7 reasons why the Galaxy Note 4 is Samsung’s best ever

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Love it or hate it, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will get a lot of attention from people when it releases, and a lot will go for it versus the other huge smartphones in the phablet category that it has pioneered in. However, that doesn’t stop people from doubting the Note – and I’m here to reassure you that Samsung is indeed putting its best foot forward with the Note 4′s release.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Philippines

1. Finally metal, not metallic

For as long as I can remember, people have been complaining about Samsung’s use of cheap glossy plastic on their flagship phones – me being one of those. The first Note looked okay, then came Hyperglaze on the sequel, then they added on faux leather and a fake stitching to complete the trilogy. Come part 4, it’s just faux leather now, but they’ve finally made the plastic sides metal – and it looks a lot better! However, the faux leather on the back is still plastic, but on the bright side, a lot of us do like it compared to other plastic textures, specifically the one on the S5.

Another thing to note (pun), Samsung may have been forced to play this card right now as there are strong rumors of a huge iPhone coming out soon. If that proves to be true, then the Note series has finally got itself some serious competition.

2. All the latest hardware

Just thinking about a 2560 x 1440 Super AMOLED display makes me want to buy into it already, especially with the Note’s size, we’re sure to enjoy all the colors, the pixels, and the clarity. Not only that, but the Note 4 is also an S5 improved in a lot of ways, jumping from a Snapdragon 801 to an 805, from 2GB RAM to 3GB RAM and a lot more, still including the heart rate monitor and the fingerprint scanner – love it or hate it.

Galaxy Note 4

3. Optical Image Stabilization & an improved front-facing camera

Even if you’re coming from a Galaxy S5, there’s sure to be some improvement when taking pictures. For one, there’s finally optical image stabilization to help lessening the shaking and the blurring when taking photos. Then, if you’re fond of taking selfies, a 3.7 megapixel front-facing camera with a wider angle will surely satisfy.

4. Software refinements

Samsung focused a lot of their efforts on hardware on this Note iteration, and I think that’s a good thing. All of the things you can do on the Note’s stylus already has a steep learning curve – adding a lot more into that can make it messier. So, Samsung barely highlighted the software in the announcement, but they seem to have polished it and added only very little. For Android skinning, I do believe that in most cases, less is more, and while Touchwiz still looks it needs improvement, it’s getting there.

5. It’s still the king of multitasking

Multi-window, 3GB RAM, having working apps on top of each other and dragging content from one app to another – those are just a few things found in the Galaxy Note 4, proving it to be a very capable multitasker. Add to that the fact that you’re working on a spacious 5.7-inch display, and for sure you’ll get some work done that other phones can’t do or if they can, they’ll do slower.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 S-Pen

6. The S-Pen is useful

A lot of companies have tried to replicate this smartphone’s competitive advantage, and they have all failed miserably. One secret to the Note’s success is the stylus, or as Samsung would market it, the S-Pen. If you’re one to take a lot of notes, draw and write on files on the go, then there is no other option out there – the Galaxy Note is really the one to beat. For those who are not excited with the thought of a stylus, well you can always just keep inserted in the back and not use it. Whether or not you use it, there’s no denying that it’s more than just a gimmick.

7. Samsung’s best phone is not the Galaxy Note Edge

If you haven’t heard about the Galaxy Note Edge, it’s basically everything that the Note 4 is, but with a curved display falling over to the right side, and is expected to be priced higher than the Note 4. On this, we’d like to say that while the Note Edge carries Samsung’s best technologies, the Note 4 is still the one I’d bet on as the Edge is still a first generation product and has a lot of improvement to undergo before finally achieving the title of Samsung’s best smartphone in their lineup. It will still need developers for that edge, and Samsung has to do something with that lack of symmetry which some people find weird, especially for left-handed users.

Maybe the next iteration will have the curve on both sides, or maybe next year, we’ll find a curved display on the Note. Who knows? For now, the Note Edge remains a statement that Samsung can do these kinds of things, but just because something is different doesn’t make it the best. (But hey, the Note was once different and weird. Look where crazy got it now.)

SGN4 Philippines

But of course, the Galaxy Note 4 doesn’t have its disadvantages and shortcomings. A lot of people may have expected 64-bit, 4GB RAM and a few more – and while it could be just me, I would have preferred it more if it was waterproof like the Galaxy S5.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is the company’s best ever, but competition is just around the corner, and we have yet to see how everything will play out. Local pricing and availability are also yet to be announced so you have to stay tuned for that. Are you interested in getting a Galaxy Note 4? Or do you like the Galaxy Note Edge? Neither? Feel free to leave your insights in the comments section down below.

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Video Coverage: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 in Berlin

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BERLIN, Germany – In less than four hours Samsung is scheduled to unveil its next phablet the Galaxy Note 4 at simultaneous events in New York, Beijing and here at the Berlin Tempodrom.

From the looks of it, the Note 4 is going to be one of the biggest smartphone announcements of the year. Here’s why:

1. Better Design

Design has never been Samsung’s strong suit but product iteration is, and based on Samsung’s track record 3 time’s the charm. As expected last year’s Note, the 3rd iteration since the original, was a big hit serving up a good balance between form and function.

The Note 3 was the first Samsung phone to ditch the cheap plasticky back plates for a faux leather back. That design is now standard on all of Samsung devices this year. Last month the South Korean tech giant took it one step further with a metal smartphone dubbed the Galaxy Alpha.

Expect the Note 4 to not only combine the best of both worlds – metal + leather, but also to sport the Youm Flexible display that was first teased at the Consumer Electronics Show in 2013. The Note 4 is expected to have a display than bends in a 45 degree angle off to one side.

2. Better Display

2K or Quad HD displays were supposed to be the big thing for 2014 but we didn’t see much till much later in the first quarter. LG was first off the gate with its G3 smartphone, Samsung then followed it up with a Korea-only variant of its flagship called the S5 Prime. It’s most likely the Note 4 will also feature a QHD screen, the phone will retain the same size as its predecessor 5.7-inches so the display should have a pixel density of 515.3 pixels per inch.

3. Better Handwriting

A bundled stylus called the S-Pen is what differentiates the Note from Samsung’s many other smartphone lines. Meant for taking notes, scribbling comments on photos, and drawing the S-Pen has gotten better with each iteration but still falls short of the experience of writing using pen and paper. This is supposed to change with the Note 4, rumors have it, the device will come with ultra sonic sensors that will improve the screen’s sensitivity.

4. Virtual Reality Integration

A few months back it was reported that Samsung is working together with virtual reality company Oculus on virtual reality goggles made specifically for smartphones. Whatever these VR headsets will be called and what they will actually do, it’s pretty clear that the device will also make its debut at Unpacked Episode 2. My bets are on the VR headset being bundled as a companion device to the Note 4 like the original Galaxy Gear smartwatch was to the Note 3.

Editor’s Note: This coverage was contributed by Michael Josh Villanueva of GadgetMatch. He is covering live from Berlin, Germany for this year’s IFA. Follow him at @michaeljosh and subscribe to his YouTube Channel.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 – here’s what to expect

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Samsung will hold an Unpacked livestreaming event later on where the hotly-anticipated Galaxy Note 4 will make its first official appearance. As a preparation, here’s what to expect from leaks and rumors before the new phablet gets unveiled.

Published by concept-phones.com

Published by concept-phones.com

Design and Construction

The upcoming Galaxy Note 4 is said to have two versions – one with a curved OLED display for niche markets and the other a flat OLED display for mass marketing. This is according to an executive of a Samsung partner so it could be spot on. The Galaxy S5’s water- and dust-proof body could also be inherited by the Note 4, making it a tough companion wherever you bring it. In addition, the Note 4 is likely to arrive in Charcoal Black, Shimmery White, Electric Blue, and Copper Gold – same as the company’s flagship S5.

User profile for the Galaxy Note 4 confirms the device's Quad HD display at 2560 x 1440 resolution.

User profile for the Galaxy Note 4 confirms the device’s Quad HD display at 2560 x 1440 resolution.

Hardware Specs

A couple of leaks have already surfaced the Internet regarding the Note 4’s specs. The company itself posted it on their mobile site confirming that it will have a 5.7-inch display with Quad HD screen at 2560 x 1440 resolution. Other specs expected are two variations in the processing department – the new 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor and an Exynos 5433 octa-core processor which scores over 40K in AnTuTu benchmark. Coupled with these processors are 4GB of RAM, internal storage varying from 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB, and microSD slot of up to 128GB.

Samsung_Galaxy_Note_4_Exynos_5433_benchmark_AnTuTu

Leaks also suggest that a 16MP camera will accompany the Note 4 including optical image stabilization (OIS), autofocus, LED flash, and video recording up to 4K as its predecessor sported.

Retina scanner on the Note 4 as teased by Samsung.

Retina scanner on the Note 4 as teased by Samsung.

In addition, here are more features that could come with the Note 4:

  • Retina and fingerprint scanner for enhanced security
  • Ultrasonic cover for the visually impaired
  • UV sensor to protect users from the sun’s UV rays
  • Heart-rate sensor
  • S-Pen stylus

Galaxy_Note_4_handwriting_S_Pen

Software

For sure the Note 4 will have the latest Android 4.4 KitKat OS, but with the nearing announcement of Google’s next version (Android L) we can expect that the phablet will be more than ready to be upgraded to it, if it doesn’t already come with it out of the box.

Price

According to a retailer listing, the Note 4 should have the same pricing as the Note 3 when it initially launched. Here in the Philippines it costed Php36K so expect the Note 4 to be in the same price range once it reaches our shores.

A teaser has also made its rounds online where the company shamelessly flaunts the Galaxy Note 4 along with its S-Pen functionality. Check out the video above.

That’s about it so far! What do you guys think of the new Samsung Galaxy Note 4? Basing on its specs we can see that it could be another success just like the previous Notes. Let us know what you think of the device in the comments section below.

For comparison you may check out the specs of the previous Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy Note 3.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 leaks, aims to be premium

There are more smartphones to wait for in the second half of the year, and one of them is the much-hyped Samsung Galaxy Note 4. GSMArena has obtained some photos of the aforementioned Galaxy Note 4 in detail, and it looks pretty authentic and consistent.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Just as it has been, the Note 4 looks to be having a pretty huge screen with thin bezels. A fingerprint scanner may be working itself into the physical home button once again and another sensor, potentially a heart rate monitor, is found beside the camera. Beside the stylus, the port for charging is probably going to be micro USB 3.0, and since there is nothing to cover it, we may not see waterproofing carrying over from the Galaxy S5. The back still seems like it’s going to be plastic emulating a leather texture, but note that the side frame actually looks like it’s going to be metal this time.

The Galaxy Note 4 will most likely be announced this IFA in September 3, and will most likely be available later that month as well. For more photos, head to the source link down below.

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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 announcement confirmed?

An executive from Samsung’s top-tier display supplier confirms the date of introduction of the anticipated Galaxy Note 4. According to him, it will be on early September which is aimed to go up against Apple’s 5.5-inch iPhone 6.

Concept image from note4galaxy.com

Concept image from note4galaxy.com

“Samsung will hold an event to announce the Note 4 on Sept. 3, just few days before this year’s IFA trade fair in Berlin, Germany ? Europe’s biggest technology exhibition,” said an executive from Samsung’s top-tier display supplier.

Previous rumors suggest that there will be two variants of the Galaxy Note 4 – one with 1.3GHz octa-core Exynos 4533 processor and ARM Mali-T760 GPU; while the other with 2.5GHz Snapdragon 805 CPU and Adreno 420 GPU. Other specs include 3GB RAM, 2K display, 16MP camera with 4K video, 32GB internal storage, ultraviolet sensor, and LTE.

The report also confirms that there will be a version with a flexible OLED display other than the 5.7-inch flat screen during the exhibit so that’s one more thing to look forward to. With these specs, Samsung is determined to take on Apple’s phablet iPhone6.

If you were to choose, would you opt for a Galaxy Note 4 or would you still rather have the iPhone 6?

{Source}

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