Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Review: The Best Phablet in the World

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Review: The Best Phablet in the World

The Mighty Galaxy Note 4
The Mighty Galaxy Note 4

Galaxy Note 4: Samsung’s Bold Answer to their Critics

When Samsung first announced the Galaxy Note 4 we were skeptical that it would be a major step forward for them. The changes from the Galaxy Note 3 seemed minimal and mostly aesthetic which made us question Samsung’s drive for innovation. However after using the Galaxy Note 4 for almost a month, we can definitely say that the Note 4 is much more than an upgrade, it also heralds a new era for Samsung in terms of design and efficiency, two issues that they’ve been criticized heavily for in the last few years. The Note 4 is Samsung’s best product yet and it pretty much leaves all other phablets behind making it THE phablet of choice for 2014.

Before we jump right into the review let’s quickly go over the specifications again.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Spec Sheet

  • Samsung Exynos Octa processor (1.9GHz quad-core processor + 1.3GHz quad-core processor)/2.7GHz quad-core QualcommSnapdragon 805 processor
  • Mali-T760/ Adreno 420 GPU
  • 3GB of RAM
  • 5.7-inch QHD Super AMOLED display, Gorilla Glass 3 protection, 2560 x 1440 resolution
  • 32GB of storage, expandable via microSD
  • 16-megapixel rear camera with AF and Smart OIS
  • 3.7-megapixel front camera with f1.9 lens
  • WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, GPS, A-GPS
  • 3G, LTE
  • Android 4.4 KitKat with TouchWiz UI
  • 3200mAh battery

Monstrous internals. Complete connectivity. Kick ass camera. Long-lasting battery life. Sweet.

Hardware: Hey Samsung Can Actually Make Good Looking Devices!

Premium looking device all over!
Premium looking device all over!

Our biggest complaint with Samsung has always been their penchant for using generic glossy plastic for their devices. That changed with the Galaxy Alpha and it was further refined with today’s Galaxy Note 4. This device is proof that Samsung can actually make good looking and classy mobile devices. It’s a strong statement from the Korean tech giant and hopefully will signal a new era in their design philosophy.

>>> See Also: Samsung Galaxy Alpha Hands-on and Initial Impressions

So what makes the Note 4 so good looking? It really boils down to the sides. Instead of cheap plastic, Samsung went with a aluminum chamfered and machinized band. It feels very solid, premium, and pricey (lol). Everything along the sides, including the buttons for power/sleep and volume, are metal. The Galaxy Note 4 is Samsung’s first ever device that we just loved holding! Finally we have a phone from Samsung that looks and feels like the price you paid for it.

Still the faux leather back but it kinda feels better now
Still the faux leather back but it kinda feels better now

Next we have the faux leather back cover which Samsung first introduced with the Galaxy Note 3. We have no complaints with this one and we actually prefer it over the dotted dimple-like back cover design of the Galaxy S5 series. At the top we have the 16MP shooter, flash, and the heart rate monitor sensor.

Up front we have the gorgeous 5.7-inch display with the fingerprint scanner enabled home button. Truth be told, Samsung still has to iron out the fingerprint scanner functionality. We kept getting errors with it and it is no where near the accuracy of Apple’s Touch ID.

Speaking of the display…

Display: So Good You Can Lick a Food Pic and Taste It

Smaug!!!
Smaug!!!

The Galaxy Note 4 has the best display on a phablet, period. The colors are warm and the level of detail is unbelievable. Samsung was really able to make the most of the Quad HD technology with this particular device and it shows everywhere from the icons, text, and to the movies. While there aren’t a lot of third party apps yet that are made for Quad HD, it’s reassuring to know that the phone you have is future-proof just in case developers start making apps for it in the future. Having this kinda extends the potential shelf life of your phone.

The spacious 5.7-inch screen also makes gaming much more enjoyable. Take for example our current addiction, Clash of Clans! You can manage your town much better versus trying to do it on a smaller screen, hehe.

Woohooo CoC!
Woohooo CoC!

From any angle you look at, the Galaxy Note 4 is simply a joy to behold. This is simply Samsung’s most refined device and we’re just giddy thinking about what they can do in the next few months now that they’ve embraced a more premium design mantra.

Handling: It’s Big so Use Two Hands

Hard to use or handle with one hand.
Hard to use or handle with one hand.

In terms of ergonomics and handling, the Note 4 isn’t the easiest phone to use but that’s intentional because this was meant to be in the middle of smartphones and tablets. Since it’s kinda long, you sometimes get the feeling you have a surfboard of sorts in your hand. To make usage more comfortable and natural, train yourself to use both hands when using this device. Don’t even attempt to use it with just one hand because you’ll just fumble with it and you might end up dropping it.

The good news though that the faux leather back gives it a very nice and firm grip. So if you’re the careful type there’s no need to get a case for this anymore (unlike the iPhone 6 Plus which REALLY needs a case).

Software: Blazing Fast, Virtually No Lag

Benchmarks do not do this phone justice
Benchmarks do not do this phone justice

Benchmark tests like Antutu don’t do justice to the Galaxy Note 4. This is the first device we’ve used that offers a virtually lag free Android experience with a Quad HD display. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor combined with the generous serving of 3GB RAM is more than enough to deliver an almost flawless Android TouchWiz experience. The only time we felt small bits of lag was during multi-tasking but it was really not bad or too noticeable. It would only matter to people who want to nitpick.

Multi-tasking card style on the Galaxy Note 4
Multi-tasking card style on the Galaxy Note 4

We tried everything on the phone, from hardcore and intensive gaming to video editing and finally the core functions like Calendar, Contacts, and Messaging. No lag. No slowdowns. It was buttery smooth from start until the end of our time with it. In short, the Note 4 gave us the best TouchWiz experience ever. While we’re kinda annoyed with TouchWiz (personal preference), the super smooth execution made us appreciate it more, hehe.

Gaming, Media, & Other Apps: No Problems Whatsoever

For our gaming test we did the usual suspects like Dead Trigger 2, Bard’s Tale, Guardians: TUW, Clash of Clans, and one of our new favorite games, Run, Run Super V. No lag whatsoever at any point of the games. The graphics also looked amazing thanks to the Super AMOLED 5.7-inch screen.

More than gaming though, the Galaxy Note 4 is truly best suited for media consumption. The combination of the display and form factor makes it our phablet of choice when it comes to reading e-books, watching movies on the go, social networking, reading RSS feeds on Pulse, and just generally browsing the web.

Reading was simply a joy
Reading was simply a joy
Don't forget to like us on Facebook!
Don’t forget to like us on Facebook!

With the Note 4 around, you’ll probably retire your tablet after a few days, especially if you have one of those 7-8 inchers with you since the experience is almost the same, if not better on the Note 4.

S Pen: No Longer Gimmicky

Samsung also further refined and simplified the S Pen, which is one of the main highlights of the Note 4. They carried over the major improvements from the Note 3, like being able to use the S Pen to tap the capacitive menu buttons and the over-all longer build. Air Command is also now easier to use since they functions are now more clearly spelled out. You can easily take screenshots and doodle over them and then send them over to whoever you want or upload on the cloud.

Open Air Command while on CoC. Take screenshot.
Open Air Command while on CoC. Take screenshot.
DOODLE!
DOODLE!

This kind of functionality is really awesome for working professionals. We used this often when we needed to give comments to PDF, PPT, or JPG files that we needed to send back to our colleagues at work.

Other than the doodling, there’s also your usual note-taking. With the various widgets and commands in place, you can easily pull up S-Note to jot down notes or draw visuals that will help you explain and communicate better. We used this function several times to draw draft graphs and illustrations that our co-workers then fleshed out for presentations and proposals.

Definitely no longer a gimmick
Definitely no longer a gimmick

There are other functionalities of the S Pen but we really used it more for the ones that we just stated. One thing is for sure, we used the S Pen much more with the Note 4 than the previous Note generation devices and that’s a good thing.

Battery Life: Outstanding

The 3,200mAh battery was more than enough to get us through the day. With super heavy use including gaming we still were able to get around 8-9 hours out of it and we could stretch it until the evening with basic functions with the Ultra Power Saver mode. The interchangeable battery was also good since we were able to snag an extra Galaxy Note 4 battery so it was easy to just swap in a fully charged pack when we were running out (no more need for clunky power banks).

So yes, you can definitely go the distance with the Note 4, especially if you make full use of Ultra Power Saving mode and go get yourself an extra battery.

Even More Outstanding: Fast Charging

Fast charging is heaven sent
Fast charging is heaven sent

If there is one feature of the Note 4 that we’d like all Android devices to copy, it’s Fast Charging. From 10% we easily got up to 50% (work ready) in less than half an hour. That’s a big thing especially if you’re always on the move and you don’t have time to plug into wall charger for a long period of time. You just need to make sure that you always have the charger that came with the Note 4 in the box with you.

Oh, to those wondering — we tried using the charger with other devices and they didn’t fast charge. There has to be something enabled in the device itself so that the battery will get more power faster than usual.

Camera: A-OK!

Easy camera UI
Easy camera UI

Samsung carried over the camera UI of their Zoom series to their phones and the results are fantastic. The various auto smart modes are easy to use and navigating the settings are just as breezy.

When it comes to picture quality, the OIS (optical image stabilization) will help you take better pictures of subjects that are in motion or when you yourself are moving (or if you have jittery hands). You’ll get less “Blurred” photos with it thanks to this technology.

In decent lighting conditions the Galaxy Note 4 performs extremely well. Here are some sample shots:

Rumfold!
Rumfold!
CUTE BABEH
CUTE BABEH
Pusheen. Thanks Eason for this!
Pusheen. Thanks Eason for this!
My lovely wife!
My lovely wife!
Look at the nice blue color of the sky
Look at the nice blue color of the sky
BABEH FINGER HOLD.
BABEH FINGER HOLD.

As you guys can see, outdoor shots are also very nice. When it comes to low light conditions, we don’t really see a big difference in performance for all camera smartphones with the exception of the Lumia 1020 series. Smartphone camera sensors just aren’t made to take fantastic shots in dark rooms. Sure you can use HDR and flash but the end result will still be a bit grainy and noisy. To Samsung’s credit, they do have a Night Mode for shooting in low light. It does make the photo look better but the problem is that you have to hold still for a few seconds while the phone processes the image.

Btw, if you wanna take selfies, use the rear-cam selfie mode which you can access via the main cam. Photo quality comes out much better.

What we did love about the Note 4’s camera software though was the editing and filters. Makes for super awesome uploads on Facebook and Instagram. For example check this one out:

Here's the actual photo
Here’s the actual photo
And the final one with the filter that's built-in the Note 4. Sweet!
And the final one with the filter that’s built-in the Note 4. Sweet!

Lastly in video capture, the Note 4 can go up to 4k video. So yeah you can get super high res videos but be warned that the file sizes will be crazy. We don’t really see the need for 4k video recording but who knows maybe 3 years from now that will be the norm of video capture.

Verdict: It’s the Best Phablet in the Market

Full of win.
Full of win.

So what’s the final verdict? The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is simply the best phablet in the market to-date. It’s NOT the best smartphone since there are a lot of compromises in form and usability with a 5.7-inch screen but as a phablet it pretty much is the king of the hill right now. If ever there’s one complaint we have it’s really just the price but if you think about it the iPhone 6 Plus is priced much higher than the Note 4 and if you ask us, we would get the Note 4 over the 6 Plus in a heartbeat. But hey, that’s for another post. 😛

If you find the Php37,000 price tag too much, you can get it cheaper at Kimstore. Or you can just get it via Smart’s postpaid plan 1799. Either way the Note 4 is a spectacular device and it truly is by far the best phablet in the market. If you can afford it, go for it. You will not get disappointed.

Hands-on and Initial Impressions of the Galaxy Note 4
Smart offers Galaxy Note 4 at Plan 1799
Samsung Officially Announces the Galaxy Note 4

Read more Galaxy Note 4 articles here.

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