S20 worth it?

[steelo]

Hi everyone,

 

Currently I have a S8 and it's starting to feel really sluggish and acting weird...it will say I'm connected to wifi but then 'hang' for a good 10-20 seconds before finally loading a page. Also, my #1 complaint is when I'm talking to somebody on the phone, my face will inadvertently place me on mute. I haven't found a workaround yet, even if I turn the screen off it will turn back on if part of my face makes contact with the screen...It's very aggravating especially when I talk to my elderly father who has a hard time hearing as is.

 

I'm considering buying a S20 and trading in my current phone. I think I'm stuck on Android v9 as there won't be any more updates....

[WaggishOhio383]

If you feel that it's worth the price to upgrade, then I'd say go for it. The S20 is definitely a big upgrade coming from the S8. I'm still using an S8 myself, and it's starting to feel its age. While the software is mostly up-to-date, and the battery still lasts all day, it doesn't have that new feel anymore, and it lacks the amazing camera quality and useful features like reverse wireless charging. I'm probably going to hold out until Christmas and then upgrade to something else myself. Maybe I can get a Z Flip on sale for less than $1500 by then. The idea of a folding phone really appeals to me, and the Z Flip doesn't deserve the bad rap it gets imo.

[Fasauceome]

The S20 is seriously premium, you could go for the S10 and get the nice refresh without having to pay too much 

[dizmo]

Depends on a lot of things.

You've really missed the main thing entirely; you're asking worth, but you didn't give a budget or how much it'll cost.

The S20 is a decent phone, especially if you get it on contract when they're trying to clear it out.

You could also wait for the OnePlus Nord, which will be released at the end of the month. It has some nice features Samsung does not.

 

Have you tried reformatting your device?

I have an S8, and have none of those issues.

[steelo]

5 minutes ago, dizmo said:

Depends on a lot of things.

You've really missed the main thing entirely; you're asking worth, but you didn't give a budget or how much it'll cost.

The S20 is a decent phone, especially if you get it on contract when they're trying to clear it out.

You could also wait for the OnePlus Nord, which will be released at the end of the month. It has some nice features Samsung does not.

 

Have you tried reformatting your device?

I have an S8, and have none of those issues.

I usually do installments and my carrier has an offer which reduces the monthly cost from $30 to $20/month on trade in...I don't want to pay more than that. I don't 'need' a premium new phone with features I will never use but I want the upgrade to feel like it was worth it...

[steelo]

12 minutes ago, WaggishOhio383 said:

If you feel that it's worth the price to upgrade, then I'd say go for it. The S20 is definitely a big upgrade coming from the S8. I'm still using an S8 myself, and it's starting to feel its age. While the software is mostly up-to-date, and the battery still lasts all day, it doesn't have that new feel anymore, and it lacks the amazing camera quality and useful features like reverse wireless charging. I'm probably going to hold out until Christmas and then upgrade to something else myself. Maybe I can get a Z Flip on sale for less than $1500 by then. The idea of a folding phone really appeals to me, and the Z Flip doesn't deserve the bad rap it gets imo.

It's always been a decent phone, but the muting issue really is getting on my last nerve...it does feel really sluggish now and could probably use an OS refresh.

[dizmo]

3 minutes ago, steelo said:

I usually do installments and my carrier has an offer which reduces the monthly cost from $30 to $20/month on trade in...I don't want to pay more than that. I don't 'need' a premium new phone with features I will never use but I want the upgrade to feel like it was worth it...

So you have to trade in your old phone plus pay monthly? For how long, 24 months? Are you required to turn the phone in after that 24 months?

 

The OnePlus Nord will be a "budget" phone.

[Fasauceome]

3 minutes ago, steelo said:

I usually do installments and my carrier has an offer which reduces the monthly cost from $30 to $20/month on trade in...I don't want to pay more than that. I don't 'need' a premium new phone with features I will never use but I want the upgrade to feel like it was worth it...

To be honest, it's how long the phone has been in use that makes it slow. Last gen phones are just as snappy and fluid when they're fresh from the box or refurbished, so you won't need the top of the line option just to get a comfortable mobile experience.

[steelo]

1 minute ago, dizmo said:

So you have to trade in your old phone plus pay monthly? For how long, 24 months? Are you required to turn the phone in after that 24 months?

 

The OnePlus Nord will be a "budget" phone.

I believe its a 24 month installment interest free thru at&t...I can definitely 'settle' for a S10, I don't need a top of the line phone for a good experience...

[dizmo]

7 minutes ago, Fasauceome said:

To be honest, it's how long the phone has been in use that makes it slow. Last gen phones are just as snappy and fluid when they're fresh from the box or refurbished, so you won't need the top of the line option just to get a comfortable mobile experience.

I'm pretty sure a simple hard reset would fix most of his issues.

My phone isn't sluggish at all.

5 minutes ago, steelo said:

I believe its a 24 month installment interest free thru at&t...I can definitely 'settle' for a S10, I don't need a top of the line phone for a good experience...

So roughly $580 once you factor in the trade in.

The OnePlus Nord is supposed to be significantly under that.

[steelo]

1 minute ago, dizmo said:

I'm pretty sure a simple hard reset would fix most of his issues.

My phone isn't sluggish at all.

So roughly $580 once you factor in the trade in.

The OnePlus Nord is supposed to be significantly under that.

Thanks for your help everyone...I've decided to try a hard reset and see if that helps before I jump on upgrading.

[Fasauceome]

1 minute ago, dizmo said:

I'm pretty sure a simple hard reset would fix most of his issues.

My phone isn't sluggish at all.

Yeah, typically a reset keeps a phone young, assuming nothing has worn out

[steelo]

2 minutes ago, Fasauceome said:

Yeah, typically a reset keeps a phone young, assuming nothing has worn out

but I need to figure out how not to mute my mic when I'm holding it up to my face...that's my main issue with this phone...

[Fasauceome]

Just now, steelo said:

but I need to figure out how not to mute my mic when I'm holding it up to my face...that's my main issue with this phone...

There's meant to be a part of the Samsung version of Android that makes the screen become untouchable when your face is near it. Sounds like a software bug more than a hardware issue.

[dizmo]

4 minutes ago, steelo said:

Thanks for your help everyone...I've decided to try a hard reset and see if that helps before I jump on upgrading.

It'd be the best bet.

If you're in the US, you probably have a ton of carrier bloat that might be worth trying to delete. Or at least deactivate.

I'd also try downloading Nova Launcher. You can tweak things like folder opening speeds etc and it makes the phone feel snappier.

1 minute ago, steelo said:

but I need to figure out how not to mute my mic when I'm holding it up to my face...that's my main issue with this phone...

Does it do that with the dialer, or an app?

You might have somehow damaged the proximity sensor. Or you're holding the phone awkwardly. Is this when it's right against your face?

[steelo]

3 minutes ago, Fasauceome said:

There's meant to be a part of the Samsung version of Android that makes the screen become untouchable when your face is near it. Sounds like a software bug more than a hardware issue.

Yes, I think it's the current version of Android (9) and I can't find anything to fix it...

[steelo]

3 minutes ago, dizmo said:

It'd be the best bet.

If you're in the US, you probably have a ton of carrier bloat that might be worth trying to delete. Or at least deactivate.

I'd also try downloading Nova Launcher. You can tweak things like folder opening speeds etc and it makes the phone feel snappier.

Does it do that with the dialer, or an app?

You might have somehow damaged the proximity sensor. Or you're holding the phone awkwardly. Is this when it's right against your face?

I have the muting problem when I'm in the phone app...I (think) if I go back to the home screen it will remedy this but it's annoying that I have to do this every time I make a phone call...

[dizmo]

8 minutes ago, steelo said:

I have the muting problem when I'm in the phone app...I (think) if I go back to the home screen it will remedy this but it's annoying that I have to do this every time I make a phone call...

Are you holding it tight against your head? If you don't the phone will have issues. It'll think you want to interact, turn on the display, and then your face could hit the mute. 

[steelo]

29 minutes ago, dizmo said:

Are you holding it tight against your head? If you don't the phone will have issues. It'll think you want to interact, turn on the display, and then your face could hit the mute. 

I have the tendency to press it against my cheek...just a habit, I guess. I rarely have to interact with the phone when I'm on a call so I'd really like for the screen to just remain off...

[EL02]

54 minutes ago, Lord Vile said:

Security updates re only 3 years on samsung and you lose functionality because you don't get new features.  

We're not defending samsung's decisions here. 5 or 6 years of support is much appreciated. BUT you do not lose functionality if you don't get updates.

Example: Android 11 will come with a screen recorder bulit in. Android 10 devices can do that too, you just have to install an app from the playstore, put it up in the notification center, hide it from the app drawer.

Furthermore manufacturers have implemented those functionalities way before google puts them in the official version.

 

Anyway OP is doing just fine with their s8 which no longer has official support by samsung. Why would the s10 be a problem?

[steelo]

Guys guys! LOL

 

I have done a hard reset and it is much more responsive now...although I still have the muting issue which inevitably will get under my skin so bad that I'll go out and buy a new phone anyways. The S20 is way too expensive for my tastes right now, but man does it look sweet (and I'd like to try out Android 10) 

 

For now though, I'm 100% content with an 'outdated' phone

[steelo]

7 hours ago, huilun02 said:

Reset and/or re-flash the stock firmware. Exactly which model of the S8 are you using? Where did you get it from? And what carrier are you on?

I think it's the 64GB model - SMG950U thru AT&T. I used to root all of my phones, but this one is completely factory stock.

[steelo]

1 hour ago, huilun02 said:

Do your best to not max out the internal storage. Store data on an microsd card if you can. With how flash storage works, they slow down to a crippling speed as more of it is occupied.

I'm showing 37.1 GB/64 free right now...I am never able to fill up storage on a phone...LOL

[EL02]

1 hour ago, Lord Vile said:

I would call built in functions of a new OS that yours doesn’t have as losing functionality. 

Okay. What are those functions then? What has bothered you so much that you decided to choose another platform?