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[Q] Decent budget phone for rough use?

Needing some advice... Currently have a Note 2 and love it but its not very easy to be very active with. Just slightly too big and costs too much for me to want to risk it coming out of my back pocket at 25mph (cycling) or out of a front pocket while running. Yes I realize I could just get something that more or less straps it to me but I don't really want another thing to wear.
So priorities... Small(3.5-4inch screen and as thin as possible), gps, gsm 2g,3g,and prefer lte but not required, and able to sustain screen on time of at least 3hrs while using gps and data at the same time. If thats getting to the edge of the expected battery life then changeable batteries is a must. I would prefer to stay in the range of 200-300usd.... Lastly must use microsim... and if possible a million dollars too.
I am pretty new to android so unfamiliar with what is a decent older handset that would fit my needs.

rans0m00 said:
Needing some advice... Currently have a Note 2 and love it but its not very easy to be very active with. Just slightly too big and costs too much for me to want to risk it coming out of my back pocket at 25mph (cycling) or out of a front pocket while running. Yes I realize I could just get something that more or less straps it to me but I don't really want another thing to wear.
So priorities... Small(3.5-4inch screen and as thin as possible), gps, gsm 2g,3g,and prefer lte but not required, and able to sustain screen on time of at least 3hrs while using gps and data at the same time. If thats getting to the edge of the expected battery life then changeable batteries is a must. I would prefer to stay in the range of 200-300usd.... Lastly must use microsim... and if possible a million dollars too.
I am pretty new to android so unfamiliar with what is a decent older handset that would fit my needs.
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So you must use microSim...meeh...that's a problem...really...
Apart from the microSim must....samsung galaxy S3 seems great....battery life is good...has 2G, 3G....i think no LTE...but the price is not great either....
Another great device is the Nexus....but then you would have gone too far from the awesome Note 2

The goal with using the microsim is so I don't have to get a new sim card and mess up my unlimited data plan with att. I would just swap sims.
I asked before I realized the microsim is pretty new so as of now it looks like I am limited to a new phone or in the older and slightly cheaper is the s3. There are other newer used phone but saving 75 vs buying new just isn't worth the gamble for me....
So the hunt continues... Current candidates are the s3,nexus 4,s3 mini, and possibly the Samsung rugby pro.
I hate to spend so much money on any of them but it might just be what it is... I saw on amazon the s3 mini for 279$ no contract.. Which would work.
Sent from my Note 2 using Tapatalk 2

Ask here mate:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1620179
"To err is human, to forgive is divine"
Sent from my SGS II

Will move it over there.
Sent from my Note 2 using Tapatalk 2

rans0m00 said:
So priorities... Small(3.5-4inch screen and as thin as possible), gps, gsm 2g,3g,and prefer lte but not required, and able to sustain screen on time of at least 3hrs while using gps and data at the same time. If thats getting to the edge of the expected battery life then changeable batteries is a must. I would prefer to stay in the range of 200-300usd.... Lastly must use microsim... and if possible a million dollars too.
I am pretty new to android so unfamiliar with what is a decent older handset that would fit my needs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd recommend you using Xperia Go. FullProof: Water, Scratch & Impact proof phone. But Non-Removable Battery...
http://www.gsmarena.com/sony_xperia_go-4782.php

Samsung Rugby Pro (AT&T). Does all standard frequencies, plus both T-Mobile and AT&T LTE. Rugged as well. Snapdragon S4 Dual-Core, removable battery, 5 MP camera, etc. It's basically a smaller, rugged, Galaxy S3.
http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/SGH-I547ZKAATT

I like it. Will have to figure out if I can use a microsd to mini sd adapter. Totally forgot about those when looking at my phone options.
Sent from my Note 2 using Tapatalk 2

Considering the rugby pro too. A big factor in this purchase will be the cost of the phone... I will use it roughly 3hrs 4x a week and it literally goes in a pocket and transmits my location and accepts calls... So doesn't have to be a powerhouse or even a good screen. Just kind of small and good battery life really....
Sent from my Note 2 using Tapatalk 2

rans0m00 said:
Considering the rugby pro too. A big factor in this purchase will be the cost of the phone... I will use it roughly 3hrs 4x a week and it literally goes in a pocket and transmits my location and accepts calls... So doesn't have to be a powerhouse or even a good screen. Just kind of small and good battery life really....
Sent from my Note 2 using Tapatalk 2
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It's $250 Buy It Now on eBay.

Hmm I will put that high on the list too then. I was searching and couldn't find it that cheap anywhere but I did forget to ebay during my mass Google'ing
Sent from my Note 2 using Tapatalk 2

Xperia active is also dirt cheap.but it maybe hard to find
Sent from my LT30p using xda premium

After some thought I decided I am for sure getting one of the new phones this year so I am throwing my Note 2 into the elements. I figure the odds of me breaking it are not too great and if it happens I'll just fall back to a blackberry I have laying around for a couple months while waiting on a new phone to be released. Thanks for the good phone options I was not aware of... Opened my eyes to some decent older phones if I find myself absolutely needing a beater phone.
Sent from my Note 2 using Tapatalk 2

Exodus?

Just wondering, now that the Note 8 has been unveiled and we know for sure it's specs etc, are you inclined to jump ship from the S8+?
For me the differences are so minor. I wouldn't use the pen for instance, 0.1 inches bigger, big wow, 2 cameras, big deal, £100 dearer, not doing it for me.
My eyes are set on the LG V30, what about you?
[UPDATE]
After all the above, I'm actually writing this on a N8.
Blame the wife, her Z5 gave up the ghost and she loved the S8+ so much. What's a dutiful husband to do? Didn't make sense having 2 S8+'s, the rest is history.

Between what we already have on the new S series and all the Note 8 leaks we've been pretty aware of what we'll be doing after release for some time now. Maybe yesterday's reveal might have changed some minds of those on the fence but for the most part if you've been a Note user for a while you'll likely want to go back which is what I'll be doing eventually. Just not within the next month.
I prefer to wait at least a month just to monitor how the release has been going and see if there's any hardware issues. This caution on my part served me well last year when that whole Note 7 fiasco occurred. I was getting ready to jump on the new Note back then because my Note 5 was getting long in the tooth and I was dearly missing Micro SD support and the prospect of having a Note with a strong IP was just too tempting to pass up on. Luckily I held my ground after launch and realized what was going on with the batteries. I actually was going to pull the trigger right before the second recall happened. It wasn't meant to be. Hoping everything will be fine this time around with the Note 8 and I can finally, finally have both Micro SD and IP rating on my Note device. Finally.
This S8 Plus is sick but it's difficult to be without that S-Pen. If the Note series was only an S device with an S-Pen that would do it for me. The extra bump in specs that the Note series usually brings along with is just the cherry on top for me. I could take it or leave it but give me the S-Pen.

roaduardo said:
Between what we already have on the new S series and all the Note 8 leaks we've been pretty aware of what we'll be doing after release for some time now. Maybe yesterday's reveal might have changed some minds of those on the fence but for the most part if you've been a Note user for a while you'll likely want to go back which is what I'll be doing eventually. Just not within the next month.
I prefer to wait at least a month just to monitor how the release has been going and see if there's any hardware issues. This caution on my part served me well last year when that whole Note 7 fiasco occurred. I was getting ready to jump on the new Note back then because my Note 5 was getting long in the tooth and I was dearly missing Micro SD support and the prospect of having a Note with a strong IP was just too tempting to pass up on. Luckily I held my ground after launch and realized what was going on with the batteries. I actually was going to pull the trigger right before the second recall happened. It wasn't meant to be. Hoping everything will be fine this time around with the Note 8 and I can finally, finally have both Micro SD and IP rating on my Note device. Finally.
This S8 Plus is sick but it's difficult to be without that S-Pen. If the Note series was only an S device with an S-Pen that would do it for me. The extra bump in specs that the Note series usually brings along with is just the cherry on top for me. I could take it or leave it but give me the S-Pen.
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I get you, but bar some minor tweaking the Note 8 is just an S8+ with a £100 pencil stuck to the side, lol.

kxdaorbit said:
I get you, but bar some minor tweaking the Note 8 is just an S8+ with a pencil stuck to the side, lol.
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Which is exactly why I want it. That pencil is a game-changer for me, lol!

roaduardo said:
Which is exactly why I want it. That pencil is a game-changer for me, lol!
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Seriously, I'm just joking. I realise that for some folks productivity requirements, this is an essential piece of kit. Just that for me it's not an 'enterprise' or productivity tool, so I'd never use it. I just like messing with phones and the differences here would probably only satisfy my fix for a day or so.

kxdaorbit said:
Seriously, I'm just joking. I realise that for some folks productivity requirements, this is an essential piece of kit. Just that for me it's not an 'enterprise' or productivity tool, so I'd never use it. I just like messing with phones and the differences here would probably only satisfy my fix for a day or so.
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I've actually never even used any of my Note devices as an enterprise or productivity tool like their ads would suggest. I just prefer to enjoy interacting with my phone's display using that S-Pen. The built-in digitizer performs much, much, much better than any third party stylus can and the added tools built into the S-Pen makes things that much more easier to do various stuff.

Had the Note 7 and realized the pencil is just useless for me. Will stick to my S8+ and see what the Pixel XL 2 will bring.

Note 8 looks awesome its a beefed up version of the S8+ I’m deffo jumping ship i haven’t even used my S8+ it still got the factory stickers on mine i should have waited but with the NOTE 7 Fiasco i thought SAMSUNG wouldn’t release a new note till next year. but 6 gig ram and dual camera and dual sim roll on 24 September.

I'm definitely not jumping ship for one. I had a note 4 and I had so many performance & battery issues it wasn't funny. Plus the upgrades between the s8+ and note are so minute, the ram and the spen were the only thing holding me back. I just can't justify paying an extra few hundred dollars for it. I do miss my spen though...

For me, yes probably in a couple of months. I think my S8+ looks better and most lightly is better in hand as well but the S pen is what will make the difference for me.

Looks good, but not a fan of tbe spen and the minor changes. Dual cams and 6gb of ram is not worth the extra money. How much faster is 6gb of ram when multitasking?

ssgunner20 said:
Looks good, but not a fan of tbe spen and the minor changes. Dual cams and 6gb of ram is not worth the extra money. How much faster is 6gb of ram when multitasking?
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Almost imperceptible.... from what I read it will be most useful to post process photos because of the dual camera.
I'm bypass the note 8.
Enviado do meu SM-G955F através de Tapatalk

Note 20 Ultra vs Note 10 Plus screen comparison

Does anyone has compare the screens ? The colors on 20 Ultra is not that vivid.

I noticed that too. It looks less vivid (even though in the display mode is on vivid). And for me looks like it has a slight warmer tint which I really don't like.
It's supposed to have a better screen lol

atti12 said:
I noticed that too. It looks less vivid (even though in the display mode is on vivid). And for me looks like it has a slight warmer tint which I really don't like.
It's supposed to have a better screen lol
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Agreed

I saw a review testing between a Note 10+, Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra and the Ultra didn't seem to appear as vivid as the other 2. Regardless, I love the phone (Note 20 Ultra) and am happy with what I see and the phone overall, so I am not going to complain about it. (that's just me though)

I think that the colors is more real now . But Samsung have to add more profiles to choose from .

The screen looks more "real". Like true to life. I had the S9 Note, and there is a difference. But I like it better.

Yes agreed. Note 10 plus seems to be producing more vibrant color with the same setting.

Display mate The famous display testing website says that Note 20 ultra has 0.5Jncd while Note10 plus has 0.4Jndc which means the Note 10 plus display colors is a little more accurate than Note 20 ultra

It is something that you just get used to over time.
I can remember going from an earlier Galaxy S device (I don't recall specifically which one now) when Samsung stopped the over saturation (by taking away that 'ultra' vivid option), I complained bitterly about it at the time, but quickly got used to it and now I appreciate colour accuracy far more.
We can tweak the colour somewhat in settings, but I think after a couple of weeks you won't notice. Plus it probably only bothers those that have a Note 10+ in their hands and are slapping these phones next to each other!

Talderon said:
I saw a review testing between a Note 10+, Note 20 and Note 20 Ultra and the Ultra didn't seem to appear as vivid as the other 2. Regardless, I love the phone (Note 20 Ultra) and am happy with what I see and the phone overall, so I am not going to complain about it. (that's just me though)
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plz could you give me the review as i want to decide which i will get

I got the N20U snapdragon and the screen is great. It's the Exynos one that's dull and washed out.

Less not forgot about the N20U green tint issue affecting some panels.

Limeybastard said:
Less not forgot about the N20U green tint issue affecting some panels.
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Oh my... maybe you should have went with the 10+ (*hand wringing*).
Not good news for me either if I decide to get a 20U. I'm not confident Samsung won't screw up the next release. Even if they don't Gookill is on track to release a dud.

blackhawk said:
Oh my... maybe you should have went with the 10+ (*hand wringing*).
Not good news for me either if I decide to get a 20U. I'm not confident Samsung won't screw up the next release. Even if they don't Gookill is on track to release a dud.
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You know me, Im selfish. I figured for an "extra" few dollars I could get a Note 20 U. I didnt want one of those 400$ Amazon refurbished Note 10+ devices. I paid 750 for the N20U. Im praying to the sAMOLED gods as we speak that my device hasn't got a green tint like my SM-N985F did ( Note 20 U non 5G Exynos )

Limeybastard said:
You know me, Im selfish. I figured for an "extra" few dollars I could get a Note 20 U. I didnt want one of those 400$ Amazon refurbished Note 10+ devices. I paid 750 for the N20U. Im praying to the sAMOLED gods as we speak that my device hasn't got a green tint like my SM-N985F did ( Note 20 U non 5G Exynos )
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Not like it's a well blended QP one might spot, right? Hopefully it's not half baked spray over everyone can spot.
The suspense... will it be praise or the vilest of curses?
Stayed tuned to this rabid box of gerbils Channel

blackhawk said:
Not like it's a well blended QP one might spot, right? Hopefully it's not half baked spray over everyone can spot.
The suspense... will it be praise or the vilest of curses?
Stayed tuned to this rabid box of gerbils Channel
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Click to collapse
The seller was a huge place near Seattle. They had over 100 units of mystic black sealed new N20 Tmobile units. I got the IMEI and it puts the manufacture date to late July 2020. Which is in line to those that got theirs on launch date of Aug 2020. What I dont understand is and maybe your expertise knows, where did over 100 units of sealed Tmobile Note 20 U appear from to be sold this late ?

Limeybastard said:
The seller was a huge place near Seattle. They had over 100 units of mystic black sealed new N20 Tmobile units. I got the IMEI and it puts the manufacture date to late July 2020. Which is in line to those that got theirs on launch date of Aug 2020. What I dont understand is and maybe your expertise knows, where did over 100 units of sealed Tmobile Note 20 U appear from to be sold this late ?
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Probably a Tmobile owner that retired because of the mostly peaceful protests

Thinking about selling my z fold 2(not a sale post)

I love this device . Best phone I ever owned . opening up to a tablet still feels like magic after months of owning it .but I'm thinking about selling it .why you ask ? Because I just had to pay 150 to get the inside screen replaced . I opened it up a week ago with a crack going down the left side of the screen .no issues with the lcd just the thin glass was cracked .I baby this phone .I don't take it out the house often .never gave dropped it or abused it in any way . And honestly would have felt better about the crack if I knew how it happened . But there it was and a week later I'm getting my fold 2 back tommorow . Now what to do ? Keep using it for who knows just for it to" magically "crack again and have to pay over 500 dollars to get it fixed again . I'm tempted to just trade it to someone for another phone plus cash . thoughts ??

I fully understand your thoughts. I think the novelty and excitement of having big screen at hand anytime I want is now gone. I am finding myself cleaning the inside screen every night, even if I didn't open the screen at all that day, I am just paranoid just to see the dust sitting on it. And there is dust all the time. The constant cleaning of fingerprints makes me mad. I did dropped my phone already when I had it for just 2 weeks, from about 2 feet to carpet floor!!! and the front screen cracked in the corner immediately. I have dropped my phones from that height before and nothing ever happened. Samsung replaced the screen next day for $130.00. I have owned every single Note phone from Note 1 and never was so scared about dropping the phone, scratches on the body or dust on the screen. I am really getting tired of it. Right before the Z Fold I bought Note 20 Ultra that I still keep just in case. I do compare the 2 phones often, and I do miss the S pen a lot. So, I think of selling the Z Fold as well. On top of this, there is no good protective case for the Fold at this time and given the design, I don't see good working functional case in the future. I am using Leather Flip Cover now, it's ok, but not perfect.
I have Book cover on the Note and it works much better. The size of the screen on Note 20 Ultra is not that much smaller than opened Z fold screen anyway. And the seam in the middle of the inner screen has now developed 2 weird bumps that starts to bother me. Well, tough decisions, since it looks like Samsung will probably kill the Note line in the future and go the Fold way anyway..

Update . Traded my z fold for a OnePlus 8 pro and a iPhone 12 pro max today so far no regrets and I'll get another fold one day . Fun device while I had it

Very difficult to go back to the regular screen for me personally
Me using 12 pro max too. So dont regret anything

juggamonkey said:
Update . Traded my z fold for a OnePlus 8 pro and a iPhone 12 pro max today so far no regrets and I'll get another fold one day . Fun device while I had it
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The oneplus 8 pro is the bomb. I've had one for a while and keep going back to it over my Note 20 Ultra. I've just recently re-entered the Fold 2 community because samsung is offering $1000 for my old Note 10 plus. Couldn't turn it down, lol.

juggamonkey said:
Update . Traded my z fold for a OnePlus 8 pro and a iPhone 12 pro max today so far no regrets and I'll get another fold one day . Fun device while I had it
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Hope you adapt to and enjoy your new device.
The Sammy Fold series continues to be a disaster. Betaware that forces the customer to suck up Samsung prototyping experimental issues of their imperfect folding technology.
Plus no SD card support, not water or dust proof and as a bonus it spontaneously self destructs, a real masterpiece (as Pappy Boyington would have said).
I don't fault you one bit for bailing; a wise move.

carlitos66 said:
I fully understand your thoughts. I think the novelty and excitement of having big screen at hand anytime I want is now gone. I am finding myself cleaning the inside screen every night, even if I didn't open the screen at all that day, I am just paranoid just to see the dust sitting on it. And there is dust all the time. The constant cleaning of fingerprints makes me mad. I did dropped my phone already when I had it for just 2 weeks, from about 2 feet to carpet floor!!! and the front screen cracked in the corner immediately. I have dropped my phones from that height before and nothing ever happened. Samsung replaced the screen next day for $130.00. I have owned every single Note phone from Note 1 and never was so scared about dropping the phone, scratches on the body or dust on the screen. I am really getting tired of it. Right before the Z Fold I bought Note 20 Ultra that I still keep just in case. I do compare the 2 phones often, and I do miss the S pen a lot. So, I think of selling the Z Fold as well. On top of this, there is no good protective case for the Fold at this time and given the design, I don't see good working functional case in the future. I am using Leather Flip Cover now, it's ok, but not perfect.
I have Book cover on the Note and it works much better. The size of the screen on Note 20 Ultra is not that much smaller than opened Z fold screen anyway. And the seam in the middle of the inner screen has now developed 2 weird bumps that starts to bother me. Well, tough decisions, since it looks like Samsung will probably kill the Note line in the future and go the Fold way anyway..
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im using Spigen thin armor pro for protection... best case i had so far and super sturdy... costs $90 tho.

I have a a Note 9 and I've been spending a lot of time debating the Note 20 Ultra vs the Fold 2 but can't make my mind up, I'm not considering the S21 since it loses micro SD and integrated S-pen but doesn't have anything like the folding screen to make up for it. Some users seem to find the appeal of the Fold 2 wears off but others find they can't go back to normal phones.
I've always loved the idea of the Fold and can live with the higher cost if I like the phone but it makes it pricey if I change my mind plus I lose the sd slot and spen and I am concerned about durability as there's a few posts about damaged screens like this one. I do appreciate that problems on forums are going to be exaggerated though.
I'm keen to hear on any other Fold 2 experiences.

Johnmcl7 said:
I have a a Note 9 and I've been spending a lot of time debating the Note 20 Ultra vs the Fold 2 but can't make my mind up, I'm not considering the S21 since it loses micro SD and integrated S-pen but doesn't have anything like the folding screen to make up for it. Some users seem to find the appeal of the Fold 2 wears off but others find they can't go back to normal phones.
I've always loved the idea of the Fold and can live with the higher cost if I like the phone but it makes it pricey if I change my mind plus I lose the sd slot and spen and I am concerned about durability as there's a few posts about damaged screens like this one. I do appreciate that problems on forums are going to be exaggerated though.
I'm keen to hear on any other Fold 2 experiences.
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The Note 9 is a good phone; I'm considering getting one.
The whole Fold series is problematic at best; born to die for sure.
The technology is far from where it needs to be.
A pretty thing if you can afford it and the high maintenance it will incur plus the sad lack of the SD card slot.
The 10+ running on Pie was Samsung's last good Note offering. The 512/12 4G is a rock solid platform with good battery life.
Problem is they're hard to come by and holding their value a bit too well.
At first I was irritated by the fixed 60hz display but now feel it is a blessing as the display is huge, drop dead gorgeous and as easy on the battery as a display this size can be.
I find no worrh while incentive to upgrade in hardware or firmware for the foreseeable future.
Pie is superior to Q in a number of ways. Both 10 and 11 are Android platforms I wish to avoid.
I'm not willing to take the performance hit or part with some of my favorite overlay apks.
Screw 10 and 11... and as for Goggle I want to deep six ditch them worse than FB.

Johnmcl7 said:
I have a a Note 9 and I've been spending a lot of time debating the Note 20 Ultra vs the Fold 2 but can't make my mind up, I'm not considering the S21 since it loses micro SD and integrated S-pen but doesn't have anything like the folding screen to make up for it. Some users seem to find the appeal of the Fold 2 wears off but others find they can't go back to normal phones.
I've always loved the idea of the Fold and can live with the higher cost if I like the phone but it makes it pricey if I change my mind plus I lose the sd slot and spen and I am concerned about durability as there's a few posts about damaged screens like this one. I do appreciate that problems on forums are going to be exaggerated though.
I'm keen to hear on any other Fold 2 experiences.
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I can only tell you from my experience, the fold 2 is a terrific phone IF:
- You are OK with dealing with a thick device
- You will need a case. Its glass and expensive, and with a lot of actual opening and closing maneuvers there is always a chance of slipping out of hand (well only happened twice for me, but still)
- Formfactor hinders case designs, I am using the slim armor pro which has awesome protection rating but 2 main Issues. One, it's expensive and difficult to find in my country and 2, it makes the phone bulky still.
- front screen is narrow but then that makes it easy to reach with one hand. I really don't have a problem here.
- no SD card support, I used to use a 400Gb card with my note 20 ultra, to store pics and videos. But with fold 2, I just realised I have almost 140GB free from a total of 256GB. No gimmicky 8k Video here (I never really enjoyed it in note 20 U, 4k with stabilisation was far superior). I also used to offload apps onto the micro SD card but each time the app updated, I had to manually move the apps again. I think 512GB Would suffice if you really need an sd card. It's my use case and yours could obviously be different.
But all things said, I love the phone. Every single person notices it and goes "WHAAAAATT??? AWESOME"... Some relate it to the Nokia communicators though (being narrow and thick)
About the fragility of the phone, well after I have started using the slim armor I have never babied the phone... heck I even dropped it more than a couple of times (in closed position). I have realised that the phone really isn't that flimsy... may be I got one from a good batch coz I hear horror stores, but that's where the warranty comes in ( well in my country samsung warranty is a lengthy process BTW).
Foldables and rollables will be a thing soon but they will remain top of the line for a few years.
I am an artist myself, I use the S pen to sketch and draw and for me spen is super useful, it's a shame that fold 2 can't use it. But I have a Samsung tab s4 just for that (was cheap and serves my purpose). IF you can wait for a few more months, I hear the fold 3 will support spen and if s pen is really important to you, why not get the note 20u now (prices have dropped) and get the fold 3 later? You could be saving quite a bit.

For what it's worth:
I was uncomfortable foraging into experimental phones again as I had the Note Edge. Tons of "nay sayers" then and it transformed future phones...
I am pleased I own this device!
There have always been voices against innovation as it begins its assent until it proves worthy in their personal experience.Same with the Z Fold 2...
Yes it's an expensive device, not as fragile as expected, bulky and heavier than my N10+, no "attached" Spen, though an absolute joy to use as it fits my needs: leaving ALL devices behind save this one for business and pleasure.
It's been in the 2-piece best designed case i could find since I pulled it out of the box (heard good things about Spigen though didn't want m o r e bulk) and have been using a wonderful stylus that duplicates most of the Spen without the cool tricks. I use a ring holder device stuck to the back which absolutely helps with weight and balance. Don't miss the SD card as got weened off dependancy owning a Note 5; great for convenience though many solutions abound (using a 1TB external drive). Since enrolling in Samsung's Device Buy Back Program this phone is more of a "lease" until the Z Fold 3.
Maybe I am blessed with no issues in the first month of ownership though most issues with phones are "operator errors" I've found in my experience owning mobile phones since 1991. Your mileage may vary... good luck. Peace

Thanks for posting your thoughts.
I can manage without an SD card and an S-pen but they are handy features and I have to accept I'll lose the notification light and headphone socket but it makes paying a good chunk of money for a new phone a bit less desirable when losing these. I'm generally happy with the Note 9 and the reason I'm considering these phones is to get the ultrawide lens, I was about to buy one for my camera at around £1300 but then started thinking maybe the money would be better spent on a phone with an ultrawide lens instead. I tend to find I like to leave the super telephoto lens on the camera and then just use the phone for normal wide angle shots since they tend not to benefit so much from the dedicated camera and I have a slightly older ultrawide setup I can use for property shoots or whatever.

Johnmcl7 said:
Thanks for posting your thoughts.
I can manage without an SD card and an S-pen but they are handy features and I have to accept I'll lose the notification light and headphone socket but it makes paying a good chunk of money for a new phone a bit less desirable when losing these. I'm generally happy with the Note 9 and the reason I'm considering these phones is to get the ultrawide lens, I was about to buy one for my camera at around £1300 but then started thinking maybe the money would be better spent on a phone with an ultrawide lens instead. I tend to find I like to leave the super telephoto lens on the camera and then just use the phone for normal wide angle shots since they tend not to benefit so much from the dedicated camera and I have a slightly older ultrawide setup I can use for property shoots or whatever.
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Hey man... the cameras on this device are good though the Note 10+
Johnmcl7 said:
Thanks for posting your thoughts.
I can manage without an SD card and an S-pen but they are handy features and I have to accept I'll lose the notification light and headphone socket but it makes paying a good chunk of money for a new phone a bit less desirable when losing these. I'm generally happy with the Note 9 and the reason I'm considering these phones is to get the ultrawide lens, I was about to buy one for my camera at around £1300 but then started thinking maybe the money would be better spent on a phone with an ultrawide lens instead. I tend to find I like to leave the super telephoto lens on the camera and then just use the phone for normal wide angle shots since they tend not to benefit so much from the dedicated camera and I have a slightly older ultrawide setup I can use for property shoots or whatever.
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Hey man, here's hoping you create the perfect lens set up for yourself! ;-) I don't know if it's my eye or the zf2 camera specs, seems my N10+ was a better shooter. Oh well...
BTW, I had spoken with ZF2 concierge regarding Edge Lighting +, (Good Lock and selfie camera light notifications), and he said with the new update coming it would be turned on for the unlocked Samsung devices. Hmm. We'll see. Peace

From what I've read that sounds right about the Fold 2's camera not being quite as good which also should really point me more towards the N20 Ultra.

Johnmcl7 said:
From what I've read that sounds right about the Fold 2's camera not being quite as good which also should really point me more towards the N20 Ultra.
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I have both note 20 U and zf2, I don't know why people think note 20 ultras cameras are better, quality wise?.. IMHO, they both are neck and neck.. ofcourse you miss 5x zoom, totally useless 24fps 8k and the ever so lovely DOF from the 108mp camera but that's it... quality wise they are both great... you would find it difficult to vote one over the other in a blind test..
Here, have attached few pics from one of my vacation trip recently taken with zf2.. the pickup one, increase brightness and go into a dark room... look at the stars.. I think these are good results..what do you think?

The Note 20 Ultra has better camera sensors than the Z Fold 2, I assume it was one of the compromises made on the Fold to keep the already high cost down. The dark shots posted don't really show much as they're severely underexposed which avoids using a higher iso setting which is an area the Note 20 is better at.

Johnmcl7 said:
The Note 20 Ultra has better camera sensors than the Z Fold 2, I assume it was one of the compromises made on the Fold to keep the already high cost down. The dark shots posted don't really show much as they're severely underexposed which avoids using a higher iso setting which is an area the Note 20 is better at.
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Dark shot wasn't shot in night mode, I used pro mode. I opted for that look. Yes you are correct n20U has bigger sensor but I don't care about the technicalities here. As a user who owns both (uses both with no partiality AT ALL, After all I paid for both), I don't see any perceivable difference except for the ones I mentioned in my previous post. All I am trying to say here is, if camera quality is your criteria then let it not be. There are other things I noticed while using both. One, the fold is a thick boy and you will notice it
in your pocket. And the weight is also much more than note 20U (your pinky finger will feel it on extended use when closed).. but the inner screen kind of makes up for it. Second, there is always this thought of fragility associated with fold2. I mean I know by now that it is pretty robust, still if I am passing it to a friend to look at, I tell them to be careful with the inner screen. Third, the cases for the zf2 are very very limited, I didn't have a case for 2 months and I can't tell you how scared and careful I was. and lastly, not many people will tell you this, but if you are watching anything more wider than 16:9, note 20 has the bigger picture than zf2 as note 20 u is taller than zf2 so in landscape mode, the almost square zf2 is restricted by the screen width in the x axis.
I use both the phones on a daily basis, and Let me tell you my honest opinion, as a phone n20u is awesome, but the moment you open the zf2 you are in bliss.

OP I respect the fact that you sold your phone and got a device that made you feel more comfortable. For anyone else interested, I'm coming from the OG Fold that I babied for months until I got comfortable with it. After having for almost a year, I was using Dex and upon disconnecting the HDMI cable the edge hit my screen and killed a few pixels. I should have had it folded shut and it never would have happened. I ended up getting it replaced under warranty as there was no other damage to the phone. They concluded it was just some dead pixels even though I told them what happened.
So now I've had my Fold 2 for a month. I love it even more and I do not set it down unless it's folded! But I will keep the insurance on my phone for the first time in many years. This is one of the few phones that it may actually be worth carrying the insurance, and that, along with the durability of the first Fold for over a year of use, gives me the piece of mind to carry this phone as a daily driver.

Johnmcl7 said:
I have a a Note 9 and I've been spending a lot of time debating the Note 20 Ultra vs the Fold 2 but can't make my mind up, I'm not considering the S21 since it loses micro SD and integrated S-pen but doesn't have anything like the folding screen to make up for it. Some users seem to find the appeal of the Fold 2 wears off but others find they can't go back to normal phones.
I've always loved the idea of the Fold and can live with the higher cost if I like the phone but it makes it pricey if I change my mind plus I lose the sd slot and spen and I am concerned about durability as there's a few posts about damaged screens like this one. I do appreciate that problems on forums are going to be exaggerated though.
I'm keen to hear on any other Fold 2 experiences.
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I've owned both, N20U and Fold2 at the same time. I traded in my Note 9 for an N20U. At the time, I was daily driving my Note 10 Plus. I traded in my Note 10 Plus for my Fold2. The battery life on my N20U was actually shorter than my Note 10 Plus. Disappointingly so. At 1440 or 1080 with adaptive, I was averaging 4.5H of SOT whereas I was averaging 6H on my Note 10 Plus. Anyhow, I ended up buying a Fold 2 for the novelty of it.
Pros
The folding and unfolding does not get old. It is magic each and every time.
Battery endurance (I'm averaging 5.5 to 6.5H of SOT at 1440 adaptive within 20-24H of usage in between charges).
Camera's are good.
Cons
Inner display cover is gross. It almost feels like you are using an old Windows phone with a resistive touch screen.
Camera's are not Sammy's best (N20U) and for the cost of the Fold, you want the best camera possible.
Dumb aspect ratios.
Fragility of design will always plague your mind.
I gave my N20U to my wife and she loves it as much as I love my Fold2. It is far from perfect, however it works for me and I am genuinely pleased with my overall experience.
I daily my Fold2. I've dropped it face down, closed and onto my hardwood floor without injury. I put it into my linty jean pockets with no issues. I'm not careless with it, however I've stopped babying it weeks ago and it is holding up just fine.
Hope this helps

I spotted a good deal on a brand new fold 2 and decided to give it a go, so far I absolutely love it. I'm still getting the hang of using apps on the outside and inside but it's such a lovely device to use when it's open it's worth the compromises.
Thanks for posting all your opinions on the two devices.

Should I buy one now

Hi All,
I was wondering what you guys think of the phone now 8 months down the line. I am getting this at a good price around £650 for a good condition used phone on ebay. I was wondering if you guys think most of its problems have been fixed by now.
Just to give you a background, I currently have a note 9 and frankly I am very happy with this phone but it is old now and I am itching to upgrade to something newer, primarily for the cameras and 120hz refresh rate. I did buy the S21 ultra on pre-order but was really disappointed with the camera performance as I found the images my exynos variant produced to be very soft and noisy and not as sharp/clear as my note 9 and overall the phone felt like a big compromise (no s-pen, no sd card, no headphone jack) after paying £1300, so I sent it back. The camera and screen are the primary reasons for me to upgrade and I expect at least decent battery life (maybe 6-7 hours SOT with youtube abd browsing). I do use the S-Pen every now and then and think it would be a good to have. I know the note 20 ultra doesnt support WQHD+ and 120hz at the same time but at the price im getting it at i think this is a compromise i am willing to make since i mostly use my phone at FHD+ anyway and I can barely tell the difference.
I know there was talk about the exynos variant being bad when compared to the SD 865+ version but frankly I am not a gamer and dont need my phone to be ultra powerful. But what i would like to know from you guys is whether the software updates over the past 8 months have fixed most of the issues with battery life and camera performance. Those of you coming from the s10 range or the note 10+ / Note 9 etc. How would you say the camera is on the Note 20 U? Do you guys think its a good buy now? Or should I just give it a miss and hang on to the note 9 till they stop the security patches? Any advise is appreciated.

I have a mate who upgraded from the Note 9 to the Note 20 Ultra. He was VERY impressed with the differences...
He has the Exynos variant but when there is no other phones to compare but what you already have he's happy...
It all comes down to you, go to a store, play with a demo version and make up your mind.

I've upgraded from S10e Exynos with 4,5 screen on time maximum and terrible idle battery drain to Note 20 Ultra Snapdragon. First week was thinking to give it back because it was too big for me and those rounded edges always made me typos. Then I've get used to it, set the keyboard paddings from edges and finally bought nice case (I never used any cases before) and now I'm totally happy with it. I as far as I've read it's almost impossible to get 7-8 screen on time on Exynos variant. I got around 7 on my Snapdragon version but never tested it with gaming so I can not tell yet how good the battery is. I can tell that Qualcomm modem is much better in sense of keeping good connection and speed and very good keeping battery in idle state. Considering the camera - it's much better that in my old S10e ofcourse but I don't use it often so can't say I care about it much. What I love about my new Note 20 ultra Snapdragon is I've rooted it to tweak some small things here and there and now totally feel it's mine. I've rooted my past phones around 5 years ago last time.
Not sure if anything I said will help you but if you have any questions I would be glad to answer.

Thanks guys really useful. As mentioned I don't really need a new phone as my current phone does pretty much what I need it to. But I am itching to upgrade and I don't want to end up being stuck with something that I feel is not as good as my current phone. I currently average 4-5 hours screen on time on my 2 year old note 9 which I think is good for an old phone so hoping to get more. The S21U was good battery wise I got 7 hours SOT with 10% remaining. But the cameras were a let down for the price. I might just wait a couple of months and pick one used if they fix the camera with software updates as the price difference doesn't seem that much like a barely used S21U is going for around 850 on ebay so might be worth the extra 200 vs the note 20 ultra. Especially because I heard a lot of bad things about the n20u battery in particular.

Hi, @eldrid
I upgraded (downgraded considering the cost/storage, lol) from the Note9 (512GB) to the Note20 Ultra (128GB) with Android 11/One UI 3.1.
Have you considered replacing the battery in your Note9? Maybe have the battery replaced and purchase the N20U?
I don't use the camera much, but hopefully one of the forum members will give you some feedback on the N9 vs N20U cameras.
I can hear the Note20 Ultra camera *rattle* but I think this is normal??
If you purchase the N20, you may not want to update the phone to Android 11 (scoped storage, bugs galore, etc...).
I enjoy using the N9 more than the N20U because of the OS and the apps function without issue.
I detest Android 11, ahem, and think it contributes to my attitude of the N20U. N9 is the Beast!

I haven't had note 9 earlier but for me the note 20 ultra is perfect.
We get 1080p with 120hz (sure only 1080p but battery friendly and do you even notice higher res on regular basis?)
Sdcard slot, perfect for pictures, movies, big files and so on, also very easy to swap. (cloud exist but what about vacation or if u got limited data)
Very good cameras, still one of the best out there.
Very good performance with snapdragon 865+, even the exynos one is good. Recent updates have made it better than release version.
S-pen in a slot, no ugly weird case and all functions works perfectly.
The design is also very modern and future proof, I mean the front is almost all display.
People even speculate that this could be the last note ever, so if I were u, I would really consider note 20u if u liked your note 9 and want something better.

I've had my Note 20 Ultra Exynos version since launch, and it's a lot better now than it was when it first came out in both battery life & performance, I also don't game on phone's so it's been more than fine for me.
The camera has also been on point for me as well I've not been disappointed with any pictures or videos I've taken with it.
For 650 quid i think it's well worth it for what you get.

Thanks a ton guys for the honest advice. I finally picked an almost new one for £650 on ebay. They offer a 30 day return so fingers crossed i hope it works out. I won't be selling my note 9 just yet so I will have some time to compare side by side and see what it's like. I am sure it's an upgrade in many regards. But the three key things for me are 1)screen and I'm sure that's great I don't use wqhd and will be perfectly happy with the adaptive 1080 120hz. 2)The cameras... This is one area I am not sure how it will be... This is a very subjective area but I like my images to be sharp and I noticed on the S21U the images were soft and fuzzy not crisp like on the note 9. And 3) is battery life... I still get around 5 hours from the note 9 which is great so I hope to get at least that much. Will keep you guys posted on how it goes over the next few days. I feel like @650 there won't be much to complain about. I was really upset with the s21 ultra as I had paid full price for it and it (£1300) and it felt like a downgrade. Seems like the more modern Samsung phones while powerful are compromising on the basics and are not what they used to be 2 years ago.

Finally got the note20u and frankly I am quite happy with it. I am getting pretty good SOT and plus i used Bluetooth headphones for at least an hour. Considering that I think the battery life is good. Also the camera software seems to be ironed out and the image sharpness is much better than the current image quality on the S21U 1st pic is from note 20u and 2nd from s21u. Overall I think it was a good buy. I would never recommend anyone buying a Samsung phone at launch as the software is very unpolished and you pay a huge amount for an unfinished product. Comparing the experience i have with this nearly new note 20u for 650 is great compared to the ****ty experience the s21u offers for £1200 plus no sd card support or charger in the box. Very good value overall at £650

I upgraded from my still pristine Note 9 and found it a very worthy successor. From the enhanced Dex and S-pen features to the improved cameras, the Note 20 Ultra has provided me with a great user experience. Given Samsung's quest for becoming more -like and shedding features left and right, the Note 20 Ultra is the closest to what the Note line once was: the no holds barred, everything but the kitchen sink, no compromises, Note. I don't know if there is a Note 21 Ultra in the works and if there is it will probably include less features than the Note 20 Ultra offers.

Medevac1 said:
I upgraded from my still pristine Note 9 and found it a very worthy successor. From the enhanced Dex and S-pen features to the improved cameras, the Note 20 Ultra has provided me with a great user experience. Given Samsung's quest for becoming more -like and shedding features left and right, the Note 20 Ultra is the closest to what the Note line once was: the no holds barred, everything but the kitchen sink, no compromises, Note. I don't know if there is a Note 21 Ultra in the works and if there is it will probably include less features than the Note 20 Ultra offers.
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Absolutely agree. Probably why i was finding it hard to part with my note 9 as well. What a great 0 compromise device. I really hate how Samsung were originally the anti apple and a premium alternative for those that didn't want to chain themselves to apple. But now they're becoming more like apple taking away our choice.
Rumours are that there will be a watered down fan edition only this year and that the s-pen toting phone is going to be the fold from now on. If its true its a poor farewell to the note. I say they should bring back the headphone jack, sd card and pack the box with goodies. Make the whole experience of buying a premium flagship feel premium again.

eldrid said:
Absolutely agree. Probably why i was finding it hard to part with my note 9 as well. What a great 0 compromise device. I really hate how Samsung were originally the anti apple and a premium alternative for those that didn't want to chain themselves to apple. But now they're becoming more like apple taking away our choice.
Rumours are that there will be a watered down fan edition only this year and that the s-pen toting phone is going to be the fold from now on. If its true its a poor farewell to the note. I say they should bring back the headphone jack, sd card and pack the box with goodies. Make the whole experience of buying a premium flagship premium again.
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The 10+ was the last Note before Q. After Q things started going south and 11 is even worse.
Between Android and Samsung's "improvements" it's been a dismal year.
Everything's coming up psuedo Apples... and I mean that in the most derogatory way.
As for the Fold series it has been a self made disaster for Samsung. Overpriced and unreliable.
Samsung, you do know the definition of insanity don't you? Apparently not.

Late to the party here but I'm happy with my N20 Ultra 5G Snapdragon soc I imported from Hong Kong.
I wouldn't of been keen to buy a used phone from ebay due to the amount that get imei locked a few weeks / months after receiving it.

BandOfBrothers1 said:
I wouldn't of been keen to buy a used phone from ebay due to the amount that get imei locked a few weeks / months after receiving it.
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How can you avoid that from happening 100%?
Is it that common?

blackhawk said:
How can you avoid that from happening 100%?
Is it that common?
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It's something I've come across way too often throughout the years on forums.
A person sells a phone on ebay and then fraudulently claims it lost or stolen.
Auction Sites need to tighten up and introduce even more protection for the buyer as well as the seller.

BandOfBrothers1 said:
It's something I've come across way too often throughout the years on forums.
A person sells a phone on ebay and then fraudulently claims it lost or stolen.
Auction Sites need to tighten up and introduce even more protection for the buyer as well as the seller.
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Doing that in the USA be incurring multiple federal felonies.

BandOfBrothers1 said:
Late to the party here but I'm happy with my N20 Ultra 5G Snapdragon soc I imported from Hong Kong.
I wouldn't of been keen to buy a used phone from ebay due to the amount that get imei locked a few weeks / months after receiving it.
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Damn didn't know that happens. I got mine from a business seller with 100% ratings so looks like hes been at it for a while with no issues. He claims the phones are customer returns from the official Samsung store and would barely have any usage if at all. And everything looked the part it seemed brand spanking new, scratchless and even no signs wear or dust in the usb c port. Also he had a whole batch of 7-8 to sell so everything sounded legit. Let's hope everything works out well.
On a separate note. I thought id use the phone without a screen protector for a few days while the tempered glass one I ordered arrives and so removed the factory one. After a day or so i have already noticed a couple of micro scratches on the screen visible at certain angles. This is with careful use at home. I feel like this whole gorilla glass thing is just market hype.

blackhawk said:
Doing that in the USA be incurring multiple federal felonies.
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I wouldn't worry about it too much. The only reason someone would do that is to be malicious and most people are not. I doubt the seller has a personal vendetta against you. He got his money and will move on.
I have had the N20U since release and have no issues and at this point is a good as it gets functionally.