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Samsung Galaxy S21 / S21+ / S21 Ultra

I

ian87w

macrumors G3
Feb 22, 2020
8,704
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Indonesia
krspkbl said:
i haven't owned a Samsung since 2017. i remember having to install a custom launcher and another app to get rid of bloat. how is the software on the S21? i've read they updated it quite a bit. i've always been impressed by Samsung hardware but the software disappointed. i'd love to give Samsung another shot.
Click to expand...
OneUI is great. It's stable, very full featured and customisable. Many of the bloat is now optional. You even get a confirmation screen on first time setup whether you want to install many of Samsung's app, and you can uninstall many of them, including Samsung's own browser. The only "bloat" is actually Google's own apps, and Microsoft's pre-installed apps. There's also pre-installed localised apps, which are dependant on your region. They are installed on first setup, but can be uninstalled. One ultra annoyance is Facebook, where it puts its tentacles inside (app installer and service), and you cannot uninstall them. The key is to not just tap OK on first time setup. Be aware on what you're clicking and accepting.

With a promise for 3 years of OS updates, I think Samsung has matured, to the point that they pay attention to their software, not just hardware.
 
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Ludatyk

Ludatyk

macrumors 603
May 27, 2012
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Texas
ian87w said:
It could be that for some reason, my SanDisk cannot negotiate power appropriately with my S21. The S21 put out notification about USB charging when the USB dongle is connected.
Click to expand...
How much total storage is that SanDisk? But yeah… disappointing that it needs power in order to get detected.

krspkbl said:
i haven't owned a Samsung since 2017. i remember having to install a custom launcher and another app to get rid of bloat. how is the software on the S21? i've read they updated it quite a bit. i've always been impressed by Samsung hardware but the software disappointed. i'd love to give Samsung another shot.
Click to expand...
As @ian87w mention, OneUI is great. I go so far as to say it’s the best version of Android (don’t at me Pixel users). You can uninstall some bloat, but not sure about Samsung’s own browser. I wasn’t able to uninstall that. But apps like Facebook or the Samsung Internet (many others)… I can disable those.

That’s been my method with bloat… I’ll disable to avoid apps ever running. And in addition to that, I hide them. But OneUI has come along way, I credit Google for stepping in to advise Samsung to tone down OneUI and it has paid off tremendously.
 
I

ian87w

macrumors G3
Feb 22, 2020
8,704
12,638
Indonesia
Ludatyk said:
How much total storage is that SanDisk? But yeah… disappointing that it needs power in order to get detected.


As @ian87w mention, OneUI is great. I go so far as to say it’s the best version of Android (don’t at me Pixel users). You can uninstall some bloat, but not sure about Samsung’s own browser. I wasn’t able to uninstall that. But apps like Facebook or the Samsung Internet (many others)… I can disable those.

That’s been my method with bloat… I’ll disable to avoid apps ever running. And in addition to that, I hide them. But OneUI has come along way, I credit Google for stepping in to advise Samsung to tone down OneUI and it has paid off tremendously.
Click to expand...
The Sandisk is a 64GB drive, formatted with FAT32. I'm just guessing since it apparently can be detected just fine when I use the dongle, which initiates a notification to my S21 of providing charge.

Samsung Internet can be uninstalled. Actually it was optional installation on some Samsung devices during first time setup, and you can actually choose not to install it at all (Chrome is pre-installed anyway). Maybe it's device specific, but I remember it's one of the optional app to be downloaded during first time setup of various Samsung devices I have set up. I was quite surprised myself, and it added me liking Samsung even more.

Just a tip for Facebook, Facebook pre-installed hidden system service on Samsung phones. There are 3 of them that I know, Facebook App installer, Facebook App Manager, and Facebook Services. These won't show up in the list of apps. You have to show system apps. Luckily they can still be disabled, but updates sometime re-enabled them, so it is important to be vigilant. It's really annoying since these hidden apps are preinstalled even on my premium flagship S21.
 
slitherjef

slitherjef

macrumors 65816
Feb 8, 2012
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To no one's surprise I'm still mulling this device over. Prices have seemed to dropped, looks like the unlocked ultra 5g is down to 1k and for 50 bucks more I can get a note ultra?

There don't seem to be much excitement over the note anymore?

I'm basically being forced to update sprint merger rendering my phone pretty much shut off soon and while I'm at it, going to leave the network. Seems like Sammy is about the only option. No reason to carry two pixels so...
 
Blue Quark

Blue Quark

macrumors regular
Oct 25, 2020
196
147
Probabilistic
I'm running Android 11 and OneUI 3.1 on my S20 Ultra, and frankly I'd have to say 3.x is far and away the best version I've ever seen or touched.

I'm really glad I didn't go down the S21 series path because Sammy no longer includes a microSD drive, so you're stuck with on-board storage and having to supplement that with cloud-based storage, which of course eats into your data when you're on cellular data. Actually, the reason I got the one I got is it was an open-box right after the S21s had been released, so I got it for about $800 at my local Best Buy. Honestly, I couldn't argue with the price, and other than the problems I keep having with car wireless chargers, I've no other complaints. Both 4G LTE and 5G seem to work well on it.
 
Ludatyk

Ludatyk

macrumors 603
May 27, 2012
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The Game 161 said:
Interested to see the early beta for one ui 4.0 with android 12. Should be leaked soon I imagine
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Umm.. I don’t think so. OneUI 3.1.1 is coming with Foldables and OneUI 4.0 should be introduced with the S line… which is in the beginning of next year.

I doubt we see leaks of OneUI 4.0 until late in the year.
 
The Game 161

The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Dec 15, 2010
30,980
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UK
Ludatyk said:
Umm.. I don’t think so. OneUI 3.1.1 is coming with Foldables and OneUI 4.0 should be introduced with the S line… which is in the beginning of next year.

I doubt we see leaks of OneUI 4.0 until late in the year.
Click to expand...

Should still see plenty of leaks or early beta of how it will look. I’m sure ice will be leaking stuff in the coming months
 
Ludatyk

Ludatyk

macrumors 603
May 27, 2012
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The Game 161 said:
Should still see plenty of leaks or early beta of how it will look. I’m sure ice will be leaking stuff in the coming months
Click to expand...
Maybe, but I highly doubt it. Android 12 is still adding/changing features…. Pixel 6 is rumored to be released around October. My guess we will see leaks around October or later.

I’m curious though, what are you most excited for with Android 12? It seems it’s more of a design overhaul rather than new features added.
 
Blue Quark

Blue Quark

macrumors regular
Oct 25, 2020
196
147
Probabilistic
For myself, I'm very interested to see what Sammy has in store next.

I lived with Vanilla Android for years, starting with the Nexus 4. I lived through the transition between pre- and post-Material Design, and to be honest, MD was never something I was all that crazy about. I think the technicals behind it were (are) interesting and useful, but the chosen cosmetics basically sucked.

On the other hand, I think OneUI is much better overall. I didn't really care for the 2.x series, but once they'd gone to 3 and then I'd bought the S20 Ultra, it's pretty much everything I want. What I wish was that when you create desktop folders, the icons of the programs contained therein were bigger. As far as I can tell, that's my only quibble.
 
The Game 161

The Game 161

macrumors Nehalem
Dec 15, 2010
30,980
20,169
UK
Ludatyk said:
Maybe, but I highly doubt it. Android 12 is still adding/changing features…. Pixel 6 is rumored to be released around October. My guess we will see leaks around October or later.

I’m curious though, what are you most excited for with Android 12? It seems it’s more of a design overhaul rather than new features added.
Click to expand...

It’s more to see how Samsung puts their own twist of things really. I’m going widgets will look different as the look does seem better on android 12
 
Ludatyk

Ludatyk

macrumors 603
May 27, 2012
5,963
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The Game 161 said:
It’s more to see how Samsung puts their own twist of things really. I’m going widgets will look different as the look does seem better on android 12
Click to expand...
I don’t know about the widgets. I personally use KWGT pro and it’s ridiculous how much changes that can be made in regards to the look of widgets.

I have a good feeling Settings and Quick Panel Layout will see some design changes, but other than that… not sure what to look forward to in OneUI 4.0.
 
slitherjef

slitherjef

macrumors 65816
Feb 8, 2012
1,402
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Earth
slitherjef said:
To no one's surprise I'm still mulling this device over. Prices have seemed to dropped, looks like the unlocked ultra 5g is down to 1k and for 50 bucks more I can get a note ultra?

There don't seem to be much excitement over the note anymore?

I'm basically being forced to update sprint merger rendering my phone pretty much shut off soon and while I'm at it, going to leave the network. Seems like Sammy is about the only option. No reason to carry two pixels so...
Click to expand...

Thought I'd give a bit of an update here, I've actually upgraded my ancient s7e and ported by number to a new carrier finally, however I did go in a slightly different direction.

I had my pixel XL 4 laying around basically unused and while I said I wasn't going to dual wield pixels, I'm running two of them. 🤦‍♂️

Kind of went this way because I had it on hand already, didn't want to drop another grand on another phone especially since I didn't know the port was going to work or not.
 
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Steve Adams

Steve Adams

Suspended
Dec 16, 2020
954
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Tulani said:
forums.macrumors.com

iOS and Android Activations Now Split Evenly in the U.S., Research Shows

Activations of iOS and Android devices are now evenly split in the United States, with little sign of movement toward either platform dominating over the past two years, according to data sourced by Consumer Research Intelligence Partners (CIRP). CIRP estimates that iOS and Android each had...
forums.macrumors.com forums.macrumors.com
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FAKE NEUZ. ha ha ha. Everyone knows that IOS activations out number android 100 to 1.
 
Healer Flame

Healer Flame

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Feb 1, 2019
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Apple lost her second spot....
 

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5105973

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Sep 11, 2014
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Tulani said:
www.androidpolice.com

Samsung wants all your old hardware, raises trade-in limit to 4 devices for latest pre-orders

Considering what it's offering for some hardware, though, maybe think twice
www.androidpolice.com www.androidpolice.com
Click to expand...
Yeah and I registered so I can get the benefits if I decide to do this. I wasn’t interested at all in the foldables but if they have any kind of IP water resistance it’s worth looking at. But no dust resistance? My pockets are very linty. 😜 I have allergies and carry Kleenex on me at all times.

I’m really happy with my S21 Ultra so…I don’t know. There isn’t really a direct comparison between the Ultra and a foldable for me to know how I’ll feel when I see the foldables. I have 3 iPhones so maybe I’ll unload my 12 Pro Max instead. Who knows.
 
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