The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is here. And with it come expected and unexpected surprises.
The Galaxy Note series is one of Samsung’s greatest product lines, and this series embodies that company’s leadership in terms of technology and design.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is an excellent phone, worthy of being one of this year’s flagship phones. The quality and the list of amazing features did not come as a surprise because they’re something you would expect from Samsung.
The only surprising thing about the Note 9 is its color schemes. The bold colors are something new, especially if you’re familiar with Samsung’s traditional color choices. There are fans who were happy with the changes, and there are those who prefer the old color scheme. Either way, it doesn’t affect the performance of the phone, so I guess this issue is only superficial.
If you’re one of those who have been waiting for the Galaxy Note 9 release date, then read this article for everything you need to know about Samsung’s new smasher.
Upgraded Note 8
Just like Samsung’s other major phones from the previous years, the Galaxy Note 9 doesn’t have any major changes when it comes to design. It looks almost identical to last year’s Galaxy Note 8, especially in terms of the frontal design. You’ll notice that the front of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 looks the same as that of the Note 8, except for the smaller bezels designed to accommodate the 6.4-inch display. The Note 9’s screen is the largest display ever on a Note.
One of the easiest ways to differentiate the Note 9 from other Note products is the fingerprint sensor on the back, just below the camera. There have been rumors about Samsung employing an in-display fingerprint for Note 9, but it looks like they’re saving the tech for the Galaxy S10 or Note 10.
Colorful Collection
For so many years, Samsung has played it safe when it comes to colors. Samsung devices usually came in traditional black, gray or white colors. But with Samsung Galaxy Note 9, the company has experimented by adding bold hues into the color scheme.
Aside from the traditional black and blue options, the Note 9 also comes in sultry Lavender Purple and luscious Metallic Copper. The yellow S Pen stands out when paired with the Midnight Blue version, making it a smashing combination.
Galaxy Note 9 Specs: What to Expect
When it comes to quality, we can all agree that Samsung is one of the best, if not the best, in the industry. And the Galaxy Note 9 is just one of the proofs of the company’s dedication to providing top-of-the-line devices. The Note 9 is a beast, and its specs can satisfy even the most demanding users. Just the 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage are enough to make your mouth water.
Let’s look at the Galaxy Note 9 specs one by one.
- S Pen Stylus. This is one of the biggest selling points of the Note series, and it has improved so much over the years. The Note 9 S Pen stylus is now Bluetooth-enabled, providing users with more features and flexibility in use. Aside from drawing and taking down notes, you can use the new stylus as a remote control during presentations or as a camera shutter when taking pictures.
Because it’s a Bluetooth device, it means that you need to charge it also from time to time. However, Samsung claims that a 40-second charge of the S Pen stylus would yield 30 minutes of use or 200 button clicks.
- There’s not much difference when it comes to horsepower because the Galaxy Note 9 is run by a Snapdragon 845 chipset in the US, the same as in the previous versions. The global version has Exynos 9810 installed.
- The Galaxy Note 9 features the biggest screen ever for the Note series. It comes with a 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display and 2960 x 1440 resolution Quad HD+. Enjoy cinematic experience with a pixel density of 516 ppi and 18.5:9 screen ratio.
- RAM and Storage. The Note 9 comes in two variants, with the same specs except for the RAM and storage capacity. The entry level version features 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage, while the second, higher-end version offers 8GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.
- Long-lasting battery. One of the most important Galaxy Note 9 features is its battery life. It has a 4000mAh battery, which is 700mAh more than the Note 8’s battery pack and 500mAh more than the S9 Plus battery. This means more juice and longer endurance compared to other devices.This extra juice means a lot if you’re outside and have no access to a charger or a power bank. Another trick to make your battery last longer is by optimizing your phone with an app like Outbyte Android Care. It improves your device’s overall performance and can make your battery last up to two hours more.
- The Galaxy Note 9 camera hasn’t changed much compared to its predecessor, the S9 Plus. The rear camera is a 12 MP wide-angle dual camera with dual OIS. You can switch between two apertures (f/1.5 and f/2.4) for clearer snaps. The front camera, on the other hand, has 8MP and can handle twice the optical zoom.
- Dust and Water Resistance. If you’re a traveler or someone who’s really clumsy, you don’t have to worry about dropping your Note 9 in the poolside or in a bucket of water. Just like Samsung’s previous flagships, the Galaxy Note 9 has an IP68 rating in dust and water resistance.
- Other features. Say goodbye to wires with Samsung’s wireless charging technology. The device also includes a headphone jack. In terms of security, even though users expected a 3D facial recognition or in-display fingerprint scanner, the Note 9’s security features are still top-of-the-line. It has a rear fingerprint scanner, iris scanners and an Intelligent Scan feature.
The Galaxy Note 9 specs can be considered an upgraded version of the S9 and Note 8 because there’s really nothing totally new about them. Samsung is probably saving those cool, unique features for the coming S10 or Note 10 devices.
Storage, Storage, and More Storage
One of the major selling points of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is its huge storage. And it’s something that most users can appreciate, even with the unlimited cloud storage plans. There’s no such thing as too much storage, especially if you’re someone who loves taking pictures, watching videos or playing games. You’ll probably never experience the pain of running low on storage space (unless you’ve had the phone for quite a while and have accumulated a lot of data).
As mentioned above, the base option of the Galaxy Note 9 features a 128GB storage capacity, which is already huge. But storage-hungry users can go up to 512 of local storage. However, don’t forget that you can still expand your storage capacity with a microSD card. If you have a 512GB microSD, your device will be packing in an enormous 1TB of storage. Just imagine how much stuff you could fit in that!
Power Combo
When you’re out with friends or doing field work away from the office, you’ll probably survive by bringing a bulky power bank with you to recharge your phone. With Samsung Galaxy Note 9, you can survive the day with just your battery alone. The Note 9 has one of the biggest batteries among Samsung devices, with 4000mAh of battery juice. That’s a 15% improvement over the S9’s 3300mAh battery and a 20% improvement over the Note 8’s 3500mAh battery. This is enough for a whole day of work and play, except for the most active users.
Samsung’s all-day battery is enough to get you through the day, and add to that the new wireless charger called Duo, and you have in your hands a power combo that ensures you’ve got enough juice for all your activities. The wireless charger can fast-charge up to two phones at the same time, or one smartphone and a smartwatch. Samsung has introduced dual chargers before, but it has never released a dual charger that’s wireless and fast charging at the same time.
Fortnite and Samsung
If you’re into gaming, Fortnite is probably one of those games that you have been waiting for to be released on Android. Well, you don’t have to wait anymore. Epic, the game creator, and Samsung have struck a deal making Fortnite for Android available exclusively on recent Galaxy devices, including Galaxy Note 9.
Even though the Note 9 is not a gaming phone, it still has the necessary specs to be able to rock the game. Aside from Note 9, Fortnite will also be available for Galaxy S7, Galaxy Tab S3 and Tab S4.
Galaxy Note 9 Price and Release Date
The Galaxy Note 9 release date in the US was August 24. It is available in Ocean Blue and Lavender Purple colors in the US, in both unlocked and carrier versions. The Galaxy Note 9 price for the 128GB model is $999.99 unlocked, while the 512GB version costs $1249.99.