Samsung Galaxy Note5 review: Time-saver edition

10 March, 2016
The Samsung Galaxy Note5 is the latest in the line that introduced us to the concept of a phablet in the first place. Following the Galaxy S-line's adoption of glass and metal, Samsung's taken the premium build to the Note series.

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  • M
  • Murthy
  • rKx
  • 26 Aug 2023

Best smart phone not 5

    • T
    • Techfanboy
    • y6V
    • 07 Oct 2021

    Samsung Galaxy note 5 bettter battery life guide

    After having this smartphone for 6 years. I learned alot in this phone's battery, how it drains faster and how good the performance is, and how this phone handles gaming and RAM. I'll try my best explaining to you how to get the best battery life possible and try to get in depth.

    This should work better on the SM-N920C or SM-N920I. These type of note 5's are the international version because you don't have AT&T and verizon apps constantly running in the background.
    SM-N920C - International korean note 5
    SM-N920I - International note 5
    No differences between the two other than different model numbers.

    Getting better battery life:

    We all know that this phone's battery only lasts an abysmal 1 hour and 30 minutes. Sometimes it drops even faster. I'm gonna tell you how to optimize battery life.

    Step 1: Disable facebook
    -Facebook is a power starving app. It always runs in the background, constantly eating your battery. To make your note 5's battery last a little bit longer, simply disable this app. If you can, uninstall it.

    Step 2: Enabling airplane mode
    - Look at your phone's status bar, if it only has 3 bars or lower, turn on airplane mode. This will prevent your phone from constantly searching a signal. Also turn on wifi after enabling it, if you didn't know, you can use both wifi and airplane mode altogether. You can also remove the sim card if you want to.

    Step 3: Turning on power saving mode
    -Almost all Android phones have this setting on. Simply turn this option on. It will make your phone battery last 14 to 15 minutes longer. That may not seem like much but considering this phone only lasts an hour and a half. Its definitely worth it. Although it may impact performance.

    Step 4: Lowering the screen resolution to 1080p
    -Yes. This phone has a 2k crystal clear display. But this incredibly high resolution is a battery drainer. Turn it down into 1080p. 1440p is too much and you wont really notice a difference. To set the display into 1080p. Go into settings - display - screen resolution.

    Step 5: Lowering the screen brightness
    -Lowering your phone's screen brightness will significantly make your phone's battery last longer.

    Step 6: Turning off location
    Turning this option off will also save your phone's battery a lot. Considering Google constantly tracks your location when you browse the web.

    Step 7: battery usage
    --Go into your phones settings and check the battery usage. If you see an app thats using too much battery put it to sleep or disable it. Just note that if an app is set to sleep. You may not get notifications from it.

    Step 8: Power your phone off
    -If you're going to leave your house and leave your phone. Power it off!

    Step 9: Turning off auto rotate
    -Only turn this option off when you don't need it. This prevents the accelerometer from always being active. This will save some battery.

    If you are sleeping and you're leaving your phone on overnight. Turn off side sync. Turn on airplane mode. But if you want to see all your notifications from your social media.

    Step 10: Use dark mode
    -This phone has an AMOLED screen. And each pixel emits its own light. Turning this feature on in some apps will save battery life. Even if the pixels are gray. They will still save battery life since it has less light and bright colors.

    Step 10: Turn bluetooth off
    -If you aren't using bluetooth. Turn this option off. This prevents your phone from constantly searching for bluetooth devices. It will save some battery life.

    Step 11: Turn auto lock to the lowest possible
    -Turn the screen timeout as low as possible. This will save some battery life.


    If you're trying to charge your phone faster. Turn on airplane mode and shut it off. I hope these tips helped!


    Bonus tip: turn off push notifications

      • A
      • Anugrah
      • Kxb
      • 25 Dec 2019

      Cool

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • IbI
        • 25 Apr 2019

        How do i open my phone i need the model info

          • D
          • AnonD-78844
          • 3xU
          • 31 Jan 2018

          AnonD-78844, 31 Jan 2018I bought an used t-mobile this month and it works great her... moreThe firmware version: n920tuvs5era1

            • D
            • AnonD-78844
            • 3xU
            • 31 Jan 2018

            I bought an used t-mobile this month and it works great here in Portugal, now there is a new firmware update avaible. I am afraid of this upgrade, anyone tryed it?
            Thank you

              • a
              • anwar
              • uNV
              • 19 Nov 2017

              my phone note5 charge port some time not work, now what can i do?

                • D
                • AnonD-673824
                • GQY
                • 01 Jun 2017

                Anonymous, 18 May 2017Very serious issue with my phone Samsung note 5 is, I charg... moreI think device idle is the reson for drain the battery without using
                Please check the link given below it will help to solve the problem
                https://youtu.be/M14CWF5gnT8

                  • D
                  • AnonD-673824
                  • GQY
                  • 01 Jun 2017

                  I'm using samasung note 5 for last few days before that I'm using j7 prime. J7 prime gives better battery life than the note 5 i agree j7 prime its a TFT display but note 5 after a full charge battery drain 100% to 15% after 7hours screen on time is 3hr30 min its normal???

                    • ?
                    • Anonymous
                    • X}$
                    • 18 May 2017

                    Very serious issue with my phone Samsung note 5 is, I charge is 100% and without using it in the morning it is completely dead, what is the specific reason to avoid this problem

                      • E
                      • Ema
                      • Nu7
                      • 28 Apr 2017

                      This phone is just rubbish. My hotspot button can'take turn on

                        • H
                        • Hossain
                        • Lbu
                        • 04 Apr 2017

                        The Samsung galaxy note 5 is upgrad of 4.4.2017 in we don't found one thing it's charging notification. Please remake it for us please.

                          • D
                          • AnonD-657061
                          • 4Ji
                          • 29 Mar 2017

                          I've had my note 5 for 5 months. I want to first say I should have done my home work before going and buying my phone and not trusted a sales person. The note 5 is absolutely junk! It's horribly slow, no battery life, no expandable memoryou and so over priced! I feel so ripped off it will be a long time if ever I buy Samsung product of any kind.

                            • C
                            • Charley
                            • jBu
                            • 29 Jun 2016

                            I love the Samsung Notes. This is my third one. My problem with the Note 5 is not having enough internal memory. There us no SD card slot. And the pen keeps popping out. I've lost and found it several times. It's expensive to replace too.

                              • D
                              • Dreamerm45
                              • 4K2
                              • 03 May 2016

                              To put it mildly, the battery life sucks! My Note II lasted longer. I just took my phone off the charger at 6 o'clock this morning. It is now 9:30am. I'm down to 24%. Hardly any used today so far. This is an everyday occurrence.

                                • D
                                • AnonD-433808
                                • utR
                                • 21 Apr 2016

                                Anonymous, 12 Apr 2016Icons don't seem childish to me. Maybe you should grow up?Now that HTC 10 has been launched, do you see how to take a good use of Google design principle and innovation ? The only place where Samsung is good is design(look wise) & display quality. Other than that I see nothing pleasing.
                                May be you need to grow up and come out of the "touchwiz cocoon" of yours.

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • QAL
                                  • 12 Apr 2016

                                  AnonD-433808, 18 Mar 2016Ok I accept the fact that Touchwiz is way smoother now but ... moreIcons don't seem childish to me. Maybe you should grow up?

                                    • D
                                    • AnonD-181913
                                    • KID
                                    • 19 Mar 2016

                                    AnonD-433808, 18 Mar 2016Ok I accept the fact that Touchwiz is way smoother now but ... moreWell this is where we have Themes on the Touch wiz. If you don't like the Touchwiz Default theme, icons,etc., just change the theme. And the good thing is that it doesn't slows down your phone like the external launchers do as it just changes the icons, colour schemes, etc. I myself am using the Material Design 6.0 theme from the theme store and I love it. I can give my phone a new look every day with it. Blaming Samsung for the icons won't do justice since they have already provided you with the easiest way of changing the themes, colours, etc if you don't like the default ones.

                                      • D
                                      • AnonD-433808
                                      • utR
                                      • 18 Mar 2016

                                      meh, 11 Mar 2016"For the first time in the history of GSMArena.com, we woul... moreI believe in GSMArena for keeping in mind every kind of user. I also acknowledge the fact that Touchwiz is way more snappier. But I am never gonna accept those hideous icons for such hefty price device. I would rather buy Mi5 which has so polished UI, similar specs at half the price.

                                        • D
                                        • AnonD-433808
                                        • utR
                                        • 18 Mar 2016

                                        AnonD-181913, 11 Mar 2016Touchwiz these days is a lot lot better than the Touchwiz w... moreOk I accept the fact that Touchwiz is way smoother now but seriously give me an honest opinion here, do you really wish for such childish icons?
                                        It might be a big thing not to target a company but for a company as big as Samsung, I expect them to bring change in their design philosophy, not just changing a little colour here and there in every other iteration. After all I will be paying them huge sum, surely not to get those kiddish icons.