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The Samsung Galaxy S24 / Ultra
- Thread starter Tulani
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The new QD-OLEDS by Samsung in 2024 also have some amazing anti-reflective coatings. Maybe they are the same across all their new products? That are getting a lot of praise.
I have the 2023 QD-OLED and for me Samsungs aggressive approval towards anti-reflective coatings has always drove my purchase decisions on TV's towards their lineup. I wish all manufacturers did the same. It's a pretty big deal for those of us with bright living rooms with lots of windows.
For me, they are enough for now. Most important ones that I need are there: reminders, weather, calendar events, alarms, battery, etc. But I do wish to get a wider selection, like sports scores for example.
Samsung Bixby to gain generative AI
There is no timeline for now, just wishful thinking. Samsung will reportedly bring generative AI tech to its virtual assistant Bixby. According to a top...
Let's hope it's true and Bixby becomes better. I like how Samsung is rushing to stay innovative in the AI field. They are much quicker than Apple at bringing new tech to the masses, which is another reason I value their proposition, even though they still can get better at software integration.
Played around with the Ultra for a few hours. It's back in the box ready to return unfortunately. The experiment lasted way shorter than I anticipated. I'm glad I gave it a go.
Hardware is GREAT and I was surprised how much the S Pen was useful for some tasks like cropping and selecting text. The screen is amazing, I'm going to miss the anti glare stuff the most. I can't speak for long term durability but anyone saying Android phones can't match Apple's build quality haven't picked up an S24 Ultra. The only thing that was subpar was the fingerprint scanner, I had to add the same thumb three times to get a seamless experience.
I just can't get on with Android. Don't get me wrong I can see why people like it, I'm not a hater, there's so many adjustments and tweaks that are desperately missing from iOS. Being able to go back by swiping from the right side of the screen is really nice but the compromise is you can't swipe right to go forward in whatever app you're using (Chrome for example).
It's the overall polish and design language that's inconsistent for me vs. iOS. Font sizes are all over the place. In Twitter the font is massive, in Chrome the font is medium size, and in other apps the font is too small. I played around with the screen zoom and font size settings on the device but couldn't get everything to look consistent. I agree with MKBHD, even Google's own apps look better on iPhone. The system integration with my password manager didn't work so great either, I have to jump between the password manager app and the app I want to fill in with my credentials because not every app recognized the password manager for some reason. I didn't like the multitasking menu, it didn't feel smooth. Some of the animations felt very unnatural and disjointed. Overall so many apps felt like they were using totally different design and animation principles.
My conclusion is that Android has a lot of things I like but most of the prime advantages over iOS (specifically multi app split screen usage which is what I really had high hopes for) weren't enough to sway me. There was nothing on the S24 Ultra that could justify owning and using it over my iPhone. Now a folding phone where split screen apps make more sense might be a big enough feature boost over my iPhone...
You might think this is a sin but my takeaway is I want the S24 Ultra hardware with iOS as the software 🤷♂️
I might wait to see what the Pixel 9 Pro is like and try again with Google's stock Android. That or wait for the next generation of foldables. I really want a foldable iPhone but that's years away (or potentially never coming)
Hardware is GREAT and I was surprised how much the S Pen was useful for some tasks like cropping and selecting text. The screen is amazing, I'm going to miss the anti glare stuff the most. I can't speak for long term durability but anyone saying Android phones can't match Apple's build quality haven't picked up an S24 Ultra. The only thing that was subpar was the fingerprint scanner, I had to add the same thumb three times to get a seamless experience.
I just can't get on with Android. Don't get me wrong I can see why people like it, I'm not a hater, there's so many adjustments and tweaks that are desperately missing from iOS. Being able to go back by swiping from the right side of the screen is really nice but the compromise is you can't swipe right to go forward in whatever app you're using (Chrome for example).
It's the overall polish and design language that's inconsistent for me vs. iOS. Font sizes are all over the place. In Twitter the font is massive, in Chrome the font is medium size, and in other apps the font is too small. I played around with the screen zoom and font size settings on the device but couldn't get everything to look consistent. I agree with MKBHD, even Google's own apps look better on iPhone. The system integration with my password manager didn't work so great either, I have to jump between the password manager app and the app I want to fill in with my credentials because not every app recognized the password manager for some reason. I didn't like the multitasking menu, it didn't feel smooth. Some of the animations felt very unnatural and disjointed. Overall so many apps felt like they were using totally different design and animation principles.
My conclusion is that Android has a lot of things I like but most of the prime advantages over iOS (specifically multi app split screen usage which is what I really had high hopes for) weren't enough to sway me. There was nothing on the S24 Ultra that could justify owning and using it over my iPhone. Now a folding phone where split screen apps make more sense might be a big enough feature boost over my iPhone...
You might think this is a sin but my takeaway is I want the S24 Ultra hardware with iOS as the software 🤷♂️
I might wait to see what the Pixel 9 Pro is like and try again with Google's stock Android. That or wait for the next generation of foldables. I really want a foldable iPhone but that's years away (or potentially never coming)
At least you gave it a try.
Android will never be taken seriously until Google demands that designers (including Google designers themselves) write polished apps that follow the Material You guidelines. This is Google's fault. They don't even care enough to ensure their own apps follow their own design language (some apps have a transparent status, others don't; some have a transparent home bar, others don't; some have a Material You icon, others don't [such as Translate, WTH??]).
Google doesn't respect its own ecosystem or phone. I don't know how other developers can.
Nonetheless, I really like Android. It has so much potential if Google would just care.
Yeah all the Material You stuff is great and I really like it. Dare I say it's more aesthetically pleasing to me than iOS design language. I think I saw so many great examples of Material You from Pixel users that I expected something similar with One UI.
You're 100% correct.
I love Material You design, but don't like the subpar [H]ardware on the Pixel's. And I love the [H]ardware on the S24 Ultra, but OneUI isn't as consistent and beautiful as Material You.
To me a S24 Ultra type high-end spec'd phone running a stock AOSP type UI like Lineage OS would be the best smartphone on the planet.
But as a diehard Nexus / Pixel guy since 2010, I will say this S24 Ultra is mind-blowing amazing. I'm not a Samsung fan guy whatsoever, but I will admit the truth, I find the S24U to be the best Android I've ever used, and will probably be the top of 2024.
To me a S24 Ultra type high-end spec'd phone running a stock AOSP type UI like Lineage OS would be the best smartphone on the planet.
But as a diehard Nexus / Pixel guy since 2010, I will say this S24 Ultra is mind-blowing amazing. I'm not a Samsung fan guy whatsoever, but I will admit the truth, I find the S24U to be the best Android I've ever used, and will probably be the top of 2024.
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Funny but this design aesthetics consistency across apps has never bothered me. I see it more conformity and boring if I could be bothered to pay any attention to it
Empowerment and functionality mixed with users choice is key to me and Samsung phones are full of that on top of great hardware
I'm too busy doing stuff on my phone to worry about transparencies etc
But each to their own
Funny but this design aesthetics consistency across apps has never bothered me. I see it more conformity and boring if I could be bothered to pay any attention to it
Empowerment and functionality mixed with users choice is key to me and Samsung phones are full of that on top of great hardware
I'm too busy doing stuff on my phone to worry about transparencies etc
But each to their own
Same here... there are inconsistencies within every UI and associated app offerings. I tend to gloss over them and focus more on overall capabilities.
iOS to me has become more of a cattle chute on the way to making soylent green than anything else
Samsung Wonderland app update introduces Fluid effect and improved UI
Samsung has pushed an update for its Wonderland Good Lock module, which brings a fluid lockscreen effect and more. Identified via version 1.5.09, the update is set to enhance the user experience with new features and improvements. The fresh update of Samsung Wonderland introduces a new lock...
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What password manager are you using? Moot point now since you've returned the phone, but I've found Bitwarden to work very well on my S24+ and Android in general. You need to enable some settings and also accessibility settings but once done it works almost every time for me on websites and apps.
That's a really well rounded review. I completely agree as well, even as an iPhone user. I wish Apple's ecosystem wasn't so sticky to be honest, it's like when your in it's so hard to escape.
Ok so I’ve ordered the S24 Ultra again. The offer was too good to miss, 20% off and another £100 off for my mums old iPhone SE first gen.
Ordered the titanium green one this time.
Ordered the titanium green one this time.
The big stickiness for most people in the ecosystem ain’t the iPhone it’s the Watch and the Mac. Both products underwent huge changes recently. The iPhone is where Apple always plays it safe and boring. I guess most like it boring.
The consensus here and on Twitter tech space is Apple needs to hit it off at WWDC or risk falling sales in territories other than the US.
He's just found out the empowerment that comes with Android, its always been there in various forms over Iphones but its not until you need it do you realise.
Most simply think it cant be done, (on their Iphones) and give up. As he notes there is normally a solution to found on Android.
It's a shame Samsung or another 3rd party have not written the equivalent of link to windows/windows phone link for MacOS, then the only entrapment remaining would be AW for some.
This is true! The Apple Watch is the best smartwatch in my opinion. I think if Apple let people use their Apple Watch on Android, more people would move over. I also agree about the Mac, I personally feel it's a lot better than Windows.
The iPhone is boring and familiar, in one way it's good but in another it really isn't. I have a S24 Ultra on the way, I just can't resist the OneUi, IOS is just boring in comparison but that's not to say I don't like IOS. The phone get's the job done, but it's also stale and is in need of features that Android has (Circle to search, multitasking and lots more).
I love my AWU it is the best smartwatch on the market imho. Even as a standalone timepiece it is awesome.
But I think Mac notebooks are way behind other market leaders in hardware features. I mean c'mon Apple its time to put touchscreen on Macbooks! Then there are combo laptops that can fold and present better viewing angles.
I think Apple is too afraid to hurt iPad sales if they add touchscreen to Macbooks. But in the end they hurt themselves as other hardware makers are adding more features for less money.
My $700 HP touchscreen 2-in1 performs just as nice as my MBA 15 inch for a LOT less.
I totally agree with you that Apple needs to impress at WWDC this year or alienate more of its customer base.
But make no mistake here...I am not saying Apple is doomed! lol They have the funds and leadership to right the ship so to speak.
Let's not get into Windows or MacOS being better. We have enough to deal with on this thread with the S24/Ultra/plus. Lol
The only major time Apple does something big for iPhone either software or hardware is when sales are falling or investor demand i.e AI is a big want from Apple investors now.
So Apple has to show and show it big. Samsung/Google got a headstart with the S24 lineup. When people think A.I. on phones they think GalaxyAI. See the number of ads that Samsung is outputting. So much so that S24 were selling insanely well in Korea after a lull.
This WWDC will impact Apples software for the next few years like iOS 7 did in 2013.
One month with S24U..
I am starting to miss iPhone... I dont even know why, I just do...
What the ****
I am starting to miss iPhone... I dont even know why, I just do...
What the ****
Keep on going. Try new things. Android has many things to keep it fresh, especially OneUI
I was same this morning after google pay refuse to work for me in shop this morning.
Put back my sim in 15 pro max and lasted 2 hours, s24 ultra is just on different level, some things works better on iphone but most part S24 ultra is much better device.