topic Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review in Android

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:01:27 GMT

Try The Tech - My Review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F).

Firstly - as always a big THANK YOU to @Toby @Anonymous and the rest of the Community Team for giving me another opportunity to Try The Tech, especially with a flagship device! If you want to Try The Tech, send a Private Message (PM) to @Toby and he will let you know when the next round of devices are being made available.

Would I buy this phone? - HELL YES! Ok so I am biased. I like my Samsung devices having had an S2, S3, S4, Note 3 and now I have had the chance to play with the Note 4. This is by far the best device I have ever had the pleasure to use, and I would have absolutely no hesitation in recommending it. Compared to anything else on the market this handset is in a different league entirely and makes the Iphone 6+ look like a cheap chinese import.

My Thoughts:

Ok so I had a good idea of what to expect..............or so I thought. This device is fast. It is very, very fast.

Plus points - where do I start:

Set up from existing android account unbelievably slick
Large screen (5.7inch)
Screen quality is nothing short of exceptional - more later
3gb RAM
2.7ghz quad processor
16mb camera delivered exceptionally crisp pictures
Fast charger - 50% charge in less than 30 minutes
Samsung S Pen
Upgradeable memory up to a further 128gb on top of the 32gb the device held on my version
Extremely well built with super amoled glass screen (although still a plastic back)
Easy integration with all things Google & Android
Volume up and down on left hand side easy to reach and responsive
Power button instantly responsive
Large battery, longer than usual battery life
One hand operation setting / personalisation settings for each user

Negative Points:

It is a big beast - only just fits in the hand and can be "awkward" to handle
Network setting for 2g only does not include access to data networks
Seriously there is virtually nothing this device doesnt excel at
Toby says I have to give it back!

Setting Up

Setting up this device using my existing Android account took less than 15 minutes and required almost nil interaction from me after I had input my gmail account details.

The back cover took a little navigating to remove but is secure. The 3200amh battery slips out easily enough to allow insertion of the micro sim card which fits next to the battery. The SD memory card can be removed without removing the battery. Of course, if you dont have Google Account or Samsung Account already then set up will take a little longer. The Note 4 has a huge level of personalisation settings so it will likely take a while to work your way around them all!

Operating System

The device arrived with KitKat 4.4.4 pre-installed. As this phone appeared to be brand new, there was an update waiting (no - not lollipop) and this was easily downloaded and installed.

KitKat 4.4.4 is very different to the Note 3's 4.4.2, with the first obvious difference being that everything has a white / turquoise background instead of black. It can take a bit of getting used to and this is carried forward in 5.0 lollipop.

Battery

Samsung promised improved battery performance and they were not wrong. Based on heavy use I got a full day most days. Compared to my Note 3 I was getting about 20% more battery time on each charge.

Charging - Samsung have introduced fast charging, and it is. On average it would take just an hour to almost fully charge the Note 4, and a 30 minute charge would give in excess of 50% battery capacity.

In order to provide a fair assessment, I tried various levels of usage and found as follows:

EXTREME use (i.e. 2.5 hours streaming on 3g, 2.5 hours on wifi, 1 hour on calls and 1 hour texting etc) battery lasted about 16 hours (Averaged about 8 hours on Note 3).
HEAVY use (i.e. about 1 hour streaming on 3g, 3 hours online, 1 hour on calls and 1 hour using phone with screen on) battery lasted a working day (almost a working day on Note 3)
MEDIUM use (i.e. 2 hours of calls / texting, 4 hours online), battery easily lasted a day without charge. (and with Note 3)
AVERAGE use (i.e. 1 hour of calls / texting, 2 hours online), battery lasted 2 days (1 & 1/2 with Note 3)

The Screen

Samsung have excelled themselves with the Note 4. Exceptional Super Amoled Glass with a whopping 515 ppi has been used to stunning effect. I like to stream, and have BT Sport in HD. The picture quality was sharp, crisp and responsive. I could also watch it in daylight. The difference between the Note 4 & 3 is significant and is a huge step forward. Watching videos from YouTube were also much sharper than other devices I have used.

The Touch Screen is also incredibly responsive. The slightest touch and it did what I asked. The S Pen, which differentiates the Samsung Note range from any other phablet, was incredibly responsive and did everything I asked of it. Playing around with pictures & a presentation were a dream.

The Camera

With such a quality screen, you would expect a good snapper. 16mb of good snapper no less, one of the best in the market. Pictures taken with the Note 4 were sharp, crisp and vibrant in colour. Apparently the Note 4 is a phone..............it would give many digital cameras a good run for their money.

Internet

3gb of RAM, 2.7ghz processor. This device was expected to be quick and it is. Chrome comes as standard and there is also Internet however to be honest it didnt make much difference, the device handled both easily. Multi screen was a dream. Colours were vibrant. Touch screen was incredibly responsive.

Signal Strength

Some have reported elsewhere that the Note 4 delivers an enhanced wifi experience, holding wifi signal further away from the wifi point than other devices. I was not able to replicate this.

Wifi - in partnership with a BT Home Hub 5, no issues at all around the house / garden. Strong signal and Note 4 did everything asked of it.

GSM - Officially according to o2 I live in a 2g area. 2g works fine. I can see 4g upstairs but if I set the Note 4 to 4g/3g/2g then calls & texts fail as the 3g signal isnt there to back up the 4g.

GSM - one issue with the Note 4 is that if you set it to 2g GSM ONLY, it has no setting for data. This can be an issue when o2 tell customers to turn their devices to 2g if they live in signal deprived areas especially as 2g data should be sufficient for email and basic internet. This is a backward step and should be reviewed whilst we are 3 years away from completion of the Network Modernisation Programme.

Push services:

GMail, Facebook, Samsung all sync'd with no issues and was generally almost immediate with Facebook being the quickest generally.

TuGo

TuGo was not tested as part of this review.

Call Quality

Apparently the Note 4 is also a telephone! Remember those? Call quality was sharp & crisp, no issues with clarity and background noise was kept to a minimum.

Bluetooth

On the GiffGaff forum a user mentioned issues with Bluetooth and their car. I had no issues on this score. It took me less than 10 seconds to sync the two and it worked effortlessly from thereon.

Notifications

No issues here at all. When I asked Google to set up my Note 4, it did it so well it also brought across all my ringtone settings and I was good to go, I didnt have to change a thing. The LED lights can be personalised to a degree and were reliable.

Would I Recommend This Phone?

YES. Nothing more needs to be said.

Conclusion

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is so far ahead of the game it almost feels untrue. The specs, especially compared to Apple devices, make the IPhone 6+ look like a cheap foreign import. This is not a device for the feint hearted. It delivers. It does everything exceptionally well.

Should you buy one? Well for starters it aint cheap. At the time of writing, a sim free UK version will set you back £529 from GiffGaff, £499 for the EU version (with a UK adapter) from Expansys and £599 from Carphone (UK version). On contract, with a free device, look at £38 upwards per month on 24 month contracts.

If this is within your price bracket, and you are seeking a larger "phablet" style device, what are you considering?

1. Note 4

2. Iphone 6+

3. LG G3

4. Nexus 6

Having not tried the other 3, it would be unfair to compare. However I would have ABSOLUTELY NO HESITATION in recommending the Note 4 to anyone who wants a device larger than 5.5 inch screen.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

viridis — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:11:09 GMT

Awesome review,
Now, pack it away.
Put it in the bag
Take to post office
Step away from the bag.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:13:53 GMT

@viridis wrote:
Awesome review,
Now, pack it away.
Put it in the bag
Take to post office
Step away from the bag.

In the politest of terms @viridis get xxxxxxx lol. This Note 4 is going nowhere without me. See my signature. Live it. Breathe it.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:33:29 GMT

Great review. I enjoyed reading it. I have had my note 4 for a week and a half now and am loving it. I have even used the s pen to do some text capture and insert into email - I think it might get a bit more use than I thought.

My battery is around 70% when I get out of work at 5pm. It's not a work phone so only gets personal use during the day such as Web, email, few calls and mp3 playback. The battery is very impressive.

I have found after a week I am use to the size and when I look back at my lumia 1020 it seems tiny to me now!

Speed wise I agree - in fact I am very nervous to up grade to lollipop later in the month as I don't want to risk the experience I have with it now. My wife's s5 took a full reset and a second patch from Samsung to get it back to the speed and battery life it had before.

I also now have the wireless s view charging cover and 64gb memory card which really finishes off the phone for me.

I second you're comment - if you are in the market for a new phone this is a cracker! !

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Cleoriff — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:33:49 GMT

Excellent review Nick....so I take it you LOVED this phone....

I would recommend it being packed away now...the longer you keep it....the harder it will be to give back

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

jonsie — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:35:38 GMT

Great review Nick and endorses everything I have found with this phone. In a word.....awesome!:smileyhappy:

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:37:39 GMT

@Cleoriff wrote:
Excellent review Nick....so I take it you LOVED this phone....
I would recommend it being packed away now...the longer you keep it....the harder it will be to give back

@I'm sorry @Cleoriff but I do not understand. What do you mean? "Give it back? "

Read my signature.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Cleoriff — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:40:41 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Cleoriff wrote:
Excellent review Nick....so I take it you LOVED this phone....
I would recommend it being packed away now...the longer you keep it....the harder it will be to give back
@I'm sorry @Cleoriff but I do not understand. What do you mean? "Give it back? "

Read my signature.

Your signature says Samsung Galaxy Note 3????

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:42:04 GMT

Go to the mobile version and it states:

Toby aint getting his Note 4 back EVER

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

jonsie — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:54:03 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Go to the mobile version and it states:

Toby aint getting his Note 4 back EVER

Good signature....guess you'll be changing it soon

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 21:00:40 GMT

Yes. I will change it to:

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Cleoriff — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 21:02:38 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Yes. I will change it to:

Samsung Galaxy Note 4

Dream on...you fool....(Better start saving your pennies)

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 21:04:23 GMT

I am still waiting for you lot to club together to buy me one. Flipping long wait mind..... 😆😆😆😆

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Cleoriff — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 21:06:03 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I am still waiting for you lot to club together to buy me one. Flipping long wait mind..... 😆😆😆😆

Mwahahahaha.....

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Toby — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 21:43:35 GMT

@Anonymous you are a machine. Lovely job indeed!

I will be needing the phone back though, you cannot escape

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Anonymous — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 21:47:11 GMT

Yeah yeah I know @Toby.

We did this over the Note 3 and here we are again. I will send it back, you know that, in about 36 months time

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 08:37:25 GMT

Superb review @Anonymous

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Marjo — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 09:30:36 GMT

So... did you like it or not @Anonymous?

Such a thorough review! Well done. Happy to see you liked the phone so much.

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

jonsie — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 09:35:51 GMT

@Marjo wrote:
So... did you like it or not @Anonymous?

Think the jury is still out....or it will be if he doesn't return the phone

Re: Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910F) - My Review

Anonymous — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 20:26:49 GMT

@Marjo wrote:
So... did you like it or not @Anonymous?

Such a thorough review! Well done. Happy to see you liked the phone so much.

Well @Marjo it was ok I suppose as a back up phone when my top of the range Sony Ericsson T68i is out for repair.

@Like it? It was the bees knees. Quite simply it is a BRILLIANT piece of kit. @Toby thinks those nice people at Samsung would like my review. I think they should let me have one for writing such a great review. Cheap advertising and I have been so loyal to Sammy over the years lol