Switching to S20+ from iPhone

[Deacon-Blues]

My wife and I are switching from our XS Maxes to S20 Pluses. We would welcome advice. Is there a go-to messaging app to replace iMessage?

How about ad blocking? Is there an Android version of silencing unknown callers? How about secure password management since there is no iCloud Keychain?

Anything else a switcher should know? My wife and I have always used iPhones, this will be a first.
Thanks!

 

[MarkX]

Messaging: In the UK iMessage isn't the force it is in the US, most people here use WhatsApp which is a cross platform messaging app and is the most popular one - there is also Facebook messenger to consider.

Passwords: I use Google's password manager and it works well - for me.

Unknown Callers: I believe on Samsung phones in call settings there is an option to block unknown callers but it's not something I use.

Ad Blocking: There are a number of ways to block ads in Android, I use Adguard, Google Adguard for Android and install the apk. There is a free and paid version. I choose paid/premium and get ad blocking system wide. It works well.

I swap back and forth between Android and IOS and like them both and don't prefer one over the other. I think you'll enjoy the switch but it'll just take a bit of time to get used to the new way of doing things.

 

[Klyster]

Use Smart switch..

Smart Switch: How to transfer content to your new Galaxy device - Samsung Business Insights

Making the switch to a Samsung smartphone has never been easier. Here's a helpful guide on how to transfer content to your device.

insights.samsung.com

 

[BlueGoldAce]

I highly recommend signal, as it has a great UI, is very secure, and is constantly being updated and improved. You can also set signal as your default SMS app, so that the app serves are a medium for both messaging and SMS, rather than using two separate apps.

 

[MarkC426]

Always had iPhone (except one rebellious year got an S6 purely to have a gear VR).
At the time I toyed with using the S6 as my main phone, as it was nicer looking than my iphone at the time. Moved my sim over but personally I couldn’t adjust to the Android ecosystem, it just doesn’t feel as user friendly or secure as iOS. Also my entire ecosystem is Apple so everything just works together.
I would never switch to Android again......just my personal experience.

 

[BlueGoldAce]

A lot has changed since the S6. I love iOS, and continue to use it, but it is no longer more secure than Android. There is a plenty of recent evidence and reports on the open web support this statement. Now if you sideload apps....then you should understand the risk and an lose of security is your own choice.

 

[trinec]

Always had iPhone (except one rebellious year got an S6 purely to have a gear VR).
At the time I toyed with using the S6 as my main phone, as it was nicer looking than my iphone at the time. Moved my sim over but personally I couldn’t adjust to the Android ecosystem, it just doesn’t feel as user friendly or secure as iOS.

Maybe time to take a further look... Since Android 9 (and we're mostly using 10 now) there've been several changes. We mostly all switched after iPhone X to different Android smartphones and no one had any regrets. You even wouldn't compare any newer Anroid smartphone with a 5 years old iOS version.

For messaging depends mostly on your friends, probably in Europe is WhatsApp the way to go. Maybe RCS-e and Google Duo may be an alternative or additional way to WhatsApp. Adblocking depends, I prefer the way to block on system level instead of browser plugins (will also avoid anti adblock tracking on news pages), so maybe "Blokada" (OpenSource and free) may be the way to go. On Samsung you can also use plugins in Samsungs Browser for adblocking (there're several). For phone you have several options to block calls.

There isn't any better choice than the S20 at the moment and feel happy about all the new possibilties like working "Routines" without any question asked to really start this, adfree apps like youtube, instagram etc., DEX is absolutely awesome and replaced my whole desktop Mac, etc.

 

[Breaking Good]

My wife and I are switching from our XS Maxes to S20 Pluses. We would welcome advice. Is there a go-to messaging app to replace iMessage?

How about ad blocking? Is there an Android version of silencing unknown callers? How about secure password management since there is no iCloud Keychain?

Anything else a switcher should know? My wife and I have always used iPhones, this will be a first.
Thanks!

May I ask what is prompting your move from iOS to Android?

 

[torana355]

I'm curious why you want to make the switch? I'm an Android person but the XS Max is a pretty well rounded phone and you get the Apple eco system. Basically I don't think Android is for everyone, unless you need the extra customisation and other Android perks I think iOS is better suited to alot of people.

 

[trinec]

May I ask what is prompting your move from iOS to Android?

Since we switched too, there hasn't been any real great or important upgrades after our X except of low light photos, but paying for this 1500 bucks wasn't a way to go. Even everything got more restrictive and controlled by apple made me to leave. Best example - I'm playing only on Shadow my games - this app is now removed by Apple - yay'!

 

[jamezr]

My wife and I are switching from our XS Maxes to S20 Pluses. We would welcome advice. Is there a go-to messaging app to replace iMessage?

How about ad blocking? Is there an Android version of silencing unknown callers? How about secure password management since there is no iCloud Keychain?

Anything else a switcher should know? My wife and I have always used iPhones, this will be a first.
Thanks!

Welcome to the dark side! I go back and forth between IOS and Android with my 11 Pro Max and Pixel 4XL and have a S20 Ultra on the way!
If you have a lot of music playlists, podcasts and such in iTunes the I use iSyncr. It will sync all of your playlists and music.

Then as noted by @Klyster Samsung SmartSwitch is great!
Be sure to start slowly with customizations...it can get a little overwhelming all the little things you can change on Android that you can't on IOS.

Turn on Always On Display (AOD). It is great! You can just look at your phone and know the time date without having to touch it.

 

[The Game 161]

My advice don’t expect it to be an easy switch.

Going from IOS to android is an adjustment and one that you need to give time...

 

[MarkC426]

A lot has changed since the S6. I love iOS, and continue to use it, but it is no longer more secure than Android. There is a plenty of recent evidence and reports on the open web support this statement. Now if you sideload apps....then you should understand the risk and an lose of security is your own choice.

Maybe I’m just stuck in my ways....
I don’t use any of the ’social’ crap or WhatsApp or other rubbish, so no worries.

 

[yui4]

Welcome to the dark side! I go back and forth between IOS and Android with my 11 *Por* Max

You left out another O! Lol

 

[jamezr]

You left out another O! Lol

that is what happens when i type on only 1 cup of coffee

 

[ian87w]

My wife and I are switching from our XS Maxes to S20 Pluses. We would welcome advice. Is there a go-to messaging app to replace iMessage?

How about ad blocking? Is there an Android version of silencing unknown callers? How about secure password management since there is no iCloud Keychain?

Anything else a switcher should know? My wife and I have always used iPhones, this will be a first.
Thanks!

iMessage: Unfortunately, there's no substitute for iMessage. Sure, there are plenty of cross platform messaging platforms, but none of them can replace iMessage. You just have to accept that and not have any high expectations on the alternatives.

Ad-blocking: for a web browser, I use Brave. It has built-in ad blocker.

Password manager: I personally use 1Password, syncing through Dropbox. It's cross platform in case you want to be on different platforms.

 

[BlueGoldAce]

^ I am not sure you first statement is supported. Signal, Whatsapp, etc can all replace imessage and duplicate its features. None will, by default, opt you into that service with other iphone members, but that is a feature/benefit. Singal offers more privacy, etc, etc. iMessage is not the defacto superior service because it is the default on apple devices. If anything, that detracts from its value prop, particularly outside of the USA.

 

[Awesomesince86]

Functionally, iMessage isn’t superior to android messenger or any of the popular 3rd party messaging clients like WhatsApp or Signal. The benefit of iMessage is that it’s the default option for one of the most common smartphones in the world so the adoption rate is really high. You don’t have to do anything special, it’s just setup out of the box. On android devices there isn’t a standard messenger like iMessage because OEMs all have their own versions and 3rd party ones still need to be installed and adopted by anyone who wish to use them with.

Personally I’ve found that Android Messages works really well since they enabled jibe RCS on all phones. But that still requires the recipient to install it and set it as the default.

 

[Deacon-Blues]

May I ask what is prompting your move from iOS to Android?

We’ve been with Apple forever. We just kind of feel like it’s time for a change. There’s a lot of other compelling hardware out there and being with Apple means only one choice.

Also, one day we are gonna retire and we aren’t going to be spending this kind of money on Apple devices. We’ll be buying cheapie Android device. Can’t hurt to expose ourselves to Android now and get used to it.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

If you don't already have, you should create a Samsung account now. Instead of waiting until you setup the phone to create one.

 

[Jetcat3]

I’m tempted to do the same but with the Galaxy S20. I think I’ll keep my Xs Max and but an S20 outright and give it a whirl to see how I like it.

 

[Petrophas]

As a former XS and S10 owner, you're going to get very annoyed going from Face ID to Samsung's finnicky ultrasonic sensor.

If you haven't already made the plunge, I strongly suggest looking into a Pixel 4 XL on sale.

 

[Deacon-Blues]

It’s the same fingerprint reader as is on the S10, which my niece has. So I’ve had the chance to play with it for a while and test it out. It’s sort of like the first fingerprint reader Apple rolled out. If you plant your finger on it and wait for about a half a second, it will work. It also seems to matter if you do a good job getting a wide range of scans during the setup. Anyway I can live with it. Although Face ID is lightning fast and basically always works, I’m one of those guys who's always been a little suspicious about what those 30,000 IR lights are doing to my eyeballs hundreds of times a day.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

It’s the same fingerprint reader as is on the S10, which my niece has. So I’ve had the chance to play with it for a while and test it out. It’s sort of like the first fingerprint reader Apple rolled out. If you plant your finger on it and wait for about a half a second, it will work. It also seems to matter if you do a good job getting a wide range of scans during the setup. Anyway I can live with it. Although Face ID is lightning fast and basically always works, I’m one of those guys who's always been a little suspicious about what those 30,000 IR lights are doing to my eyeballs hundreds of times a day.
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Yea, it does depend on the setup, and using the same finger for for 2 finger slots improves the accuracy and speed. The pro is there is a setting which it goes direct to the home screen. You don't need to swipe up after unlocking.

Also, Android has "Smart Lock". It will keep you phone unlocked while connected to bluetooth devices of your choosing. It will lock when out of range or disconnection from the specific bluetooth device. You can still manually lock your phone while it's connected. I personally only use it when connected to my car, but plan on using it connected to my smartwatch as well when I get the S20 Ultra.

 

[Petrophas]

It’s the same fingerprint reader as is on the S10, which my niece has. So I’ve had the chance to play with it for a while and test it out. It’s sort of like the first fingerprint reader Apple rolled out. If you plant your finger on it and wait for about a half a second, it will work. It also seems to matter if you do a good job getting a wide range of scans during the setup. Anyway I can live with it. Although Face ID is lightning fast and basically always works, I’m one of those guys who's always been a little suspicious about what those 30,000 IR lights are doing to my eyeballs hundreds of times a day.
View attachment 896628

The frustration is not really something you can fully know until you've lived with the phone for a few months. At any given phone-using-session, the ultrasonic may seem like it works perfectly fine, especially after you just registered the prints. Relating to registering and placement, I tried every trick you could find on Reddit and YouTube. Some methods helped a bit, but nothing really worked long-term.

If you're someone with naturally moist fingerprints or live in a city with warm climate, it seems like it works just fine. If you often wash your hands and have dry fingers frequently, it becomes a major headache.

Other than that, I loved my S10 and wish I could've kept using it as my daily driver because it was nearly perfect. I was excited to pre-order the S20 until I kept reading reviews that the S20's sensor behaves the exact same, which tells me it's not a software issue but a hardware limitation.