The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Review
by Joshua Ho on October 15, 2014 9:00 AM EST- Posted in
- Smartphones
- Samsung
- Android
- Mobile
- Galaxy Note 4
Final Words
The Galaxy Note 4 builds on the Galaxy S5 and Galaxy S5 LTE-A, but there’s still a lot to go over. We’ll break this down by section before coming to any real conclusions about this device. Based upon my time with the Galaxy Note 4, it’s clear to me that the most critical point of differentiation in the Galaxy Note 4 is the software experience. While other phones with TouchWiz can have similar features, it’s really a function of the hardware and additional feature support that comes with the Note 4 that makes the Galaxy Note more than just a big phone. The good news here is that Samsung continues to have a lot of great ideas in software, and many of the features tend to be quite helpful in nature. However, there’s a need to polish these features as the implementation tends to be rough around the edges. Overall, one shouldn’t have any significant issues with the software but Apple definitely has an edge in the polish department, even if the functionality isn’t as extensive.
The next key distinction is the display. The Galaxy Note is differentiated by its software, but defined by its display. It’s definitely big, and should be great for media consumption with its high contrast. More importantly, Samsung has continued to push better display calibration, brightness, and other areas where AMOLED was previously deficient. While there are still some issues with purple smearing and green tints to some level of grayscale, the AMOLED display is an equal to the 1080p display in the iPhone 6 Plus.
While the display defines the Galaxy Note 4 as a phablet, the design of the device itself is also important. To this end, Samsung has finally delivered a phone that feels as premium as its competition. While I do have some minor nitpicks regarding the design, on the whole it really is good enough that I don't have any real complaints. There are definitely phones and phablets out there that look and feel better, but the gap isn't large enough that it would count against the Note 4. The move to a unibody design would also mean that there wouldn't be a removable battery or microSD slot, which likely isn't worth the cost to Samsung in key markets like Korea that have a great need for both of those features.
While not quite as defining as the display, battery life is often one of the main draws of a larger phone. In this department, the Galaxy Note 4 does provide a level of improvement when compared to the Galaxy S5, but the higher resolution of the display means that battery life will slightly trail behind the iPhone 6 Plus. Despite this, no one should really have any issues getting a full day of use out of the Note 4. The adaptive fast charger also means that the Note 4 should be able to have better real-world battery life in scenarios where charge time is critical.
Finally, while unrelated to the formfactor itself, the Galaxy Note 4’s OIS has significant implications for low light performance and video quality. In practice Samsung’s OIS solution has a large accommodation angle and works well, although the use of OIS is closer to continuous rather in limited situations like on the iPhone 6 Plus. The use of OIS also makes it possible to go from the rather poor low light experience that we saw with the Galaxy S5 to a competitive one in the Note 4. While it isn't quite as good as the iPhone 6 Plus in low light, it makes up for it with higher resolution for daytime photography and similar situations where the 1.1 micron pixels aren't really a limitation.
We can talk more about the SoC performance, but at this point Snapdragon 805 is a known quantity. Instead, it's more important to talk about the Galaxy Note 4 as a whole, and on the whole Samsung continues to define the phablet segment with their features. For that alone, Samsung deserves praise as they continue to innovate in this space. If this innovation was also implemented with high levels of polish, I would have little issue calling the Galaxy Note 4 the best phablet on the market. As-is, the Galaxy Note 4 remains one of the best phablets on the market, but whether it's the best for a given user is a matter of priorities and personal preference rather than any absolutes.
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KuyaMarkEduard - Tuesday, October 21, 2014 - link
WOW! great decision Beck2050... hopefully I can also have my own Note 4 in the near future...KuyaMarkEduard - Saturday, October 18, 2014 - link
want to see the fairest and most unbiased review of both? go here:http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_4-revi...
and
here http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_iphone_6_plus-review...
KuyaMarkEduard - Saturday, October 18, 2014 - link
Now, guess what, instead of making the truest, the fairest and the most unbiased reviews posible, you know what?, there webmaster is now getting busy of blocking my comments! Well if you do that, I shall keep on signing-up new account for each and every comment I'm going to post... Would you like that?cj100570 - Monday, October 20, 2014 - link
Wow! The comments on this are a hodgepodge of hillbilly hilarity and backwoods stupidity!DIYEyal - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
Great article, I found a typo:page 3:
"transition to Snapdragon 801 and 805"
Should have been "transition from 801 to 805"
Heartdisease - Wednesday, October 22, 2014 - link
This is not a review. At least not an honest one. It is more a compare contrast the iPhone 6 + with a lot of facts omitted. Anandtech is becoming very very biased to the point I don't think I can trust the information here. The display is equal to the iPhone 6 + ??. Laughable. It has been measured to be the best mobile display ever made, setting new benchmarks in most categories.http://www.displaymate.com/Galaxy_Note4_ShootOut_1...Yeah equal to the iPhone 6 + display sure.
"the Galaxy Note 4 provides a very accurate calibration to the Adobe RGB standard, which is rarely available in consumers displays, and is very useful for high-end digital photography and other advanced imaging applications."
Donkey2008 - Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - link
**Butt hurt Android fan alert**Fidelator - Thursday, October 23, 2014 - link
No video playback loop battery test? Hmm I wonder why you wouldn't show us a test where AMOLED would be the one to ace it... Much like LCDs ace the web browsing battery test due to the white backgrounds, that's a really important part of the review lost there, I'll just assume the note crushed most of the competition (6 Plus) in that test and you didn't want to show that.And this is coming from someone who usually buys phones with LCDs because of the burn in issues, the battery test was unfair
akdj - Saturday, December 6, 2014 - link
I'm not sure of your reality, but I don't know a whole lot of folks enjoying 'video' all day on their phones. Tablets, sure if you're traveling, hanging out, or 'doing your own thing'. But most folks aren't gonna sit around for 20 hours watching moviesPlentry of 'props' were given to AMOLED...& not just with the N4 review. Each iteration and improvement to AMOLED has been recognized.
If all of you folks crying 'bias', and you've found sites that are correct with their measurements, why are you still here? It's ridiculous, this cult following of OEMs or a smartphone OS, it's laughable
These tests are objective. They (each author doing mobile reviews) continue to prelude their measurements with their dissatisfaction with the testing protocols and options available --- but they're what's available TODAY to objectively measure performance
A life spent cheerleading for an operating system on a mobile phone is a life wasted. Buy what works for you and get on with it. This 'comment' section is the funny place these days
Apple's kicking ass right now for a reason. Samsung is building some incredible handsets, as are LG & HTC, Sony and Motorola. Competition is good for everyone and as an owner of a business, I use a Note 4 specifically for business
I own an iPhone 6+ as my daily driver. Still have a Xoom and the original iPad too. If you don't 'get it' yet, you will. They're ALL incredible devices and a couple hundred points here or there when we're discussing measurements in the tens of thousands --- there's hardly a way to discern the way it's going to work for you, what you do and things you enjoy.
If you're an idiot like me and can't decide, get both. Anyone in this comment section beating down the iPhone is wrong. Blaming the author as a biased Apple joker is pretty low, especially as extensive as this review is ...and the amount it cost YOU to read it!
I love my Note 4, owned the first and the third as well. He's right. It's a Big leap forward in design. You guys making up the bullshit battery statistics crack me up too. MOST usage on a phone is done on white or a lightly colored display with dark text for contrast. Text. Call. Surf. Read, edit a photo, video, audio in a DAW...but if BOTH can run movies for ten hours plus, WHO CARES!
No right minded person would spend that kinda time watching blockbusters on a 5.7" display. Games and emails, magazines and media, social networking and docs, spreadsheets or presentations ...NONE are tests AMOLED is going to 'ace'
leonhk1 - Wednesday, October 29, 2014 - link
Hi,I have stock of Brand New Samsung GALAXY Note 4 for sale, sealed in box with warranty.
Price: $500 per unit
MOQ: 1 unit
Bonus : Buy 2 get 1 free.
Serious Buyers should contact for more details
E-mail: megas83@yahoo.co.uk