Samsung’s best smartphone ever, the Galaxy Note 5, and finally it’s official, it reached all carriers in the United States on August 21, with some users getting it early. Almost every aspect of the device was already known based on a series of leaks before it was announced. But now that it’s here and we have all the details, here are five reasons to buy the new Galaxy Note 5.
After months of leaks and rumors, on August 13, Samsung unveiled the all-new Galaxy Note 5 and the larger Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+ with a 5.7-inch curved display. Both phones are among the best on the market and have a lot to offer users.
A glance at the Galaxy Note 5 should tell most buyers what they need to know. It looks amazing, has a huge and beautiful 5.7 inch screen, powerful features and a great camera. That said, we’ll go over the key aspects of what makes this phone great below.
Compared to the Galaxy Note 4, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 has big shoes to fill. Last year the Note added an aluminum frame around the device, but with a micro SD slot and removable battery. There are two things users won’t get with the Note 5. However, they’re not as big of a concern as many users suggest, and here’s why we still think the Note 5 is definitely worth buying.
Big, Beautiful Display
Many smartphones have large screens. Devices like the LG G4, Nexus 6 and even Motorola’s new Moto X Pure Edition have the same 5.7-inch screen size with the same 2560 x 1440 Quad-HD resolution. However, now that we have the Galaxy Note 5 in our hands and use it profusely, the display is unbeatable.
Samsung is known for making high-end displays, and the Note 5 is no different. The S-AMOLED panel boasts some of the best and most vibrant colors, exceptional brightness, inky blacks, and good viewing angles to boot. The LG G4 is a prime example of a good display that deteriorates when viewed from the side. The Note 5 doesn’t have this issue, and it actually has some of the best viewing angles I’ve seen on any smartphone.
Even the new Moto X Pure Edition and its 5.7-inch screen use a TFT LCD that can’t match the vibrancy or brightness of the Quad-HD AMOLED panel on Samsung’s new phone. If you want the biggest and best screen in a smartphone, consider the Galaxy Note 5 or its curved S6 Edge+ sibling.
S-Pen Pen
Yes, many users will buy the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 for everything it has to offer, but will never use the S-Pen stylus. I’m one of those users who doesn’t really need it. At the same time, Samsung has made it even more useful with each new Note release. This year it is spring loaded and easy to remove or lift, has a nice vibrating effect when used and is extremely handy for a wide variety of things.
Our favorite aspect, though, is probably the newest feature that uses the S-Pen to take notes with the screen off. Simply slide the S-Pen out and the phone will go into a low power state (without unlocking) and let you quickly take notes, write a reminder, or grab a friend’s phone number and save it for later use. Simple, easy and convenient.
The S-Pen also feels better in the hand, has a more balanced weight, and is a better pen overall. Samsung has improved the sensitivity, accuracy, and even latency where you’ll see text on the screen while you jot down notes.
Design and Features
We cannot ignore design. Yes, changing the overall design to a premium set of glass and aluminum materials caused Samsung to compromise and remove the micro-SD and removable battery, but they made up for it in a few other areas.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is the best quality and beautiful smartphone the company has ever released. It’s encased in aluminum, glass front and back, and it looks and feels like a device worth spending money on. It can now compete with and beat the iPhone 6 in terms of looks and form factor. They’ve made up for some of these changes by adding fast charging and now fast wireless charging, but there’s no cure for the lack of storage. Now if they just return the micro SD card next year keeping the design the same then everyone will be happy.
Samsung’s Sapphire Black color actually has multiple blue hints and looks gorgeous in sunlight thanks to the glass on the back. There is no denying that the design is extraordinary. There’s also a slight curve on the back of the Note 5 that makes it easier to hold than the Note 4. It’s also slightly smaller physically and better in every way.
This year the Note 5 really brought everything to the table. Well, everything except a micro SD slot. Samsung hardware, software, processor, camera, pen, etc. Here are the hard numbers for those wondering.
This year, users double the power with an 8-core processor, blazing-fast LPDDR4 RAM, and 4GB of RAM for ultra-fast and smooth multitasking and dual-window mode. The 16-megapixel camera is better and has optical image stabilization. The fingerprint scanner doesn’t suck anymore and is as good as or better than the Galaxy S6 and iPhone 6. It’s fast, accurate and always works. No more swiping, just tap and go.
Camera
While the camera has always been good on Samsung devices, they’ve really stepped up in the last year or two. The F/1.9 lens on the Galaxy S6 is extremely impressive and outperformed the iPhone 6 and many other devices in blind tests, consistently delivering excellent results for a smartphone.
With the Galaxy Note 5, users get a better 16-megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization, a new Pro mode with tons of advanced controls, and a double-tap on the home button starts the camera in less time (even when the phone is locked). more than a second so you never miss a shot. You can even take great photos while recording 4k video.
All said and done, the Galaxy Note 5 should be as good as or better than the Galaxy S6 in the camera department. That means it should offer one of the best smartphone cameras on the market. If you take a lot of photos, you will want the new Note.
Fast Charge and Fast Wireless Charge
Last but certainly not least, battery life and charging. a littleThe first battery life comparisons we’ve seen browsing around show that the Galaxy Note 5 actually outlasts the Galaxy Note 4, even though its battery is smaller. Samsung put 3,000 mAh Battery in Note 5 smaller than 3,220 mAh Battery in Note 4.
However, the new 8-core processor and Android 5.1.1 Lollipop are more efficient, they have greatly improved the software, and there are two ways to charge the Note 5 extremely fast.
Just like the Galaxy S6 and many smartphones from 2015, the Note 5 supports “Fast Charging”, but Samsung calls it Adaptive Fast Charging. This means it goes from 0% to 50% on the wall in about 30 minutes and fully charges in an hour and 30 minutes. This is impressive. If your battery is low, a quick 15-20 minute car ride will get you almost 50% for the rest of the day or a night out.
However, what’s new on the Galaxy Note 5 is fast wireless charging. Wireless charging has always been a novelty as it is much slower than charging a phone with a cable. And while the wall wart and micro USB cable that charge faster when using a wall, the Note 5 supports “Fast Wireless Charging,” an optional $70 accessory.
We could go on about all the changes in the software that take advantage of Samsung Pay, wireless charging that supports both major wireless charging platforms, the stunning display, and even the S-Pen and 5.7-inch screen, but the five things above are among the most important to me. I think buyers should buy the Note 5 and they will love it.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5 is available for pre-order today from all major carriers in the United States, with some shipping early and will be available for purchase in stores on August 21.
