Phones Samsung Z Fold 2

[SteveJUAE]

No first hand experience using it but in general, I prefer to deal with the OEM vs. a third party. I've heard so many horror stories about getting assistance via any of the wireless carriers, who themselves I believe contract this service out to third parties like Assurant or Asurion (I believe this is who AT&T uses). Also, I think deductibles are higher via the carriers and you're almost always getting refurbished devices.

If Samsung's version works anywhere close to as well as AppleCare, I'd go with Samsung. According to their terms, with Samsung Care+, screen replacements are only $29 and any other repairs/replacements are $99. Sounds vaguely familiar....?

Samsung concierge service is way better than AC your talking about 24 hour coverage, courier pick up service and loan phones etc I have used it and was amazed how quick they came and took my fold and gave me a loan Note 9

 

[spinedoc77]

Samsung concierge service is way better than AC your talking about 24 hour coverage, courier pick up service and loan phones etc I have used it and was amazed how quick they came and took my fold and gave me a loan Note 9

You get the concierge service with the 11.99? I'm tempted to get it, I'm assuming we have some time after purchase to still add it on.

The one good thing about the carrier insurance, well at least Verizon, is that it covers you for theft. I don't think Samsung does, and definitely Apple doesn't cover you for theft.

 

[SteveJUAE]

You get the concierge service with the 11.99? I'm tempted to get it, I'm assuming we have some time after purchase to still add it on.

The one good thing about the carrier insurance, well at least Verizon, is that it covers you for theft. I don't think Samsung does, and definitely Apple doesn't cover you for theft.

The 1st year it's included extended service varies from country to country no idea on Verizon sorry

 

[spinedoc77]

The 1st year it's included extended service varies from country to country no idea on Verizon sorry

But that's not accidental damage, that's just the concierge service and the $149 one time inner screen replacement. You have to pay $11.99/month to get their version of Apple care.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I was concerned the outside display would be too narrow to be functional. But after watching some hands on videos it looks to be alright.

It might actually be better for quick usage.

 

[tbayrgs]

Samsung concierge service is way better than AC your talking about 24 hour coverage, courier pick up service and loan phones etc I have used it and was amazed how quick they came and took my fold and gave me a loan Note 9

I’m sure it varies country to country–I can only comment on experience here in the US. We don’t have Samsung stores and must use their dedicated 3rd party repair partners and you have to go in-store for service. In our part of the world, there are very few. If they have quick pick up courier service here, that’s great. It’s definitely better than any service you’ll get from US carriers.

Here in the US, Apple obviously has their own stores (normally when the world isn’t ablaze) as well as all of their partner locations for warranty and/or AppleCare+ support. So getting immediate repairs done is a bit easier. Another aspect of AppleCare+ that most people aren’t aware of is that they offer Express Overnight Replacement for many of the products (iPhone, Watch, iPad, AirPods, I believe). I’m so verse in it because I’ve sadly had to use it a number of times thanks to me and my family being a bunch of clumsy individuals. In short, you call Apple, pay your AppleCare deductible and they overnight you the replacement device. You use the same shipping box and their included shipping label to send back your broken device. I called on a Wednesday afternoon about 6 months ago for the cracked display on my iPad Pro, paid my $49 deductible, and had FedEx at my home the next day with my brand new replacement. Did it again last week for my daughter’s iPhone. They also did it for my faulty AirPod when that was covered under warranty.

As much as I appreciate the convenience of getting a repair/replacement at an Apple Store, I probably won’t do it again if don’t have to because the overnight replacement program works so well.

Back to Samsung Care+ vs. the carrier’s insurance that the previous poster was asking about, I’d almost certainly go with Samsung Care+ over whatever the carrier offers.

 

[Zwhaler]

Hey everyone, I can confirm the "cancel item" trick worked. They applied a discount of $100 after I placed the order. Go to your order, cancel the item, found cheaper elsewhere, I selected Best Buy, then hit cancel (confirm). Then it'll give you the offer, and you accept. Viola!

I'm showing an October 9 delivery date for my black with gold hinge Z Fold 2!

 

[Fernandez21]

Hands on with the black model, video is in Asian language though.

 

[Cryates]

Why couldn't they just do a frosted back for the black version as well? Long term I would definitely use a case anyhow, I am on my Note 20, but still.

 

[jamezr]

Why couldn't they just do a frosted back for the back version as well? Long term I would definitely use a case anyhow, I am on my Note 20, but still.

I am hoping dbrand will have a skin to put on the front and back. That will help the black not be such a fingerprint magnet

 

[Cryates]

I am hoping dbrand will have a skin to put on the front and back. That will help the black not be such a fingerprint magnet

This one would look pretty killer with a dbrand skin.

 

[Zwhaler]

Why couldn't they just do a frosted back for the black version as well? Long term I would definitely use a case anyhow, I am on my Note 20, but still.

I think they wanted to sell and make lots of bronze at a cheaper unit price so giving it a superior feature will help accomplish that. I still didn't get it.

 

[GadgetSN]

Completed the pre order form twice but backed out before the last step.

Whilst I like it, £1800 is silly money especially as pre orders do not come with a free galaxy watch or wireless earbuds and case/cover.

Device looks cool but I'm going to wait 1 or 2 more iterations. £1800 is laptop money and I'm reluctant to buy a new laptop till my current one dies.

Samsung would have got me with a pre order bundle offer.

 

[The Game 161]

Completed the pre order form twice but backed out before the last step.

Whilst I like it, £1800 is silly money especially as pre orders do not come with a free galaxy watch or wireless earbuds and case/cover.

Device looks cool but I'm going to wait 1 or 2 more iterations. £1800 is laptop money and I'm reluctant to buy a new laptop till my current one dies.

Samsung would have got me with a pre order bundle offer.

Yeah I'm rather surprised you don't get any free gifts

 

[co.ag.2005]

Thank you very much. I will sign up for Care+ once I receive my Fold 2 if I decide I want to keep it.

I just pre-ordered via AT&T. No option to pick up at my local store sadly. Not crazy about it being shipped to my home. Perhaps I can divert the package to a pick-up center once in transit.

I did AT&T Next as I will probably want the Fold 3 next fall.

This is the most excited I've been about a new smartphone in a very long time. I still have a lot of questions that need to be answered once I demo the phone. Hate to leave the iPhone for many reasons but I feel the hardware has gotten so stale compared to the Fold 2.

I'm not sure if this applies to the Fold 2 but this article says you no longer can add on Care+ after purchase for the Note series... so you may want to find out if that's the case for the Fold 2 or not.

Samsung's Care+ protection plan can't be added to the Galaxy Note20 post-purchase

It seems like a permanent change this time

www.androidpolice.com

With regards to carrier insurance, I've heard nothing but horror stories on carrier insurance replacement phones (typically through Assurion). Plus the cost is high... high monthly premium plus a very large deductible. Better off just putting some of that money into a savings account in the off chance something happens to your device.

 

[SteveJUAE]

But that's not accidental damage, that's just the concierge service and the $149 one time inner screen replacement. You have to pay $11.99/month to get their version of Apple care.

I'm not sure what comes with AC or AC + or equivalent as again its varied from country to country but you would have to add a 3rd party to AC to get the equivalent of concierge service

So no simple solution

 

[SteveJUAE]

I’m sure it varies country to country–I can only comment on experience here in the US. We don’t have Samsung stores and must use their dedicated 3rd party repair partners and you have to go in-store for service. In our part of the world, there are very few. If they have quick pick up courier service here, that’s great. It’s definitely better than any service you’ll get from US carriers.

Here in the US, Apple obviously has their own stores (normally when the world isn’t ablaze) as well as all of their partner locations for warranty and/or AppleCare+ support. So getting immediate repairs done is a bit easier. Another aspect of AppleCare+ that most people aren’t aware of is that they offer Express Overnight Replacement for many of the products (iPhone, Watch, iPad, AirPods, I believe). I’m so verse in it because I’ve sadly had to use it a number of times thanks to me and my family being a bunch of clumsy individuals. In short, you call Apple, pay your AppleCare deductible and they overnight you the replacement device. You use the same shipping box and their included shipping label to send back your broken device. I called on a Wednesday afternoon about 6 months ago for the cracked display on my iPad Pro, paid my $49 deductible, and had FedEx at my home the next day with my brand new replacement. Did it again last week for my daughter’s iPhone. They also did it for my faulty AirPod when that was covered under warranty.

As much as I appreciate the convenience of getting a repair/replacement at an Apple Store, I probably won’t do it again if don’t have to because the overnight replacement program works so well.

Back to Samsung Care+ vs. the carrier’s insurance that the previous poster was asking about, I’d almost certainly go with Samsung Care+ over whatever the carrier offers.

I note your points but with the concierge service the whole point is stores are somewhat irrelevant and it's bundled free

 

[SteveJUAE]

Hey everyone, I can confirm the "cancel item" trick worked. They applied a discount of $100 after I placed the order. Go to your order, cancel the item, found cheaper elsewhere, I selected Best Buy, then hit cancel (confirm). Then it'll give you the offer, and you accept. Viola!

I'm showing an October 9 delivery date for my black with gold hinge Z Fold 2!

Not even available for pre-order here .............. yet

 

[Awesomesince86]

I think I'm going to cancel my pre-order. As someone who works from home, even before Covid, Im always in front of my computer monitors and tablet. I dont really need a portable tablet/phone, its just something I want because its new and cool. But for the price, there are just other tech devices I've been eyeing that make more sense for my use. I think I'll pre-order a Tab S7 Plus to replace my old IPP 10.5. Im perfectly fine keeping my S20 Plus or maybe try out the Pixel 5 later this year if it gets good reviews.

I'll still be jealous of all you guys when you get your new Folds, but I just think its a bit too much money for how I would use it.

 

[Ludatyk]

I think I'll pre-order a Tab S7 Plus to replace my old IPP 10.5.

I'm curious. Why replacing your old iPP with a Tab S7 Plus compared to a 2020 iPP?

 

[blairh]

I'm not sure if this applies to the Fold 2 but this article says you no longer can add on Care+ after purchase for the Note series... so you may want to find out if that's the case for the Fold 2 or not.

Samsung's Care+ protection plan can't be added to the Galaxy Note20 post-purchase

It seems like a permanent change this time

www.androidpolice.com

With regards to carrier insurance, I've heard nothing but horror stories on carrier insurance replacement phones (typically through Assurion). Plus the cost is high... high monthly premium plus a very large deductible. Better off just putting some of that money into a savings account in the off chance something happens to your device.

Well that's truly horrible if true. I'll try it if I decide to keep the Fold and if it doesn't work I'll look at other options. There is no way I won't purchase some form of insurance for this uber expensive device.

 

[Awesomesince86]

I'm curious. Why replacing your old iPP with a Tab S7 Plus compared to a 2020 iPP?

I considered an IPP 2020 but I decided on the Tab S7 for a couple reasons...

1. File system. I hate how Apple handled file storage and I've found productivity to be very difficult on an IPP due to how bad their file storage is. Android's is more in line with typical Windows storage.

2. xCloud support. When I travel sometimes I'll want to game using xCloud and its currently not supported by Apple and may never be.

3. Superior multitasking. Apple multitasking is still pretty half baked and lags far behind typical Android and especially far behind what Dex can do.

4. Better display on the Samsung. This one is easy. Neither are bad but the Samsung is clearly better.

5. Cost. The difference is huge. For a 256gb S7 Plus with pencil and keyboard case it comes to roughly $850 after tax with education discount and cancellation trick discount. For the same storage IPP with the pencil (not included) and the magic keyboard it comes to roughly $1675.

Basically I dont see the point in paying double the price for a device thats inferior in a lot of ways. What I'll miss with the IPP is the app selection which is clearly better and the longer update support. Otherwise, I honestly dont see an area where its better than the S7 plus unless you are already deep into the Apple ecosystem which I am not.

 

[jamezr]

For me a phone that unfolds out to the size of a small tablet is perfect! It might even replace my MBA as my portable computer. I have a 27 iMac for heavy lifting and it dual boots Windows 10 so I am covered for both platforms.
I found I only use my MBA for sofa surfing when the display on my phone was just too small. So i would grab my MBA for a larger display. But if the Fold 2 lives up to the videos I have seen so far it might just replace my MBA

 

[Zwhaler]

My black+gold order updated to "Customizing", so I guess they're getting ready to build it! Wonder if the original Oct 9 ship date will stick (I ordered minutes after preorders opened in US on Sep 1st).

 

[blairh]

Did a deep dive online. It looks like you cannot add Samsung Care+ anymore post-purchase. Regardless of the current terms online.

What a joke honestly. Why not reflect this change on your website???

I guess I'll determine my 3rd party insurance options if I decide to keep the Fold 2.