Looking forward to seeing next years S24 Ultra.
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