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robvalentine

macrumors 6502a
Nov 21, 2014
548
1,221
Oooooh, is someone interested in getting a Samsung...? 🙃

I've had the S23U for about six months now and it's the smoothest phone I've ever had. I've had 0 issues. I have had no lag. It's smoother than my 13 Pro Max. The battery life is also amazing. I have no battery anxiety with this phone. It's simply a great phone. I can't believe how happy I am with it.
People that own the S23 Ultra, and have also owned a Pixel 7 Pro or 6 Pro, how would you say the OS UI is in comparison? meaning the smoothness and lag, is the S23 Ultra on par as being as fluid and smooth as a Pixel?

Also battery life, how's the S23 Ultra battery life?
I have a pixel 7 and a s23 plus. I really want to like the s23 because better specs and the internet tells me it's better. It has better battery life and is smooth but the cameras are a let down compared to the pixel (computational bit anyway) as s23 struggles with my dog and pixel usually nails it. I much prefer the pixel ui especially the control centre bit, although the one you is more customisable if that's your jam.
 

Bkdodger

macrumors 68040
Jun 6, 2019
3,624
6,055
I have a pixel 7 and a s23 plus. I really want to like the s23 because better specs and the internet tells me it's better. It has better battery life and is smooth but the cameras are a let down compared to the pixel (computational bit anyway) as s23 struggles with my dog and pixel usually nails it. I much prefer the pixel ui especially the control centre bit, although the one you is more customisable if that's your jam.

That’s the complaint I hear all the time ..pets and children pics ..I can understand it as peeps want to take great shots with no blur and capture those great memories…
 
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super chimp

macrumors 65816
Mar 21, 2008
1,099
486
UK
How good or bad are the ergonomics of the Ultra? Is it impossible to use one handed, is it slippery and easy to drop? How is it weight balanced, is it top heavy, does it generally feel heavy?

Is it better in these respects than the 14PM?

Thanks.
 

mjschabow

macrumors 601
Dec 25, 2013
4,924
6,239
The Pro Max and S23 Ultra are about the same. They are huge phones. One advantage the Ultra has is that it's a bit skinnier and if you use navigation, you can swipe from the right side of the screen to go back, compared to swiping from the left hand side of a wider phone in the 14PM.
 

Dave245

macrumors G3
Sep 15, 2013
9,851
8,077
I haven’t posted here recently, but yesterday i sold my S23 Ultra, there is nothing wrong with the phone itself! I was just finding it a pain to use 2 phones and get the value out of both. In the end i decided to stay in the Apple ecosystem.

My Tab S8 Ultra tablet was sold a few weeks back and i brought a iPad Pro, i find it a better tablet for me and my use, especially iPadOS. I pre-ordered the new Macbook Air 15” to replace my current 13” Macbook Pro 2019. Samsung device’s definitely interest me but ultimately I’m an Apple guy, they own me and they know it 😂
 

mjschabow

macrumors 601
Dec 25, 2013
4,924
6,239
I haven’t posted here recently, but yesterday i sold my S23 Ultra, there is nothing wrong with the phone itself! I was just finding it a pain to use 2 phones and get the value out of both. In the end i decided to stay in the Apple ecosystem.

My Tab S8 Ultra tablet was sold a few weeks back and i brought a iPad Pro, i find it a better tablet for me and my use, especially iPadOS. I pre-ordered the new Macbook Air 15” to replace my current 13” Macbook Pro 2019. Samsung device’s definitely interest me but ultimately I’m an Apple guy, they own me and they know it 😂
Nice! Curious how much you sold yours for. I am most likely going to move on when the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes out. I'm in the same boat as you. I'm actually out of the Apple ecosystem but big picture, I think prefer the Apple ecosystem and services. Don't know if it would be worth getting a 14PM at this point.
 

Dave245

macrumors G3
Sep 15, 2013
9,851
8,077
Nice! Curious how much you sold yours for. I am most likely going to move on when the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes out. I'm in the same boat as you. I'm actually out of the Apple ecosystem but big picture, I think prefer the Apple ecosystem and services. Don't know if it would be worth getting a 14PM at this point.

I sold mine for £800 along with my Galaxy Watch 4. I agree, personally I prefer the Apple ecosystem, it really does just work (at least for me) and with Apple now adding customisation to the iPhones, iPads and Macs I'm preferring to use my Apple hardware and software more.
 

aggie99

macrumors 65816
Sep 23, 2016
1,002
2,338
Dallas, TX
Nice! Curious how much you sold yours for. I am most likely going to move on when the iPhone 15 Pro Max comes out. I'm in the same boat as you. I'm actually out of the Apple ecosystem but big picture, I think prefer the Apple ecosystem and services. Don't know if it would be worth getting a 14PM at this point.
Surprised by this one. You seemed all in with the S23U for a good while. It's still my favorite device overall and even though my sim is activated on the 14PM most of the time I don't leave the S23U at home. That camera comes in handy for me on my construction projects where I need to zoom in from a distance and also can't leave it home on a vacation. Was hoping, even though I knew it would never happen, that we would maybe see RCS compatibility in iOS 17. That would likely lead to me letting go of my iPhone for good. But, since all of my family, coworkers, and all the guys I coach football with use an iPhone it sure makes communication much easier when we are all on the same platform. Airmessage and BlueBubbles work, but I just can't get people trained to send to my apple id email address vs my phone number other than my wife and kids.

The last month using the 14PM really confirms to me how much I prefer Android, specifically the Pixel version, over iOS. I'm annoyed by this device daily. The iOS keyboard (and even Gboard) sucks on the iPhone. Autocorrect is terrible. Voice dictation isn't near the level of what Google's is. If you prefer to swipe to type like I do, good luck, its terrible. The bugs are actually worse on iOS 16 with the 14PM than either my Pixel 7 Pro or S23U which both are very, very stable in my opinion. I really dislike this device overall, but here I am using it 😂😂
 

mjschabow

macrumors 601
Dec 25, 2013
4,924
6,239
Surprised by this one. You seemed all in with the S23U for a good while. It's still my favorite device overall and even though my sim is activated on the 14PM most of the time I don't leave the S23U at home. That camera comes in handy for me on my construction projects where I need to zoom in from a distance and also can't leave it home on a vacation. Was hoping, even though I knew it would never happen, that we would maybe see RCS compatibility in iOS 17. That would likely lead to me letting go of my iPhone for good. But, since all of my family, coworkers, and all the guys I coach football with use an iPhone it sure makes communication much easier when we are all on the same platform. Airmessage and BlueBubbles work, but I just can't get people trained to send to my apple id email address vs my phone number other than my wife and kids.

The last month using the 14PM really confirms to me how much I prefer Android, specifically the Pixel version, over iOS. I'm annoyed by this device daily. The iOS keyboard (and even Gboard) sucks on the iPhone. Autocorrect is terrible. Voice dictation isn't near the level of what Google's is. If you prefer to swipe to type like I do, good luck, its terrible. The bugs are actually worse on iOS 16 with the 14PM than either my Pixel 7 Pro or S23U which both are very, very stable in my opinion. I really dislike this device overall, but here I am using it 😂😂
Oh, don't get me wrong, I loooooooooooooooove this phone, and it's going to be much harder to move back to iOS if it actually happens. 4 months into having this phone though, I still have the urge to go back to iOS probably every day. It sucks!
 
Apr 12, 2023
627
519
The Pro Max and S23 Ultra are about the same. They are huge phones. One advantage the Ultra has is that it's a bit skinnier and if you use navigation, you can swipe from the right side of the screen to go back, compared to swiping from the left hand side of a wider phone in the 14PM.
the rounded edges of the 23U makes it much more comfortable to hold as well. When I am setting one up at work, I always think how nice it is to hold compared to my iPhone.
 
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LIVEFRMNYC

macrumors G3
Oct 27, 2009
8,877
10,987
The Pro Max and S23 Ultra are about the same. They are huge phones. One advantage the Ultra has is that it's a bit skinnier and if you use navigation, you can swipe from the right side of the screen to go back, compared to swiping from the left hand side of a wider phone in the 14PM.

The "swipe down from anywhere" to get to notifications and toggles, also makes the S23U easier to navigate.
 

Technerd108

macrumors 68040
Oct 24, 2021
3,062
4,313
I haven’t posted here recently, but yesterday i sold my S23 Ultra, there is nothing wrong with the phone itself! I was just finding it a pain to use 2 phones and get the value out of both. In the end i decided to stay in the Apple ecosystem.

My Tab S8 Ultra tablet was sold a few weeks back and i brought a iPad Pro, i find it a better tablet for me and my use, especially iPadOS. I pre-ordered the new Macbook Air 15” to replace my current 13” Macbook Pro 2019. Samsung device’s definitely interest me but ultimately I’m an Apple guy, they own me and they know it 😂

Oh, don't get me wrong, I loooooooooooooooove this phone, and it's going to be much harder to move back to iOS if it actually happens. 4 months into having this phone though, I still have the urge to go back to iOS probably every day. It sucks!

This is very common among people who have used iPhones for a very long time or started using a mobile phone as an iPhone being their first mobile phone.

My ex wife started using an iPhone a long time ago. I don't think she has a Mac but she does have a iPad. I had for many years tried to get her to use an Android phone. She would never budge. I would show her things I could do that she couldn't, features, navigation, hardware, etc. It didn't matter.

She was comfortable with iOS and the Apple hardware always felt premium. She has an Apple watch too.

So for a lot of people who either started using phones as iPhone or have been using iPhone for a very long time it is almost impossible for them to switch.

I started using Android phones and I never wanted to switch until Android phones became more expensive and the update support was like two years, maybe 3 if you were lucky. I just got fed up with spending so much money on something that wouldn't last. When I switched to iPhone 11 it was great. Very stable. Very fluid OS. Update support on iOS is still the best. It wasn't until iOS 16 that my feelings changed.

I also always had a decent but low cost Android phone as a backup.

But I rarely used it.

So I can understand why you both miss your iPhone and will switch/have switched back.

Features are cool, hardware is great, but at the end of the day you ultimately like what you like.

What I will say is you gave Android an honest try. You could see it wasn't trash, a joke or a toy. In the end though, you still prefer iOS.

I think it is fun(maybe a little expensive) and a learning experience to try something completely different every so often. It is good to see how other operating system work. It gives you a better perspective of iOS and Android.

I too still like iPhone and iOS a lot. There are some things like navigation gestures that just big the hell out of me on iOS but with the exception of the bugs I experienced on iOS 16 is a very good OS. The integration between Apple devices is one of the best features as it is so well implemented.

I hope Apple really starts to focus on software stability as well as features.

I personally don't think I will be buying an iPhone this year. I am enjoying my Android experience. My s23 ultra has been a really good phone. My Pixel 7 Pro has been great too.

For me there have been multiple times this year where I needed to sign documents and return them and I was not at home and only had my phone. Luckily I had my s23 ultra with the s pen. It is the one feature that sets the ultra apart from all others and is a really useful feature when you need it. The Pixel has the AI features and better camera at close range. Apple has integration. For me at this time the AI and sPen along with call screening are more important to my daily use than my iPad and Mac being connected to my iPhone. I do miss it but for me at this time Android just has too many benefits and was more stable in my daily use.

The thing about tech is it is always changing so in a couple years I am sure I will be back on iOS. The iPhone 15 is very tempting but I might wait until next year before I make the jump unless there is some great deal I just can't resist. 😂 Lol
 

mjschabow

macrumors 601
Dec 25, 2013
4,924
6,239
This is very common among people who have used iPhones for a very long time or started using a mobile phone as an iPhone being their first mobile phone.

My ex wife started using an iPhone a long time ago. I don't think she has a Mac but she does have a iPad. I had for many years tried to get her to use an Android phone. She would never budge. I would show her things I could do that she couldn't, features, navigation, hardware, etc. It didn't matter.

She was comfortable with iOS and the Apple hardware always felt premium. She has an Apple watch too.

So for a lot of people who either started using phones as iPhone or have been using iPhone for a very long time it is almost impossible for them to switch.

I started using Android phones and I never wanted to switch until Android phones became more expensive and the update support was like two years, maybe 3 if you were lucky. I just got fed up with spending so much money on something that wouldn't last. When I switched to iPhone 11 it was great. Very stable. Very fluid OS. Update support on iOS is still the best. It wasn't until iOS 16 that my feelings changed.

I also always had a decent but low cost Android phone as a backup.

But I rarely used it.

So I can understand why you both miss your iPhone and will switch/have switched back.

Features are cool, hardware is great, but at the end of the day you ultimately like what you like.

What I will say is you gave Android an honest try. You could see it wasn't trash, a joke or a toy. In the end though, you still prefer iOS.

I think it is fun(maybe a little expensive) and a learning experience to try something completely different every so often. It is good to see how other operating system work. It gives you a better perspective of iOS and Android.

I too still like iPhone and iOS a lot. There are some things like navigation gestures that just big the hell out of me on iOS but with the exception of the bugs I experienced on iOS 16 is a very good OS. The integration between Apple devices is one of the best features as it is so well implemented.

I hope Apple really starts to focus on software stability as well as features.

I personally don't think I will be buying an iPhone this year. I am enjoying my Android experience. My s23 ultra has been a really good phone. My Pixel 7 Pro has been great too.

For me there have been multiple times this year where I needed to sign documents and return them and I was not at home and only had my phone. Luckily I had my s23 ultra with the s pen. It is the one feature that sets the ultra apart from all others and is a really useful feature when you need it. The Pixel has the AI features and better camera at close range. Apple has integration. For me at this time the AI and sPen along with call screening are more important to my daily use than my iPad and Mac being connected to my iPhone. I do miss it but for me at this time Android just has too many benefits and was more stable in my daily use.

The thing about tech is it is always changing so in a couple years I am sure I will be back on iOS. The iPhone 15 is very tempting but I might wait until next year before I make the jump unless there is some great deal I just can't resist. 😂 Lol
Good stuff. Yeah we'll see what I'll end up doing. I'm going to try to hold out until September because then I'm either getting the 15 Pro Max or I'm staying on the S23 Ultra. I just keep thinking that at some point I'd stop getting the urge to move back. I love this phone, and the urges make zero sense. But here we are.
 

Technerd108

macrumors 68040
Oct 24, 2021
3,062
4,313
How good or bad are the ergonomics of the Ultra? Is it impossible to use one handed, is it slippery and easy to drop? How is it weight balanced, is it top heavy, does it generally feel heavy?

Is it better in these respects than the 14PM?

Thanks.
I use my s23 ultra one handed a lot of the time but generally it makes things easier with two but I find this with any large screen phone including iPhone Pro Max.

The weight is one of the advantages of the s23 ultra over the Pro Max being it has an aluminum frame vs stainless steel. It is not slippery like my Pixel 7 Pro and it is evenly distributed.

The square shape is also an advantage as it is easier to grip and gives more screen.

It certainly doesn't feel light. But when you compare to the iPhone Pro Max it feels a lot lighter. The Pixel 7 Pro feels even lighter but the s23 ultra feels much more solid.

You will need a case with any large phone because a drop can really mess things up.
 

Technerd108

macrumors 68040
Oct 24, 2021
3,062
4,313
Good stuff. Yeah we'll see what I'll end up doing. I'm going to try to hold out until September because then I'm either getting the 15 Pro Max or I'm staying on the S23 Ultra. I just keep thinking that at some point I'd stop getting the urge to move back. I love this phone, and the urges make zero sense. But here we are.
If you continue to have an urge I think it is telling you something. You should listen. With our likes and dislikes of electronics it is not all rational. Sometimes it is a design, a feel, subtle things that are intangible.

I think in terms of just the feel of a device Apple really gets it right. I don't like the heavy feeling of stainless steel on the Pro Max but when you hold it there is just something about it that feels special. Same with every iPhone and iPad I have had, and Mac for that matter.

If you sell your s23 ultra at the end of the year or last quarter you will get the most resale value for it anyway. So just listen to your urge. Maybe if you do decide to get an iPhone again keep the s23 ultra if you can afford to do so. At least keep it for a couple weeks after you get the iPhone. I bet you might have the same feeling for it that you did for your iPhone. Lol. That is why a lot of us are multi platform users because it is just something about both we can't completely let go.
 

Ludatyk

macrumors 603
May 27, 2012
5,965
5,131
Texas
The thing about tech is it is always changing so in a couple years I am sure I will be back on iOS. The iPhone 15 is very tempting but I might wait until next year before I make the jump unless there is some great deal I just can't resist. 😂 Lol
You are right about tech always changing.

These past couple of years I told myself… I’ll never go back to the iPhone, because of features x, y and z are missing. But I’m interested in that VisionPro and I might not jump on the initial launch, but if that device truly impresses me. Then I might be moving back to the iPhone lol… if the rumors are true that it requires an iPhone to function.
 
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Dave245

macrumors G3
Sep 15, 2013
9,851
8,077
This is very common among people who have used iPhones for a very long time or started using a mobile phone as an iPhone being their first mobile phone.

My ex wife started using an iPhone a long time ago. I don't think she has a Mac but she does have a iPad. I had for many years tried to get her to use an Android phone. She would never budge. I would show her things I could do that she couldn't, features, navigation, hardware, etc. It didn't matter.

She was comfortable with iOS and the Apple hardware always felt premium. She has an Apple watch too.

So for a lot of people who either started using phones as iPhone or have been using iPhone for a very long time it is almost impossible for them to switch.

I started using Android phones and I never wanted to switch until Android phones became more expensive and the update support was like two years, maybe 3 if you were lucky. I just got fed up with spending so much money on something that wouldn't last. When I switched to iPhone 11 it was great. Very stable. Very fluid OS. Update support on iOS is still the best. It wasn't until iOS 16 that my feelings changed.

I also always had a decent but low cost Android phone as a backup.

But I rarely used it.

So I can understand why you both miss your iPhone and will switch/have switched back.

Features are cool, hardware is great, but at the end of the day you ultimately like what you like.

What I will say is you gave Android an honest try. You could see it wasn't trash, a joke or a toy. In the end though, you still prefer iOS.

I think it is fun(maybe a little expensive) and a learning experience to try something completely different every so often. It is good to see how other operating system work. It gives you a better perspective of iOS and Android.

I too still like iPhone and iOS a lot. There are some things like navigation gestures that just big the hell out of me on iOS but with the exception of the bugs I experienced on iOS 16 is a very good OS. The integration between Apple devices is one of the best features as it is so well implemented.

I hope Apple really starts to focus on software stability as well as features.

I personally don't think I will be buying an iPhone this year. I am enjoying my Android experience. My s23 ultra has been a really good phone. My Pixel 7 Pro has been great too.

For me there have been multiple times this year where I needed to sign documents and return them and I was not at home and only had my phone. Luckily I had my s23 ultra with the s pen. It is the one feature that sets the ultra apart from all others and is a really useful feature when you need it. The Pixel has the AI features and better camera at close range. Apple has integration. For me at this time the AI and sPen along with call screening are more important to my daily use than my iPad and Mac being connected to my iPhone. I do miss it but for me at this time Android just has too many benefits and was more stable in my daily use.

The thing about tech is it is always changing so in a couple years I am sure I will be back on iOS. The iPhone 15 is very tempting but I might wait until next year before I make the jump unless there is some great deal I just can't resist. 😂 Lol

This 100% I agree with. I have used iPhones since 2009 when I brought a 3GS and then the 4S and so on. I'm entrenched in Apple's ecosystem, I have a 2019 MacBook Pro (just ordered the new 15" MacBook Air to replace it), iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPad Pro, iMac in my home office, HomePod, Apple Watch Ultra, AirPods Pro 2, Apple One Premier plan.

I don't think at this point I could be any deeper in Apple's ecosystem. I might as well just give Apple my pay check from work 😂

The thing is I still appreciate other products like the S23 Ultra, it's not a bad phone. It's just not an iPhone if that makes sense to people. Apple just have this way of doing things that's different from everyone else even if they are doing the same thing. I'm probably not making any sense with this, but I know what I mean and I think people who have used Apple products for a while will know what I mean. It's a feeling, it's simplicity and it works, even when it doesn't Apple's customer service is second to none.

The Apple ecosystem is the best ecosystem there is, they are very good at keeping us there too like a willing hostage 😂
 
Apr 12, 2023
627
519
This 100% I agree with. I have used iPhones since 2009 when I brought a 3GS and then the 4S and so on. I'm entrenched in Apple's ecosystem, I have a 2019 MacBook Pro (just ordered the new 15" MacBook Air to replace it), iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPad Pro, iMac in my home office, HomePod, Apple Watch Ultra, AirPods Pro 2, Apple One Premier plan.

I don't think at this point I could be any deeper in Apple's ecosystem. I might as well just give Apple my pay check from work 😂

The thing is I still appreciate other products like the S23 Ultra, it's not a bad phone. It's just not an iPhone if that makes sense to people. Apple just have this way of doing things that's different from everyone else even if they are doing the same thing. I'm probably not making any sense with this, but I know what I mean and I think people who have used Apple products for a while will know what I mean. It's a feeling, it's simplicity and it works, even when it doesn't Apple's customer service is second to none.

The Apple ecosystem is the best ecosystem there is, they are very good at keeping us there too like a willing hostage 😂
You, my friend, are Apple's target audience. The person who will just toss them money no matter what they put out. 😁
 
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MaskedCarrot

macrumors 6502
Mar 25, 2009
464
270
Northern VA
Oh, don't get me wrong, I loooooooooooooooove this phone, and it's going to be much harder to move back to iOS if it actually happens. 4 months into having this phone though, I still have the urge to go back to iOS probably every day. It sucks!

I am the guy who used to say that Android was just a toy to play with and iOS was for getting things done.

But having my S23U for a few months now, I changed my viewpoint on that. I even bought a Galaxy Watch 5 Pro to go with the phone.

Now if I turn on my iPhone 14PM, it seems slow and sluggish, and not fun at all to use now. I never noticed how slow the animations and general operation is on the iPhone after using them for many years until I got the S23U, now I see things differently.

The S23U isn't perfect, I still think notifications are better and faster on the iPhone. But I am adapting to it and trying not to let it bother me.
 
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