Android

I will only purchase a Samsung again when they let me unlock the damn bootloader

I suffered through 2 years of zero software updates, not even security updates. Google Pay stopped working randomly. I contacted Samsung support who couldn't figure out why on either of these issues. It also kept lighting up on full brightness in the middle of the night due to no reason I could figure out, despite being on do-not-disturb. Never buying a Samsung again.

No bootloader unlocking no buy.

Had a Galaxy S2 and then a Note 2. By the time that last one was up for replacement, Samsung had gone curved edges, which I disliked. Switched to OnePlus 3, later 7T and that was my last OnePlus as I didn't like where the brand was going.

Luckily Samsung ditched the curved edges, so I currently have an S22+. I'm quite satisfied with this one and I also got a Galaxy watch after having some quality issues with Fitbit devices. Both work together nicely as you'd expect.

I like them. Bloat ware is a bit annoying, but not a deal breaker. Just use my launcher to hide it. Timely updates, decent UI, relatively long-term support, some neat features here and there (integration with Windows 10-100 Phone Link is really cool), and having one of the last phones with the trifecta of headphone jack + microSD card slot + OIS means I'll be holding on to this for a long long time!

I really like it. All the customisation is enough that I don't miss rooting my phone. And I think I'm kinda stuck with them for a while now, because I can't live without one hand operation, which is even better when combined with one handed mode. I can do everything and reach anywhere on the screen using only one hand, without hand gymnastics.

I disagree regarding Android. Google's Android feels to me like it's trying to go against everything that makes Android good such as SafetyNet, Android 12 removing customizability from Android 11 and choosing default apps convoluted, separating gestures and launchers, half assed tablet experience.

One UI has a lot more customization and practical options and generally always implemented features before Google did, like split screen and still can do things no other OEM can.

I had a note 8.

Ok phone, nice pen.

But the one phone I managed to break the screen of. Tanks to curved screen that make using proper protection impossible.

Went back to nexus / pixel.

S22 ultra here for 18 months now. Great phone, although I'm not into unlocking and Linuxing my phone. As it is, it's durable, camera amazing, speed great, screen great, speakers are awesome. No complaints about hardware at all. In fact, I find them to be the best available hardware right now.

My opinion on them based on my last phone I got from them (S22 Ultra Exynos) is pretty mid just like the phone for its price. I overall think they are right now in a bit of a slump and resting very much on their laurels. Their phones are still for the most part very good, market leading in some points even, but they have slowed down the innovation a lot. Like the last 3 Galaxy Ultra phones are pretty much the same product. And the regular S20, S21, ... line also takes 0 risks and cuts one too many corners for my liking. And the whole Exynos situation is just a shame since usually where I live we pay more for less. If they stuck those Chips in 500 - 700€ ish phones and passed along the saving they would wipe the floor with all the Snapdragon 7+ Gen 1 wannabe flaghips.

What I think however nobody will take away from them anytime soon is OneUI. I think right now its the best and most feature complete Android skin and its refreshing seeing Samsung stick and refine one design for this long (before they changed the look and feel every 2 - 3 years). I only wish they would bring back Linux on Dex which was in beta for some time. That would be a killer feature for me!

My current phone is a Samsung and it is the first Samsung phone I have owned and maybe the last. I had previously only owned Motorola phones and absolutely loved them. The Samsung is a perfectly capable phone with (when new) top tier components for its class. The build quality is very good and the screen, of course, is gorgeous. But it's a boring device.

I loved all the extra little touches that Motorola gave me. They didn't change the OS too much, but just enough and the phones were better for it. With Samsung, it's the opposite. The changes are all for the worse. But let me be perfectly clear here, it is still a great phone for the masses, it's just boring.

I consider the Galaxy S line of phones is like the Toyota Camry. Good, reliable. Will do exactly what you need it to do, but don't expect to fall in love with it. It's a well engineered appliance aimed at the general public.

I personally love Samsung. Have a Note20 Ultra still going strong, got a Tab S9 and Galaxy Watch 5 Pro in the last year. They are all so customizable out of the box using Good Lock and other software that it would be painful to switch. I find they all perform really well and the improvements of OneUI are appreciated. I like the Calendar, Browser (on tablet), Reminders and some other apps much more than Google's offerings.

Have an s21, wife has s22, few yrs ago child had A20 (I think) the s series has been great. I could have upgraded to s22 didn't want. The A20 was horrid but for a youngish teen it was "fine" if I had to get another phone I would look around and see whats what but over all I like my phone better than the s22, and while my phone was being repaired I bought a Moto G5, considering the cost I hated the damn thing and was slow as F. Now my other youngish teen has that one, I am just happy to be rid of it. It worked for me, just barely. Admit to having been used to the s21, so may be somewhat biast.

I'm honestly quite happy with my Samsungs so far. Had an S9 and currently use an S21.

I honestly prefer the Samsung apps over the Google apps most of the time. They also integrate better with non google stuff. Especially calendar, contacts and mail. The Bixby button has been gone for a while now and most of the bloatware is hidden away well enough to be able to ignore it easily.

The irreversible bootloader unlock is quite the shame really because it will cause most banking apps to refuse to work so I never unlockedy bootloader. I used to do this on my nexus and Sony phones. Tbf though I don't miss my root privileges currently. Android and Samsungs one ui has come a long way.

Edit: formatting

I use cheap M11 phone. Solid and durable phone but a bit overpriced on my country. It survive my abuse for 2 and half years until now from dropped to gravel repatedly to get washed using tap water (dont try this at home, lol). It also somehow always better at receiving signal than my wife's Xiaomi phone. I love it.

I recently bought an S23 after owning 2 pixels and a nexus. So far, I'm loving the experience much more, funny enough because of the things people call bloatware. Maybe it's because I play lots of games.

The sidebar shortcuts a super useful, the lockscreen customizations remind me of old android before google went all apple, and dex is great for multitasking.

The only thing that's a bit annoying is bixby, but i simply installed google assistant alongside it.

Too much bloat, no bootloader unlock. International model can be bootloader unlocked but you can't change secure boot keys and relock.

Like I want a good android phone designed in the US. What Motorola use to be before Google bought and subsequently sold Motorola or an LG phone that was actually normal and really good.

Google pixels have hardware and software issues, Samsung is very anti consumer with active efforts to mimic apple and reduse repair options, Sony is often too expensive, and the rest are of Chinese origin and potentially carry creepy invasive spyware.

I couldn't buy a screen for my galaxy s20 to fix my self and taking it to an authorized repair shop resulted in a $350 repair that resulted in everything but my motherboard being swapped out without my permission. Waistfull greedy overvalued company that would definitely sell you out for a couple hundred if it could.

The flagships seem good. But the cheap Samsungs are a nightmare. I set up an M14 for my sister and it kept installing Candy Crush and some gambling apps every night. I found this practice predatory and wouldn't trust a company that did this

I dislike Samsung phones. Always has. But because they are so popular have I tried them two times (I am a bit of a advocate of try first criticize later)I am on one right now (s21). Bixby is my biggest source of annoyance together with all their other apps I can't uninstall and stuff I am used to be able to customize. Bixby wouldn't have been annoying if it wasn't because they force you to use it. I had to turn off the shortcut by setting it to turn off the phone only so now do I need to use a sidebar to do stuff like taking a screenshot. I got used to it but it annoys me when a standard is removed. It is like when you want to do copy on a computer and ctrl + C is an assistant instead and you need to use the mouse now because you can't bind the keys as you wish (it is either assistant or dead keys). the battery is pretty bad too, I am not a heavy phone user (2-3h per day) but it is still at around 30% in the evening. My other phones has been Sony, Huawei and Motorola. So I am used to a battery that last for almost 2-3 days. Samsung also overheat (and I guess that is why the battery is draining). I have my screen brightness at the lowest possible because that seem to be the reason it gets so hot(it gets extreamly hot in a short time on higher brightness) it will get hot if I use it for 15 min or more(non dark mode). My coworker had the same model and the battery almost completely died on him (it started to bloat up) so I am a bit worried the same will be true for mine.

One good thing is their dule Sim, I don't want to use two phones (work and private) and it is pretty easy to switch in the ui.

When this one is dead will I buy a pixel. I like to try out different models and phones even if I love moto. Some day would I like to try a OS like calcy but I need to do more research first.

I've never had a good experience with Samsung till recently. The s4 overheated an insane amount, the s7 edge dropped wifi left and right, then finally I tried the fold 3 on my 3rd attempt at Samsung.

I enjoyed the phone for the aspect of the fold, the software handled it really well. But, one ui couldn't get out of its own way, it had a lot of nice extra features, but also had a lot of useless (to me) extra features. The bloat like others mentioned was bad. But ok, not super offensive like it was on the old touch wiz.

I kept that phone a little over a year, the battery aged terribly. It started out great, then by the 7 or 8 month mark, it just dove off a cliff. At the 11th month, the factory screen protector, the one that's like essential to the phone, popped a huge bubble right in the middle where the fold happens. Thankfully that was under warranty and I got replaced, but that was when I knew it was time to go.

I picked up a pixel 6 pro and sold the fold 3. I'm now on the pixel 7 pro. I replaced the galaxy buds with pixel buds, but I kept the watch. I will give it to Samsung on that, they have the best wear os watch experience I've ever used.

The experience syncing devices in the ecosystem was very nice, very apple like, and I do miss the quick sync between my phone and tablet. Google messages PWA is nowhere near as nice as the messages app on the Tab S7. Not being able to take phone calls on it anymore kinda sucks too. The earbuds and watch are pretty fluid, but not quite as seamless as when it was all Samsung.

I have a Galaxy A13 as a test phone for work. Not great, but great for the price. The UI is fine. Cheap Android phones have gotten a lot better recently.

I have a Galaxy Tab S8 for myself. I like the 120hz screen and the design, it feels solid and pretty. Good speakers. I also have a Galaxy Tab A7 Lite that I got for free from T-mobile. I like the size

Got a couple of Galaxy Tab S5e at work for testing purposes as well. Currently both of them have been hacked up to install Android Automotive and one of them is in my car serving as my infotainment system. Pretty sweet.

I wish Samsung would allow unlockable bootloaders on their US phones/tablets with cellular radios in them. I want to hack up my A7 Lite to install Android Automotive so I don't have to hotspot to the S5e anymore.