Customer Reviews

Samsung Galaxy Note 4, Charcoal Black 32GB (AT&T)

I've only had a little time to use this, so this is just my general overview. For technical specifications and professional reviews, there is always "Google it."
To make this review as efficient as possible, I will do a quick run-over, and also a comparison with other phones you might be most interested in comparing it to, especially the Note 3 that it replaces, the iPhone 6 Plus, the LG G3 since it shares more than a few similarities, and even the new upcoming Note 4 Edge.

Physical:

* The Note 4 is basically a Note 3 - if you've held one before, then you'll feel right at home. It's just a smidge taller, narrower, thicker, and heavier. But the main thing you'll notice is the design difference. Looking at it straight down onto the screen side, you might not notice much, but set it down and view it on all sides and you'll see a much better difference. It's like having a same car but the 2015 version over the 2014 version - at first you don't see any difference, until you go up close and realize the little things that make it really stand out. First of all, Samsung has finally paid attention to its best aesthetic competitor HTC, and followed suit with a real aluminum metal chamfered edges, and not the fake aluminum of the Note 3. It looks great. View it from the top and bottom edges, and you'll see an even more striking design change and upgrade. View it from the top edge especially and you'll see what I mean. Here is the first Samsung with truly beautiful edges - I would have never thought I would say that!

*The very next thing you'll notice once you turn it on is the screen. the LG G3 was the first QHD screen for America from a big company, but I can say that Samsung's AMOLED has come a long way, and is now the best on the market. The color gamut, saturation, contrast and black levels have always been great, but Samsung has also come a long way in terms of color reproduction, and especially making the screen still looking great in direct sunlight - it's only been two years since the Note 2, but Samsung has made amazing progress. QHD means 2560 x 1440 resolution - 515 ppi - and Samsung's is the brightest, clearest, and best screen on the planet right now.

*Other notable improvements are:
- Processor: upgraded Exynos and Snapdragon processors depending on where you buy it, upgrade GPU for you gaming aficionados. The Note 3 was one of the fastest and most powerful for its time, and is still one of the fastest phones right now(!), and yet the Note 4 is even faster! Swiping through screens, switching between apps, running a dozen apps, playing processing-intensive games, they all feel like a breeze.
- Upgraded cameras: 16MP on the back, 3.7MP on the front(instead of 13MP and 2MP). You can now record video in 4K mode!
- The pen/stylus is now made by Wacom, the famous stylus maker. Hardware and software improvements have made it more usable than ever.
- Samsung got rid of the USB 3 charging port of the Note 3 in favor of the more universal mini-USB 2, but improvements have made it possible to charge the battery from 0%-50% in 30 minutes. The battery is 3220mAh, up from 3200 in the Note 3. Both will get you through a whole day of moderate usage with a bunch to spare. I've never had it lower than 20% remaining using it from 10am-10pm with moderate to heavy usage. What you should know if you didn't already is that the screen uses the most battery. Keep leaving it on and it will drain fast, especially if you're playing a game. Other big battery hogs are leaving your GPS radio on - even if you are not actively using it - and apps that continually access your phone - like if you set your email to instant retrieval instead of every few hours.

By itself, this phone is a beast in many senses of the word. But how does it compare with the other phones, and is it a worthy buy or upgrade?

In comparison with the iPhone 6 Plus:
If you want a giant phone, the iPhone 6 Plus is a very intriguing option. If you're an Apple person, you're going to get this phone, that's just the truth. It has a beautiful 1080p screen(a very first for Apple), it's fast, and finally Apple has a phone that all Apple lovers who have been craving for a huge phone to have. The Apple ecosystem is still superior in terms of apps and userability. On the other hand, if you like Samsung, then you should absolutely get the Note 4. Samsung now has an almost perfect big phone, and each phone from now on will only get better. You will never regret getting this phone. If you're in the neutral, then it depends on your lifestyle. If you just want a big phone for everyday use, I personally think it's easier to use Apple phones. Everything is just right there - the learning curve is not very steep(until you get into iTunes and want to export stuff, but that's another issue). But if you want more control over your phone and you're more tech savvy, there is nothing better than the Android ecosystem - it has the best of all worlds, and for those more tech savvy, it's actually easier to use than Apple phones. As a user of both ecosystems, I can attest to this personally.

In comparison with the LG G3:
I wanted to include the G3 because both share the QHD-resolution screens. But the G3 is more compact, having smaller bezels and a smaller 5.5" screen. So if you still want a big phone, but feel the Note phones were just a tad too big, then the G3 has that perfect combination. It also has one of the best screens on the market, in LCD form, has a beautiful design, and the LG quality.

In comparison with the Note 4 Edge:
Personally for me, there is no comparison - I'm going to get and use the Note 4 Edge as my main phone. It has a smaller 5.6" screen, but that curve and design makes it oh so unique - it's the most unique and best-looking phone for me by far. Some will complain that with that form factor it will be very hard to have a case that can fully protect it, but so I will just be extra careful with it.

In comparison with the Note 3:
This might be most important comparison, because you own a Note 3. Moving from the Note 2 to Note 3 was easy for me, because my Not 2 had performance issues that my Note 3 doesn't(it would slow to a crawl when too many apps are installed/used, and when your text history is too large texting crawls to a stand still), plus the 1080p screen on the Note 3 is 10x better than the 720p Note 2's, not in just resolution, but brightness, color reproduction, sun-light legibility, etc. The differences from the Note 3 to the Note 4 is less pronounced, since at this size QHD over FHD resolution is not so pronounced - although if you put them side by side you will notice the difference. My advice is, if you resell your Note 3, then absolutely upgrade to the Note 4. If you can't, or can't upgrade and have to buy the Note 4 at full price, then I would say to wait until the Note 5. Or do what I will do, and get the Note 4 Edge.

By itself, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is a definite recommendation. As an upgrade, it is still highly recommended, with caveats. I will add to the review once I have used it more.

As a Note 2 user, I didn't see any real need to upgrade when the 3 came out, but definitely thought it was time when the Note 4 was announced.
The screen is awesome, supply your own wallpaper first off, as those included don't do the clarity justice. The camera is quite improved, I thought my Note 2 took good pictures, but this blows them away. The ability to record video in Ultra HD is awesome to say the least.
The S note features have been improved and extended...the copy paste feature is great. Some neat Note backgrounds and features can be downloaded free. Extra tips and removal tool for the stylus are included in the box.
There is a nice sturdy feel to the Note 4 courtesy of the new metal frame, and out of the box it does not feel "slippery" like the Note 2 did. The back is similar to the Note 3 minus the cheesy fake stitching.
The new version of touch wiz is snappy, but a little confusing if you are upgrading from a previous version.

A crown jewel of Samsung phones has always been the ability to expand memory via a micro SD card. This model "says" it supports up to 128GB....but I THINK that is because 128GB was the largest widely available card when made. My Note 2 "said" it accepted 64GB...but a 128GB card worked in it just fine.

If you buy the windowed cover case for the note 4, the auto features are quite cool, allowing you to use health features (heart rate and walking meter)and camera without opening the cover. Once you open the walk meter...be sure to shut it off if not being used....or your battery will continue to be used to count every step you take with it, until shutting it off.
The "cover" model case was the ONLY case available when I bought my Note 4 from AT&T, so I bought it until regular style cases arrive from Amazon and Ebay.

The new fingerprint scanner works just like it's supposed to...but I think I'll stick with a PIN. Pressing a button is one thing....but wiping over one with a finger constantly is bound to build up oil or shmutz around the button in the long run? I know MY hands aren't 100% oil free and clean 24/7 (especially not at work). But hey...that's just me. Still a cool feature.

There ARE a few things missed from previous versions, and a few new things to learn. I really miss the left hand bottom "menu" button which has been replaced with a "history" key. I'm going to have to log onto Samsung's site to learn about all the new features and how to use them. Don't think I care for the full screen "Flip-Board" widget being non-removable.
The Note 4 DOES charge faster, and has a bigger battery than previous models, battery life tho is about the same as my Note 2 with a new battery...which isn't bad considering all the extra stuff going on and higher resolution screen. For the "quick charge feature" be sure to use the included charger, and not one of the dozen or so you already have laying around.

Most AT&T stores have a pathetic (if any) stock of cases....my advice would be to either pay the big bucks for whatever the store has...or wait until a case comes in from an online store like Amazon or Ebay before venturing out with your new phone. I DIDN'T when purchasing my Note 2...and dropped it the second day, cracking the screen. Notes DO NOT fare well in drop tests....use a case or be sorry!
I read that the Note 4 will drop about $100 when the Note Edge is released...might be something to consider if you are in no hurry.

On a side "Note".... I've had quite a chuckle seeing the new IPhone that is almost the same size, and remembering how Steve Jobs said the current size was "perfect", and that Samsung's phones were "too big". LOL

12-6-14 Update
I have been playing with it awhile and have learned you can at least remove (not uninstall)the Flipboard app from the home screen options. Have found some EXCELLENT cases that have all the protection of an OtterBox case, minus the bulk...at a great price too...Caseology Cases:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=Caseology+Note+4+case

I've taken quite a few pictures and videos so far, and have to say the pictures are BETTER than those taken with my Canon ELPH 330 HS, and the 4K videos are sharper than anything I've ever seen before...from ANY camera. AT&T update to 4.4.4 has arrived, which adds nifty movable mini screens, but still waiting for the 5.0 version to be distributed.

Pros:
1. Looks and feels beautiful and premium.
2. Best screen I've ever experienced on a mobile device.
3. Buttery smooth software. I've not noticed any lag in any application. Also it's very intuitive and functional.
4. The camera is great, much better than my friend's iPhone 6+
5. It's feature rich, and the features are actually very useful, (very few gimmicks) - love S Note, direct call, S pen, multitasking, drag and drop feature, universal remote control feature, clipboard, screen write, image clip, smart select, action memo, the awesome gallery and it's numerous features, one handed operation, etc
6. The S pen brings so much to the table. Some people think it's just a dumb stylus but you should watch a few YouTube videos on the S Pen
7. The battery is great, much better than that of the Note 3. It also helps that the battery is removable
8. You can also expand the internal storage by 128gb more with a micro SD card (that give you 160gb of storage)
9. Lound and clear call quality (louder than Note 3)
10. Excellent sunlight legibility
11. Love tap to pay with Google Wallet

Cons: I'll update this review with any I find with time.

I highly recommend this phone above all else and I've played with the iPhone 6+, LG g2 - both are not worth it compared to the Note 4. They're just large phones that don't bring much to the table besides larger screens while the Note 4 also brings tons of intuitive and useful functionality to the table.

If I dropped and shattered this phone today, I'd buy it again in a heartbeat. I paid full price and I believe it's worth every dime I spent (especially since other phablets that don't offer half as much as this one are being sold for the same price or more)

I pre-ordered the Note 4 through AT&T and it arrived on my doorstep on October 15, 2 days before it was
officially released in stores in the U.S.

I've been using it heavily for business and at home for a full week now, and I'm happy to report that the
Galaxy Note 4 is a phenomenal product. It's shaping up to be everything we (the tech community) had
hoped it would be and more. Hands down, this is the best phone on the market right now and the best
phone I've ever owned, having moved from iPhone to an S3. It's fast, powerful, clean, intuitive, reliable,
innovative, and just plain fun! Truly a pleasure to use! I have never been able to say that about a business
gadget before...it actually makes me look forward to answering all those emails and texts. It does things I'd
never dared to hope phones would be able to do, and is already making my busy schedule that much easier
to navigate and keep on top of. It's more of a handheld computer than a phone, though the call and text features
all function perfectly so far. And it's easier to use on the go than a tablet. I'm just in love with it, and it's
proving to be a great assistant.

The KitKat 4.4.4 OS is much faster than Ice Cream Sandwich, and the CPU/GPU combination is as fast as my laptop.
With 3Gb of Ram, pages and apps load faster, game play is smoother, and the graphics are beyond belief. I plugged in
a 64Gb Samsung Micro SD card and it was recognized immediately. Now I've got dozens of movies and TV series on a
phone that fits in my front pocket and I can take anywhere, no more lugging my laptop around everywhere! And I'm
getting a full day of use between charges, and the battery charges fast. There won't be any more complaints about
4 hour charge times.

The stylus works perfectly, although its not a feature I use. And I especially love the textured leather-like back
of the case, its just feels good and very secure in your hand. The back of the case easily pops off and on if you
have a spare battery you need to change. The whole operation takes about 20 seconds. The fingerprint scanner works
flawlessly everytime and gives you an added layer of security and peace of mind.

The articles that have come out comparing the Galaxy Note 4 and the iPhone 6 Plus might just be an effort to make
loyal Apple buyers feel better, because there is no comparison between this and an iPhone (even the 6 Plus) -- the
Galaxy Note 4 is simply a superior tool. My hat's off to you Samsung. You've finally done it. Keep making products
as solid as this one, and I'll continue buying them.

BTW, the one recurring complaint I keep seeing about the Note is that Flash doesn't come pre-installed....well find a
copy on the web and download the damn thing. Adobe doesn't support Flash for Android anymore, its not Samsung's
fault, but there is a workaround. The only other change I made was to install the Nova launcher and its never worked
smoother.

I bought my phone from the AT&T store because I didn't preorder it online and got it the same day it was released. The phone is beautifully design and has a great battery life. Still has the removable battery, which increases the longevity of the phone's generation. Colors are bright and colorfully. Camera photos are very accurate and high quality. Technical specification are way beyond other smartphone, especially the iPhone. Bought the sview case for the phone and waiting for the android L to release. I'm very satisfied with

I've had a cracked S3 ever since my new employee decided to walk through a GM plant while on his cellphone. Spun around so fast the S3 never saw it coming. Short of this story is that i've waited a LONG time to choose my new phone. I've read (p)reviews for months held out and decided against the HTC M8, LG G3 and GS5. The final competitor was the Nexus 6 (No, I have never bought into the Apple ecosystem so the Iphone wasn't an option for me).

I knew he Nexus 6 was going to be the Notes best challenge to date, why? Well let me explain my reasoning for switching to a Phablet before I get into that. Skip the next two paragraphs if you're already sold on the Phablet idea.

The cellphone market is saturated. Devices are begging to look all the same to me, besides a few leading specs a lot of what's out there fits the same form factor. When purchasing a phone I tried to think two years out. A few months ago I made the decision that I would embrace the wearable market. I held out for months and bought a Moto360. Why is this relevant? I see the Moto360 pairing beautifully with a phablet. After using it for 2 weeks I take my phone out of my pocket considerably less. Phablets are for power users, as a project manager the Note's large size and processing power will allow me to get work done faster in the field, but as a consumer I didn't want to dig in my pocket for every notification.

Let me tell you this. The moto will make your phone experience better. It's like you broke your phone into two parts, the wearable and the powerful. I can only imaging the technological advancements of the next two years that will marry these two together even better.

Back to the Nexus. Why the Note4 instead? I'm a phablet newbie, seeing that google's phone was bigger, heavier and thicker was an instant turn off. Yes true blooded android fans all seem to collectively HATE touchwiz, but I was okay with it. Also, true blooded android fans root and root often. I also hold the belief that Android L will improve touchwiz.

So we have big phones and then we have googles bigger phone. Next factor, price. I am getting my Note cheaper than the sticker price of the Nexus, how? Samsung had a friends and family discount in which pre-orders were gifted up to $200 for any working phone. That's right, this little old S3 made it to the end of its life and now reduced my phones cost by almost 28%.

Googles bigger, heavier and now more expensive. The last thing working against the Nexus was time. I can't get my hands on one for a month and by then the note offer would have been well over. Yes, I sacrificed true android, an easy to upgrade and silky smooth experience, but I can feel safe knowing that other rooters will be making beautiful skins for this phone as they always do.

The winner for me was Samsung and the Note 4. My GS3 did so well and took a beating so Samsung has earned my respect.

Pros:

I use the S-Pen FAR more than I thought that I would. It's not a gimmick and is useful on Job sites or during calls.

Taking notes during phonecalls allow you to reference them later on.

Battery life is great and the fast charger makes up for any of the shortcomings in that department.

IR Blaster is actually pretty amazing. I can control any TV within minutes.

Display is beautiful.

If you are interested in VR the Note can be used with a $200 device that samsung just released.

Cons:

None yet

Sidenote: LG-G3 was competitive by spec but I didn't like the color scheme and screen display. The colors seemed washed out and I was instantly turned off by it. I kept thinking that it was too dim. The colors definitely didn't pop.

PLEASE ask questions below. I take pride in my reviews and would be happy to answer any questions that you may have. Also, please press like if helpful. Happy shopping and best of luck in your decision!

Being the owner of both the iPhone 6 Plus and this phone, I have to give Samsung much credit for a great device. Everything from the Note 3 has been improved and can only get better once Lollipop is released. It's faster, sleeker, and has a premium feel that those have been wanting from Samsung for a long time. I have been using this phone the most out of both devices mainly because it's way more functional for my profession. Calendars, task, S Pen, and multitasking are all very useful if you plan on using this phone for both work and personal. I popped in a 64gb card and I never looked back.

I went to this phone, coming from a Galaxy S3. My original intent was not to buy another Samsung, and I was actually thinking about going back to an Apple. However, after doing the research and comparing a number of phones, I decided that this one came the closest to what I was looking for. I was hesitant to go to a phablet sized phone, but now I'm glad I did. I got used to it very quickly, and now regular sized phones seem very small to me. The biggest hook (probably for most people) is the stylus pen. I have to say that on this phone it works very well, and is really the primary reason I ended up choosing this over the Google Nexus, or the Iphone 6 plus. I've also been pleasantly surprised at Samsung's implementation of Android on this phone, as well as the improved build quality. The screen is incredible, the camera is impressive for both stills and video, and the overall execution of this phone is way better than I thought it would be. I have a much better opinion of Android now, and I can now appreciate the flexibility it affords over ios. For those of you that are looking for features, I think at this point in time the only phone that may have more is the Note Edge (which is basically the same exact phone with the curved edge display). In the end, I think going with this version for me was the better choice, although I was on the fence when I first made the decision.
The only other things I think worth mentioning is the fact that I am a left handed writer, and I have no problems with the S pen, or the general usage of this phone. I have had this phone for a month now, and while I'm still learning everything this phone can do- I haven't run into anything that causes any headaches. In fact, I'm finding a lot of new ways to utilize this phone as an organization tool, and that alone makes it worth the upgrade. And I have found things within the software that was annoying, but every time I was able to improve the problem by changing a setting, or using a different app. Hardware wise- I have no qualms whatsoever.

This is, by far, the best phone I've ever owned. It's also the first android device I've owned. I was worried about making the transition from my iPhone to this phone, but it was pretty easy. I love the stylus, but I really don't use it for writing. I find I use it all the time for an easier input instrument. It's just faster and easier to use it to interact with the phone.

The screen is breathtakingly beautiful. It's my favorite attribute of the phone. I guess that a lot of the value of a phone for me is the ease of input, and the quality of the output. The stylus is a big plus for inputting information, and the screen makes the visual output incredibly beautiful. It's a joy to use this thing.

This phone also seems very powerful with apps. Certainly snappier than my previous iPhone. This device is more like a compact tablet than a phone. I use it as a computer more than I use it as a phone. It's just big enough and powerful enough that I can do that. I added a 64gb microSD card to the phone so it has a lot of storage space. More than I'll ever use.

It's still compact enough that I can keep it in my pocket. I have a good case for it & a high quality glass screen protector too. It still fits easily into my front pants pocket - no problem. I don't even notice that it's in there.

I guess the bottom line for me is that this phone is an absolute joy to use. It is night-and-day better than any phone that I've ever owned. It's worth every penny.

I love this Phone !!! I preordered it off of amazon . IT was not suppose to be here for 2 days I received It on release Day! Thank you Amazon!!! This is my 1st Android phone. I switched from the iphone 5. So far I love it. IT is a little different than ios and will take a little getting used to but so far I realy like it.This really is a Premium phone. It is extremely nice!I also ready like the leather Back it feels really good in the hand.The screen is AMAZING! I find myself constantly useing the S-pen, I really like it! Once you go phablet you don't go back!