The Galaxy Note 5 is the first version of the stylus-toting phablet that has an all-premium build. Let's see how it compares to last year's model, the Note 4.
Size
No major differences in height and width. The Note 5 is a hair shorter and 4 percent narrower.
Thinness is a big step forward for the Galaxy Note 5. It's 11 percent thinner than the Note 4.
Weight
Weight is only a minor upgrade, with the Note 5 measuring 3 percent lighter.
Build (frame)
Both phones have aluminum frames, though the Note 5's has a more Apple-like design, with its bottom edge (just like in the GS6) looking more than a little influenced by the iPhone 6.
Build (back)
This is where the premium factor comes in, as the Galaxy Note 5 switches from faux leather (plastic) to a beautiful Gorilla Glass 4 back with sloped edges.
Colors
Samsung is selling the Note 5 in four different color options this year.
Display size
No changes here, as the new model sticks with the same large 5.7-inch display we saw in last year's model.
Display resolution
Resolution also stands pat, with incredibly sharp Quad HD resolution.
Display type
Samsung always uses AMOLED panels in its flagships. They give you rich colors, deep blacks and great contrast.
S Pen
It wouldn't be a Galaxy Note without an S Pen. The stylus in the new model looks and feels a bit more premium than the Note 4's pen, but the new version's metallic-looking finish is still plastic.
Click-out S Pen
To unsheathe the S Pen in the Note 4, you have to dig your fingernails into ridges on the end of the pen. It isn't exactly a chore, but it also feels a little less than 100 percent seamless.
In the Note 5, just push in the cap on the pen and it will pop out enough that you can more easily pull it out from the phone.
Processor
The Note 4 was a fast phone when it launched, but the Note 5 should have zippier performance, thanks in part to its octa-core Samsung Exynos processor – the same chip found in the Galaxy S6.
RAM
The Note 5 also gets a RAM upgrade.
Storage
Both handsets ship in 32 GB and 64 GB options.
MicroSD
But the Note 4 is the better choice for storage, as Samsung dropped the microSD slot from the new model.
Camera megapixels
The Note 4 has a very good camera, but the Note 5 gets the same excellent cameras found in the Galaxy S6 and GS6 edge.
Physical camera shortcut
Like on the GS6, you can double-tap the Note 5's home button to launch its camera.
Camera aperture (rear)
The Note 5's camera has slightly wider aperture.
OIS
Both handsets' rear shooters have Optical Image Stabilization.
Battery
The new model has a slightly lower-capacity battery, but that doesn't mean it will have shorter battery life.
Fast charging
When using the stock cable, both handsets can juice up quickly from a nearly-dead battery level.
Wireless charging
The Note 5 has wireless charging built-in, but it also has a new fast wireless charging feature that can juice up the phablet from 0 to 100 percent in about 2 hours.
Samsung Pay
When Samsung Pay launches, the Note 5 will let you use your phone as a wallet – not only at NFC terminals (like Apple Pay) but also at standard credit card readers.
Fingerprint sensor
The Note 5 has the same touch-based fingerprint sensor found in the GS6 (similar to the one in the iPhone 6), while the Note 4's sensor requires you to drag your finger across the home button.
Heart rate sensor
Both handsets have heart rate sensors on their backsides.
Keyboard cover
Samsung is launching a new BlackBerry-like keyboard cover that slides onto the Note 5.
Gear VR compatibility
When the "full consumer" Gear VR launches, we'd be surprised if the Note 5 wasn't part of the fun. But right now, it's left out of the Oculus-powered virtual reality party.
The Note 4 works with the original version of the Gear VR, which has a wider field of view than the GS6 edition, but – much more significantly – has overheating problems. Long term, we'd bet on the Note 5 being the much better bet for VR.
Screen-off notes
The new Galaxy Note has a nifty feature that lets you scribble notes on its black screen after pulling out the S Pen (a trick that's only practical on AMOLED displays). It lets you jot down thoughts without even waking your phone's display.
Multi-page screenshots
Have you ever wanted to grab some content on a Galaxy Note that couldn't fit on one screen? The Note 5 lets you do that, capturing things like long documents or entire web pages.
Software
Both phones have Android Lollipop at their cores, with Samsung TouchWiz on top, but the Note 5 will likely stay up-to-date longer than the Note 4 will.
Release
The Galaxy Note 5 launches alongside the Galaxy S6 edge+ this month. The Note 4 has been around since last October.
Starting price (full retail)
Prices on the year-old Note 4 vary a bit, but the Note 5 is launching at around the same price points we've seen for every Galaxy Note.
Just remember that most people won't need to throw down US$750 at once; some carriers still offer on-contract pricing (usually starting around $300) and installment plans that let you pay the full price over two years.
For more, you can check out Gizmag's full reviews of the Galaxy Note 5 and last year's Note 4.
What I would have like to see is retaining MicroSD and water proof. Having these key different will help Samsung stay different and more competitive. Note 4 was perfect have it was not for lagged touchwiz and older 805 processor.
Note 5 negatives: Non-removable back/battery. No Micro-SD storage. Glass back (really?, glass has no grip and shows tons of dirt/smudge, not to mention is another side of the phone that can be cracked and worth less for trade-in values). Eject-able S-Pen (wtf is this garbage, push to eject is not easier than pulling it out). Conforming to the years of rivalry with Apple to make this phablet even more similar to the iPhone which I dislike so very badly.
Note 5 positives: 64 bit CPU. More Ram. Slightly better front camera. Wireless charging built-in. Touch fingerprint instead of swipe. Live YouTube streaming, love this idea! Multi-page screenshots, lots of potential.
Other thoughts: I feel like Samsung could have at least put a Micro-SD slot on the side, instead of not offering it at all. I was ok with no removable back while still offering some expansion. Some nice software changes that can be very handy: At lock screen double hit home key for camera shortcut, write on PDF's and save them. Both of which I believe can be implemented in a future software patch so I do not count them as points awarded to a new phone. I feel like Samsung has lost touch with it's original purpose for the Note series. This is a phone designed for power users. We use our phones all day long. We like convenience, expansion, diversity and a fully featured phone with as little limitations as possible. Why deviate from this? We are the core consumers for this line of mobile devices and now you have taken this away with the new Note 5. I predict that this new phone launch will only motivate people to buy more Note 4's. I have already decided to keep my Note 4 and in regards to me opening an employee account, my device will be another Note 4. Your Note 5 is a complete waste of an upgrade.
Back to the guts of the two phones... Like many others I am extremely happy with my Note4 (and before a range of Galaxy S-series phones for almost 5 years). My choices were made on the guts of the phones and size. iPhone was never an option - why would I pay a premium price for a midget phone? However, my Note4 will now be my last Samsung phone. Mr Shanklin already put a question mark when talking about software upgrades with Samsung (which I have grown VERY DISAPPOINTED with) and I don't very much if the Note5 will ever see a a software upgrade (it usually skips a version).
Somebody commented that he would rather see a waterproof version than the incremental improvements that Samsung came up with. However, the S-Pen is the reason why this can't be done. DO WE NEED THE S-PEN? My personal reason for getting the Note was the SIZE. Perfect sized for me. And (of course) the Amoled screen and the off the planet quality of the camera. WHY ditch the replaceable battery and Micro SD card? I cannot fathom the shortsightedness of Samsung in this regard. Don't they understand that this IS what makes their phones stand out in the crowd? Makes them different from most other top of the range smartphones?
This is going to leave a HUGE gap that many other companies will JUMP in to fill. Other Korean companies but don't forget the Chinese! Xiaomi, OPO and Huawei are catching up very quickly and will GO FOR THE JUGULAR! Mark my words... they will do what Apple (in my opinion) always was after... to KILL SAMSUNG...
Thanks for having me Samsung... it was a JOY while it lasted. Why kill it?