So I jumped ship, from iPhone to Samsung 1 month on

[5105973]

Here is a nicely done video comparison between IPhone 7 Plus and Note 7 that also manages to sum up in general the difference between the two platforms when choosing between other phones by Apple and Samsung. While the reviewer rightly calls some attention to the S-pen functionality that I do indeed use and value, higher end Samsung phones that lack the S Pen do still offer a solid experience.

People do complain about lag and lack of updates on Samsung. I can't comment on that personally as I have not experienced any of that. I've gotten updates for my individual apps as well as security upgrades from AT&T. I very carefully manage and curate apps so that may be a factor in my not experiencing lag. I don't know. I'm going to need more time with Samsung to evaluate that fairly. I've had years with Apple and only a few months with Samsung so far.

I do agree with Saki in his video that apps and games are done better for IPhone in general. It's not an issue that bites me in the butt often but I have seen examples. My daughter and I played the same hidden objects game, New York Mysteries: Lantern of Souls and she played the iPad version and I played one for Android. I had a problem with some of the puzzles not responding to touch input until I rebooted the game. My husband's financial services apps work with Touch ID on IPhone but not on the Note 7. There was an app developer on Mac Rumors who posted a long post somewhere explaining why this happens. In a nutshell, it is a royal pain in the butt writing apps for Android vs iOS.

Still, I manage to find apps that work well and do what I need them to do without any fuss or bother.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I have a 6s+ but kept my Note 3. My daughter uses it and that thing still has incredible battery life after 3+ years. It's still fast and with Nova launcher I had no problems with touchwiz. It also has 196gb of storage with a larger screen.

The gap between both platforms now is so small I have to laugh at people when they say they'd never touch Android or iOS again.

I must have had a defective Samsung Note 3 battery - but it was like $9 for an Anker replacement (ahhh, days of removable batteries). Note 3 was a good phone. I liked it, even with the Samsung bloatware. Gps wasn't great (ingress) but it was a perfect size and felt great in the hand without a case.

I am using Nova on my Samsung Galaxy Tab S2 and it's doing really well.

100% agree with your last sentence. "The gap between both platforms now is so small I have to laugh at people when they say they'd never touch Android or iOS again." Even though I said I'd never do Samsung again, I have a Tab 2 and I use it daily. Apple needs Android and Android needs Apple - without competition there would be little advancement.

 

[Roadstar]

People do complain about lag and lack of updates on Samsung. I can't comment on that personally as I have not experienced any of that. I've gotten updates for my individual apps as well as security upgrades from AT&T. I very carefully manage and curate apps so that may be a factor in my not experiencing lag. I don't know. I'm going to need more time with Samsung to evaluate that fairly. I've had years with Apple and only a few months with Samsung so far.

While updates still aren't as instant and comprehensive as on iOS, they're still much better than they were only a couple of years ago. Google has helped the situation quite a lot with moving as many potentially vulnerable parts as they can under Google Play Services where they can be updated through the Play Store without needing a full OS update. Also the monthly security updates seem to be catching on with Samsung and a couple of others. While Samsung seems to have skipped a month every now and then, the patches still have landed eventually and on some occasions Samsung users here have got the security update before I've got it on my Nexus 5X.

I'm carefully optimistic that Samsung is actually paying more attention to security nowadays than what they used to. For example when the clear date-based patch level indicator was introduced in Marshmallow, I was only half joking when I expected Samsung to "forget" to include this into their Marshmallow ROMs, but I was positively surprised when they actually backported the indicator also to their Lollipop ROMs. It'll be interesting to see whether Nougat arrives to Samsung's phones faster than Marshmallow did.

 

[pixel_junkie]

Apple needs Android and Android needs Apple - without competition there would be little advancement.

Evidently, Apple need no one as they are selling essentially the same phone second year in a row (and can care less what people think about that).

 

[Michael Goff]

Here is a nicely done video comparison between IPhone 7 Plus and Note 7 that also manages to sum up in general the difference between the two platforms when choosing between other phones by Apple and Samsung. While the reviewer rightly calls some attention to the S-pen functionality that I do indeed use and value, higher end Samsung phones that lack the S Pen do still offer a solid experience.

People do complain about lag and lack of updates on Samsung. I can't comment on that personally as I have not experienced any of that. I've gotten updates for my individual apps as well as security upgrades from AT&T. I very carefully manage and curate apps so that may be a factor in my not experiencing lag. I don't know. I'm going to need more time with Samsung to evaluate that fairly. I've had years with Apple and only a few months with Samsung so far.

I do agree with Saki in his video that apps and games are done better for IPhone in general. It's not an issue that bites me in the butt often but I have seen examples. My daughter and I played the same hidden objects game, New York Mysteries: Lantern of Souls and she played the iPad version and I played one for Android. I had a problem with some of the puzzles not responding to touch input until I rebooted the game. My husband's financial services apps work with Touch ID on IPhone but not on the Note 7. There was an app developer on Mac Rumors who posted a long post somewhere explaining why this happens. In a nutshell, it is a royal pain in the butt writing apps for Android vs iOS.

Still, I manage to find apps that work well and do what I need them to do without any fuss or bother.

The real test will be after the Note 8 comes out, to be honest, in terms of updates.

 

[5105973]

While updates still aren't as instant and comprehensive as on iOS, they're still much better than they were only a couple of years ago. Google has helped the situation quite a lot with moving as many potentially vulnerable parts as they can under Google Play Services where they can be updated through the Play Store without needing a full OS update. Also the monthly security updates seem to be catching on with Samsung and a couple of others. While Samsung seems to have skipped a month every now and then, the patches still have landed eventually and on some occasions Samsung users here have got the security update before I've got it on my Nexus 5X.

I'm carefully optimistic that Samsung is actually paying more attention to security nowadays than what they used to. For example when the clear date-based patch level indicator was introduced in Marshmallow, I was only half joking when I expected Samsung to "forget" to include this into their Marshmallow ROMs, but I was positively surprised when they actually backported the indicator also to their Lollipop ROMs. It'll be interesting to see whether Nougat arrives to Samsung's phones faster than Marshmallow did.

Yeah, when I made the decision to give Samsung a try it was one of the things that pleasantly surprised me--basically the situation you just outlined.

I'm not in any hurry to upgrade to Nougat on my Note 7 because I'm really very pleased with how everything is running on it now. Now, is Samsung going to try and push the Nougat update to me the way Apple very heavily handed tries to push iOS updates, or will I be left in relative peace?

I've not really warmed up to iOS 10 yet so I'm resisting it on my iPad mini 4. Apple is now getting more and more obnoxious about trying to push iOS 10 on my mini. It's not going to happen but I'm feeling hassled about it. I wish there was a "Do Not Ask Me Again" button. It's really reminding me of Facebook trying to force me to turn on notifications for FB Messenger and FB in general.

 

[BigMcGuire]

Evidently, Apple need no one as they are selling essentially the same phone second year in a row (and can care less what people think about that).

Let's hope all the rumors for the 8 (next year's phone) are true. I had the 6+ and what I heard about the 7 made me jump on the Apple Upgrade Program with the 6s+ with the plan of waiting for the 8 because the 7 seemed like a small upgrade.

I think your point has a lot of validity because Google's announcements this week have me very interested in Android again. I really liked the Google Moto X.

 

[admob71]

Come back and let us know when you regret your decision to go Samsung.

Are you saying that just because you don't like Samsung devices then no one would like Samsung devices, ?

 

[Roadstar]

I've not really warmed up to iOS 10 yet so I'm resisting it on my iPad mini 4. Apple is now getting more and more obnoxious about trying to push iOS 10 on my mini. It's not going to happen but I'm feeling hassled about it. I wish there was a "Do Not Ask Me Again" button. It's really reminding me of Facebook trying to force me to turn on notifications for FB Messenger and FB in general.

Well, from security point of view iOS upgrades are a must. Apple seems to have no interest whatsoever in patching earlier iOS versions after a new stable version has been released. This is extra annoying if the vulnerable component turns out to be e.g. Safari as you can't set another browser as default.

 

[admob71]

That kind of tech is years away. 5-10 yrs easy. With the amount of energy needed to charge your phone at a distance like that you would have massive interference in your car or even your home.


James

Or your nuts!!!!!! Or brain !!

 

[Russiaone]

I decided to buy an Alcatel Idol 4s and I absolutely LOVE IT.

Thing is beautiful and fun as hell to use.

Being my first Android phone, there was a bit of orientation needed, but that's with anything.

Apple has the more sophisticated eco system (and I've invested a lot into it, which is why I'm keeping my 6s), but how Android let's you customize a phone and make it your own... can't be beat.

And, in humble opinion, Apple's phones are boring as all get out.

I don't even think next year's phones will be anything to write home about.

 

[Jinzen]

this phone has zero lag. The screen is 5.1 but it doesn't feel any bigger in the hand than the iPhone 6.

I have to say I am really happy with my purchase. I hate to say it but Apple to me feels like its going no where fast, same old same old with only slight improvements.

Lul.

/Using S7 Edge since day one and lag is pure trash.

 

[timeconsumer]

Here is a nicely done video comparison between IPhone 7 Plus and Note 7 that also manages to sum up in general the difference between the two platforms when choosing between other phones by Apple and Samsung. While the reviewer rightly calls some attention to the S-pen functionality that I do indeed use and value, higher end Samsung phones that lack the S Pen do still offer a solid experience.

People do complain about lag and lack of updates on Samsung. I can't comment on that personally as I have not experienced any of that. I've gotten updates for my individual apps as well as security upgrades from AT&T. I very carefully manage and curate apps so that may be a factor in my not experiencing lag. I don't know. I'm going to need more time with Samsung to evaluate that fairly. I've had years with Apple and only a few months with Samsung so far.

I do agree with Saki in his video that apps and games are done better for IPhone in general. It's not an issue that bites me in the butt often but I have seen examples. My daughter and I played the same hidden objects game, New York Mysteries: Lantern of Souls and she played the iPad version and I played one for Android. I had a problem with some of the puzzles not responding to touch input until I rebooted the game. My husband's financial services apps work with Touch ID on IPhone but not on the Note 7. There was an app developer on Mac Rumors who posted a long post somewhere explaining why this happens. In a nutshell, it is a royal pain in the butt writing apps for Android vs iOS.

Still, I manage to find apps that work well and do what I need them to do without any fuss or bother.

That's my biggest problem when I try to use Android. The majority of my apps that I use frequently on iOS have implemented Touch ID and the same apps on Android do not have fingerprint capabilities even though the hardware can support it. Also, a lot of my apps on iOS have the password extension built in so I can easily use 1Password to fill my information in. This greatly makes things easier for me on iOS as I use really long/complex passwords thanks to 1Password.

Do you by any chance have a link for that post?

 

[hallux]

Fingerprint authentication is working its way into Android, though I do admit that it seems to be slow. Chase and KeyBank have added it to their apps. My password manager (Roboform) has it. I still have a couple financial apps that haven't enabled it, but those aren't a huge use case for me.

I think one of the arguments is that there has been a small selection of devices that actually had fingerprint authentication capability so it didn't make a TON of sense to put a lot of effort into enabling/supporting it. Until the Nexus 6p and 5x released last year, the only devices that had fingerprint authentication were Samsung and it wasn't something that was built into the core OS. The Nexus devices aren't a HUGE market, but once the API was baked into the OS it became something to consider, except there was still a small audience for it until OEMs released devices with fingerprint readers and Marshmallow. It's convoluted but it's also a supply/demand thing.

 

[Channan]

wait until the honeymoon is over....

How long is a honeymoon supposed to last? Dude said it's been a month already.

 

[pixel_junkie]

Lul.

/Using S7 Edge since day one and lag is pure trash.

They gave you a computer, you mad cos you didn't learn the software that came with it.

God, sometimes I feel like teaching a class on Android to show you guys what it is capable of how fast it can really be.

In iOS, you're stuck with that ultra annoying fade animation effect you get when you move in/out of apps which tragically is still there in the latest iOS 10. It's supposed to make a more pleasing user experience but in actuality makes the phone feel so slooooow. Drove me nuts! I returned an iPhone 7 yesterday, not going back anytime soon. Killer hardware, DUMB software.

In Android, the transition effect not only can be turned down (in developers options) so it is quicker but it can be completely turned off where every gesture becomes instantaneous. No lag, no delay, no effects. See that action first, then talk about OS speed and lag.

Once you get used to interacting with an optimized Android phone, iOS inevitably feels retarded afterwards.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

In iOS, you're stuck with that ultra annoying fade animation effect you get when you move in/out of apps which tragically is still there in the latest iOS 10. It's supposed to make a more pleasing user experience but in actuality makes the phone feel so slooooow. Drove me nuts! I returned an iPhone 7 yesterday, not going back anytime soon. Killer hardware, DUMB software.

This is a slight annoyance for me as well. Not necessarily with apps, but especially when tapping on app folders. Apps folder animations of opening and closing is pretty ridiculous on my iPhone 7+.

Note 7 app folders pop up and close near instantly without even messing with developer options.

 

[Michael Goff]

They gave you a computer, you mad cos you didn't learn the software that came with it.

God, sometimes I feel like teaching a class on Android to show you guys what it is capable of how fast it can really be.

In iOS, you're stuck with that ultra annoying fade animation effect you get when you move in/out of apps which tragically is still there in the latest iOS 10. It's supposed to make a more pleasing user experience but in actuality makes the phone feel so slooooow. Drove me nuts! I returned an iPhone 7 yesterday, not going back anytime soon. Killer hardware, DUMB software.

In Android, the transition effect not only can be turned down (in developers options) so it is quicker but it can be completely turned off where every gesture becomes instantaneous. No lag, no delay, no effects. See that action first, then talk about OS speed and lag.

Once you get used to interacting with an optimized Android phone, iOS inevitably feels retarded afterwards.

Hold the phone. We shouldn't have to learn to make our phones not lag. They should just not lag. I don't care what OS it is, making it work well should not be the job of the user. Period.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Hold the phone. We shouldn't have to learn to make our phones not lag. They should just not lag. I don't care what OS it is, making it work well should not be the job of the user. Period.

Actually, the user does have to bear some responsibility. These are not phones anymore, they are mini desktops. If users have to take measures not to degrade performance on their Windows and Mac desktops, then the same applies with smartphones of today.

 

[Michael Goff]

Actually, the user does have to bear some responsibility. These are not phones anymore, they are mini desktops. If users have to take measures not to degrade performance on their Windows and Mac desktops, then the same applies with smartphones of today.

And what if I believe people should be able to run their MacBooks without having to worry about loads of performance problems? Seriously, it should not be our jobs to make up for the failings of software companies.

 

[BigMcGuire]

And what if I believe people should be able to run their MacBooks without having to worry about loads of performance problems? Seriously, it should not be our jobs to make up for the failings of software companies.

I agree with Michael Goff here. Having used Windows since 3.11 to today (.net C# developer) and getting a Mac over a year ago and having used iPhones since the 4s...... Windows requires a lot more "know how" to keep it in tip top shape, to keep it from degradation than a Mac. Yes, the user should have some know how but that's what makes Apple great. It works pretty well out of the box and continues to work well for many many years. Samsung S4 today? Nope.

Android requires a lot of work to get it to a state that compares to Apple - speaking from experience here (rooting to get ASOP experience). Windows comes pre-loaded with tons of junk (kinda like Samsung Android phones!) lol.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

And what if I believe people should be able to run their MacBooks without having to worry about loads of performance problems? Seriously, it should not be our jobs to make up for the failings of software companies.

Then you expect everyone to use their devices exactly the same.

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you up to a certain point. But those users that find it too much of a hassle to do simple steps to avoid lag or other issues, then maybe they should go back to dumb phones.

I just bought an Apple Watch about a week ago, the first several days of battery was awful. Asked a couple of questions, was given some advice, did some simple steps, and now battery life is amazing. Or would returning it have been the better solution, cause it wasn't perfect out the box?
[doublepost=1475465359][/doublepost]

Android requires a lot of work to get it to a state that compares to Apple - speaking from experience here (rooting to get ASOP experience). Windows comes pre-loaded with tons of junk (kinda like Samsung Android phones!) lol.

I would agree with you, years back. But today Android doesn't require much to get it going smoothly. And the same for even Samsung phones.

 

[BigMcGuire]

I would agree with you, years back. But today Android doesn't require much to get it going smoothly. And the same for even Samsung phones.

That's really cool to hear - something I'm seeing more and more in this thread. And yeah, my Android knowledge is "years" back literally (Note 3). I'm pretty happy with my Tab S2.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

That's really cool to hear - something I'm seeing more and more in this thread. And yeah, my Android knowledge is "years" back literally (Note 3). I'm pretty happy with my Tab S2.

I never had the Note 3. Had the Note 2 & 4. TouchWiz and Android has come a long way since the Note 4.

 

[Michael Goff]

Then you expect everyone to use their devices exactly the same.

Don't get me wrong, I agree with you up to a certain point. But those users that find it too much of a hassle to do simple steps to avoid lag or other issues, then maybe they should go back to dumb phones.

I just bought an Apple Watch about a week ago, the first several days of battery was awful. Asked a couple of questions, was given some advice, did some simple steps, and now battery life is amazing. Or would returning it have been the better solution, cause it wasn't perfect out the box?
[doublepost=1475465359][/doublepost]

I would agree with you, years back. But today Android doesn't require much to get it going smoothly. And the same for even Samsung phones.

I find it hilarious that you're saying that asking for a good experience out of the box is asking for perfection. It's people putting up with problems and thrusting it on the users to fix it that had caused software from almost every company to be crap lately.

watchOS came out in a crap state.

Let's stop putting up with these crap experiences. We need software companies to be held responsible when they throw out a crap product. Stop apologizing for them, stop blaming the user. This isn't the 90's anymore, hardware is good enough to where lag is from the incompetence of developers.