Top 10 Galaxy Note 9 Alternatives

Samsung’s big Galaxy Note 9 has a lot to offer and love, but it’s insanely expensive even in recent holiday deals. Samsung has added a larger 6.4-inch display, powerful new camera controls, elegant S-Pen enhancements and all-day battery life. However, these improvements come with a price tag of $999, which is too high for some.

In this buying guide, we’ve gathered a list of the best Galaxy Note 9 alternatives worth buying. Phones with a similar or better experience, big screens, capable cameras and great battery life. Whether you can’t handle the hefty price tag or just want something a little different, we’ve got it for you.

Best Galaxy Note 9 Alternatives

All of these alternatives are available now, with more to come in early 2019. While we think the OnePlus 6T is the best Galaxy Note 9 alternative, here are all the phones worth considering.

OnePlus6

If you’re on a tight budget, the best alternative to the Galaxy Note 9 is the OnePlus 6 or the newer OnePlus 6T. Inside, you get a phone with almost the same high-end specs, a large 6.3-inch display, but for just $529.

Basically, you can buy two OnePlus 6s for almost the same price as the Galaxy Note 9. And with this phone, you get the same octa-core Snapdragon 845 processor with 6GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, dual rear cameras and 3,300mAh. battery. It already runs Android 9 Pie too, well ahead of any Samsung phone.

And while the camera, battery life, and screen are probably slightly better on the Galaxy Note 9, not by much. You have to decide if it’s worth spending $400 more for the Galaxy Note 9. Then, if you need a little more storage, OnePlus is offering a 128GB model with 8GB of RAM for just $579.

Samsung Galaxy S9+

Personally, the best Android smartphone on the market for almost everyone right now is the Samsung Galaxy S9+. Almost identical to the Galaxy Note 9, only slightly smaller and easier to hold, but much more affordable. This means that it is an excellent alternative or the best alternative.

The Galaxy S9+ already features a surprisingly large 6.2-inch Quad-HD curved display, the same Snapdragon 845 processor with 6GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. You’ll enjoy the same dual camera setup as the Galaxy Note 9, good battery life with a 3,500mAh battery, and everything people love about Samsung phones.

You won’t be able to get the S-Pen pen, but that might not matter to you. If you don’t need a pen, you can get the Galaxy S9+ from Samsung for under $800 or less.

Google Pixel 2XL

Even though Google’s Pixel 2 XL is almost a year old and has a slightly older octa-core processor, it’s still almost as great as the Galaxy Note 9. Despite the improvements Samsung has made to the camera, the Pixel 2 XL is still the best shooter on any smartphone. Well, if you ask me.

With the Pixel 2 XL, you get a big 6-inch screen, dual front-facing speakers, the latest Android 9 Pie software, and pretty great battery life. As versatile as possible. The only potential downside is the large frames. If so, consider the Pixel 3 XL next on our list.

(on sale for $749)

iPhone Xs Max

Many Galaxy Note users came from iPhone to enjoy a bigger screen. For years, Apple stuck with small screens. However, in September 2018, Apple introduced the all-new iPhone Xs Max. It’s a huge phone with a 6.5-inch screen. Yes, this is larger than the Galaxy Note 9, which comes in at 6.4 inches.

Apple’s sleek new iPhone 10s Max has a notch on the screen, but it’s a gorgeous Samsung OLED display. You’ll also get a premium design, a similar dual-camera setup on the back, FaceID, and pretty decent battery life. Not many Android users switch between iPhone or Android, and if you’ve never done so, it’s a pretty good time.

This is a big iPhone. Bigger than anything they’ve ever released. This is an Apple phablet running iOS 12.

LG V40 SlimQ

While Samsung, Apple and Google are in the limelight, LG still makes some pretty cool phones here. Earlier this year the company launched the LG V40, and it’s a great alternative to the expensive Note 9. Plus, it has five cameras.

You will get a phone with all the features of a high-end device. We’re talking about a big 6.4-inch Quad-HD display (with iPhone X-style notch), powerful specs, and five super-powerful cameras. All wrapped in a beautiful, all-metal and glass design.

And yes, this phone has exactly the same Snapdragon 845 processor, 6GB of RAM, and the three cameras on the back take great photos, wide-angle shots or telephoto zoom photos. Then you have two cameras on the front for regular or wide-angle group selfies. Not to mention expandable storage, fast performance, customizable software, and a built-in Quad-DAC and one of the loudest speakers in any phone.

While Huawei isn’t very popular in the United States, they are the world’s #2 smartphone maker behind Samsung and ahead of Apple. The company makes great phones and the new Huawei Mate 20 Pro is a beast. This phone pairs with Note 9 everywhere. Whether that’s battery life, storage or AI camera, Huawei has it too.

The Mate 20 Pro packs a 6.3-inch Quad-HD display, powerful specs, 128GB of storage, triple cameras, AI camera controls, and an even bigger 4,200mAh battery. You’ll also get the latest Android 9 Pie and a built-in fingerprint scanner under the screen inside the glass.

To be honest, the Mate 20 Pro is perhaps the best phone in the world right now. You get an edge-to-edge display, a built-in fingerprint scanner, a 40-megapixel camera on the back, plus two cameras to take great photos, tons of storage, and a thick battery. This phone has everything. It’s expensive though, so if you’re on a budget consider the Mate 10 Pro.

Sony has released phones with an old and outdated design for years. Everything changed in 2018 with the new Xperia XZ2. This phone arrived at the same time as the Galaxy S9, but it’s still a good alternative worth considering.

Although the screen is only 5.7 inches, it looks like a phone from 2018 as it is bezel-less. Then you get the same 845 processor, 6GB of RAM and a great camera experience. Sony has also added a powerful 19MP camera to the back, capable of recording 960 FPS slow motion video in 1080p HD. Samsung’s Note 9 does 960 FPS, but at 720p. You’ll also get a large 3,180mAh battery powering a much smaller screen, so that should be enough. It’s a thought, isn’t it?

If the $1,000 price tag of the Galaxy Note 9 is too much for you, consider the Galaxy Note 8 instead. You’re not missing out on much, but you’ll save a few hundred dollars in the process.

Basically, the Galaxy Note 8 is still an excellent phone. You get dual cameras, a similar experience, a smaller 3,300mAh battery, but the S-Pen stylus remains. If you love Samsung (and the Note series) but can’t stand the price, this is for you.

No, the processor isn’t that fast and the camera isn’t that smart, but really, these are very minor differences in the grand scheme of things.

In closing, we would like to recommend two more phones that offer a premium experience for less money. Google’s Pixel 3 XL is finally on the market, and it’s an excellent phone, despite only having a rear camera and a smaller screen.

This year Google’s Pixel 3 XL features a larger 6.3-inch AMOLED display with small bezels but retains dual front-facing speakers. Also, the phone matches the Galaxy Note 9 in the specs section, comes with 64-128GB of storage and offers the best smartphone camera on the market. Not to mention Google’s tweaks, Android 9 Pie, and wireless charging. If there’s one potential downside, it’s the iPhone X-style notch on the screen that Google is stupid enough to copy. Here’s a comparison of the two phones by numbers.

And finally, we have the powerful new OnePlus 6T. Every year this company releases a second phone in the last half of the year that is slightly better than the original, competing with Samsung and Apple, and doing so without asking for a ton of money. OnePlus 6T, the best Note 9 alternative and under $600.

This phone packs a similar 6.4-inch screen with almost zero bezels, the same specs under the hood, powerful dual cameras, the latest Android 9 Pie software, and an affordable price point. With the OnePlus 6T, you get an in-display fingerprint scanner, 8GB of RAM, 128GB of storage and everything else you might like with the Note 9. The only thing missing is the stylus. Here’s everything you need to know about the OnePlus 6T. It’s also working with T-Mobile and Verizon this year. Sorry, Samsung.

In closing, if you’re still interested in the Galaxy Note 9 (and you should be), here’s where to buy it. You can even save $450 with a trade in Samsung’s online store. Otherwise, get any of the above phones and enjoy everything it has to offer.