Not sure if it is like that because I'm in Korea, but on my Samsung S9 Samsung is injecting ads for their new S24 in my notifications. I've had the phone for 5 years and this is the first time I see ads in my phone notifications, unbelievable.
Is there a phone manufacturer that doesn't use their devices to shove more ads in your face? Google pushing Google One or Apple's preinstallwd watch app also come to mind
I've been using motorola phones since like 2018. don't remember ever getting an ad notification from them. right now i've got an Edge UW 2021 and have no complaints other than missing the headphone jack, but that is what it is.
Work gave me an iPhone, it has been pestering me with "ACTIVATE YOUR FREE 3 MONTHS OF APPLE TV PLUS" once a week since new, and the same for iCloud storage, and the games service, and apple music.
I got 4 notifications a week at random times of the day from the system itself telling me to make sure I signed up for their free trial with my credit card before the 3 month period where the deal was available is over.
This has never happened on a Pixel for me, sure they pester you about Google One plans etc on first setup, but they shut the fuck up after you say no.
I recently got a (Xiaomi) Redmin Note 12 because my old One Plus was way too old, and overrode the installed Android with the MIUI version (same one without their pre-loaded apps and customizations). The worst they do to try and make you give up on doing it is to make you wait 1 week between requesting enabling unlocking of that phone and actually being able to unlock the phone, after which it's pretty straightforward (they do make you go through 2 "are you sure" checks, which I found funny).
No Ads whatsoever.
So I went and bought another one of the same model as a Christmas present and did the same for it.
The crap intrusive pre-installed software of the Samsung and being impossible to unlock it and install a clean OS version is exactly why I did NOT get a Samsung instead.
I looked around, saw the Samsung phones could not be unlocked (from what you say, in some countries but can in others) and didn't care to get it.
Even had I known they were unlockable in some places but not othes, why should I risk my hard earned money on were I live being one of those places were Samsung did it. "We're sleazy only in some places" is hardly a ringing endorsement for the brand.