Samsung galaxy S23 and S23 ultra

[Technerd108]

I was browsing at Best Buy about an hour ago, I really like the AirPods Pro 2, and I am not planning on replacing them. However, I saw they had the Galaxy Buds 2 for $99. I figured I'd try them out, what the heck! I haven't had more than a few minutes to listen to them. I don't hate them. I'm not going to try and make up some explanation or terminology of what I think I notice is different between the two, I know the AirPods Pro 2 are better (they're significantly more expensive) but I don't hate these Galaxy Buds 2. I'll keep listening.

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I got the galaxy buds pro 2 during a holiday sale with trade in and they are so much better than the original galaxy buds I traded them in for. I got two sets of original galaxy buds with previous pre-orders and kept them for a long time. The range has improved as has the sound. Battery life is not too bad either.

It is always nice to have Galaxy buds with Android as you can install the wear app on any android phone and get all the settings and updates. I still have my original AirPods Pro and will keep them until they die. They are really good to me.

Hope you enjoy your new Buds 2!

 

[three]

I got the galaxy buds pro 2 during a holiday sale with trade in and they are so much better than the original galaxy buds I traded them in for. I got two sets of original galaxy buds with previous pre-orders and kept them for a long time. The range has improved as has the sound. Battery life is not too bad either.

It is always nice to have Galaxy buds with Android as you can install the wear app on any android phone and get all the settings and updates. I still have my original AirPods Pro and will keep them until they die. They are really good to me.

Hope you enjoy your new Buds 2!

This is the first pair of Samsung buds that I've ever owned, I think. I haven't strayed far from AirPods since their introduction. I've tried the Pixel Buds A and Pixel Buds Pro, but didn't like them due to discomfort and annoyance with them fitting in my ears. I'm really liking these Galaxy Buds 2 so far!

What you said in your second paragraph is precisely why I went with these. The AirPods work on Android, but it's such limited functionality!

 

[drinkingtea]

I love this phone so much!

I'll be out-of-state for the summer owing to a summer job at a law firm (in DC!!), and I think I'll pop my SIM into my S23U then because people won't be able to complain about it to me in-person. 😭

 

[5105973]

I also want to apologize for going so off topic.

Let's resume with s23.....

Any more people have some of the special edition colors?? Love to see more pictures m

I'm so torn right now. I obviously missed out on the 512 GB for the price of the 256 GB deal. For that reason alone I'm wondering should I just sit this one out. Because I'm not letting my S22 Ultra go in trade.

So I can get my phone from Amazon and get a $100 gift card. Meanwhile ordering from Samsung is pointless since the $100 credit they're offering that I would have used on certain cases is moot, because they're out of stock on the cases I want.

From Amazon, all I can get is lavender. From Samsung I would have gotten blue. I don't know why but I've had such a hard time thinking clearly today. I'm making ridiculous mistakes comprehending my options. I can not do any math to save my life.

We're having very erratic weather and I think the pressure system is frying everyone's brains here. I'm seeing it with the kids and my husband, too.

It doesn't help my mind is also on other important things like my elder care administrative stuff.

Anyway, in terms of what you said, it's relevant in the sense that for me, personally, everything you said so perfectly articulated feelings I've been having that are influencing my purchases with an eye toward independence from Apple.

Lol I just don't like Tim Cook smugly telling us, in essence, we don't have better options.

 

[5105973]

I love this phone so much!

I'll be out-of-state for the summer owing to a summer job at a law firm (in DC!!), and I think I'll pop my SIM into my S23U then because people won't be able to complain about it to me in-person. 😭

Congratulations on all you've accomplished and all you've got to look forward to. I just realized I haven't been to DC in a few years. Lol the last time I went, I was trying to wrangle my cousin's sons into one photo inside the Air and Space Museum and I was desperately wishing my phone had an ultra wide angle lens! The Smithsonian museums are worth spending hours in and there are so many things to take pictures of. I hope you love DC and your summer job.

 

[5105973]

Okay...anyone here ever order a phone from Amazon (shipped and sold by Amazon.com)?? If so, any gotchas I should be aware of? They've got a 30 day return policy and the $100 gift card going on. No restocking fee that I was able to find.

I might just get another lavender from them. My husband said if he has to take a lavender in trade for the lime he'd do it. He was willing to take the 1TB lavender I already have and cancelling the return. But the display is pretty weird and we can't put our finger on exactly how it is. I guess the flicker is just extra bad on it. He does get migraines too. He's just not as sensitive to screens as I am.

 

[HouseLannister]

Okay...anyone here ever order a phone from Amazon (shipped and sold by Amazon.com)?? If so, any gotchas I should be aware of? They've got a 30 day return policy and the $100 gift card going on. No restocking fee that I was able to find.

No, Amazon is great. I have gotten phones through them. The gift card will hit your credit card for $100 and the phone will ring up at $100 less than retail, so if you return the phone then you are still out $100, but at least you have a gift card. It’s shipped and sold by Amazon, so you should have no issues with delivery. Only time I have issues with Amazon is when I buy things that aren’t shipped and sold by Amazon. My wife once bought a pizza oven from a third party that we never received and I once bought a GPU from a third party that tried to hit me with a 30% restocking fee for a defective card. Both times I used my Amazon Prime Chase card and both times I just hit Amazon with a chargeback from their own credit card, which feels very satisfying.

 

[daveathall]

Okay...anyone here ever order a phone from Amazon (shipped and sold by Amazon.com)?? If so, any gotchas I should be aware of? They've got a 30 day return policy and the $100 gift card going on. No restocking fee that I was able to find.

I might just get another lavender from them. My husband said if he has to take a lavender in trade for the lime he'd do it. He was willing to take the 1TB lavender I already have and cancelling the return. But the display is pretty weird and we can't put our finger on exactly how it is. I guess the flicker is just extra bad on it. He does get migraines too. He's just not as sensitive to screens as I am.

Would it be possible to get in touch with Samsung support/customer services and rather than return your phone, exchange it as faulty? That way you may get the 512GB one from the original offer. If you have already tried this route, please accept my apologies.

 

[torana355]

I know this is slightly off topic but I'm hoping someone here can help me, when I got my S23U I got a galaxy watch 5 as a promotion gift, anyway when I do a walking workout the speed keeps dropping down to 0kph, I have location enabled so I have no idea why this could be happening?

 

[andy2141]

I know this is slightly off topic but I'm hoping someone here can help me, when I got my S23U I got a galaxy watch 5 as a promotion gift, anyway when I do a walking workout the speed keeps dropping down to 0kph, I have location enabled so I have no idea why this could be happening?

Just checked mine and it seems ok.

Auto pause maybe?

 

[torana355]

Just checked mine and it seems ok.

Auto pause maybe?

I can actually see it drop to zero while I'm walking so it's not auto pause, looks like I'm going to have to do a warranty claim, I really love the watch otherwise, My old gear s3 classic does not have the issue.

 

[The_Truth]

OK, guys! So here it is the moment of truth!
S23 Ultra UFS 4.0 Speed Test with 11GB zip file - about 38 seconds! From laptop to S23 Ultra.

 

[keithop]

Anyway, in terms of what you said, it's relevant in the sense that for me, personally, everything you said so perfectly articulated feelings I've been having that are influencing my purchases with an eye toward independence from Apple.

Lol I just don't like Tim Cook smugly telling us, in essence, we don't have better options.

I think a few years ago he may have had a valid point but these days, we've had years of apple going for the low hanging incremental upgrade fruit. I can't really recall the last REAL innovation we had from Apple? I'm sure you'll all pounce and tell me hundreds

my tech friends and I used to get a chinese take out and watch the apple keynotes together with suitable wows at the right point and we've done that from the 1990s onwards. In the last few years, more people have said nahhh I'm gonna skip this one and it's because we can pretty much all predict what's coming! why? because it's all sooooo same as last year but with a slightly faster cpu and 1000 marketing slides with new sounding techs which, when delivered, don't feel any different.

I mean where are the flips/folds? where's the high zoom periscope cameras? the long astrophotography modes? the pen (I REALLY expected them to make the apple pencil work on the pro phones but nope), the AI auto-answer phone calls?

That's before we wonder about new products etc?

I mean I guess he's smug because as a boring old logistics/operations/finance guy, he's really sweating his assets and making the most out of all the development they've paid for, but we don't have better options? my experience with samsung this year would beg to differ! (and as everyone who knows me would tell you, that's a bit of a shocker for me to say!)

 

[5105973]

Would it be possible to get in touch with Samsung support/customer services and rather than return your phone, exchange it as faulty? That way you may get the 512GB one from the original offer. If you have already tried this route, please accept my apologies.

Apparently what's happening to other people who are experiencing a peculiar qc fault with the display, is that they are being told the only option is to return everything (all accessories) and reorder. It can't be processed in their system any other way. They're told there are no exchange units set aside to swap out bad devices.

Worse, a media publication made an inquiry and the official answer is there's nothing to be concerned about, it is all within normal tolerance. Official press take on it is it's a "nothing burger." But the photos I saw of the issue looked pretty unacceptable.

So yeah, I'm having to lose the cases I successfully bought that are now out of stock. As are these other people who refuse to accept the flaw in their display.

I don't know if what I experienced is in any way related to this problem.

There's a discussion I saw late last night on Android Central forum and other places like Reddit and Twitter about a weird defect that Samsung says is normal (but customers say they've never seen before) that can result in a small distortion and a rainbow effect in the display if it's really bad.

I didn't see this defect in my display but it's possible it was there. Some people had to shine a bright light to detect it and I never did that. Ha! It never got sunny enough here for me to just see it outdoors in the sunlight like some people did. I'd have had to use a flashlight and it didn't occur to me to get that inquisitive.

I'd really rather pack it all up and send it all back at this point.

This display defect that's not officially a defect is so widespread that people are reporting that the new units they bought to replace to their defective units often have the same defect.

It looks like a fault in the process that laminates all the layers of the display together.

I'm going to guess my phone had something of this nature going on. That's the only way I can explain why it's so oddly cheap looking compared to my S22 Ultra display. There must be some sort of distortion that amplifies any pwm effects I'd normally be able to tolerate. (Which are already worse this year than last year).

This is an entirely new AMOLED display for Samsung so I guess they have a few kinks in the production to iron out.

I just don't know now if I want to try again just yet. There might be a few bad production runs I'll want to dodge for a bit. The display unit I saw at Best Buy looked pretty bad, too.

 

[mjschabow]

I love this phone so much!

I'll be out-of-state for the summer owing to a summer job at a law firm (in DC!!), and I think I'll pop my SIM into my S23U then because people won't be able to complain about it to me in-person. 😭

Yeah after I switched my SIM yesterday I got razzled by a couple people and In just said "sorry for your inconvenience" and they shut up rather quickly haha

 

[daveathall]

Apparently what's happening to other people who are experiencing a peculiar qc fault with the display, is that they are being told the only option is to return everything (all accessories) and reorder. It can't be processed in their system any other way. They're told there are no exchange units set aside to swap out bad devices.

Worse, a media publication made an inquiry and the official answer is there's nothing to be concerned about, it is all within normal tolerance. Official press take on it is it's a "nothing burger." But the photos I saw of the issue looked pretty unacceptable.

So yeah, I'm having to lose the cases I successfully bought that are now out of stock. As are these other people who refuse to accept the flaw in their display.

I don't know if what I experienced is in any way related to this problem.

There's a discussion I saw late last night on Android Central forum and other places like Reddit and Twitter about a weird defect that Samsung says is normal (but customers say they've never seen before) that can result in a small distortion and a rainbow effect in the display if it's really bad.

I didn't see this defect in my display but it's possible it was there. Some people had to shine a bright light to detect it and I never did that. Ha! It never got sunny enough here for me to just see it outdoors in the sunlight like some people did. I'd have had to use a flashlight and it didn't occur to me to get that inquisitive.

I'd really rather pack it all up and send it all back at this point.

This display defect that's not officially a defect is so widespread that people are reporting that the new units they bought to replace to their defective units often have the same defect.

It looks like a fault in the process that laminates all the layers of the display together.

I'm going to guess my phone had something of this nature going on. That's the only way I can explain why it's so oddly cheap looking compared to my S22 Ultra display. There must be some sort of distortion that amplifies any pwm effects I'd normally be able to tolerate. (Which are already worse this year than last year).

This is an entirely new AMOLED display for Samsung so I guess they have a few kinks in the production to iron out.

I just don't know now if I want to try again just yet. There might be a few bad production runs I'll want to dodge for a bit. The display unit I saw at Best Buy looked pretty bad, too.

Oh no, I am really sorry, I hope things can get sorted and you are lucky getting a good one from Amazon. It must be so frustrating.

 

[aggie99]

Apparently what's happening to other people who are experiencing a peculiar qc fault with the display, is that they are being told the only option is to return everything (all accessories) and reorder. It can't be processed in their system any other way. They're told there are no exchange units set aside to swap out bad devices.

Worse, a media publication made an inquiry and the official answer is there's nothing to be concerned about, it is all within normal tolerance. Official press take on it is it's a "nothing burger." But the photos I saw of the issue looked pretty unacceptable.

So yeah, I'm having to lose the cases I successfully bought that are now out of stock. As are these other people who refuse to accept the flaw in their display.

I don't know if what I experienced is in any way related to this problem.

There's a discussion I saw late last night on Android Central forum and other places like Reddit and Twitter about a weird defect that Samsung says is normal (but customers say they've never seen before) that can result in a small distortion and a rainbow effect in the display if it's really bad.

I didn't see this defect in my display but it's possible it was there. Some people had to shine a bright light to detect it and I never did that. Ha! It never got sunny enough here for me to just see it outdoors in the sunlight like some people did. I'd have had to use a flashlight and it didn't occur to me to get that inquisitive.

I'd really rather pack it all up and send it all back at this point.

This display defect that's not officially a defect is so widespread that people are reporting that the new units they bought to replace to their defective units often have the same defect.

It looks like a fault in the process that laminates all the layers of the display together.

I'm going to guess my phone had something of this nature going on. That's the only way I can explain why it's so oddly cheap looking compared to my S22 Ultra display. There must be some sort of distortion that amplifies any pwm effects I'd normally be able to tolerate. (Which are already worse this year than last year).

This is an entirely new AMOLED display for Samsung so I guess they have a few kinks in the production to iron out.

I just don't know now if I want to try again just yet. There might be a few bad production runs I'll want to dodge for a bit. The display unit I saw at Best Buy looked pretty bad, too.

Which Samsung cases did you get? I got the gadget case I think it's called that I'm really not using as I like my Spigen case with magsafe. Also a black leather one. You are welcome to those so you don't totally lose out on the free cases if you want to try another S23U. This phone is so all around solid I hate to see you miss out on it.

 

[PaddyFowler]

1 TB lavender pink is packed up and ready to be returned.

Next up, 512 GB Blue. I asked my husband his preference for what I should buy because whatever I get is likely to get traded for his lime green 512 gb, which for some reason I can look at without getting sick. I prefer lavender but at this point I'm fine with green or blue I don't care as long as I can use an S23 ultra and not feel like something is drilling into my brain through my eyes.

I gave up on the idea of 1TB because I am still keeping my S22 Ultra. So I'll start the new one as new and have more storage available out of the 512 GB.

Might seem like a silly question, but why are you returning an S23U if the screen is affecting your headaches etc, getting another S23U and still holding on to your S22U ?

 

[super chimp]

yeah it was :/ and explains the folks who are getting headaches after. Really wish that test was part of every review and, though I know this is a hopeless ask, manufacturers would say whether their devices had it or not.

It’s just these manufacturers being cheapskates but still charging big money for their products.

 

[5105973]

Might seem like a silly question, but why are you returning an S23U if the screen is affecting your headaches etc, getting another S23U and still holding on to your S22U ?

It's not a silly question. My husband and I are thinking it over but sitting down and discussing anything happens very chaotically in our household these days. He's working from home now which means he's now never off. It's a global company so someone somewhere is awake and considers him accessible. I'm theoretically a SAHM but I also have responsibilities that extend beyond the household these days.

I pop in here when I want to grab a break. A lot of the posts I make I start and don't even get to finish until hours later because I have to keep jumping off to answer to someone who wants something. I'm actually this minute taking a "mental health break" from a really bad situation with a feral cat I'm trying to help. When I finish my break I am going out into the cold pouring rain and pray I don't fail what I'm trying to do. Then I have to go to assisted living and deal with something over there.

I'm sure I sound like a complete and utter ditz when I do pop here and post. This is just a hobby not my primary focus so I'm not spending a whole lot of mental energy on it.

Its just a frustrating situation I encounter all the time anymore when I try to get a new phone. I really wasn't expecting this with a Samsung phone. The S22 Ultra display was smooth as silk. I assumed okay, I just want something similar with an upgraded camera and better battery life. My husband noticed even better connectivity on his S23 Ultra on AT&T and I wanted that, too. I want comfortable storage and I'll settle down for a two year stint. It seemed a no brainer to order my 1 TB s23 Ultra. But I got thrown a curve ball and I probably am contemplating absolutely ridiculous options.

So no, not a silly question but I don't have a sensible answer at the moment. That's why I haven't placed any orders. I know not enough thought is going into this right now.

 

[5105973]

Which Samsung cases did you get? I got the gadget case I think it's called that I'm really not using as I like my Spigen case with magsafe. Also a black leather one. You are welcome to those so you don't totally lose out on the free cases if you want to try another S23U. This phone is so all around solid I hate to see you miss out on it.

Oh that's so kind of you. It was just the bright orange silicone one I'll miss a little but I'm sure I'll be able to get it again when/if I try to get another S23U.

 

[Technerd108]

It's not a silly question. My husband and I are thinking it over but sitting down and discussing anything happens very chaotically in our household these days. He's working from home now which means he's now never off. It's a global company so someone somewhere is awake and considers him accessible. I'm theoretically a SAHM but I also have responsibilities that extend beyond the household these days.

I pop in here when I want to grab a break. A lot of the posts I make I start and don't even get to finish until hours later because I have to keep jumping off to answer to someone who wants something. I'm actually this minute taking a "mental health break" from a really bad situation with a feral cat I'm trying to help. When I finish my break I am going out into the cold pouring rain and pray I don't fail what I'm trying to do. Then I have to go to assisted living and deal with something over there.

I'm sure I sound like a complete and utter ditz when I do pop here and post. This is just a hobby not my primary focus so I'm not spending a whole lot of mental energy on it.

Its just a frustrating situation I encounter all the time anymore when I try to get a new phone. I really wasn't expecting this with a Samsung phone. The S22 Ultra display was smooth as silk. I assumed okay, I just want something similar with an upgraded camera and better battery life. My husband noticed even better connectivity on his S23 Ultra on AT&T and I wanted that, too. I want comfortable storage and I'll settle down for a two year stint. It seemed a no brainer to order my 1 TB s23 Ultra. But I got thrown a curve ball and I probably am contemplating absolutely ridiculous options.

So no, not a silly question but I don't have a sensible answer at the moment. That's why I haven't placed any orders. I know not enough thought is going into this right now.

It is always complicated when something goes wrong on an expensive device. Add in that it was a pre order and that complicates things even further.

It is too bad Samsung is letting you just do an exchange for the phone. Seems like they are trying to disincentive you from making a return. Kind of a crap thing for them to do.

Your posts are great and we all have lives and can't be on MacRumors all the time.

Your mental and physical health come first.

Whatever happens I hope you find the best solution for you even if it is just a straight return and you keep your s22 ultra. I am sure during the summer they will have a sale and might offer the free bump in storage or something like that and discount the device. So at this point that might be your best bet. Who knows, they might even give you a better trade in value at that time too.

I like your posts and understand that you and a lot of us have a lot going on outside of this forum. Hope the assisted living situation and feral cat situation have positive outcomes and you have a great day!

 

[majkom]

Sammy is having sales like always

 

[hockeyfan81]

Those who have the S23 Ultra, how often do you use the s-pen?

 

[mjschabow]

Those who have the S23 Ultra, how often do you use the s-pen?

Not very often. But it will definitely come in handy for when I need to sign documents at work and don't feel like using my printer and scanner.