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Samsung Galaxy Note20 / Note20 Ultra

Dave245 said:
The screen on the Note Ultra looks amazing and the s-pen is appealing to me, but the software is what puts me off.
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I’m curious... what about One UI that puts you off? For me... it’s fine, I believe Dieter of TheVerge did a video of it. Praising how Samsung has done well... by scaling back on what it puts on Android.

It’s much more lighter from previous years, I’ve used Samsung devices in the past.. and yeah, I’ve quickly installed Nova Launcher as soon as I went into the PlayStore. But I’ve been rocking One UI ever since I purchased the Note and I don’t have any major issues with it.
 
The Game 161 said:
I’m guessing this is why the note ultra has the auto focus laser. I think the issues on the s20 can’t truly be fixed with software.
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I might be wrong here, but I don't know that the auto laser focus would have any affect on moving objects if it's a shutter speed issue.
 
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SteveJUAE said:
Then stick with Apple even the MS Duo is going to be Android
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The Surface Duo isn’t just a phone, Microsoft said that during the keynote back in October. I plan on using it as a secondary device alongside my iPhone.
 
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Ludatyk said:
I’m curious... what about One UI that puts you off? For me... it’s fine, I believe Dieter of TheVerge did a video of it. Praising how Samsung has done well... by scaling back on what it puts on Android.

It’s much more lighter from previous years, I’ve used Samsung devices in the past.. and yeah, I’ve quickly installed Nova Launcher as soon as I went into the PlayStore. But I’ve been rocking One UI ever since I purchased the Note and I don’t have any major issues with it.
Click to expand...

Mainly from comments I’ve read, I have no first hand experience with a Samsung phone since I brought the S4 and I hated the software. I’ve seen comments from people saying that Samsung installs a lot of bloatware on the devices and random ads.

Security is also an issue for me, I want to be able to install an app and know that it will not contain a virus or have anything like that. I think over the years I have been spoilt by Apple’s ecosystem and I’m very much entrenched in it, as much as I want to try other things, I personally take a look and think “yea but it isn’t Apple so will it be as good“
 
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drinkingtea said:
This is a damn gorgeous phone. I’m too entrenched in the Apple ecosystem to buy the Ultra, though.
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Haha I'm with you. The minute I got a MacBook a few months ago I was officially done switching around. Doesn't make sense at all, but Samsung devices are always great eye candy.
 
mjschabow said:
Haha I'm with you. The minute I got a MacBook a few months ago I was officially done switching around. Doesn't make sense at all, but Samsung devices are always great eye candy.
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I had to stop watching Ultra videos on YouTube because I almost convinced myself to buy one 😭. I bought both an Apple Watch and a MacBook recently, so there’s definitely no chance of me buying an Android device to use as a main phone. I am considering buying the new Pixel 4a when it’s under $300 to tinker with, though (I wouldn’t ever spend more than $300 for an Android device considering my Apple situation).
 
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Dave245 said:
Mainly from comments I’ve read, I have no first hand experience with a Samsung phone since I brought the S4 and I hated the software. I’ve seen comments from people saying that Samsung installs a lot of bloatware on the devices and random ads.

Security is also an issue for me, I want to be able to install an app and know that it will not contain a virus or have anything like that. I think over the years I have been spoilt by Apple’s ecosystem and I’m very much entrenched in it, as much as I want to try other things, I personally take a look and think “yea but it isn’t Apple so will it be as good“
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I've never experienced random ads, I've read comments saying.. that Samsung has done that through the Notification Center or through the LockScreen, but it's never happened to me. Bloatware? Yeah.. lots of Android phones do it. But Samsung has provided ways to either disable them or hide apps (some you can uninstall). I would prefer them to keep it vanilla and not give us any of their apps on Android, but I get their perspective... Apple does it too. And, I know... I know, you can uninstall Apple apps.

And Google has done well with security through the Google Play Store, I don't think that should be a huge concern in regards to containing a virus or anything like that. Obviously, you can side load apps... but I can count on one hand the times that I've done so. And, it's never been any issue... well, as far as I know. I like the fact I'm on two sides of the camp. I get the iOS/iPadOS experience with my iPad and the whole Android experience with Samsung. And I gotta acknowledge Samsung has done well with providing a good Android experience.
 
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Dave245 said:
Mainly from comments I’ve read, I have no first hand experience with a Samsung phone since I brought the S4 and I hated the software. I’ve seen comments from people saying that Samsung installs a lot of bloatware on the devices and random ads.

Security is also an issue for me, I want to be able to install an app and know that it will not contain a virus or have anything like that. I think over the years I have been spoilt by Apple’s ecosystem and I’m very much entrenched in it, as much as I want to try other things, I personally take a look and think “yea but it isn’t Apple so will it be as good“
Click to expand...

Software is a lot better than it was. I wouldn’t be put off to be honest. 3 years of support isn’t apple level but it’s fine as really i think most people iupgrade after 3 years anyway, right? I know sad acts like us upgrade every year.
 
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Bloatware is such a **** reason to avoid buying Samsung. Especially when it's the Note, the most feature rich smartphone you could ever hope for. So you have to disable Facebook or whatever else and then never have to think of it again. Big deal.

Never had random ads on a phone either.
 
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michael9891 said:
Bloatware is such a **** reason to avoid buying Samsung. Especially when it's the Note, the most feature rich smartphone you could ever hope for. So you have to disable Facebook or whatever else and then never have to think of it again. Big deal.

Never had random ads on a phone either.
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Even iPhones have bloat with those pointless apps like iMovie, tips and others. This is normal for all companies imo
 
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Anyone ordering the 512GB Ultra version?

I currently have a note 10+ 256GB version, and I currently using 92GB. I have a 128GB microSD Card in, but it is only using about 12GB for photos.

I am sure I am probably missing something in how to get the phone to store more on the MicrsoSD-Card, but the price difference between the 128GB and 512GB really isn't that significant.

But I wondered how much more memory the Ultra would use for photo/video than my Note 10+

It only comes in black though. So I am guessing Samsung figures most people will not.
 
Dave245 said:
Mainly from comments I’ve read, I have no first hand experience with a Samsung phone since I brought the S4 and I hated the software. I’ve seen comments from people saying that Samsung installs a lot of bloatware on the devices and random ads.

Security is also an issue for me, I want to be able to install an app and know that it will not contain a virus or have anything like that. I think over the years I have been spoilt by Apple’s ecosystem and I’m very much entrenched in it, as much as I want to try other things, I personally take a look and think “yea but it isn’t Apple so will it be as good“
Click to expand...
That was a long time ago. Samsung software has improved a lot since then. One UI is really great. Sure, some bloatware are still there, but the main offender now is Microsoft. Microsoft has a deal with Samsung to pre-install Microsoft apps on Samsung phones. For Samsung apps, everytime you set up a new Galaxy phone, you are given the option to not install their apps. You can even opt to not install the Samsung browser. So you can start with quite a fairly clean device (except for those Microsoft apps).
 
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The Game 161 said:
Even iPhones have bloat with those pointless apps like iMovie, tips and others. This is normal for all companies imo
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iMovie? Did it come pre-installed on a new iPhone out of the box? I don't think so. It's an optional free download from the app store. That's not bloat. If you have iMovie, that means you chose to download it yourself.
 
Yeah the bloat and lag conversation come from much better times where the only masks people would wear was from their Halloween outfit.

Gotta admit, this phone looks so good. Actually thinking about trying it for a week and returning it. I’m mostly interested in if the cameras have improved at all and can even come close to the iPhone.
 
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mjschabow said:
Yeah the bloat and lag conversation come from much better times where the only masks people would wear was from their Halloween outfit.

Gotta admit, this phone looks so good. Actually thinking about trying it for a week and returning it. I’m mostly interested in if the cameras have improved at all and can even come close to the iPhone.
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I think I'll do the same. I'll give it a two-week go and return it. If I like it enough, my next phone will probably be the Note 20 Ultra late next year (the price should be way down by then and my two-year contract with my XS ends in November of next year). If I decide to do this, I have an old iPhone that I could use for my Apple Watch. There's just so much about the Note series that is really attractive to me as a student (the Pen, the huge screen, the weight).
 
drinkingtea said:
I think I'll do the same. I'll give it a two-week go and return it. If I like it enough, my next phone will probably be the Note 20 Ultra late next year (the price should be way down by then and my two-year contract with my XS ends in November of next year). If I decide to do this, I have an old iPhone that I could use for my Apple Watch. There's just so much about the Note series that is really attractive to me as a student (the Pen, the huge screen, the weight).
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Exactly! I have a work iPhone 11 so if for some crazy reason I were to keep the Note 20, I’ll still get my iOS fix. I love the watch but can do without it. Again, most likely not keeping it and probably will cancel the order before it even ships.
 
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