Samsung Note 9 Review

The Samsung Galaxy Note has been Samsung’s top tier phone and the biggest competitor to Apple’s iPhone plus series. Their Galaxy Note has always been an expensive phone, but not as expensive as the highest-end iPhone this time around.  The Note series was the first line to push the boundaries on large screen devices which has become quite popular.  As someone with average sized hands, I will say it is very easy to get use to a Galaxy Note sized device and I don’t plan on ever downsizing again.  So we have a new model in this series, the Galaxy Note 9, released on August 24, 2018. The Note 9 is priced at $999, which makes it as expensive as the latest iPhone XS. Let’s find out if it’s worth the money.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Specifications

• CPU: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
• Operating system: Android 8.1 Oreo
• Screen size: 6.4 inches
• Storage: 128/512GB
• Memory: 6/8GB
• MicroSD storage: Up to 512GB
• Resolution: 2960 x 1440
• Battery: 4,000mAh
• Size: 161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5, NFC
• Weight: 201 g (7.09 oz)

Quick Overview Feature Overview

The new Galaxy Note 9 looks very similar to its predecessor, Galaxy Note 8 from the outside. But there are critical changes in the inside, most of them for the better. The biggest change is that the new phone comes with the Snapdragon 845 processor, perhaps the most powerful processor available for android devices to date.  The iconic S Pen doubles up as a remote control in this phone. The S pen uses Bluetooth connectivity to perform various actions such remotely taking photos, changing slides, or pausing Youtube.  The new phone comes with a 4,000 mAh battery, by far the biggest in the Samsung line-up. This is a nice bump from the Note 8 which contained a 3,300 mAh battery.  It comes with a very advanced AI camera or smart camera that is capable of recognizing more than 20 types of sceneries and adjusting the setting automatically to get the best possible shot.  The Note 9 features a water carbon fiber cooling system that keeps your device running cooler than previous generations, even under heavy stress.  The display is where the Note 9 really shines. It has a 6.4 inch Super AMOLED panel display with quad-HD resolution.  It is probably the nicest phone display you have ever seen.  We were not a fan of the curved display.  At first it looks like a premium feature but after some use it doesn’t provide any real benefit.  The curved display consistently has a glare, is easier to crack and doesn’t work as well with screen protectors or cases than phones with flat displays.  It’s a clear they wen’t with design over function.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Pros and Cons

 Pros

• Best android device to date
• Stunning 6.4 inch display
• Smart camera or AI camera that provides excellent visibility even in dim light
• Great battery life
• New and improved S Pen with Bluetooth Connectivity

Cons

• Costs $999 – not cheap
• No wide-angle camera lens
• Curved display
• Lower performance vs latest iPhone

Conclusion

There’s no question that the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is the best Android phone right now and a worthy competitor to the iPhone. It has everything you’d expect from a phone – great display, excellent performance, very good battery life, and interesting new features such as smart cameras, Bluetooth-connected S Pen and more. Recommended for those willing to dish out the money for the best Android has to offer!  Well worth the upgrade for anyone with a Note 5 or earlier.