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Samsung Galaxy S21
scuzzy:
I've been fairly happy with my Pixel 4a despite its shortcomings, but for the little I paid I can't complain. The phone has done well and I like that it's pocketable. I do miss wireless charging, but it's not a show stopper. Regardless, I just upgraded my phone, as well as my wife's Galaxy S20 FE, with the new Samsung Galaxy S21 5G ($799.99 base model with 6.2" flat screen). I got dark gray for me, and purple for her.
The only reason for upgrading is because T-Mobile is running a promotion that's too hard to pass up. Both my phone and my wife's were eligible for a trade-in of $800 each toward an S21. Keep in mind that I only paid $350 for my Pixel 4a, and $550 for my wife's S20 FE.
I had to finance both phones for the full amount ($799.99 each) over a 24-month period. However, T-Mobile will credit the full payment each month as long as we remain in good standing. I paid shipping and taxes up front, but otherwise the phones will not cost us an additional cent.
I didn't want a phone longer than 6 inches, and the S21 comes in at 5.97 inches. Just about everything is an upgrade from my Pixel 4a; processor and RAM, 5G connectivity, battery, screen brightness & refresh rate, Gorilla Victus glass, wireless charging, IP68 dust/water resistance, and more. In my wife's case, upgrades are minor and the S21 has a slightly smaller screen. The S20 FE is a big phone, so she's happy to move to something smaller.
The orders went out today and they should arrive within the next week. I have 30 days to send in the old phones.
Bill:
That's quite a deal. Good luck!
scuzzy:
I ordered a UAG Monarch case in Mallard. While pricey at $60, I'm a big fan of Urban Armor Gear cases. The Monarch is their premium line and should meet my needs on the Harley.
I considered the $40 Plasma series in Ice (my previous UAG favorite), but UAG changed the design to where the edges were brought down almost level with the screen surface. I get that it makes swiping the screen easier, but I'm far more concerned with protection. I also read some reviews that the Plasma series (and closely related Pathfinder) have a design flaw in which the phone does not lay flat due to the camera bump.
We'll see how the Monarch works out, but it looks like the better solution for me.
scuzzy:
I received the new S21 yesterday, and I'm happy to report that we're off to a great start. I have the phone set up to about 95% of my liking, with only a few tweaks left to do. I'm being extra careful in handling the phone, since I'm not expecting the new case to arrive until Monday.
The screen on the S21 is noticeably nicer than on my Pixel 4a, and the added girth has so far not been an issue. That could change once the case is installed, but it's not likely to be anything drastic. Oh, one of the first things I did was to go into the phone's app settings to disable picture-in-picture for Google Maps. I have no idea why Google insists on having that on by default, as it's completely useless and incredibly aggravating.
The Pixel 4a's stock Android is fine for most things, but I must admit that the new Samsung UI 3.1 interface is well thought out. Everything is smooth and easy, even with Nova Launcher installed. I really like the text size settings options, and I easily found something that works great for my needs. Stock Android forced me choose between "just a bit too small" and "just a bit too big." Kudos to Samsung for getting it right.
The sound seems quite acceptable, but I have not had an opportunity to try the speakerphone. I'll report back once I do. Ringtone and alarm volumes are great, with smooth transitions in volume options. Stock Android again forced me to choose between "too loud" and "not quite loud enough."
On the S21 I once again have speed dial. That was not an option with stock Android, which required installing a different phone app as a work-around. I know not everyone is interested in speed dial, but it would still be nice if the option was available by default. Thankfully Samsung continues to support it.
I am spoiled with fingerprint readers, and I'm amazed with how well the under-display, ultrasonic reader works. It has so far been flawless and easy to use. I also did not realize just how much I missed having wireless charging; it is definitely convenient. I'm sure the phone isn't perfect, but so far I'm very happy with my upgrade.
scuzzy:
I spent over an hour on the phone with my sister today, and I'm proud to say that the speakerphone on my new S21 did not disappoint. The conversation went very well for both of us, and the loudness and clarity were more than sufficient. It was definitely a big step above the Pixel 4a.
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