Samsung S11/S20 announcement and owners' thread

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622 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 190

#2423321 18-Feb-2020 16:25

heavenlywild:
Cherios:

discount has increased if you're a student looking to buy one, nows your chance

I wonder why... whether it is a recognition of the sky high prices? It's good news anyway!

Maybe to help compete with the bundles, since these don't include any freebies.

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mrgsm021

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Uber Geek
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#2423811 19-Feb-2020 10:44

This is good news for S20 owners if true:

https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_to_bring_120hz_at_qhd_resolution_for_galaxy_s20_series_but_with_limitations-news-41589.php

Not sure why Samsung didn't implement this in the first place, giving users choices.

heavenlywild

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#2423833 19-Feb-2020 11:18

mrgsm021:
This is good news for S20 owners if true:

https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_to_bring_120hz_at_qhd_resolution_for_galaxy_s20_series_but_with_limitations-news-41589.php

Not sure why Samsung didn't implement this in the first place, giving users choices.

I like the dynamic switching! Awesome news if it true.

heavenlywild

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#2424192 19-Feb-2020 18:59

Any idea if the S20s will come with a screen protector pre-applied?

Cherios

54 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#2424251 19-Feb-2020 21:09

heavenlywild: Any idea if the S20s will come with a screen protector pre-applied?

think so https://www.androidcentral.com/does-galaxy-s20-come-built-screen-protector

techocrazy

23 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 13

#2424688 20-Feb-2020 20:22

There was a post a while back that mentioned that the Samsung Education Store Discount had increased. Here they are for anyone curious.

S20 --- $1124.25 (25% discount)
S20+ --- $1424.25 (25% discount)
S20 Ultra --- $1649.25 (25% discount)

Something of interest is that the devices seem to be "unbranded" in that the model number doesn't end in the usual VNZ / TNZ / NZC. For example the S20 Ultra has the code SM-G988BZKDNZO. Yet they still make you choose a carrier at checkout. So maybe I'm just confused.

Also the website seems a little broken for me at the moment, as I get "too many redirects" when trying to view the specs page for any of the S20 phones. (I was keen to see if these models were still dual sim)

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mahdibassam

365 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 70

#2424703 20-Feb-2020 21:45

techocrazy:

There was a post a while back that mentioned that the Samsung Education Store Discount had increased. Here they are for anyone curious.

S20 --- $1124.25 (25% discount)
S20+ --- $1424.25 (25% discount)
S20 Ultra --- $1649.25 (25% discount)

Something of interest is that the devices seem to be "unbranded" in that the model number doesn't end in the usual VNZ / TNZ / NZC. For example the S20 Ultra has the code SM-G988BZKDNZO. Yet they still make you choose a carrier at checkout. So maybe I'm just confused.

Also the website seems a little broken for me at the moment, as I get "too many redirects" when trying to view the specs page for any of the S20 phones. (I was keen to see if these models were still dual sim)

What is the website URL ? i cant find a samsung education store. thanks :)

halper86

555 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 156

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#2424715 20-Feb-2020 22:27

Cherios:
heavenlywild: Any idea if the S20s will come with a screen protector pre-applied?

think so https://www.androidcentral.com/does-galaxy-s20-come-built-screen-protector

Let’s hope it’s not part of the screen like the Galaxy Fold

IronH

398 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 79

#2424717 20-Feb-2020 22:38

mrgsm021:

This is good news for S20 owners if true:

https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_to_bring_120hz_at_qhd_resolution_for_galaxy_s20_series_but_with_limitations-news-41589.php

Not sure why Samsung didn't implement this in the first place, giving users choices.

I recall an experiment done a while back that tested if most people could actually tell the difference between 1080p and 1440p on a smartphone, and while the majority could pick the 1440p over the 1080p phone, almost all of the people who guessed correctly could only do it after comparing the two screens side by side and from really really close distances, and most of them needed to compare them for a minute or more before giving an answer. Under normal usage scenarios the majority couldn't tell. Now this was done some time ago, so I think the screen size was 5.5" which were the standard size at the time, so it would be interesting if someone redid this now with more current screen sizes over 6".

Personally, on my 6.1" S10 I don't perceive a noticeable difference between 1080 and 1440, so probably also won't notice it on the 6.2" S20, so not at all bummed about 120Hz being limited to 1080p.

Also, in another experiment IIRC, 1440p phones running in 1080p mode on average extended battery life by ~15%.

techocrazy

23 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 13

#2424719 20-Feb-2020 22:45

mahdibassam:

techocrazy:

There was a post a while back that mentioned that the Samsung Education Store Discount had increased. Here they are for anyone curious.

S20 --- $1124.25 (25% discount)
S20+ --- $1424.25 (25% discount)
S20 Ultra --- $1649.25 (25% discount)

Something of interest is that the devices seem to be "unbranded" in that the model number doesn't end in the usual VNZ / TNZ / NZC. For example the S20 Ultra has the code SM-G988BZKDNZO. Yet they still make you choose a carrier at checkout. So maybe I'm just confused.

Also the website seems a little broken for me at the moment, as I get "too many redirects" when trying to view the specs page for any of the S20 phones. (I was keen to see if these models were still dual sim)

What is the website URL ? i cant find a samsung education store. thanks :)

Here is the link: https://shop.samsung.com/nz/multistore/edu/samsung_edu/login/multistore
You will need a valid NZ University email to access the deals :)

NikT

1710 posts

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#2424720 20-Feb-2020 22:49

techocrazy: Something of interest is that the devices seem to be "unbranded" in that the model number doesn't end in the usual VNZ / TNZ / NZC. For example the S20 Ultra has the code SM-G988BZKDNZO. Yet they still make you choose a carrier at checkout. So maybe I'm just confused.

Also the website seems a little broken for me at the moment, as I get "too many redirects" when trying to view the specs page for any of the S20 phones. (I was keen to see if these models were still dual sim)

I can shed some light on this.

The S20 series is the first implementation of a new methodology for Samsung's per-telco software variations. My current understanding is that there is in effect a single set of hardware and software SKUs for NZ - "NZO", and the devices will download the appropriate settings and customisations for Vodafone, Spark, or 2degeees - VNZ, TNZ, NZC - at first boot.

Unlike, say, Huawei who do this based on the SIM inserted at first boot, Samsung are doing this via an activation server, a server-side switch that allocates the specific IMEI/serial to a set sales channel. So devices sold through a particular operator's distribution channels will download and apply the settings for that particular operator.

This is as opposed to the previous method in which devices were flashed to a specific network operator's software build at the factory.

It remains to be seen how this will work if, for example, you buy a Spark variant and want to install the Vodafone software for ~reasons, e.g. splash screens or branding, or how this will affect software update deployment. I've not had enough time with the devices to be able to elaborate on what this looks like in practice, nor do I yet know to what extent each operator has customised this year (2d historically have the least "branded" Samsung software), but it's certainly a step in the right direction to software unification rather than disparate variants.

All official NZ S20 hardware is dual SIM + eSIM regardless of where you buy it from.

Product Manager @ PB Tech

Smartphones @ PB Tech | Headphones @ PB Tech

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sm250

88 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 7

#2424722 20-Feb-2020 22:57

NikT:
I can shed some light on this.

The S20 series is the first implementation of a new methodology for Samsung's per-telco software variations. My current understanding is that there is in effect a single set of hardware and software SKUs for NZ - "NZO", and the devices will download the appropriate settings and customisations for Vodafone, Spark, or 2degeees - VNZ, TNZ, NZC - at first boot.

Unlike, say, Huawei who do this based on the SIM inserted at first boot, Samsung are doing this via an activation server, a server-side switch that allocates the specific IMEI/serial to a set sales channel. So devices sold through a particular operator's distribution channels will download and apply the settings for that particular operator.

This is as opposed to the previous method in which devices were flashed to a specific network operator's software build at the factory.

It remains to be seen how this will work if, for example, you buy a Spark variant and want to install the Vodafone software for ~reasons, e.g. splash screens or branding, or how this will affect software update deployment. I've not had enough time with the devices to be able to elaborate on what this looks like in practice, nor do I yet know to what extent each operator has customised this year (2d historically have the least "branded" Samsung software), but it's certainly a step in the right direction to software unification rather than disparate variants.

All official NZ S20 hardware is dual SIM + eSIM regardless of where you buy it from.

I don't recall seeing anything asking which variant I wanted on my PB tech order? Sounds like it's already pre setup rather than happening depending on which network I'm using? As it turns out I'll be on spark when I get the phone and move to 2degrees at some point soon thereafter. If 2° have any differences (like support for Wi-Fi calling) I'll probably want those somehow set up on my phone

techocrazy

23 posts

Geek
+1 received by user: 13

#2424723 20-Feb-2020 23:02

NikT:

I can shed some light on this.

The S20 series is the first implementation of a new methodology for Samsung's per-telco software variations. My current understanding is that there is in effect a single set of hardware and software SKUs for NZ - "NZO", and the devices will download the appropriate settings and customisations for Vodafone, Spark, or 2degeees - VNZ, TNZ, NZC - at first boot.

Unlike, say, Huawei who do this based on the SIM inserted at first boot, Samsung are doing this via an activation server, a server-side switch that allocates the specific IMEI/serial to a set sales channel. So devices sold through a particular operator's distribution channels will download and apply the settings for that particular operator.

This is as opposed to the previous method in which devices were flashed to a specific network operator's software build at the factory.

It remains to be seen how this will work if, for example, you buy a Spark variant and want to install the Vodafone software for ~reasons, e.g. splash screens or branding, or how this will affect software update deployment. I've not had enough time with the devices to be able to elaborate on what this looks like in practice, nor do I yet know to what extent each operator has customised this year (2d historically have the least "branded" Samsung software), but it's certainly a step in the right direction to software unification rather than disparate variants.

All official NZ S20 hardware is dual SIM + eSIM regardless of where you buy it from.

Thank you for the awesome info NikT. Your explanation of a single NZ software SKU that adapts to the network the phone will be using makes a lot of sense. It sounds vaguely familiar to the multi-CSC ROMs that existed for the S9 and S10 phones. To be honest I'm still amazed we are getting real dual sim flagship phones in NZ. We are living in exciting times :)

NikT

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#2424728 20-Feb-2020 23:17

sm250:
I don't recall seeing anything asking which variant I wanted on my PB tech order? Sounds like it's already pre setup rather than happening depending on which network I'm using? As it turns out I'll be on spark when I get the phone and move to 2degrees at some point soon thereafter. If 2° have any differences (like support for Wi-Fi calling) I'll probably want those somehow set up on my phone

All 2d S20s so far this year - preference is as always for the least-branded, most "open market", most widely compatible version of any given device available in NZ. Shout out to 2d for the hands-off approach. Although I have nothing fundamentally against network variants and am certainly in favour of local network optimisation, managing the SKUs is a pain for those of us in retail-land, and commercial customers do not like operator splash screens one bit when they're using a different network.

There may well be no customer-facing cosmetic or functional difference at all, leaving it as uninteresting backend industry noise and detail, e.g. who's allowed to sell what on which network's postpaid plans.

There's also a piece in there about how those variants are messaged. Other MMRs list "Spark Samsung xxx" or "2d Samsung xxx" and the like which is misleading for many punters who read that as "only works on / is locked to the listed network" - when they all work on all networks and no Galaxy S has ever been locked to an NZ network.

Fundamentally all NZ devices will work on all NZ networks just as they have in years past. Remains to be seen how more complex network features such as VoLTE and VoWiFi will work in detail, but all of the above should work on all variants as we've seen this be the case even with AU device software (as I recall, the AU XSA S10 software includes VoLTE and VoWiFi profiles for NZ). This is of course ever more relevant given this year's hardware is dual SIM by default, so should be expected to house multiple networks' SIMs during its lifetime.

I'll also note here that the folks at Samsung are very switched on, they know that it's been the case for many years that people rock up to their local phone dealer, ask for the latest Galaxy, and get ~whichever variant happens to be in stock if no specific request is made. There was the odd hiccup with that a few years back but those days are thankfully behind us.

techocrazy: To be honest I'm still amazed we are getting real dual sim flagship phones in NZ. We are living in exciting times :)

Me too, this was honestly the biggest surprise of the whole launch this year. Stoked to see it happen and kudos to those who got it over the line. No small feat to change the market to dual SIM as standard overnight, it's a fantastic outcome for end users.

All other phone brands that play in NZ and AU will be taking note I'm sure. I'd love to see Apple follow suit with physical dual SIM for this market.

Product Manager @ PB Tech

Smartphones @ PB Tech | Headphones @ PB Tech

sahyun1

64 posts

Master Geek

#2425004 21-Feb-2020 13:44

I'm willing to buy the bud+ if anyone is selling, pm me if you're interested.

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