Samsung galaxy S23 and S23 ultra

[sunking101]

The Fold 6 will probably be my next phone, or the S25 Ultra.
In the past 11 months I've had a Fold 4 and now my S23U so I'm cool for 12-18 months.

 

[aggie99]

F the iPhone 15, it's more of the same, plus runs the craptastic iOS.

I do like my Pixel 7 Pro, but I am getting bored, after having the 6 Pro a year, and now the 7 Pro a year, I just want something a bit different, to have some fun, plus that Good Luck app with all those different mods looks exciting. I'm getting tempted.

Well you do have a 14 day return period and you don't have to send in your trade in device till the end of that period, so other than a slight restock fee, what is there to lose in giving it a try?

 

[Tig Bitties]

I just went to Best Buy and played around with an S23 Ultra

Problem being they have it in that stupid store demo mode, I had to spend 15 minutes searching the settings to get it to how I would like. Even turning off the 3 nav keys and going to gestures took a deep dive in the settings to figure that out.

Still certain settings seemed hidden because it's in that demo mode.

I couldn't get a real feel with how it operates. But I can say the screen / display was beautiful, very bright and crisp and looked like a very nice phone.

But I will say there was a tiny bit of hiccups, very minor bit of stutter. But that could mostly be because it's in that store demo mode.

I walked away thinking I just can't pull the trigger on this because I was uncertain and couldn't get a real sense of it all, how the phone truly would be without that demo mode.

Then I saw the smaller S23 plus I like the rounded design on that one and a little bit smaller size and that felt very comfortable in the hand.

But again it was in that demo mode so couldn't get a true feel for how the phone would really operate.

I left thinking I just can't do this right now. Even on sale for $749 for the S23 Ultra.

 

[sunking101]

I just went to Best Buy and played around with an S23 Ultra

Problem being they have it in that stupid store demo mode, I had to spend 15 minutes searching the settings to get it to how I would like. Even turning off the 3 nav keys and going to gestures took a deep dive in the settings to figure that out.

Still certain settings seemed hidden because it's in that demo mode.

I couldn't get a real feel with how it operates. But I can say the screen / display was beautiful, very bright and crisp and looked like a very nice phone.

But I will say there was a tiny bit of hiccups, very minor bit of stutter. But that could mostly be because it's in that store demo mode.

I walked away thinking I just can't pull the trigger on this because I was uncertain and couldn't get a real sense of it all, how the phone truly would be without that demo mode.

Then I saw the smaller S23 plus I like the rounded design on that one and a little bit smaller size and that felt very comfortable in the hand.

But again it was in that demo mode so couldn't get a true feel for how the phone would really operate.

I left thinking I just can't do this right now. Even on sale for $749 for the S23 Ultra.

First World problems lol. It's a current top of the line smartphone by one of the very best manufacturers. It really isn't going to suck...

 

[Tig Bitties]

First World problems lol. It's a current top of the line smartphone by one of the very best manufacturers. It really isn't going to suck...

I want to try it out again but without the store demo mode on.

 

[sunking101]

I want to try it out again but without the store demo mode on.

I've had premium smartphones from all the best manufacturers over the years and the S23 Ultra is the best of the lot (as it should be seeing how it's the latest). Zero stuttering, rapid as can be. A joy to use. The Z Fold 4 was almost as good and I expect that the Z Fold 5 is every bit as good. I've had stuttering Samsungs in the past but those days are over.

*I've also had stuttering and freezing iPhones...🤫

 

[mjschabow]

I've had premium smartphones from all the best manufacturers over the years and the S23 Ultra is the best of the lot (as it should be seeing how it's the latest). Zero stuttering, rapid as can be. A joy to use. The Z Fold 4 was almost as good and I expect that the Z Fold 5 is every bit as good. I've had stuttering Samsungs in the past but those days are over.

*I've also had stuttering and freezing iPhones...🤫

Yep agreed. Zero stuttering on this beast.

@Tig Bitties definitely the store demo. I've played with store demos in the past and they're awful.

 

[Fried_Gold]

I have the Fold4 and it never misses a beat.

 

[mjschabow]

Beta 4 is out and seems much more stable, and my widgets are working again!

 

[lyunmac]

I would like to buy the iPhone 15 pro max to try it out but damn apple and their esim choice. Can't even switch phones anymore unless I buy a Canadian iPhone.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I would like to buy the iPhone 15 pro max to try it out but damn apple and their esim choice. Can't even switch phones anymore unless I buy a Canadian iPhone.

I now have the 15PM, and I will still vote the S23U as phone of the year.

 

[mjschabow]

I now have the 15PM, and I will still vote the S23U as phone of the year.

Phone of the year by far.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I now have the 15PM, and I will still vote the S23U as phone of the year.

As an iPhone user I can’t disagree with that. Objectively the S23 ultra is the better phone without a doubt.

 

[jamezr]

I now have the 15PM, and I will still vote the S23U as phone of the year.

hard to disagree with that. I think both had great features. The S23U is like having an all around workhorse in my pocket.
So what is your daily driver?

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

hard to disagree with that. I think both had great features. The S23U is like having an all around workhorse in my pocket.
So what is your daily driver?

Well now I carry the 15PM and the Flip 5 (which I traded the S23U for, due to size.).

 

[jamezr]

Well now I carry the 15PM and the Flip 5 (which I traded the S23U for, due to size.).

You don't have the S23U anymore? But it was phone of the year? Which phone is your daily driver the 15 Pm or the Flip 5? Which one has your personal mobile number in it?

 

[Tig Bitties]

SO the $749 deal at Best Buy for the S23 Ultra needs to be "activated" to get that price. meaning on Google Fi, ATT, or Verizon. I have T-Mobile so that's not happening.

Plus I was willing to buy it outright for the "unlocked" model, but that still needs to be "activated". SO looks like it truly isn't on sale for $749.

I did check online, and if activated with ATT it's $649, but then I'd have to leave T-Mobile and go ATT. Only thing we use T-Mo for is our network, we don't finance or have any phone through them, all my family's phones have been bought outright "unlocked" versions.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

You don't have the S23U anymore? But it was phone of the year? Which phone is your daily driver the 15 Pm or the Flip 5? Which one has your personal mobile number in it?

The 15PM is my main number. The Flip is my secondary number. But both numbers I use daily. I use to have both numbers on both iPhone and Android (at different times of course). But I prefer to have separate numbers on seperate phones.

 

[lyunmac]

My Flip 5 is my main phone right now. Love the size and it's less distracting. However, my cousin is getting married next month so I'm gonna switch back to my S23 Ultra. The photography beast is coming out of the cage again for October.

 

[Tig Bitties]

I'm gonna go to Best Buy tomorrow to really talk to someone there about the $749 deal on the S23 Ultra 256GB unlocked version.

But the fine print on their website makes it sound like that deal is only if you sign up a new line on ATT or Verizon, and I'm on T-Mobile.

And a crappy trade-in for my Pixel 7 Pro, only $300.

And reading deeper, it seems if I don't want to sign up a new line, then it's the regular $1,199 price, plus they'd knock off the price for my 7 Pro. But still then it'd be $899? No thanks.

I'd only do it at the $749 deal AND $300 for my Pixel, bringing the S23 Ultra down to $449. That I would do immediately. But I'm not paying $900+ for a S23 U today 8 months after launch.

 

[sunking101]

I'm gonna go to Best Buy tomorrow to really talk to someone there about the $749 deal on the S23 Ultra 256GB unlocked version.

But the fine print on their website makes it sound like that deal is only if you sign up a new line on ATT or Verizon, and I'm on T-Mobile.

And a crappy trade-in for my Pixel 7 Pro, only $300.

And reading deeper, it seems if I don't want to sign up a new line, then it's the regular $1,199 price, plus they'd knock off the price for my 7 Pro. But still then it'd be $899? No thanks.

I'd only do it at the $749 deal AND $300 for my Pixel, bringing the S23 Ultra down to $449. That I would do immediately. But I'm not paying $900+ for a S23 U today 8 months after launch.

I paid $1550 six months after launch over here in ripoff Britain. . . 🧐

 

[Technerd108]

I'm gonna go to Best Buy tomorrow to really talk to someone there about the $749 deal on the S23 Ultra 256GB unlocked version.

But the fine print on their website makes it sound like that deal is only if you sign up a new line on ATT or Verizon, and I'm on T-Mobile.

And a crappy trade-in for my Pixel 7 Pro, only $300.

And reading deeper, it seems if I don't want to sign up a new line, then it's the regular $1,199 price, plus they'd knock off the price for my 7 Pro. But still then it'd be $899? No thanks.

I'd only do it at the $749 deal AND $300 for my Pixel, bringing the S23 Ultra down to $449. That I would do immediately. But I'm not paying $900+ for a S23 U today 8 months after launch.

Don't do it.

Just keep your Pixel 7 Pro.

In a few months the s24 ultra will be out and you might be able to get a better pre order deal.

I was able to get the s23 ultra through Google Fi. I had to use their service for 4 months. That was it. No trade in required. I got a big discount on the s23 ultra. I then sold my phone on private market. You might be able to find a deal like that next year. Since we are practically in October and rumors are the s24 may release early it might not be that long and your Pixel 7 Pro is no slouch until then.

Of course the Pixel 8 is just around the corner.

Another avenue I might suggest is wait until November as Samsung usually has a big Black Friday sale and it will be a decent discount and maybe a freebie. Then you would get the s23 ultra as cheap as possible unlocked and honestly I don't think there is anything major coming out in the s24 that I would pay hundreds more for it.

So either get a good deal on s23u or wait for pre order deals on s24u but don't settle for a bad deal now. And go get a Pixel 8. 😂 Lol

 

[Tig Bitties]

Don't do it.

Just keep your Pixel 7 Pro.

In a few months the s24 ultra will be out and you might be able to get a better pre order deal.

I was able to get the s23 ultra through Google Fi. I had to use their service for 4 months. That was it. No trade in required. I got a big discount on the s23 ultra. I then sold my phone on private market. You might be able to find a deal like that next year. Since we are practically in October and rumors are the s24 may release early it might not be that long and your Pixel 7 Pro is no slouch until then.

Of course the Pixel 8 is just around the corner.

Another avenue I might suggest is wait until November as Samsung usually has a big Black Friday sale and it will be a decent discount and maybe a freebie. Then you would get the s23 ultra as cheap as possible unlocked and honestly I don't think there is anything major coming out in the s24 that I would pay hundreds more for it.

So either get a good deal on s23u or wait for pre order deals on s24u but don't settle for a bad deal now. And go get a Pixel 8. 😂 Lol

Great mature honest reply LOL Thank you for being the voice of reason.

At this point the S24 Ultra is only 4 months out, but it doesn't like a massive update so I could probably get a S23 U for an even better deal around the holidays.

In the meantime a Pixel 8 is 100% on my radar, it's just the matter of do I finally go with the smaller / regular Pixel this year, or go with my typical Pro purchase?

 

[sunking101]

4 months out is almost half a life cycle and these things don't move on much year on year. The iPhone 15 is hardly a great leap over the 14 and I doubt that the S24 will slay the S23 either.

I dunno. We can all wait for the next greatest but the fact remains that the S23U is an awesome phone and awesome phones definitely don't come along every year...

I'm waiting for the Fold 6 and the S25U before moving my S23U along. Nothing will really better it before those phones come to market.

 

[jamezr]

I just updated to the latest beta for Android 14. Man this is so smooth. This feels like close to the final build to me.