Samsung Galaxy Note9 hands-on review

09 August 2018
The latest UNPACKED event is over and the Samsung Galaxy Note9 is now official. It wasn't too hard to guess the next Galaxy Note though - it's a bigger Galaxy S9+ with an S-Pen. It employs every cutting-edge technology Samsung has right now and builds on the legacy that once sparked the phablet revolution.

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  • D
  • Daniel W
  • S3f
  • 09 Aug 2018

Anonymous, 09 Aug 2018You must love that 16cm heigh (instead of 15cm if they were... moreWhile a notch can be worked around in apps with a status bar, for full screen photography, there's really no fix. Pocket depth likely depends on clothing size. Most of my trouser pockets are ~18cm deep, though I mostly keep my Note in the chest pocket of my shirt.

    • D
    • Daniel W
    • S3f
    • 09 Aug 2018

    R156, 09 Aug 2018Meizu 16 Plus is beast for that price, but this Note9 is no... moreFor this particular product, come back when Meizu (or anyone) has an S-pen (finger painting isn't enough). I'd really like more options, but for now, I'll have to stay with the Note line, as any other phone just feels like a very small typewriter, of which I had enough in the 1970's.

      • ?
      • Anonymous
      • nhc
      • 09 Aug 2018

      looks like Galaxy A8...

        • S
        • Sergo
        • Svv
        • 09 Aug 2018

        Glass sandwich - just like Sony's omnibalance years ago...
        Stereo speaker is ugly bezels in Sony, but marketing specialist from Samsung say: we are not in notch wave...

          Usernameisnotwitty, 09 Aug 2018In the performance section, the SoC is given as SD 845... x... moreIt's definitely a typo, hopefully they'll correct that soon.

            • ?
            • Anonymous
            • pVN
            • 09 Aug 2018

            YusifoffAze, 09 Aug 2018The great feature of Samsung is not using that ugly notch y... moreYou must love that 16cm heigh (instead of 15cm if they were to use a notch)

            It is fashion lovers like you that killed the usability of this phone. You can rarely find 16cm deep pockets, most are 14-15cm. Congrats. Samsung listened to slow people and made a potentially best device into a brick...

              • ?
              • Anonymous
              • pVN
              • 09 Aug 2018

              Anonymous, 09 Aug 2018I think they don't wanna increase the speed of the fast cha... moreNote 4 used to charge instantly (had it, was never charging) and then they sealed the batteries instead of improving the design (I.e. including an internal battery so that "the swap" won't be killing the phone).

              Sometimes tech moves backwards and catch up with itself again after some decades... So funny :p

                • R
                • R156
                • 0UT
                • 09 Aug 2018

                Meizu 16 Plus is beast for that price, but this Note9 is nothing more than just 2K+ Super Amoled, but difference between FullHD+ and 2K+ you will never notice in daily use.
                Meizu is better design, this is copy of previous model
                Meizu camera is F1.8 and 1.55µm , but Samsung is F1.5 and 1.4µm but f1.5 is not that good at daylight just see the review of S9+ but at night is superb so they need f2.4 dor daytime shoot....Soo cameras of both phones is amazing.
                Meizu has in-display fingerprint and 3D press for mBack so front mounted fingerprint is No.1 vs Note 9 which is rear mounted.
                Hifi of both phones is high end with Stereo speakers and amazing output via 3.5mm.
                Flyme is very fast even in my Pro 5 and Meizu 15 Plus both use Exynos.
                Soo when you compare specs vs price of both Meizu 16 Plus and Note 9.Meizu is winner.
                Sorry Samsung fanboys but lets be real.

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                  • H3ndSom3
                  • tu6
                  • 09 Aug 2018

                  Josh, 09 Aug 2018Some users here are always ready to critisize anything new ... moreTotally agree, they're just being sour grapes. Should've made comments based on facts, not mood. Just own one of these amazing phones before criticising every each of them

                    The great feature of Samsung is not using that ugly notch yet having decent screen-to-body ratio. However, it needs to push the ratio to 90+ to keep the leading position in the market.

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                      • Anonymous
                      • gC7
                      • 09 Aug 2018

                      For some reason i better like my note edge and i don't care about Bluetooth pen, i can just say to my camera smile or chears and happy pic will be dun anyway.

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                        • Usernameisnotwitty
                        • 3@x
                        • 09 Aug 2018

                        In the performance section, the SoC is given as SD 845... x2. Where is exynos?

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • FXM
                          • 09 Aug 2018

                          Nice.. I like it

                            I still prefer my Note 3 over this.

                              • S
                              • Samsung
                              • X$U
                              • 09 Aug 2018

                              Another problem is that the Note may be refreshed early next year. :D

                                • F
                                • Fc
                                • pYg
                                • 09 Aug 2018

                                Same laggy UI, stupid Bixby, second Samsung bloatware market, always not up to date os, massive bezels but you can make stupid selfie by pressing button! Samsung WTF, start looking for new market researchers! I forgot--modified Android by somone who never has phone in his hands!

                                  My S8 got same specs as s9 or note 9
                                  Last 2-3 years FS can run 98% of games cameras are superb no matter where you take photo.
                                  Btw you can buy 2x S8s instead 1 note 9. Prices have dropped so fast..

                                    • G
                                    • Gandalfdenvite
                                    • 38E
                                    • 09 Aug 2018

                                    Josh, 09 Aug 2018Some users here are always ready to critisize anything new ... more"Flagships" today are not really better than any 400-500 Euro phone, it is all about "look at me"!

                                      • G
                                      • Gandalfdenvite
                                      • 38E
                                      • 09 Aug 2018

                                      Josh, 09 Aug 2018So you expected that high capacity storage to sell at 500 b... moreAnyone who pay more than 500 Euro on any phone "needs a life" to cure their phone-addiction!

                                        • J
                                        • Josh
                                        • CDG
                                        • 09 Aug 2018

                                        Some users here are always ready to critisize anything new that comes out, I bet these guys don't even own a flagship or rather have never even owened any type of flagship phone!