cross-posted from: https://lemdro.id/post/2747324 (!samsung@lemdro.id)
As of today, Samsung is rolling out Android 14 to the Galaxy S23, S23+, and Galaxy S23 Ultra in regions including the UK and portions of Europe, such as France, Germany, Belgium, Finland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, and Spain. The update weighs in at 350mb for users who are updating from the latest beta to the stable update, but for those coming directly from One UI 5.1, it’s an update of over 3GB.
Actually runs really well on my S23 Ultra. Also, I guess the entirety of Goodlock works except for HomeUp. Haven’t tried it all, but the ones I use function with no issues.
GrapheneOS had it’s first stable Android 14 release on October 8th, just 3 days after it the first release by Google. GrapheneOS is just superior. And it doesn’t include any spyware and unlike the Samsung ROM it doesn’t install TikTok on your phone…
Also within those 3 days of porting, Graphene also fixed the disastrous profile bug that Google didn’t even fix, causing tons of data to be deleted. Just another common Graphene W
They had the betas fairly early. I wouldn’t fault them for taking a bit extra time before considering it stable. They do have a suite of useful features like Dex and whatnot, along with being used in corporate environments with Knox, which could require some extra care.
I didn’t have Tiktok installed on my S23U. It was much better than older Samsung devices that had a ton of apps preinstalled.
I didn’t have Tiktok installed on my S23U.
I already responded to that in my other comment:
https://screenrant.com/tiktok-essential-app-samsung-install/ https://reddit.com/r/samsung/comments/tyepqa/samsung_now_installs_tiktok_as_an_essential_app/ https://reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/ufcszz/samsung_forcing_tiktok_on_me_claiming_its_an/
I also encountered that when I set up a Samsung phone for my dad. And I also got Facebook preinstalled on a Samsung phone a few years ago.
useful features like Dex
I really don’t mean to insult Samsung users or to make fun of Samsung software, but have you ever used Dex? In my entire time of using a Dex-compatible Samsung phone, I didn’t touch this feature once. It reminds me of what Microsoft did on their crappy Windows Phones with Continuum. Who would ever use something like that?
I use dex daily, for many hours. Moreover, for my use of dex, there is no alternative through any other piece of software or hardware, at all. I was happy with my unlocked OnePlus 9 Pro running Lineage, but went out and switched to an s21 ultra that I can’t even root, let longer install a custom ROM, specifically for dex and no other reason.
Dex is very useful if you’re in a hotel room and the TV has limited functionality except for basic screen casting. Also really good to show presentations without carrying a laptop. Used it multiple times and every single time it was actually useful. It’s a general thing with Dex is that you either have usecases for it or you don’t, nothing in-between.
The app recommendations on setup don’t bother me personally, as I skip that altogether along with a number of the Google apps. I consider this very different from coming pre-installed (TikTok has never been pre-installed on my international S21 Ultra nor Canadian S23 Ultra purchased from Samsung).
As for Dex, I don’t often use it but do on occasion. My work setup is based around a USB-C dock (which I have at the office, home office, and living room TV) and it drops into that perfectly without setup or delay. I considered it a gimmick before my current device. I found it too slow on the S21 Ultra but very smooth on the S23 Ultra. I’ll likely be switching over to a Pixel once a Dex equivalent comes to AOSP (assuming the artificial block on USB-C DisplayPort Alt mode gets lifted without root).
But that’s all an aside - whether the features are useful to you or not is based on personal need (I could live without the Knox nonsense given it’s a personal device), but it does mean it may warrant additional time in beta for bug testing. Being fast is good for security updates, but the same isn’t necessarily the case for feature updates.
I have an unlocked phone from samsung and no Facebook or tiktok apps, that’s a new one I haven’t heard yet.
https://screenrant.com/tiktok-essential-app-samsung-install/ https://reddit.com/r/samsung/comments/tyepqa/samsung_now_installs_tiktok_as_an_essential_app/ https://reddit.com/r/assholedesign/comments/ufcszz/samsung_forcing_tiktok_on_me_claiming_its_an/
I also encountered that when I set up a Samsung phone for my dad. And I also got Facebook preinstalled on a Samsung phone a few years ago.
