Samsung galaxy S23 and S23 ultra

[5105973]

Ummm what the heck. I think mine is printed on the back too! Not sure I like this but also not sure what bad could really come from it.

“IMEI.info:
Why would you need to check the IMEI Number? The number is useful when you would like to send the device for service to fill out warranty forms. Besides that, if you want to report a stolen or a lost phone at the police or network operator you should use the IMEI Number as well. After that, you can block your phone and it will make the device unusable, regardless of whether the SIM card is changed or removed. What is also really important is that IMEI contains a few secret information about the product but also sometimes allows you to locate the smartphone.


How to use check IMEI function? How to extract secret information from IMEI Number? The imei.info is the best answer to this question. All you need is to use our IMEI checker function. By using our free lookup function we use the first six digits of IMEI called TAC (Type Approval Code) to find the exact model of the device. Afterwards when the search IMEI engine will find your phone the specification will be displayed on the screen. Here you can read the secret info about your device and the basic specification. One of the most important features of IMEI.info lookup function are the online checkers such as warranty info, simlock status, IMEI carrier check, blacklist report. On our site you can use all of this IMEI service checks and simple check IMEI feature completely free.”

So basically we want to obscure that number when we share photos of our phones so that someone can’t prank us by reporting our phone stolen and have it shut down.

That’s why I don’t think this information ought to be out where anyone can see it. I use clear cases so this is an issue for me.

 

[SteveJUAE]

There have been so many reports about Google and privacy issues, they collect so much data on people and track so much. I wouldn't mind certain things, but I just don't trust them with my photos and videos. Microsoft are known for that too, my Surface Pro 9 I had was sent back and then I ended up being gifted one 😂 personally I much prefer Mac.

I use to have an Amazon Alexa device, it started playing music in the middle of the night which was weird so I ended up selling it. The same thing happened when I tried a Google Nest Mini, except not only did it do that but I would have conversations about things and the next minute I would be given ads about that product. I find that very intrusive. I have a HomePod now and have for a while, I find it not only has has much better sound but I have never had any issues with it randomly playing music in the night, or adverts targeted after I've had conversations about things.

I much prefer Apple when it comes to privacy, it's why I pay for iCloud storage. I should probably subscribe to Apple One at this point, I already pay for Apple Music yearly and after my free trial I will be subscribing to Apple Fitness+ too as well as paying £0.79 a month for 50GB of iCloud storage.

This is one of the reasons why ill never fully migrate over to my S23 Ultra, it's really a great device but there are just some things that Apple do better, privacy is one, fitness and the Apple Watch are the other.

I do not trust any of them but equally I use all of them

Unless you want to become a technical recluse your just whistling in the wind and clutching at straws with any device

 

[mjschabow]

Yeah I've just given in to the whole privacy stuff. Everyone is stealing my data. I know plenty of people with iPhones that get their back accounts hacked. It can happen to anyone.

 

[Dave245]

I do not trust any of them but equally I use all of them

Unless you want to become a technical recluse your just whistling in the wind and clutching at straws with any device

I trust Apple more, I don’t think they sell users data for example. I believe that’s why products and services are more expensive, Apple would rather rip you off to your face 😂

I’m as big a sucker as anyone tho cuss I have nearly every Apple devices going and I buy more and more into their services as well. The only difference is I now have a Samsung Tab S8 Ultra instead of an iPad and I have a S23 Ultra along side my iPhone.

 

[SteveJUAE]

I trust Apple more, I don’t think they sell users data for example. I believe that’s why products and services are more expensive, Apple would rather rip you off to your face 😂

I’m as big a sucker as anyone tho cuss I have nearly every Apple devices going and I buy more and more into their services as well. The only difference is I now have a Samsung Tab S8 Ultra instead of an iPad and I have a S23 Ultra along side my iPhone.

You know the stock answer to that re Google Apps and the $15B or do you think they get nothing for their money with Apple LOL

 

[mjschabow]

When it comes to my data, I just lay down and whisper "Take me".

 

[Dave245]

You know the stock answer to that re Google Apps and the $15B or do you think they get nothing for their money with Apple LOL

I don’t believe that Apple sells users data to Google or anyone. Saying that not device is 100% secure. I’m not talking about being hacked, that can happen on an iPhone or on my Samsung phone. My concerns are with companies like Google and Amazon tracking users and selling our data to companies, Facebook is another one I wouldn’t trust as far as I could throw it.

In my opinion Apple seem to be the lesser of two evils. I’m not saying they are 100% but they do seem better than all the others.

 

[sunking101]

My S23 Ultra backup is with Microsoft OneDrive. I don’t trust Google.

Yet you trust Microsoft?
They're all as bad as each other IMO. Don't Apple go through everyone's photos under the excuse of checking for unsavoury images? Who's to say that they don't scan messages too? So far as I'm concerned everything you put out there in cyberspace is insecure.

 

[SteveJUAE]

I don’t believe that Apple sells users data to Google or anyone. Saying that not device is 100% secure. I’m not talking about being hacked, that can happen on an iPhone or on my Samsung phone. My concerns are with companies like Google and Amazon tracking users and selling our data to companies, Facebook is another one I wouldn’t trust as far as I could throw it.

In my opinion Apple seem to be the lesser of two evils. I’m not saying they are 100% but they do seem better than all the others.

Apple facilitate others by accepting fees to promote services that we know track your digital footprint, guilty by direct endorsement and association

You only have to read the front page of MR to see how poor of late Apple have been on security and bug fixes

But if you feel better with Apple that's

Maybe you have never used Samsung work profiles or Safe which offeres another level of protection on apps etc

 

[Dave245]

Yet you trust Microsoft?
They're all as bad as each other IMO. Don't Apple go through everyone's photos under the excuse of checking for unsavoury images? Who's to say that they don't scan messages too? So far as I'm concerned everything you put out there in cyberspace is insecure.

No that feature idea was later scrapped, no I don’t trust Microsoft. I only back up certain things with OneDrive.

 

[hockeyfan81]

I never noticed on the S22 Ultra because it was dark green, but now I see on the S22 Ultra and the S23 Ultra the IMEI is printed on the back of the phone now.

Why? Isn’t this relatively private info?

I think it's on there because if for whatever reason such as unable to turn on your phone, you'll still able to have access to it and you can still be able to get help with your phone.

 

[Dave245]

Apple facilitate others by accepting fees to promote services that we know track your digital footprint, guilty by direct endorsement and association

You only have to read the front page of MR to see how poor of late Apple have been on security and bug fixes

But if you feel better with Apple that's

Maybe you have never used Samsung work profiles or Safe which offeres another level of protection on apps etc

That’s strictly not true, while Apple do accept money from Google it is to be a search engine on the iPhone and other Apple devices.

There are a number of features in the iPhone and iCloud which when you buy the 50GB or higher storage are accessible. Everyone is different I guess, I just feel more secure with Apple than Google and Microsoft.

 

[SteveJUAE]

No that feature idea was later scrapped, no I don’t trust Microsoft. I only back up certain things with OneDrive.

No, that feature was not implemented on your iPhone it still happens on the files on their servers 🙄

 

[Dave245]

No, that feature was not implemented on your iPhone it still happens on the files on their servers 🙄

They don't look at your photos, im not even sure that's possible since Apple have end to end encryption. If you get locked out of your iCloud Applet, not even Apple can get you back in. iCloud is more secure than most. That's not to say that they are 100% nothing ever is.

 

[Dave245]

S23 Ultra update: The battery life on this is a beast, it is well on par with my iPhone 14 Pro Max, the camera is also great, in some instances it is better than my iPhone, in others not so much. I love the red colour and the S Pen is a very handy tool to have, I love using it with Pen Up app and drawing/taking notes when needed.

Overall I'm impressed with the S23 Ultra, it's a great update even over the 22 Ultra, especially for those of us in the UK who no longer have to worry about Exynos.

 

[5105973]

I think it's on there because if for whatever reason such as unable to turn on your phone, you'll still able to have access to it and you can still be able to get help with your phone.

Interesting idea. Thanks. I still wish it wasn't on there. I like a clean backside on my phones.

 

[5105973]

I don’t believe that Apple sells users data to Google or anyone. Saying that not device is 100% secure. I’m not talking about being hacked, that can happen on an iPhone or on my Samsung phone. My concerns are with companies like Google and Amazon tracking users and selling our data to companies, Facebook is another one I wouldn’t trust as far as I could throw it.

In my opinion Apple seem to be the lesser of two evils. I’m not saying they are 100% but they do seem better than all the others.

Apple news ads show a strong indication of having tracked me somehow. I always try to opt out of targeted ads but I always get heavily targeted ads on the Apple News App. I'm not sure how the data is siphoned into that system but it's coming from somewhere.
I won't give up Amazon Prime or my many Gmail accounts so I suppose data is flowing from those sources.

 

[5105973]

I'm supposed to be setting this phone up. And I slowly am, adding in my apps bit by bit. But I can't stop playing. I watched a movie. I'm chasing cats down for photo ops.

I do still think my S22 Ultra display looks better and is more comfortable. There's almost no off axis color shift on it and there is on the S23 Ultra. But I seem able to use this display, so yay.

The speakers are so much better than on the S22 Ultra.

 

[ratspg]

I have said many a time that it's obviously a problem for you American peeps or else you wouldn't make such a song & dance about it. I accept that you find it a problem but I'll still never understand it.

I have one friend who only contacts me on FB Messenger. Another only ever emails, and one only ever sends SMS. The rest all use WhatsApp and I have zero issues with any of this. Nobody's choice of tech negatively affects anybody else over here in Europe. It's a complete headscratcher for me how a messaging app can literally be the reason you buy a phone and stick with that platform. I'm not attacking anyone. Apologies if my words seem harsh. They aren't meant to. It's only a tech forum. ✌️

The iPhone really dominates the US especially 25 and under in usage for iMessage. Just like you mentioned in your post "The rest all use WhatsApp", in the US its "The rest all use iMessage." It really is that saturated here. Also, Messages is preloaded on every Mac and iPhone and iPad, kind of hard to beat that.

 

[Harthag]

Whatever the origins of the differences are, currently when I speak to people about it the big appeal of iMessage is it's so easy to send photos and videos to another iMessage user. People on FB did use FB Messenger but usually when it relates to something while they're on FB.

Apple has everything set up that you need, that even my dad could be taught to text me photos and videos when he was 84. And now his younger brother who is 81 (I think) can also do it and he's not even a techy like my dad was. Even my mother-in-law could do it. She was a terrible smartphone photographer though. We found so many photos of her feet on her phone! Just her feet. We are sure it wasnt intentional. We hope it wasn't intentional. 😳

With Android you need to pick what you're going to use, is it going to be Google photos? Is it some other service the manufacturer partnered with?

Samsung had Gallery, but they confused even ME when they changed where the photos back up to. I had to sign up to OneDrive to keep something akin to what I was used to with their own service that they discontinued.

So basically we are at the point way past your origin story" to where people don't remember or care why they have an iPhone. But they have it and they're not going to give it up because it still "just works" (though not always as steadily as it used to).

Lol I hope this post makes sense. I got interrupted a few paragraphs ago to have one of those 50's sitcom style heartfelt parental talks with a very upset child. It was a compassionate talk on the perils and pitfalls of procrastination on homework. And speaking of procrastinating, please everyone under my roof, stop hoarding dirty laundry and having Mom (and Dad--he does laundry too) bailing you out of potential unsanctioned nudity at school with these last minute post- midnight laundry emergencies. 🙄🤪

I say that, even though I forgot to gather all the socks from under my side of the bed and put them in the hamper so they got missed when my husband ran our sock and underwear laundry this afternoon. I'm notorious for kicking my socks off before I go to bed and kicking them partly under the bed. Then to add insult to injury, forgetting to pick them up next morning and putting them in the hamper. Mea culpa.

Be better than me, children! Do as I say, not as I do! 😬

Photo and video sharing is the huge feature that makes switching to Android a giant pain, which I won't go into because we all know the reasons. Simple things like FaceTime I took for granted until my mom passed late 2021. We were with her at the hospital and my aunt lives out of state and I wanted her to be there with us so I used FaceTime video. She is forever grateful and it brought her much needed closure and peace. I couldn't have said, "hey Aunt ----, I need you to download Google Duo and log in to Google, and add me as a contact and then use Duo for the first time." Or "send me a FaceTime invite and we can do it over web."

I'm switching my e-sim to the S23+ today and will see how I get along with it as my primary. AirMessage performed fine over the weekend so that hurdle is cleared. I've already bought a pair of Buds 2 Pro and can finally make work calls from my phone again using buds. Bummer that you can't enable transparency mode while using one bud, really annoying but I'll live.

 

[5105973]

Photo and video sharing is the huge feature that makes switching to Android a giant pain, which I won't go into because we all know the reasons. Simple things like FaceTime I took for granted until my mom passed late 2021. We were with her at the hospital and my aunt lives out of state and I wanted her to be there with us so I used FaceTime video. She is forever grateful and it brought her much needed closure and peace. I couldn't have said, "hey Aunt ----, I need you to download Google Duo and log in to Google, and add me as a contact and then use Duo for the first time." Or "send me a FaceTime invite and we can do it over web."

I'm switching my e-sim to the S23+ today and will see how I get along with it as my primary. AirMessage performed fine over the weekend so that hurdle is cleared. I've already bought a pair of Buds 2 Pro and can finally make work calls from my phone again using buds. Bummer that you can't enable transparency mode while using one bud, really annoying but I'll live.

My condolences on your loss. Indeed FaceTime must seem ubiquitous to some in the medical profession because when my dad was in the hospital last year I was offered the chance to FaceTime with him (unfortunately I had to leave and missed my chance) and it never seemed to even occur to the nurse that I wouldn't be able to do FaceTime!

Since I am able to maintain two lines and two platforms I probably should avail myself of that privilege as long as it's an option for me.

This is definitely a USA thing. We have very dear friends from India who are currently back in their home country and they ditched iphones for Samsungs because for their purposes, it was the preferred option. They didn't explain why, but I am sure they have their reasons for that.

 

[5105973]

I finally sat my butt down and installed the LK screen protector on my S22 Ultra. Sadly got a few bubbles. Then put the Samsung branded screen protector on the S23 Ultra. I did better this time and got a bubble free installation though a tiny bit crooked. But it will do.

I need to do my husband's installation but I don't have his phone around so I'll try another day for him.

The LK and the Samsung screen protectors seem pretty good. They haven't annoyed me yet, anyway.

 

[Harthag]

My condolences on your loss. Indeed FaceTime must seem ubiquitous to some in the medical profession because when my dad was in the hospital last year I was offered the chance to FaceTime with him (unfortunately I had to leave and missed my chance) and it never seemed to even occur to the nurse that I wouldn't be able to do FaceTime!

Since I am able to maintain two lines and two platforms I probably should avail myself of that privilege as long as it's an option for me.

This is definitely a USA thing. We have very dear friends from India who are currently back in their home country and they ditched iphones for Samsungs because for their purposes, it was the preferred option. They didn't explain why, but I am sure they have their reasons for that.

Thank you, and sorry for your loss as well (perhaps I misinterpreted, sorry if so + happy for you if he's alive and well). 2020 through 2021 was difficult for people who had loved ones in hospitals etc., due to Covid restrictions. I was not allowed to visit my mom the day before she passed because according to them, "it wasn't imminent." You can imagine the fury I felt toward that "rule." and someone actually saying that out loud. I don't like throwing around the words "hate" or "furious" lightly, but on that day I would've allowed myself to get arrested for trespassing had it come to that, in order to see my mom. I was absolutely furious. She just wanted her loved ones to be with her to hold her hand. Thankfully we were all allowed to visit the morning of. I can't imagine how difficult it must've been for those who were actually hospitalized to go through their struggles all alone or with "one visitor for X hours" restriction in place.

Anyway...I can't stand e-sim. Spent 30 mins on the phone with AT&T and they told me because it's Android I needed to visit a store. Needless to say I am back on a physical sim card. If I do switch back to my iPhone as my primary I may consider buying a 13 series so I can use the physical sim. So ridiculous.

 

[mjschabow]

Welp! The deed is done. iPhone 14 Pro Max is currently with Fed Ex, boxed up and on its way to Samsung. After what Jamezr went through, took lots of photos and videos and even said in my video "Don't try anything shady because I've seen a lot of people getting screwed over" lol.

Here's to a fun ride. Hope this thread stays very active as well!

 

[Harthag]

Welp! The deed is done. iPhone 14 Pro Max is currently with Fed Ex, boxed up and on its way to Samsung. After what Jamezr went through, took lots of photos and videos and even said in my video "Don't try anything shady because I've seen a lot of people getting screwed over" lol.

Here's to a fun ride. Hope this thread stays very active as well!

Good luck with the trade in! Stay strong, I'm in the same boat. Hopefully we won't be back...