Move to S9 - Use Smart Switch, Google Restore or do it manually?

[claykin]

I know this has been asked many times before, but I'm looking to do this right the first time. In the past I've always done it manually, as follows:

1. Setup device and connect to Google account
2. Visit Playstore and manually install all apps I need (good time for spring cleaning).
3. Backup my messages/Phone log using SMS Backup and restore to new device. Also backup Nova launcher profile and restore to new device
4. Connect both devices to PC and manually drag/drop photos, videos, etc. on the device memory to new device.
5. Move SD card with most of my stuff
6. Spend an hour or so setting up phone details - security, preferences, etc...
7. Setup all apps (monotony that can take a couple hours or more)
8. All my contacts and calendar are in Exchange. I use Nine, so I connect my exchange account to Nine and all contacts and calendar items reappear.

What do I gain by using Smart switch or Google Restore? I've been worried about transferring "problems" from one device to the next so I've historically done it manually.

Thoughts?

 

[Victor Hernandez Jr]

Smart Switch took me a good hour but I was able to get absolutely everything onto my new phone

 

[Snareman]

I had always used SS in the past for its easy of swapping things over until I had some problems with several S7e's that someone finally suggested may have been some bad code of some sort that I was moving from phone to phone with the smart switch. I did a reset and manually redid everything and the problem was fixed. I'd like to think SS doesn't move and of the 'muck' over to the new phone, but I'm a little gun shy after my previous experience.

 

[claykin]

Smart Switch took me a good hour but I was able to get absolutely everything onto my new phone

I believe you still need to manually setup your apps, app customizations/login state, etc. Correct?

 

[Victor Hernandez Jr]

I believe you still need to manually setup your apps, app customizations/login state, etc. Correct?

Yes, just take a screen shot of the old device to set up the new one