Moving from iPhone 6 to Galaxy S7

[The Game 161]

Huh? Have you ever looked at the flagships of cheaper Chinese OEMs? They are getting very good for fractions of the price of Samsung. There's a reason Samsung is losing ground in China.
I buy Apple because I know Apple gives me worldwide support and good service. That to me is worth the premium.
Samsung is charging the same premium as Apple, but offer nothing better in support/service than the Chinese OEMs. So to me, Samsung, no matter what gimmick of features they put on their phones, is not worth the premium since the Chinese OEMs can do the same gimmicks of features for less.

Samsung support is just fine where I live. Certainly when they are secs away from each other.

Also why is what samsung brings out considered a gimmick? most of the stuff are very useful..I certainly don't think alot of the Chinese OEMs have anywhere near the quailty that what samsung bring out now. The edge might be the best phone on the market currently.

 

[admob71]

Yup. I get great phones for less by going Xiaomi. Keep giving your money to Samsung if you like, more power to you.

There's good phones, there's great phones, then there's the s7 edge.

 

[pika2000]

Samsung support is just fine where I live. Certainly when they are secs away from each other.

Also why is what samsung brings out considered a gimmick? most of the stuff are very useful..I certainly don't think alot of the Chinese OEMs have anywhere near the quailty that what samsung bring out now. The edge might be the best phone on the market currently.

My experience with Samsung vs Apple:
Samsung: Only support local devices. Samsung USA even explicitly said they do not support unlocked devices.
Apple: Provide worldwide support. I can have my iPhone serviced at any Apple authorised service center in the world.

So, Samsung's level of service to me is no different than the regular Chinese OEMs. So why bother paying the premium? Xiaomi delivers handsets at fractions of the price. Again, there's a reason why Samsung is having problems in China.

You keep talking about the edge being the "best" phone. When you list it side by side with phones like the Xiaomi Mi5, are the differences worth the extra $$$? Not to me, especially when the services of both companies are the same (mediocre at best). So I will only pay premium for Apple because I know I am getting superior worldwide service. If I am buying Android, I'll save the money and get cheap Xiaomi.

I have not even touched on updates. Samsung, for its price, delivers poor support in terms of software updates. Even Sony/HTC seem to be doing a better job (that's not saying much though). Again, Samsung is charging Apple-level of prices. I expect the same level of support. If not, then I'll rather save the money with cheap Xiaomi and flash custom ROM myself.

 

[The Game 161]

My experience with Samsung vs Apple:
Samsung: Only support local devices. Samsung USA even explicitly said they do not support unlocked devices.
Apple: Provide worldwide support. I can have my iPhone serviced at any Apple authorised service center in the world.

So, Samsung's level of service to me is no different than the regular Chinese OEMs. So why bother paying the premium? Xiaomi delivers handsets at fractions of the price. Again, there's a reason why Samsung is having problems in China.

You keep talking about the edge being the "best" phone. When you list it side by side with phones like the Xiaomi Mi5, are the differences worth the extra $$$? Not to me, especially when the services of both companies are the same (mediocre at best). So I will only pay premium for Apple because I know I am getting superior worldwide service. If I am buying Android, I'll save the money and get cheap Xiaomi.

I have not even touched on updates. Samsung, for its price, delivers poor support in terms of software updates. Even Sony/HTC seem to be doing a better job (that's not saying much though). Again, Samsung is charging Apple-level of prices. I expect the same level of support. If not, then I'll rather save the money with cheap Xiaomi and flash custom ROM myself.

I don’t think anybody here are saying samsung’s level of support is near to what apple provides. That said I have never needed to use Samsung service as I don’t have any issues and never have on Samsung phones. I have also never needed apple support with any of my apple products. Only time I have ever gone in there for an issue is to replace the home button on the iphone 5 which I was selling.


The only downside to Samsung is updates. That is the one bad part of the company. The rest? It’s arguably has the best important features for a phone like camera quaily and screen quality.


It all depends on what you can afford and want to pay. Yeah both Apple and Samsung are overpriced but you know what you are getting. With chinese phones? No thanks. Would much rather pay for quality than cheap phones that to me don’t impress me at all. If I wanted a cheap option I would go a moto which is very cheap but has better specs and quality.

having support is great but how often will you ever need it? my experience hardly ever.

If I was on contract with a samsung phone then my carrier would deal with any issues.

 

[admob71]

My experience with Samsung vs Apple:
Samsung: Only support local devices. Samsung USA even explicitly said they do not support unlocked devices.
Apple: Provide worldwide support. I can have my iPhone serviced at any Apple authorised service center in the world.

So, Samsung's level of service to me is no different than the regular Chinese OEMs. So why bother paying the premium? Xiaomi delivers handsets at fractions of the price. Again, there's a reason why Samsung is having problems in China.

You keep talking about the edge being the "best" phone. When you list it side by side with phones like the Xiaomi Mi5, are the differences worth the extra $$$? Not to me, especially when the services of both companies are the same (mediocre at best). So I will only pay premium for Apple because I know I am getting superior worldwide service. If I am buying Android, I'll save the money and get cheap Xiaomi.

I have not even touched on updates. Samsung, for its price, delivers poor support in terms of software updates. Even Sony/HTC seem to be doing a better job (that's not saying much though). Again, Samsung is charging Apple-level of prices. I expect the same level of support. If not, then I'll rather save the money with cheap Xiaomi and flash custom ROM myself.

It sounds as.if you desperately need support.becaud you just know your Apple device is going to fail.you. in 6 yrs of android ownership I have had one charging issue.tjat was repaired for free in 2 days.undwr.samsung warranty, and it was a device I bought off ebay with no receipt. Trust me, you need great Apple support with the reliability of Apple devices..

 

[pika2000]

It sounds as.if you desperately need support.becaud you just know your Apple device is going to fail.you. in 6 yrs of android ownership I have had one charging issue.tjat was repaired for free in 2 days.undwr.samsung warranty, and it was a device I bought off ebay with no receipt. Trust me, you need great Apple support with the reliability of Apple devices..

Support is great when I need it. So why pay premium on questionable support? I had Samsung devices, and Samsung USA denied support simply because they are unlocked.
Again, if you like giving more money to Samsung, more power to you. I don't see the benefit of paying Apple-like prices for mediocre service. So I'll just save my money.
[doublepost=1463556834][/doublepost]

It all depends on what you can afford and want to pay. Yeah both Apple and Samsung are overpriced but you know what you are getting. With chinese phones? No thanks. Would much rather pay for quality than cheap phones that to me don’t impress me at all. If I wanted a cheap option I would go a moto which is very cheap but has better specs and quality.

having support is great but how often will you ever need it? my experience hardly ever.

If I was on contract with a samsung phone then my carrier would deal with any issues.

I agree with you about Moto, but my take is I'll take Moto anytime over Samsung. I just picked Xiaomi as an example.
I have to disagree with you on quality. Yes, there are truly questionable Chinese no-name phones. But if you actually look at the current Xiaomi phones, Oppo, etc, they are very good, and still for fractions of the price Samsung is charging. And since to me Samsung offers no more value (mediocre support and updates), then yes, to me buying a Xiaomi or even Motorola (which is now under Lenovo, another Chinese OEM), is a better choice.

 

[admob71]

Support is great when I need it. So why pay premium on questionable support? I had Samsung devices, and Samsung USA denied support simply because they are unlocked.
Again, if you like giving more money to Samsung, more power to you. I don't see the benefit of paying Apple-like prices for mediocre service. So I'll just save my money.
[doublepost=1463556834][/doublepost]
I agree with you about Moto, but my take is I'll take Moto anytime over Samsung. I just picked Xiaomi as an example.
I have to disagree with you on quality. Yes, there are truly questionable Chinese no-name phones. But if you actually look at the current Xiaomi phones, Oppo, etc, they are very good, and still for fractions of the price Samsung is charging. And since to me Samsung offers no more value (mediocre support and updates), then yes, to me buying a Xiaomi or even Motorola (which is now under Lenovo, another Chinese OEM), is a better choice.

You only need support if it breaks. What happened to the It just works mantra?

I've been on marshmallow since last yr, Android N isn't out yet, so I'm hardly lacking in updates am I? Interesting that the only thing you pick up on are incidental bits, never anything to do with the product. Why is that?

 

[mantan]

It sounds as.if you desperately need support.becaud you just know your Apple device is going to fail.you. in 6 yrs of android ownership I have had one charging issue.tjat was repaired for free in 2 days.undwr.samsung warranty, and it was a device I bought off ebay with no receipt. Trust me, you need great Apple support with the reliability of Apple devices..

Apple gets a free pass on the quality front. I was shortsighted for not buying AppleCare. I had problems with my 4, 5 and 6. I thought it was just bad luck with my 4 and 5 and surely my $750 iPhone 6 would last 18-24 months. Nope. The GPS is broken and the battery won't hold a charge. I figured a battery would be $75 - may be a GPS unit would be $150.

SOL since I didn't buy AppleCare. The Apple Store Genius says it can't be fixed. So I'll be out of pocket to replace it...plus the cost of AppleCare (fool me three times, LOL)

 

[admob71]

Apple gets a free pass on the quality front. I was shortsighted for not buying AppleCare. I had problems with my 4, 5 and 6. I thought it was just bad luck with my 4 and 5 and surely my $750 iPhone 6 would last 18-24 months. Nope. The GPS is broken and the battery won't hold a charge. I figured a battery would be $75 - may be a GPS unit would be $150.

SOL since I didn't buy AppleCare. The Apple Store Genius says it can't be fixed. So I'll be out of pocket to replace it...plus the cost of AppleCare (fool me three times, LOL)

With out asking what may seem like a silly question, you are having issues with every Apple device time and again, why do you continue to buy them considering the quality available on the market ...

 

[mantan]

With out asking what may seem like a silly question, you are having issues with every Apple device time and again, why do you continue to buy them considering the quality available on the market ...

Up until the iPhone 6 I believed in the quality of Apple and it was the best handset (feature/design wise) on the market. The reason I didn't replace my phone at the Apple Store was so I could explore other options.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Support is great when I need it. So why pay premium on questionable support? I had Samsung devices, and Samsung USA denied support simply because they are unlocked.
Again, if you like giving more money to Samsung, more power to you. I don't see the benefit of paying Apple-like prices for mediocre service. So I'll just save my money.

I think you may be living in the cocooned world of Apple support in the US step outside and you are equally likely to find problems especially with Iphones, MAC's would tend to fare better.

 

[Fernandez21]

Apple has got you there....right there where they want you to be!

Expect iMessage and FaceTime ( I hardly use FaceTime and we mostly WhatsApp here in Europe) all my iCloud services work perfectly fine with my Samsung S7 together with my Mac. You just have to know which Android apps (e.g. Calendar and Mail apps) to use.

You got iCloud drive to work on Android? Which app are you using?

 

[The Game 161]

You got iCloud drive to work on Android? Which app are you using?

think you can use icloud sync in the play store

 

[Fernandez21]

think you can use icloud sync in the play store

Just did a search and there's no app showing up as iCloud sync. Several apps did show up to help sync iCloud contacts and calendar, but not seeing anything for drive.

 

[Geert76]

You got iCloud drive to work on Android? Which app are you using?

my apologies....I am not using iCloud Drive.

And the app you are looking for is SmoothSync for Cloud Calendar.
For iCloud email there are several apps you can use, atm I am using BlueMail which works perfectly between my S7 en Mail app on my Mac.

 

[Fernandez21]

my apologies....I am not using iCloud Drive.

And the app you are looking for is SmoothSync for Cloud Calendar.
Everything syncs from my Mac to my new S7 and vice versa

OK, thanks. I'm using Gmail for contacts and calenders, so I'm set there. But I prefer iCloud drive over Google or Dropbox. Works great on my iphone, Mac, and iPad. But I wish I could somehow get it to work with my Android phones.

 

[pika2000]

I think you may be living in the cocooned world of Apple support in the US step outside and you are equally likely to find problems especially with Iphones, MAC's would tend to fare better.

Hmm, I don't seem to understand your point. I am living outside US, and have had my Verizon iPhone serviced in Japan and Singapore without problems. Meanwhile, I also have a US Xperia Z1, and Sony Singapore refused to even look at it.

My point here is Samsung. Samsung is pricing their flagship Galaxy S series at iPhone prices. Do they offer the same worldwide support as Apple? Nope. So why should I pay $$$ to Samsung? Just for the phones? Chinese phones like Xiaomi is almost as good with fractions of the price. That's my point. If I want to pay premium, might as well get iPhone. There is no reason to pay premium for Android when the big brands offer the same mediocre service as the rest of the OEMs.

 

[The Game 161]

Hmm, I don't seem to understand your point. I am living outside US, and have had my Verizon iPhone serviced in Japan and Singapore without problems. Meanwhile, I also have a US Xperia Z1, and Sony Singapore refused to even look at it.

My point here is Samsung. Samsung is pricing their flagship Galaxy S series at iPhone prices. Do they offer the same worldwide support as Apple? Nope. So why should I pay $$$ to Samsung? Just for the phones? Chinese phones like Xiaomi is almost as good with fractions of the price. That's my point. If I want to pay premium, might as well get iPhone. There is no reason to pay premium for Android when the big brands offer the same mediocre service as the rest of the OEMs.

Why are so obessed with service, service, service.


People don’t buy phones for the service. They buy them for what the phone can do and for it to be dependable on a daily basics. How often is for your phone to stop working or have issues?


You seem to like these chinese phones now these are far more likely to mess up than any Samsung flagship.

 

[pika2000]

People don’t buy phones for the service. They buy them for what the phone can do and for it to be dependable on a daily basics. How often is for your phone to stop working or have issues?

You seem to like these chinese phones now these are far more likely to mess up than any Samsung flagship.

Haha, so if you don't want to buy service, again, why should I pay premium for Samsung then? My point is, Samsung is charging Apple-level prices without delivering the support equivalent to Apple. So instead of giving $$$ to Samsung, I rather save some and go with the likes of Xiaomi.

Unless you are living under a rock, the various recent phones from Xiaomi, Oppo, Huawei, Moto, etc are all very good. And don't forget OnePlus. If you are willing to give money to Samsung for the illusion of getting something of better value, more power to you. I'll save the premium and go with the others. If I want to pay premium, I'll go with Apple.

 

[SteveJUAE]

Hmm, I don't seem to understand your point. I am living outside US, and have had my Verizon iPhone serviced in Japan and Singapore without problems. Meanwhile, I also have a US Xperia Z1, and Sony Singapore refused to even look at it.

My point here is Samsung. Samsung is pricing their flagship Galaxy S series at iPhone prices. Do they offer the same worldwide support as Apple? Nope. So why should I pay $$$ to Samsung? Just for the phones? Chinese phones like Xiaomi is almost as good with fractions of the price. That's my point. If I want to pay premium, might as well get iPhone. There is no reason to pay premium for Android when the big brands offer the same mediocre service as the rest of the OEMs.

You just got lucky I have run in to this clause both in UAE and Thailand, they are not interested unless it originates from their country and sometimes even their shop. They just tell you to go where you bought the IPhone from.

Extract From Apple Warranty page, country specific info for UAE but many other countries have the same stipulation:

UAE:
IMPORTANT RESTRICTION FOR iPHONE, iPAD AND APPLE TV SERVICE.

Apple may restrict warranty service for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV to the country where Apple or its Authorized Distributors originally sold the device.

EG

UK:
IMPORTANT RESTRICTIONS

Apple may restrict warranty service for Apple Watch and Apple TV to countries where Apple or its Authorized Resellers sell the device.

With regard to iPad devices with cellular coverage and iPhone devices, the warranty provides service coverage the European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland. Outside this region, service options may be limited due to technical issues outside of Apple control – for information relating to iPad devices with cellular coverage and iPhone devices please see www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/ and www.apple.com/ipad/LTE/.

With regard to iPad devices the warranty does not provide service coverage in China due to differences in WiFi connection outside of Apple control.


However you do not seem not so luck with your products needing so many repairs

MAC's are much easier especially if you have AppleCare which is international support unlike IPhone

 

[pika2000]

You only need support if it breaks. What happened to the It just works mantra?

I've been on marshmallow since last yr, Android N isn't out yet, so I'm hardly lacking in updates am I? Interesting that the only thing you pick up on are incidental bits, never anything to do with the product. Why is that?

And when my iPhone breaks, I can get support from Apple stores around the world. I need support for my Samsung phone, Samsung USA denied support simply because it is unlocked. I rest my case.

My OnePlus One is also on Marshmallow with latest May security patch, and I don't have to pay $$$ like a Samsung phone. Your point? I have a Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 Tablet 2014, Samsung flagship's tablet at that time, and it didn't event get Lollipop. So why should I pay $$$ for Samsung again?

 

[SteveJUAE]

Hmm, I don't seem to understand your point. I am living outside US, and have had my Verizon iPhone serviced in Japan and Singapore without problems. Meanwhile, I also have a US Xperia Z1, and Sony Singapore refused to even look at it.

My point here is Samsung. Samsung is pricing their flagship Galaxy S series at iPhone prices. Do they offer the same worldwide support as Apple? Nope. So why should I pay $$$ to Samsung? Just for the phones? Chinese phones like Xiaomi is almost as good with fractions of the price. That's my point. If I want to pay premium, might as well get iPhone. There is no reason to pay premium for Android when the big brands offer the same mediocre service as the rest of the OEMs.

You just got lucky I have run in to this clause both in UAE and Thailand, they are not interested unless it originates from their country and sometimes even their shop. They just tell you to go where you bought the IPhone from.

Extract From Apple Warranty page, country specific info for UAE but many other countries have the same stipulation:

UAE:
IMPORTANT RESTRICTION FOR iPHONE, iPAD AND APPLE TV SERVICE.

Apple may restrict warranty service for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV to the country where Apple or its Authorized Distributors originally sold the device.

EG

UK:
IMPORTANT RESTRICTIONS

Apple may restrict warranty service for Apple Watch and Apple TV to countries where Apple or its Authorized Resellers sell the device.

With regard to iPad devices with cellular coverage and iPhone devices, the warranty provides service coverage the European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland. Outside this region, service options may be limited due to technical issues outside of Apple control – for information relating to iPad devices with cellular coverage and iPhone devices please see www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/ and www.apple.com/ipad/LTE/.

With regard to iPad devices the warranty does not provide service coverage in China due to differences in WiFi connection outside of Apple control.


However you do not seem not so lucky with your products needing so many repairs

MAC's are much easier especially if you have AppleCare which is international support unlike IPhone

 

[The Game 161]

Haha, so if you don't want to buy service, again, why should I pay premium for Samsung then? My point is, Samsung is charging Apple-level prices without delivering the support equivalent to Apple. So instead of giving $$$ to Samsung, I rather save some and go with the likes of Xiaomi.

Unless you are living under a rock, the various recent phones from Xiaomi, Oppo, Huawei, Moto, etc are all very good. And don't forget OnePlus. If you are willing to give money to Samsung for the illusion of getting something of better value, more power to you. I'll save the premium and go with the others. If I want to pay premium, I'll go with Apple.

Samsung charge apple level prices because it's a great PRODUCT. Thats the point. Samsung as i have already stated offer plenty of good support. Like apple they have a store of their own where I live. No different at all.

Yes these phones you mention are good and decent for the most part. Doesn't change the fact they have less support than apple or samsung. So basically because you are paying alot less that means support suddenly doesn't matter even though all you are going on about is lack of samsung support?

If my samsung went wrong I would take it in store or e-mail them to send it off if I didn't have a store where I live.

If you want to pay alot less for more affordable phone then thats up to you. ME? I would much rather pay alot of money for a well known product that does things better than anything else on the market. Alot of people can't afford to buy phones for £500-600 everytime It's out and I get that so they get affordable phones. I don't do that as I'm not a position where it's an issue.

Fact is I have had about 7 smart phones the past 2-3 years and not one has ever gone wrong and I would never have in my mind about service ahead of what the phones does. Means very little. Means even less If I get my phones from my carrier as they would sort out any problems.

 

[pika2000]

You just got lucky I have run in to this clause both in UAE and Thailand, they are not interested unless it originates from their country and sometimes even their shop.

I actually had the same doubt and posted the same question here in this forum a while back, and my worries were debunked by many users here. Plus I have proven it myself. I have Verizon iPhone 5, and I got service from Apple authorized service center in Singapore and Apple store in Japan, no problem. I have a Japanese iPhone 6S, and I got service in Singapore just fine. If you went to a non-authorized Apple service center, then I have no comment.

Meanwhile, Sony Singapore refused to even see my problematic Xperia Z1, and I already stated how Samsung USA refused support simply because my Samsung phone was unlocked. If these big names cannot even do support right, why should I pay premium for their products over Chinese OEMs that have very good products for fractions of the price?
[doublepost=1463830103][/doublepost]

Samsung charge apple level prices because it's a great PRODUCT. Thats the point.

LOL. You sounded just like those Apple fanboys. "Great product." Sure. Again, if you like giving $$$ to Samsung, more power to you. I have stated my point many times, and I don't see how paying Samsung a premium is worth it where they cannot even offer me the same level of service as Apple. I'll take my chances with the Chinese phones. My Redmi and OnePlus phones are still working fine.

 

[The Game 161]

I actually had the same doubt and posted the same question here in this forum a while back, and my worries were debunked by many users here. Plus I have proven it myself. I have Verizon iPhone 5, and I got service from Apple authorized service center in Singapore and Apple store in Japan, no problem. I have a Japanese iPhone 6S, and I got service in Singapore just fine. If you went to a non-authorized Apple service center, then I have no comment.

Meanwhile, Sony Singapore refused to even see my problematic Xperia Z1, and I already stated how Samsung USA refused support simply because my Samsung phone was unlocked. If these big names cannot even do support right, why should I pay premium for their products over Chinese OEMs that have very good products for fractions of the price?
[doublepost=1463830103][/doublepost]
LOL. You sounded just like those Apple fanboys. "Great product." Sure. Again, if you like giving $$$ to Samsung, more power to you. I have stated my point many times, and I don't see how paying Samsung a premium is worth it where they cannot even offer me the same level of service as Apple. I'll take my chances with the Chinese phones. My Redmi and OnePlus phones are still working fine.

Fanboys? so calling a great product a great product makes me a fanboy huh? Apple is a great product that markets well as do Samsung. You don't need to be a fanboy to state a product is great.

Enjoy your chinese phones all you like. People buy what they can afford at the end of the day. You get what you pay for as they always say and those phones certainly could never do it for me.