Samsung Galaxy Note 5

[ADe6]

I currently have the Note 3 and going to the Note 5 would make sense. Its a big upgrade in every way, except for the SD card and IR blaster. I don't really care for the removable battery. But the announcement left me kind of underwhelmed. It feels as if the Note has lost its character. Its a big S6 with an S-pen. Almost like Samsung is trying to slowly phase it out of the system. Dare I say Samsung seems to be following Apple in being more restrictive in how I must use my phone. The problem is that our options are very limited, if the S-pen is a deal breaker. Maybe the Note 4, but its not new.

 

[Piesang]

I currently have the Note 3 and going to the Note 5 would make sense. Its a big upgrade in every way, except for the SD card and IR blaster. I don't really care for the removable battery. But the announcement left me kind of underwhelmed. It feels as if the Note has lost its character. Its a big S6 with an S-pen. Almost like Samsung is trying to slowly phase it out of the system. Dare I say Samsung seems to be following Apple in being more restrictive in how I must use my phone. The problem is that our options are very limited, if the S-pen is a deal breaker. Maybe the Note 4, but its not new.

If you don't worry about the S-Pen, get yourself a LG G4. You won't look back.

 

[OrbitalDawn]

"Non-functional"
I lol'd

Yeah, the butthurt is hilarious.

Apparently removable battery and SD card are the only things that determine functionality.

Never mind the actually useful features like writing on the screen while it's locked, or being able to take extended screenshots without breaking them up etc.

Also don't have removable battery or SD card on my current phone - don't care. Had it on my phones before this one - never used it.

Naturally I can understand people considering it important, but the 'outrage' is silly.

 

[ghostR]

Disappointment. Let's see what new iPhone brings when it launches.

 

[michellej]

I love my s6 and for me the note 5 will look like my s6 only bigger with a s pen..... Thats a win for me.

 

[Tsepz_GP]

Question. How is this then better than the Androids? Sure, storage and battery is then on par with apple, but I don't see how switching to an iPhone is helping your case...

Just me overreacting , lol. I'll probably get a Huawei, Sony or Moto.

What sucks is that no other OEM makes a better +5.5inch Phablet than the Note 3, let alone the Note 4 to date.

I wanted to open a new contract with another network e.g. Cell C in October this year, but whats the point if nothing is, not even the Note5 bests the Note 4.

Uggh, this is so annoying. Samsung really screwed up.

 

[surfs-up]

"Non-functional"
I lol'd

Okay Einstein, back off I meant to say it lost some of it's (important) functionality.

To use an analogy, it's like taking a Swiss Army penknife - with all manner of tools, can opener, scissors, screwdriver etc etc (Note 4) and replacing it with a sexy looking, but basic penknife...with only one blade, no can opener, no screwdriver, no scissors etc etc (Note 5)

 

[Tsepz_GP]

Here we go folks:
Galaxy S6 Edge+ comes out in September for SA, while the Note 5 will arrive in November:

 

[DaDon]

Umm, think I'll wait for the LG G4 Pro than get these ICrap replacements

http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=7431&idPhone2=7467&idPhone3=7305 ( if this is anything to go by )

 

[Musiclover08]

I think the Note 5 looks pretty awesome, it does fit the part of a premium phone. The loss of removable battery was due to the construction of the phone. I can live with that, the MicroSD is a little harder to accept as well and I can understand their reasoning that UFS 2.0 is insanely faster than MicroSD. Perhaps USB OTG may be a light in the darkness but we will have to see how sales go and if they reconsider. I do think some are just bashing for the sake of bashing, there are other phones that will meet the requirements people need.

 

[Mets]

I've been wondering of late who the main critics of Samsung's construction was in the past. Was this only a thing that was created by tech sites and reviewers? The "all Samsungs look the same, are made of plastic and are therefor cr@p next to Iphone / HTC etc". Samsung was selling their plastic clones like hotcakes and now that they've gone uber metal and glass most Samsung users are going like "pretty, but meh".
Are they alienating their fans who were happy with functional (not perfect), groundbreaking, plastic phones in an effort to gain the traditional Iphone market?

 

[Toxic T]

The note 4 seems like a good phone to go for if you still want Samsung

+1

I have one and cannot seem to find a fault in it yet.

 

[Mark.K]

I got one and really like how it is built. Guess to each there own but only fault I can find with it is the fingerprint reader

 

[Tsepz_GP]

I've been wondering of late who the main critics of Samsung's construction was in the past. Was this only a thing that was created by tech sites and reviewers? The "all Samsungs look the same, are made of plastic and are therefor cr@p next to Iphone / HTC etc". Samsung was selling their plastic clones like hotcakes and now that they've gone uber metal and glass most Samsung users are going like "pretty, but meh".
Are they alienating their fans who were happy with functional (not perfect), groundbreaking, plastic phones in an effort to gain the traditional Iphone market?

So here's the thing...Samsung changed too much. The Galaxy Note 4 remains the most perfect blend of Samsungs of past and present.

We all wanted better build quality, we pay crazy money for these beast, and rightly so, Samsung gave us metal with the Galaxy Alpha and Note 4. The Alpha did horribly though and got discontinued, while the Note 4 went on to sell well.

Mistakes were made in the Alpha, and these mistakes were NOT in the Note 4, BUT are in the S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+ and Note5, and that is:

1.Removal of MicroSD Slot
2.Removal of the replaceable Battery
3. No 128GB Variant (S6 Edge+ & Note5)
4. Smaller Batteries.

These were features that should have been left well alone, Samsung had the perfect balance of metal, glass and a touch of plastic on the Note 4, but they went way too far.

 

[Musiclover08]

I've been wondering of late who the main critics of Samsung's construction was in the past. Was this only a thing that was created by tech sites and reviewers? The "all Samsungs look the same, are made of plastic and are therefor cr@p next to Iphone / HTC etc". Samsung was selling their plastic clones like hotcakes and now that they've gone uber metal and glass most Samsung users are going like "pretty, but meh".
Are they alienating their fans who were happy with functional (not perfect), groundbreaking, plastic phones in an effort to gain the traditional Iphone market?

So here's the thing...Samsung changed too much. The Galaxy Note 4 remains the most perfect blend of Samsungs of past and present.

We all wanted better build quality, we pay crazy money for these beast, and rightly so, Samsung gave us metal with the Galaxy Alpha and Note 4. The Alpha did horribly though and got discontinued, while the Note 4 went on to sell well.

Mistakes were made in the Alpha, and these mistakes were NOT in the Note 4, BUT are in the S6, S6 Edge, S6 Edge+ and Note5, and that is:

1.Removal of MicroSD Slot
2.Removal of the replaceable Battery
3. No 128GB Variant (S6 Edge+ & Note5)
4. Smaller Batteries.

These were features that should have been left well alone, Samsung had the perfect balance of metal, glass and a touch of plastic on the Note 4, but they went way too far.

I think the whole plastic criticism came about because Samsung's rivals were playing with metal in their flagships. They were making premium phones that felt premium when compared to the plastic body of Samsung's flagships. There was nothing wrong with plastic but compared to the metals and other materials, plastic would have felt dated in that company.

Samsung knows their markets extremely well, for those of us who are complaining about the lack of removable battery and MicroSD, there are more who simply do not worry about such things. To my knowledge the iPhone has never had any of these features and yet sells millions of units every single year. With people upgrading yearly in some markets it makes more sense to make a phone missing some features knowing that in a year there will be a new one.

We also gotta remember that Samsung will know very well how many batteries it sells, so these decisions, while not popular have to be thought through. They won't be universal acclaim for them either. Either way, Samsung will know if it was a flop or hit by the time the Note 6 is released. The sales from the US and Asia seem to have more weight in terms of what works or doesn't.

 

[Dom1n8tr1x]

It was nice owning a Samsung device while it lasted. As for what my next device will be, I'm not sure yet but it will definitely not be a Samsung.

 

[Mets]

For sure - If LG brings their G4 Pro to our shores, they're gonna make a killing from ex-Samsung users.

 

[hj2k_x]

+1

I have one and cannot seem to find a fault in it yet.

I agree.

I've had my Note 4 for nearly a year. Still loving it.

All that's missing for me are a bigger battery, functional fingerprint scanner, and dual SIM support. (which is why my next phone will likely be the Huawei Mate 7)

 

[catharsis]

met a guy from Tanzania today who had a Galaxy Edge plus. Said it came from Dubai and he paid just over 1000 US for it.
Great looking phone

 

[Tsepz_GP]

I agree.

I've had my Note 4 for nearly a year. Still loving it.

All that's missing for me are a bigger battery, functional fingerprint scanner, and dual SIM support. (which is why my next phone will likely be the Huawei Mate 7)

From a Note 4 to a Mate 7 sounds like a downgrade. Rather wait for the Mate 8 and LG G Pro.