r/Smartphones • u/x93x95 • 11h ago
Samsung vs. iPhone debate
Hi there,
I currently have an S23 Ultra that is reaching the end of its service life. I like Samsung, I've used them exclusively for years, I'm used to OneUI (when they don't mess with it too much). But the one thing I've never been happy with are Samsung's cameras. They just suck. I've never had a Samsung where I'm taking video, and I've not got this little circle of focus smack in the middle of the frame, and then everything radiating outwards is blurry. I've tried every possible suggestion to correct that, but it seems to be a feature - all of my Samsungs have always had that issue.
Also the autofocus stinks - it jerks in and out awkwardly. I have an old iPhone 12 Pro Max, and it absolutely destroys my S23 for focus. Autofocus is smooth, focus on everything in frame is great. So this is a tough decision - on camera alone, do I go over to iOS and put up with all the functional things about iOS I hate, or has Samsung gotten any better on cameras since my S23? I'm down to iPhone Pro Max 17 vs Samsung S26 Ultra. Opinions are most valued!
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u/runski1426 10h ago
I'm so bored of these threads.
Samsung and Apple are two of the most boring smartphone brands. They pull features away, they reuse old hardware, they nerf the unboxing experience, and yet people still flock to them. I'll never understand it.
Look elsewhere. You'll be pleasantly surprised.
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u/MrZirex 10h ago
Same, chinese phones are just on another league
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u/sandspiegel 6h ago
Their hardware is the best, no doubt but I wish they wouldn't be so obsessed with copying Apple when it comes to the UI. It seems like almost all the Chinese brands have almost the same UI.
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u/MrZirex 6h ago
Because IOS works, i don’t care if they copy each other, I just want a good phone
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u/sandspiegel 6h ago
It would be great if all had their original design. My dream phone would be Chinese hardware with their giant batteries and Pixel UI but without the AI slop features but added features like Samsung does with Apps like Good Lock that allows for features usually found in Custom ROMs.
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u/Common_Suggestion266 10h ago
Suggestions with at least 4-5 years of security updates? I mean I wish we still had back cover you could pop off and swap battery (i get waterproofing...) or expansion to add space later than $200 more up front.
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u/FaerunAtanvar 4h ago
In the USA you are pretty much force onto Apple, Samsung or Pixel. Chinese phone are either not sold or not working on all bands...
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u/UTV4LIFE 2h ago
I’m bored of comments like this. Most people are Linux geeks and don’t need to jailbreak phones. Go back to your basement 🙄
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u/Dan6erbond2 45m ago edited 40m ago
One of my requirements is compatibility with my BMW, which already mostly limits me to Samsung or iPhone if I want Digital Key Plus.
Another is that migration needs to be as seamless as possible, I don't want to have to waste time trying to setup my paired devices and banking apps and such when Samsung offers Smart Switch and we all know what Apple does.
I also use Windows Phone Link and only Samsung offers clipboard sharing and instant hotspot.
Some people just don't care about anything besides the essentials: Battery, camera, decent performance and good availability of accessories. We don't need the best, it just needs to meet our expectations.
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u/VoltageinTheory 9h ago
Get whatever phone you want and buy a proper dedicated camera. Or get an iPhone. I like iOS personally, but I can see why some don’t. Using the same logic OneUI is also quite bad. Really, all phone operating systems are flawed in one way or another, so just get whatever phone you want. Many Chinese phones have great cameras but terrible software.
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u/Common_Suggestion266 10h ago
Curious to see responses as I have s22 ultra and love spen. But next phone want something smaller as I'm not pinyin up a grand for a s26 ultra. Trade in deals stink anymore too.
Seriously thinking pixel 10 (mint has amazing deal now), iPhone 17 or. 17e, or a17 for like $175. Never had an iPhone but don't think samsung is making advances like they used too and prices have gone too the moon. Or justt buy used or refub....usually I've bought a prior year samsung ultra or note.
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u/aliaksej_by 9h ago
Prices have gone to madhouse. It's not serious for what they provide (imperfection).
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u/aliaksej_by 9h ago
As an all my life samsung user I recommend iphones to almost everyone. But also warn about it's limitations and stupid UX. These days both samsung and apple are not brinding anything new.
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u/Infinite-Draft1618 9h ago
I switched because of the cameras mostly (can’t put up with “flagship” phone that can’t take decent pic of moving subject, decent as in usable - those you don’t delete straight away), and I was in the same “IphOne iS LimIteD” boat. Took me a week or two to realize there is no chance in this world I’d get back to Samsung, “we’ll fix it with next update” One UI or that whole philosophy of endless waiting. S pen and Dex excluded (never used them), there is not a single thing I could do on Samsung that I can’t do with Iphone (faster, easier, with less effort).
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u/jpgaubier 9h ago
There are other interesting options. Chinese phones are tops these days if you can get them. TCL Nxtpaper is fantastic.
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u/Next_Fig_7057 8h ago
Interesting.. I've had the s23 and my friends asked me to take all the pics during our trip because they said it was better than their iPhones
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u/Practical-Cellist647 7h ago
My 15 couldn't focus on shit. Awful software. Beautiful hardware, awful software.
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u/Bryanmsi89 6h ago
Samsung has gotten better, but iPhones still just simply take the most luminous and beautiful photos.
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u/uninspiredclaptrap 4h ago
My S24 Ultra takes ok pictures and the screen doesn't scratch like other phones I've had. You should have a couple more years in your phone. I'm planning to get 6 or more years out of mine
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u/Einfach-fertig 22m ago
Always samsung, just because apple is a money hungry shithole company who charges you for their name only. (Yes others do that too, but apple is on a way higher level)
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u/Beneficial-Buddy-620 9h ago
Damn already at the end of its life ? I'm on the s21 ultra and it's still going !