Four Takeaways From Samsung's Galaxy S22 Event for Apple Users

[lazyrighteye]

Was at a friend’s house over the weekend and, for the first time, got to see and handle one of those $2k foldable Samsung phones that open to roughly the size of an iPad mini. I was super curious to see it. But man… What an epic POS. It’s stunning, actually. The screen crease is appalling. You think notch is bad?!? Seriously, I can’t believe that made it to mass production. Again, stunning. The aesthetic and build quality are just terrible. Cheap materials, cheap fabrication. I can’t believe anyone would drop $2k for that garbage. I’ll be surprised if her device makes it last a year before breaking or a piece falling off. It’s really that bad.

 

[Aoligei]

That seems true. But I think that’s partially because the garbage quality of ‘Android tablets’ really helps sales, because they’re appear to be considerably cheaper under the iPad.

The market for cheap inexpensive tablet is huge, especially when kids stuck at home and need access to see cmputing devices. Not everyone can afford 300+ dollar iPads.

Also Android tablet doesn't need be iPad level quality. I am more than happy to shell out $100 or less for a tablet that I mainly using web browsing or content consuming. I don't need spend $300 plus for iPad, Amazon Fire Tablet is more than enough for me. I don't need my tablet to run Photoshop or Adobe Premiere.

iPad Pro are not selling as much as entry level iPad. For most consumers, cheap tablet is more than enough. The fact that iPad Pro with M1 chip running same limited iPadOS is stupid.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Dealbreaker for me is the 1080p display on the 6.6inch S22+ which frankly is just not enough. This bumps me up to the 1440p s22 ultra which STILL has a stupid curved display, so no glass screen protector.

Why is Apple now the ONLY major phone manufacturer that prioritises ppi over refresh rate on it's non flagship products. I don't want to spend £1000+ for a phone that has a decent ppi display, when I could've got ~450+ppi on some £4-500 phones just a couple years ago. I can get a 6.7 inch 1080p 120Hz display with decent nits on some £200 phones. So why does Samsung have something not too dissimilar on a £900 phone

It wasn’t long ago that we were getting a 720p display on the non max phones.

 

[Shanghaichica]

I guess my point was, consumers don’t know android phones have plummeting resale values. They don’t have the mindset they’re looking at how much potential resale value after owning the phone for two years. But then again, it doesn’t really matter, because Consumers typically trade their devices in anyway to upgrade, they generally don’t care how much they’re receiving for a a credit. It’s not like they’re recuperating cash from selling a used car for example. A tech device is nothing more than a simple commodity that shouldn’t be detrimental how much somebody can receive in return after they trade it in.

Most average consumers are waiting until their phones are no longer functioning adequately or until their contracts are up and are due an upgrade. This is several years down the line so the re-sale value to those people is irrelevant.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Yes agreed its' a great thing - competition. Especially when you get a friend whom just got the Fold 3 on contract to return it and get an S22 = reduced revenue and profits for samsung and for them to stop wasting R&D on fold when rollable is much better overall.

Well that’s a win for Samsung. They replaced it with another Samsung phone.

 

[Shanghaichica]

Oh, there are takeaways, but mainly on the missing side. Obvious examples I see include

- no equivalent of magsafe (and, more generically, Apple's use of strong magnets to make iPads nice, from the basic magnetically-attached iPad case, to the magnetically attached keyboard)

- no equivalent of the U1 and the location/finding infrastructure being built upon it (AirTags and suchlike)

- the same incompetence and flailing as Apple in the home space. Even though Samsung (unlike Apple) makes a whole bunch of IoT devices, they're doing nothing to push the space forward.

- likewise do Samsung have a smart speaker? Actually a quick search shows they do, but they have never pushed them and they're very hard to find. And they seem to be incapable of using them as IoT hubs.
But deeper than that, at the technical level, they have said all the right things about Thread and Matter -- but don't seem to ship anything.

- no attempt to create an AppleTV-like streaming box. (Sure, maybe their theory is build it purely into the TV, but we all know how dumb that is, given that the screen stays useful and usable for 10+ years, while the content/smartness electronics are showing their age after about four years)

Basically the event confirms (IMHO) what everyone has been saying about SS for years, that
- there is zero innovation there. The only time anything new happens is after they've had a few years to copy Apple.
- there is zero co-ordination between the different groups. And so you get dead-end products like smart TVs (rather than streaming boxes to add to a TV), or missing obvious interactions (like use a smart Speaker to act as your IoT hub).

Samsung already have the Samsung tag + which uses ultra wide band technology. Thu didn’t talk about it at the event but it’s been out for about a year now.

 

[teohyc]

I find it funny that people are dissing Android tablets. There's such a huge selection of Android tablets out there at every price point, and it's a bad thing?

Are all Android tablets lousy? Definitely not. LOL. I own the M1 iPad Pro and two Android tablets and I can come up with a long list of iPadOS deficiencies. Main reason why I'm using iPad is there are more graphic design and drawing apps on the Apple App Store.

But now Samsung has brought Lumafusion on board. Nice but I'm not sure if there are more people editing videos than those doing graphic design. I'm more confident of Samsung adding graphic design apps (e.g. Affinity Photo or even Adobe) in the future than Apple adding FCP or Logic Pro to iPadOS.

The Samsung phones are pretty good too. Years ago iPhone has the edge because their video recording capabilities are so much better, and that's the main reason I bought an iPhone. At this time, no matter how good Samsung phones are, unless they unlock the ability to record 25 FPS, they are preventing people living in countries that need 25 FPS video recording from buying the phones.

 

[joecomo]

This is a little bit disappointing - would have expected more from their side.
A really big tablet is nice, but I do not like this aspect ratio.

Obviously the market for all these devices is getting mature

 

[gmartomihardj]

the way they present and regular s22 phone design philosophy so Apple. the bezell

 

[one more]

They might surprise us next month and announce the IPad Air 5tth gen with an OLED display… doubt it though.

Now THAT would be awesome!

 

[The Game 161]

The tab s8 ultra is everything apple should make the iPad. The fact it has real multitasking with option for dex with pop up windows is what their tablet should be. Why they can’t make it like this I do t know. Again apple are holding back the potential of the iPad

As for the s22 ultra it’s going to be the best phone of the year just like the s21 ultra was.

 

[Alec2022]

Tried the galaxy s7+ with.. fantastic display and hw (keyboard on the cheap side). Given I m not an artist, I use it for zoom, teams, meet, Netflix, ms office, social media ... works beautifully on that .. quite robust and good for everyday usage. ... love the s8 ultra tablet videos. very impressive specs ...

The only thing which stops me to buy an iPad would be the position of the face camera. I need to use conferencing and use the keyboard next to it. The position is just bad. When Apple changes it, happy to go back to the IPad (had the first few models) ...

As I have a M1 Macbook and MacMini, better cross-OS integration be nice, but of course not really happening (One drive is bad, and google drive doesn't really sync like ICLOUD). Oh' the Flip is also good ... personally, I like Samsung over Google hw due to their OS extensions (OneUI, Camera App, Gallery App) ...

 

[44267547]

until their contracts are up

There is no such thing as ‘contracts’ with carriers. Those were eliminated years ago. Nobody is confined to remaining within a particular cell phone carrier, as they’re free to pay off their phone anytime without penalty, upgrade anytime (Once their device is paid off or reaches a certain pay-off amount), and voluntarily leave the carrier if they so wish with no outstanding fees/payments that are due prior.

 

[GuruZac]

The problem with Android tablets are not the hardware, but the software.

Boy that sounds familiar…that has been and continues to be the problem with iPad Pros.

 

[ja']

they’ve made a combined cigarette case, camera, and watch? not surprised to see something like that from Samsung

 

[Reggaenald]

This is next gen LTPO OLED panel. Expect Apple to “inherit” the vision booster tech in the next iPhone since, yeah, Apple uses Samsung’s OLED panels anyway.

Until Apple can make their own OLED panel, Apple will always be “behind” the company that makes that exact component.

So the Panels Apple will receive from LG or whoever it is wo t have this tech/feature?
Surely the panels can only be as great as the manufacturer making them, but why then did the 13 Pro offer basically the same or at least something similar since last year if Apple will always be behind the manufacturer? It’s not about a manufacturer making „this exact component“ but more about if they have the tech and resources to make something for Apple.
I also never see Apple making their own panels, or cameras, or, well, chips for that matter. They develop the tech they want and source it from vendors that can produce it. What do they manufacture by themselves anyway. I believe that even the Mac Pro made in the US is done by and with a contractor, or not?

 

[SmugMaverick]

It's glass. Explicitly said so during the event. Uses some sort of Gorilla Glass exclusive to Samsung.

Correct, it’s was rumoured to be plastic again like the S21 but perhaps enough people complained to change out this year.

I wouldn’t mind trying the ultra if the display wasn’t curved yet again. Samsung seem to think curves mean premium when in fact they mean TRASH.

 

[ian87w]

Boy that sounds familiar…that has been and continues to be the problem with iPad Pros.

It's worse on Android since Google themselves couldn't care less about tablets. Pretty much Samsung is the only one innovating the software on Android tablets (dex, multi window support, etc). Hopefully things change with Android 12L.

 

[ian87w]

So the Panels Apple will receive from LG or whoever it is wo t have this tech/feature?
Surely the panels can only be as great as the manufacturer making them, but why then did the 13 Pro offer basically the same or at least something similar since last year if Apple will always be behind the manufacturer? It’s not about a manufacturer making „this exact component“ but more about if they have the tech and resources to make something for Apple.
I also never see Apple making their own panels, or cameras, or, well, chips for that matter. They develop the tech they want and source it from vendors that can produce it. What do they manufacture by themselves anyway. I believe that even the Mac Pro made in the US is done by and with a contractor, or not?

S21 ultra came out before iphone 13 Pro. Now, S22 ultra will be out before iphone 14 pro. So yes, Apple will always be "behind"

 

[GuruZac]

S21 ultra came out before iphone 13 Pro. Now, S22 ultra will be out before iphone 14 pro. So yes, Apple will always be "behind"

I think hardware-wise, other than silicon, Apple is and has been behind technically. I think Samsung in general just pushes the tech envelope far more than Apple, and that has always been the case. But tech specs aside, the iPhone has less RAM, but as others have posted here, does as well or better than 12GB RAM Android flagships, it takes just as good of photos other than zoomed in, better video than any other phones, has as good or better of a display than most any Android flagships, and most importantly, the apps and services within iOS (which is what honestly is the deciding factor for why people buy and iPhone vs Samsung) are what keeps me locked in to iOS. Messages, FaceTime, Music, AirDrop, Handoff, FaceID, are all big reasons I stay within iOS. If it were based on hardware alone, I would have an S21/S22 Ultra no doubt.

 

[Brian Y]

Boy that sounds familiar…that has been and continues to be the problem with iPad Pros.

You hit the nail on the head.

I'm 50:50. I use an iPad but have a Samsung phone. The iPad has some amazing hardware with a dumbed down OS.

 

[Alec2022]

I think hardware-wise, other than silicon, Apple is and has been behind technically. I think Samsung in general just pushes the tech envelope far more than Apple, and that has always been the case. But tech specs aside, the iPhone has less RAM, but as others have posted here, does as well or better than 12GB RAM Android flagships, it takes just as good of photos other than zoomed in, better video than any other phones, has as good or better of a display than most any Android flagships, and most importantly, the apps and services within iOS (which is what honestly is the deciding factor for why people buy and iPhone vs Samsung) are what keeps me locked in to iOS. Messages, FaceTime, Music, AirDrop, Handoff, FaceID, are all big reasons I stay within iOS. If it were based on hardware alone, I would have an S21/S22 Ultra no doubt.

My experience was the Samsung Camera App and Gallary App are good and often better compared to iPhone Apps (some AI distortion, low light recognition) - my wife has always the latest iPhone and I the latest Samsung / but you really have to want to find a difference to figure that one out - for all intends and purposes it's probably the same.

The point on the ecosystem play is spot on. I have MacBooks and MacMini all the time and this can be painful. OneDrive is bad and GoogleDrive isn't at all close to iCloud features. Everything works somehow, but not as nice as if it would be all integrated ... and moving from ios to android would obviously be even more difficult (iPhoto, iMessage, Facetime, Notes, Reminders, etc.). Well, well, if the iPad had the face camera in the right place, I might move back again ;-)

 

[Shanghaichica]

There is no such thing as ‘contracts’ with carriers. Those were eliminated years ago. Nobody is confined to remaining within a particular cell phone carrier, as they’re free to pay off their phone anytime without penalty, upgrade anytime (Once their device is paid off or reaches a certain pay-off amount), and voluntarily leave the carrier if they so wish with no outstanding fees/payments that are due prior.

Yes you can pay off your device early and upgrade/leave. However you have set payments a month and it takes X months to complete all payments. Most will wait until the phone is paid off over 2-3 years before upgrading.

 

[snipr125]

The tab s8 ultra is everything apple should make the iPad. The fact it has real multitasking with option for dex with pop up windows is what their tablet should be. Why they can’t make it like this I do t know. Again apple are holding back the potential of the iPad

As for the s22 ultra it’s going to be the best phone of the year just like the s21 ultra was.

All three of the Samsung Tab 8 models have 120 Mhz screens. Apple should match the iPad Air 5 specs to the £650 Tab 8 at the very least as they are similarly priced but Apple deem Promotion to be a “Pro” feature, when its not, as the cheapest Tab 8 model has a 120 Variable refresh rate 120 Mhz LCD display.

 

[The Game 161]

All three of the Samsung Tab 8 models have 120 Mhz screens. Apple should match the iPad Air 5 specs to the £650 Tab 8 at the very least as they are similarly priced but Apple deem Promotion to be a “Pro” feature, when its not, as the cheapest Tab 8 model has a 120 Variable refresh rate 120 Mhz LCD display.

Agreed, apple really do take customers for a mug at times