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[Q] Question about buying the Note

Hi Everyone,
I'm torn between buying one of the two super phones: Samsung Galaxy Note and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus / Google Nexus Prime.
I've done some research using Google about the phones.
ht tp://ww w.androidauthority. com/galaxy-note-vs-galaxy-s2-vs-galaxy-nexus-the-best-of-the-best-32011/
ht tp:/ /social-catalog. com/samsung-galaxy-note-vs-google-nexus-prime
ht tp:/ /versusio. com/en/google-nexus-prime-vs-samsung-galaxy-note
It is my understanding that the Note is superior from what I have understood:
1. Bigger Screen of the Note makes it really awesome visually
2. Marginally better resolution for the Note as well
3. MUCH longer battery life on the Note although it said it is because of the screen size which begs me to ask: does that mean in effect it will be the same as the Nexus Prime's?
4. Note will also get upgraded to ICS
5. Note and NP have both got great screens - Super AMOLED
6. Galaxy Note has a better camera
7. Galaxy Note does or does not have a MICRO SD slot? I have read mixed reports on this. But, I am assuming both have that option of expandable memory. Am I correct?
Given all this I am concluding that the Note is a much better phone.
Am I right? Or am I missing something crucial? I don't "have" to buy a phone right now so is there another better phone with quad core coming out? I don't want to buy the phone and then 2 months later or in Q2 2012 have a new Quad core phone come out.
What do you guys think?
Please help me out here

Of course it has Micro SD slot..
And you are missing one of the best part.. THE "S PEN"

If u keep waiting for somthing better,u'll never able to buy anything..and the nexus is just better than the note in term of being a bit more compact than the note...if you want to buy a good phone buy the galaxy note...update to latest custom firmware and you get an ultimate device...mine iz coming day aftr tommorow..yipeee

ranjan.alva said:
Of course it has Micro SD slot..
And you are missing one of the best part.. THE "S PEN"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I forgot about that. I just presumed I'd lose the S Pen because it will fall out all the time.
I have a question: Is the battery life good? Right now I'm using the SGS1 and I need to charge my battery 2-3 times a day. I use it for calls, texts, whatsapp, gtalk and a bunch of other apps including OfficeSuite, etc. What do you think?
jai147 said:
If u keep waiting for somthing better,u'll never able to buy anything..and the nexus is just better than the note in term of being a bit more compact than the note...if you want to buy a good phone buy the galaxy note...update to latest custom firmware and you get an ultimate device...mine iz coming day aftr tommorow..yipeee
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is true: there is no need to keep waiting for something new. I just wanted to know if something new WAS around the corner Thank you for your help.

Nothing new around except the quad core acer tablet which mayb launched in near future...and we expected some quad core phones at ces 2012 but nthing like dat..so u can go for the galaxy note

If you take away ICS from the galaxy nexus i think it is a mediocre phone in comparison with the note.
The note has the better hardware and specs and when receiving ICS the difference will only get bigger!

gee2012 said:
If you take away ICS from the galaxy nexus i think it is a mediocre phone in comparison with the note.
The note has the better hardware and specs and when receiving ICS the difference will only get bigger!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+10
About the battery life, with calls, texts, whatsapp, gtalk and a bunch of other apps including OfficeSuite it will last a day.
Intensive use such as Internet browsing in 3G: 9 hours.

jai147 said:
Nothing new around except the quad core acer tablet which mayb launched in near future...and we expected some quad core phones at ces 2012 but nthing like dat..so u can go for the galaxy note
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh wow. Thank you! This is exactly what I wanted to know
gee2012 said:
If you take away ICS from the galaxy nexus i think it is a mediocre phone in comparison with the note.
The note has the better hardware and specs and when receiving ICS the difference will only get bigger!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. Wow...so much positive reviews on this phone. Thank you.
_A.T.Omix_ said:
+10
About the battery life, with calls, texts, whatsapp, gtalk and a bunch of other apps including OfficeSuite it will last a day.
Intensive use such as Internet browsing in 3G: 9 hours.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay. This is important to note and I'm fine with 9 hours. LOL...When I use all this on my SGS1, the battery lasts 2-3 hours and then it's time to charge. Most annoying.
Thank you everyone. I think my decision is made. I'm buying it as soon as I get my paycheck

gee2012 said:
If you take away ICS from the galaxy nexus i think it is a mediocre phone in comparison with the note.
The note has the better hardware and specs and when receiving ICS the difference will only get bigger!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the GSM Galaxy Nexus prior to selling for the Note. Had the GNEX had Gingerbread on it people would be *****ing up a storm. ICS is neat but can't fix the average hardware of the GNEX. The Note is superior in every way.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

anuj247 said:
1. Bigger Screen of the Note makes it really awesome visually
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Yes it really does.
anuj247 said:
2. Marginally better resolution for the Note as well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true. Both screens are 800x1280 SAMOLED PenTile displays. The larger 5.3" screen on the Note actually makes for a lower overall PPI compared to the GNexus though. That said, the absence of hardware buttons on the GNexus means that you have less usable screen real estate most of the time. So, in that sense, yes, the GNote does have a higher resolution (as far as what you can actually use most of the time).
anuj247 said:
3. MUCH longer battery life on the Note although it said it is because of the screen size which begs me to ask: does that mean in effect it will be the same as the Nexus Prime's?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't have any hands-on experience with the GNexus, so I can't speak for that of course, but I CAN say that the GNote's battery performance is much better than I expected it to be. Suffice to say, it's way better than my old SGS2 if that helps any.
anuj247 said:
4. Note will also get upgraded to ICS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It would seem to be a very poor business decision on the part of Samsung if they didn't (eventually) release an official ICS update. In the mean time, the good people over on the CyanogenMod team have been working hard at providing us with an AOSP ROM in the form of CM9. It's in an early Alpha build stage for now, but knowing them, it'll only continue to get better! Patience is the key here.
anuj247 said:
5. Note and NP have both got great screens - Super AMOLED
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep! And despite all the hoo-haa about them being PenTile etc, blah blah blah, fact of the matter is, they look absolutely stunning. Period. (And to all you PenTile naysayers, QUIT NIT-PICKING!! If it looks good, it IS good!)
anuj247 said:
6. Galaxy Note has a better camera
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
8MP > 5MP. Same camera present on the SGS2, and that one has deservedly received high praise!
anuj247 said:
7. Galaxy Note does or does not have a MICRO SD slot? I have read mixed reports on this. But, I am assuming both have that option of expandable memory. Am I correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not only does it HAVE a micro SD slot, but apparently it can take bigger than 32GB cards as well (provided you format them to FAT32 first!)
anuj247 said:
Given all this I am concluding that the Note is a much better phone.
Am I right? Or am I missing something crucial? I don't "have" to buy a phone right now so is there another better phone with quad core coming out? I don't want to buy the phone and then 2 months later or in Q2 2012 have a new Quad core phone come out.
What do you guys think?
Please help me out here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's my advice:
The Note is a fantastic device, hands down. If you want it, get it. If you don't want it, don't get it. There will ALWAYS be something newer and better sometime down the road, be it one month from now, or six, or whenever. So you may as well get what you want, when you want it, and enjoy it while you have it.
Even though quad-core phones may be right around the corner, the 1.4ghz Exynos chip is no slouch by any means. In fact, I would go so far as to say that there simply is no better dual-core chip on the market today that beats it all around. Exynos really is best-in-class as it is.
But, in the end, it's your money, and your choice!

I was in the same exact dilemma and ended up with both the Note and Nexus. After one day of using the Nexus, I am selling it and keeping the Note.
Battery life is very subjective, I'd have to say the Note SEEMS better, but to be sure I have a spare battery handy. No use owning an awesome phone if you turn off its key features, huh?
I actually like the zero lag camera on the Nexus, but the produced shots are not as good as the shots I make on the Note. And if I missed it, I didn't see a "macro" focus option on the Nexus- this is important to me.
The Note doubles as a tablet for me. Ater using the Note for the past several weeks, I just find the Nexus' screen estate too small. If you compare the Nexus' screen area to the GS2, they end up the same because of the onscreen buttons of the Nexus that takes up space.
Don't get me wrong- the Nexus by itself is a superior phone, in my opinion. It seems ICS was truly made for this phone- no lags when I was using it, multi tasking on ICS is easier, and of course, it is easier to carry in your hand due to the smaller size.
In fact, if I could truly afford to keep both phones, I would- the Nexus is often viewed as a novelty phone because of its exclusivity with Google, and the plain vanilla experience of ICS. I hope that the ICS version for the Note won't be too bastardized, because the ICS I experienced on the Nexus is by far, the best OS I have ever used on a phone.
Still- I ended up with the Note. No regrets- and loving the device more each day! Hope this helps you. Let us know what you decide.

I suppose I forgot to mention in my previous post, but the compromise you make with getting a Nexus device is that you may not have the absolute cutting edge hardware, but you will always be first in line for the most cutting edge software from Google.
Take your pick! ):

Wow, you guys are simply awesome!!!!
I'm sorry I'm taking so long to respond.
Jade Eyed Wolf said:
Yes. Yes it really does.
Not true. Both screens are 800x1280 SAMOLED PenTile displays. The larger 5.3" screen on the Note actually makes for a lower overall PPI compared to the GNexus though. That said, the absence of hardware buttons on the GNexus means that you have less usable screen real estate most of the time. So, in that sense, yes, the GNote does have a higher resolution (as far as what you can actually use most of the time).
Don't have any hands-on experience with the GNexus, so I can't speak for that of course, but I CAN say that the GNote's battery performance is much better than I expected it to be. Suffice to say, it's way better than my old SGS2 if that helps any.
It would seem to be a very poor business decision on the part of Samsung if they didn't (eventually) release an official ICS update. In the mean time, the good people over on the CyanogenMod team have been working hard at providing us with an AOSP ROM in the form of CM9. It's in an early Alpha build stage for now, but knowing them, it'll only continue to get better! Patience is the key here.
Yep! And despite all the hoo-haa about them being PenTile etc, blah blah blah, fact of the matter is, they look absolutely stunning. Period. (And to all you PenTile naysayers, QUIT NIT-PICKING!! If it looks good, it IS good!)
8MP > 5MP. Same camera present on the SGS2, and that one has deservedly received high praise!
Not only does it HAVE a micro SD slot, but apparently it can take bigger than 32GB cards as well (provided you format them to FAT32 first!)
Here's my advice:
The Note is a fantastic device, hands down. If you want it, get it. If you don't want it, don't get it. There will ALWAYS be something newer and better sometime down the road, be it one month from now, or six, or whenever. So you may as well get what you want, when you want it, and enjoy it while you have it.
Even though quad-core phones may be right around the corner, the 1.4ghz Exynos chip is no slouch by any means. In fact, I would go so far as to say that there simply is no better dual-core chip on the market today that beats it all around. Exynos really is best-in-class as it is.
But, in the end, it's your money, and your choice!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sold
anakin1979 said:
I was in the same exact dilemma and ended up with both the Note and Nexus. After one day of using the Nexus, I am selling it and keeping the Note.
Battery life is very subjective, I'd have to say the Note SEEMS better, but to be sure I have a spare battery handy. No use owning an awesome phone if you turn off its key features, huh?
I actually like the zero lag camera on the Nexus, but the produced shots are not as good as the shots I make on the Note. And if I missed it, I didn't see a "macro" focus option on the Nexus- this is important to me.
The Note doubles as a tablet for me. Ater using the Note for the past several weeks, I just find the Nexus' screen estate too small. If you compare the Nexus' screen area to the GS2, they end up the same because of the onscreen buttons of the Nexus that takes up space.
Don't get me wrong- the Nexus by itself is a superior phone, in my opinion. It seems ICS was truly made for this phone- no lags when I was using it, multi tasking on ICS is easier, and of course, it is easier to carry in your hand due to the smaller size.
In fact, if I could truly afford to keep both phones, I would- the Nexus is often viewed as a novelty phone because of its exclusivity with Google, and the plain vanilla experience of ICS. I hope that the ICS version for the Note won't be too bastardized, because the ICS I experienced on the Nexus is by far, the best OS I have ever used on a phone.
Still- I ended up with the Note. No regrets- and loving the device more each day! Hope this helps you. Let us know what you decide.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. Thank you to ALL of you, actually.
I am itching to buy the Note. I'm just waiting for this month's paycheck but if I don't get it in January I will buy it in February for sure.
Jade Eyed Wolf said:
I suppose I forgot to mention in my previous post, but the compromise you make with getting a Nexus device is that you may not have the absolute cutting edge hardware, but you will always be first in line for the most cutting edge software from Google.
Take your pick! ):
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah this is what I've understood as well. I think I will go for the Note. I want the bigger screen and everything you and Anakin have said are drawing me more and more to the Note.
Note it is. Once I buy it, I'll update this thread
Thank you!!!!

anuj247 said:
Hi Everyone,
I'm torn between buying one of the two super phones: Samsung Galaxy Note and the Samsung Galaxy Nexus / Google Nexus Prime.
I've done some research using Google about the phones.
ht tp://ww w.androidauthority. com/galaxy-note-vs-galaxy-s2-vs-galaxy-nexus-the-best-of-the-best-32011/
ht tp:/ /social-catalog. com/samsung-galaxy-note-vs-google-nexus-prime
ht tp:/ /versusio. com/en/google-nexus-prime-vs-samsung-galaxy-note
It is my understanding that the Note is superior from what I have understood:
1. Bigger Screen of the Note makes it really awesome visually
2. Marginally better resolution for the Note as well
3. MUCH longer battery life on the Note although it said it is because of the screen size which begs me to ask: does that mean in effect it will be the same as the Nexus Prime's?
4. Note will also get upgraded to ICS
5. Note and NP have both got great screens - Super AMOLED
6. Galaxy Note has a better camera
7. Galaxy Note does or does not have a MICRO SD slot? I have read mixed reports on this. But, I am assuming both have that option of expandable memory. Am I correct?
Given all this I am concluding that the Note is a much better phone.
Am I right? Or am I missing something crucial? I don't "have" to buy a phone right now so is there another better phone with quad core coming out? I don't want to buy the phone and then 2 months later or in Q2 2012 have a new Quad core phone come out.
What do you guys think?
Please help me out here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I would be in your situation I would buy the xphone
Unfortunately it is only available in german (with spanish subtitle i think?!?!)
NO, I had both devices and just gave the nexus prime back and hold the note.
If you will wait for a better phone, you will never own one.
Go to a store where both are available and touch the devices and if you don't have a problem with the big size of the note, choose the note
It is better anyway, in my opinion the note is better on every point
no the sd-card slot is only on the note, not on the nexus

Nexus 4 vs Galaxy s3

I had to do it.. It was needed specially after the iphone 5 comparison video I got a lot of pms and requests so I had both of them at home and said..why not?
Remember..this is not stock vs stock, however a ROM'd s3 but for the purpose of the video I think it works just fine
Well enjoy
http://youtu.be/yVnT-s5gzlA

Galaxy s3 is for a general population who are inclined to buy stuff form ads but have no idea what an Android is.

rault18 said:
I had to do it.. It was needed specially after the iphone 5 comparison video I got a lot of pms and requests so I had both of them at home and said..why not?
Remember..this is not stock vs stock, however a ROM'd s3 but for the purpose of the video I think it works just fine
Well enjoy
http://youtu.be/yVnT-s5gzlA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great review. Wow, the nex 4 screen looks beautiful.
sent via xda premium with nexus 7

Call me superficial but I don't think I could go back to using a phone with logos on the front.

TrueBrush said:
Galaxy s3 is for a general population who are inclined to buy stuff form ads but have no idea what an Android is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not only for them. Also for the android enthusiasts. It has an unlock boot loader and great Dev support.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

If it wasn't for the nex 4 I would have gotten either an gs3 or a note2. The GS3 is definitely a decent phone. Still for the money I think the nex wins.
sent via xda premium with nexus 7

TrueBrush said:
Galaxy s3 is for a general population who are inclined to buy stuff form ads but have no idea what an Android is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SO DAMN TRUE!!!
And you see people saying oh look how fast it is, and the previous device was a nokia with flashlight or an iphone
WTH! -_-

For my two pence worth I had the s3 went back to my gnex awaiting the n4. I love just stock. Also I agree with the comment above about going back to operator logos on handsets. Its hideous. I know why they do it but its horrid. As for the s3 it was very very fast and more than enough for most but after 4 months of use and adding all my stuff to the device it did slow a bit. Not a huge amount by any means but for hard core users it was there plus I couldn't live with the dismal redraw issue when coming out of apps yo the home screen . I know the Gnex is far from perfect but besides battery life I would have the Gnex as my every day phone anytime. So I decided to go for the n4 as my main phone for the next year as it should perform just the same but look better and have a bit more use with the bigger battery although I know tests don't show it being much better. A little would do me. Anyway awesome video and thank you for taking the time to do it
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

manlisten said:
Call me superficial but I don't think I could go back to using a phone with logos on the front.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on this.
Sent from my Apple iPhone using Tapatalk 2

TrueBrush said:
Galaxy s3 is for a general population who are inclined to buy stuff form ads but have no idea what an Android is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't necessarily agree with that. For a user like myself in the states, the lack of LTE was the deciding factor for me between the GSIII and N4. I wouldn't call myself general population and I know what Android is, lol.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium

Galaxy series is brilliant, but touchwiz is a piece of shyte next to stock android. Also there's no substitute for getting updates on time.

The Nex 4 looks nice, but not having a removable battery like my old EvoLTE and only having 16GB of storage without the ability to upgrade are killers for me. The GS3 development community is Legit as well. I only have 4GB left on my microSD and 3GB left on my onboard 16GB GS3. The battery and storage issues are a Fail IMHO for the Nex4. There is no way I could use it as my everyday camera, video recorder, offline music player, and document storage device. Also, when traveling out of town, you realize how much having extra batteries around makes things a whole lot easier, especially when you are using your phone as a GPS and listening to your offline music on flights (I did have the mobile battery juice device when I had the EvoLTE but it really didn't help).
I use Nova Launcher and HD Widgets so no need for TouchWiz. I will say the Sense and TouchWiz Calendar and Appointments look and function way better than the stock Android Calendar.
Sent from my GS3 via TapaTalk 2

TrueBrush said:
Galaxy s3 is for a general population who are inclined to buy stuff form ads but have no idea what an Android is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is truly one of the most ignorant statements I've seen on xda in quite some time...and there have been a bunch lately. Besides having more storage, LTE, removable battery, nicer camera and more options...yea, I'll stick with my "general population" phone...Lol. I had the Galaxy Nexus for a while and just left the One X for the Note 2 (similar to the S3...that's why I chimed in)...the first thing I do with any of my Android phones (this is my 6th) is change to Nova Launcher...so while pure Android had it's advantages a year or more ago, that is far from the case now with the heavy duty processors being offered in combination with these launchers. I have debloated my phone, run Nova and also have all the little motion gadgets that are actually useful that are not options on pure Google. It's nice to be able to call someone within a text conversation just by putting the phone to your face or to have the screen automatically stay on as long as you're looking at it. These are features that I actually consider highly useful in the real world. Flame away, but with today's processing power and Samsung's openness to bootloader unlocking and dev community, I actually consider pure Google to be a step backwards FOR ME.
Glad that you guys are starting to get your phones though. I canceled after I received the bo email.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2

I got a SGH-I747 from Telus. Paid $0 for it.
It's "only" a dual core, but it has 2 gigs of RAM. And not a single logo on the front.
I'm running CM10 on it. With the 4.2 keyboard and camera/gallery. So maybe I don't know what Android is all about.
I might still get a N4 if Google ever allows me to buy one. But for now, I'm enjoying my S3 very much.

I can't wait for my n4 please please let it arrive this week!!
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda app-developers app

I love my Nexus and exclusively buy Nexus brand phones ever since the Nexus S, but I wouldn't call the GS3 just a device for the general consumer. Its component sheet is very good and is still considered a high end phone several months after its release. It does have some good dev support (though Samsung could be a lot more helpful with getting more info about their processors out there) and considering many chose that device after the Galaxy Nexus failed to impress when it was finally announced. Personally I prefer stock Android but there are a couple features I wouldn't mind cherrypicking from the S3 like screenshots, tap to top, and not having the screen go to sleep when you're looking at it. Having sais that, the phone I chose is definately the right one for me and I belive it to be superior to the S3. Also it will be supported longer than the S3 from Google and the dev community.

manlisten said:
Call me superficial but I don't think I could go back to using a phone with logos on the front.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly what I just thought.. Though I don't have the nexus 4 right now, I will never go back to a device with a ****ty logo on the front.
Sent from my SGS II

barondebxl said:
Its not only for them. Also for the android enthusiasts. It has an unlock boot loader and great Dev support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, no. How is that Exynos 4 without any kind of documentation treating you?

powerwagon said:
That is truly one of the most ignorant statements I've seen on xda in quite some time...and there have been a bunch lately. Besides having more storage, LTE, removable battery, nicer camera and more options...yea, I'll stick with my "general population" phone...Lol. I had the Galaxy Nexus for a while and just left the One X for the Note 2 (similar to the S3...that's why I chimed in)...the first thing I do with any of my Android phones (this is my 6th) is change to Nova Launcher...so while pure Android had it's advantages a year or more ago, that is far from the case now with the heavy duty processors being offered in combination with these launchers. I have debloated my phone, run Nova and also have all the little motion gadgets that are actually useful that are not options on pure Google.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have played around with my friend's Note 2 for a whole day and i decided to install Nova to see if stock Android isn't worth it anymore. it turns out it is. Nova + Touchwiz was not as stable or fast (by that i mean touch responsiveness) as my Galaxy Nexus. i wanted to believe it since i am paying almost as much for the Nexus 4 and i really appreciate the Note 2's battery but i just wasn't convinced.

Hmmm... I've sold my SGS2 and waited for N4 but.... SOLD OUT...
This gave me more time to think about and I've realized that getting N4 was like step back to me.. Didn't want to end up like all iPhone users... Easy to break glass all around, very limited storage and non-removable battery.. I'm Not saying N4 is bad but it's Not perfect... (to me not even close to perfect...)
Android Support will be better for N4 and the Hardware is slightly better but I'm very happy with what I've got. It runs super smooth, using GO launcher, 2GB RAM makes a huge difference comparing to S3 tho.
To me GT-I9305 FTW
Sent from my GT-I9305 using xda app-developers app

You all said S3 was ugly too...

And after 1.5 years it has sold over 100 million units and is the best selling smartphone of all times!!!

I personally did feel that the S3 was ugly considering it to be the successor to the awesome looking S2.
But S3 was having the best specs among all Androids the year it was launched which made it sell well. Also, the design wasn't that bad as it thought it would be.
No doubt S5 will sell well too. It's just that people expected a completely different design and are now disappointed.

As said, too much hype, and Samsung did a very good job of keeping all the details secret to the very last day. The S5 we got has very much expected specifications and is made of the best hardware available today, everyone dreamed of new unseen hardware and well it didn't happen ...

system.img said:
I personally did feel that the S3 was ugly considering it to be the successor to the awesome looking S2.
But S3 was having the best specs among all Androids the year it was launched which made it sell well. Also, the design wasn't that bad as it thought it would be.
No doubt S5 will sell well too. It's just that people expected a completely different design and are now disappointed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Htc One X had similar specs I think.

I bought the s3, and I loved it but Samsung has changed and is no longer a desirable product. Knox security, restricted and locked bootloaders and updates that are slower than molasses. I just don't see the appeal of Samsung anymore
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
---------- Post added at 08:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:53 AM ----------
JoJo2211 said:
Htc One X had similar specs I think.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nexus 4 came a bit later but was on the same playing field for a lot cheaper
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

md1008 said:
I bought the s3, and I loved it but Samsung has changed and is no longer a desirable product. Knox security, restricted and locked bootloaders and updates that are slower than molasses. I just don't see the appeal of Samsung anymore
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
---------- Post added at 08:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:53 AM ----------
Nexus 4 came a bit later but was on the same playing field for a lot cheaper
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
None of the other vendors are exactly better at updates, the Nexus-line is sole in that respect. And some Samsung software are actually much better than the pure Google experience ie the cam/camcorder.
Samsung, as being popular, has very good AOSP dev support and a very large modding community which makes Samsung a safe bet for those who likes messing around with the software on the device

system.img said:
I personally did feel that the S3 was ugly considering it to be the successor to the awesome looking S2.
But S3 was having the best specs among all Androids the year it was launched which made it sell well. Also, the design wasn't that bad as it thought it would be.
No doubt S5 will sell well too. It's just that people expected a completely different design and are now disappointed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It had the same amount of RAM as the Galaxy S2.

noideaforusername said:
It had the same amount of RAM as the Galaxy S2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And 1GB RAM phones have been reborn to a second life with AOSP Kit Kat which is much lighter on RAM than stock firmwares ... meaning, 2GB RAM will probably last quite long ...

xeizo said:
And 1GB RAM phones have been reborn to a second life with AOSP Kit Kat which is much lighter on RAM than stock firmwares ... meaning, 2GB RAM will probably last quite long ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly. People complain about nothing changed in the hardware department but they forgot that KitKat changed a lot in the software department plus the fact that Samsung learned how to write good software and delivered lag-free experience with lots of great features. And all of this with only 5.28GB space taken by the system (as opposed to 7.21GB in my S4).
So People should stop complain, this is a great phone (although I won't buy it cause my S4 still works great), and people are just whining while the competition isn't any better (same design and specs, but with much less features and without removable battery and microSD card slot).

JoJo2211 said:
And after 1.5 years it has sold over 100 million units and is the best selling smartphone of all times!!!
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Click to collapse
I had S3 and i can just say it was the ugliest phone i ever had but i loved it for the specs and the huge screen , now i am rolling with Note 2 it looks much better than s3 s4 and s5 at least for me but still note 2 design sucks compared to some of Sony HTC and LG phones. Not trolling just speaking the truth .

I
JoJo2211 said:
And after 1.5 years it has sold over 100 million units and is the best selling smartphone of all times!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it s way of Samsung!
S2 & Note were nice
S3 & Note2 were ugly
S4 & Note3 are nice
S5 & ... are ugly!
BUT IT s JUST my PERSONAL opinion cause i don't like round design!

I like a rounded design because its very comfortable to hold, and it fits comfortably in the pocket, what I call userfriendly design which always wins in my book

To be realistic s5 is a good device with Samsung plugging every loop hole that's present with the previous version, you get
1. Updated touchwiz
2. Water proof
3. Brightest led screen ever made
4. Isocell camera module
5. Updated processor as per Industry standard
6. Somewhat bigger battery
7. All the goodies present with previous galaxy devices.
8. 128gb sd card support
The design is as same as s4,the bigger bezels are the compromise Samsung made for making it water proof. We all know Samsung is not going to have a super duper design.
The phone will not satisfy or justify s4 and note 3 users, apart from them it should satisfy other users to be realistic, at the end of the day it's upto the personal preferences
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk

^^
water resistance not water proof :/

xeizo said:
None of the other vendors are exactly better at updates, the Nexus-line is sole in that respect. And some Samsung software are actually much better than the pure Google experience ie the cam/camcorder.
Samsung, as being popular, has very good AOSP dev support and a very large modding community which makes Samsung a safe bet for those who likes messing around with the software on the device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Htc update there phones faster than samsung now . They coming back but without a sd slot and a better camera it's gonna be tough to catch up they design gorgeous phones but the looks don't do anything special unlike having expandable memory and a nice camera. I don't like samsung tw or there design but they give me the best package money can buy I need alot of memory and phones without a sd slot is a no go. 64 gigs is nothing now my card is filled up . 128 gig internal memory then I would venture elsewhere.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

yahyoh said:
^^
water resistance nor water proof :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think it has been quoted as 30 min under 1 m deep water, I would call that some sort of water resistance. Especially contrary to Apples garanty voiding humidity detectors which are VERY easily triggered ....

xeizo said:
I think it has been quoted as 30 min under 1 m deep water, I would call that some sort of water resistance. Especially contrary to Apples garanty voiding humidity detectors which are VERY easily triggered ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
typo hehe , i meant "not" :cyclops:

bala_gamer said:
To be realistic s5 is a good device with Samsung plugging every loop hole that's present with the previous version, you get
1. Updated touchwiz
2. Water proof
3. Brightest led screen ever made
4. Isocell camera module
5. Updated processor as per Industry standard
6. Somewhat bigger battery
7. All the goodies present with previous galaxy devices.
8. 128gb sd card support
The design is as same as s4,the bigger bezels are the compromise Samsung made for making it water proof. We all know Samsung is not going to have a super duper design.
The phone will not satisfy or justify s4 and note 3 users, apart from them it should satisfy other users to be realistic, at the end of the day it's upto the personal preferences
Sent from my GT-I9500 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The S4 card capacity isn't an advantage at all because all Galaxies starting from the S3 and Note 2 used XC standards instead which will support capacities of up to 2TB providing that it was formatted to the correct format aka FAT32.

Thread closed as the topic is not related to the S5.

Upgrade from Note 3

Hi I have a Note 3 with me and I got a Note 4 during Cyber monday and I also have a T-Mobile gc for 100 off. Also T-Mobile is buying back my Note 3 for 325. So my cost for the Note 4 is 325 (650-325 Trade in credit) I am confused now as is it worth it to spend the extra money now. Can people who have upgraded from Note 3 to Note 4 comment on this.
A couple of things about me.
Wife has a iphone 6 plus and we take pics with the 6 plus so I can live without a not so gr8 camers.
I dont game at all.
I love the Spen and take notes also browse the web a lot o my phone.

I went from the 3 to 4. The s pen on the 4 is better. I draw etc and it works so much nicer. I also like the upgraded software for the pen.
sent from my GN4 N910T 4.4.4 stock rooted

That's good to know, I don't draw but I like to write with the pen. other than that how is the rest. The writing is really nice on the Note 3 also. Overall how is tue performance of Note 4 805 processor?
Another thing is we are also going to get 64 bit processor Soon- And the Note 5 next year will definitely have 64 bit processor. So I am really confused is it worth while to wait or upgrade and more over my Note 3 is in good condition.

Well all I can say is everything I do feels faster. Chromecast video play better. I do a mix of reading, watching videos, games, drawing, writing and replaced my PC with the note line. The Note 4 only has 2 things I don't like. I don't need QHD, it makes on screen elements a little to small in Ingress. The other is they didn't keep the temperature sensor. Other then those two minor issues I can't find issue with it.
I can't wait to see some custom ROMs over the next few months. I have owned a lot of phones and tablets and by far the Note 4 is my favorite. I do use Nova launcher since I can't stand the limits in TW.
sent from my GN4 N910T 4.4.4 stock rooted

Well I know the s6 was supposed to cone with new chip set but they stopped that. Nobody knows what note 5 will come with. 32 works great so is 64 gonna be better. Who knows. Samsung don't even know yet. They still have no real idea till they fix issues with s6 and then maybe focus on 5.0 for note 4 then get back to building note 5
BAD ASS NOTE 4

It's probably an unpopular opinion to have in this forum, but i'm a little disappointed I spent the money to upgrade. It's not to say the Note 4 isn't a great phone, out of anything out there right now it's an easy pick for me, but it is in no way a significant upgrade from the 3. There are some very slight improvements, the screen for one. The screen on the 3 was already stellar, so it's hard to achieve a major upgrade here. The camera gets slightly more detail, although the photos are noisier and have more sharpening added to them (possibly the reason for the added noise?). The battery life is worse, not by a significant amount, but it is still worse for me. I notice no speed difference at all, if one exists it's too slight for my level of perception. The speaker is worse, maybe not in quality, but in placement. The build is nicer, definitely feels higher quality, but this is perception too, the Note 3 was already proven to be quite tough. I keep my phone in a case, so that's ultimately not much of a benefit to me either. The fingerprint scanner I don't use, tried it and it often required multiple swipes, seems easier to just enter a code. The new white/cyan color scheme is atrocious, and I don't know what the hell they were thinking doing this on a phone with an AMOLED screen. Black backgrounds make MUCH more sense, not just to take advantage of high AMOLED contrast, but to conserve battery power also.
All in all, I regret spending $400 to upgrade, but the Note 4 is still an awesome phone. If I had been upgrading from an S4 or a Note 2, something along those lines, I think I would have a lot less regret about the money spent. Ultimately it depends on how much you want the slight improvements.

I came from an s4. Not a note 3.
But, I can tell you this phone is awesome. It's the "it" phone. And, will be for a long time.
Take the money for the note 3 and take the plunge.
My path has been g1and a wing, g2, s2, s3, s4, note 4.
I wouldn't have considered a note up until now because of the lack of development.
But, now. It's awesome. And, we are so lucky it's not locked down like the other carriers.
PS
We won't hate you because you admitted you have an iPhone.

Android_Monsters said:
I came from an s4. Not a note 3.
But, I can tell you this phone is awesome. It's the "it" phone. And, will be for a long time.
Take the money for the note 3 and take the plunge.
My path has been g1and a wing, g2, s2, s3, s4, note 4.
I wouldn't have considered a note up until now because of the lack of development.
But, now. It's awesome. And, we are so lucky it's not locked down like the other carriers.
PS
We won't hate you because you admitted you have an iPhone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We have the iPhone and there are some things which the iPhone is better, but again per me it all depends on what you do with the phone..

T mobile offered you 325 for your note 3? Last time I checked it was 190.
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

Limeybastard said:
T mobile offered you 325 for your note 3? Last time I checked it was 190.
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I believe it is still there and also sprint offers the same you may match the trade in value with them.

kgbeezr1 said:
It's probably an unpopular opinion to have in this forum, but i'm a little disappointed I spent the money to upgrade. It's not to say the Note 4 isn't a great phone, out of anything out there right now it's an easy pick for me, but it is in no way a significant upgrade from the 3. There are some very slight improvements, the screen for one. The screen on the 3 was already stellar, so it's hard to achieve a major upgrade here. The camera gets slightly more detail, although the photos are noisier and have more sharpening added to them (possibly the reason for the added noise?). The battery life is worse, not by a significant amount, but it is still worse for me. I notice no speed difference at all, if one exists it's too slight for my level of perception. The speaker is worse, maybe not in quality, but in placement. The build is nicer, definitely feels higher quality, but this is perception too, the Note 3 was already proven to be quite tough. I keep my phone in a case, so that's ultimately not much of a benefit to me either. The fingerprint scanner I don't use, tried it and it often required multiple swipes, seems easier to just enter a code. The new white/cyan color scheme is atrocious, and I don't know what the hell they were thinking doing this on a phone with an AMOLED screen. Black backgrounds make MUCH more sense, not just to take advantage of high AMOLED contrast, but to conserve battery power also.
All in all, I regret spending $400 to upgrade, but the Note 4 is still an awesome phone. If I had been upgrading from an S4 or a Note 2, something along those lines, I think I would have a lot less regret about the money spent. Ultimately it depends on how much you want the slight improvements.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for taking time to explain it. I do feel same but I also think by upgrading we will have a newer device and also the warranty is now extended to one more year. Look at this this way say if we were to sell our note 3 end of 2015 we would hardly get anything out of it but by selling note 4 at least we get 300 so our upgrade might be only 25..... That is where I have the whole confusion.
My Note 3 battery barely makes it to the end of the day. I am not rooted and don't want to as I use a lot of soft card for cash back. I definitely don't want to loose that.

steve_togo said:
Yes I believe it is still there and also sprint offers the same you may match the trade in value with them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh right this must be for folks that are not existing t mobile customers .
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

Limeybastard said:
Oh right this must be for folks that are not existing t mobile customers .
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope I am an existing customer. Did you check online.. What device do you have.

steve_togo said:
Nope I am an existing customer. Did you check online.. What device do you have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had checked. I upgraded from a note 3 to a note 4 a few weeks back actually. That's why I sold mine on craigs list for funnily enough $325 as T Mobile were offering peanuts.
By the way well worth the upgrade. Think of it a refinement at its best.
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

Limeybastard said:
I had checked. I upgraded from a note 3 to a note 4 a few weeks back actually. That's why I sold mine on craigs list for funnily enough $325 as T Mobile were offering peanuts.
By the way well worth the upgrade. Think of it a refinement at its best.
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How much did you pay and how many days has it been.

steve_togo said:
How much did you pay and how many days has it been.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
11/13 I beleive it was bought usual price whatever it was. I think 750 plus tax.
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk

Limeybastard said:
T mobile offered you 325 for your note 3? Last time I checked it was 190.
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah my friend just got a good deal I think is was a little bit less but I guessing phone still sells
BAD ASS NOTE 4

steve_togo said:
Thanks for taking time to explain it. I do feel same but I also think by upgrading we will have a newer device and also the warranty is now extended to one more year. Look at this this way say if we were to sell our note 3 end of 2015 we would hardly get anything out of it but by selling note 4 at least we get 300 so our upgrade might be only 25..... That is where I have the whole confusion.
My Note 3 battery barely makes it to the end of the day. I am not rooted and don't want to as I use a lot of soft card for cash back. I definitely don't want to loose that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good points, resale and warranty are valid reasons to trade up. My comments really focused on the complaints that I have with the phone as most other people have covered the high points, and of course there are many. It's subjective, obviously, but I don't think anything else out there at the moment surpasses it as a complete package.

I never owned a note 3 before. But I do own a 2012 Note 10.1 which I love very much. This Note 4 is even faster than my tablet and it really is impressive with everything I can do with it.
From Dante's Inferno via XDA Premium HD

A question for Note 5 owners who previously owned Note 4

I know the title sounds weird lol but I actually would like to know what are the first impressions of comrades that owned Note 4 previously and switched for the new Note 5. Is the difference that great? I personally own the note 4 and I can tell yes, the note 5 feels a lot better in hand and performance wise on my end. Maybe because my Note 4 was the snapchat quadcore variant instead of the exynos? I am not sure but I definitely prefer the note 5. It makes me happy by just looking at how vibrant and crisp the display is.

Note 5 performance blows the 4 away. Night and day. And battery life is much better as well.

harlenm said:
Note 5 performance blows the 4 away. Night and day. And battery life is much better as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fully agree
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A

ambervals6 said:
Fully agree
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree as well..also it feels much better in hand. I have zero regrets

If you can live without the memory expansion and removable battery, the Note5 is MUCH better than the Note 4 in every other aspect.

The build quality is better for sure. The battery life doesn't "blow away" by any means, so don't think it will for a second. The performance is better but nothing to make you think foolish for still owning a Note 4.

shollywood said:
The build quality is better for sure. The battery life doesn't "blow away" by any means, so don't think it will for a second. The performance is better but nothing to make you think foolish for still owning a Note 4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The battery life is more than great... I get like 6 hours of screen on over a 20 hour day. That's excellent, and certainly at least 30% better than my Note 4 was. And the performance is day and night difference. The Note 4 lagged everywhere. The Note5, not at all so far.

Thank you all for the feedback. Im putting my hand on the note 5 today as I just received the black sapphire 32 gb phone. Will provide my experience after a day of my typical usage. It looks really promising before i even start using it.

So I have been testing the note 5 for a full day yesterday and it does really feels much smoother and fun to use than the note 4. The display makes you happy by just looking at it. It outperforms note 4 in playing heavy graphic demanding games and it is really fun using social media with. I like this device too much that I am not using my iphone 6 plus for the whole day, even for call quality I preferred the note 5. The design feels so premium in hand as well. I like the device.

It's simply better in every respect than the 4. My wife still has the 4 and it looks so dated to me. I used the move as an opportunity to go 'cloud' on everything and it hasn't impacted me one bit. In fact, it's more secure as an SD can be removed from a stolen device whereas a loss device can be remotely reset or can't be logged into. Battery has been fine although I tend to nervously charge at every opportunity! It's faster, snapier, smoother, more responsive, better screen, lighter, thinner and easier to hold, and the ability to unlock we just by touching the home button is the biggest benefit ever (as my work forces lock every time the device times out). It's by far the best device I have ever owned. And it looks fantastic!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using XDA Free mobile app

Not being facetious, but what was your (previous posters) setup on the N4? Rooted, custom ROM, Xposed, etc?

harlenm said:
Note 5 performance blows the 4 away. Night and day. And battery life is much better as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should have quoted you guys earlier when I asked the question above, but I'll ask it again... What was your N4 setup? Were you rooted, running a custom ROM, using Xposed, etc? And are you rooted on your Note 5? If not, do you plan to be?
ambervals6 said:
Fully agree
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See above
NiquiSE said:
I agree as well..also it feels much better in hand. I have zero regrets
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See above
KarimSalloum said:
If you can live without the memory expansion and removable battery, the Note5 is MUCH better than the Note 4 in every other aspect.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See above
ekerbuddyeker said:
It's simply better in every respect than the 4. My wife still has the 4 and it looks so dated to me. I used the move as an opportunity to go 'cloud' on everything and it hasn't impacted me one bit. In fact, it's more secure as an SD can be removed from a stolen device whereas a loss device can be remotely reset or can't be logged into. Battery has been fine although I tend to nervously charge at every opportunity! It's faster, snapier, smoother, more responsive, better screen, lighter, thinner and easier to hold, and the ability to unlock we just by touching the home button is the biggest benefit ever (as my work forces lock every time the device times out). It's by far the best device I have ever owned. And it looks fantastic!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See above
Commandermadi said:
So I have been testing the note 5 for a full day yesterday and it does really feels much smoother and fun to use than the note 4. The display makes you happy by just looking at it. It outperforms note 4 in playing heavy graphic demanding games and it is really fun using social media with. I like this device too much that I am not using my iphone 6 plus for the whole day, even for call quality I preferred the note 5. The design feels so premium in hand as well. I like the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your responses. Just trying to put your comments in perspective.

ATT stock rom, unrooted. Same on both devices.

All I have to say is that it took a couple of OTAs for the note 4 to have the bugs and smalls problems ironed out. The Note 5 was amazing out of the box. I am very happy with my note 5, although my note 4 is my second favorite phone

second consecutive day using the Note 5 and it is really much better than my Quad-Core Snapdragon Note 4.

polish_pat said:
All I have to say is that it took a couple of OTAs for the note 4 to have the bugs and smalls problems ironed out. The Note 5 was amazing out of the box. I am very happy with my note 5, although my note 4 is my second favorite phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speak for yourself. The AT&T Note 4 had hit or miss GPS that was made better and worse but never good with multiple updates. One of the updates caused my battery life to drop by about 15% and it was never awe inspiring to begin with. The W8 versions are practically carrier unmolested which is why your experience is probably different than mine. I loved my Note 4; there was nothing out there that I thought was better. But, at least the way I use it, the Note 5 is in a different league.

Mine was stock at&t. I forgot about that awful gps. I even got a replacement from att because of it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N920A using XDA Free mobile app

BarryH_GEG said:
Speak for yourself. The AT&T Note 4 had hit or miss GPS that was made better and worse but never good with multiple updates. One of the updates caused my battery life to drop by about 15% and it was never awe inspiring to begin with. The W8 versions are practically carrier unmolested which is why your experience is probably different than mine. I loved my Note 4; there was nothing out there that I thought was better. But, at least the way I use it, the Note 5 is in a different league.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So we're still talking about stock unrooted?
I just say this because I'm considering my next device, and I know some people with N5's that are happy with their purchase, and I know some who aren't. It seems to boil down to this: Comparing a stock N5 to a stock N4 is obviously no contest, as Samsung doesn't optimise their devices to their full potential... (Gotta love planned obsolescence) But as a rooted N4 user running a custom ROM that transforms my entire user experience, I wonder if the performance chasm that is being described is truly that vast...
Edit: And I have held the N5 in hand... I'm certainly not bashing it - it's a beautiful device. But I feel Samsung left so much on the table, and didn't really improve a device that was poised to truly dominate the market.

Well I was a nay-sayer to the Note 5 (I was going to avoid it at ALL costs). That was until my Note 4 speaker blew (factory warranty replacement) but since they didn't have any Note 4's in Stock where I went they told me that I was getting a Note 5 for free. I was hesitant and was going to deal with the blown speaker until they could get me a Note 4. However, the person at the store convinced me to at least take the Note 5 in the meantime and at least give it the 14 day trial. So, I did... I must admit I love it, I don't miss the SD card slot, though I am still looking into a secure cloud service. I have noticed the reception I get from the tower (Sprint service) is way stronger than the Note 4 I had in the same locations, and side by side comparisons with my wife's note 4 holds true to that statement as well. I have never been one to switch out batteries, so that was never an issue anyways.
TL;DR: Note 5 > Note 4 IMHO
Sent from my SM-N920P using Tapatalk

petegunns01 said:
So we're still talking about stock unrooted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. I connect to secure networks that don't allow rooted devices on. I also didn't want to obliterate Samsung Pay and other apps that can't be root cloaked that read device status.
But as a rooted N4 user running a custom ROM that transforms my entire user experience, I wonder if the performance chasm that is being described is truly that vast...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assuming you're able to mimic the same custom environment on the Note 5 it'll still blow your Note 4 out of the water. Software can't take the place of a more modern and powerful SoC, uber fast memory and storage, and more streamlined and lighter stock apps and UI (assuming you're using any).
And I have held the N5 in hand... I'm certainly not bashing it - it's a beautiful device. But I feel Samsung left so much on the table, and didn't really improve a device that was poised to truly dominate the market.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's really left design wise? The display sets the shape of the device so the only thing to play with is bezel size and depth. To support wireless signals and control weight material choices are metal, glass, and plastic. So no matter who makes a phone it's going to be a slab of glass on the front and made out of metal, glass, and/or plastic. HTC's dual front speakers didn't sell phones. LG's bizarre control placement and KnockOn didn't sell phones. Sony's waterproofing didn't sell phones. Apple's 8MP camera, iterative designs, lack of expandable storage, and fixed battery didn't prevent phones from being sold. Welcome to the "mature" smartphone market.