The solar panels and inverter we’d buy
By Mark Smirniotis
This post was done in partnership with The Sweethome, a buyer’s guide to the best things for your home. Read the full article here.
With solar power, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. If buying a home is the largest financial investment most people will make, installing solar could very well be the second. Every installation needs to take into account electricity consumption, geographic location, roof orientation, local permits, and a host of other considerations. Once you have a rough idea of how much power you’ll need, in most cases the first option you should consider is a grid-tied system made up of Suniva Optimus 335W monocrystalline solar panels paired with SolarEdge P400 power optimizers, plus a SolarEdge inverter at the heart of it all.
Who this is for
Scene from The Last Man on Earth.
Not everyone who goes solar will need to shop for their own equipment. Our picks are intended for people who will buy and install their systems alone, or with their own electrician or contractor. If you buy or lease your equipment from an installer, you may not have much choice in which equipment you get, but understanding our picks can help you evaluate quotes and proposals.
In the future we may consider looking at off-grid components such as purpose-made inverters, charge controllers, and batteries, but for now we’ve focused on the grid-tied equipment that’s most common.
Regardless, everyone who is thinking about solar needs to start with the basics of system sizing and purchase options, as well as answer some fundamental questions about financing and installation. We go into the details of how to shop for solar power in our full guide, but to get you started we’ve gathered the basics into this flowchart that will help you figure out where you need to focus.
How we picked
How power flows through a grid-tied system when the sun comes out.
Before deciding whether we could recommend any components for solar power, we spent weeks compiling statistics, reaching out to solar-industry representatives, wading through specifications, and getting expert input—and even so, the picks we make here represent only a starting point on the road to solar for most people. With that in mind, we didn’t just pick equipment for people already interested in self-installation; we also looked at the best ways to learn about and shop for solar.
If you’re comparing solar panels, your first consideration should be reputation and warranty, followed by price and, to a lesser extent, efficiency. In the past five years, solar panels have started to become a commodity item, with small technical differences that are immaterial to most homeowners.
Every solar-power system requires a second component, called an inverter. These devices turn the direct current (DC) that the solar panels produce into alternating current (AC), which is what your home operates on. You can determine a good inverter going by some of the same qualities you’ll find in a good solar panel, namely reliability, warranty coverage, and cost.
Our pick for solar panels
Made by a reputable firm with a strong warranty, this module provides good output without a premium cost.
Suniva panels are efficient, affordable, and backed by a reputable warranty from a company with manufacturing in Georgia and Michigan. These panels come with a 10-year warranty and a 25-year power guarantee, matching the coverage of most other top-tier manufacturers. Currently around $1 per watt, the price is competitive, too, but prices fluctuate, and a local installer may have competitive costs on a similar panel. The Suniva panels are right in the middle of the pack for efficiency, not so low as to require the extra space that cut-rate panels may need, but not so high that you’re paying 50 percent more for engineering prestige you’ll never notice. If you can find panels from a similarly reputable company with the same warranty and similar efficiency but a lower price tag, you’ll probably be just as happy with them. But the Suniva panels should be the bar that you try to clear as you shop.
Our pick for an inverter
Left: SolarEdge power optimizers installed on the racking, each waiting to be paired with a solar panel. Right: Two SolarEdge inverters at the heart of a large system turn DC power into AC power. Photo: SolarEdge
Even the best panels are only as good as the inverter you pair them with, so for most grid-tied systems we recommend looking at SolarEdge single-phase inverters and the company’s line of independent power optimizers before looking anywhere else. SolarEdge’s hybrid platform borrows the efficiency gains and individual panel management of microinverter systems yet avoids the extra costs and reliability issues that have kept microsystems from becoming mainstream. Think of the SolarEdge platform as being like a plug-in hybrid car, which has the low driving cost and emissions of an electric vehicle but the range and convenience of a combustion engine. Although the SolarEdge platform costs about the same as a traditional, top-of-the-line string-inverter system, it allows for more flexibility in roof planning, gains in power production, and reliable service with panel-level monitoring.
If you have no idea what we’re talking about
Solar power is full of brilliant engineering, and you really don’t need to understand most of it to make the switch from utility-based power. When the sun is out, you get free electricity; when it’s not, your power comes from the utility company just like always. If you produce more power than you need during the day, you may be able to sell it to the utility company for service credits or cash. In fact, with equipment costs as low as they are now, a properly sized solar installation will result in your net utility bill at the end of the year being zero. We go into more detail about how solar works in our full guide, but the benefits we’ve just described are what make solar such a great investment for so many people: Done right, solar will let you avoid a utility bill indefinitely.
This guide may have been updated by The Sweethome. To see the current recommendation, please go here.
Google’s VR camera app comes to the iPhone
One of the biggest challenges facing virtual reality is a matter of creation. If you have lots of cash, you can make things happen, but it’s been a bit more challenging for people whose best camera is their smartphone. Google’s working on changing that — last December, it released the Cardboard Camera app for Android, and today it has arrived for iOS.
While it might not let you shoot highly involved VR video, Cardboard Camera still manages to make some pretty excellent creations. Using it is similar to shooting a panorama photo, something most smartphone owners are used to at this point. In this case, you’ll shoot in full 360-degrees, turning consistently to your right until you’ve gone around a full circle. The app also gives you the option of recording audio to add the ambience of the scene to your finished creation.
Once done, you can view the photo in Google’s Cardboard VR viewer. Unfortunately, the app doesn’t have you capture what’s above or below you, so the “VR” aspect of this isn’t nearly as robust as it could be. But still, in a pinch, it’s a fun way to create and share more immersive photos. In fact, Google has added better sharing features so that you can send and receive VR photos created in the app. You can share individual photos or galleries through Google Drive, and the recipient will be prompted to download and install the Cardboard Camera app if they don’t already have it.
Apple Collecting Customer Information in Effort to Address iPhone Upgrade Program Pre-Order Issues
Last week, we reported that the iPhone Upgrade Program caused frustration for some customers attempting to pre-order an iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus.
Specifically, some customers enrolled in the program were unable to select the model, carrier, color, or storage capacity they desired, or any iPhone in some cases, due to limited stock seemingly as soon as pre-orders began.
The underlying reason appears to be that iPhone Upgrade Program members were placed into a separate stream than regular pre-order customers, and forced to reserve a new iPhone from a local Apple retail store — many of which were sold out. Some customers were not even able to access the reservation system at all.
Since then, it appears that Apple has acknowledged those concerns and is attempting to help make the situation right for those affected.
Over the weekend, Apple updated its upgrade reservation page with fine print that recommends customers call its support team at 1-800-MY-APPLE and mention the iPhone Upgrade Program. By doing so, the company said a Specialist will help customers find the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus model they want.
Due to high demand, the model you’d like may not be available. Please call 1-800-MY-APPLE and mention the iPhone Upgrade Program. A Specialist will help you find the model you want.
A number of MacRumors readers that followed through with calls said Apple was very apologetic and is manually collecting information while it works on a solution. Each customer was told they would receive a phone call back within 24-48 hours, but it isn’t entirely clear what action Apple plans to take.
MacRumors reader Fikester shared his experience in our discussion forums:
The guy I talked to apologized profusely for Apple dropping the ball on this, took all my info regarding what model I wanted, and while he didn’t promise anything, said they are working on a solution for it. He said they will call me within two business days with more information and sent me his direct contact info should I have questions. The whole call took about 30 minutes.
Some customers were given the impression that Apple will be prioritizing orders for iPhone Upgrade Program customers, possibly with some in-store stock reserved specifically for upgraders on launch day and possibly afterwards.
MacRumors readers Modernboy and Aaroncbell:
They’ve said that they are looking to prioritize iPhone Upgrade Program upgrades over the next couple of weeks so that we can get our phones. I highly suggest anyone who had the same issues I had to call and ask to speak to someone in the iPhone Upgrade Program department.
They transfer you to a special group who will take down all your info and what iPhone you want. They say they will then be in touch in 48 hours letting you know when your iPhone can be picked up. They told me they were very sorry that iPhone Upgrade Program users had issues and that they weren’t prepared and are trying to make it right. They said their goal is to have iPhones ready for pickup on launch day for Upgrade Program users who call in.
Whether those enrolled in the iPhone Upgrade Program receive their new iPhones on launch day remains to be seen, but it is clear that Apple is doing what it can to improve the situation. In the meantime, customers can try their luck at Apple retail stores on September 16 on a first come, first served basis.
Tag: iPhone Upgrade Program
Discuss this article in our forums
Instagram Update Brings Anti-Harassment ‘Keyword Moderation Tool’ to All Users
Instagram CEO Kevin Systrom today announced that the company is “taking the next step” to protect its users from online abuse with the wide launch of a new comment moderation feature in the photography-focused social network app. Referred to as a “keyword moderation tool,” the feature will let each user type in words they find to be offensive, effectively hiding any mention of them in the comment section of their posts.
The comments containing the harsh language will still be available for other Instagram users, but the company believes that allowing each user to determine which words to hide from their personal collection of photos will cultivate a “positive and safe” environment. To deal with abusive accounts, Instagram already lets users swipe to delete comments, report inappropriate comments and block accounts.
Systrom refers to the keyword blocking update as the “first feature” for dealing with online abusers, suggesting Instagram is continuing to keep an eye on the issue and add more protective updates to its mobile app in the future. Once the app is updated, gain access to the comment moderation setting by following the steps below:
Go to your Profile tab.
Tap the Settings gear icon in the top right corner.
Find and tap “Comments.”
Toggle “Hide Inappropriate Comments” to automatically hide keywords that are “often reported as inappropriate.”
Or, add your own custom keywords in the text box, separating each with a comma.
Tap “Done” to save your changes.
After previously allowing high-profile users, like businesses and various brands, to have access to the new feature, Instagram said that today marks its wide rollout to every user. Those who have yet to download the app can find Instagram for free on the iOS App Store. [Direct Link]
Tag: Instagram
Discuss this article in our forums
Google Debuts Interactive VR Photography App ‘Cardboard Camera’ on iOS
Google today announced the launch of Cardboard Camera for iOS, which lets users “capture 3D 360-degree virtual reality photos” without the need for technical VR equipment. Photos taken with the app are three-dimensional panoramas in which users can tap and drag to look around “in all directions,” with sound recording the moment the photo is taken that plays back each time the image is revisited.
A few examples of Cardboard Camera’s interactive panoramas
Cardboard Camera uses a similar photography style as panoramas in the iOS camera app: users simply hold their iPhone vertically, tap the record button, then rotate slowly in place to capture their surroundings. Users will also be able to share albums filled with VR photos directly within the app by generating links to email, text message, or share on social media.
Whether you’re hiking on the Olympic Peninsula or attending your cousin’s wedding, go beyond the flat photo or selfie. With Cardboard Camera—now available on iOS as well as Android—you can capture 3D 360-degree virtual reality photos. Just like Google Cardboard, it works with the phone you already have with you.
The company said that if any of the VR photos taken with Cardboard Camera are viewed on Google Cardboard, anyone “can relive those moments as if they were there.” Previously, Cardboard Camera was available on Android, with more than 5 million photos captured on the platform.
On iOS, users can download Cardboard Camera on the App Store for free. [Direct Link]
Tags: Google, Google Cardboard
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Blu Vivo 5R unboxing and first impressions
The Blu Vivo 5R is the sixth in the Vivo series of smartphones, which is essentially a mid-range line of devices. To be fair, though, the mid-range pretty much only applies to the hardware that powers the experience; the exterior is quite polished and punches above its weight.
We’ve had a Vivo 5R in our possession for a few days now and have come to really like the look and feel of the phone. Designed with aluminum and curved glass, the handset looks like it would cost at least $50-$75 more than it does. Indeed, this $200 experience has all the trappings of a flagship model yet it’s not too much phone for the average user.
Aside from the outward appearance, a few things we’ve already come to appreciate in the Vivo 5R include the fingerprint reader and Android build. The former is new to the Vivo line while the OS is an updated, more secure, and feature-rich platform.
Let’s face it, it’s not as if the Vivo 5 needed to be refreshed already. Given it’s only eight months old, we would not have been surprised if another 2-4 months went by without a successor. Thankfully, Blu decided the time was right to drop a refresh.
Not only do we get more memory and storage in the Vivo 5R, but users also pick up an extra half-inch of display. There’s a slight trade-off in terms of size, of course; it’s taller than its predecessor and a teeny bit bigger on the other edges. It’s barely taller than the OnePlus 3, but it’s every bit as pocketable and one-hand friendly.
One thing we were glad to see in the Vivo 5R was its $200 price tag. This is the same space that the Vivo 5 occupied so it’s essentially like getting a punch up barely one half year after release. We’re not sure what will happen to the cost of the older sibling, but we’re guessing a price drop is soon in order.
We love the rear placement of the fingerprint sensor as it’s right where your finger tends to rest. It’s the same spot as where you’ll find it on a Nexus 6P or where the volume buttons are for the recent LG G models. Thus far it has been snappy all around. Speaking of snappy, we appreciate that it can also be used to activate the shutter of the camera.
The 3150mAh battery carries over from the Vivo 5, which is a big win in our eyes. More than enough to get users through a day or more of typical tasks, it’s bigger than what most lower-cost phones offer. We might have liked the USB Type-C connector, but not everyone is making the jump yet. But, given Blu has included it in a number of recent models, we were surprised to see the microUSB port.
The nearly stock Android build is present, something we’ve come to appreciate in Blu models. There’s a few apps pre-loaded from the handset maker, but it’s not heavy handed. Aside from McAfee Security and Opera, the only other non-Blu touches are apps from Amazon. If you’re new to Android, you’ll get the near-Nexus software, and is almost exactly what Google intends for users. It’s intuitive, friendly, secure, and smart.
When it comes to cameras, we’re yet-again astonished by what we’re getting out of Blu, especially for the price. To us, it’s getting harder and harder to justify spending more than $400 on a phone. When you look at some of the pictures you can take in a $300 phone like the Pure XR, it’s tough to consider pulling more out of the wallet. The same goes for the Vivo 5R; it’s amazing what you get out of the Sony sensor.
Keeping in mind that we’ve only had the Vivo 5R for just over three days, we’re totally digging it. Having just used the Pure XR for a daily driver over the last few weeks, we expected to feel the difference, literally. We figured it would come across as cheaper in texture or build. We were happy to be proven wrong.
In terms of performance, we’ve not put this one through a battery of daily driver tests. We’re just starting out with the stock experience to see how it goes out of box. Another couple of days and we’ll put on the various accounts and apps to get rolling. Suffice it to say, even though it has less internal hardware power than the recently released Pure XR, it’s negligible for the most part. Again, a few days from now we might sing a different tune, but the octa-core processor with 3GB RAM is plenty for many users.
Kudos to Blu for throwing in the screen protector and rubber protective case on top of the headphones and power cable. It’s a small gesture that saves a little bit of money, but it’s certainly appreciated.
We’ll be putting together the formal review over the next few days so be sure to check back for more coverage.
TiVo Bolt+ Release Date, Price and Specs – CNET
TiVo
TiVo’s Bolt+ might be the shock your home entertainment system has needed.
Just about a year ago, TiVo introduced the Bolt, a single smaller, speedier box for watching and recording cable or over-the-air (OTA) broadcasts, as well as streaming over-the-top (OTT) services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, YouTube and more.
But for those in need of an expansive multiroom solution, the Bolt came up short in tuners — it has just four — and storage maxed out at 1TB, enough for about 150 hours of HD content. The Bolt+, on the other hand, has six tuners, so adding a TiVo Mini extender or two (each of which uses one of the Bolt’s tuners for streaming live TV) still leaves you extra tuners for recordings. And with 3TB of storage you can record up to 450 hours of HD programming.
Unfortunately, this comes at the cost of being able to watch and record OTA broadcasts. Otherwise, the Bolt+ gets all of the Bolt’s performance and feature enhancements, including SkipMode for blowing past commercial breaks with a single button press, in- and out-of-home streaming of your recordings, and 4K support for Netflix and YouTube.
Also, TiVo would really like to remind you the Bolt+ (and the cable/OTA Bolt for that matter) support Plex, just in case you had it in your head that an HDHomeRun would be a better option.
The TiVo Bolt+ costs $500, not including the monthly service fee. It will be available on September 15 through TiVo’s site, Amazon, Magnolia stores and custom install dealers across the US.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Galaxy Note 5
With the latest addition to the popular Galaxy Note series, Samsung decided to make the leap from 5 to 7. As is the case whenever a new generation of a device comes out, the question on everyone’s mind is whether it is a worthy upgrade.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 videos
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In doing so, we can also revisit the 5th version of the Galaxy Note, and find if it is still a phone you can keep in your pocket, or save a little bit of money on, instead of the latest and greatest that Samsung has to offer. This is the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs the Galaxy Note 5.
Buy the Galaxy Note 5
Design
The glass and metal unibody construction that was introduced with the Galaxy S7 was not just an experiment, but rather the baseline for the design that Samsung was going to use going forward. This was made abundantly clear when the Galaxy Note 5 was released, even though plenty believed that having the Galaxy Note device taking the lead of the S line, and not the other way around, brought the former down a peg in importance.
One design aspect helped soften the blow, however, which was the curve on the back of the device that made it easier to hold. This curve, when on the front, was rather controversial with the Galaxy S6 Edge and its larger, S-Penless brother, but putting it on the back was a simple, but significant glimpse, into how it could help with handling.
That said, the Galaxy Note 5 is still a large device, through and through. Since we have the Galaxy Note 7 in our hands now, it seems like a long time ago that such a large phone with a sharp metal frame was the norm. While the Galaxy Note 5 feels a little larger than the two, both have the same large canvas that plenty of users clamor for.
Now, that curve on the back of the Galaxy Note 5 makes even more sense , because it has been married to the front curve, with its successor. There’s no getting around it, this is the next baseline going forward. The edge is the norm for the Galaxy Note 7, not an extra version that will be built alongside what used to be the existing flagship. It’s a feature, not a novelty, and Samsung wants that to be official.
Samsung continues to provide the familiar aspects, including the home tactile button, button layout, and even the heart rate sensor, with the S Pen nestled to the bottom right portion of the phone, and now, the curved display is a part of that lexicon.
In the Galaxy Note 7, Samsung threw everything at their flagship device and the result is a phone that does continue the path that the Galaxy S7 Edge paved, but surpasses it. Unlike its predecessor, the Galaxy Note 7 can stand alone, and it does. Handling is better on the Note 7 in pretty much every way, and seeing and holding both phones together plainly shows the evolution.
Some key issues were also addressed in the new Galaxy Note, most importantly, the S Pen going in backwards and breaking. This time around, the Pen won’t even go into the slot backwards more than just a little bit. If you aren’t careless with the S Pen, this probably won’t be a big problem anyway, but Samsung did well to address one of the few issues that actually got a lot of press.
Display
The screen of the Galaxy Note 5 is still one of the better ones out there, featuring a Quad HD resolution, and sporting the Screen Off Memo that proved to be a useful, quick tool for jotting down notes or small pieces of information. That returns in the Galaxy Note 7, which has the same Super AMOLED display with the same specs, but sports a couple of enhanced features.
Basically, the Screen Off Memo returns again, but can be pinned to the new feature, the Always On Display. Coming straight from the Galaxy S7 line, the AOD can show a clock, some text, an image, or a calendar, so there is always information available even in standby.
Of course, there is also the new Edge UX, which comes from the S7 Edge and provides no new features. Empirically, this is one of the new features that the Galaxy Note 5 simply doesn’t boast, making the Galaxy Note 7 the easier device to recommend overall.
Performance
Performance on the Galaxy Note 5 continues to hold up, but that brings up an interesting aspect of this comparison, and when revisiting the old device, which came out at a time when Samsung was sticking to its own guns.
The Exynos 7420 is a more than capable processing package, enough to power all typical tasks of today’s smartphone user. We’ve even had a good time with Pokemon GO on the Galaxy Note 5, even it doesn’t last too long because of its smaller battery.
With the Galaxy Note 7, the Exynos is kept to markets outside of the US, while the Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 reigns in the West. That doesn’t pose a problem for performance though, because both do a great job with keeping the phone speedy.
Where we found a little bit of an issue was in the amount of RAM. Going over the standard 4GB is still a bit of a rarity in today’s smartphone world, but considering the exorbitant amount of features and capabilities in the Galaxy Note 7, it felt like having a bit more could have kept the phone from getting bogged down. Or, at the very least, it would keep the user from having to clean it up in the the Device Maintenance area from time to time.
Hardware
Part of what made the design change in the Galaxy Note 5 a bit harder to handle was the move away from what power users wanted. The move to glass and metal bodies made removable backings impossible, which cut off the access to the replaceable batteries and expandable storage. The lack of both hurt plenty of users, but expandable storage was more missed, when users had to settle for 32GB.
We have a plethora of users at Android Authority with different needs, and found that the power users who did a lot of gaming definitely had an issue with this, while the more moderate users were able to make it work for a long time until the pictures and videos took up all the space. No matter where users are on the spectrum, that amount of space was about as finite as it could get.
Which is why the Galaxy Note 7 continues to impress, mostly because it was able to address all of that in a couple simple moves, with 64GB of on-board storage, and the return of microSD card expansion. Not to mention Samsung put another foot forward by releasing a 256GB microSD card that will make all storage woes go away.
The speaker is still bottom mounted and just isn’t very good at overall sound and volume. The headphone experience gets enhanced with customizable EQ settings, though.
3,500 mAh brought the Galaxy Note 7 to a proper part of the power spectrum, where we’ve so far found a nice long amount of battery life, especially with moderate usage. Thankfully fast charging has really moved forward in efficiency as well, so the Note 7 benefits from even just half an hour of charging to get to 50% battery.
Wireless charging returns, too, so that getting power doesn’t have to be a tethered affair. If better battery life and faster charging are important, and we know it is, the Note 7 continues to iterate in the right ways.
Which makes Samsung’s main addition a pretty big deal for the Note 7. The fingerprint reader on the Note 5 was already a good and fast biometric security feature, but the next step in such measures comes in the form of iris scanning.
A dedicated camera near the front facing camera does an infrared scan for a registered pair of eyes. Simply swipe up on the lock screen and gaze into the camera. For anyone that is looking for a little more security and ways of unlocking the phone, the Iris Scanner is definitely a “wow” feature, and can be used in conjunction with the fingerprint reader.
Camera
The cameras of the Galaxy Note 5 still have the specs of a high-end device, and continue to be reliable even a year after the phone was released. Compared to Galaxy the Note 7, it is just a few steps back in terms of sheer capabilities, but overall it continues to be a very good picture companion.
Sporting 16 MP shooter with a f/1.9 aperture, the Galaxy Note 5 doesn’t quite have the low light performance of the Note 7, that has 12 MP dual-pixel camera with a f/1.7 aperture. While the focus speed of the latter is definitely faster, it is one of the only advantages that can easily be experienced.
I used the Galaxy Note 5 in New York when we were getting to know the Note 7 for the first time. It proved to be an easy companion to have for all sorts of pictures and videos, including the occasional vlog or Instagram story.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 camera samples
So, to that end, the pictures between these two aren’t too far off in quality. Structurally speaking, the lower aperture of the Note 7 means slightly better bokeh for softened backgrounds, and that is also true for the front-facing camera.
Samsung Galaxy Note 7 camera samples
Overall, the pictures and videos coming out of either phone show that Samsung has continued to provide some of the best camera experiences in the world of Android. While there are definitely some advantages to having the Note 7’s cameras, we don’t see there being much problem with the Note 5, given that video and picture quality hasn’t made any big steps or leaps since its inception.
Software
Finally, the software for both of these phones is still pretty similar, with the Galaxy Note 7 basically adding a few coats of polish over the existing Samsung UI. Touchwiz isn’t quite the name that they use for the software anymore though, and for good reason.
Especially with the Note 7, there has been some cleaning up in what used to be a bloated and very cartoonish interface. While some of those elements are still around, there is a noticeable unification to it all, that makes the Note 7 look a bit better on the inside.
That said, these are still some of the most feature packed software packages available, and more so with the Galaxy S7, because of the addition of the Iris Scanner, the Edge UX, and the Always On Display. Some other additions include the the Blue Light Filter and the enhancements to the S Pen.
The S Pen can now translate words, magnify elements on the screen, and create GIFs. All of these features were delved into more in the full review of the Note 7, coming eventually to the conclusion that they do add to the overall S Pen experience, even if they are tools that are situationally useful.
Strip that all away and the software experience is essentially that of the Note 5. Which makes this comparison a bit simple. If all that was added onto the Note 7 experience doesn’t really entice you to upgrade or even go further than the 5th version of the line, then the Note 5 can provide all of the elements that you may be used to already.
MultiWindow, Pop Up View, existing Screen Write and Notes capabilities, and even theming abilities are still all available and viable. It comes down to one simple question – are the additions in the Note 7 and the interface polish enough to put it over the top?
Specs comparison
| Display | 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display Quad HD resolution, 518 ppi |
5.7-inch Super AMOLED display Quad HD resolution, 534 ppi |
| Processor | 2.15 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 processor Adreno 530 GPU |
2.1 GHz octa-core Samsung Exynos 7420 processor Mali-T760MP8 GPU |
| RAM | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Storage | 32/64 GB expandable via microSD card up to 256 GB |
32/64/128 GB not expandable |
| Camera | 12 MP rear camera, f/1.7 aperture, OIS, LED flash 5 MP front-facing camera with wide angle lens |
16 MP rear camera, f/1.9 aperture, OIS, LED flash 5 MP front-facing camera with wide angle lens |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.2 NFC GPS + GLONASS USB Type-C (USB 3.1) |
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac Bluetooth 4.2 NFC GPS + GLONASS microUSB 2.0 |
| Battery | 3,500 mAh | 3,000 mAh |
| Software | Android 6.0 Marshmallow | Android 6.0 Marshmallow |
| Dimensions | 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm 169 grams |
153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6 mm 171 grams |
Gallery
Final thoughts
So there you have it for this in-depth look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs Galaxy Note 5! A lot of this comparison shows how the Note 7 is the definitely the phone to beat. Better on-board and expandable storage, a bigger battery, and the new features make the Note line feel fresh again. Or at the very least, it makes us feel the way the Note 5 failed to when it was first released.
However, that doesn’t mean that the Galaxy Note 5 isn’t a good value in and of itself. Even without the leaps forward, it was still a top 2015 device, and some believed it could only be surpassed by the next Galaxy S and, in this case, the new Galaxy Note.
Without some of the many features that make up the incredibly stacked package of the Note 7, the Note 5 continues to be a good and reliable daily driver. If you need the best, the latest, or the capabilities that appeal to the power user, then the Note 7 might be the phone that you’ve been waiting for.
That said, users still using the Galaxy Note 5 have a lot to be happy about. If you have, however, been holding onto an even older phone and need to save a little bit of money, the tradeoffs between these two devices, while significant, are not immediately dealbreaking. The Galaxy Note 5 still has ability to be a viable choice in today’s smartphone climate, which makes it a value that users should definitely consider if these are the two phones in contention.
Buy the Galaxy Note 5
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The sad state of Android updates in India
Think manufacturers are slow to roll out updates in the U.S.? The situation is far worse in India.
Android has a 97% market share in the smartphone segment in India. There are over 1,000 models that run the operating system in the country, with prices ranging from $30 all the way to $1,000. Over 50 new handsets are introduced into the market every month, and it is not uncommon to see phones debuting with Android 4.4 KitKat out of the box.
The sheer breadth of models in the market makes it a tough ask for companies to roll out updates to their portfolio of devices, made doubly hard for local vendors. The likes of Micromax, Intex, and Lava roll out nearly 50 new phones a year across their distribution channels, and lack of adequate engineering resources means that most of these devices never see a single update. That not only leads to fragmentation, but also renders phones open to potential software exploits.
Barring companies with huge engineering division like Samsung and the former Google-owned Motorola, manufacturers have done a terrible job of keeping their phones up-to-date in India. With Nougat on the horizon, let’s see the state of Marshmallow in India.
Samsung
Samsung occupies the top spot in the Indian handset market, and the South Korean vendor has done a remarkable job of ensuring that a vast majority of its phones are updated to Marshmallow. That extends to the company’s budget and mid-range phones as well, with the likes of the Galaxy On5 Pro, Galaxy J5 and J7, as well as the Galaxy A3, A5, and A7 making the move to Marshmallow.
In addition to last year’s Galaxy S6, S6 edge, and S6 edge+, the Marshmallow update has rolled out to the Galaxy S5 and Note 4. For all of its hardware inadequacies, the Galaxy J2 2016 comes with Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow out of the box.
Micromax, Intex, and Lava
The stance taken up by India’s three largest handset manufacturers when it comes to rolling out updates can be summed up in a single word: indifference. These companies are content with launching phones based on Android 4.4 KitKat, and are reticent to roll out platform updates to a vast majority of their current handsets.
Micromax, for instance, has launched over 50 phones over the last 12 months. To combat declining sales, the company unveiled a new logo at an event earlier this year, where it also introduced a total of 15 phones. Of all the Micromax phones available in the market today, a mere six handsets run Marshmallow:
- Canvas Spark 2 Plus
- Bolt Supreme 4
- Canvas Selfie 4
- Unite 4 Plus
- Canvas Unite 4
- Canvas Fire 5
When it launched the Canvas 5 in November, Micromax promised the Marshmallow update for the phone. Ten months later, that is yet to materialize. In fact, we’re yet to find a Micromax phone launched in 2015 that has officially made the switch to Marshmallow.
In comparison, Lava is doing slightly better. Out of 40 handsets launched by the company over the last ten months, 12 devices — P7, P7+, X10, X11, X38, X46, X50, X81, V2, V5, A68, and A71 — are currently running Marshmallow.
Intex has steadily gained ground over the course of the last year, but the company hasn’t fared any better when it comes to rolling out updates. Of the 55 Intex handsets currently on sale, only nine run Marshmallow:
- Aqua S7
- Aqua Costa
- Aqua Music
- Aqua Pride
- Aqua Power 4G
- Aqua Strong 5.1
- Aqua Ring
- Cloud Glory 4G
- Cloud Fame 4G
The Chinese contingent
Xiaomi is quickly gaining ground in India, but the company’s best-selling phone this year, the Redmi Note 3, is on Android 5.1.1 Lollipop. The phone picked up MIUI 8 last month, but the base Android version remains unchanged. To Xiaomi’s credit, the manufacturer has done a stellar job of rolling out monthly security patches to all of its phones, including the budget Redmi 3S.
Lenovo’s ZUK Z1 turned out to be a standout phone in the budget category, mixing great hardware with Cyanogen, but the phone is still on Android 5.1. There is a community CyanogenMod build based on Android 6.0.1 for those interested in flashing the ROM, but there’s little in the way of an official Marshmallow release from Cyanogen. Lenovo has stated that it will offer its own software in lieu of Cyanogen OS in the upcoming ZUK Z2 (which will be sold as the Lenovo Z2 Plus), which should see faster updates.
Samsung has done a remarkable job ensuring that a vast majority of its phones are updated. Others? Not so much.
As for Lenovo’s other handsets, the K3 Note, K4 Note, and Vibe S1 got Marshmallow earlier this year, but the Vibe K5 Plus — which made its debut a few months ago — runs Android 5.0 out of the box. Lenovo-owned Motorola was the first to roll out Marshmallow to its entire portfolio of devices last year, but it has faltered when it comes to making security patches available to the Moto G4 Plus and Moto G4 of late.
OPPO and vivo are expanding heavily in India, and while they don’t inundate the market with phones like local vendors, their phones come with a different set of shortcomings. Both vendors use heavily skinned versions of Android, making it difficult to roll out updates on time. Therefore, OPPO’s latest ColorOS-based F1s still runs Android 5.1. Vivo’s v3 and v3 max, which run Funtouch OS 2.5, also come with Android 5.1 out of the box.
What can you do?
With outdated software comes the threat of malware and exploits that can take over your phone. Thankfully, Google has checks in place to prevent exploits from harming your phone, even if you’re one to sideload apps.
The best way to ensure that your phone gets updates is to vote with your money. If a company doesn’t have a great track record when it comes to updates, switch to another manufacturer. There certainly isn’t a lack of choice when it comes to Android phones in India.
AIVAnet 