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When Samsung launched its Galaxy Note series in October 2011, it did so with the intention of creating a new breed of Android smartphones, with added size and functionality. Of course, many were quick to show skepticism as to whether or not this new line of devices from the Korean Telecom giant would be able to remain profitable in the long run. But after more than seven years of success and downfalls (remember the Note 7?), Samsung has shown us that the Note series is here to stay.
This year, the company has unveiled the latest device in its phablet line – the Galaxy Note 9. And we’re here to give you a few reasons as to why we’re excited about this new phone from Samsung.
Build and Display
Simply put, Samsung has cut no corners with this phone. The Note 9 comes with a massive 6.4-inch AMOLED display, with a 1440×2960 resolution. AMOLED produces great colors and contrast compared to LCD screens, and Samsung has stuck with this screen technology for all its flagship devices. The display also comes with Gorilla Glass 5 protection.
Samsung has been consistent with the design of its flagships and the Note 9 is no exception – the phone has a metal band encircling the edge of the phone, while the front and back are made of glass. The fingerprint scanner has been moved below the camera, which makes it easier to find by feel.
Internal Specs and Camera
The phone screams “premium” from both the outside and the inside. The phone is run by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 and an Adreno 630 GPU, and comes with Android 8.1 Oreo. As far as storage goes, the Note 9 will come in two configurations: 128 GB of internal storage with 6 GB of RAM, and 512 GB of internal storage with 8 GB of RAM (that’s half a terabyte of storage, mind you). The phone also has a micro SD slot for storage expansion.
The phone also comes with a 12-megapixel dual camera set up, with an 8-megapixel front camera for video calls and selfies. Powering the Note 9 is a 4000 mah battery.
The S-Pen
The highlight feature of the Samsung Note devices has always been the S-Pen. Throughout the years Samsung has refined its design and functionality, and the pen bundled with the Note 9 takes it to a whole new level. It now comes with added Bluetooth functionality and charges when plugged into the Note. Since the pen is clickable, you can map its click function to different tasks, such as waking up the phone or taking a photo with the camera, for example.
Samsung has also improved the S-Pen’s accuracy, ensuring that any notes you take down or any sketches you draw will be clear and legible.
The Bottomline
If you are an avid fan of the Galaxy Note devices or are looking for a premium smartphone that can provide you with a great Android experience, then the Note 9 is for you. However, if you’re still rocking the Galaxy Note 8, you may want to keep doing so as the Note 8 nonetheless remains a versatile and capable phone. It features a 6.3-inch screen, comes with 64, 128 or 256 gigabytes of storage, and gets you 6 gigabytes of RAM, which is perfectly fine as far as performance goes.
If you really must have the Note 9 though, know that the 128 GB version will cost you around $749.00. Despite the high asking price, we think that the premium specs, top-notch build, and certified quality from Samsung will no doubt be worth it. What do you think? Let us know!
A quick hands-on video
Wow, very nice introduction to the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.
I currently own a Galaxy Note 5 and honestly still love it, it is still a very capable phone and does everything I need. However, after looking at this article I am beginning to think it is time for an upgrade. This phone sounds awesome! I love having the ability to write down or brainstorm quick notes from anywhere when having a paper and pen is not convenient. Plus, that sounds like a neat feature to be able to take photos just by clicking the pen.
Overall, I know the build and quality will not disappoint so it is really about the little things that put it over the edge. I will have to look into this further and see if I can justify the high price tag.
Thanks for the great info! 🙂
Hi David, thanks for checking out our article!
Since you’re planning to upgrade from a Note 5, personally I think it’d be best to skip the Note 8 altogether and go for the Note 9, since it has the latest software and hardware features from Samsung.
Although, if you’re still on the fence about the high price tag, you may want to look at the Note 8 as prices may have dropped by now, with the release of the N9.