Samsung Galaxy Note9 review

20 August 2018
How time has passed - we're at nine now. Seven years after the original, the Samsung Galaxy Note9 stands before us. The numbers don't add up, no, because Samsung chose to skip the 6, and it didn't really quite work out splendidly with the Note7. But that's all in the past and we're looking ahead.

Sort by:

  • m
  • mblu
  • uFn
  • 06 Jun 2020

Well - Note 9, where do i start. My first Samsung was the Galaxy 6 then progressed to the Note 5 which has been the best phone I ever had. I was excited when the Note 9 came out and purchased in November 2018. I did have concerns about the lenght and how it would fit in my hand but went ahead with purchase anyway. Big, gigantic mistake!! I did not consider the weight of the phone which I found heavy, combined with the length did not go well with my use. Within the first week or two I had dropped it several times. I did not become accustomed to the weight for a long time and consequently have cracked the top and bottom corners of the screen after approx 6 mths use.
The second complaint I have is the continual updating. Each time it requests an update my setting are completely removed and one of the most frustrating things is the pop up text message box which cannot be removed unless you open it - so annoying. The same with the Camera - I like to take photos at dawn and at one point the "live" feature was perfect, after this last update - F'd if I know but I cannot redo the "live" feature and Im stuck with teh Camera using lighting for shot - which completing ruins the naturalness of what I am trying to acheive. Consequently I no longer take any shots

I have always relied on Samsung for the relative ease of adjusting the settings - Not the on the note 9. 18mths later and I still cannot navigate my way through the settings after an update to easily put the settings back to how they were before.
I never wanted an iphone because I found the OS complexed. After having this horrid phone I would change over to Iphone in a heartbeat.

Samsung has lost a loyal customer and i'm so pissed at the price I paid for this phone which I do not think is at all worth it.

One other thing - even making notes/reminders etc using the Spen and app is a nightmare. I do not like one single thing about this phone and find nothing postive to say about it at all

    • D
    • DOV989
    • 80G
    • 15 Apr 2020

    Still a beast of a phone in April 2020 - buying refurbed Note 9 for only 300 uk pounds as a slight upgrade to an 18 month old S9. Want to get off contract and still have a decent phone for next few years. Linus from LTT still using Note 9 as daily 'driver' phone and I'm guessing he could have anything out there - that's what sold me. Don't want to lose 3.5mm jack and the hole punch ruins a perfectly good screen - no thanks to notches and hole punch cameras. All Samsung phones seem to last for years, son still using 4yr old S7 and brother uses 6yr old S5. Buying a flagship even second hand can be the sensible choice

      • S
      • Starlifedz
      • CDA
      • 31 Mar 2020

      Mr.RANE, 26 Feb 2020Galaxy note 9 or Galaxy A71 which one is good ? (For a norm... moreNote9

        • ?
        • Anonymous
        • XUA
        • 24 Mar 2020

        Mr.RANE, 26 Feb 2020Galaxy note 9 or Galaxy A71 which one is good ? (For a norm... moreObviously note... Ar u kidding... Comparing with note 9

          • M
          • Mr.RANE
          • tet
          • 26 Feb 2020

          Galaxy note 9 or Galaxy A71 which one is good ? (For a normal user ) but I like note 9's s pen too

            • U
            • Uwais
            • KZK
            • 19 Jan 2020

            Why i fell like this note9 thick?

              • R
              • Rocka
              • j0b
              • 12 Jan 2020

              Tharangasa, 03 Jan 2020Dear all I have a question... I have note09 SM-N960F 512GB ... morehttps://www.google.com/amp/s/thedroidguy.com/how-to-fix-samsung-galaxy-note-9-software-update-cannot-be-completed-1096120/amp

              Try this and see if it helps

                • T
                • Tharangasa
                • ter
                • 03 Jan 2020

                Dear all I have a question... I have note09 SM-N960F 512GB Version. Blue color. My issues
                01. I cannot update the software version. Currently I have 01 July 2019 patch level. Is there any other updates ????why I cannot update.
                02. When I use flash for night time photos it’s not clear and having blue color shades... when I search through internet seems it is common problem for blue color note 09 version.. any comments pls.......
                Thanks

                  humaira, 29 Jul 2019can i know how to do reset network setting for this phoneTake sim card out power off and replace sin turn on that resets the internet

                    Ive been using this phone for over a year now and I can say it's stacking quite well, usually in the past I had storage problems with my old phones due to their lack of card slot and limited storage, but here I went for the 512GB version and boy I'm relieved

                    Aside from all its rich features this phones presents, I've bought it specifically for its s-pen translation feature and ability to select text with the s-pen from anywhere, very important for me since I'm pursuing another language.

                    My only complaint about this phone is lack of it-blaster(older notes had one), battery feels like it's on the weak side, and selfie camera is lacking greatly, but other than that it's a powerful piece of tech, and I would recommend it

                      • N
                      • Nn
                      • 3Yb
                      • 30 Nov 2019

                      Anonymous, 10 Oct 2019Have had the phone for just over 4 months now it is an amaz... moreJust clear the cache partition and then open the device and dial *#0228# and press quick restart, this should optimize the battery, I had a battery drain issue the 7th day of purchase and when I went to the service center they gave me a new one and I'm satisfied

                        • N
                        • Note9 User
                        • mX@
                        • 27 Oct 2019

                        jeffry, 25 Oct 2019Between Huawei Mate 20 and Samsung Note 9.. Which once bett... moreMy decision process was 1st S9+, then Note9, even though I don't use the S-Pen that often, the Note9 has a bigger screen, bigger 4,000mAh battery & improvements in the camera's over the S9+.

                        After the release of the Note9 (Aug '18), I waited for the iPhone XS Max & Huawei Mate 20/ Pro, for comparison, they were strong contenders.
                        But I decided against XS Max (greedy price) & Mate 20 Pro because of notch & no 3.5mm jack audio port.

                        The Mate 20 has the jack, but poor output, it has stereo speakers but not good quality or loudness.
                        It has expandable memory but it's Huawei's proprietry Nano Memory cards, micro SD cards won't work.
                        Also with the US & China situation you will have to check about future software updates from android & Google services.

                        The Note9 beats the Mate 20 on everything I can think of (display & audio quality etc) except for the IR blaster & low light camera, Note9 definitely wins on video.

                        I'm answering truthfully & honestly (but some don't), you can (& should) check everything.
                        The reviews are accurate, trust them & yourself more than any comment from anyone on the internet,

                        I got my 8/512GB Note9 with a free bundled 512GB Evo Plus microSD card last Black Friday/ Cyber Monday (November '18) from Samsung's website & it cost less than the 64GB XS Max, so it was a no brainer & I've got zero regrets so far.

                        Black Friday is coming round again, also consider S10+, I'm turned off with the Note10+ dropping features, but if you can get a bona fide bargain, it's your choice.

                        DXO Mark has Huawei Mate 30 Pro beating Note10+ on camera, but again it's difficult to recommend Huawei at the moment unless you're in China where they don't use Google services anyway.

                        If I were looking at a smartphone right now I'd compare Samsung, Huawei, Apple & OnePlus.

                        Good luck whatever you choose, & only buy from trusted sources that have a good return policy & check with the manufacturer that your 24 month warranty is intact.

                        Here's some Note9 links:

                        14 AUGUST 2018:
                        https://m.gsmarena.com/displaymate_samsung_galaxy_note9_has_the_best_display_ever-news-32759.php
                        & check via 'Source' link (some display panels have continued to improve since this).

                        Samsung Galaxy Note9: Specifications & Review: 20 AUGUST 2018:
                        https://m.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note9-9163.php

                        PHOTO QUALITY COMPARISON
                        Note9 (before camera updates incl. Night mode) V's Mate 20 & Note 10+:
                        https://m.gsmarena.com/piccmp.php3?idType=4&idPhone1=9163&idPhone2=9367&idPhone3=9732

                        & VIDEO QUALITY COMPARISON:
                        https://m.gsmarena.com/vidcmp.php3?idType=4&idPhone1=9163&idPhone2=9367&idPhone3=9732

                        Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review: Premium choice: September 10, 2018:
                        https://www.dxomark.com/samsung-galaxy-note-9-review-premium-choice/

                        Best Phones of 2018: the winners:
                        24 DECEMBER 2018:
                        https://m.gsmarena.com/best_phones_of_2018_the_results-news-34782.php

                        Our editors' favorite smartphones of 2018:
                        GSMARENA TEAM, 31 DECEMBER 2018:
                        https://m.gsmarena.com/our_editors_favorite_smartphones_of_2018-review-1875.php

                        January 22, 2019:
                        https://www.dxomark.com/samsung-galaxy-note-9-front-camera-review/

                        And soon maybe the GSMArena Galaxy Note9 long term review ;)

                          • j
                          • jeffry
                          • IVE
                          • 25 Oct 2019

                          Between Huawei Mate 20 and Samsung Note 9.. Which once better.. Can anyone help? Tq

                            • N
                            • Note9 User
                            • nFQ
                            • 11 Oct 2019

                            Anonymous, 10 Oct 2019Have had the phone for just over 4 months now it is an amaz... moreWell that sounds like a seriously dangerous fire hazard, please don't charge that device until you get it repaired/ replaced, where did you buy it from, was it brand new or previously owned or refurbished?

                            It sounds like a repair has been carried out in the past but the battery has been damaged in the process, it should've been replaced with a new one.
                            I've had my Note9 since November '18 with no problems, it's guaranteed for 2 years & battery for 1 year under warranty.

                            Please contact Samsung Support for advice & only use Samsung authorized repairers, details are on their website.

                              • S
                              • Solver
                              • PT7
                              • 11 Oct 2019

                              Anonymous, 10 Oct 2019Have had the phone for just over 4 months now it is an amaz... moreThank me later. Reset to factory defaults and setup again. Do Not restore anything except Google data!!! No backup restore!!! This will fix it. Don't have time to give details why it happens. Cheers mate!

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • m9$
                                • 10 Oct 2019

                                Have had the phone for just over 4 months now it is an amazing phone bar one major thing ...THE BATTERY..the phone drains and over heats ..from fully charged to 50% after 3 phone calls ..
                                I woke up this morning after charging the phone over night to find a burn mark on the screen......

                                  • ?
                                  • Anonymous
                                  • uZa
                                  • 07 Oct 2019

                                  RezaGhkh, 26 Aug 2019I can't choose between s10 and note9.Can anyone help? S10

                                    • M
                                    • Marsha
                                    • wib
                                    • 28 Sep 2019

                                    My Samsung Galaxy Note 9 screen is frozen. Cannot turn it off..

                                      • A
                                      • Ali
                                      • fki
                                      • 02 Sep 2019

                                      I have a problem in my phone note 9 I have not received any notifications from my email gmail from inside the security folder and I have not reached a solution at all

                                        I can't choose between s10 and note9.Can anyone help?