Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Puddled

macrumors 6502a
Jun 9, 2017
548
602
For me never an Android again. I read for years how the S5 was as good as the corresponding iphone, then the S6 was as good as the corresponding iphone, then the S7 was definitely as good or better than the corresponding iphone and now I read that the S8 is defintely as good or better than the corresponding iphone. Well I fell for the hype and got a S7 Edge and have had the S7 Edge for about a year now and this thing is the biggest piece of junk I have ever owned. I have learned my lesson.

If the notch is the worst I have to deal with that will be better than about 10 things I have had to deal with on the S7 Edge.

What was wrong with the S7?
 

mikef07

Suspended
Aug 8, 2007
305
273
What was wrong with the S7?

1) Battery life is atrocious. Was great for about the first 6 months. I am not a power user. I use email, a few apps, internet, music (a little). I will be below 50% by noon. Unplugged my phone at 7AM today. Have spent maybe 30 minutes total on phone overall. 9:24AM I am at 70%.
2) Internet experience is horrible. Constantly on a few forums and espn and webpages are constantly choppy or missing buttons, or the button simply don't work. There are constant situations where you get the "wait or close option" because the page freezes.
3) Message app is garbage. If I send a video or picture it is downgraded in quality (almost unwatchable).
4) No facetime. Almost every person i would want to facetime with has an iphone but of course I can't do it.
5) Choppy , choppy, choppy. The whole experience is not smooth at all.
6) Many times when I get a phone call and try to swipe answer the swipe does not register. After swiping about the 8th time it finally works.
7) Search function. With apple I can swipe down and search for an app. Very simple.
8) Music app is garbage compared to ios. So much so I don't even use it very often.
9) Getting to visual voicemail is such a pain compared to ios when in the phone app. i.e. Get out of phone app, find the visual voicemail icon and select it compared to having the icon at the bottom of the actual phone app in ios
10) One thing I thought I would love is wireless charging. I have a case on and it works less than 50% of the time. Yes I realize this will be an issue with the X as well.
11) . Keyboard is terrible compared to the iphone keyboard. I rarely make mistakes on the iphone yet make tons of mistakes on the galaxy.
12) . Integration with mac doesn't come close to the experience with an iphone.
13) . Weather app is garbage on main screen. It does not update automatically. I have to refresh anytime I want to know weather.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Naaaaak and MrX8503

jt1king

macrumors newbie
Oct 28, 2017
8
6
I had an 7 edge for a few months between my iPhone 6 + and iPhone 7 +. The screen was great but the operating system was lacking. This phone had the largest battery of it’s time but I struggled to get through a day without crippling email and notifications. It also didn’t play well with my other Apple devices. There was always some google process that would run in the background, eating my battery. I gladly switched to an iPhone 7+ and haven’t looked back. Waiting on my release day Silver X.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MrX8503

woozor1

macrumors 6502
Jul 15, 2015
272
149
Uk
The s7 is not equal to the note 8 as time goes by improvements are made. If all you do is compare an experience to an outdated phone then that is small minded.

There is no perfect device.
 

KingslayerG5

Suspended
Oct 16, 2017
1,254
1,292
There are only two phone series that you can pick up from a US carrier that comes unlocked and no bloat..

iPhone and Pixel from Verizon.

I like the Note series actually. Best all-around phones since 2011. I was going crazy for one since it was first announced knowing bigger screens would be the future and was correct. When "neesh" becomes the norm.

Had a Note 3 and enjoyed it. Held its own for four years. Never used the S-Pen though. Then badly wanted Note7 until we saw what happened. Is the Note8 the best phone now? Probably. Is the Note8 the right one for me? Nah.

2018 Wishlist
Google Pixel 3 XL (junior)
LG V40 (senior)
Apple iPhone Xs or XI (sophomore)
Samsung Galaxy Note9 (senior)
Samsung Galaxy X (freshman/wildcard)
 

Phonephreak

macrumors 6502a
Aug 24, 2017
572
530
Here and there
I think Apple's ecosystem has pretty much ruined me. As you said, "it just works". And my launch day iPhone 6 has been spot-on reliable.

I came from a Samsung Galaxy phone. Loved the screen and the customization. But everything else was kinda clunky to use. Didn't like the Google Play store. And the stock email system was always giving me fits (yes, I know there are others you can use, but none worked very well with my work email).

Maybe Android OS's have come a long way since then. But for now (and for better or worse) I think I will stick with iOS. But have to admit, the new Note is mighty impressive. Just hope the have finally fixed their battery issues. ;)
Live my Apple stuff by iOS 11 battery life is horrible.
 

convergent

macrumors 68040
May 6, 2008
3,034
3,083
Samsung bloatware. Enuf said.

I have had a Note 8 for several weeks and have no idea what you are talking about. Have you actually used a Note 8 or are you just blindly spouting off cute digs? My opinion is that Samsung has done a great job on the software side creating a great experience.

I shouldn't have to buy a microSD card because Samsung wastes 10 GB more of internal storage compared to the iPhone.

So how exactly did they waste 10GB of internal storage? And your option with an iPhone is paying much more to get non expandable storage if you want more than the base amount?

I switched from a 7 plus a week and half ago to a note 8 and whilst the first few days I was struggling being used to Apple for the past 5 years once I was out of that Apple knows best mentality and I see all the little things that Apple doesn’t do which android does that you just think I can’t believe Apple doesn’t even do this, then my mind was sold.

Build quality is amazing and design feels very premium something that put me off the pixel 2 xl. And as you mentioned the screen is amazing tbh there’s way to many things to mention that are great about this phone. If it can run this smoothe for 1 year then I may have to get the note 9. It feels faster and smoother than my 7plus so far who knows what the future holds.

I agree... a short adjustment period and the experience has been quite good.
 

nviz22

Cancelled
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
Truth is many people don't give Android or Samsung a chance. They're so used to an iPhone that they yearn to go back since it is a grossly oversimplified device. If more people didn't just the Galaxy or an Android device for a few days, then they would be more objective towards it. You see too many "great hardware, but it runs Android and its buggy OS" comments.
 

djkinetic

macrumors 6502
Sep 29, 2007
257
128
Chicago, IL
Truth is many people don't give Android or Samsung a chance. They're so used to an iPhone that they yearn to go back since it is a grossly oversimplified device. If more people didn't just the Galaxy or an Android device for a few days, then they would be more objective towards it. You see too many "great hardware, but it runs Android and its buggy OS" comments.

Those buggy comments always bother me cause iOS has its fair share of bugs.
 

Deeds500

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Aug 22, 2014
313
490
1) Battery life is atrocious. Was great for about the first 6 months. I am not a power user. I use email, a few apps, internet, music (a little). I will be below 50% by noon. Unplugged my phone at 7AM today. Have spent maybe 30 minutes total on phone overall. 9:24AM I am at 70%.
2) Internet experience is horrible. Constantly on a few forums and espn and webpages are constantly choppy or missing buttons, or the button simply don't work. There are constant situations where you get the "wait or close option" because the page freezes.
3) Message app is garbage. If I send a video or picture it is downgraded in quality (almost unwatchable).
4) No facetime. Almost every person i would want to facetime with has an iphone but of course I can't do it.
5) Choppy , choppy, choppy. The whole experience is not smooth at all.
6) Many times when I get a phone call and try to swipe answer the swipe does not register. After swiping about the 8th time it finally works.
7) Search function. With apple I can swipe down and search for an app. Very simple.
8) Music app is garbage compared to ios. So much so I don't even use it very often.
9) Getting to visual voicemail is such a pain compared to ios when in the phone app. i.e. Get out of phone app, find the visual voicemail icon and select it compared to having the icon at the bottom of the actual phone app in ios
10) One thing I thought I would love is wireless charging. I have a case on and it works less than 50% of the time. Yes I realize this will be an issue with the X as well.
11) . Keyboard is terrible compared to the iphone keyboard. I rarely make mistakes on the iphone yet make tons of mistakes on the galaxy.
12) . Integration with mac doesn't come close to the experience with an iphone.
13) . Weather app is garbage on main screen. It does not update automatically. I have to refresh anytime I want to know weather.

Whilst I appreciate your feed back, you are essentially comparing an iPhone 7 with the iPhone X. Not only are the S7 and the N8 a year apart, the N8 is a step up to the S8, let alonne the S7. The N8 has 2 gigs more ram than the S8. Even the N8 keyboard, you know how cool it was to write on a little area and to see your hand written words being converted to text in the message app? Draw a line through the word which has already been converted to text, or part or a word or letter, and it deletes what you are striking through. Super cool.

As a current iphone user my philiosophy is, only leave iphone for a Note. If it's not going to be a Note, then iphone it is. So I would never get a standard Galaxy, I played with a friend's galaxy a couple of years ago and it was crap. Note 8 is just a superior device to the Galaxy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: koigirl

kasakka

macrumors 68020
Oct 25, 2008
2,389
1,079
Disagree, because there are significant gains to operating within a single ecosystem. Gains, which, to me, far outweigh any given feature on any given device.

I'm not saying Apple's has to be the ecosystem you choose, but I have no desire to have a foot in both camps. I'd rather pick the one that works best for me and live with the fact that the other side may have a few cool things I don't get (yet).

I have yet to find any huge benefits of consolidating to a single ecosystem. I use a Mac for work, an iPad as a tablet but prefer Android on my phone and have a desktop PC running Win10 at home (mostly because of gaming, I would run Hackintosh otherwise).

Hardwarewise the only truly impressive things Apple is doing is their SoC. They are far ahead of whatever Qualcomm peddles. While iOS is also pretty lean, it has a number of UI design choices I don't agree with and that's why I don't care for it as a phone OS. The 120 Hz display was a great addition to the iPad as well and not having one on the iPhone X, which is a $1000 phone, is just sad.
 

mikef07

Suspended
Aug 8, 2007
305
273
Whilst I appreciate your feed back, you are essentially comparing an iPhone 7 with the iPhone X. Not only are the S7 and the N8 a year apart, the N8 is a step up to the S8, let alonne the S7. The N8 has 2 gigs more ram than the S8. Even the N8 keyboard, you know how cool it was to write on a little area and to see your hand written words being converted to text in the message app? Draw a line through the word which has already been converted to text, or part or a word or letter, and it deletes what you are striking through. Super cool.

As a current iphone user my philiosophy is, only leave iphone for a Note. If it's not going to be a Note, then iphone it is. So I would never get a standard Galaxy, I played with a friend's galaxy a couple of years ago and it was crap. Note 8 is just a superior device to the Galaxy.

Appreciate the comments and what you wrote surely solves some of the things listed, but not all. Simply put on paper the S7 was as good or better than the iphone. In real life usage for a basic user (me) it was a poor experience. The note does not solve my list completely. It solves a few of the things listed.....maybe. You want to use a pen? Note is the way to go. You want full customization? Note is the way to go. I probably would use the pen some of the time. I could not care less about customization.
 

lowendlinux

macrumors 603
Sep 24, 2014
5,460
6,788
Germany
I have yet to find any huge benefits of consolidating to a single ecosystem. I use a Mac for work, an iPad as a tablet but prefer Android on my phone and have a desktop PC running Win10 at home (mostly because of gaming, I would run Hackintosh otherwise).

Hardwarewise the only truly impressive things Apple is doing is their SoC. They are far ahead of whatever Qualcomm peddles. While iOS is also pretty lean, it has a number of UI design choices I don't agree with and that's why I don't care for it as a phone OS. The 120 Hz display was a great addition to the iPad as well and not having one on the iPhone X, which is a $1000 phone, is just sad.

There are no huge benefits just one of those 'hey now that's cool" moments every once and while. I'm pretty much all google (WiFi, Android, Chromebook, Cast, and Fi on Wednesday) and it really is kinda nice
 

koigirl

macrumors 6502a
Jul 29, 2011
846
401
Raleigh, NC
I got a great deal signing up for ATT Uverse where my husband and I got two-for-one Note 8’s and 2 free Gear S3’s (not to mention free wireless charging pads and 128GB memory cards) as well. We got all that for a net hardware cost of about $475 each. It would have cost us $1450 each to upgrade to iPhone X with adequate storage and AppleCare (which we find essential). Not worth it IMO for smaller screen with awkward notch, first generation Face ID, no stylus, and lame animated emojis. With Note 8, we have choice to use Fingerprint unlock, iris recogntion, face recognition. We had been iPhone users and 100% Apple-centric since 2010. Also, I have found Gear S3 to be a better smartwatch with better functional design and battery life than Series 2 (again, just my opinion).

I was worried about switching but all my favorite apps (except Fantastical) are available on Android and seem to work as well for me. I love being able to decide for myself which apps to use as default. I’ve found Touchwiz is good enough that you don’t need to customize unless you really want to; my husband has stuck with mostly stock apps. We’re not big Facebook users so that’s not a big factor for us. Bloatware is a very small issue, much smaller than expected. Our family with iOS devices downloaded WhatsApp so we have about the same quality of messaging that we had with iMessage. I use a MBA and iPad Pro as well. With Google services all my devices are adequately integrated for my purposes. I find I experience at least as many stutters and even more app crashes on my iPad Pro running iOS 11 as compared to Note 8. I was concerned the switch would be aggravating for my husband whose workload requires things “just working” but he loves his Note 8 and says he may never go back to iPhone.

That being said, I have plenty of friends and family members for whom the simplicity/muscle memory of iOS would prevent them from ever making the switch (or learning a new way of doing things). I would never suggest a switch to Android or even an X upgrade for many friends and family. I don’t think they could even handle the removal of the home button and gesture-centric design on iPhone X, much less learning a new operating system. I suspect Apple will continue to offer devices with home buttons for a long time to come as many people would have a hard time adjusting and wouldn’t want to have to adapt or learn a new way of doing things.

For myself, I am glad I overcame my apprehension and stepped outside Apple’s walled garden. Freedom and choices.
 

convergent

macrumors 68040
May 6, 2008
3,034
3,083
Meh, I used to think like you but I haven't actually felt like I missed the 3.5mm for at least half a year. Most of us have moved on. ;)

Maybe "most of you" who moved on don't travel on long haul flights where a headset that doesn't need to be recharged after a few hours is important... or maybe "most of you" don't have hundreds of dollars invested in wired headsets that you love and don't want to give up. Or maybe "most of you" believe Apple's "courage" crap justification, Samsung managed to keep the jack, and fit everything in the package including expandable storage, making it waterproof, and also including a silo for pen. What exactly did you gain in return for the headphone jack going away? Because Apple's story about what you gained is total BS.
 

840quadra

Moderator
Staff member
Feb 1, 2005
9,489
6,385
Twin Cities Minnesota
Best design feature of the Note 8:

No.
Stupid.
Notch.


The top and the bottom of the phone are correct. Clean. Very thin bezel for just the essentials, without goofy "ears" for a status bar.

Apple was beat at design this generation.

Samsung is just as guilty of putting design first, however in this case it impacts functionality. There is no excuse for the location of the fingerprint sensor. It’s poor ergonomics and is as much as an afterthought as the Notch was for apple.

Both companies put screens as their top priority, and both have a side effect from doing so.


All said, the note 8 is a great device, I enjoyed the one I used for a few days, just a bit to big (lengthwise) for me to enjoy using, and I was afraid of damaging the edge of the screen like a few of my colleagues have here in the office.
 

convergent

macrumors 68040
May 6, 2008
3,034
3,083
Samsung is just as guilty of putting design first, however in this case it impacts functionality. There is no excuse for the location of the fingerprint sensor. It’s poor ergonomics and is as much as an afterthought as the Notch was for apple.

Both companies put screens as their top priority, and both have a side effect from doing so.


All said, the note 8 is a great device, I enjoyed the one I used for a few days, just a bit to big (lengthwise) for me to enjoy using, and I was afraid of damaging the edge of the screen like a few of my colleagues have here in the office.

Having used a Note 8 for a few weeks and an iPhone 6S+ for a few years, I will say that neither is particularly better or worse for the FPS location. If you try to use the iPhone one handed, it is very difficult to activate the front FPS because of the weight of the phone and positioning of the FPS. Likewise, on the Note 8 it is a little too high. What would be perfect on the Note 8 would be to place it just to the side of the Samsung word on the back of the phone, because when you pick up the phone that is naturally where your index finger lands. But they'd have two of them if they did that because for left handed people it wouldn't work being off to one side. I will say that I enjoy having two different biometric means... I have FPS and Retina both turned on and one of the two of them his very quickly nearly ever time. Its not always the same one though. I wouldn't want to go back to having only one or the other which is the way any iPhone works.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tsepz and koigirl
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.