Note 4 (now $200 rebate with any $10+ trade-in!)

[Crono]

Exynos Note 4 gets it's graphical ass slapped by the 6 plus:

http://appleinsider.com/articles/14...r-graphics-performance-vs-apple-iphone-6-plus

In other words, the chips Samsung is choosing to use could theoretically match Apple's latest iPhones if they were not also driving tons of additional pixels that contribute little to no benefit to users. Think of it as a reasonably powerful engine installed into a monster truck with massive wheels it can barely turn.

Hopefully all the Android manufacturers turn back from 1440p and start putting processing power to better use (or save power and get phenomenal battery life).

 

[Red Storm]

Hopefully all the Android manufacturers turn back from 1440p and start putting processing power to better use (or save power and get phenomenal battery life).

Really now the source is anything but impartial. The Note 4's display is the best phone display I've ever seen. That alone is worth more and has had a bigger impact for me than any graphical benchmark ever has or will.

 

[Shamrock]

That was the Exynos (locked into 32 bit) coming from "apple insider?", now what about the Snapdragon 805 (2.7ghz)? Which will be the USA variant cpu.

 

[rcpratt]

We'll see how many people choose all those useless pixels over the 6+.

 

[Crono]

Really now the source is anything but impartial. The Note 4's display is the best phone display I've ever seen. That alone is worth more and has had a bigger impact for me than any graphical benchmark ever has or will.

You don't need 1440p to make an excellent panel for a smartphone, whether it's Samsung, LG, HTC, Sony, etc making the device.
You can have just as good color accuracy, excellent contrast, good white/black levels, etc without it being 1440p.

 

[dawheat]

Exynos Note 4 gets it's graphical ass slapped by the 6 plus:

http://appleinsider.com/articles/14...r-graphics-performance-vs-apple-iphone-6-plus

Ugh another DED article - it might have some useful data but the writer is a humongous douche.

There are posts like the below on xda from intl Note 4 owners giving their impressions - I believe I've seen some comments where most games run fine, but there are some that have issues on max settings. Seems like SOCs aren't quite there to run 3D games on 1440p phones quite yet.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/general/impression-t2892155

I don't play games so this doesn't concern me and after using the Note 4 for a while, I'm glad to get the 1440p screen along with all the other improvements it has. But for 3D mobile gamers, the Note 4 may not be the best choice this year.

 

[dawheat]

Hopefully all the Android manufacturers turn back from 1440p and start putting processing power to better use (or save power and get phenomenal battery life).

<edited for clarity>
Between 1080p and 1440p in around 6" screen space, we're talking about 370-380dpi vs 500. While for general usage there won't be much difference, there are cases such as viewing small asian characters or your phone being especially close to your face (e.g. in bed) where there is a difference. I recall reading that about 450dpi was the threshold for reasonable viewing distances.

As a non-gamer, I prefer getting the sharper screen since the 1440p AMOLED screen itself doesn't draw any more power than a 1080p screen. I doubt sticking with a 1080p screen on the Note 4 would result in substantially more battery life in non-gaming usage.

So for me, the small benefits of the high resolution are a gain over gaming performance that I wouldn't experience. Hopefully next years 64-bit SOCs + 20nm fabs will take away that issue.

 

[NutBucket]

We'll see how many people choose all those useless pixels over the 6+.

Nobody chooses phones based on pixels; it is only a choice between Android and iOS. That goes for geeks and lay people.

 

[Zaap]

We'll see how many people choose all those useless pixels over the 6+.

Wait, the 6+ has a wacom pen? Removable battery? SD slot? Standard mUSB port? Non-walled garden OS? And a lower res screen is a plus in the iPhone's favor?

Maybe you're imagining potential Note 4 owners buying up discarded 6+'s from all the Apple fans who are returning theirs?

 

[rcpratt]

Wait, the 6+ has a wacom pen? Removable battery? SD slot? Standard mUSB port? Non-walled garden OS? And a lower res screen is a plus in the iPhone's favor?

Maybe you're imagining potential Note 4 owners buying up discarded 6+'s from all the Apple fans who are returning theirs?

That was supposed to be in support of the Note, FWIW...

 

[openwheel]

Exynos Note 4 gets it's graphical ass slapped by the 6 plus:

http://appleinsider.com/articles/14...r-graphics-performance-vs-apple-iphone-6-plus

well, besides the obvious source of article and everything others have pointed out. I am afraid this goes through the typical Apple cycle. Upon release, Apple gets outstanding benchmark scores, but quickly loses the advantage when new software is released. I've been through this too many times with 3GS, 4, 4S, 5, and 5S. I say no thanks.

Wife now loves her new One Plus One which does not have all the bugs/annoyances of iOS8 on her 5S.

 

[dawheat]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Eibt5_0EVo

Android Authority full review of S805 version

<edit> All the different, easy ways to invoke multi-tasking are pretty impressive. I hope it increases visibility of this type of feature as it's one of the features I love when using phablets and their extra real estate.

 

[LtMikePowelll]

The new multi-tasking improvement will probably make me use the Spen more, since I hate tapping every single pictures or hold down to make selection .

 

[Zaap]

That was supposed to be in support of the Note, FWIW...

Ah, sorry. I read that as a literal statement as if the choice of N4 vs. iP6 really hinged upon 'useless pixels' only.

 

[Muadib]

Owners manual:
http://downloadcenter.samsung.com/c...7/SM-N910_UM_EU_Kitkat_Eng_Rev.1.0_140926.pdf

 

[dawheat]

Reviews coming in - pretty positive, though still lacking in some areas.

Predictably Android Authority loves it:
http://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-galaxy-note-4-review-533774/

PhoneArena which has been (overly) hard on Samsung in the past gives it a 9.3 which is pretty good. Feels like the writer isn't a fan of Samsung but couldn't find much to criticize.
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-4-Review_id3812

However - none of these reviews really gave definitive results on battery life and low light camera performance - probably the two remaining open areas. Neither will be bad, but will it be adequate, good, or great. Hopefully Anandtech's review will give clearer results.

 

[Red Storm]

Finally went to a Best Buy to check it out, and it's very nice. Definitely felt more rigid and sturdy, though the Note 3 wasn't very bad in this regard. The display was a beauty, and the writing with the stylus was very accurate and smooth. As I said before, the only problem with the Note 4 is that the Note 3 is still a very nice phone, and I don't think the 4 is enough of an upgrade to sway current owners of the Note 3.

I thought I was going to be getting a Note 4 for sure, but since finding out the Nexus 6 is going to be phablet sized, I've decided that's where my money is going... for now.

 

[rcpratt]

Reviews coming in - pretty positive, though still lacking in some areas.

Predictably Android Authority loves it:
http://www.androidauthority.com/samsung-galaxy-note-4-review-533774/

PhoneArena which has been (overly) hard on Samsung in the past gives it a 9.3 which is pretty good. Feels like the writer isn't a fan of Samsung but couldn't find much to criticize.
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-4-Review_id3812

However - none of these reviews really gave definitive results on battery life and low light camera performance - probably the two remaining open areas. Neither will be bad, but will it be adequate, good, or great. Hopefully Anandtech's review will give clearer results.

Thanks for the links.

Additionally, it's still made of a paper-thin piece of plastic, so overall build quality can't really be seen as impressive.

(From the second review).

What does this even mean? You can definitely tell he's not a fan.

 

[Chrono]

Anybody know what cheap phone to turn in to tmobile that'll cost $10+ ? I have a Lumia 521 for Tmobile but the TIV is only $8.


Anybody else doing this for Tmobile? I don't want to submit something and not get the $200 back.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Anybody know what cheap phone to turn in to tmobile that'll cost $10+ ? I have a Lumia 521 for Tmobile but the TIV is only $8.

That is why I am using the Best Buy promotion instead. Money off the cost instead of a rebate via an immediate giftcard, and they will take "any working smartphone." I kinda grilled them on this point, they said that a clean screen is mostly what they will look for.

So I plan on rolling up there on the 18th or whatever, with a MetroPCS Nokia Lumia 521 I am picking up this weekend from a different Best Buy store, and getting my $200 off.

 

[poofyhairguy]

If you want to do T-Mobile, the HTC Inspire goes cheap on Ebay or locally and gets $13 of trade in value.

 

[tdawg]

That is why I am using the Best Buy promotion instead. Money off the cost instead of a rebate via an immediate giftcard, and they will take "any working smartphone." I kinda grilled them on this point, they said that a clean screen is mostly what they will look for.

So I plan on rolling up there on the 18th or whatever, with a MetroPCS Nokia Lumia 521 I am picking up this weekend from a different Best Buy store, and getting my $200 off.

Best Buy doesn't list a Note 4 for T-Mobile. Is it just not on their site because there's no contract to offer like there is with the other 3 carriers?

 

[dawheat]

Best Buy doesn't list a Note 4 for T-Mobile. Is it just not on their site because there's no contract to offer like there is with the other 3 carriers?

BB isn't selling the T-mobile Note 4 unfortunately.

 

[Trombe]

When I submitted a trade in on an Alcatel one touch evolve it was 11 dollars, dunno if that's still the case. But I had it lying around during the blackberry trade promo where I had to take a phone for each one I turned in.

 

[poofyhairguy]

BB isn't selling the T-mobile Note 4 unfortunately.

Damn, that sucks.