Nate is currently doing the hands-on at the event, I haven't had opportunity to have the device in hands yet. It's likely we'll see the same BSP as on the Galaxy S9.
Stopped using Samsung after S7 flat. That and rear-mounted fingerprint, as long as these 2 things exist I will not buy another Samsung phone.
Who the fuck actually finds edge screen usable anyway? Not to mention more fragile/shittier cases/not being able to apply proper screen protectors etc.
You can always buy a curved glass protector. I moved over from S7 to S9 and I have zero complaints about it thus far about the curved glass. I think it actually helps with protecting the glass better. Curved glass has more strength then flat glass.
"We are very grateful and pleased with the contribution you have made to Samsung's bottom line and try to convince your husband, that rounded edges are just so much better looking."
Just curious, I know you're a big fan of the Galaxy phones, but what are your thoughts usually on the note series in general from past experiences, like the note 8?
Which is fine all, but a rather silly reason to dislike it when there has now been essentially a version without the S-Pen for several years.
Honestly, someone who has no or little use for a stylus shouldn't be reviewing a Note device (or other stylus orientated devices). It sends out a message to companies that styluses aren't wanted, when there is a significant niche who really do want them.
The powered component of the pen isn't Wacom technology. Only the 'passive' part is (as in, the pen is passive, but the digitiser is active as it requires power).
> "GPU for Snapdragon 845 is Adreno 630". Correct. Running the T-Mobile version, bought here from an Australian retailer, based in Melbourne. Verified by "CPU-Z" from the Google Play Store.
I currently use a Galaxy Note 8 and I'm from India. Last year, I was happy choosing the Note8 since the processor was toe to toe with the SD835.
This year I'm afraid of the gimped Exynos. Anandtech is the sole publication which can verify if they've fixed it in the Note9 or if it's the same as the S9. My purchase decision will rely on your insight on this matter. Early awaiting your analysis.
That's unfortunate, I may literally not purchase it if you guys can't verify the status of it's Exynos processor. I don't want to pay $1000+ for a phone with a gimped processor. Looking forward to your feedback on this Andrei.
Looks very nice...except the price. Glad to see 128GB as the new baseline on top tier phones. Hard pass on this one for me though, my Note 8 will do just fine for another year!
Definitely, I'm tired of people ranting about the MRSP, it only shows their inability to find a good deal or to hold off a purchase for a reasonable amount of time.
Honestly it's a big heavy phone for a huge price. No improvements that matter to me. I miss the old days when the Note could come with a better processor than the Galaxy series, and had some justification to exist.
It's even worse in this generation for those outside the US& China, Samsung expects us to pay through the nose for a SoC inferior to 500$ phones. Perhaps AT can do a capsule review of the Exynos variant?
I have to agree Huawei's strategy of debuting new processors on the Mate series makes more marketing sense, the most premium series should get the earliest upgrade.
The purpose of the Note never was to be more powerful than the S series. It has happened to be so on several occasions, but it's purpose is first and foremost the stylus, and then the large display.
There was a demand for just a larger display, so a + S series version was created.
Samsung smartphones are only updated once a year. The Note is not a mid-upgrade of the S series. To think so is disingenuous.
As good as this phone surely is it really seems like this will be the last of the stand alone Note series. It's just so much an S9+ with a pen. I really wouldn't be surprised if they just started releasing 3 models of the S series such as S10, S10+, and S10 Note all at the same time. One way they could differentiate the note series would be too have a flat screen. This would make a lot of sense on a phone that's meant to be written on.
I love that no one ever mentions the Active line of phones have had 4000Mah batteries since at least the S7(first one i ever owned) which were always larger than the battery in any of the other phones of that gen :P Wonder how big the S9 Active's battery will be? 4500? 5k? :)
Andrei can you PLEASE do a comparative review between the Snapdragon and exynos note 9, see if there has been any changes to the scheduler, performance and / or relative battery life in more recent firmware
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** A - R ** - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
Andrei, Whats the Kernel Version ?Andrei Frumusanu - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
Nate is currently doing the hands-on at the event, I haven't had opportunity to have the device in hands yet. It's likely we'll see the same BSP as on the Galaxy S9.** A - R ** - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
Thank You, Andrei.milkywayer - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
Can someone pass this on to Samsung execs.STOP putting curved edges on the phones. They keep cracking even with phone cases for this gargabge.
My wife's s8 cracked for the 3rd time. With a case.
My pixel 2 xl flat screen works just fine and works as good.
timecop1818 - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
I wish I could +1 this shit a million times.Stopped using Samsung after S7 flat. That and rear-mounted fingerprint, as long as these 2 things exist I will not buy another Samsung phone.
Who the fuck actually finds edge screen usable anyway? Not to mention more fragile/shittier cases/not being able to apply proper screen protectors etc.
flyingpants1 - Saturday, August 11, 2018 - link
The curve makes no sense. The banana curve from the GNex and the LG G Flex 2 was great.The back fingerprint will be around until they can put them inside the screen.
Ratman6161 - Tuesday, August 14, 2018 - link
I think it makes even less sense on a Note than it does on their S phones.K.Masters - Tuesday, August 14, 2018 - link
You can always buy a curved glass protector. I moved over from S7 to S9 and I have zero complaints about it thus far about the curved glass. I think it actually helps with protecting the glass better. Curved glass has more strength then flat glass.Chaser - Friday, August 10, 2018 - link
Owned an S7, S8 and now S9 plus. Never had this problem.abufrejoval - Saturday, August 11, 2018 - link
Could you please pass this on to your wife?"We are very grateful and pleased with the contribution you have made to Samsung's bottom line and try to convince your husband, that rounded edges are just so much better looking."
Works as intended.
milkywayer - Saturday, August 11, 2018 - link
🤔N Zaljov - Friday, August 10, 2018 - link
SM-N960F (Note9 Exynos) BSP still relies on Linux 4.9.59, which is the same version used on the S9 Exynos.gregoryzeng - Sunday, December 16, 2018 - link
Bought my T-Mobile here in Australia from our local dealer, Kogan, (Melbourne, via eBay).Had an upgrade at least once now.
Running last update: 25 November, 2018. Android 8.1.0; Samsung Experience version 9.5; Kernel 4.9.65-14501686, ... , dated Wed Oct 31. 17:39:23 KST 2018.
Inbuilt "About Phone" has heaps of other details as well, but unsure what these mean.
saleri6251 - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
Hello Andrei,Just curious, I know you're a big fan of the Galaxy phones, but what are your thoughts usually on the note series in general from past experiences, like the note 8?
Andrei Frumusanu - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
I've personally never used the S-Pen much and found them too big - so I think the S+ make make more sense.s.yu - Friday, August 10, 2018 - link
For using LR mobile or any other app involving anything close to drawing (masking in LR's case) or precise control S-Pen is a must.Tams80 - Friday, August 10, 2018 - link
Which is fine all, but a rather silly reason to dislike it when there has now been essentially a version without the S-Pen for several years.Honestly, someone who has no or little use for a stylus shouldn't be reviewing a Note device (or other stylus orientated devices). It sends out a message to companies that styluses aren't wanted, when there is a significant niche who really do want them.
Calabros - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
$1250!maroon1 - Tuesday, August 14, 2018 - link
Than for 512GB /8Gb ram versionThe 128GB /6GB ram version is $999
gregoryzeng - Sunday, December 16, 2018 - link
Add on another micro-SD card of 400 or more gigabytes. Then swap these add-on memories, for even more storage.Better still, real-time or otherwise, the memory contents to the cloud (Amazon, Google, etc).
jjj - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
How do they charge the pen? Is it wired or do they use something like RF wireless power?shabby - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
Simple wireless charging, takes 40 seconds to recharge.jjj - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
Fitting an inductive charging coil in a pen (and likely a dedicated one in the phone) would be less than ideal.jakoh - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
I m sure it has metal contacts. Also i wonder if its a battery or supercap.gregoryzeng - Sunday, December 16, 2018 - link
Supercap. Read in a much later review, here in AT.Geranium - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
Samsung use Wacom's technology.Here is a articlehttps://www.androidauthority.com/break-it-down-how...
Tams80 - Friday, August 10, 2018 - link
The powered component of the pen isn't Wacom technology. Only the 'passive' part is (as in, the pen is passive, but the digitiser is active as it requires power).LiviuTM - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
I think the GPU for Snapdragon 845 is Adreno 630.jakoh - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
I think you are wrong, lol.gregoryzeng - Sunday, December 16, 2018 - link
> "GPU for Snapdragon 845 is Adreno 630".Correct. Running the T-Mobile version, bought here from an Australian retailer, based in Melbourne.
Verified by "CPU-Z" from the Google Play Store.
Adi_Nemesis - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
I currently use a Galaxy Note 8 and I'm from India. Last year, I was happy choosing the Note8 since the processor was toe to toe with the SD835.This year I'm afraid of the gimped Exynos. Anandtech is the sole publication which can verify if they've fixed it in the Note9 or if it's the same as the S9. My purchase decision will rely on your insight on this matter. Early awaiting your analysis.
Andrei Frumusanu - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
We unfortunately won't be reviewing the device.If I see anything major in the kernel I'll make note of it.
Adi_Nemesis - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
That's unfortunate, I may literally not purchase it if you guys can't verify the status of it's Exynos processor. I don't want to pay $1000+ for a phone with a gimped processor. Looking forward to your feedback on this Andrei.gipper51 - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
Looks very nice...except the price. Glad to see 128GB as the new baseline on top tier phones. Hard pass on this one for me though, my Note 8 will do just fine for another year!milkywayer - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
Yup, me too. I paid 850 for my pixel 2 xl and even that feels a lot now.These phones are not a bad deal at the 650ish price a few months later as is common with Sammy.
s.yu - Friday, August 10, 2018 - link
Definitely, I'm tired of people ranting about the MRSP, it only shows their inability to find a good deal or to hold off a purchase for a reasonable amount of time.s.yu - Friday, August 10, 2018 - link
Mine too, maybe another two?Alistair - Thursday, August 9, 2018 - link
Honestly it's a big heavy phone for a huge price. No improvements that matter to me. I miss the old days when the Note could come with a better processor than the Galaxy series, and had some justification to exist.drajitshnew - Friday, August 10, 2018 - link
It's even worse in this generation for those outside the US& China, Samsung expects us to pay through the nose for a SoC inferior to 500$ phones.Perhaps AT can do a capsule review of the Exynos variant?
s.yu - Friday, August 10, 2018 - link
I have to agree Huawei's strategy of debuting new processors on the Mate series makes more marketing sense, the most premium series should get the earliest upgrade.Tams80 - Friday, August 10, 2018 - link
The purpose of the Note never was to be more powerful than the S series. It has happened to be so on several occasions, but it's purpose is first and foremost the stylus, and then the large display.There was a demand for just a larger display, so a + S series version was created.
Samsung smartphones are only updated once a year. The Note is not a mid-upgrade of the S series. To think so is disingenuous.
SquarePeg - Friday, August 10, 2018 - link
As good as this phone surely is it really seems like this will be the last of the stand alone Note series. It's just so much an S9+ with a pen. I really wouldn't be surprised if they just started releasing 3 models of the S series such as S10, S10+, and S10 Note all at the same time. One way they could differentiate the note series would be too have a flat screen. This would make a lot of sense on a phone that's meant to be written on.s.yu - Friday, August 10, 2018 - link
The way I see it they're going to remove the standalone plus edition without the stylus, there will only be an S10 and an S10 Note.HStewart - Saturday, August 11, 2018 - link
BestBuy has the Note 8 and Galaxy Tab S4on demo but no Gear S4 watch.MindParadox - Monday, August 13, 2018 - link
I love that no one ever mentions the Active line of phones have had 4000Mah batteries since at least the S7(first one i ever owned) which were always larger than the battery in any of the other phones of that gen :P Wonder how big the S9 Active's battery will be? 4500? 5k? :)pukemon1976 - Wednesday, August 29, 2018 - link
Try 0mah. No more active.Edwardmcardle - Wednesday, August 29, 2018 - link
Andrei can you PLEASE do a comparative review between the Snapdragon and exynos note 9, see if there has been any changes to the scheduler, performance and / or relative battery life in more recent firmware