Samsung sucks for removing the micro SD and MST Samsung Pay.

[corvette72778]

I think mst is mainly going to be missed in the USA more than anywhere else.

mst has been used since 2003ish in the UK when chip and pin took over.

as for the micro sd being removed that has been a long time coming really with cloud storage now becoming even move available and at a relatively cheap price I think more and more phones will be moving away from it.

Not everybody wants to pay to rent their own data.

 

[kolyan2k]

Mst is nice, but lately it stopped working on many terminals and u end up looking like a fool trying to pay with phone when cashier just told u there are no phone payments

 

[Gary02468]

Not everybody wants to pay to rent their own data.

I agree. That's why it's good to run an NAS to provide your own cloud storage. An NAS equivalent of an SD card is inexpensive, especially if you like DIY projects (you can build one using a Raspberry Pi).

 

[Gary02468]

I think mst is mainly going to be missed in the USA more than anywhere else.

I used to rely heavily on MST here in the US, but I haven't used it in over a year. And now I find (thanks to a suggestion earlier in this thread) that Google Pay works much better than Samsung Pay.

Of course, there are still some areas of the US that haven't caught up, so different people have different needs.

 

[Gary02468]

I believe Samsung's mind will change if enough people boycott the S21 for stripping features from it.

Of course you shouldn't buy a product if it doesn't offer what you need. That's not a boycott, it's just a purchasing choice. Am I "boycotting" lawnmowers just because I don't buy one for my apartment?

But you seem to want us to stop buying the S21 even though it does offer what we need, just because it doesn't offer what you need. That would indeed be a boycott on our part, but it would make no sense.

 

[jlangner]

I used to rely heavily on MST here in the US, but I haven't used it in over a year. And now I find (thanks to a suggestion earlier in this thread) that Google Pay works much better than Samsung Pay.

Of course, there are still some areas of the US that haven't caught up, so different people have different needs.

I agree 100%. I stopped using Samsung pay since G-Pay worked better. At gas pumps on NFC, samsung pay worked maybe 10% of the time, G-Pay 100%.

 

[Kasil]

What's the chance of returning it and getting your trade in back? Is the trade in in transit? The Note 10+ and Note 20 Ultra are 2 spectacularly better phones than the S21 if you return it. I would return it in a heart beat!

I haven't shipped it yet, it is possible but of course they have like a $70 restocking fee.

 

[me just saying]

I agree. That's why it's good to run an NAS to provide your own cloud storage. An NAS equivalent of an SD card is inexpensive, especially if you like DIY projects (you can build one using a Raspberry Pi).

not really inexpensive if you count the data usage by both your home and mobile service providers. you could get to your data limits faster for both service providers - for those who have data caps. No data caps on sd cards other than size limitations and then you can carry extra cards with your media.

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

Of course you shouldn't buy a product if it doesn't offer what you need. That's not a boycott, it's just a purchasing choice. Am I "boycotting" lawnmowers just because I don't buy one for my apartment?

But you seem to want us to stop buying the S21 even though it does offer what we need, just because it doesn't offer what you need. That would indeed be a boycott on our part, but it would make no sense.

Yup. Also, trying to make other people feel bad about the things they enjoy and even lying to them to try to manipulate them into acting in a way which benefits your own interests at the coast of their own is super toxic behaviour.

Just saying.

 

[fuzzylumpkin]

I agree. That's why it's good to run an NAS to provide your own cloud storage. An NAS equivalent of an SD card is inexpensive, especially if you like DIY projects (you can build one using a Raspberry Pi).

I kinda wanna build an insane RAID 5 array, but I just don't have a use...

 

[kikbxr1969]

Regardless of whether MST is antiquated or not, magnetic readers are insecure technology. They allow for hackers to install stripe reading technology and steal credit card information for one, and there are other disadvantages as well. At least with Samsung Pay MST, that information was masked making it possible to have a more secure option when presented with a vendor who was still using that antiquated technology. With the removal of MST, that is no longer an option. For those of us who live in rural communities with tons of mom and pop stores, that means we will be forced to once again swipe actual cards instead of using a more secure option.

I would LOVE it if the industry stepped in and forced all vendors to use chip readers. But, they do not.

I will not lie, I seriously contemplated not upgrading my phone over just this issue. I went ahead and did it anyhow though. However, the removal of the MST now gives me more options to think about on my next upgrade. Almost ALL phones have NFC enabled pay systems.

With the loss of Samsung Cloud storage (Which I now use a local backup option), the loss of MST, and the loss of some of the key functionalities of Smartthings integration (which I have replaced now), I am losing my dependence on Samsung. I am sure I am not the only one.

So, the loss of MST is a loss. However, the new freedoms it unleashes may wind up being a bonus in the long run.

 

[Hermes Hidayat]

Well i wouldnt mind if they had the 512GB version. Remembering the S20U sold in Indonesia only had the 128GB version... pissed me off so much.

 

[Hermes Hidayat]

I believe Samsung's mind will change if enough people boycott the S21 for stripping features from it.

Samsung wouldnt give a damn what customers want... Unless its exploding like the N7 then they have no choice. But other than exploding phones they wouldnt do much for customers. Ah people are still loving the Note series, why not **** them off by giving the S21 series the S Pen Capability that only Note series had in the past... basic example of they dont give a damn.

Owh dont forget Samsung mocking Apple for removing stuff and what happened? They followed Apple. If Apple sold phones without a box, i can bet Samsung is gonna follow too.

 

[J Dubbs]

Samsung wouldnt give a damn what customers want... Unless its exploding like the N7 then they have no choice. But other than exploding phones they wouldnt do much for customers. Ah people are still loving the Note series, why not **** them off by giving the S21 series the S Pen Capability that only Note series had in the past... basic example of they dont give a damn.

Owh dont forget Samsung mocking Apple for removing stuff and what happened? They followed Apple. If Apple sold phones without a box, i can bet Samsung is gonna follow too.

They weren't really mocking Apple, they were mocking us... because they know that they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, just like Apple, and we'll keep buying their phones no matter what. We are the butt of their jokes

 

[corvette72778]

They weren't really mocking Apple, they were mocking us... because they know that they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, just like Apple, and we'll keep buying their phones no matter what. We are the butt of their jokes

I disagree. While Apple can do anything they want and their customers will still buy, Samsung cannot do anything they want. Not all of us will buy a lessor phone just because it came out at a later date. This has been proven in the past when Samsung brought back the micro SD card slot. I believe history will repeat itself with the micro SD slot. Unfortunately because 99% of Samsung buyers don't know what MST is and why it's a very valuable feature I believe this feature won't be back. What a shame.

 

[mustang7757]

[I did a clean up here, let's stay on the topic and not insult or go back and forth on each other]

 

[anon(19759)]

They weren't really mocking Apple, they were mocking us... because they know that they can do whatever they want, whenever they want, just like Apple, and we'll keep buying their phones no matter what. We are the butt of their jokes

Honestly I'm surprised they didn't remove these features sooner. I'm sure they could use the space for the MST reader and sd card slot for other components. Batteries continue to get bigger, more radios inside for 5G, they need the space anywhere they can get it. If they can remove the two features and still be on par with Apple from feature perspective, why wouldn't they do it?

 

[corvette72778]

What stand out feature does Samsung have without MST and micro SD? They don't have one. For that reason I believe Samsung will lose market share. An example of a phone that I would take over an S21 Ultra is the Rog 5. It has a 6k battery and a micro SD slot. Every phone maker has a generic top tier phone like the S21. Its what features does that phone have that others don't? S21 doesn't have a feature that I can think. I will say I am tied to the Note/stylus. But if the S21 is a sign of what's to come I am going to be keeping my Note 20 Ultra for a long time. If Samsung ever does discontinue the Note and I have to upgrade I'm going with the phone with the most features and that phone today would be the Rog 5. The Rog has to be gaining market share if they came out with 4 different models. Watch out Samsung!!!

 

[Laura Knotek]

What stand out feature does Samsung have without MST and micro SD? They don't have one. For that reason I believe Samsung will lose market share. An example of a phone that I would take over an S21 Ultra is the Rog 5. It has a 6k battery and a micro SD slot. Every phone maker has a generic top tier phone like the S21. Its what features does that phone have that others don't? S21 doesn't have a feature that I can think. I will say I am tied to the Note/stylus. But if the S21 is a sign of what's to come I am going to be keeping my Note 20 Ultra for a long time. If Samsung ever does discontinue the Note and I have to upgrade I'm going with the phone with the most features and that phone today would be the Rog 5. The Rog has to be gaining market share if they came out with 4 different models. Watch out Samsung!!!

That won't matter to people in the USA who have Verizon. That Asus ROG 5 won't work with Verizon at all, so that's a non-starter for many people, including me. https://www.tomsguide.com/reviews/asus-rog-phone-5-ultimate-review

Additionally, I have no interest in a garish looking "gaming phone".

 

[bill-e]

I'm in the sticks of New Hampshire and since getting my Watch 3 I'm trying to pay with it whenever it's convenient and so far NFC has been excepted everywhere. Hardware Store, Grocery Store, Tractor Supply, Pizza etc.

Bill
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Galaxy S21 Ultra 512g (VZW), Galaxy Book (original), Tab S4, Watch3