Why Samsung?

[b166er]

People will never be satisfied with the material phones are being made out of. People didn't want plastic, they complained about glass, now we have issues with aluminium. You simply can not satisfy everyone. When it comes to simple durability, plastic is actually a great option, but it doesn't feel as nice. Everyone has their opinions. I think the Lumia 920 is the most comfortable phone I've ever used, but a lot of people hate that it's not razor thin.

As for Samsung- they ascended for a lot of reasons. Most notably, they have a lot of experience building cell phones. A lot more than Apple. They are simply offering more options than any one person could need, on all carriers. And just like that you have appealed to virtually every corner of the smartphone market. Yeah the S3/note 2 are not for everyone, but they are going to give most people way more than they really need. Then it comes down to individual taste (like what the phone is made out of, or the OS) and big shocker here-- the average smart phone buyer is not half as picky as someone on this board.

 

[Tinmania]

If you have felt the plastic of a One X or Lumia you would definitely feel the difference. The frame of the S3 feels very weak and you can pretty much flex the phone if you apply some torque. Even if the cost of aluminum is cheaper, the process of CNC using one solid block is definitely more premium and sturdy than a piece of injected plastic.

I would rather the phone flex if I applied "some torque" than breaking. I would also rather it give a little in a fall rather than transferring that energy to, say, glass.

That said I don't intentionally apply torque to any electronic device.



Michael

 

[Dave.UK]

No question that having a removable battery is a big feature to alot of users, but Samsung isnt the only one that offers that feature, and users that need a removable battery are still in the minority (though its probably the largest minority, just above the sd card people), most people never open their battery cover. As important as removable batteries are to alot of people, I dont see how this feature would make Samsung as popular as it is especially since it is not an exclusive feature.

You talk about minorities, but where are you getting these stats from?

 

[TheHateMachine]

I don't see Direct Call as being any more convenient or useful than just pressing call. It doesn't really add any level of convenience to lift your phone to your ear to call the person you're texting. I can just as easily tap call while I'm on that screen. Direct Call in my opinion, is more of a gimmick just for them to say they have another feature.

When you are looking at someone's text message there is no call button. There is only a back button and an attachment button. So it is much faster than pressing their name then hitting the little phone icon. Please note that I am only talking about this feature when I am actively texting someone and I am on that screen.

 

[Fernandez21]

You talk about minorities, but where are you getting these stats from?

Do you think the majority of cell phone users have "removable battery" on their must have feature list? If so, please provide a link to those stats.

Also, why does it matter? Other companies provide phones with removable batteries, so this isn't an advantage for Samsung over other phone makers.

 

[blairh]

Do you think the majority of cell phone users have "removable battery" on their must have feature list? If so, please provide a link to those stats.

Also, why does it matter? Other companies provide phones with removable batteries, so this isn't an advantage for Samsung over other phone makers.

If having a removable battery was an important feature to the general public, then the iPhone would have never succeeded.

I'm not saying that a removable battery isn't a very useful feature, I just don't think it's wildly important for most.

Most flagships that compete directly with the SIII and Note II do not have removable batteries.

 

[Dave.UK]

Do you think the majority of cell phone users have "removable battery" on their must have feature list? If so, please provide a link to those stats.

Also, why does it matter? Other companies provide phones with removable batteries, so this isn't an advantage for Samsung over other phone makers.

I haven't said the majority want a replaceable battery, nor have I said only a minority want it - but if people are talking about majorities or minorities as a matter of fact, then stats should be provided.

No other phone in the UK of a similar spec to that of the S3 offers a replaceable battery and SD card storage.

 

[Siyah]

The latest Samsung update (DLK/DLL7) that fixes the 'sudden death' and Exynos exploit issue has reduced the battery performance considerably.

See: http://www.sammobile.com/2013/01/17/galaxy-note-ii-software-update-n7100xxdll7-brings-battery-drain/

I'd rather have a device with a non-removable battery but reliable specs than one that needs a new software update every other month to rectify serious design flaws. It was especially 'fun' to update to the new firmware on a rooted phone using a Mac

Expandable memory is good to have. But not being able to move apps to external storage limits the benefits.

It's not all doom and gloom; but it ain't Nirvana either with Samsung.

 

[jrswizzle]

People will never be satisfied with the material phones are being made out of. People didn't want plastic, they complained about glass, now we have issues with aluminium. You simply can not satisfy everyone. When it comes to simple durability, plastic is actually a great option, but it doesn't feel as nice. Everyone has their opinions. I think the Lumia 920 is the most comfortable phone I've ever used, but a lot of people hate that it's not razor thin.

It's not so much that its not razor thin....

Just that it feels like a brick....

 

[The iGentleman]

When you are looking at someone's text message there is no call button. There is only a back button and an attachment button. So it is much faster than pressing their name then hitting the little phone icon. Please note that I am only talking about this feature when I am actively texting someone and I am on that screen.

I am very well aware there is not a call button showing (like in vanilla android), however it is not "much faster" to put the phone to your head. To make a call to the person you're texting, you tap menu and then call, which doesn't even take an entire second. That said, as someone who had the Galaxy S3 since it's release, I did not find that feature the least bit convenient.

----------

Yeah just like Facebook integration and the other so called 199 new features.

What an odd thing to say...especially considering that has absolutely nothing to do with the Galaxy S3 and what I was talking about. Like I said, Direct Call is nothing more than an extra bullet point for them to talk about. It isn't very useful, nor does it really add anything to the phone.

 

[maxosx]

Something has been kind of bothering for the last few months, and that is Samsung's rise in popularity, I just don't get.

Respectfully...

You're absolutely right... you just don't get it.

There's no point in trying to explain the obvious.

No worries, not everyone can appreciate the accomplishments of a company they abhor.

 

[Fernandez21]

Respectfully...

You're absolutely right... you just don't get it.

There's no point in trying to explain the obvious.

No worries, not everyone can appreciate the accomplishments of a company they abhor.

Lol, I don't hate Samsung, what makes you think that? Just cause I don't hold one of their products in the highest regard? Samsung is a fine company, make great appliances and microchips, their blu-ray players are awesome, and while I don't like the style of their tv's those are awesome too.

 

[Fernandez21]

I haven't said the majority want a replaceable battery, nor have I said only a minority want it - but if people are talking about majorities or minorities as a matter of fact, then stats should be provided.

No other phone in the UK of a similar spec to that of the S3 offers a replaceable battery and SD card storage.

Your right, not in the UK, I just tried searching. In fact, of those type of handsets only the Xperia Ion and Xperia TX have removable batteries, though both would work in the UK unlocked, but through the carriers there are none that I could I find.

I couldnt find any specific stats on whether a removable battery was important or not to users, the ones I could find were lopsided one way or the other depending on site. But generally speaking, when you incorporate everyone, techie and non-techie alike, a removable battery is not a huge factor.

 

[Zwhaler]

Something has been kind of bothering for the last few months, and that is Samsung's rise in popularity, I just don't get. Samsung devices are horribly built, very ugly, and have crappy displays. Even touchwiz is probably the worse android skin other than LG's.

Meh, owning a Note 2 after iPhone 3G and 4 for over 4 years, I can say Samsung Note 2 is very good quality, the display is great , it isn't horrible built (doesn't scratch/dent like the iPhone, has SD card slot, replaceable battery). I prefer Touchwiz actually and have customized it really nicely. Other skins and launchers are available. Ask anyone here that owns one and they'll tell you how nice it is!

 

[dmelgar]

I still dont understand people that have the complete dislike of the S3 because of the material its made out of. I love the feel of the S3 and love the fact that I can buy a variety of flip cases that are held on by replacing the battery door.

Last time I held an iphone it just felt cold due to the material.

Image

I don't understand why its so hard to discuss why Samsung is successful vs. other Android phones without folks having to defend their decision vs. an iPhone.

It sounds like the marketing works.

I have to think this is why lots of people buy the S3. Because Samsung via loads of ads and more, has managed to convince people that Samsung needs defending. That they're the poor underdog of highly innovative research house, the David vs. the mean nasty goliath and everyone need to rise to protect it.

Folks don't realize how big Samsung is.

 

[chewietobbacca]

Meh, owning a Note 2 after iPhone 3G and 4 for over 4 years, I can say Samsung Note 2 is very good quality, the display is great , it isn't horrible built (doesn't scratch/dent like the iPhone, has SD card slot, replaceable battery). I prefer Touchwiz actually and have customized it really nicely. Other skins and launchers are available. Ask anyone here that owns one and they'll tell you how nice it is!

Someone mentioned it before - if you feel the cover by itself, sure it feels flimsy. But if you put the cover on the phone (where it should be), it is one solid piece of phone because it is built very tight. Not a lot of wiggle room for things to bend or break

TouchWiz was kind of the last part that Samsung needed to work on IMO - yeah, it still has its detractors, but Samsung has done a great job with it on the GS3 and Note 2

Compare that to their competitors in Android like HTC, Sony, etc. and you can see where Samsung has taken a big lead - and it just so happens to be in the same area (user interface/user interaction) that Apple fans are often to point out that iOS has had an advantage in.

Of course, back to my original point, you can use all the fancy new optimized-for-ICS/Jelly Bean launchers/lockers (which contrary to popular belief does not require any rooting or ROMs of any kind) if you want to, but you don't have to anymore with Samsung's latest offerings.

And if you do choose to use them, you get a whole slew of features/customization that you could never get on iOS

(Been playing with Nova Launcher on my Note 2... it's awesome and it really makes my phone unique to my tastes)

 

[Dave.UK]

I don't understand why its so hard to discuss why Samsung is successful vs. other Android phones without folks having to defend their decision vs. an iPhone.

It sounds like the marketing works.

I have to think this is why lots of people buy the S3. Because Samsung via loads of ads and more, has managed to convince people that Samsung needs defending. That they're the poor underdog of highly innovative research house, the David vs. the mean nasty goliath and everyone need to rise to protect it.

Folks don't realize how big Samsung is.

I dont know why your quoting me for.

Go back to page one of this thread. You will see

1st Post
2rd Post - Explaining why Samsung
3rd Post - Some Apple user taking the chance to mock the material the S3 is made out of.

As you may know, on a forum someone says something, someone replies quoting that person.......

You just seem to like cheap digs at Samsung users.

 

[Digital Skunk]

I don't understand why its so hard to discuss why Samsung is successful vs. other Android phones without folks having to defend their decision vs. an iPhone.

It sounds like the marketing works.

I have to think this is why lots of people buy the S3. Because Samsung via loads of ads and more, has managed to convince people that Samsung needs defending. That they're the poor underdog of highly innovative research house, the David vs. the mean nasty goliath and everyone need to rise to protect it.

Folks don't realize how big Samsung is.

You have it backwards unfortunately. We are in an Alternatives to iOS Devices forum and we get far too many trolls throwing cheap shots and flame bait in a poor attempt to defend their iPhone purchase.

Most that come here think NONE of us own Macs, or have ever owned an iPhone.

The opposite is true, as it has been for at least a decade. We own Macs, and have integrated another company's handset into our workflow.

 

[Yujenisis]

That said I don't intentionally apply torque to any electronic device.

I would hope not! Torquing the device isn't really the best "real world" test of a phone's durability. One could argue it's a better sign of good design and engineering, but enh...

That said, I've seen at least one HTC phone "come apart" in the pocket of one of my skinny jeans addicted friend. It's been my experience that Samsung's success is due in part to the better average build quality of their phones versus the other manufacturers.

But, oh boy, we did not let that one go.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Why Samsung? Cause they are producing some great phones, that's why.

 

[Markyboy81]

To be honest I was quite amazed at how great the pictures came out - all 736 of them! (I get a bit click happy). Panoramic shots were truly superb.

I must say I'm impressed with the S3's panorama feature and even thinks it betters apple's offering, especially as it let's you choose portrait or landscape

 

[SlCKB0Y]

If having a removable battery was an important feature to the general public, then the iPhone would have never succeeded.

Yea, this works unless the general public has the ability of basic reasoning and weigh up their options, choosing to compromise and buy something even though it might not tick all their requirements because the pros outweigh the cons.

 

[blairh]

Yea, this works unless the general public has the ability of basic reasoning and weigh up their options, choosing to compromise and buy something even though it might not tick all their requirements because the pros outweigh the cons.

If anyone is confused it's me. What a strangely worded reply.

A replaceable battery is useful but not a must for most consumers. That's all I'm stating. The majority of smartphones do not have replaceable batteries and that trend will not change in 2013 and beyond.

 

[SlCKB0Y]

If anyone is confused it's me. What a strangely worded reply.

Apologies. It as dripping with sarcasm.

What I meant was that even if someone particularly wanted a replaceable battery, they might be willing to overlook the fact that the iPhone doesn't have this due to all the other benefits associated with the phone.

Due to this, iPhone's success would not be representative of consumer desire for replaceable batteries as they are purchasing it regardless.

 

[Vegastouch]

Something has been kind of bothering for the last few months, and that is Samsung's rise in popularity, I just don't get. Samsung devices are horribly built, very ugly, and have crappy displays. Even touchwiz is probably the worse android skin other than LG's. I get that android is pretty darn good and someone picking an android device over the iPhone is fine, but why Samsung when there are so many competent android manufacturers. HTC makes extraordinary handsets, beautifully crafted with high end specs and great displays (HTC One X, Droid DNA). Motorola has great battery life and its handsets feel really solid (RAZR MAXX HD). Sony again has great style and build quality (Xperia). And even LG, they finally made something good with the Nexus 4. But for some reason everyone gravitates towards the samsungs. What am I missing? Is it just because they advertise themselves as the anti-apple so all the apple haters go for them? The only device I can see going with Samsung is the note 2, and that's only because no other manufacturer is making a phone with a display that large.

Well i dont agree with any of that what ive bolded so there is your answer from me anyways. Id probably never buy a Sony phone and HTC does make nice devices but they have the worst battery life in every phone they make and you cant buy a bigger one if you want because it isnt removable. They also dont offer a microSD slot. Im not really a fan of Motorola but id consider one before id buy a Sony.

As for LG, the Optimus G is the same phone as the Nexus 4 except that it has their own skin on the OS.