40K+ Should I switch from iPhone 13 to S23 or S24 ?

mayank4823

mayank4823

Forerunner
Why I’m thinking of the switch
1. Samsung website is offering me 39k for my 2 year old iPhone 13 if I buy the S24. Claiming GST and applying some coupon will cost me 35k approx after the trade in.
2. Fedup of iOS and average night camera. I used to have a Pixel and that has spoiled me. I trek and travel quite often and star gazing is below average on iPhone 13.
3. I paid around 45-50k for iPhone 13 2 years back because I claimed GST and used bank offers and what not. So getting 39k for it too tempting.

What i’m worried about
1. Battery. iPhone is great when it comes to battery optimisation.
2. Exynos on S24. I’ve heard S23 is a better choice.
3. I really need that lock folder option which is there in iOS. Have some very sensitive pics related to business and some private pics as well. *wink wink*.


Considering everything above, is the switch from iPhone 13 to S23 an upgrade ?
 
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@CrimeMouse It's simple. If you see yourself getting into the apple ecosystem, you may want to stick to it, or upgrade to a different iPhone. If your answer is no, just change it. But, iPhones do come with a file manager where you can manage your docs & stuff in specific folders stored locally on your phone or on iCloud).
 
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CrimeMouse said:
I am in the same position as well with the SE 2020, it's not the 720p screen or the 4 hour battery life that bothers me. It's the software, the absolutely terrible, albeit pretty looking software. The lack of real file management is a pain.
I am personally waiting for the S25 as I feel we are quite close to the end of this cycle. The S24 coming with Exynos sure did not help.
Click to expand...
S23 is a good phone but I dont like the Samsung UI. I don't care about iOS or Android since my prime usage is Mail, Whatsapp and Calling. I miss pixels which had decent batteries. Maybe a big price drop in next 6 months make me go for Pixel 9. I chose to stick with my iPhone 13 for now.
 
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Heisen said:
Download the "files" app by apple from the app store, if it's not already there for some reason. It is a real file manager not something dumbed down by apple.

And all apps have default integration with this file manager.
Click to expand...
does it have the usual android stuff? like FTP, Gdrive/Dropbox integrations etc etc? if so, my relative can use that app for transfers
 
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altair21 said:
does it have the usual android stuff? like FTP, Gdrive/Dropbox integrations etc etc? if so, my relative can use that app for transfers
Click to expand...
Supported indeed.
IMG_5486476E3690-1.jpeg
 
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Heisen said:
Download the "files" app by apple from the app store, if it's not already there for some reason. It is a real file manager not something dumbed down by apple.

And all apps have default integration with this file manager.
Click to expand...
Photos.app doesn't have integration with Files.app. That's what I mean by "real file management". Files.app is not a "real file manager" it's a sandboxed pathetic excuse for a file manager.

On Android you can go into the file manager of your choice and create new folders and it will show up in your default gallery. Which lets one decide which photos one wants to back up.
B_the_B said:
@CrimeMouse It's simple. If you see yourself getting into the apple ecosystem, you may want to stick to it, or upgrade to a different iPhone. If your answer is no, just change it. But, iPhones do come with a file manager where you can manage your docs & stuff in specific folders stored locally on your phone or on iCloud).
Click to expand...
My first Apple product was the M1 MacBook Air which I got at launch in December 2020, which impressed me. So in April 2021 when my OnePlus 7 died I went with the iPhone SE 2020. The past 3 years have been a disappointment. I decided to make myself stick with the device because I hoped I would come around to it. But alas.

Anyway, there is an update to my SE 2020, the charging port failed on 28th August. I went to an Apple Authorised Service centre, and got quoted "at least ₹29,000". I decided to wirelessly charge it.

Never have I used a product from a company that seems so blatantly intent on milking its customers.
 
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CrimeMouse said:
Photos.app doesn't have integration with Files.app. That's what I mean by "real file management". Files.app is not a "real file manager" it's a sandboxed pathetic excuse for a file manager.

On Android you can go into the file manager of your choice and create new folders and it will show up in your default gallery. Which lets one decide which photos one wants to back up.
Click to expand...
It does have an integration. In iOS it's opposite, manually created folders don't show up automatically in the photos app (it is not android). When deciding which photos you want to back up, you select the photos right in the photos app then copy to files app.

So what you want is your pics taken to show up in some kind of folder automatically, assume that you have that, what's the next thing you will do? Select from them and copy, move, or backup, as these are widely used.

Either way you have to do the select, copy or move, backup step, does it matter if you do it in the gallary app or the file manager app?

Just assume your photos app to be that folder. Once photo/videos are selected you can then copy them and go to files app and paste them in any folder structure you like, could even be a cloud folder, like google drive or drop box or icloud or connected external storage media etc

If you don't like to copy and paste you can hit the share button after selecting your photos/video, there will be a option to save to files, which will open the files app browser to paste in any folder.

Photos app (specifically) is decoupled from the files app in iOS. You can definitely copy files between them both ways. Considering you know about real file management you should be able to grasp this concept.

CrimeMouse said:
Apple Authorised Service centre, got quoted "at least ₹29,000"
Click to expand...
You have to understand apple don't do board level repairs, for that you have to go to 3rd party repair shops. Apple does replacement of parts/device in name of repairs.
 
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CrimeMouse said:
Photos.app doesn't have integration with Files.app. That's what I mean by "real file management". Files.app is not a "real file manager" it's a sandboxed pathetic excuse for a file manager.

On Android you can go into the file manager of your choice and create new folders and it will show up in your default gallery. Which lets one decide which photos one wants to back up.

My first Apple product was the M1 MacBook Air which I got at launch in December 2020, which really impressed me. So in April 2021 when my OnePlus 7 died I went with the iPhone SE 2020. The past 3 years have been a disappointment. I decided to make myself stick with the device because I hoped I would come around to it. But alas.

Anyway there is an update to my SE 2020, the charging port failed on 28th August. Went to an Apple Authorised Service centre, got quoted "at least ₹29,000". Decided to Wirelessly charge it.

Never used a product from a company that seems so blatantly intent on milking its customers.
Click to expand...
Apple has always been an elitist brand and will continue to be one. The price premium their products command is for excellent software support and the tightest integration of the ecosystem, among other reasons. I use an iPad Pro 2nd gen 2017 model with a hairline crack on the display (that doesn't affect the functionality or usability in anyway), not only because I know the screen replacement would cost a bomb, but also because I am afraid to hand it over to third party repair shops as they may screw it up and make it worse. However, the way I see it, I'm extracting as much use out of it as I can (for all the regular iPad use cases and also for work). I wouldn't bother upgrading it as long as the software support for the apps I use continues. So practically it's a 7 yr old device the performs just as well as it did on day 1.

This is the reason I stick to the apple products I own. Heck, I even use an iPhone 5c that I got repaired recently as an mp3 player (it even has official Apple Music support. We're talking 11 freaking years!).

And on the software issues you speak of (file management, etc.), it's ultimately a matter of preference. I have not found the file management offered by apple limiting in any way.

Also, on your iPhone SE, you can get it repaired at a local repair store. Since the parts are similar to the iPhone 6/7/etc. most of them will be more than capable of taking up the repair and it should cost you less than a tenth of what apple quoted you. If you choose to keep it, that is. I stayed away from the SE purely because of the battery woes (I use an iPhone 12 now and my previous phone was the iPhone 6s and the battery on that thing was horrid).

But to be fair, I agree it's a walled garden. It would be definitely nice to see windows/android step up their game to beat apple on software support and ecosystem integration.
 
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CrimeMouse said:
Photos.app doesn't have integration with Files.app. That's what I mean by "real file management". Files.app is not a "real file manager" it's a sandboxed pathetic excuse for a file manager.

On Android you can go into the file manager of your choice and create new folders and it will show up in your default gallery. Which lets one decide which photos one wants to back up.

My first Apple product was the M1 MacBook Air which I got at launch in December 2020, which impressed me. So in April 2021 when my OnePlus 7 died I went with the iPhone SE 2020. The past 3 years have been a disappointment. I decided to make myself stick with the device because I hoped I would come around to it. But alas.

Anyway, there is an update to my SE 2020, the charging port failed on 28th August. I went to an Apple Authorised Service centre, and got quoted "at least ₹29,000". I decided to wirelessly charge it.

Never have I used a product from a company that seems so blatantly intent on milking its customers.
Click to expand...
See if you can source Lightning connector assembly. Once you get it, you can either go to local guy or DIY using this guide https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone...hfW-lXAmHZ3XblhDCgjrUE-V_imbQyRNX4SVmYDBOTds4

assembly costs some 10$ on amazon (dont know original ones price) and the tools you need will cost under 50$ (can use these for future repairs).
 
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Heisen said:
It does have an integration. In iOS it's opposite, manually created folders don't show up automatically in the photos app (it is not android). When deciding which photos you want to back up, you select the photos right in the photos app then copy to files app.

So what you want is your pics taken to show up in some kind of folder automatically, assume that you have that, what's the next thing you will do? Select from them and copy, move, or backup, as these are widely used.

Either way you have to do the select, copy or move, backup step, does it matter if you do it in the gallary app or the file manager app?

Just assume your photos app to be that folder. Once photo/videos are selected you can then copy them and go to files app and paste them in any folder structure you like, could even be a cloud folder, like google drive or drop box or icloud or connected external storage media etc

If you don't like to copy and paste you can hit the share button after selecting your photos/video, there will be a option to save to files, which will open the files app browser to paste in any folder.

Photos app (specifically) is decoupled from the files app in iOS. You can definitely copy files between them both ways. Considering you know about real file management you should be able to grasp this concept.
Click to expand...

I'm glad it works for you, but I have found this to be rather taxing. The iOS way of dropping everything - Downloads, WhatsApp, Twitter, Screenshots, etc all into a single root folder is not great. Keeping the gallery on iOS clean and organised requires too much effort.

The way you organise photos in the file manager on Android reflects how they appear in the gallery or photos app. Gallery and file manager on Android are interlinked. When you move photos within a folder in the file manager, they are also relocated within the corresponding albums in the gallery, as folders in the file manager are automatically mirrored as albums in the gallery. Ain’t no better way of file organisation than that.

DCIM>Downloads
DCIM>Camera
DCIM>WhatsApp
DCIM> Whatever else

A more civilised and sensible way of doing this.

This gallery thing isn't a dealbreaker, it just continues to be a pain point.

Heisen said:
You have to understand apple don't do board level repairs, for that you have to go to 3rd party repair shops. Apple does replacement of parts/device in name of repairs.
Click to expand...
I understand that. But the charging port failing shouldn't be this expensive of a repair, even from the first-party, it is a component that goes through thousands of cycles in a device's lifetime. It is not unreasonable that it would fail. On Samsung phones, it can be replaced quite easily. My S7's charging port broke, and it cost me around, ₹1500 to get it fixed from Samsung authorised.

This isn't even the first part that is giving me issues on the iPhone. The earpiece speaker started tearing around a year back and when I enquired about a fix from Apple Saket? ₹15000. Why? Because the earpiece is soldered to the display. Such bull. On a Samsung S23 this repair would cost around, ₹2500 from Samsung authorised. The fingerprint reader is also wonky, which is another part that can't be replaced independently at a reasonable cost.

Every single Apple repair- from a basic battery replacement (which costs twice compared to its counterparts in the Android world) to a earpiece replacement has been surgically priced to steer you towards a new purchase.

Sorry about the rant, and sorry if I came off as hostile. I'm just appalled at how bad my iPhone experience has been compared to the breeze my MacBook has been! And I haven't even touched upon my software woes!
 
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desiibond said:
See if you can source Lightning connector assembly. Once you get it, you can either go to local guy or DIY using this guide https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/iPhone...hfW-lXAmHZ3XblhDCgjrUE-V_imbQyRNX4SVmYDBOTds4

assembly costs some 10$ on amazon (dont know original ones price) and the tools you need will cost under 50$ (can use these for future repairs).
Click to expand...
Well, well, well, should have known. It is on a daughter board! Apple just wants me to get a new phone! How kind of them!

I didn't look into third-party repair as funnily enough, lighting earphones still work! It's just the charging pins that seem to have failed. Wireless charging is working well, for now.

Thanks for the link!
 
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CrimeMouse said:
I'm glad it works for you, but I have found this to be rather taxing.
Click to expand...
I understand the frustration. Let me try to ease it.

CrimeMouse said:
The iOS way of dropping everything - Downloads, WhatsApp, Twitter, Screenshots, etc all into a single root folder is not great.
Click to expand...
It doesn't do that automatically, for example on whatsapp, when someone sends you a photo or video, it doesn't end up in the photos app (unless you have the "save to photos" automatically setting toggled on in whatsapp). The photos app cannot get messy on it's own.

The photos/video stay in whatsapp. Only when you specifically save the photo/video then it goes into the photos app special root album called "recents", and it also automatically creates a album named "whatsapp" which only has the whatsapp photos. Whether you create an album yourself or it automatically gets created by some app, the photos in the albums are only links to the original photos in the `recents` folder. (Btw you can also save your selected whatsapp photos/video directly into the files app, bypassing the photos app.)

You can treat the albums (in photos app) as folders to organize your photos/video structure. When you a delete a photo from these albums, it will always ask you, whether you want to remove it from this album only or you want to also delete it from the source "recents" too.

The "recents" album is the root album that always contains all the photos/videos. Treat this as a staging area for all your photos videos (that need your attention if you want to organize them later). A benefit of this is it also acts as a timeline, each photo that entered your phone through any means, will be sorted by date/time. So you can quickly find that specific photo when you know it was before that particular photo was taken.

In photos app you can also create folders (don't confuse them with albums), but those folders are for only creating nested albums or folders. Remember you can't move/copy one entire album into a folder, or a folder into a folder, you can only copy photos/videos from one album to another. This is because photos app is not a file manager, the actual file manager is the files app.

The photos app has other integrations like shared albums which I won't go into, it just can't be a simple file manager, whether this is a good thing or bad, it's up to you. For most users it works great.

CrimeMouse said:
And I haven't even touched upon my software woes!
Click to expand...
Let's explore.
 
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zoozoo said:
Isn’t an iPhone safe for browsing as compared to an Android one? That’s how I perceive an IOS to be. Aren’t using banking apps safe in an IOS than in Android?
Click to expand...
What made you come to that conclusion ? That Apple browser ad.
Hint : It has more to do with common sense than the OS, browser or the platform.
 
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zoozoo said:
Isn’t an iPhone safe for browsing as compared to an Android one? That’s how I perceive an IOS to be. Aren’t using banking apps safe in an IOS than in Android?
Click to expand...
yes, it is and that is mainly due to the walled gardens. Also, those privacy ads are bloody accurate btw. Android other is comparatively less secure not by design but due to what these OEMs do to it (modifications that cause vulnerabilities, too slow to update OS and patches etc) and what users do once they get new phone (rooting, installing apps from unknown sources to escape from paying for them etc).

My wife told me how her colleagues (using droids) complain that they are seeing ads in their phones based on what they are talking about on phone or in person. Then I asked her if she is getting ads the same way. Her answer is 'No'. She is using iPhone 13 and I made sure that everytime she sees 'allow tracking', she selects 'ask app not to track'.

Apple devices being epitome of privacy is real! They also are solid devices w.r.t. security.
 
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desiibond said:
There is no company in this world that can block government from accessing data and survive.

You seem to be getting confused between privacy and judicial data access.
Click to expand...
There's a very big difference between having to cough up user data on a court order vs allowing an intelligence agency potentially multiple intelligence agencies access to a backdoor.

P.S. if you are really into privacy, then your best option is an android, specifically a Pixel with Graphene and no google apps
P.P.S also this very good article using LittleSnitch to strip out MacOS's telemetry and damn that's a lot
 
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altair21 said:
There's a very big difference between having to cough up user data on a court order vs allowing an intelligence agency potentially multiple intelligence agencies access to a backdoor.
Click to expand...
Are you talking about a backdoor that FBI found but Apple later patched? I am talking about the amount of data that Google freely hands over to dozens and dozens of companies and you are bringing edge cases where some agency was able to find a backdoor that was patched.

Things like this are rampant on Android. Google themselves use private data left and right to serve ads and to sell data. https://nypost.com/2024/09/03/busin...-on-you-through-your-phones-microphone-report
altair21 said:
P.P.S also this very good article using LittleSnitch to strip out MacOS's telemetry and damn that's a lot
Click to expand...
When there are so many apps installed on Mac, obviously there will be lot of network traffic.
Let me give you an example by taking a snippet from that page.
1725421263769.png


Apple Stocks app uses Yahoo Finance in the backend and uses Apple News to deliver some content on stocks that are marked to follow, icloud for backup and apple.com to pull any other data. So, obviously it will connect to these domains. Apple does not have the superpower of getting data without connecting to external source or internet. If you can, would gladly switch to your app. If this guy did not want to use stocks app, he can just disable that app. Why to go to this much trouble of individually disabling connections. I have seen many other apps in that screenshot and each app is connecting to specific endpoints. If you call this as bad, I am sorry, there is nothing here to discuss.

Moreover, macOS is for laptops and desktops where the walled gardens are not put up like how Apple puts them up on iOS device. We can install unsigned apps, install from 3rd party appstores and have lot more control. Showing this to argue that iOS is not secure is not the right way to debate.

altair21 said:
P.S. if you are really into privacy, then your best option is an android, specifically a Pixel with Graphene and no google apps
Click to expand...
Lol, I am happy with the privacy features on my phone and I do not have to remove truckload of apps, install a custom ROM and do whatnot just to stop apps and Google to snoop on me. Look at the amount of data is sent by Google per hour and compare that with Apple. Even if yo usee the data sent by Apple, half of the data is backup going to iCloud.

1725421851312.png


And this is a detailed analysis of data collected by both parties from 2021
1725422280690.png

source: https://www.scss.tcd.ie/doug.leith/apple_google.pdf
 
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