Better Contacts App w/S10 or Pie? Ditch Google Contacts?

[CincyGuy]

So I've use Google Contacts as my contacts app for at least the last 4 phones I've had (s9+,s8, Note 7, Nexus 6p). This has sometimes caused problems with duplication of contacts on the Samsung phones, especially when I first get the phone. Eventually I disable the Samsung stock contacts app and make every default action that would pull up a contact default to the Google app. It worked, although when there would be major software upgrades (like s9+ to Pie recently) default programs had to be done all over again.

In setting up my s10 this past Friday, I once again got the choice of which app to use when first opening a contact, because all my apps installed from the s9+ including g-contacts. I picked the Samsung contacts, and lo and behold but it had actually imported all of my gmail contacts (only immediate family) and my work MS Exchange contacts just fine (see screen shot below). No duplicates, I like the layout better than g-contacts, and clicking to text someone from within their contact card still takes me to my default app of Google Messages (doesn't try to force me to use Samsung messages).

So I uninstalled the g-contacts app and everything seems to be good so far. Am I missing some feature you get in g-contacts? Did the Samsung contacts app always work this well, or at least in the recent past, or did the improvement come with Android Pie? Seems to me that Samsung just made another one of its stock apps so good I don't need to use google's version anymore. Cool.

 

[echo_808]

Ive always used Samsung contacts before Pie. Never did have any issues with duplicates. Might have to do with how you're backing it up. Ive always just exported it and imported it to the new phone. Never did use cloud or Samsung Switch for it.


Ive been using Textra since the S6 and yeah it doesnt force me to use Messages when I use the message option on the contact page.


Imo, I feel Samsung took a step back with Pie. They got rid of the option to view which groups you want. Been using Google contacts because of it. If they fix it, doubt it since I brought it up in beta, i'd go back.

 

[Adam Frix]

Ive always used Samsung contacts before Pie. Never did have any issues with duplicates. Might have to do with how you're backing it up. Ive always just exported it and imported it to the new phone. Never did use cloud or Samsung Switch for it.


Ive been using Textra since the S6 and yeah it doesnt force me to use Messages when I use the message option on the contact page.


Imo, I feel Samsung took a step back with Pie. They got rid of the option to view which groups you want.

No, they didn't. I'm looking at a specific group right now, on my S10+ using Samsung's contacts app.

It's easy to choose and use. Not sure what you're talking about.

 

[williams448]

I always use Samsung's contact app, but save all contacts to my Google acct. I have never had any issues with duplicates & never felt the need to use the Google contacts app. Everything syncs from device to device just fine.

 

[dkelly701]

I use groups to separate my contacts and I currently have both contact apps still on my phone. I like Samsung contacts better except for 1 major flaw. You cannot set up a custom view to show only certain groups and not others. That is a deal breaker for me so I use Google contacts. I kept Samsung contacts for 1 feature it has. I can assign a custom ringtone for an entire group. Ringtones assigned in Samsung contacts work even though I use Google contacts for everything else.