Samsung Galaxy Note 5 vs LG G4 – quick look
We are at Samsung’s unpacked event taking a look at the Galaxy Note 5. We have spent some quality time with the new handset and already put together a hands-on post. Now it’s time for those nifty comparisons, and the LG G4 is definitely among the first phones we will put the Note 5 against.
It’s the battle of the flagships, and Samsung’s biggest rival (after Apple) is LG. This is bound to be a good fight, so let’s jump right into the nitty gritty of this comparison.
Design
Needless to say Samsung devices haven’t had the best designs in the past, something that changed with the Galaxy S6. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 follows suit by adapting the new premium design language. In comparison, LG’s devices have remained relatively similar, and the G4 does look much like the G3, minus a subtle curve.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 has a body made of metal and glass, with a unibody design that is unlike many others. On the other hand, LG has opted for a plastic frame and removable back covers, but that is also one of its most desired features. Not to mention, the G4’s aesthetic value is highly improved by this aspect, as it allows users to sport those sexy leather backs.
Another main difference is that the LG G4 has the power and volume buttons on the rear, right below the camera. Samsung’s volume rocker is on the right side, while the power button is on the left. Both devices house a microphone and microUSB port on the bottom, as well as the speaker. The Note 5 also includes the S Pen obviously, which has been redesigned with a clickable top button and a more refined overall design.
Design preference is a very subjective matter, but there’s no doubt the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 will look and feel like a more premium handset. It’s just a matter of material choice, but some of you will prefer the elegant and unique look the LG G4 sports, especially if you like curved displays and leather backs.
Display
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 touts a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display, which is definitely larger than LG’s 5.5-inch IPS LCD panel. Aside from size, we are looking at the same exact resolution with a QHD (2560x1440p) definition. Of course, one big difference is the screen technologies these manufacturers use.
Super AMOLED panels are known for emiting very vibrant/saturated colors, as well as deep blacks. This makes images very striking, but some of you may prefer more accurate colors. LG’s IPS LCD display will definitely offer more exact hue reproduction. It uses Quantum Display technology, which can emit 98% of the DCI color gamut, which is the standard used by Hollywood.
Hardware & performance
In terms of speed, we should see very similar results, but these phones do appear somewhat different on paper. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 features an Exynos 7420 processor with 4 GB of RAM. Meanwhile, LG opted for a Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 chipset with 3 GB of RAM.
Arguably, Samsung has the upper hand here. Samsung’s chip has showcased some of the highest benchmark results around. Not to mention, the extra GB of RAM will definitely help. Both phones are snappy and will be almost as fast, though. You likely won’t notice the difference in day-to-day use, except perhaps on the most intensive games and even then, the differences will be minor.
But let’s move on to other components. Where the LG G4 does fail is in internal storage options. The handset is only available with 32 GB. Meanwhile, Samsung expands choice with 32/64 GB iterations. Regardless, some of you will still prefer the LG G4 when considering storage, as it supports microSD cards, something Samsung has done away with. By the way, you can also remove the battery on the G4, which allows you to easily swap batteries on-the-go. Both should have great battery life, though, as they carry 3000 mAh of juice.
Where Samsung does win is in a couple other ways: the Galaxy Note 5 has an S-Pen stylus with great software features and a fingerprint reader. If you want those extras, the Note 5 will certainly stand out on top.
Camera
LG really stepped it up with the G4 camera, giving it a 16 MP sensor with OIS, laser auto-focus and f/1.8 aperture. This puts the LG handset very close to Samsung’s Galaxy S6, which has a 16 MP sensor, OIS and an f/1.9 aperture. But Samsung’s camera was still better, even if by a bit. This means the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 will also have a better photo quality, as it sports the same camera technology as its smaller brother.
On the front side you will find an 8 MP camera on the LG G4 and a 5 MP front shooter on the Note 5. But remember, megapixels don’t mean too much in photography. We still have to see photo samples before we can tell you which of these front-facing cameras is better.
Software
Both the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and the LG G4 run Android 5.1.1 Lollipop, but this doesn’t exactly mean their software is identical. In fact, their UI skins are quite different.
Samsung’s TouchWiz UI was stripped down for the Galaxy S6, and we are thankful the same philosophy has been applied to the Galaxy Note 5. It still has all those awesome S-Pen features, multi-tasking tools and other elements, but the interface is much sleeker.
Samsung has also redesigned the Air Command menu giving it a more refined look, which now gives you easy access to the three main functions of the S Pen, alongside a few application shortcuts. The Note 5 also adds a few new Note-specific changes, such as the ability to pull out the S Pen when the phone is locked, which will result in a slightly lit up black slate that will let you quickly write down a quick memo. There’s also a new scroll capture mode in Screen Write, allowing you to take and piece together multiple pictures of the same webpage in order to have the entire webpage available.
In comparison, LG’s software is still a bit bloated, but it does not offer a bad experience either and has been highly optimized for the Snapdragon 808. There’s just a few more things floating around your settings, aside from icons being a bit more playful and cartoon-like.
Wrapping up
And there you have it – a quick comparison between the new Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and the LG G4, one of its biggest competitors. Which one is the best is yet to be decided, but we have to say the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is likely a bit superior. Samsung’s handset has higher performance, a better camera and a design that will be appealing to those who like metal and glass.
On the other hand, the LG G4 has those leather backs some of you love, and the bonus of a removable battery and expandable storage. And even if the Note 5 may have better specs, the G4 is still plenty powerful and has a pretty stunning camera.
We will go in more depth once we can give you our full review on the Samsung Galaxy Note 5, for now hit the comments and tell us which one is your favorite so far.
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 vs Galaxy Note 4 quick look
Samsung just took the wraps off of its latest addition to the popular Galaxy Note series, and understandably, you may be curious to know whether it is a worthy upgrade from its predecessor. We find out, as we go hands on and take a quick look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 vs Galaxy Note 4!
Design
We’ve historically always seen a separation in design languages when comparing Samsung’s flagship Galaxy S series and Galaxy Note series, but that is no longer the case with the Galaxy Note 5, with its design that is clearly reminiscent of the Galaxy S6, with its premium metal and glass unibody construction. We were happy with the new build quality direction Samsung took with the Galaxy S6, and it’s great to see these aesthetic changes make their way over to the Galaxy Note line. The big difference here is the curves along the sides of the back of the Galaxy Note 5, which not only looks great, but allows for the device to rest more comfortably in the hand.
With its faux leather backing and metal frame, the Galaxy Note 4 isn’t an unattractive device by any means either, but the switch to the new build material with the Galaxy Note 5 gives it a more premium look, and the latter also feels more substantial in the hand, when compared to the plastic leather texture found with the former. There will be some nostalgia associated with the Galaxy Note 4 though, with its removable back cover allowing for access to a replaceable battery and microSD car slot, features that are no longer available on its successor.
As far as specific design elements go, both devices are actually quite similar, with both featuring the signature Samsung home button up front, integrated with fingerprint scanners in both cases, along with the volume rocker and power button found at their usual positions on the left and right respectively. Noticeable differences are in the move of the headphone jack from the top and the single speaker unit from the back, with both now at the bottom in the case of the Galaxy Note 5. While front-facing speakers is still the best way to go, this placement is still a better option over the Galaxy Note 4’s rear speaker.
All said and done, these are both very attractive smartphones. While Samsung’s decision to go with more premium materials this time around may turn some fans away because of the associated compromises, at least from an aesthetic point of view, the changes are certainly great.
Display
Both the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy Note 4 feature 5.7-inch Super AMOLED displays with a Quad HD resolution, resulting in pixel densities of 515 ppi. These displays aren’t far off in terms of quality, but as Samsung continues to improve on their display technology, the screen of the Galaxy Note 5 does seem a touch brighter and more vivid. Both displays allow for a fantastic viewing experience in any case, and there are no losers in this department.
Performance and hardware
Under the hood, the Galaxy Note 5 features a few notable changes that should make the device faster than ever. This time around, Samsung decided to favor their in-house octa-core Exynos 7420 processor, and backed by 4 GB of RAM, the processing package of the Galaxy Note 5 should result in great performance and smooth multi-tasking. That said, the Galaxy Note 4, with its Snapdragon 805 processor and 3 GB of RAM is no slouch in the performance department either, and we’ve had no problems putting the device through the most difficult of tasks.
In other hardware is where some key differences are seen, with the unibody design of the Galaxy Note 5 resulting in a lack of a removable battery and microSD card slot, both features that are available with the Galaxy Note 4. Galaxy Note 5 users will have to depend on only the 32 GB or 64 GB of built-in storage, and along with expandable memory, the Galaxy Note 4 also comes with 32 GB of internal storage available.
While both smartphones feature fingerprint scanners, the touch type implementation found with the Galaxy Note 5 is certainly the one we prefer, compared to the swipe style iteration seen with the Galaxy Note 4. Both devices also comes with heart rate monitors on the back, with the vertical positioning of it on the Galaxy Note 5 making it slightly easier to use.
Of course, the marquee feature of the Galaxy Note series is the S-Pen stylus, and like previous Galaxy Note devices, the S-Pen itself has also been redesigned and now has a more premium design, that looks a lot more like an actual pen. The Galaxy Note 5 also brings a slew of new features that take advantage of the S-Pen, but it is likely that at least some of these features will also make its way over the Galaxy Note 4 in future updates.
Not only is the battery no longer removable, but the capacity is also slightly smaller, with the Galaxy Note 5 packing a 3,000 mAh battery, compared to the 3,220 mAh unit of its predecessor. Removing the ability to swap out the battery and reduce the capacity likely won’t fare well in the minds of consumers, but more thorough testing will be required before we can make any final judgments. Both devices do come with fast charging capabilities, and the Galaxy Note 5 also comes with built-in support for both the PMA and Qi standards of wireless charging, while the Galaxy Note 4 requires additional accessories.
Camera
The Galaxy Note 4 features one of the better smartphone cameras around, courtesy of its 16 MP rear shooter with OIS, which is overshadowed only by the current crop of Android flagships, and produces clear, well-balanced shots both indoor and outdoor. It also comes with a 3.7 MP front-facing unit that works well for most users and covers their selfie-taking needs.
The Galaxy Note 5 also comes with a 16 MP rear camera, that is very similar to what is found with the Galaxy S series flagships, and also packs a 5 MP front-facing camera with a wide angle lens. The camera of the Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge are widely regarded as some of the best in the business, and that story should continue with the Galaxy Note 5 as well, and we can’t wait to put this camera through its paces.
Software
The Galaxy Note 5 runs Android 5.1.1 Lollipop with the latest iteration of TouchWiz on top, and this version will also soon be rolling out to the Galaxy Note 4 as well. The more toned down version of the TouchWiz UI is a contributing factor to the smooth performance of the device, but that doesn’t mean that it is particularly lacking in features, that take advantage of the new S-Pen.
On the Galaxy Note 5, when the display is switched off, you can now use the S-Pen to capture a memo and it also comes with a revamped Air Command menu, which blurs most of the screen, and actually looks really good. The S-Pen also comes with a new Scroll Capture feature that lets you capture an entire page (and not just what’s visible on the display) and annotate it using the S-Pen.
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Conclusion at a glance
So there you have it for this quick look at the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 vs Galaxy Note 4! With a more robust and substantial design and premium build quality, upgraded processing package and hardware, improved S-Pen stylus, and better software experience, the Galaxy Note 5 is certainly a worthy successor, but Samsung fans will certainly wax nostalgic about the removable back cover, replaceable battery, and expandable storage that are available with the Galaxy Note 4.
Stay tuned with Android Authority as we bring you more great hands on coverage of the Galaxy Note 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, as well as for the upcoming full reviews, in-depth comparisons, and camera shootouts of both these smartphones!
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 vs iPhone 6 Plus – which is the large screen king?
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is finally here, and though there are plenty of other large-screen handsets out there, we know most of you will be looking for one specific comparison. Yes, we are talking about Apple’s iPhone 6 Plus, which will definitely be the new Samsung phone’s main competitor.
Which of these handsets is worthy of your hard-earned cash? We have finally gotten to play with the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and spent some time comparing it to the iPhone 6 Plus. These phones are more different than we would think, so let’s take you through all the details.
Design
Samsung’s Galaxy S series was never recognized for outstanding designs. In fact, up until the Galaxy S6 most people criticized these phones’ aesthetics and build quality. With the Samsung Galaxy S6, the Korean manufacturer took the team back to the drawing board and created a phone worthy of envy.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 adopts the same design language. It sports a metal edge, paired with the same glass front and back. The only main difference is there are now a couple side edges on the back of the phone (like the Galaxy S6 edge, but on the opposite side).
Apple will have a harder time competing with Samsung this year, as Sammy’s phones are actually very well-built this time around. But it will still be a matter of personal preference, as the iPhone 6 Plus is also a great-looking handset. Apple’s phablet sports a metal unibody design and glass front. Do you prefer mostly glass or mostly metal? That is the real question.
Let’s just hope the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 doesn’t bend like the iPhone 6 Plus was known to do. That will likely be a huge deciding factor for customers.
These phones are pretty similar in other ways. Both have the volume rocker on the left side, the power button on the right and the home button/fingerprint reader right under the screen. The manufacturers went as far as copying each others’ annoying protruding cameras.
Another main difference is, of course, that the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 comes with that S-Pen slot on the bottom-right area of the phone.
Display
There’s really not much fight here. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 has a 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display with a QHD (2560x1440p) resolution. That would equate to a 515 ppi pixel density. Meanwhile, the iPhone 6 Plus stays in the dust with its 5.5-inch IPS LCD Full HD (1920x1080p) screen, featuring a much lower 401 ppi density.
This means text, images and video will be much crisper and clearer on the Samsung Galaxy Note 5. Blacks will also be deeper and colors more vibrant, but that may not be to your liking. If you prefer more color accurate screens, IPS LCD panels are great at reproducing precise imaging. With that said, the Note 5 offers the option to tone down the colors for a more natural look, if that’s what you want.
Performance
We have to accept that great hardware doesn’t always make a huge difference in performance. Hardware can be adapted to software, making lower resources much more efficient. This is why gaming consoles with inferior specs (PS4, Xbox One, etc.) can often achieve better performance than fairly powerful computers.
With that in mind, we must also agree the difference between the Galaxy Note 5 and iPhone 6 Plus specs is quite significant. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 has an Exynos 7420 chipset, which we have previously seen in the Samsung Galaxy S6 and we know to be stronger than Apple’s A8 processor.
In addition, the difference in multi-tasking prowess will be immense. Not only because of software, but also due to the 4 GB of RAM on the Note 5, which quadruple Apple’s mere 1 GB of RAM.
Hardware
Other specs are rather similar. Neither handsets have removable batteries or microSD card support. The iPhone 6 Plus does offer higher storage options at 16/64/128 GB, while the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 offers only 32/64 GB options. Furthermore, they are pretty similar in the battery department: the Note has a 3000 mAh battery, which is only slightly bigger than the 2915 mAh battery in the iPhone. The Note has always be known as the phone to choose if you’re looking for battery life, and we look forward to see if the Note 5 continues that legacy, even if its battery capacity is actually smaller than the Note 4’s.
The presence of microSD and removable battery has been one of the key features that Note fanatics have long touted, and there’s no small amount of controversy regarding their absence from the Note 5. The playing field is definitely more even now between these two competitors.
Camera
There’s not much to discuss here. It has been proven time and again that the Samsung Galaxy S6 camera beats any other smartphone shooter, including the iPhone 6 Plus’. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 happens to have the same camera technology. This would be a 16 MP camera with f/1.9 aperture and OIS. On the other hand, the iPhone 6 Plus sports an 8 MP camera with OIS and an f/2.2 aperture. On the front, the Note 5 gets an update to 5MP compared to just 1.2 on the iPhone 6 Plus.
One notable new software feature of the Note is the ability to stitch together multiple videos in animated collages. That’s a neat little trick, but probably few users will actually use it.
Software
We won’t get into the Android vs iOS debate here. What we can tell you is Android 5.1.1 and iOS 8 are very different, and choosing between one or the other is a very subjective matter.
Android is known for its superior customization, open ecosystem and flexibility. Apple’s operating system is famous for its simplicity, intuitive interface and constant updates. Which style do you prefer? Do you want to geek out with Android, or do you want iOS to “just work”? That’s especially true given how the differences between the two operating systems have shrunk in time.
There is one main difference here, though. The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 does have that included S-Pen stylus. Along with the software optimizations, this can become a great tool for making you a much more productive individual. New S-Pen features coming on the Note 5 are the ability to write down notes even when the screen is sleeping and a redesigned Air Command menu that looks a lot better in our opinion.
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Wrap up
Do we have a clear winner? Not really, but we would say the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 has the upper hand in this battle. So far it performs better, looks great, has a better camera, and the software includes a plethora of shortcuts and helpful tools.
The iPhone 6 Plus will be the better option only if you prioritize internal storage. Or if you happen to have an inclination towards Apple’s design language and software. Otherwise, the iPhone 6 Plus is falling behind and we hope its successor can give these new handsets a better fight.
Which phone would you guys prefer? Hit the comments and give us your 2 cents!
Samsung Galaxy Note 5 won’t come to the UK in 2015
We’re here at Samsung’s Unpacked event in London, where the tech company has just unveiled the new Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge Plus. While many of the availability details have yet to be released, we are hearing some bad news from some official Samsung reps at the London event.
Unfortunately, Samsung has no plans to release the Galaxy Note 5 in the United Kingdom in 2015. Like I said, details are pretty scarce at the moment, but we’ll be sure to update this post as we learn more.
Developing…
Live from Samsung’s 2015 Unpacked event in New York!
It’s that time again, friends. Samsung wasn’t going to let a load of highly descriptive leaks spoil the show it’s got planned for us, so let’s get the full lowdown on what the company’s actually been working on together. Our guesses? Well, a new Galaxy Note, for one, not to mention a super-sized version of the Galaxy S6 Edge just because. With any luck, Sammy’s got plenty more in the wings that haven’t been spoiled yet — maybe that Project Orbis/Gear A smartwatch or some juicy Samsung Pay news. Don’t worry though: We’ll take everything Samsung’s unpacking and pack it into this here liveblog (along with an algorithmically prescribed amount of sass for good measure). The event starts at 11am Eastern, but you can join us early for commentary leading up to the big announcements. Let’s do this.
Tags: android, galaxy, galaxynote, galaxys6edgeplus, mobile, mobilepostcross, note5, phone, s6, s6edge, samsung, smartphone
Watch Samsung’s Unpacked 2015 event right here!
Samsung is gearing up to show us… well, we don’t know exactly what yet. However, if rumors and leaks hold true, there could be announcements for at least two new smartphones: the Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+. If anything, Samsung’s invite to today’s Unpacked event hints at something big and curvy, which could apply to both of the aforementioned devices. Perhaps there will be a wearable too, what with the company recently confirming the existence of a Gear smartwatch that features a rotating bezel. Whatever it may be, you can watch the keynote as it happens in the video below — but don’t forget we’re also liveblogging it from New York City. The action starts at 11AM ET.
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Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Source:
Samsung
Tags: mobilepostcross, Samsung, SamsungUnpacked, SamsungUnpacked2015, Unpacked, Unpacked2015
Check out Samsung Pay in action
Samsung Pay, the Korean electronics giant’s shiny new mobile payment solution, is finally hitting the US in September. Ahead of that, we got a brief look at Samsung Pay in action on its new Galaxy S6 Edge+ and Note 5 phones. We didn’t get to try it out ourselves, unfortunately, but Samsung reps were able to show it off in a (heavily scripted) demo. While Samsung Pay offers NFC payments just like Apple Pay, its real differentiating feature is its ability to mimic traditional magnetic card swipes, technology which came over with Samsung’s acquisition of LoopPay earlier this year. That means it should be compatible with the vast majority of stores with standard credit card readers — no need to hunt down NFC-equipped registers. A beta test for Samsung Pay will kick off in the US this month, though details on that are sparse. The feature is also compatible with the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge, but you’re out of luck if you’re running older handsets.
Chris Velazco contributed to this report.
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Misc, Mobile, Samsung
Tags: mobilepostcross, samsung, SamsungPay, SamsungUnpacked2015, video
Watch out Periscope, Samsung’s new phones stream video to YouTube
A new breed of live video apps like Meerkat and Periscope mean just about anyone can become a streaming star overnight, but what about poor little YouTube? Well, it’s sure got an ally in Samsung: the new Galaxy Note5 and S6 Edge+ can both broadcast live video to Google’s cat video sharing platform, no extra apps required. The beauty of the formula lies in its simplicity: All you have to do is fire up the stock camera app, live the “Live Broadcast” button and sign into YouTube.
Assuming you’re a verified user (a process that requires you to click a button and two-factor authorize yourself), you should be able to share a link to your stream to all your would-be fans and start jabbering away about whatever crosses your mind. These days, it’s easy to forget just how stringent YouTube used to be about letting people broadcast live video on their channels — for a while there it was only available to big brands and acts before YouTube said anyone with 1,000 subscribers could get in on the fun in mid-2013. YouTube dropped that audience requirement to 100 subscribers just a few months after that, and by the end of 2013, you didn’t need a built-in audience at all. It took a few more years for streaming video apps to seriously redefine how at least some people get their jollies, but the end result is pretty clear. Now just about anyone can become a “celebrity” (for better or worse) and Samsung was clearly eager to help. Thanks, we guess?
Tags: android, camera, livestream, livestreaming, mobilepostcross, samsung, samsungunpacked2015, streaming, unpacked, video, youtube
Samsung’s Galaxy S6 Edge+ is a super-sized sequel that plays it safe
It’s been less than six months since Samsung pulled back the curtain on the eye-catching Galaxy S6 Edge, and now it’s getting a very familiar-looking sibling. Say hello to the Galaxy S6 Edge+, a super-sized sequel that powers up the original formula with a larger screen, more RAM to help its multitasking prowess and… well, not a whole lot else. Oh, and before we go any further, you’ll be able to pick one up from all five major US carriers starting on August 21st (we’re still waiting to hear what it’ll cost you).
Right, shall we continue?Slideshow-312116
If you’re looking for hardware differences between this and the newly announced Galaxy Note 5, you won’t find many at all. The only major changes between the two are the shapes of those 5.7-inch, Quad HD, Super AMOLED screens (the S6 Edge+ has that lovely dual-edge display that curves away from you) and the fact that one has an S Pen and all the little software accoutrements that go with it. Seriously. As I’ve mentioned elsewhere, the actual hardware built into both phones is identical: an octa-core Exynos 7420 chipset with 4GB RAM, 16-megapixel rear cameras, 5-megapixel front-facing shooters, either 32GB or 64GB of storage and absolutely nothing in the way of expandable memory. And if you’re looking for design differences between this thing and the original S6 Edge, you’ll come up with a similarly short list.
After all, what we’ve got here is just a big ol’ Galaxy S6 Edge. What else did you expect? The glass-and-metal chassis feels sturdy and about as comfortable as the first one did, which is an accomplishment by itself given how much longer the Edge+ actually is. The screen is just as good, with those highly saturated AMOLED colors and great viewing angles, and you can see that 4GB of RAM put to good use when you rapidly bounce between all your running apps. There’s no denying that the foundation that powers both new devices is a powerful one, so what we’ve really got to dig into is the software that sets them apart from each other.
When I reviewed the original Edge, I (and plenty of others) lamented the lack of software that actually took advantage of that curvaceous screen. Samsung seems to have taken that griping to heart, and we’re starting to see the Edge’s software side begin to blossom. Remember People Edge? It was a little slider that lived right on the screen’s edge, and a quick tap would bring up a list of favorite contacts you’ve chosen. Well, this time we’ve also got App Edge, which lets you set aside certain apps as favorites for quick access from the side of the screen too. Watching circular app icons slide into view is neat and all, but really — you might as well just have all of them on a separate home screen pane if you were really concerned about shaving seconds off your daily grind.
Rubbing one of the screen’s curves while it’s off still brings up a ticker with the news of the day, and it looks like Samsung’s finally trying to flesh it out a little more with help from content partners like CNN, Yahoo and Twitter. Not exactly thrilling, huh? Well, it actually gets a little better. I’m told the company plans to launch an API so developers can create their own Edge-friendly experiences you can download down the road, sort of like you could with the Galaxy Note Edge last year. Developers who whipped up content for that even bigger phablet were bummed to discover none of their applets worked on the S6 Edge, and it seems awfully likely they’ll have to start from scratch with the Edge+ too. This, in short, is great news. Samsung’s own approach to the “What do we do with this screen?” problem was never all that exciting, so hopefully developers can cook up some reasons to get an Edge+ beyond just its looks.
If I’m honest, the S6 Edge+ feels like the result of some gadget-y SAT logic problem. People like the Galaxy S6 Edge. People also like big phones. Therefore, people should like a big Galaxy S6 Edge, right? They probably will, if only for the thing’s first-rate looks and its gorgeous (and huge) screen, but the Edge+ and its smaller cousin are both in dire need of truly cool experiences that are only possible on a curved display. Only time — and a freshly shipped review unit — will tell, so stick around for a deeper dive someday soon.
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Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Tags: android, edgeplus, galaxy, galaxys6, galaxys6edge, handson, mobile, mobilepostcross, preview, s6, samsung, smartphone
Meet the Galaxy Note 5: Samsung’s most elegant phablet yet
In case the news hasn’t already been spoiled for you, Samsung just officially revealed two new phablets, and the updated Galaxy Note 5 is easily the more fascinating of the pair. It’s the sleekest, most powerful Note yet (obviously), but — more importantly — it’s also the most elegant. In fact, after spending a little time with the Note 5, it began to feel like the sort of device that might change a Note naysayers mind about the “giant screen-writing phone” formula entirely.Slideshow-312114
But first, the broad strokes. The Galaxy Note 5 basically has the same silicon ticking away inside it as the S6 Edge+, specifically Samsung’s octa-core Exynos 7420 (if you must know, four cores run at up to 2.1GHz while the others go up to 1.5GHz) along with 4GB of RAM. I spent about a half-hour mucking around with the thing, and nothing I threw at it during that painfully brief period made it stutter or slow down. Part of that is because of the thankfully light touch Samsung has with its TouchWiz interface this year; it sits on top of Android 5.1 and you’ll know exactly what to expect if you’ve already used the S6 or S6 Edge.
Both also have 16-megapixel rear-facing cameras (which now stream live to YouTube), not to mention sealed 3,000mAh batteries and gorgeous 5.7-inch, Quad HD, Super AMOLED screens. Throw in support for LTE category 9 and LoopPay’s wireless, credit-card-imitating MST technology and you’ve got yourself a pretty impressive package right out of the gate. In case you’re already itching to own one, the wait won’t be a long one: It’ll be available from all US carriers starting on August 21st, though we’re still waiting to hear from them about pricing.
Now, phablets like the Notes always seemed a little too cumbersome in my hands for practical use, but the Galaxy Note 5 is the first Note I’ve picked up in ages that doesn’t feel broad and awkward to hold. In fact, if you took the S6 Edge+ and flipped it over so the curved screen nestled neatly into your palm, you’d understand almost exactly what the Note 5 feels like. In a word: lovely. Its seemingly compact glass-and-metal chassis does a great job of hiding just how massive the thing really is too, especially considering the size of that very attractive Super AMOLED screen. If you’re the type to track Chinese smartphones too, you might find the curve feels an awful lot like the one on Xiaomi’s Mi Note (we sure did).Speaking of the screen, it’s of the same quality we’ve seen in Samsung’s other flagships, so expect bright, poppy colors, sumptuous blacks and excellent viewing angles.
The Note’s claim to fame has always been the S Pen, a seemingly gimmicky stylus that tucks away in the phone’s bottom edge. This year, though, we’ve got a slightly redesigned version; it’s a clicky affair that lends itself well to nervous pushing, and you’ll use that mechanism to unlock the pen before you pull it out of its holster. I’ve always secretly hoped for a little extra heft in these things, but Samsung doesn’t like messing with a good thing too much. Besides the clicky segment, the Pen feels a touch more solid and sturdy despite its light weight. Much as I love how the Note 5 was put together, the best thing about it is that Samsung tried to make it feel more like using a regular pen on paper. I don’t mean that in terms of friction — the company did its best to reduce the amount of interference between the pen’s nib and the screen — but you no longer have to fire up and unlock the Note to start jotting things down.
Instead, you can just start writing on the screen while the phone is on standby. Once the Note 5 detects the S Pen writhing around on its surface, it’ll automatically start a subtle Instant Memo mode that takes whatever you’re writing or doodling and funnels it straight into S Note. It’s one of those intelligent little niceties that makes the S Pen seem immediately more useful, and I’m honestly a little shocked it took Samsung this long to cook it up. The rest of the software changes, though, are pretty minor. You can use the S Pen to mark up PDFs no matter what app you’re in, and you can now take long, scrollable screenshots of websites and lists in case you ever need them. Oh, and the Air Command menu that pops up when you remove the S Pen can be accessed from a little bubble that just hangs out on your screen — one tap is all it takes to access all those mostly handy S Pen tools.
Don’t get me wrong: The Note 5 is still far from a perfect device. There’s no expandable memory slot in case the 32GB or 64GB options just aren’t spacious enough, and most of the tweaks and changes we’ve seen here won’t be game changers for plenty of people. Still, the blend of handsomely crafted hardware, a great screen and way to use the S Pen almost immediately make the Note 5 the most impressive Note phone I’ve ever played with. We hear that review units are waiting in the wings, though, so stay tuned for a full review soon.
Filed under:
Cellphones, Mobile, Samsung
Tags: android, galaxy, galaxynote, galaxynote5, hands-on, handson, mobilepostcross, note, note5, preview, samsung, samsungunpacked2015, smartphone
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