Replacing my S23 Ultra

Grubscrew

Grubscrew

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I'm due for an upgrade and currently using the Samsung S23 Ultra. Before that, I had the S21 Ultra, and prior to that, the Huawei P30 Pro. In my opinion, the S23 Ultra’s photos are almost as good as those from the P30 Pro—which says a lot.


What matters most to me:


  • I really value the 10x optical zoom. I often take photos from a distance, so a great camera with strong zoom capabilities is non-negotiable.
  • I’m a heavy user—lots of screen time, calls, emails, and WhatsApp—so battery life needs to be excellent.
  • It has to be Android and offer full Google access (so unfortunately, no Huawei).
  • My upgrade would be on a 24-month contract with Telkom or Vodacom.

Given all of this, is it worth upgrading now? Or should I rather hold onto the S23 Ultra and wait to see if the S26 truly catches up to where the market should be? Am I overlooking any other Android options that could compete in terms of camera, performance, and battery?

Love,

Grubscrew
 
you wont get other worthwhile phones like One Plus on contract here in this country - so you are limited to the S25 ultra or wait for the S26 Ultra if you really want a bigger jump in performance and functionality

apparently the S25 even though it has really faster hardware is just basically just fine tuning the AI functionality and not doing a whole load more - with slightly improved cameras but a worse S-pen

so far news about the S26 ultra is just concentrating on IP69 (which is useless to the average consumer because its just more about resistance to water jets) and possibly a slightly bigger capacity battery BUT doesn't seem like any new revolutionary stuff being added that will start the next industrial revolution

heres an article that might help your predicament - look at their conclusion - it addresses your question perfectly IMHO

https://www.phonearena.com/galaxy-s26-ultra-release-date-price-features-news
 
Thanks
naughty001 said:
you wont get other worthwhile phones like One Plus on contract here in this country - so you are limited to the S25 ultra or wait for the S26 Ultra if you really want a bigger jump in performance and functionality

apparently the S25 even though it has really faster hardware is just basically just fine tuning the AI functionality and not doing a whole load more - with slightly improved cameras but a worse S-pen

so far news about the S26 ultra is just concentrating on IP69 (which is useless to the average consumer because its just more about resistance to water jets) and possibly a slightly bigger capacity battery BUT doesn't seem like any new revolutionary stuff being added that will start the next industrial revolution

heres an article that might help your predicament - look at their conclusion - it addresses your question perfectly IMHO

https://www.phonearena.com/galaxy-s26-ultra-release-date-price-features-news
Click to expand...
Thanks a bit of damp squid.
 
Snapdragon 8 Elite is a great chip, super efficient and makes a noticeable difference to battery life. No reason not to upgrade now IMO...
 
Mike Hoxbig said:
Snapdragon 8 Elite is a great chip, super efficient and makes a noticeable difference to battery life. No reason not to upgrade now IMO...
Click to expand...

agreed though on all your points - if my contract was ending and i needed to decide on a new phone i would just go with the S25 ultra NOW and keep spending more-or-less a similar amount to what i was paying for the previous ultra phone
 
naughty001 said:
and that will offer him one of his primary requirements from his opening post list of requirements?????
Click to expand...
I was only thinking out loud, my apologies. I know an iPhone 16 pro max doesn’t exist even though it would’ve been perfect for Op. it’s all just a pipe dream.

I apologize once again.
 
epah said:
I was only thinking out loud, my apologies. I know an iPhone 16 pro max doesn’t exist even though it would’ve been perfect for Op. it’s all just a pipe dream.

I apologize once again.
Click to expand...

look guy ..... it is possible that the iphone could have been perfect for him BUT he did state his requirements however if he did not really require the android part of it with full Google access then i would have supported and endorsed your recommendation but i was just pointing out that as things stand what you suggest doesn't fulfill his complete requirement list ..... hence it is the furthest thing from perfect for him

nothing wrong with the apple phones if you are invested in the Apple infrastructure but once you have already chosen a way to go it is not really a cheap exercise to start from scratch and change mid stream ..... however if the thread was started by someone who says that it will be his first phone ever and he doesn't have a laptop or PC or earbuds or smart watches and is willing to spend however much it costs to get great stuff then have at it because there's nothing wrong with Apple

for a lot of us though its too late to go in the Apple direction - and its not about affordability of the phone itself - its the cost of replacing everything you already have - very few people are going to switch over ..... same goes for people already on the Apple side of things - it becomes harder to stick with the Google aspects then ..... not everyone has around R200k just lying around to start switching all their tech to a different ecosystem than the one they were already using
 
naughty001 said:
look guy ..... it is possible that the iphone could have been perfect for him BUT he did state his requirements however if he did not really require the android part of it with full Google access then i would have supported and endorsed your recommendation but i was just pointing out that as things stand what you suggest doesn't fulfill his complete requirement list ..... hence it is the furthest thing from perfect for him

nothing wrong with the apple phones if you are invested in the Apple infrastructure but once you have already chosen a way to go it is not really a cheap exercise to start from scratch and change mid stream ..... however if the thread was started by someone who says that it will be his first phone ever and he doesn't have a laptop or PC or earbuds or smart watches and is willing to spend however much it costs to get great stuff then have at it because there's nothing wrong with Apple

for a lot of us though its too late to go in the Apple direction - and its not about affordability of the phone itself - its the cost of replacing everything you already have - very few people are going to switch over ..... same goes for people already on the Apple side of things - it becomes harder to stick with the Google aspects then ..... not everyone has around R200k just lying around to start switching all their tech to a different ecosystem than the one they were already using
Click to expand...
I think you are getting all riled up over nothing. I did state that the perfect solution for him doesn’t exist, which would be the iPhone 16 pro max. And I said it’s all in my head. To top it off I apologized profusely.

Let’s all just calm down!
 
epah said:
I think you are getting all riled up over nothing. I did state that the perfect solution for him doesn’t exist, which would be the iPhone 16 pro max. And I said it’s all in my head. To top it off I apologized profusely.

Let’s all just calm down!
Click to expand...

where was i riled up? if i was riled up you would have known all about it - my language would not have been so polite :p i did reply very calmly - just stating a few facts :rolleyes: there is not a single point where i said anything in anger in my previous reply or it was all in your (overactive) imagination
 
naughty001 said:
where was i riled up? if i was riled up you would have known all about it - my language would not have been so polite :p i did reply very calmly - just stating a few facts :rolleyes: there is not a single point where i said anything in anger in my previous reply or it was all in your (overactive) imagination
Click to expand...
Alright. Then let’s just call it a night honey. Since we are both very calm right now.
 
well he will still be paying contract prices to keep that phone going - so he may as well start a new contract (which means upgrade) and pay off another phone with those same payments IMHO 😉

He can pass on the S23 Ultra to another family member or kids to use with prepaid instead of a contract OR he could sell it and fund a lot of accessories for the new phone as well for example wireless chargers, OEM phone cases, watches, headphones etc

he just needs to figure out what the smartest use of the cash he is expending will be and head in that direction - and while the S26 is definitely going to be a great phone ..... the S27 ultra or S28 ultra will probably be better and fairly higher up the food chain anyway when he reaches the end of any new contract he signs now 😉 just my way of thinking if i was in that situation ...... everyone else is free to think in a different way to do things so don't be swayed by my opinions if they don't suit your preferences :thumbsup: But to me this is the only reason to get contract phones instead of buying them for cash ie so that you can cyclically upgrade and periodically stay close to the heights of ultimate tech
 
Last edited:
Smiggles said:
iOS 18 is more customizable than Android now but I get it. I sometimes wish I had the proper Gboard etc.
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Cute that you believe that :-P. Even evidenced enough by the little attempt at trying

Your iPhone Home Screen setup

Since iOS 18 is more customisable than Android now what does your Home Screen look like? I'll start.
mybroadband.co.za mybroadband.co.za
Odd that it only had two posts on it? But love to see the Apply Acolyte and Epah pop into recommend an Apple when the OP wanted an Android.
So once again is there a cult mentality? Do you get kickbacks?
 
naughty001 said:
well he will still be paying contract prices to keep that phone going - so he may as well start a new contract (which means upgrade) and pay off another phone with those same payments IMHO 😉

He can pass on the S23 Ultra to another family member or kids to use with prepaid instead of a contract OR he could sell it and fund a lot of accessories for the new phone as well for example wireless chargers, OEM phone cases, watches, headphones etc

he just needs to figure out what the smartest use of the cash he is expending will be and head in that direction - and while the S26 is definitely going to be a great phone ..... the S27 ultra or S28 ultra will probably be better and fairly higher up the food chain anyway when he reaches the end of any new contract he signs now 😉 just my way of thinking if i was in that situation ...... everyone else is free to think in a different way to do things so don't be swayed by my opinions if they don't suit your preferences :thumbsup: But to me this is the only reason to get contract phones instead of buying them for cash ie so that you can cyclically upgrade and periodically stay close to the heights of ultimate tech
Click to expand...
Can just downgrade to a sim only contract as well.
 
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