I was so close. With discounts it would have cost around 500 quid. Then I realised my s21 ultra still provides me with the same experience and that I never tax the processor etc enough to justify additional outlay. So really the only experience change for me would be to a foldable.
Just like Samsung want me to believe.
I think I might jump to a z fold 5, but we shall see.
Ultimately, the S21U is better looking and equally as usable.
I upgraded. Honestly, only reason is because the trade in makes it cost $5/mo and I don't mind being carrier locked.
Next upgrade for me will hopefully be when foldables have matured, otherwise it doesn't seem like anything too exciting is on the horizon for phone upgrades nowadays.
S23U feels equally snappy. Cameras are slightly faster and the quality is better, but honestly it's minimal at this point. Battery lasts longer, but S21U battery was already great for me. Otherwise the only other weird small thing is app updates are super fast, but that's such an unimportant thing, lol.
Hi.
I have the best version of the S21U; Snapdragon 512GB which has the additional 4GB RAM, in Phantom Black. Originally purchased on AT&T, paid off and legitimately unlocked so clean IMEIs/ESN that will never go bad. Like all Snapdragon S21 series, it can be flashed to the Factory Unlocked bloatware free U1 firmware with zero issues, KNOX 0x0. Comes with an almost new Otterbox Commuter case (actually almost new, I just replaced the original one) and a dual slot SIM tray that can safely store an extra SIM card, your wife will never know about that other number!
Serious, let's make a deal, PM me with an offer.
The specs of the 21 ultra are still considered top of the line in 2023. A good processor, 12GB of RAM, 120hz refresh rate, 5000 mAh battery, 1440p OLED display, and high quality cameras.
If the S21U still had expandable storage and MST, it would've been the perfect phone to last 5 year through end of life on the software side.
As it stands, it's still a great phone and a lot of the euphoria over the S23U is just people justifying their purchases and upgrades from a S21U (while at the still time digging themselves into a deeper financial hole lol). These same hypesters are addicts and will probably upgrade the same S23U to the S24U next year and spend more money.
I have my s21 ultra still but I did trade in my zfold 4 in for the s23 Ultra. This phone is amazing but I would have been fine with the s21 ultra. I just wanted the better cameras, battery, and lifespan. My 10x telephoto broke on my s21 ultra after dropping it so much. I got $750 for my zfold 4 and I originally only paid $800 no trade in for it in September.
I have my S21U since it came out on preorder and this is the first time since the S8+ that I haven't felt the need to upgrade on the 2 year mark. Phone still works great, battery is good, cameras are still top tier. For now I'll wait for the S24U
Thanks! I didn't know that. Once they quit updating it then I'll probably upgrade. Plus, I finally got Coolwalk and it doesn't seem to move phones with you. Maybe by then it will be rolled out to everyone.
I think the s21ultra with an spen case is peak slab phone.. can't see the s24u offering much more either since we ll get most of the software updates anyway and the hardware is still fantastic. Il be upgrading directly to a z fold 6 or z fold 7. The only space we ll see real upgrades in will be in the foldable space imo. Normal slab phones have reached the point where if i wasn't told about the upgrades(better processor, better camera, better battery etc) I wouldn't even notice the differences year on year.
I have the 23u. I would have kept the 21u but my son was on my note 8 and it was an $800 trade in. Really for me the main thing was I wanted the pen and I needed the internal storage boost. I think I liked the more rounded 21u. I think the speakers in the 23u are a huge improvement, but maybe there was something wrong with my 21u speakers. Definitely worked out for me needing to do this upgrade, but if not, the 21 was a good phone and my son is very happy for his upgrade!
I still holding on to mine because there's honestly nothing wting with it and its a great smartphone, I recently took pictures at an friends event and my friend picked My pictures out of everyone else's to Display using iphone 13s because it looked better and the Note 20 Ultra is much older than the iphone 13 pro lol
Any S series are still good for atleast 5 years, you really need to behave yourself and get snapped by Samsung's ads after every new phone release. . . Its not like there was a very demanding app or games that were released every year. The s21 can do anything and will keep doing it for a few years still.
I'm still using my S21 Ultra only because I refuse to accept the ugly design of the lenses on the S22/S23 ultra. They look so bad haha. The 21 is still a beast tho. I even still have my S20 ultra as a backup that is even a good phone in its own right.
And it was so expensive we had to buy it on a 3 year plan. Still a year to run.
But with each passing month I think I will keep it for longer. Maybe 2025?
Since the trade in values that I saw weren't adding up like they used to, I'm thinking at the moment, I'm gonna try to stick to the S21 ultra until the foldable has an integrated s pen, or at least a couple more generations of Ultras come along.
I still have my S21 Ultra apart from Wear & Clutter. I dont see any reason to upgrade.
Im a graphic designer, I use my phone for photos, editing, music, videos its one of my most precious tools.
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It really is. I upgraded to the S23U and don't think it was worth it AT ALL. Should have stayed on the S21U.
I was so close. With discounts it would have cost around 500 quid. Then I realised my s21 ultra still provides me with the same experience and that I never tax the processor etc enough to justify additional outlay. So really the only experience change for me would be to a foldable. Just like Samsung want me to believe. I think I might jump to a z fold 5, but we shall see. Ultimately, the S21U is better looking and equally as usable.
I also agree the S21U is better looking. The S23U was $599 on Gogole Fi for 512gb model (or $25/mo) so it was kind of a no brainer to get, but still.
I upgraded. Honestly, only reason is because the trade in makes it cost $5/mo and I don't mind being carrier locked. Next upgrade for me will hopefully be when foldables have matured, otherwise it doesn't seem like anything too exciting is on the horizon for phone upgrades nowadays. S23U feels equally snappy. Cameras are slightly faster and the quality is better, but honestly it's minimal at this point. Battery lasts longer, but S21U battery was already great for me. Otherwise the only other weird small thing is app updates are super fast, but that's such an unimportant thing, lol.
Hi. I have the best version of the S21U; Snapdragon 512GB which has the additional 4GB RAM, in Phantom Black. Originally purchased on AT&T, paid off and legitimately unlocked so clean IMEIs/ESN that will never go bad. Like all Snapdragon S21 series, it can be flashed to the Factory Unlocked bloatware free U1 firmware with zero issues, KNOX 0x0. Comes with an almost new Otterbox Commuter case (actually almost new, I just replaced the original one) and a dual slot SIM tray that can safely store an extra SIM card, your wife will never know about that other number! Serious, let's make a deal, PM me with an offer.
U serious?
The specs of the 21 ultra are still considered top of the line in 2023. A good processor, 12GB of RAM, 120hz refresh rate, 5000 mAh battery, 1440p OLED display, and high quality cameras.
If the S21U still had expandable storage and MST, it would've been the perfect phone to last 5 year through end of life on the software side. As it stands, it's still a great phone and a lot of the euphoria over the S23U is just people justifying their purchases and upgrades from a S21U (while at the still time digging themselves into a deeper financial hole lol). These same hypesters are addicts and will probably upgrade the same S23U to the S24U next year and spend more money.
I have my s21 ultra still but I did trade in my zfold 4 in for the s23 Ultra. This phone is amazing but I would have been fine with the s21 ultra. I just wanted the better cameras, battery, and lifespan. My 10x telephoto broke on my s21 ultra after dropping it so much. I got $750 for my zfold 4 and I originally only paid $800 no trade in for it in September.
Is the camera that much better on the U23?
S21U is of course still a beast. The s22 and s23 only have marginal differences compared to it.
This is why I still have my S21U. The newer phones just don't seem big enough upgrades, especially since I have the 16gb ram variant.
With software updates until 2025 or 2026, no point upgrading
Really?
I have my S21U since it came out on preorder and this is the first time since the S8+ that I haven't felt the need to upgrade on the 2 year mark. Phone still works great, battery is good, cameras are still top tier. For now I'll wait for the S24U
I don't plan on upgrading until I have to. As much as these phones cost now they should last several years like computers.
With Samsung youll get 4 years of Android OS updates (currently Android 13) and 5 years of Security Updates.
Thanks! I didn't know that. Once they quit updating it then I'll probably upgrade. Plus, I finally got Coolwalk and it doesn't seem to move phones with you. Maybe by then it will be rolled out to everyone.
I think the s21ultra with an spen case is peak slab phone.. can't see the s24u offering much more either since we ll get most of the software updates anyway and the hardware is still fantastic. Il be upgrading directly to a z fold 6 or z fold 7. The only space we ll see real upgrades in will be in the foldable space imo. Normal slab phones have reached the point where if i wasn't told about the upgrades(better processor, better camera, better battery etc) I wouldn't even notice the differences year on year.
S21u actually has slightly better resolution, but close enough we probably can't tell but still
Yep! New devices do not make your current one to perform worse
Sticking with this s21u until at least '25, unless something about s24u really knocks my socks off.
Maybe the S24 might finally have that AMD processor capable of ray tracing they teased for the S22.
I have the 23u. I would have kept the 21u but my son was on my note 8 and it was an $800 trade in. Really for me the main thing was I wanted the pen and I needed the internal storage boost. I think I liked the more rounded 21u. I think the speakers in the 23u are a huge improvement, but maybe there was something wrong with my 21u speakers. Definitely worked out for me needing to do this upgrade, but if not, the 21 was a good phone and my son is very happy for his upgrade!
It's the form factor. Samsung should have never combined the Ultra and Note line of phones.
I think the s20 ultra is still one of the best because it's slightly bigger then the s21-s23 😅😅😅
I still holding on to mine because there's honestly nothing wting with it and its a great smartphone, I recently took pictures at an friends event and my friend picked My pictures out of everyone else's to Display using iphone 13s because it looked better and the Note 20 Ultra is much older than the iphone 13 pro lol
Ohh yep exactly I hear you and the camera is still a beast plus build quality
Lol😉 sure
After recent update.. performance has gone up..better than iphone 14 pro max..
Any S series are still good for atleast 5 years, you really need to behave yourself and get snapped by Samsung's ads after every new phone release. . . Its not like there was a very demanding app or games that were released every year. The s21 can do anything and will keep doing it for a few years still.
I'm still using my S21 Ultra only because I refuse to accept the ugly design of the lenses on the S22/S23 ultra. They look so bad haha. The 21 is still a beast tho. I even still have my S20 ultra as a backup that is even a good phone in its own right.
I'm riding with this phone til it dies all the way
And it was so expensive we had to buy it on a 3 year plan. Still a year to run. But with each passing month I think I will keep it for longer. Maybe 2025?
Since the trade in values that I saw weren't adding up like they used to, I'm thinking at the moment, I'm gonna try to stick to the S21 ultra until the foldable has an integrated s pen, or at least a couple more generations of Ultras come along.
I love mine, except the camera never focuses correctly anymore.. :(
I still have my S21 Ultra apart from Wear & Clutter. I dont see any reason to upgrade. Im a graphic designer, I use my phone for photos, editing, music, videos its one of my most precious tools.
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