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

[sulla1965]

One of my local supermarkets (Keyfood) has NFC terminals at the regular checkout. But oddly none at the self checkout. I used MST all the time at the astonishment of the workers there. Now I can never use the self checkout without a physical card. Not the end of the world, but still. But then I do most of my shopping at stop and shop (gas points) and they of course have NFC.

 

[ThrottleJohnny]

I think it's safe to say we can go back and forth on the lack of storage cards and payment systems and not change anyone's mind as to whether they're important or not. It virtually doesn't matter what the feature change is. Some will approve or disapprove, and most of the rest won't care.

Exactly. Happens every year lol

 

[mesocyclone30]

Huh... I've been using SD cards in various devices since 2000 when I got my first digital camera and I have yet to have a problem with one. The one in my drone takes a beating too since I typically record between 60 to 120GB of 4k video on a single day out with it. I do buy top rated name brand SD cards though...

my friend and I use name brand cards too. some of the cards i had to replace would sometimes not be recognized in the camera all a sudden. i would have to take it out and put it back in to get it to work for awhile. then later on the same thing would happen. I now carry spares with me as i don't want to be out watching trains out of town and not have a working card and have to run to the nearest walmart in the middle of train watching.

 

[J Dubbs]

I must be the only tech geek in the world who has never paid for anything with their phone, lol. I've only seen my friend do it once at a soda machine at a amusement park, heh. Maybe I need to start using the full capabilities of my phone? Yea I'm old school....cash or credit card lol.

You're not alone, I've never paid for anything with my phone either Cash or card as well for me. Just never saw the need for it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[ThrottleJohnny]

You're not alone, I've never paid for anything with my phone either Cash or card as well for me. Just never saw the need for it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

LOL...by the time I pull out my phone, unlock it, pull up the app, I can't just as easily have my card ready.

I use it when I realize I've left my wallet in the car/at home. It's a life saver then.

 

[thecaringkind]

MST is nice....but I NEVER use smart payment options. I'm old school. If cash or a card can't cut it I don't buy. The SD card slot? Yes I'd rather have it. Is it a deal breaker? No way. I simply don't use it enough to cry about it.

 

[buzzy3970]

To use Samsung pay you don't have to unlock your phone. It can be accessed from the lock screen and used just as quick as a card. Also since you know you're paying with it you can just have it in your hand ready to pay

LOL...by the time I pull out my phone, unlock it, pull up the app, I can't just as easily have my card ready.

I use it when I realize I've left my wallet in the car/at home. It's a life saver then.

 

[ThrottleJohnny]

To use Samsung pay you don't have to unlock your phone. It can be accessed from the lock screen and used just as quick as a card. Also since you know you're paying with it you can just have it in your hand ready to pay

If it's just as quick as a card, why am I not using the card? It was fun to use SP as a flex in 2015, but I'm not getting the advantage anymore, unless I forget my wallet.

 

[buzzy3970]

Personal choice. I use Spay because I am a rewards nuts and have several cards that I use for different things. Also don't like carrying a wallet. Further more my favorite thing about using a mobile wallet is knowing that my real card numbers are never compromised so I don't have to go through the nightmare of surprised charges/having to change my card numbers due to a business terminal getting hacked. I have been using mobile payments since it was first released as Google wallet on the Samsung nexus. Just very convenient for my needs.

If it's just as quick as a card, why am I not using the card? It was fun to use SP as a flex in 2015, but I'm not getting the advantage anymore, unless I forget my wallet.

 

[bill-e]

Huh... I've been using SD cards in various devices since 2000 when I got my first digital camera and I have yet to have a problem with one. The one in my drone takes a beating too since I typically record between 60 to 120GB of 4k video on a single day out with it. I do buy top rated name brand SD cards though...

It does happen. I've had two Sandisk Ultra microsd cards replaced under warranty in the last 2 years. One was in a DSLR and the other in a phone.

 

[ThrottleJohnny]

Personal choice. I use Spay because I am a rewards nuts and have several cards that I use for different things. Also don't like carrying a wallet. Further more my favorite thing about using a mobile wallet is knowing that my real card numbers are never compromised so I don't have to go through the nightmare of surprised charges/having to change my card numbers due to a business terminal getting hacked. I have been using mobile payments since it was first released as Google wallet on the Samsung nexus. Just very convenient for my needs.

Okay the rewards thing makes sense.

 

[Kasil]

I am so overwhelmingly disappointed with my s21. I wish I hadn't done the trade in.

 

[anon(19759)]

I am so overwhelmingly disappointed with my s21. I wish I hadn't done the trade in.

Why are you disappointed with it? Because of removal of SD card and MST?

 

[Kasil]

Why are you disappointed with it? Because of removal of SD card and MST?

I didn't realize MST was going away, I was already on the fence with the sd card being gone. Heart rate monitor is gone, I rarely used it but still its gone. My S10 had all these features.
The worst part though is, one of the reasons I wanted to try the s21 was in hopes that the in display finger print scanner would work better but it doesn't.
The phones performance isn't noticeably better.

5g isn't unique to my phone either and so far on t-mobile at least, not impressive in my area at all. So not really worthwhile.

The constant barely changing of the cameras and phone sizes seemingly just so you have to buy a new case and screen protector is annoying.

Still had to pay taxes and some other random carrier fees. Thanks t-mobile.

Honestly the best phone was probably their s9. At this point I feel like I'm just done with Samsung. Maybe I'll try a One next time. I don't feel like I have anything keeping me with Samsung and their over priced phones.

The one good thing about the switch is my battery isn't old and worn out but that's just another thing that goes with removing replaceable batteries. Along with the iris scanner and TV remote features that were kind of cool in older phones. Overall just feels like we're moving backwards. I feel like I bought an iPhone.. I might have even been happier with an iPhone actually.

 

[corvette72778]

I didn't realize MST was going away, I was already on the fence with the sd card being gone. Heart rate monitor is gone, I rarely used it but still its gone. My S10 had all these features.
The worst part though is, one of the reasons I wanted to try the s21 was in hopes that the in display finger print scanner would work better but it doesn't.
The phones performance isn't noticeably better.

5g isn't unique to my phone either and so far on t-mobile at least, not impressive in my area at all. So not really worthwhile.

The constant barely changing of the cameras and phone sizes seemingly just so you have to buy a new case and screen protector is annoying.

Still had to pay taxes and some other random carrier fees. Thanks t-mobile.

Honestly the best phone was probably their s9. At this point I feel like I'm just done with Samsung. Maybe I'll try a One next time. I don't feel like I have anything keeping me with Samsung and their over priced phones.

The one good thing about the switch is my battery isn't old and worn out but that's just another thing that goes with removing replaceable batteries. Along with the iris scanner and TV remote features that were kind of cool in older phones. Overall just feels like we're moving backwards. I feel like I bought an iPhone.. I might have even been happier with an iPhone actually.

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!

 

[L0n3N1nja]

I think it's safe to say we can go back and forth on the lack of storage cards and payment systems and not change anyone's mind as to whether they're important or not. It virtually doesn't matter what the feature change is. Some will approve or disapprove, and most of the rest won't care.

This 100%

We all use our phones differently.

 

[corvette72778]

This 100%

We all use our phones differently.

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

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

I didn't realize MST was going away, I was already on the fence with the sd card being gone. Heart rate monitor is gone, I rarely used it but still its gone. My S10 had all these features.
The worst part though is, one of the reasons I wanted to try the s21 was in hopes that the in display finger print scanner would work better but it doesn't.
The phones performance isn't noticeably better.

5g isn't unique to my phone either and so far on t-mobile at least, not impressive in my area at all. So not really worthwhile.

The constant barely changing of the cameras and phone sizes seemingly just so you have to buy a new case and screen protector is annoying.

Still had to pay taxes and some other random carrier fees. Thanks t-mobile.

Honestly the best phone was probably their s9. At this point I feel like I'm just done with Samsung. Maybe I'll try a One next time. I don't feel like I have anything keeping me with Samsung and their over priced phones.

The one good thing about the switch is my battery isn't old and worn out but that's just another thing that goes with removing replaceable batteries. Along with the iris scanner and TV remote features that were kind of cool in older phones. Overall just feels like we're moving backwards. I feel like I bought an iPhone.. I might have even been happier with an iPhone actually.

Those are all the reasons I haven't been tempted to "downgrade" to the S21. To match the specs of my S10+ (ceramic) I would need the Ultra and I just don't see hundreds of pounds worth of value in it over what I have. I would need 512GB as well to match my current phone. I am going to replace my battery in a few months when it hits 80% as it is pretty poor right now after just 1 year. I put it down to wireless charging as it was great before I started doing that.

I would miss my heart rate monitor. I don't use it all the time, since I have an Apple watch s6 with the hr monitor and pulse oxometer built in as well, but I do use it for stress testing at times. I don't use the sd card except I find it better for reinstalling a smart switch backup than cloud or even from an external ssd. And I actually use my headphone jack in the car with the stereo aux input. (We have an old car). So I am not keen to lose any of these things right now. Not while Exynos is still performing worse than the Snapdragon.

 

[corvette72778]

I wasn't changing the issue, I was making fun of you for drinking bad coffee.

I understand it's inconvenient, but MST needs to die. And look on the bright side; if not being able to buy terrible coffee with a tap of your phone is a "major issue" I'd say you've got a pretty nice life, no?

I will never upgrade to a phone until all terminals are NFC. I use MST at the post office quite often for work and I can't imagine they will ever switch to a new NFC terminal.

 

[Steven Frost2]

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.