Possibly the cheapest? I think it's a great price for a good phone. Would buy it myself if I hadn't spent money on deals from OzBargain..
Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G 128GB (Black) $1519.05 Free C&C/+ Delivery @ JB Hi-Fi
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Last edited 24/03/2021 - 20:59 by 3 other users
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Seriously go on YouTube and have a look at comparisons before you make yourself look bad like this.
Too late
getting old mate
The Exynos 2100 seems like a genuinely good chip. Lots of americans having heat issues with SD888 S21U. I think the exynos hate might finally be over.
I thought you said correct and I sat there for a minute trying to figure out why the SD one was better
I take a lot of product photography and the image was very important to me.
Hmm, shouldn't you be using a proper camera instead? You'll have far more control over the image, have access to a good selection of lenses, be able to sync properly to studio flashes, and have greater latitude in post.
The problem w/ a DSLR is the battery is always dead and the camera is tucked away in it's case with the wrong lens on, so even people with lots of camera gear usually reach for the phone.
@raybies: Anyone who is in any way serious about their work will use a proper camera for the job and will make sure it's charged.
@wombat81: Who said work… OzDJ_ just said he takes a lot of product photography. And I take a lot of cat photos.
Wtf… wait Muschu Bear, don't move, let go get my DSLR.@wombat81: When did I say it wasn't… it's the only reason I'm here. But still $1.5k is pricey, if it isn't excellent, so reading opinions.
The problem w/ a DSLR is the battery is always dead and the camera is tucked away in it's case with the wrong lens on, so even people with lots of camera gear usually reach for the phone.
Sure, but OzDJ specifically said he takes product photos. That's a deliberate thing you do (i.e. a product photo shoot), not something you just happen to do when you're out for lunch. I would personally use proper equipment to give the most professional results to my clients.
So what are you using instead?
I just want an excellent camera phone… not in to gaming or 5g… I just camera.If you took "a lot of product photography" why the hell would you be using a phone. Surely you would have jumped on the a7iii with cashback offer 6 weeks ago.
The Exynos version actually has better image processing than the snapdragon version. In bright light the S21 Ultra is unmatched, especially with zoom. Even up to 30x you get photos that you could happily share on social media.
So many questions…
1. If image quality is so important to you, why the hell are you using a phone to take the photos?
2. What phone did you move to?
3. Even if the image processing is slightly worse than the SD888, I find hard to believe you couldn't get good quality shots with the Exynos S21U.
4. You claim you are "calling it like it is" yet you don't give any evidence apart from your own "expertise". Sorry bro but you're gonna cop downvotes that way.I'm certainly not an Exynos fanboi, my old S9 drove me crazy at times, but I can't see much evidence to back up your criticism here.
Bcos the best camera is always the one you have to hand, and people don't carry around 4kg of camera everywhere they go… jeez.
dupe
LOL, yeah. Product photography with a phone, uh-huh.
LOL, I won an award for a photograph taken with a piece of junk point and shoot… never won anything with any of my DSLRs.
Spoken like someone who is insecure in thoughts and actually doesn't know what they're talking about.
The usual moron with the cringey eXyNoS whinge without ever actually owning one
256gb also same price I think
256GB $100 more
But you get a $100gc
:o sounds like the better deal then!
Saw this.. does the giftcard inclusive…
Bonus offer - More space, same price!
Get a Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G 256GB for the same price as a 128GB model
Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G 256GB range, here.
Offer ends 24 March 2021
No sd card slot anymore
Guess the S21 Ultra is the superior device after all.
I'll take whatever s21 ultra youre talking about
Deal breaker.
It was for me too.
No sd card slot anymore
It was a deal breaker for me when phones only came with 64GB storage. Now with 128 and 256GB phones, it doesn't bother me any more. I suppose if you're a really heavy photo/video shooter it could be a problem. You can buy some Google Drive storage and keep it all on Google Photos to free up space on your phone though. You'd want a backup of your photos and videos anyway.
Sounds like a stupid price for a good phone.
There's a $500 "because we can" tax ever since apples huge price hike worked. And I'll bet the factory workers aren't getting paid any extra..
And I'll bet the factory workers aren't getting paid any extra..
Factory worker wages have been rising over the past few years, so I don't think that comment is valid.
Yep that's 3$ a month now instead of 2$. Welcome to the middle class fellas lol.
Don't forget that living costs there are much lower than here too.
@[Deactivated]: OP said factory workers aren't getting paid any extra.
I posted links showing that factory workers are getting paid extra.
End of story.
@eug: if their increase in pay only matches inflation…. that is not an increase in pay. Why are you trying to justify paying people $3 a month to make thousands of machines you sell for $2 000?
Why are you trying to justify paying people $3 a month to make thousands of machines you sell for $2 000?
Where am I justifying anything?
Person says A.
I link to reports that says A is not true.
I posted links showing that factory workers are getting paid extra.
That you did. Which would have been the end of your story.
But then you also said.
Don't forget that living costs there are much lower than here too.
Not disputing this. However because the wages are so low most if not all there are pretty much working/living hand to mouth.
What they make a day is just enough for the bare necessities. Sometimes not even.
Not disputing this.
That's good, because that's all I was saying. Their wages are lower, but their costs of living is also lower - so one cannot apply Chinese wages to Australian living standards, which people here seem to be doing.
It would be extremely difficult to live on US$300 a month here, but it's workable in some third-world countries. It definitely won't be a comfortable life like we have here, but one won't starve to death.
However because the wages are so low most if not all there are pretty much working/living hand to mouth.
Business Insider spoke to some Foxconn workers in one of the Chinese factories. They say:
Foxconn’s pay, according to the workers that we spoke to, is better than most other non-skilled jobs in China.
The pay at the Zhengzhou factory is lower than that of the one in Shenzhen, but, the workers said, many prefer to work in Zhengzhou because it is closer to their hometowns and the cost of living is cheaper.Most workers that arrive know about the factory’s reputation for long hours and constant overtime. There are tons of factories to work at in China. Most come to Foxconn, specifically for the overtime, not in spite of it.
“Usually, workers don’t come unless there is the opportunity for overtime. They want the higher salaries,” Liu explained.
Wages for unskilled labour in China is low across the board. Based on BI's talks with actual factory workers there, workers can earn more by working at Foxconn than at other factories in China because Foxconn pays more and allows them to work overtime to earn even more.
It would be extremely difficult to live on US$300 a month here, but it's workable in some third-world countries.
Except many don't even make US$300 a month. They can only dream of making US$300 a month.
Foxconn pays more and allows them to work overtime to earn even more.
Paying higher than other factories on a still low figures is still little comfort to these people. Ofcourse they will have to work overtime. Just to make ends meet.
Except many don't even make US$300 a month. They can only dream of making US$300 a month.
We are still talking about phone factory wages right? BI says:
After a 45-day probationary period, base salaries can rise to anywhere between 2500 RMB to 3200 RMB ($US393-$US503).
Workers who are willing to take on the night shift can see their monthly salary rise to as much as 5,000 RMB ($US786), including overtime.
So if they're working there, that's the minimum they're getting.
Paying higher than other factories on a still low figures is still little comfort to these people. Ofcourse they will have to work overtime. Just to make ends meet.
Now this is going off on a tangent. I never talked about how comfortable their lives are, I was specifically talking about how factory worker wages have been rising.
@eug: Your argument is. Their wages are low because the living costs are low. Well that expected to a point. I don't expect them to get paid the same amount a factory worker in Australia is getting paid to a factory worker in china. Nobody does.
What people are saying us that it's not proportional. Yes their living costs are low but the money most people get paid there is still not enough to cover even just the basics.
Your argument is. Their wages are low because the living costs are low.
I wasn't arguing that. I was saying that yes their wages are low, but at least their living costs are low as well.
Yes their living costs are low but the money most people get paid there is still not enough to cover even just the basics.
That's not the impression I get when reading that BI article. Wages are low, but people work there because they can earn more than other factories. The workers go to the cinemas, eat at restaurants and food stalls, drink beer at bars, sing at karaoke lounges, play video games at internet cafes, etc. They earn US$393-786 a month. Dorm rent is US$23/month, meals on campus are US$0.78 - $1.10. Living standards definitely aren't comparable to a first-world country, but those factories and the cities they are in don't look like slums.
@eug: Yes at Foxconn. Foxconn is just one factory. There are hundreds if not thousands of factories in China.
But few saw a way out of the grinding factory lifestyle in which they work six days a week, see their spouses once weekly if they are lucky, and frequently work dozens of hours of overtime.
Kinda proves the point. They just aren't getting paid enough. And that includes people who work at Foxconn.
Yes at Foxconn. Foxconn is just one factory.
Sure. But this whole discussion started because of a comment about mobile phone factory workers, specifically the rising cost of iPhones and factory workers not getting paid more. So everything I've been talking about is in relation to that. Foxconn is the largest private employee in China with about 1.3 million employees, and they make half the iPhones in the world and is one of the world's bigest manufacturers of Android phones - so they would be a good representation of a mobile phone factory worker.
Kinda proves the point. They just aren't getting paid enough.
Yes, they work similar hours to a junior accountant in a Big 4 accounting firm in a first world country, but get paid far less.
And that includes people who work at Foxconn.
Sure. But at least with their base salary it looks like they're earning enough to cover the basics for themselves. What you described earlier sounded more like what people living in slums go through, rather than a mobile phone factory worker.
Interestingly though, I was in a slum in Kenya two years ago and whilst people there are really poor and live a tough life, they still smiled as they went about their day. Kids were happily playing in the streets kicking makeshift balls around as they didn't have computers, mobiles, or TVs to use at home. Being poor does mean your life can be quite difficult, but I've seen rich people who are under more stress and unhappiness than some of the people living in a slum.
edit: before anyone starts putting words in my mouth, no, I'm not saying it's fine for them to remain poor. It was just an observation.@eug: Ah yes Foxconn workers getting paid better than any factory. Guess them Foxconn workers don't need the nets in the building to stop them jumping out the window then.
I was in a slum in Kenya two years ago and whilst people there are really poor and live a tough life, they still smiled as they went about their day.
Because these people know crying about it changes nothing.
Ah yes Foxconn workers getting paid better than any factory. Guess them Foxconn workers don't need the nets in the building to stop them jumping out the window then.
OK, this is going nowhere so I'll end here. The conclusion is, factory workers in China earn a low salary. Their salaries are rising which was my original point, but yes, they're still low. The only saving grace is that living costs are low (with a comparatively low standard of living) as well, so they're not starving.
Guess them Foxconn workers don't need the nets in the building to stop them jumping out the window then.
The nets sure got a lot of news coverage. I found the actual numbers interesting though. Foxconn had just under a million employees at the time. The average suicide rate in China in 2011 was 22.23 deaths per 100,000 persons. So the suicide rate in Foxconn's factories amongst the million employees were lower than the national average. Make of that what you will.
Who are the people buying phones for $1500?
The people who can't afford the $3k Fold?
People that want it and hopefully can afford it. I tend to buy the top of the range phone all the time, bought my S20 Ultra for $1600 in March 2020 and I will buy the Note21 Ultra later this year for around that same price.
Your phone is always on you and the most used computing device in most peoples lives it also does a million other things. So I'm happy to pay a premium for a premium experience for my most used tool.
Yeah, it's worth it to some people. Someone at work said he doesn't use his laptop anymore and does everything on his phone, so he could easily justify spending $1999 on a Galaxy Fold 2. It makes sense to me, and to some people $1999 is easy money. It's all relative.
There won't be a Note 21 this year.
I read Samsung CEO confirmed no note 21 this year, and they are banking on a big note 22. Apparently it's a silicon chip production issue. Can't state source but I read it last night
Oh man I haven't had time to keep up with rumours. So you think they will skip a note phone this year? I need to find out if there will be a Galaxy Fold 3 since that will be the only other one competing with the S21 Ultra
"..happy to pay a premium for a premium experience for my most used tool."
you know you can crush candy with something far cheaper than the price of a car, right?
You can save a lot of money if you ate 2min noodles all your life. You could save a lot of money it you only owned a few white t shirts and a pair of jeans.
What's your point? Money and what you're willing to part away with is relative to each person.
@Julzx: You can save a lot of money if you ate 2min noodles all your life.
actually the real life health costs, would prob cost you more down the line.
I agree with you spending $1600 for premium but dont be stupid and spend that every year or on every new modle release.
The quality of phones have almost peaked and you are no longer getting great bang for your buck.
What ever the s21 does is only marginally better than the s20, so why pay $1600 for a slight difference?
I mean will you take advantage of the 120hz screen? Only a handful of people will.
I used to upgrade my phone quite often (HTC G1, Samsung Galaxy S, Samsung Galaxy Nexus, LG Nexus 5, OnePlus One) but after getting the OnePlus One I kept it for just over 3.5yrs (Bought May 2014 for $478.00) and then upgraded to OnePlus 5t which i've now had for 3.25yrs (Bought Jan 2018 for $719.96). We have definitely peaked in phone advancements to the point where the technology is good enough you don't have to upgrade every generation unless you are buying cheap low-end phones. My current phone has 8GB of RAM which is still good for todays apps and only just reached end of support by the manufacturer.
A similar thing happened with desktop computers where the Intel 4th generation is basically the same in performance as the Intel 7th generation over many years later. It wasn't until Ryzen came and shook things up that we saw some real advancements. Now we have the Ryzen 3600 vs the new Ryzen 5600x that is 50% more money for 12% more performance and we have peaked again. https://www.techspot.com/review/2185-amd-zen-3-ryzen-5600-ve…
I'm annoyed at how much they are price jacking modern phones, there's no reason for them to be so expensive these days. Surely they could offer something good around the $500-700 bracket.
Lots of people justify it saying they have their phones for three years
Use it all the time etc
I've always bought flagship phones and always will, no regrets.
To me it is always worth paying high prices for things you use a lot - price vs hours of use.
Generally i buy the best model at the current time and keep it for several years.
That being said current phone is S7 and isn't really top of the line.
S7 is still top of the line, if it does everything you need it to do. It only ceases when you need new software/hardware it does not support.
Dont be suckered into the greed or instant gratification ideology that people operate on.
I use an S7 as my work phone, it's quite good and certainly doesn't feel slow compared to my newer personal phone the OnePlus 5T which is itself 3.25yrs old.
Those who choose to.
Some people spend way more money on drinks, cigarettes, gyms, dining out, musicals, holidays, expensive clothing or shoes, console and games, …
Some on phones.
Most people can depreciate it in their tax.
If a person uses the phone for 3 years, after-tax it is less than $1 per day - for something they use daily (with very little exceptions)mad men, and marketing and keeping up with the joneses.
People like me who have been using an iphone XR for 3+ years? Actually skipped the fold2
People who stopped believing the A.BS inflation figures.
Cant wait for the s22.
nope, i need the s23 now been long enough.
Check Samsung education store. I got S21 ultra 256gb for $1500 with free wireless charger and $100 worth of accessories when I preordered. Now I think some times Samsung sells s21 ultra 25gb for 1479 in Edu store. You can also get extra $300 trade in sometimes.
Or better yet check the OzB classifieds for people selling 50% off vouchers for it.
Brings it down to 1074 + cost of code
Yeap bought one. 5G 16/512
I got my s21 ultra 5g 256gb for $999 from the edu store.
This includes
Trade in s9+ for $130;
Bonus $300 on trade in;
$50 mailing list voucher.Yup I'm tempted to do the same but might get the 521gb version
Opps 512gb
I've heard so many horror stories of the bad customer service direct from samsung store though - I'd be prepared to pay up to $150 extra just for the peace of mind buying from JB.
Be very careful. You are about to pay $1500+ for a telephone.
More like a portable computer
gov/big business tracking device
With a usb-c to hdmi, Dex app, and BT keyboard+mouse it apparently works well as a roaming computer. Haven't given it a solid test myself
Samsung online store has 256GB for 128 price at moment, with "phone tradein + bonus $500 trade value".
At $1849 - $500 - $phone trade value, would be cheaper option than this, if you have tradeable phone (think lowest is iphone 6s, Galaxy S6, pixel 2)Tried comparing this to my 3 year old pixel 2xl and couldn't find where the $1000+ worth of difference is
It's basically every feature..
Yeah, nah.
I "upgraded" from a Pixel 4XL to an S21 Ultra.
After a few weeks, I just couldn't live with it and I bought a Pixel 5.
For what reason?
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