With the end of the Note, are you done upgrading? Are you done with Samsung?

[BergerKing]

I find the thought of having to use a foldable again about as desirable as being held down and given a Tabasco enema. As the TV clown used to say, "Homie don't play dat."
My last flip phone was a BlackBerry style. I graduated to the Motorola Photon, one of the WiMax phones that Sprint used in their brief and poorly thought out foray into a proprietary high speed format. That went to my son Greg later the same year as I moved into the Samsung realm of the sweet S3, the S4, and finally into the Note 5. I stepped back down to the S8+, after the Note 7 fiasco, then came back with the Note 9, skipping the 8, since it was the same year and all. The 9 was a better upgrade, anyway, with the space upgrade. I almost pulled the trigger on an S21, but simply went with the better price of a used Note 20 instead. It's not even a year old, yet, so should tide me over through the winds of change. It was shipped from Lexington, KY yesterday, and I ordered a case for it, after canceling my original order for an inappropriate Note 20 Ultra case.

While it isn't the latest, or the most powerful of the stable mates, it is still adequate for the gap I'm expecting to see.

 

[donm527]

I just used 22 only because next year the S series will be on 22 and figured be less confusing if I stuck with 22.

But next year is… 2022. So the next Note could be the 22 to represent The Note 2022 Edition

Hmmm, interesting - you think if a Note comes out next year it'll be called Note 22 - and just skip 21 to keep it in line with the S series? Never really thought what it would be called.

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

So far I'm sticking to my prediction, the note is being moved to the S series. The two have been basically the same the last few years with the S pen being the difference.

 

[wookiee2cu]

It looks like I won't be upgrading my phone this year for the first time in many years when it used to be the 2 year contract days, all thanks to Samsung's decision to use the inventory of silicon for the S21 FE rather than a Note.. (C'mon we all know the Note is not upgraded this year not because of the chip shortage, but that Samsung decided to funnel it to the FE, and try to force Note users to foldables.)

Only realistic rumor I've heard as of to why there isn't a Note this year is because the prototypes that have been developed didn't really impress the higher-ups. My 20 Ultra 512gb is still going strong so I'm fine with it even though the geek in me was looking to upgrade like I normally do every year. I will be really bummed if they do decide to phase out the Note line but if the S line gets a built-in silo for the Spen and they bring back the SD card slot (doubt it) then I could probably live with that.

 

[evohicks]

I was tempted by the Fold 3 but for me I think I will hold out for the next Note.
The Fold 3 looks like a real nice device but to get it I would have to give up my Note 20 Ultra and if this really is the last Note then I'm hanging on to it.
The Fold 3 has some degree of water resistance but as far as I know there is no dust rating which in my line of work is a must. Even covering my Note in a zip bag at the end of the day still has dust on it.
The cameras on the Fold are a downgrade from the Note 20 ultra and also something else I discovered was the S pen they are giving away along with the case is not like the S Pen on the Note, it is a Fold edition, which still works ok but doesn't have all the features of the Note S Pen, for those extra features you would need the S Pen Pro which would not fit into the Fold 3 case.

The Fold 3 is a nice phone/tablet and will be ideal for some but not for me this time around, I WANT MY NOTE!

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

I was tempted by the Fold 3 but for me I think I will hold out for the next Note.
The Fold 3 looks like a real nice device but to get it I would have to give up my Note 20 Ultra and if this really is the last Note then I'm hanging on to it.
The Fold 3 has some degree of water resistance but as far as I know there is no dust rating which in my line of work is a must. Even covering my Note in a zip bag at the end of the day still has dust on it.
The cameras on the Fold are a downgrade from the Note 20 ultra and also something else I discovered was the S pen they are giving away along with the case is not like the S Pen on the Note, it is a Fold edition, which still works ok but doesn't have all the features of the Note S Pen, for those extra features you would need the S Pen Pro which would not fit into the Fold 3 case.

The Fold 3 is a nice phone/tablet and will be ideal for some but not for me this time around, I WANT MY NOTE!

Yeah, the camera will definitely be a downgrade on the fold. I personally don't want a fancy camera, I just point and shoot and that's all I need. The camera was fine for me on the note 3, lol. I personally think Samsung needs to first get the cameras to just take great pictures like the pixel instead of the other editing, 100X zoom and the such.

 

[Morty2264]

Well, I just ordered a new-to-me Note 20, the Ultra is out of my wheelhouse at the moment, and with the one I ordered already unlocked, I get flexibility down the road. I'm really looking forward to its arrival, I just ordered it earlier today.

That's awesome! Happy Phone Week! Let us know when you get it and how you are liking it!

 

[BergerKing]

That's awesome! Happy Phone Week! Let us know when you get it and how you are liking it!

Funny that you should ask, because it arrived just before noon, Central Time today, and I limped on up to the mailbox to fetch it. I happily brought it down, opened it up to see that I got exactly what I bought, and promptly sent the seller feedback via eBay.

Then I set about to switching. Now, this has improved dramatically since the day I owned the S3, and was it ever fun to watch. All those apps transferred nicely, including my setup from the Note 9, down to the screen layout, except adding the AT&T suite of apps that mostly got downloaded in short order. Even the Sprint apps migrated. Texts, ev'thang . I simply love that I set automatic backups to my phones. It migrated settings from both phones I've been using. Thank goodness I'd just gotten high-speed internet yesterday, my timing was perfect!

Then the phone downloaded several sequential security updates to get things up to spec.

I guess I didn't realize that the Note 20 went back to the flat screen, the only thing I really didn't
like about the Note 9. I certainly like that. I noticed it doesn't have the biometric sensors for Samsung Health that the Note 9 does, but I didn't use those much, anyway.

I selected a case from Armadillo Tek that is very similar to an Otterbox. It's solid as a rock, but not terribly heavy like the Defenders are, and half the price. My ex-wife had a Defender on her Note 5, and I didn't care for it, much, especially the charging port cover, which got rather floppy and unreliable after about 9 months. When I went to bed last night, I dropped it on my Samsung Qi charger I got with my Note 5, and although it's a slower standard than the 20 is capable of, it charged just fine through the case, something my ex's Otterbox wouldn't do reliably. So, that test is out of the way. Funny enough, the charger was a freebie when I got the 5, and its now charged two 5s, two 8+, my 9, and now 20. Glad I kept up with it!

But I'm definitely looking forward to this ride!

 

[Morty2264]

Funny that you should ask, because it arrived just before noon, Central Time today, and I limped on up to the mailbox to fetch it. I happily brought it down, opened it up to see that I got exactly what I bought, and promptly sent the seller feedback via eBay.

Then I set about to switching. Now, this has improved dramatically since the day I owned the S3, and was it ever fun to watch. All those apps transferred nicely, including my setup from the Note 9, down to the screen layout, except adding the AT&T suite of apps that mostly got downloaded in short order. Even the Sprint apps migrated. Texts, ev'thang . I simply love that I set automatic backups to my phones. It migrated settings from both phones I've been using. Thank goodness I'd just gotten high-speed internet yesterday, my timing was perfect!

Then the phone downloaded several sequential security updates to get things up to spec.

I guess I didn't realize that the Note 20 went back to the flat screen, the only thing I really didn't
like about the Note 9. I certainly like that. I noticed it doesn't have the biometric sensors for Samsung Health that the Note 9 does, but I didn't use those much, anyway.

I selected a case from Armadillo Tek that is very similar to an Otterbox. It's solid as a rock, but not terribly heavy like the Defenders are, and half the price. My ex-wife had a Defender on her Note 5, and I didn't care for it, much, especially the charging port cover, which got rather floppy and unreliable after about 9 months. When I went to bed last night, I dropped it on my Samsung Qi charger I got with my Note 5, and although it's a slower standard than the 20 is capable of, it charged just fine through the case, something my ex's Otterbox wouldn't do reliably. So, that test is out of the way. Funny enough, the charger was a freebie when I got the 5, and its now charged two 5s, two 8+, my 9, and now 20. Glad I kept up with it!

But I'm definitely looking forward to this ride!

That's so awesome that you just got it, and that all of your settings and apps migrated over so successfully! I'm so glad you like it! You used Smart Switch, right?

That's so cool that the wireless charging worked - and through the case, no less! I wasn't expecting that!

Let us know how you like the camera and music/speakers on your Note 20! Enjoy!

 

[rushmore]

It will be interesting, since in spite of hyperbole, the S21 series did not sell well and they used sell in numbers to retailers, rather than actual consumer purchase numbers. The last time they did that was the S6 series, which also did not have a micro sd slot.

The more they act like Apple, the more share they lose to Apple. Why take way features that impact sales?

 

[rushmore]

The Note is the only real big miss tbh. Micro SD has been rendered unnecessary with Cloud storage, MST is obsolete in everywhere but the US and needs killed off once and for all for their own good to force the remaining retailers to get with the times. It's all just evolution

You're kidding? Cloud sucks when traveling, or no access. Local storage is very logical and very practical. Good luck with your cloud.

 

[BergerKing]

That's so awesome that you just got it, and that all of your settings and apps migrated over so successfully! I'm so glad you like it! You used Smart Switch, right?

That's so cool that the wireless charging worked - and through the case, no less! I wasn't expecting that!

Let us know how you like the camera and music/speakers on your Note 20! Enjoy!

Oh, yeah, Smart Switch, for sure. It migrated the text messages from my J2, and the other data from my Note 9, simultaneously. Got my total layout, screen background, and all my app folders organized the way I had them.

Now, of course, I had to go sign into most of my apps and backup sources with the new thing, Samsung Pass didn't always get them. But several accounts were due for their password updates, anyway. I got my screen protectors in today, but I'll put one on, tomorrow, and then teach my fingerprint scanner. I'm trying to decide if I want to replace that camera module window, since it does have a scratch on it, before I put a cover on that. The scratch cuts across the center lens. It isn't bad. But everything seems to be working rather well, so far.

The sound seems to be better on the 20, the screen is a bit tougher, I think the 9 may be slightly better, in some ways. But really, both still have great screens. One of the settings I'm trying to sort was that the 9 had a setting where you typed in your unlock #s, and the phone automatically opened. Haven't found it on the 20, yet, if it even has that feature. I'll order a reader that I can use to put my media card in, and make it easier to keep a solid and a cloud based backup for those files I don't wanna keep on my phone.

More to come, though. Meanwhile, some shots in the new case.

 

[Laura Knotek]

Oh, yeah, Smart Switch, for sure. It migrated the text messages from my J2, and the other data from my Note 9, simultaneously. Got my total layout, screen background, and all my app folders organized the way I had them.

Now, of course, I had to go sign into most of my apps and backup sources with the new thing, Samsung Pass didn't always get them. But several accounts were due for their password updates, anyway. I got my screen protectors in today, but I'll put one on, tomorrow, and then teach my fingerprint scanner. I'm trying to decide if I want to replace that camera module window, since it does have a scratch on it, before I put a cover on that. The scratch cuts across the center lens. It isn't bad. But everything seems to be working rather well, so far.

The sound seems to be better on the 20, the screen is a bit tougher, I think the 9 may be slightly better, in some ways. But really, both still have great screens. One of the settings I'm trying to sort was that the 9 had a setting where you typed in your unlock #s, and the phone automatically opened. Haven't found it on the 20, yet, if it even has that feature. I'll order a reader that I can use to put my media card in, and make it easier to keep a solid and a cloud based backup for those files I don't wanna keep on my phone.

More to come, though. Meanwhile, some shots in the new case.

View attachment 335901View attachment 335902View attachment 335903

I love Smart Switch. So far I've only had one Samsung phone, the S10+, but I was able to use Smart Switch to add my apps to my Tab S6 Lite when I got it.

That case looks really nice, and I like how it matches the phone so well.

Enjoy your new phone!

 

[BergerKing]

I love Smart Switch. So far I've only had one Samsung phone, the S10+, but I was able to use Smart Switch to add my apps to my Tab S6 Lite when I got it.

That case looks really nice, and I like how it matches the phone so well.

Enjoy your new phone!

Certainly doing my best! I thought I was gonna take a run with a Motorola, but the one I wanted was almost as expensive as a used Note 20, and still had less RAM and that notorious lack of update support, and others. I'd much rather have what I wanted, and that was at least one full generation past the 9, and really, I'd love to have the Ultra, for the sheer space. I considered a Note 10+ 256 gig, but since I'm now on AT&T, I wanted a 5G capable device, since my county is currently getting installed. The 4G has degraded significantly, and a pure 4G device just seemed to be a waste of limited resources.

The case is pretty nice, and I'll install a glass screen protector, it comes with a centering kit in it, so you put the frame on after a thorough cleaning, pull the film, and you lay it down in the frame, run your finger down the center, and then start working any bubbles out. The screen came pre-scratched, and I want it covered to prevent more.

My one thing that was driving me a little nuts was dealing with the Lock Screen. Some time ago, I a prompt to be able to enter my PIN without habillving to tap "Enter." Decided to look it up, and that made me very happy to get that working for me.

 

[srgonu]

Oh, yeah, Smart Switch, for sure. It migrated the text messages from my J2, and the other data from my Note 9, simultaneously. Got my total layout, screen background, and all my app folders organized the way I had them.

Instead of that huge case, I prefer holding z fold 3 since am minimalist. Just saying, no offense

 

[BergerKing]

Instead of that huge case, I prefer holding z fold 3 since am minimalist. Just saying, no offense ������

Normally, I'd use a TPU-style case with a Pop Socket or attachable stand, something I did with the Note 9 for most of the 3.years I used it, and believe me, that was a LOT of usage.

But, I found this to be less than optimal for the way I use my phone. I have some nerve issues, and dexterity issues as well, so dealing with the Socket could get to be an issue, and that bulge would get hung up on things.

The case isn't as bulky as previous Otterboxes I've encountered. Or as tacky of a material, but it's still solidly protective. Additionally, with the hand issues, I drop my phone. That's just a fact of life when you get to be an old fart like me with the medical challenges I've been through.

But no, I take no offense. The Fold looks okay, but it's bulkier, and I don't want to unfold another phone all the time just to carry it. And, of course, there's the inherent failure point. A slab is simpler, and definitely a bit more "pocket friendly."

 

[trucksmoveamerica#AC]

But no, I take no offense. The Fold looks okay, but it's bulkier, and I don't want to unfold another phone all the time just to carry it. And, of course, there's the inherent failure point. A slab is simpler, and definitely a bit more "pocket friendly."

Bulkier, that depends how you define bulky. The note 20U is not as thick, but it is wider. Then you don't have to unfold the fold every time to use it, it is very usable closed on the front screen, a added bonus is one handed use is a lot more easy to do on the fold closed. The folds are not experiencing a failure rate any more then other phones. Thats like saying the S 21 series have a failure point because some screens are going blank, so stay away from them. If you are referring to cracking at the fold, I've seen more reports of that on the flip 3, but it's not a high complaint and some of the reviews I've seen on it are wondering if it has anything to do with removing the screen protector. The fold 2 is just as pocketable as the note 20U, it's a little thicker versus wider, both are considered bulky in the pocket, I've seen the complaints on the other phones being bulky also.

The fold isn't for everyone ,that's why they make other types of phones. I was the first to mock the fold, I pointed out it's a bad idea every chance I got, jumped at every chance I could to tear it apart. I have eaten my words now, it's a phone people will learn to love over time. I get it, it's new technology and there's always the chance it will be a failure, the note 7 taught us all that, but I don't feel it's going to be a issue.

 

[CranstonSnord]

I have had my Note Ultra now for about 2 months, and even though I am a light phone user, I love it! This is actually my second Samsung, but the first one I have purchased. The other was given to me by my employer years back to use at work. I do not even remember what model it was. I got mine through Amazon refurbished, and it looks and operates like new. I originally walked into Verizon to get a S20, but they were gone and they showed me a S21. The phone looked great, but there was no SD slot. I keep a lot of photos and music on my phone, but do not want them on the main storage area of the phone. I use Google Drive sometimes, but I want my stuff at hand when I want it, not on some server somewhere. I am betting, like the S21, the next Note does not have a SD slot. This seems to be a trend in current Android devices. The replaceable battery went several years ago, and now phones with SD slots are hard to find. It is all about $$$. These companies do not want you upgrading your device, they want you to get a new one. PC's are also sadly getting that way also. Anyhow, I probably will not use the pen that much. I wanted the largest phone I could buy with the most storage, and I got what I wanted, even though I will not use the phone to its full potential.

 

[KupKrazy]

I read the title of this thread and it made me think about it. Even with the S Pen and the ZF3, I actually believe more than ever that the Note series is not dead and will indeed come back next year with a Note 22. I feel like what they've done with the S Pen for the S21 and how they did it for the ZF3 is reserving an "in-phone" Spen feature for the next Note. Just my guess.

 

[fanisk]

I read the title of this thread and it made me think about it. Even with the S Pen and the ZF3, I actually believe more than ever that the Note series is not dead and will indeed come back next year with a Note 22. I feel like what they've done with the S Pen for the S21 and how they did it for the ZF3 is reserving an "in-phone" Spen feature for the next Note. Just my guess.

I can only laugh with the awkward Samsung case for the S pen in the Z Fold 3!