Samsung Galaxy Note 7 vs. Note 5: Should you upgrade?

The argument for upgrading from a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 to a Galaxy Note 7 is fairly straightforward: considerably more power and a larger battery in a smaller body, an improved camera, and an S Pen with twice the pressure sensitivity, and twice the features. The upgrade speaks for itself.
But here I am holding both a Galaxy Note 5 and a Galaxy Note 7 in each hand, and the justification for upgrading becomes much less convincing. The Note 5 has been out less than 12 months at the time of writing, and feels just as modern — and new — as it did back in 2015. With Samsung maintaining the Note 5 on shelves as its cheaper S Pen-enhanced variant, should you be thinking about upgrading to the Note 7 from the Note 5? Let's dig into it a bit.
Unlike the Note 4, the Note 5 looks and feels remarkably similar to this year's model. The two are only millimeters apart in absolute dimensions, and are made of the same metal-and-glass construction. Even the backs have the same curved glass that meet the sturdy aluminum frame. But the Note 7 takes that design and adds a touch of S7 edge to it, adding a curve to the front glass as well.
The Note 7 is 2.2mm narrower than the Note 5, which, along with the curved display, makes it much more comfortable to hold and use in one hand.
What emerges is the best of both worlds: a Note with the form-fitting DNA of an S7 edge in the slightly boxier body of a Note. As Andrew mentioned in his hands-on preview, the Note 7's edges are much tighter and more subtle than on the Galaxy S7 edge, and don't inspire as many frustrating false touches and misfires. And there's something visual satisfying about the symmetrical curves on both front and back converging on the now much-smaller metal bezels (that, on the black, silver, and gold models, happen to be color-matched).
Galaxy Note 7 vs. Galaxy Note 5 specs comparison
Category | Galaxy Note 7 | Galaxy Note 5 |
---|---|---|
Operating System | Android 6.0 Marshmallow | Android 6.0 Marshmallow |
Display | 5.7-inch 2560x1440 Super AMOLED Dual edge screen Gorilla Glass 5 | 5.7-inch 2560x1440 Super AMOLED Gorilla Glass 4 |
Processor | Quad-core Snapdragon 820 (U.S.) Octa-core Exynos 8890 (international) | Exynos 7420 octa-core (2.1GHz quad + 1.5GHz quad) 64bit, 14nm |
Storage | 64GB microSD up to 256GB | 32GB or 64GB |
RAM | 4GB | 4GB |
Rear Camera | 12MP f/1.7 1.4-micron pixels OIS | 16MP f/1.9 1.12-micron pixels OIS, phase-detection autofocus |
Front Camera | 5MP f/1.7 | 5MP f/1.9 |
Charging | USB-C Fast charging Qi wireless Powermat wireless | Micro-USB Fast charging Qi wireless, PMA wireless |
Input | S Pen stylus 4096 pts of pressure sensitivity | S Pen stylus 2048 pts of pressure sensitivity |
Battery | 3500 mAh Non-removable | 3000 mAh Non-removable |
Water resistance | IP68 rating | No |
Security | One-touch fingerprint sensor Iris scanner | One-touch fingerprint scanner |
Dimensions | 153.5 x 73.9 x 7.9 mm | 153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6mm |
Weight | 169 g | 171 g |
Colors | black, silver, gold, blue coral | black sapphire, white pearl, gold platinum |
The Note 7 is also 2.2mm narrower than the Note 5, which, along with the curved display, makes it much more comfortable to hold and use in one hand. It may be ever-so-slightly taller and thicker, but, comparing these two phones side by side, all you notice is the less your hand has to stretch to grip the phone comfortably.
The placement of the ports and buttons are practically unchanged from the Note 5 to the Note 7, but Samsung wisely lowered the volume buttons on the left side to be easier to reach with a curled-around finger. And while the phone's bottom similar cutouts for the mono speaker and microphones, the Note 5's Micro-USB port has been upgraded to the reversible, more versatile USB Type-C port.
Because Samsung made a number of strategic changes between the Note 4 and 5, including sealing up the battery and moving away from the fake leather back replaceable back cover that debuted on the Note 3 in 2013, we're not talking about major visual alterations between the Note 7 and its predecessor. Instead, as it did with the Galaxy S7, Samsung kept what was working while addressing a number of complaints levelled against it from the enthusiast community. Jerry did a good job going over these "power user" features, but we'll go over them again here.
The Note 7 marks three major improvements over the Note 5 that will be as close to justifying the upgrade over last year's model as you can get: the return of microSD expansion; the addition of IP68 water resistance; and a bump in battery capacity by 17% to 3500mAh.
The first is important for a number of reasons, since Android 6.0 Marshmallow, which the Note 7 ships with, makes using and administering microSD cards both easy and more reliable than in Lollipop. And while few are going to quickly fill up the Note 7's standard 64GB internal storage, Samsung can easily check that box with no repercussions. Lollipop, which the Note 5 shipped with, reverted many of the positive changes to microSD card support that debuted with KitKat, which may have been another reason Samsung decided to lop off that feature in its 2015 models.
The Note 7 has three improvements over the Note 5 that will likely justify your upgrade
The second, water resistance, is a key benefit for a phone like the Note 7, since very few smartphones have ingress protection, and even fewer do so as seamlessly and elegantly as Samsung. That the company was able to completely seal both the phone and the S Pen, which is still removed with a satisfying click from the phone's bottom right, is even more impressive. And this isn't some coating applied at the factory that will wear off after a few months; the Galaxy Note 7 can be immersed in up to five feet of water for 30 minutes.
The third, a larger battery, explains the slightly thicker chassis, and should be very good news to power users. Let's just get this out of the way now: yes, the Note 7's battery is around 3% smaller than the S7 edge's, but as we talked about in episode 300 of the AC Podcast, that was likely to make room for the S Pen. And there's still Quick Charge 2.0 support and wireless charging to top up your phone in just over 90 minutes.
Unlike in previous years, this isn't a "spec sequel" to the Galaxy S lineup: this is a complementary product that lives on the same "platform". It's the reason Samsung skipped the Note 6 to jump straight to 7. It's about continuity and consistency.
If those three things aren't enough to convince you to upgrade, perhaps the fact that the Note 7 is built on stronger internals — a Snapdragon 820 in the U.S. and an Exynos 8890 in Canada and around the world — and has at least 12 months of extra updates in its future, will do the trick. While the Note 5 has already been updated to Android 6.0.1 (my Canadian model is running Marshmallow with a June 1, 2016 security patch), it likely won't get many of the new software features as the Note 7.
Some of those features are hardware-specific — the Note 7 has an edge screen, which confers all the edge-related features we loved (and loved to hate) from the Galaxy S7 edge. But others are merely evolutions of existing ones, like an all-new camera app design and a number of S Pen-related improvements.
If you're buying a Galaxy Note, you're probably at least partially considering it based on the inclusion of a stylus — especially since this year there are no overt spec improvements of the Galaxy S7 to push sales. The Note 7's S Pen not only looks better and is water-sealed, it interacts with the Super AMOLED screen at double the points of pressure — 4096, to be specific — as the Note 5. After using the Note 7 to jot down some words and sketch a few figures, it's immediately clear that improved interaction between screen and stylus leads to great control over the nib (which has been thinned for extra precision), while a more powerful processor leads to less input lag.
Writing on the Note 7 is as close to writing on a piece of paper as I've come on a smartphone, and while tests need to be made to prove this assertion, it could be a better experience than the Apple Pencil on the iPad Pro.
Not only is using the S Pen a great experience, but this year the Note 7 can do more with it, from creating GIFs to magnifying the screen to a new feature called Glance that seamlessly switches between apps without touching the display at all. All that and a new consolidates note-taking experience called S Notes means that if you rely on the Note 5 to jot notes in class or during meetings, the Note 7 is going to take your experience that much further. Of course, the improvements may not warrant spending upwards of $850 for the convenience, but that's your call to make.
Not only is using the S Pen a better experience, but this year the Note 7 can do more with it.
We've yet to talk about the Note 7's iris scanner because, well, it's still a relative unknown, and is certainly not a reason alone to think about upgrading from the Note 5. Whereas many Android apps have been updated to take advantage of the convenience of fingerprint scanners, iris scanners are still the domain of proprietary APIs and unproven developer interest. As a result, unlocking your phone and securing the Note 7's "private vault" are two of a half dozen ways the iris scanner can be considered useful, but if anyone is going to make a platform out of a feature in the Android space, it's Samsung.
The iris scanner is located on the front of the phone, a combination of an infrared sensor and a low-resolution camera. That is separate from the 5MP selfie camera, which comes equipped with a slightly sharper f/1.7 lens than the Note 7. But it's around back that the Note 5 and Note 7 separate themselves, as did the S6 and S7 previously. The Note 7's main camera drops its resolution to 12MP from the Note 5's 16MP sensor, and improves to an f/1.7 lens from an f/1.9. All of this technical jargon means one thing: though photos taken with the Note 7 won't have as much detail as the Note 5, they will be both sharper, thanks to the lens, and better in low light, because of the combination of larger sensor pixels and an improved optical image stabilization mechanism that accounts for hand shake.
I probably don't need to reassert this because we've been saying it all year, but since the Note 7 has the same camera chops — plus a better camera app — as the Galaxy S7, it is automatically one of the best camera phones on the market. Period. Amazing in daylight; excellent in low light; incredible macro abilities; subtle but effective HDR; smooth 4K video; excellent sound capture; and a bevy of options that are totally optional but still useful.
Since the Note 7 has the same camera chops — plus a better camera app — as the Galaxy S7, it is automatically one of the best camera phones on the market
So what, if any, are the downsides to the Note 7 over the Note 5? Perhaps you prefer the sapphire blue color over this year's black-on-black or coral blue options? Or you think that the iris scanner hardware gums up the otherwise-clean look of the phone's face?
To be honest, there are few, if any, reasons to prefer the Note 5 over its successor, and only one major consideration: price. At around $850 outright, or around $37 per month, the Note 7 is not cheap. It stacks up with the iPhone 6s Plus (and likely the forthcoming iPhone 7 Plus) as one of the most expensive phones on the market. But it's also one of the best phones on the market, too.
The Note 5 is a great phone; the Note 7 is a greater one. That's what you need to know when deciding whether to upgrade from last year's model, or if you're still rocking a Note 4 and are thinking of making the same jump.
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Daniel Bader was a former Android Central Editor-in-Chief and Executive Editor for iMore and Windows Central.
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Well the note 4 was a better device then the 5 so I'd say hell yeah. Posted via the Android Central App
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I was going to say that the argument is actually a little less obvious in the scenario of the Note 5 since the Note 5 was not equipped with an SD card slot. For sure Note 5 users should upgrade to the Note 7 as their note is probably the least feature-packed. Posted from my unlocked S7 Active on T-Mobile
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And the note 5's battery is beginning to deteriorate. Posted via the Android Central App
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I'm noticing that too. Got my note 5 in September and even after factory resetting the battery is draining much faster than it used to. Might be marshmallow doing it, but either way it stinks now. Posted via the Android Central App
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I don't think it is marshmallow. I recently had the misfortune of dropping my note 5 and the screen no longer worked. It was replaced by the insurance with a new one. Battery life is stellar once again, and it is running 6.01. I had noticed my old Note 5 was starting to run down faster than it had in the past. So it must be that the newer battery in the new device just works better, and the old battery (approx. 10 months old) was starting to go bad
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If true, that is pretty piss poor on Sammy's part. Never had a battery fail this quickly. My LG G2 from 2013 still holds it's charge just fine. Might have to "drop" my Note soon too ;)
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Having owned both devices I have to disagree. The note 5 ran so much better. Less glitchy and just over all much faster. The note 5 is also decently more narrow, feels better in the hand. Posted via the Android Central App
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Did you ever used Note 5??
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i'm waiting for your comparison 'samsung galaxy note 7 vs. note 2: should you upgrade?" ~ before i can decide for sure. hurry!
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i'm serious. i have a note 2 that's feeling a little slow these days.
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Vinvino - I've got the Note 2 also, and love it. I'm on the fence too! But mine runs soooo slow, and the battery even with a new one is awful draining. What about your note 2, same issues or do you have different issues? Thought about taking it to a place that fixes phones. So don't know what to do.
~Pink Flamino~ Sent from my unlocked Note 2 on Ting.com -
I'm still on my Note 3 ... I looked at a 7 in Costco, the screen is so skinny compared to the 3. I'm not sure I like the skinny design.
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Skinny as in narrow, not the thickness. I have big hands so I like the wider phone.
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I'll stick with my Note 4.... (not really, I have the Note 5 and am updating to the Note 7, but you know someone is going to complain about the battery, and the god forsaken, best feature to ever exist, IR blaster that people seem to not be able to get out of bed unless they have it.... just figured I would do the public service and get it out of the way)
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Haha your right I'm glad you mentioned that...but this article is about n5 owner haha don't wake up the n4 guys there already pissed Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge
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LOL... but since when are the comments anything to do with the article. LOL. And the Note 4 guys have been irritated for well over a year now, and nothing short of an Note 4s, Note 4 Pro, or Note 4 II will appease them.
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I'll take the Note 4 Pro over the Note 7 any day!
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Buy a few to keep around. Those old days are gone!
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I still have the note 4 and the note 5. Emphasis is on the "and" because until that point the next note fully replaced the previous one AND was a better phone. That wasn't the case with the note 5 over the note 4 and I can't possibly join the bandwagon of people celebrating a loss of features when you're shelling out an obscene amount of money for a smartphone. Posted via the Android Central App
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And that's why you have a choice to buy are not to buy . You note 4 guys are taking it way through serious. Let me repeat your not required to purchase the note 7 and I haven't heard one article tell you to purchase the note 7 are that your n4 us junk
The article is just to compare all the note I think a grown ass man should know his own limits on what's best for his are her needs . The price is what it's is and to be far it's only $30 more then my att n4 was and my n4 edge was $950 and that was two years ago. So not sure why you guys are getting so damn offensive. Just don't buy it see just that easy . There's plenty of guys waiting in the wing that want the latest technology so we can't wait your mileage may differ live and let live that my motto Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge -
It's not being offensive but being able to think independently. A few years from now the IR blaster may make its way back to the note line and it will still sell a lot. The option to buy or not will be there until the end of time so it's not really an argument you can make. I use my note 5 as my daily driver. I travel a lot and spend a few nights at a time in a hotel and most of them have gyms with a TV and cable. I go to the gyms with my note 4 for ease of setting the volume and channel to my needs (remotes get broken or missing frequently)while I'm there and for those 45 minutes the note 4 is arguably smarter than the note 5 which until then was unheard of. The whole idea behind a smartphone is being able to do more while overtime being faster with a smaller form factor imo. Samsung has brought back the SD card slot and probably bring back a few more features over time. Being able to decipher pros and cons are independent of what you untimately choose to do with your money. Posted via the Android Central App
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Just remember, no one really cares how great you think the Note 4 is. Samsung also doesn't care. If the Note 4 was so great, people would be breaking their necks trying to buy one. But not surprisingly, people are not. People are buying the latest & greatest versions of Samsung phones because the new phones really are that great.
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Why are you so mad at people that own the Note 4? Posted via the Android Central App
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Not mad. They just tend to infect every forum that has nothing to do with them.
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Hum I've had my n5 for almost a year and it's been a beast let me just get that out the way frist . Now the n7 I've played with it and all the previous fears of palm rejection and the edge won't work with a note ..forget about it...it's a major major go . To me it's more like my 7edge on steroids and dare I say it fills better then any phone in the hand ...they nailed it aesthetically, I say if you got the cash do it if not your n5 like my is still the second best note to date now where's that elusive blue note it's like trying to find Pokemon Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge
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How is the Note 7 an S7 Edge on steroids? Isn't that usually referring to something that's bigger and stronger? Or are you saying that simply aesthetics are better. Posted from my unlocked S7 Active on T-Mobile
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Pugh is the official note 7 hype man, let him have his fun Posted via the Android Central App
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What's different about it? It has a 0.2" larger screen, smaller battery, 64GB storage, and an s-pen. The rest isn't much different.
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IP68
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S7 edge has that too, which is what they are comparing in the comment. Posted via the Android Central App
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0.2" larger, lighter, slightly thinner, edge display, smaller battery, 64gb storage, usb type c, iris scanner, s pen, gorilla glass 5, first phone with hdr screen. Just enough to warrant a upgrade but it is a unnecessary upgrade for most note 5 owners unless you want more storage and bigger battery
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I skipped the GS6 and Note 5 for ONE major reason,.. NO SDCARD! Got a GS7 flat screen because I needed a high-end replacement for my Note 4 that received a bad Marshmallow update. I wish I could have waited for the Note 7, but six months of 18 daily reboots was going to kill my Android experience.
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how about s6 edge plus.. should I upgrade?? Posted via the Android Central App
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The gs6 plus is a Hella good phone had it before I got the 7edge . If your wanting all the benefits of the S pen and there's plenty then yep upgrade and it has a bigger battery 500 amp more . I'd challenge you to go check it out and compare oh and you get 256 gigs more for free Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge
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My wife has the Note 5 and is thrilled about the Note 7. She wants her expandable storage back. It's a necessary upgrade that will prepare this generation Note for the future. Posted via the Galaxy Note 4
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I have the Note 5, and promised this was going to be my last phone.....But that Note 7 though!!!!!!
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Same articles over and over again Posted via the Android Central App
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And you keep coming back to comment on that what's the problem filling a little butt hurt . You know you could just scroll down to which ever article that fix your needs . Here's a thought every time you see the words note 7 .....keep moving see just that easy ...troll Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge
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Good article, the note 7 just isn't for me. The upgrades don't matter much to me,
I haven't used sd cards in years, even when I had phones that support it (I prefer cloud storage)
Not a fan of the curved screen, this isn't even false touches, etc. I just don't like looking at the screen and the irregularities it causes in colors and more reflections. The new IP68 certification is nice as are the new s-pen features, but not worth $850 plus dealing with a display I don't like.
So I'll keep rocking my Note 5 for now.
thanks for the article. -
I am with you on one part, I don't understand the need to rush out on upgrade all the time to the latest and greatest phone. I do personally use my SD card a lot. I travel quite a bit for work and don't want to use data just to download my media when it is easier to keep in on my local device. That said, the Note 7 has some nice features, but my Note 4 works great, battery life is great and the Marshmallow update has been working great on my phone. I have better, and more fun ways to spend $850+ that to buy a new phone.
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I totally get the usage model for sd cards for those on tiered data plans, I'm just lucky enough to live in an area that is exceptionally covered by t-mobile and I don't travel much for work, so I don't worry about it with my unlimited data plan. I did buy the 64 GB version of the note so I can have a little bit of my music collection on the device itself and still have plenty of room for apps and games.
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The note 7 does have SD storage. Regarding cost, you can always sell your old phone to offset the price-with my plan on T-Mobile, I can upgrade for $260.00. My guess is most people will not pay the full price unless they want an unlocked version or the Exynos version which isn't sold by the US carriers as far as I know.
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@Daniel, For someone looking to try out their first stylus experience would the Note 4 or 5 be a better experience? Obviously looking to save some $$ over the Note 7 (and if I were to go all in on the Note 7 I'd prefer to wait for the carrier agnostic version to be released).
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What carrier are you on? VZW phones are usually capable of being "carrier agnostic" (short of a little bloatware that you can disable) in terms of being SIM unlocked and the N5 and the N7 will have the necessary radios to work on other carriers. As far as which will be the better experience: The S pen has gotten better in terms of hardware and software with each iteration, so the best experience is going to be with the newest phone. If the N7 is outside of your price range currently, the N5 would be you next best bet. The N4 still gets a lot of love for the SD card and removable battery, but not for its software when compared to the newer models.
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On Verizon. Rather than trying to take a Note 7 intended for Verizon and hoping to be able to use it on a different carrier I'd rather wait for the carrier agnostic version that Big Red can't give me any b/s about if I decide to leave. Regarding the Note 5 vs. the Note 4 (I'd obviously be stuck with the Verizon model) - is the difference in price (Note 5 still seems to be around $500) worth any performance differences? As I mentioned, this would be my first stylus device.
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Seems like A LOT of justification to go to the Note 7. I was very disappointed when the specs came out on the Note 7, I don't think any of the hype forecasted made it into the Note 7. I have a Note 4 that is all paid for, now let's see what the Note 8 brings.
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News flash the note 8 won't be any cheaper soooo. Not sure what you'll expecting. Yes there will be a new processor for sure and a new body hell maybe new every thing ...but in the end it'll be over $800 . And that's not gonna change. Samsung is not in the bargain phone business . I suggest you pick up any one of the Chinese knock-offs are moto phones for that not sure why you guys don't get that that's why there Chevrolet and there's Mercedes . If samsung has gotten to uppity for you vote with your wallet . Are just keep rocking your n4 the n7 is on the way and no amount of b****ing on AC is gonna change that are the price get over it guys there's cheaper options to be had Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge
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He is not complaining about the price. He obviously paid a pretty penny for the Note 4 as well. After all didn't you just mention that the Note 4 was the same price approximately when it was released? It sure was. And he paid that. He is saying that since his Note 4 is such a good device the lack of a larger bump up in specs on this device makes him feel he doesn't have to spend the money this time around. He is looking at the Note to possibly upgrade which means he is willing to pay the price. Just because you're willing to pay the price every 6 months doesn't mean everybody else is and should be (even if they have the money) but of course they have the right to come on here and express that opinion just like you and I do. Posted from my unlocked S7 Active on T-Mobile
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Its one thing to always buy into the latest hype and ads about what's the next smartphone you should get and actually doing the research and objectively comparing your options and coming up with an opinion. If we let corporate marketing dictate what we do, we might as well blindly get the next best anything without giving it a second thought given that technology advances every day no matter how little. Posted via the Android Central App
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Yes,and I would suspect that Robert Moran was referring to a lack of 6Gb of RAM and an option for 128Gb of internal storage when he alluded to disappointing specs.Now,everyone come back and screech that it's not necessary and not useful so that you can feel better about not even having the option when there are multiple $400.00 phones with it available.I'm still waiting to see if China gets the version that was expected by many.The Note series is traditionally more powerful than the S series device released in the same year.Just my opinion. Posted via the Android Central App
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Exactly. I don't get the bickering that Phillip does about everyone who has a different opinion than he does.
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I enjoy fact checking trolls that don't have a dog in the fight but like to jump in on samsung forums just to stare the pot hahaha
Oh and by the way we all have our on opinions and agendas. That's why they have open forums Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge -
Bruh, are u looking for arguments? Not once did the OP say anything about price.
U called someone a troll above, but I'd dare say you're halfway trolling right now.
Don't throw stones if u live in a glass house Posted via the Android Central App -
Umm... Samsung's not in the bargain phone business? Oh really? I guess you haven't heard of the Galaxy J series. The J1 can be had for the wallet-busting price of... $69.99 from Walmart (contract-free of course). The Note/S flagships are their flagships. They may generate lots of hype (and sales in the US and other wealthy, luxury-obsessed markets), but they by no means represent the lion's share of Samsung's handset sales.
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No one company represents all of Android sells but they . But they are the only Android company making any real money . Oh and there closest competitors sold 200 million less phones (drop the Mike) Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge
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Hi, Can you confirm the Canadian version is going to be Exynos. I have had several live chats and a couple of visits to the Samsung store and there are a lot of conflicting ideas as to what CPU Canada is getting? Thanks
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In the real world test there's really not that much difference in the two. And if your a gamer the 820 has the better chip Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge
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Eh, at the end of the day I will keep my Note 5 and my Iphone 6S Plus I just bought. I went to the Best Buy yesterday and played around with the Note 7 nd it still doesn't really feel any different in my opinion than the S7 Edge. At the end of the day The Note 7 is pretty much the Note 5 in terms of specs, memory and ram. Sure it has got the sd card feature, but I can live without it. Again this is just my opinion.
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the note 5 and the note 7 have nothing in common not sure what phone you was looking at haha. nice try though
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I just laugh when people say the Note 4 is a better device then the Note 5. Posted via the AT&T Note 5
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And some people laugh when others say the Note 5 is better than the Note 4. See, we're all different and have different needs and likes. Posted from my unlocked S7 Active on T-Mobile
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+1, my man Posted via the Android Central App
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I had both simultaneously like a lot of other folks here did and liked each one. That said, the 5 thoroughly kicks the 4's teeth in, in my opinion, all day long.
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Same here, Note 5 was a much better experience, my phone isn't in my hand 24/7 I have plenty of time to charge it, don't need that removable battery. These guys arguing the Note 4 is better might as well say the Note 2 and Note 3 are better than the Note 7 as well. Posted via the Android Central App
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That was my point if you prefer a SD Card, removable battery and a IR blaster then the Note 4 is for you. But that doesn't make it a better device. That just means you have different needs. I have owned both devices and the Note 5 has better build quality, hardware, battery life and performance. Some of Note 4 users haven't even received the MM update from their carriers yet and I highly doubt it will get 7.0. Don't get me wrong the Note 4 is still a great device but it's just not better then the Note 5 Either way in a couple of months I will upgrading my Note 5 to the 7. I'm sure the Note 4 users will say the Note 4 is a better device because of a removable battery and that all important IR blaster in case you lose your remote lol. Which I have never done in my life and if I did they make these things called universal remotes. BTW if you have been living under a rock just about every new device that has been released has a non removable battery. Posted via the AT&T Note 5
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Speaking for myself, I would only hope the next edition of the note would perform better than the previous.
So I'm sure the note5/7 will perform better than the 4. But for me the N4 is a solid device and it's features keep me holding onto it Posted via the Android Central App -
I know, it's ridiculous. I had them both. The Note 5 is better looking (to me), better quality, and at least 50 times faster. Absolutely 0 lag after a full year. The Note 4 was extremely laggy, a nice phone for sure but not in the class of the Note 5. I was one complaining and vowing to keep my Note 4 until I didn't.. Lol... Posted via the Android Central App
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Not everyone has the skills to streamline a device like the Note 4. Rest assured that the Note 4, with the proper tinkering, can be streamlined to be literally as fast as a Note 5. Now I agree that you shouldn't have to do that but I almost feel as if some updates purposely slow down devices so people can just dump them and move on to the newest one (that's one reason I root and ROM). If you don't have time to make one device work for you and the newer one does, then by all means the newer device should be the one used. Posted from my unlocked S7 Active on T-Mobile
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And you make a excellent point. Go back to the beginning of the year when the gs7 edge was released and the n5 release some of the same folks that swore off both . A few weeks later they purchase that very phone . I personally have friends that did that very thing and had some off the same opinions about the legitimacy of the n5 ..until they finally caved ..long story short they all admit it so much more dependable then there n4 ever was it's because of the n5 that has bestow trust in Samsung again. The n7 will help convert more iPhone jumpers back Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge
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Ok, I can attest to the fact that there's 2 times where the N4 lags: when activating the camera (roughly 2sec), and hitting the recent apps (another roughly 2sec)buuuuut, that only occurs when the first time pulling up recent apps. After that, it's almost instant.
So speaking for myself, lag on the note 4 is seldom, and is something that I can work with easily Posted via the Android Central App -
hum both my n4 got hella buggy after 5 months . and my n4 edge was even worse . where as the n5 has been a beast lets face it the earlier Samsungs where more are less a hot mess and it pains me to say that . but the last two years have got them doing all the right things . I would tell any n4 owner to put down that n4 and try the n5 at least youll thank me later I promise
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at this point the note 4 people will only be satisfied by a Note 4 SE lol Posted via the Android Central App
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I don't know about anyone else but I was glad to get rid of the Note 4 for the Note 5, even though I was super pissed about the storage and removable battery. The Note 4 was super laggy. I mean sometimes it would take 5 seconds for a text message to open from the time I tapped the screen. I even factory reset a few times, only to get the same slow results. The Note 5 was and still is a lightening bolt in terms of comparative quickness. Everything is instantaneous as soon as you hit it. This is still true one whole year later. On another note, the Note 5 battery socks rocks, but hey so did the Note 4's. The lack of memory card is my only real gripe as I usually carry well over 100gbs of stuff.. Heck my music collection is 30gbs. And I don't want to hear about any nonsense cloud storage where it takes you 5 minutes to access one song, if you even have Internet available, not to mention your data being burned to eventual overages.. Personally, I will not, for the very first time, update to the new Note. I think that Samsung purposely starved the Note 5, to have something to improve on with the Note 7. Then to add insult to injury, they only have the option of a curved screen, which personally I dont care for. We basically have a 6 month old S7 Edge with an Spen. I even think the Note 5 feels like more quality as to me the Note 7 feels a bit plasticky for some reason. This would have been fine and dandy if the new Note was reasonably priced, but at almost $1000, no thank you. I will put that money towards a surface pro 5 or the new surface book when those come out soon. Posted via the Android Central App
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5 minutes? You with Sprint?
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The edge on the Note 7 is very suttle and is absolutely nothing like the edge on the S7 Edge. The reason Samsung went with a slightly edged screen is because the S7 Edge outsold the S7. People on this website need to understand that we represent a very tiny percentage of people who buy phones and the slight edge on the Note 7 will not deter them from buying it. In fact the Best Buy rep informed me they have had a massive amount of pre-orders for the Note 7 already. Posted via the AT&T Note 5
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What messaging app did u use on the note4? Posted via the Android Central App
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Stock app, extremely slow. To the point where I deleted most of my old texts. Same result. Phone was just slow. I was shocked at the speed of the Note 5 and even more shocked that it's still the same speed after a whole year. I just regret that we never got 128gb model which I think I is an atrocity for a power user when the S6 got 128gb. Posted via the Android Central App
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I wont be spending the money to go from my Note 5 to the 7 so soon. I got the Note 5 on release day and still feel its a fantastic phone. Its not even a full year old yet. Way to soon for an upgrade. With MM on it now I can see what comes next year.
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My Note 5 battery performance is horrendous. Other than that a good phone.
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I've got the regular S7, probably trade it in for a Note 7 in a few months, much prefer the larger screen and pen. Posted via the Android Central App
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Only a 17% bigger non-removable battery than Note 5? Unless it's better optimized that won't cut it. My Note 5 battery performance is abysmal.
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The difference is there with the newer chip case in point right now the two longest running batteries in every measurable test I've seen have been the gs7 and edge the active being the exception. The regular gs7 with its 3000 amp battery gets more screen on time then almost all the latest flagship with more battery and the edge whips them even more . The small 7 soundly whips the n5 in battery performance. The n7 has a battery saving trick that let's you lower the screen resolution down to 720 that should by you 2 more hours alone Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge
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Personally, I do not think the Note 7 is a huge upgrade over the Note 5. It is however a big upgrade over the Note 4 and earlier devices in terms of hardware and software. Samsung has come a long way especially in terms of software. My GS3, GS4, and Note 4 were janky and stuttering right out of the box. It seems as Samsung has solved most of its RAM management issues and trimmed down TouchWiz tremendously. I swore off Samsung after my Note 4, but was intrigued by the GS7 Edge and decided to purchase, and I can honestly say it is better in every conceivable way than my earlier Galaxy devices. The only hardware omission in the current Galaxy devices versus the earlier generation ones is removeable batteries and IR blasters. Personally, I prefer a more premium build combined with waterproofing and wireless charging over the flimsy plastic and faux leather backs that cheapened the look of otherwise premium devices of my opinion. If you want a removeable battery and IR blaster with flagship specs go get one of LG G series phones or the LG V10. The LG G5 and LG V10 are great phones in terms of hardware, but are flops in terms of sells. I find it astounding that people will hang on to nearly 2 year old hardware (Note 4) and complain about current hardware from a particular OEM, but they will not upgrade to other options that offer what they want. The fact is most people who are not tech enthusiast prefer a premium build over removeable batteries, and with the cash cow and success that Samsung has found in the GS7 and GS7 Edge I don't think their design language is changing anytime soon, and you don't know business if you think otherwise. If you don't like the direction Samsung is going speak with your wallet and explore buying from one of the other Android OEMs. Posted via the Android Central App
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See, it's ironic bc I pledged my allegiance to sammy after my experience with the note4 Posted via the Android Central App
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The Note 4 was ahead of its time in many ways. However, things such as a weak antenna, screen freezes, slow app load times, etc became a way of life. I went and used the HTC M8 and iPhone 6 Plus for a time and missed the very feature rich TouchWiz; however, at that time the software was not nearly as smooth as HTC Sense or iOS. TouchWiz still isn't iOS smooth, but it has come a long way from 2 years ago. I could actually see it getting there in another few years. Anyone saying that these current Samsung Galaxy phones aren't as good as the earlier generation ones obviously hasn't used a newer Samsung Galaxy device or is letting their bias of hardware and design changes get in the way of their logic to a degree. Posted via the Android Central App
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No, dont get me wrong. The Note 4 was loaded, just laggy. Matter if fact, I vowed not to go to the underwhelming Note 5 but was forced to because if the lagginess of the Note 4. The speed was shockingly night and day.
. Posted via the Android Central App -
If only other companies made a device with an S Pen. In the meantime I continue to use the most powerful current device I like but also hold onto the most feature rich device available for my needs. Still holding out hope for a beastly, feature packed device that meets all my needs. I really felt that I'd have that by now but not one company has stepped up to the plate. Posted from my unlocked S7 Active on T-Mobile / iPad Pro 12.9 / or my peerless Note 4.
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You can get any flagship phablet and use it with a stylus. Their are also apps that you can download that will interact with your device similarly to how your s-pen and it's native features interact with the Note series. Your Note 4 will probably give out on you before you get a current generation device with similar hardware implementations to it. You'll likely be disappointed next year and the year after too with the flagship phablet offerings from each OEM. Posted via the Android Central App
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If you believe using a regular stylus with any current phablet is anything like using an S Pen then you must not use it much. The only thing that I have found that is close to it is the apple pencil with my iPad Pro. You may be right about never getting a current gen device like I'm hoping for but that's not going to make me stop hoping for it. Posted from my unlocked S7 Active on T-Mobile / iPad Pro 12.9 / or my peerless Note 4
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Very true. Samsung has us hostage with the S pen alone.. Lol... Posted via the Android Central App
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Preach bother I've said the same damn thing lg will gladly sell you a IR blaster removable back phone and it's cheaper crudeone ^^^ Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge
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Exactly Posted via the Android Central App
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2 things I think the ram should have been more and the battery should have been somewhat larger. For me using a S6 edge plus currently I was going to go with the new note when it came out. without any thought to it. now I find myself with thoughts. for the two reasons that I gave at the top of this post. However there is a lot to like the Spen for one and the water resistant is a plus. Also the camera is better. I am after a year finding my S6 edge plus being very choppy when browsing the net. and using apps. My space is only 32%full I use very few apps. but I do a lot of writing so the Spen is a major feature for me and one of the biggest reasoning why I was going to go with the note I guess I'm going to have to see it and hold it and use it in real time before I make my mind up.
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You'll be sold once you see it . It's just that good trust me oh and by the way more ram doesn't mean a faster phone for prove watch the op3 vs gs7edge comparison. 4 gigs of ram is plenty with the 820 chip set even My n5 with the 7420 and 4 gigs is on point . I commend samsung for showing restraint and not releasing a chip before it's ready just to join the spec race Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge
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Your probably right I'll be sold on it. Like I, mentioned there is much to like, It's the same size device that I have now. which for me is perfect.
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If you don't care about having storage options stick with the note 5 otherwise upgrade to the note 7
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Storage options, how is a sd card slot multiple options? I have a Note 5 and I have storage options, I have a USB adapter, I have 2 personal NAS at home, and I also use one drives free storage, 100 gb. Think outside the box a bit, Storage options don't just = sd card. Posted via the Android Central App
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I will continue using my Note 1 I bought in 2011 until they come up with a Note that has a gyroscope, a telescope, and a money printing machine.
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If you are going to go for any of the curved screen phones make sure you already have a case handy when you purchase it or buy one to come with it, They are very fragile and even with the gorilla glass 5 on deck they crumble at the slightest drop! Even from about 1 foot onto a hard surface the phone will crack wherever it lands, front back or corner. I love Samsung phones and the edge software is getting better, but i have never seen a more fragile build on any device I have ever owned....hopefully they will continue to improve the durability along with everything inside. Don't get me wrong, the actual phone is great and has top of the line internal components with everything you can ask for , its just too easy to destroy without a sturdy case surrounding it. Now I have one with a case and I have no complaints but I would be a nervous wreck should I have to remove the case for any reason other than cleaning it or changing out the sd card!
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I'm sticking with my note 4 and its interchangeable battery. So many people are envious when in a meeting, I change my battery and they are struggling to find an electrical outlet or are trying to baby their last few milli amps before their phone shuts down and they can't take any more notes. That power security is too valuable to me to toss away. Come on Sammy, don't follow the crowds. Bring back the interchangeable battery. Posted via the Android Central App
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samsung says 6gb ram your saying still has 4gb of ram???????????????????????
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i ordered it already if it has 4 i dont want it. sd card is a plus though
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Well you better cancel your order then if you want 6 gigs of ram ,get a op3 . The n7 has 4 Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge
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If you're doing it for the water resistance, microSD card, internal storage and eye sensor, then it makes sense.
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I love my Galaxy Note 5. The only issue I have is still being able to hear notification sounds outside while my head phones are plugged in. Anyone else? Gnat issue was supposed to be resolved with the Marshmallow update.
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Does any notice that the Galaxy Notes all have a horrible Speaker Phone? I can never hear anything when they are on speaker, this is true on the note 4 and edge, not sure how the 5's were.
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Easy... yes! Tmo's jump on demand makes that answer simple :) Being able to get every S series and Note each year is a tech lovers dream come true. Love it. Sprinkle in a random HTC, LG, iPhone for variety. Ohhhhhh yeah!
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Agreed, Jump On Demand also allows you to not worry so much about OS and security updates since it's easy to switch to a new flagship and Tmo is decent about those being relatively up to date. Bonus not having to care that much about the price either. It's a few extra bucks a month until the new releases next spring.
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Excellent review. Your three reasons to upgrade provided thoughtful considerations! I was a Note3 user who switched to the Active line for durability. However, I now may now go back (given the water resistant capability added to Note7). The stylus and writing on the phone is a great plus that I have missed. This seems like a very good update! Thanks for the informative review!
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Put the Note 7 ROM on the Note 5 and the answer is no... no you should not upgrade. IT runs amazing on the Note 5 and gives every feature except the Iris Scanner. If you still need expandable storage... well I don't know what to tell you. Tends to be the same group that still uses MMS in my experience. Sure I understand there is a use case, but honestly there are better solutions.
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you can but the 7 rom on the n5 but they wont be the same . there two totally different phones inside and out . look at the spec sheet everything is different and a bump up in power ,battery, camera s pen is way better . and the biggest thing of all to me , is that look and fill is not even close . oh and the murdered out black . not saying the n5 is a bad phone cause its not I own it but the facts don't lie is a better phone is it worth it to you to upgrade well that's up to you . but I'm a realists you can put lip stick on a pig buuuuut well you no the rest
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I'm starting to think you work for Samsung. Are you in a South Korean cubicle somewhere or do they let you work from home? No offense intended just that you shoot down everyone who comes up with just a little idea on why not to buy the newest Samaung device. Not just this one but as far back as I can remember. Posted from my unlocked S7 Active on T-Mobile / iPad Pro 12.9 / or my peerless Note 4
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Nope I don't work for Samsung but . I base my findings on facts not emotions . There a lot of n4 guys that are way to emotional about the n4 and don't realize that time has moved on and that's a fact technology has moved on . Hey if you like your n4 that's fine keep it but don't even think for one moment your n4 is just as good as I hear all the time on AC cause it's not even close . Truth is I own a htc m8 ,lumia 1520,iPhone5s ,blackberry q20 classic,note 5 ,gs7edge,just ordered a black n7 . So I have all the operating system so I can talk the the talk . Like I said I only speak on facts not emotion . If some other company would to make a better phone then I'd buy it ....buuuut they haven't in my opinion of course Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge
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note 5 or note 7. immmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm .surely note 7
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Had my Note 5 since release day a year ago. Upgrading to the 7 since I do it every year on AT&T. Little disappointed its basically a hand me down from the S7 with a couple added features I'll hardly use. They could have made a better camera, faster cpu etc. Mostly looking forward to water resist and sd card being back. I like the curve where there is a lot of hate for it. Maybe next year it will be a even bigger advancement over the S8 hopefully.
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Good article but there are some funny confusing mistakes in there. On topic:
I'm still using the Note 3. Officially there has not been ano update from android 5.0 for this device which is ridiculous. It's definitely something all you Note users should keep in mind. Samsung will not give it as much attention as the S series. They have also removed the IR sensor which has been foolish in my opinion. You should also consider that these devices are glued together so changing the battery is a choir and will be very costly and time consuming. With some other brands it is a matter of removing some screws. Just too many red flags for me to remotely consider Samsung again -
I do miss the removable battery and IR blaster. I have not used my IR (LG G4) for a long time so i doubt i miss it.
The battery is also one area i have mixed feeling about. On one hand i hate build in batteries but on the other hand you
cant get a good IP68 and unibody phone and have removable battery (my opinion). Personally i would not mind to get
a Note4 backcover with Note7 front. I love removable battery but then again i usually never have my phones more then 2 year so
if i'm honest battery wont be a problem for me. I'm just glad they brought back the SD + 64GB internal memory. These 2 things were mandatory for me
to consider buying a Note. Sadly there is no other choice if you want a premium phone with all the features offered by Note7. Samsung has a nice
apps that come with the phone. I was really hoping to upgrade my LG G4 to a G5 but the whole design and material used with G5 was a disappointment. So Note7 it is for me :) -
After an S3, Note,Note 2 and Note 4 there will be no more Samsungs When my wife gives up her decrapified streamlined Note 4 with 4 batteries and SD card she will move to a new Nexus and the family will move from very good T-Mobile 4 line Family Plan to Project Fi. The Note 7 is far from being worth anywhere near 2 x Nexus 6P
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Haha really the 6p was soundly whipped by the gs7 edge in every category but to each there own. One week with that featureless phone and you'll be back haha Posted via my note 5 are gs7 edge
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If I'm not mistaken the gs7 came out 6 months after the Nexus so it being better is pretty normal, also his comment was he was getting 2 x Nexus for the price of the Note 7. I'm a bit of a note fan boy myself and I still think that's an awesome deal and a great phone. Posted via the Android Central App
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Sticking with the Note 5. How smartphones are now it's hard to upgrade every year, just don't see the point. I will rock the Note 8 I'm sure, upgrading every 2 years if fine for me. :) also I don't know how I feel about the edge screen being the only option yet, will have to play with it cause I'm sure the next note will do the same. Posted via the Android Central App
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The last Note phone worth getting was Note4.
Note 5 was not even sold in Europe and also did not have anything but the 32GB as usual. Samsung always claims there are 32GB and 64GB but they never sell these magical 64GB models. So Yes the Note7 is a great upgrade i say. Also the SD card is very useful for backup and videos. -
The tech behind the Samsung slabs is quite impressive but the software has always been an issue for me... Nexus will probably be my next phone. Posted via the Android Central App
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Leave it to Samsung to make it JUST enough of an upgrade to make me want one. I'm specifically interested in the S-pen upgrades like screen magnification and gifs. I do like the flat screen on my N5 though. I'll probably wait until around the holidays when I can maybe get a $200 gift card. Best Buy usually does that around Black Friday.
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I personally would love to upgrade to the N7 but one thing is stopping me. It's the curved edges.
I just don't find it very useful for me and I prefer the flat edges.
Guess I'll just hope they bring it back in the N8. -
The camera performance will be the answer for me. I detest the edge requirement, but maybe can acquiesce if the camera produces markedly better photos than the Note 5.
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I think it would be a decent upgrade just for the sd card slot, but if you don't have $900 to spend on a phone, doing what I did and buying a new gold 64 gig Note 5 is the way to go. I paid $399 for it.
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I like may others have read the preliminary reviews and comments from others on the forums. I did visit Best Buy last Saturday to see the Note 7 in person. It's a beautiful phone, no doubt, packed with nice features... for those who have a Note 4 or earlier, it's a perfect jump to a newer platform. However, and I've toyed with this all week... my Note 5 does EVERYTHING I want it to do and more! I've got the 64GB model and still have a lot of room to spare. I really don't care much about the water resistance and while the slimmer design of the Note 7 is nice, the Note 5 fits my hand perfectly. With an ultra slim Spigen case, worn in a leather belt holster, it's fairly impervious to drops and cracks. The eye scanner is a no issue for me. The larger battery and slightly updated hardware might be a bonus for power users like me because I have to fast charge my Note 5 2-3 times a day, minimum. I've thought about buying the Note 7 and keeping the Note 5 as a backup but then I'll have two phones which are nearly identical to one another. The Note 5 is a beast of an every day phone and I have no problems with the memory, speed, display, reception, you name it. Yes, I'm really excited for the release of the Note 7 and many here on the forum appear to feel the same way I think for new, I'll hang on to my Note 5, and if the battery further degrades, which it will, I will get in Verizon's and Samsung's face for either a warranty or extended warranty exchange. Spending another ONE THOUSAND bucks with taxes and extra accessories now is not something that I care to do while the Note 5 does everything I ask it to do. YMMV. Enjoy your new Note 7!
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i have a note 5 and is awesome. love it but the battery drains to fast( thanks pokemon go). however fast charger on... waterproof? oh well can live with that because not gonna plan to swim with it. the biggest problem are updates. the note 4 had marshmallow before my note 5. so and i believe the same will happened with the note 5. i may get nougat around December and the note 7 in spring. so and that is the reason i wont buy it. maybe international version is different ... what about the S7 edge?
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Battery Drain is the biggest problem. I upgraded to the Note 5 and am seriously disappointed in real life use of the phone. These are supposed to be Mobile Devices. You can hardly call them mobile if you're tethered to a power outlet for 90 minutes a day. I'm impressed by the note 7's water resist claims but having an extra battery to pop in and save that 90 minutes in the middle of your day would significantly improve LIFE in general. Right now i have to plan my life around my phone. How sad is that. I am not sold on a larger battery being better, lets get some battery benchmarks. Is the new processor lower power consumption? How about the display. Tell me about something that matters and I'll consider the upgrade. Dont make me switxh to LG. Please don't make me do it.
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If I could buy it unlocked, or at least GSM unlocked, I almost certainly would buy it. Otherwise, no sale. There are at least 3 other phones that are better than good to absolutely great which are sold unlocked. For the most part, I buy Google and Apple phones for just that reason.
However, maybe I'm behind times. Is there a vendor who sells it unlocked these days (had two Notes before)? Not at all interested in a carrier who will unlock it for me "later," however.
I use the iPhone 6s Plus and the Nexus 6P. Extremely satisfied, and I'll double down on that because both phones are sold with the OS in their "pure" version. Unlocked and pure forever, baby! -
I have a note 5 but I think I'm just going to wait for the note 8.
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It's so easy to get caught up in the marketing BS that last year's phone is no longer cool, is hopelessly behind the times, or that the new device will help you win friends & feel better about yourself. New device launches are typically heralded as revolutionary when in fact, differences are at best - subtle. Here's a revelation I made a long time ago. Wait until your carrier gives the phone away for $0. You'll literally keep thousands of $$$ in your pocket. I'm rocking a Note 3 (that was free with 2-year contract), and will upgrade to the Note 5 - when my carrier likely gives them away after the launch of the Note 7. Two years after that, I'll grab my free Note 7 when everyone else is drooling over the "revolutionary" Note 9.