Database Develop

Note 3 vs. Note 4 - for anyone still on the fence

Had a friend record a video and I produced it, just in case anyone is on the fence about upgrading or is trying to decide if the price jump is worth it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KBDR-jqLTf8

Had the note 3 and sold it due to its proximity sensor not working. Wish I hadn't. Have the note 4 now and love it. To be honest the only real difference to me is the new build quality. Less plastic and more metal.
The note 3 seemed just as fast and great. I would have bought another note 3 but they were selling only 100 euros less than the note 4

Some it was better in note 3...note 4 is needed updates asap

I have all the Samsung Note.
The difference for me between a Note 3 and 4 is all speed and screen.
I'm so happy with the upgrade and I must say I didn't expect to be so impressed about the difference.
So satisfied, but battery is hopelessly bad .
Like Note 1 and 2 the battery drain is ridiculous.
Sent from my SM-N910F using XDA Free mobile app

jetbruceli said:
Had the note 3 and sold it due to its proximity sensor not working. Wish I hadn't. Have the note 4 now and love it. To be honest the only real difference to me is the new build quality. Less plastic and more metal.
The note 3 seemed just as fast and great. I would have bought another note 3 but they were selling only 100 euros less than the note 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably just needed canned air and blew it out.

I had note3 and now note 4, but I think it will be my last samsung, no root no party.

@rbiter said:
Probably just needed canned air and blew it out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No the sensor was not installed properly and since the device was rooted the knox was tripped. So warranty no go!

I always rushed in upgrading Samusng phones like I bought note 2 and note 3 brand new after few days of launch but not any more. I believe the price difference is not worth spending as of now so I am waiting for price to go down.

I got my upgrade yesterday from note 3 to note 4 and apart from the build quality and the camera there doesnt seem to be that much of a difference if im honest.
i use it for work and was a little disappointed that knox was not available on the 910f model yet, i also tried my knox but that doesn't work on this model at the moment either.
apart from that it's all good ☺

It's not a 'shut up and take my money'
It's like a 'go back to the labs'
note edge looks more attractive. if it has borders on 4 edges I would say 'shut up and take my money'
I'll hold my N3 for a while. the gap prices are short in my country.
Sent from my SM-T805M using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

I'm sure Samsung know that metal is less than ideal on a phone, it's a stupid fad.
Note 4 has sharp edges too. It also has that bevelled edge to the glass which is great if you run without a protector but terrible if you do I hated the 2 for that.
Definitely not moving from the 3 to a sharp edged phone, my 4 upgrade in January will most likely get sold immediately.

Richh3nson said:
I got my upgrade yesterday from note 3 to note 4 and apart from the build quality and the camera there doesnt seem to be that much of a difference if im honest.
i use it for work and was a little disappointed that knox was not available on the 910f model yet, i also tried my knox but that doesn't work on this model at the moment either.
apart from that it's all good ☺
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really 910F doesn't support MyKnox app?
Is this temporary? Or F doesn't include any knox chips or whatever?
Still testing knox on my 910C and seems that it's pretty nice feature.
Sent from my SM-N910C

bat0nas said:
Really 910F doesn't support MyKnox app?
Is this temporary? Or F doesn't include any knox chips or whatever?
Still testing knox on my 910C and seems that it's pretty nice feature.
Sent from my SM-N910C
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've managed to get it working after some manual setup. It threw me as 910f was missing the knox website but that should be changed soon.

jetbruceli said:
No the sensor was not installed properly and since the device was rooted the knox was tripped. So warranty no go!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm so sorry for You but even if Knox was tripped You can ask for a repair in warranty if You live in Europe. I'm a consumer lawyer and for my clients I always get warranty service from Samsung even if they try to refuse the reparations.

I am decided to stay on note 3. Then....

Patosbuddy said:
I have all the Samsung Note.
The difference for me between a Note 3 and 4 is all speed and screen.
I'm so happy with the upgrade and I must say I didn't expect to be so impressed about the difference.
So satisfied, but battery is hopelessly bad .
Like Note 1 and 2 the battery drain is ridiculous.
Sent from my SM-N910F using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My experience with the Note 4 is almost the opposite, apart from the screen. Battery life on my Note 4 is very good, at the end of the evening always between 30 and 40% left.
Speed of the device is a different story, stutters all over the place. Totally random, while switching launcher pages, scrolling through calendar or contacts (appr. 120 contacts) and other apps with "list view". My Note is 100% stock.
Not to forget, the fingerprintscanner is an annoying piece of hardware. Having my right thumb fingerprint registered 3 times I always have to swipe more than once/twice in order to unlock.
I'm absolutely not happy with the "update"!!

mcreego said:
I'm so sorry for You but even if Knox was tripped You can ask for a repair in warranty if You live in Europe. I'm a consumer lawyer and for my clients I always get warranty service from Samsung even if they try to refuse the reparations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I would have done that, I live in Germany but it would have taken them quite a bit of time. I sold it for 500 euros and explained the issue to the buyer. I bought a nexus 5 and Nexus 7 2013 with that money. To my surprise the Nexus series do NOT accept USB OTG natively. I had to get Stickmount from Chainfire to use any additional storage. It really made me wish for my note 3 back even with the sensor issue.
When my wife got the s5, I immediately realized why I like Touchwhiz and its lag. It comes out of the box with a lot of features that other devices need root for..
Like USB OTG
Customized quick settings
All share, (no need for all cast)
Also its cameras are always better with its features.
Plus micro sd
Battery removal and last but not least, It comes with in my opinion the best screens. I love Super OMLED.

Ce said:
My experience with the Note 4 is almost the opposite, apart from the screen. Battery life on my Note 4 is very good, at the end of the evening always between 30 and 40% left.
Speed of the device is a different story, stutters all over the place. Totally random, while switching launcher pages, scrolling through calendar or contacts (appr. 120 contacts) and other apps with "list view". My Note is 100% stock.
Not to forget, the fingerprintscanner is an annoying piece of hardware. Having my right thumb fingerprint registered 3 times I always have to swipe more than once/twice in order to unlock.
I'm absolutely not happy with the "update"!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds like you don't have the latest firmware.
I can't make my phone lag at all.
I can scroll as fast as I in contacts (988) pictures (764)
with out any lagging.
If you take a picture and press the photo on the left lower corner.
If it doesn't pop up instantly I guess your phone is on the same firmware as min was before I updated.
It was lagging in every way before update.
Sent from my SM-N910F using XDA Free mobile app

Patosbuddy said:
It sounds like you don't have the latest firmware.
I can't make my phone lag at all.
I can scroll as fast as I in contacts (988) pictures (764)
with out any lagging.
If you take a picture and press the photo on the left lower corner.
If it doesn't pop up instantly I guess your phone is on the same firmware as min was before I updated.
It was lagging in every way before update.
Sent from my SM-N910F using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right, I don't have the latest firmware.

i got note4 cheap so upgrade was right to do.
in my opinion they polished everything that was not so good on note3 like edge, camera, adding fingerprint lock, front camera, fast charge and for me usb 2.0.
but if someone would ask me would you pay 50% more to get note 4 i would say no.
Biggest disadvantage on note 4 is that he does not have temperature and humidity sensor (((

Switched from Note 4 to Nexus 6. See samples and comparison shots inside thread!

Hello everyone! I'm thinking of getting rid of my Note 4 and getting either a Xperia Z3 or a Nexus 6. Don't get me wrong, the Note 4 is a great device, but for the money, the amount of lag and terrible low-light and indoor pictures and pretty bad battery life is just too much for me.
The most important things for me are:
Battery life
Performance (multitasking)
Camera
All the blogs said the Note 4 was the device for me, but over the last 3 roms I haven't been able to fix ANY of these issues.
How's the Nexus 6? Are you guys generally speaking happy with it? Has anyone played with the Note 4 and could maybe shine some light on their opinion and experiences? Thanks!
UPDATE:
I've pulled the trigger, photography examples are here. Quite surprising if you ask me:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=61486380&postcount=60

zkyevolved said:
Hello everyone! I'm thinking of getting rid of my Note 4 and getting either a Xperia Z3 or a Nexus 6. Don't get me wrong, the Note 4 is a great device, but for the money, the amount of lag and terrible low-light and indoor pictures and pretty bad battery life is just too much for me.
The most important things for me are:
Battery life
Performance (multitasking)
Camera
All the blogs said the Note 4 was the device for me, but over the last 3 roms I haven't been able to fix ANY of these issues.
How's the Nexus 6? Are you guys generally speaking happy with it? Has anyone played with the Note 4 and could maybe shine some light on their opinion and experiences? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had the note 4. Lived the screen and the software actually wasn't half bad but there was lag, especially in the multitasking section. Also battery life was pretty bad and the phone heated up substantially even with little usage and of course saying that it's not on latest android software (which isn't a big thing for most). Just got the nexus 6 a few days and was completely blown away by how solid it is. Speakers are much louder than the HTC one m8 in certain situations (Spotify streaming seems to be on par) but in the vine app the videos are super loud and clear. Being on latest software is great and the screen itself being a 6 inch 2k display is very useful and not over kill at all although I do with the screen was more on the cooler side. Last but not least the development community of course is outstanding in the nexus community so overall the nexus is a solid choice. I've also had the z2 which is the same as the z3 is great but if your a modder/developer than you'll stay away as there isn't much. Only thing going for the z3 is the screen and battery life. I consistently got over 5 to 6 hours of screen on time on the z2 stock which I miss but not enough to go back lol
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

If you don't mind me asking, how is the camera and battery life on the nexus 6? I have read multiple sites and videos. They're all over the place. Some say the camera is awesome while others no. Other sites say that the battery life is good. Others say it's terrible... How does it compare with the note 4 and z2? I'm more intrigued by the nexus to be honest. Haha.
Sent from my Note 4 using Tapatalk

zkyevolved said:
If you don't mind me asking, how is the camera and battery life on the nexus 6? I have read multiple sites and videos. They're all over the place. Some say the camera is awesome while others no. Other sites say that the battery life is good. Others say it's terrible... How does it compare with the note 4 and z2? I'm more intrigued by the nexus to be honest. Haha.
Sent from my Note 4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Batterylife is about 4-5 hours screenontime depending on usage off course. And for me the camera is quite good (not Galaxy S6 good) especialy with sufficient light, pics are crisp and detailled and colors are quite accurate. I`ve had all the Notes too but the N6 will grow on you i`am sure. And it has very good speakers btw.

Camera is great, but I'm not a "picture taker". Love the app, A Better Camera. Takes full advantage of all 13mp. Battery life varies heavily on kernel and the settings you chose. I can go a couple days. I don't really worry about battery life though. Ex. I had 12% and ran a short errund, 20 min at most. When I got back battery was 93%. Hail to the turbo charge...
Sent from my Nexus 6

zkyevolved said:
If you don't mind me asking, how is the camera and battery life on the nexus 6? I have read multiple sites and videos. They're all over the place. Some say the camera is awesome while others no. Other sites say that the battery life is good. Others say it's terrible... How does it compare with the note 4 and z2? I'm more intrigued by the nexus to be honest. Haha.
Sent from my Note 4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol well I never take pictures. I did however take a few shots when I got it. The pictures seem good but then again I'm no professional. The battery life is OK to say the least when I first got it but it settled down after a few days. I'm now on chroma ROM stock nothing changed but the rom itself and I just pushed over 5 hours SOT. On bone stock before I rooted I believe I was getting a little over 3 hours with heavy gmail refreshing/internet browsing(chrome)/xda /YouTube watching and mostly all on T-Mobile LTE with db of around -109 to -112 at the place I work so id say it's pretty good honestly. If you root and ROM like most people do then you'll exceed those stock limitations for sure as evidence of me.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

I don't like to mod or root my devices. So it would have to be stock everything. Camera performance is important to me, as is the ability to spend the day being able to take pictures. I could kill my phone with an afternoon of capturing some snapshots. Haha.
Knowing that I wouldn't root my device, would you still recommend it? ^_^ thanks.

zkyevolved said:
I don't like to mod or root my devices. So it would have to be stock everything. Camera performance is important to me, as is the ability to spend the day being able to take pictures. I could kill my phone with an afternoon of capturing some snapshots. Haha.
Knowing that I wouldn't root my device, would you still recommend it? ^_^ thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah definitely. The phone itself is a beast. Love the form factor, the screen, the speakers, stock software. The camera itself is fast and very simplistic, although it could use more manual camera options like the s6, but I'm sure you can download a camera off the play store with such options and of course you can record video in 4k so overall its not a bad contender what so ever.
Sent from my Nexus 6 using XDA Free mobile app

Just got my N6 Wednesday. Completely stock I'm getting 6-7 hrs sot. Web browsing, YouTube etc. Camera is OK but it's not something that is important to me. I don't take many pictures. Quick charge works well. I came from a note 3. It was a good phone but I like this phone better. Better battery life than I ever got with the N3.

Stock... You've got a great camera. Again battery life is good, its a rather hefty one, but depends on you. How you use it, WiFi vs data, downloads, streaming etc. Basically battery life is in your control.

713brianp27 said:
Stock... You've got a great camera. Again battery life is good, its a rather hefty one, but depends on you. How you use it, WiFi vs data, downloads, streaming etc. Basically battery life is in your control.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand that. That's why I'm so ticked about note 4... My usage is minimal. I am on Wi-Fi 90% of the time. My phone has been off the charger for an hour and this is the first time I've picked it up in an hour and it's already down 4%. Samsung did something horribly wrong.
I also have an awesome Nokia dt-903 wireless charger which I miss using since I switched my Nokia 1520. Haha. So as long as battery is good enough to last a day with normal usage, like taking some pictures, browsing the web for 20 minutes a day, and answering whatsapp and line messages throughout the day, then I'm happy. [emoji1]
Thank you for your reply!
Sent from my Note 4 using Tapatalk

zkyevolved said:
I understand that. That's why I'm so ticked about note 4... My usage is minimal. I am on Wi-Fi 90% of the time. My phone has been off the charger for an hour and this is the first time I've picked it up in an hour and it's already down 4%. Samsung did something horribly wrong.
I also have an awesome Nokia dt-903 wireless charger which I miss using since I switched my Nokia 1520. Haha. So as long as battery is good enough to last a day with normal usage, like taking some pictures, browsing the web for 20 minutes a day, and answering whatsapp and line messages throughout the day, then I'm happy. [emoji1]
Thank you for your reply!
Sent from my Note 4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I`am sure the N6 will not be a letdown i`am sure, i would advice to buy the 64GB version (if available) as there is no sdcard tray to expand memory. As for the size you`re hands and brain will be used to it within 2 days and after that most other phones will look tiny

gee2012 said:
I`am sure the N6 will not be a letdown i`am sure, i would advice to buy the 64GB version (if available) as there is no sdcard tray to expand memory. As for the size you`re hands and brain will be used to it within 2 days and after that most other phones will look tiny
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha. No doubt. I have the note 4 now. Before I had the Nokia 1520, another 6 inch device. But that one wouldn't allow me to sit down with the phone in my pocket. Haha. And I was counting on getting the 64gb model. ?
Sent from my Note 4 using Tapatalk

For sure. Unfortunately Verizon only had 32gb. That being said I have had phone a while and have multirom with 2 extras. Still over 17gb left. If you need it, get it!
---------- Post added at 02:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:56 PM ----------
$50 price difference is nothing. I remember "needing" 64 on iPhone 5S and paid, what 200 more. Foolish

zkyevolved said:
I understand that. That's why I'm so ticked about note 4... My usage is minimal. I am on Wi-Fi 90% of the time. My phone has been off the charger for an hour and this is the first time I've picked it up in an hour and it's already down 4%. Samsung did something horribly wrong.
I also have an awesome Nokia dt-903 wireless charger which I miss using since I switched my Nokia 1520. Haha. So as long as battery is good enough to last a day with normal usage, like taking some pictures, browsing the web for 20 minutes a day, and answering whatsapp and line messages throughout the day, then I'm happy. [emoji1]
Thank you for your reply!
Sent from my Note 4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Note looks like a great phone. If I had TMO or Sprint it would of been a tough call. Do they still have external SD?

713brianp27 said:
Note looks like a great phone. If I had TMO or Sprint it would of been a tough call. Do they still have external SD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep. I toyed with the idea of a note 4, then I remembered id had a Samsung before.

zkyevolved said:
Hello everyone! I'm thinking of getting rid of my Note 4 and getting either a Xperia Z3 or a Nexus 6. Don't get me wrong, the Note 4 is a great device, but for the money, the amount of lag and terrible low-light and indoor pictures and pretty bad battery life is just too much for me.
The most important things for me are:
Battery life
Performance (multitasking)
Camera
All the blogs said the Note 4 was the device for me, but over the last 3 roms I haven't been able to fix ANY of these issues.
How's the Nexus 6? Are you guys generally speaking happy with it? Has anyone played with the Note 4 and could maybe shine some light on their opinion and experiences? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did this switch and haven't looked back since dropping my note 4 for the nexus 6.

I've had the Note 4 , 2 of them between me and my GF, and have been using the Nexus 6 for about 3 weeks now..
My Note 4 experience has been nothing like the OP. I got great battery ( mostly on LTE all day ...RF around -90 to -105db ...SOT almost 7 hrs), neither of the two Notes heated up to an uncomfortable level, the camera on both N4s has been stellar and way better than the Nexus 6 ! The Note 4 had a bit of lag but that was resolved ( at least for me ) when animations were toned down to 0.5x under Developer Options.
If camera, especially in low light situations, and battery are your priorities, stay away from the Nexus 6 ! I love the Nexus 6 but not for its camera or battery.
If it wasn't my impatience for the latest FW w/o rooting, I would have def. kept the Note 4 ! I wish there was a GPE version of the N4!!
I have no experience with the Z3, so can't comment on that device.

zkyevolved said:
Haha. No doubt. I have the note 4 now. Before I had the Nokia 1520, another 6 inch device. But that one wouldn't allow me to sit down with the phone in my pocket. Haha. And I was counting on getting the 64gb model. ?
Sent from my Note 4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung is a good phone. TMO and Sprint service is pathetic. At least here. So having Verizon I went with S5 after years of apple. Glad I did. And thanks to whomever, I was able to get a developer ed. I do miss sdcard a little, but removable battery was NICE. Hardly ever had to charge. Just swap to a fresh bat. I think Sammy is going away from those perks now so now it would be an easy choice....

Yeah, that's what I keep hearing. I guess I'll stick with my Note 4 a little while longer to see what happens with Samsung and their ROMS.
I went to a shop yesterday and did a camera test, and wow... I mean, the detail on the Nexus 6 is fine... But ... What a difference in camera quality...

Hey Note Owners.. talk me out of buying

I currently have an S4 on Sprint. The screen cracked a couple weeks ago and I'm ready for my upgrade. I would like to stay on Sprint and I don't mind using my upgrade eligibility to get a big discount (which rules out a phone like the Moto Pure).
I want a bigger phone, ideally 5.7. I want something with an improved battery life (shouldn't be hard my s4 has a SOT of like 3 hours at most). I don't care about not being able to swap the battery or expandable storage. I want a better camera. I want something that will eventually be able to flash custom roms (seems like the note5 is getting close to this).
Why shouldn't I get one in about a week? What phones are better? Again - whatever phone I buy is going to come from the carrier, so something like a used note4 is not an option. Thanks!

The note 5 will work well for most of your needs. But I'm not sure about custom roms though. I'm not sure about the future but right now, development is slow. There is one custom rom at the moment it looks like for sprint. Something like the moto x or the next nexus may be better if development is important to you since they should work across all carriers. The exynos processor and multiple carrier versions will hurt development. But camera and battery life have been amazing (for me at least, some may disagree).
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk
---------- Post added at 07:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:14 AM ----------
The new z5 premium also looks nice (will it work on Sprint?)
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

I won't talk you out of buying a Note 5, simply because this is the best phone I have ever owned.
The camera, the hardware, the speed, the customization, the sound coming through headphones, the call quality, the battery life, and dat S PEN! Well worth my upgrade and money.
Sent from my SM-N920V using XDA Free mobile app

The new note afaik has an issue with the pen, which when inserted backwards makes it stuck. There are ways to carefully extract it, but you can easily break the S-pen sensor.

zags14 said:
I currently have an S4 on Sprint. The screen cracked a couple weeks ago and I'm ready for my upgrade. I would like to stay on Sprint and I don't mind using my upgrade eligibility to get a big discount (which rules out a phone like the Moto Pure).
I want a bigger phone, ideally 5.7. I want something with an improved battery life (shouldn't be hard my s4 has a SOT of like 3 hours at most). I don't care about not being able to swap the battery or expandable storage. I want a better camera. I want something that will eventually be able to flash custom roms (seems like the note5 is getting close to this).
Why shouldn't I get one in about a week? What phones are better? Again - whatever phone I buy is going to come from the carrier, so something like a used note4 is not an option. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get a note 4..... If you can find one

dikidera said:
The new note afaik has an issue with the pen, which when inserted backwards makes it stuck. There are ways to carefully extract it, but you can easily break the S-pen sensor.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That issue is 100% user error. I'm not worried about that
ryanalan82 said:
Get a note 4..... If you can find one
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said, I want to take advantage of my upgrade discount so I can't get a note 4. I could find one, but I would be paying 400$+ as opposed to the 250$ i can get the note5 from Sprint for.

oy yes TW, lag and very few custom roms.

My old phone was also a Galaxy S4. I used my upgrade to get the Note 5 and couldn't be happier. To be honest on Sprint the Note 5 is probably the best phone you can get

well...something to consider before buying..the AT&T and verizon variants come with locked bootloaders...

if you have small hands...this is not for you....one hand text sucks big time! Speaker isnt that loud as far as notification goes, unless you root your phone and modify some values. Battery is Decent, you get about 4-5 hours SOT. Dev is so-so on tmobile and international version. I think thats about it. This is my first Note series, all the past note are way too big for me, even this one is big for me, but I can work around it.

Chord_Hugo87 said:
if you have small hands...this is not for you....one hand text sucks big time! Speaker isnt that loud as far as notification goes, unless you root your phone and modify some values. Battery is Decent, you get about 4-5 hours SOT. Dev is so-so on tmobile and international version. I think thats about it. This is my first Note series, all the past note are way too big for me, even this one is big for me, but I can work around it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is actually a feature on the device that lets you slide a keyboard to the side for smaller hands. They were thinking of you and people who text and drive

I had it all...all s series and note series and i was a litle sceptic about removing sd and battery but now I have note 5 in my hands and I have to say it is the BEST phone I had and I had it all and I am from EUROPE

I swore myself off TouchWiz after I owned my S4, it was my least favorite android phone. But after I had a really bad experience with the LG G4, I returned it and swapped it for a Note 5. Absolutely loving this phone. Never have had a phone this snappy even after loading it up with all my apps etc. I always notice that out of the box phones are great, and invariably after a week of use they bog down... Not this thing. Software is way toned down as far as TouchWiz is concerned. The S Pen is a pretty great touch. After having it, I realize if you're going to have a large device, might as well maximize functionality and have a stylus and some decent software to go along with it. I give this phone a solid 9/10, 9 because of the no expandable memory but really is a moot point with cloud storage being so good these days, and free. Also, if you're looking to flash custom stuff, consider that Knox will trip and you'll lose out on Samsung pay and other features requiring intact security flag. Definitely cruise over to the Note 5 sprint development page to see what's available before making a jump.
Really I don't think you can go wrong with this device. It's very well done, and has a very premium feel for a device, a first for Samsung... Finally I feel like I'm getting what I pay for

Love the hardware, hate the software. You definitely get what you pay for when it comes to the hardware, it's really fantastic. But I can't get over how much this phone lags for me and how quickly the battery dies so I will be switching back to an iPhone once the 6s Plus is released. On my old 6 Plus I could end the day with 50% battery, on my Note 5 I have to charge around 5 PM, extremely disappointed. But if you can deal with Android the Note 5 seriously is probably the best out right now.

IAmPears said:
Love the hardware, hate the software. You definitely get what you pay for when it comes to the hardware, it's really fantastic. But I can't get over how much this phone lags for me and how quickly the battery dies so I will be switching back to an iPhone once the 6s Plus is released. On my old 6 Plus I could end the day with 50% battery, on my Note 5 I have to charge around 5 PM, extremely disappointed. But if you can deal with Android the Note 5 seriously is probably the best out right now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been surfing this forum and am shocked seeing how many people are complaining about bad battery life. I honestly think it is certain carriers. Which model and carrier do you have?
Because I have AT&T and my battery life is exceptional. It is to the point where I don't even worry about battery life anymore.

WizeGuyDezignz said:
I've been surfing this forum and am shocked seeing how many people are complaining about bad battery life. I honestly think it is certain carriers. Which model and carrier do you have?
Because I have AT&T and my battery life is exceptional. It is to the point where I don't even worry about battery life anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have Verizon, I've even gone and used Package Disabler Pro to turn most of the bloat off and have full strength signal the whole day. I've gone from not having to worry at all about battery to seeing it drop to 75% after 3 hours of barely any use.

IAmPears said:
I have Verizon, I've even gone and used Package Disabler Pro to turn most of the bloat off and have full strength signal the whole day. I've gone from not having to worry at all about battery to seeing it drop to 75% after 3 hours of barely any use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bro, something is wrong. It's either verizon royally screwed something up in their software or you have a defective phone. No joke.
My Note 5 sips battery and all I did was disable all the AT&T bloatware, I didn't even use that app. I am consistently getting 20-25 hours off the charger and 5-8 hours of screen on time. I'm not over exaggerating either.
Losing 75% in 3 hours of not doing much is definitely a problem. I would see if other verizon users are experiencing the same. If not, I would exchange it for a new one unless you are already hell bent on getting the iPhone.
Good luck!

I purchased the Package Disabler Pro app a few hours ago, I'll let you know how it goes on my end. Im on a Verizon Note 5

hunsinger89 said:
There is actually a feature on the device that lets you slide a keyboard to the side for smaller hands. They were thinking of you and people who text and drive
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hahaha damn got caught.

Hard to find an upgrade phone!

UPDATE! Unfortunately my note 4 took a fall and landed on a jagged rock (serves me right for holding it in my mouth using the flashlight) - Anyway, I ended up finding a (like new) LG V20 for $300 USD (It's big but I had to make a sacrifice) It was very hard to decide over the mate 9, oneplus 3t and the V20. Because I got it at a reasonably low price it won't be much of a loss at resale if I decide on something else, especially as something is always right around the corner.
UPDATE COMPARISON BETWEEN LG V20 AND NOTE 4
Impressions about the LG V20 after 2 weeks in comparison to the Note 4.
What is better?
Performance is snappier on the V20 (for obvious reasons)
The screen looks more detailed and sharper (even though they both have the same resolution I think the LCD tech is better in this instance IMO)
The device is easier to hold (I really didn't think a small reduction in width could be so noticeable)
The second display is very useful for launching recent apps and using it to launch flashlight while the screen is off is very handy
Battery life is very similar (I average 5 hours of SOT over 24 hour period) - This is a tie but considering people would constantly rant about poor battery life I had to mention it
Although I don't use headphones often you really can tell the difference when using high level cups
The cameras are much better for enthusiasts. You also have a lot of options that are usually only seen in actual cameras (focus peaking, advanced manual modes etc)
What is not?
Loudspeaker and earpiece are deeper but sound less detailed and clear (even after removing the speaker grille from the chin). If you rely heavily on listening to podcasts or anything else where plain vocals are concerned than this will be a bit of an adjustment for you
There are so many different model variants that development is far less than I originally read in to (almost to the point where I am prepared to look for another phone)
I really do miss having physical keys (I am getting used to it, though)
Overall I am not disappointed in the actual device or it's capabilities in comparison to the Note 4. I could definitely forgive the little things I don't like if it had a stronger community. I will see how it goes over the next few months
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm really struggling to replace my note 4. Don't get me wrong, you can get better handsets, but not a big enough leap for me to make the switch. For example I will list the features that I require in a list from most important to least important features.
1. Community/company development
2. Screen size to body ratio (NON CURVED) (Critical. I want a smaller phone but with still at least a 5.5" display)
3. Capacitive/Physical buttons. (Heavily preferred but open minded to change if everything else is perfect)
4. Large removable battery (Open minded to change)
5. Micro SD and IR Blaster (These aren't deal breakers)
Obviously the rest of the phone would need to have higher internal specs etc, else it wouldn't be an upgrade!
The closest i can find is the
Oneplus 3T (But it unfortunately is a similar size with smaller screen)
LG V20 (Quite bigger than Note 4)
Xiaomi Mi 5s Plus (Little bit taller than Note 4 and unsure about future dev)
Mi Mix (Much bigger and poor camera but this type of design really caught my eye)
Without reducing screen size it's really hard to find anything that ticks every box by a large enough margin to make it feel worth it to me. What are your thoughts? Do you have any advice or do you feel the same way?

I'm kind of in the same boat. I think I'm gonna go with the One Plus 3T, I like how the community looks and One Plus also look like a decent company. Another Samsung isn't an option for me as this will be my last.

My Note 4 has developed the lag, freeze and reboot issue that many have reported, so it's either stick with the workaround of the partial wakelock which hammers the battery life or get a new phone (struggling to find replacement mobo's here in the UK). My last 3 phones have been Samsung and all were bought used but this is the first that's developed a major problem.
So I'm with you guys in wondering what to go for. Something around 5.5 inches with an sd slot a removable battery and a solid camera are my main concerns.
Ideally I'd like a removable battery as it's amazing when I'm travelling (and I travel a lot). What would be the best alternative_A powerbank with quickcharge 2.0?

woldranger said:
My Note 4 has developed the lag, freeze and reboot issue that many have reported, so it's either stick with the workaround of the partial wakelock which hammers the battery life or get a new phone (struggling to find replacement mobo's here in the UK). My last 3 phones have been Samsung and all were bought used but this is the first that's developed a major problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
unexpected reboots/shutdowns can be due to degraded/dying battery,
freezes/lags (tried to flash from 0?) due to the EMMC is about to fail.
i'm in the same boat, but i want at least:
a 6-6.2 inch screen with minimum to no bezels,
635 CPU with 6GB (to be a substantial upgrade)
removable battery.
our note 4 fits 6.4 inch bezelless display (sacrificing home button), so it's perfectly viable.
i guess, we should wait 3 more months till S8 and other options will come out, that promise to be bezelless. Xiaomi Mi Mix did the job, now everybody wants such a phone. At the moment, i see no options to buy either.

lisbon2004 said:
unexpected reboots/shutdowns can be due to degraded/dying battery,
freezes/lags (tried to flash from 0?) due to the EMMC is about to fail.
i'm in the same boat, but i want at least:
a 6-6.2 inch screen with minimum to no bezels,
635 CPU with 6GB (to be a substantial upgrade)
removable battery.
our note 4 fits 6.4 inch bezelless display (sacrificing home button), so it's perfectly viable.
i guess, we should wait 3 more months till S8 and other options will come out, that promise to be bezelless. Xiaomi Mi Mix did the job, now everybody wants such a phone. At the moment, i see no options to buy either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've got 3 different batteries including an Anker one that's only a couple of months old so I dont think it can be that.
What did you mean, flash from 0?

I'm using this Note 7 rom based on aurora 3.1
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/general/note7-port-n910f-standm-aurora-base-t3500338/page1
Before I installed it, I flashed the latest stock rom with odin to get updated base and modems (sammobile) for 910F version.
After that Flashed twrp, did three consecutive wipes in twrp (incl data to clean internal memory) and then flashed the note 7 rom.
Did take a very long time to boot, but that's normal.
If roms don't boot, it's probably because of the bootloader or base not compatible with rom.
Used a couple of kernels, and the best one so far is the latest Xceed test build (N910FG-MM-Test-bld4k.zip) and set it on conservative for food battery.
Absolutely love the rom, no problems at all for me. Makes the note 4 look up to date again.

sebas_tytn2 said:
I'm using this Note 7 rom based on aurora 3.1
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4/general/note7-port-n910f-standm-aurora-base-t3500338/page1
Before I installed it, I flashed the latest stock rom with odin to get updated base and modems (sammobile) for 910F version.
After that Flashed twrp, did three consecutive wipes in twrp (incl data to clean internal memory) and then flashed the note 7 rom.
Did take a very long time to boot, but that's normal.
If roms don't boot, it's probably because of the bootloader or base not compatible with rom.
Used a couple of kernels, and the best one so far is the latest Xceed test build (N910FG-MM-Test-bld4k.zip) and set it on conservative for food battery.
Absolutely love the rom, no problems at all for me. Makes the note 4 look up to date again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sorry, but I'm a tad confused as to how this relates to the "new phone" in this topic. If it's how you fixed the Lag/restart debacle then I'm in your debt....

woldranger said:
I'm sorry, but I'm a tad confused as to how this relates to the "new phone" in this topic. If it's how you fixed the Lag/restart debacle then I'm in your debt....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah I posted in the wrong thread

Welcome on board. Have the same problem. My contract ends now and I've completely no idea where to go now. List of phones which I could get isn't too great. Huawei P9, Samsung S7, HTC 10 or Sony X. Naah. In the end I will probably just buy something but still it's hard to find for me a decent replacement for Note 4. Thought about Pixel but a quick look at the price tag and bam we are far,far away.
On another hand, LG looks interesting. G5 or V20. Especially the G5 with add-ons capability, but I'm not sure would it be an upgrade or just simple change.

woldranger said:
I've got 3 different batteries including an Anker one that's only a couple of months old so I dont think it can be that.
What did you mean, flash from 0?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
from scratch, with complete full wipes before/after, and using a service ROM (with everything included).

Yoshiktk said:
Welcome on board. Have the same problem. My contract ends now and I've completely no idea where to go now. List of phones which I could get isn't too great. Huawei P9, Samsung S7, HTC 10 or Sony X. Naah. In the end I will probably just buy something but still it's hard to find for me a decent replacement for Note 4. Thought about Pixel but a quick look at the price tag and bam we are far,far away.
On another hand, LG looks interesting. G5 or V20. Especially the G5 with add-ons capability, but I'm not sure would it be an upgrade or just simple change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a tough choice between those handsets!

uppon2 said:
That's a tough choice between those handsets!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did spend like whole Sunday looking at different phones, Youtube vids, reviews etc. but still don't see anything claiming the top spot to replace Note. In the end I did just order new battery and Ill just wait till 2017 to see what will show up.

A perfect replacement for a Note 4 is a Note 4S, better spec with a decent fingerprint scanner, LOL if only Samsung thought of that. You guys should wait till after CES 2017, it's in February (CMIIW) there should be new phones out afterwards. The only worthy replacement thus far is either the S7 Edge or V20 IMHO.

This rumoured smaller Mi mix looks interesting. Next year will be the year they perfect screen to body ratio! http://m.gsmarena.com/xiaomi_mi_mix_nano-8439.php

uchihakurtz said:
A perfect replacement for a Note 4 is a Note 4S, better spec with a decent fingerprint scanner, LOL if only Samsung thought of that. You guys should wait till after CES 2017, it's in February (CMIIW) there should be new phones out afterwards. The only worthy replacement thus far is either the S7 Edge or V20 IMHO.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mobile World Congress in February is another one to watch for

uppon2 said:
Mobile World Congress in February is another one to watch for
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sweet mother of God, MWC is actually the one on February (27 - 2 Mar) and CES is on the 5 - 8 of January. Wow gotta save up some cash for mid March.

Yoshiktk said:
Welcome on board. Have the same problem. My contract ends now and I've completely no idea where to go now. List of phones which I could get isn't too great. Huawei P9, Samsung S7, HTC 10 or Sony X. Naah. In the end I will probably just buy something but still it's hard to find for me a decent replacement for Note 4. Thought about Pixel but a quick look at the price tag and bam we are far,far away.
On another hand, LG looks interesting. G5 or V20. Especially the G5 with add-ons capability, but I'm not sure would it be an upgrade or just simple change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thought about that this morning...being a huge LG fan in the past, I have to say I'm quite disappointed with the G5.
V20 is a beast I've heard but don't know if the G5 would be that big a leap from your Note 4.
I'd probably say the Oneplus 3T or hold out for S8 Edge
---------- Post added at 01:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:00 PM ----------
Yoshiktk said:
I did spend like whole Sunday looking at different phones, Youtube vids, reviews etc. but still don't see anything claiming the top spot to replace Note. In the end I did just order new battery and Ill just wait till 2017 to see what will show up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doing the exact same thing lol
I guess that's a great problem to have...Samsung overbuilt the Note 4 in 2014....now its hard to find a replacement lol

Thats true. For me personally Note 4 is so well made and tailored that I would be happy to stay with it forever. Ticks all the boxes, and thats the problem for me.
Lg G5 is nice but lacks something to convince to change. V20 on another hand is tempting. I really like the idea with second wide angle lens. If nothing jumps till march I will give Lg a go.

Yoshiktk said:
Thats true. For me personally Note 4 is so well made and tailored that I would be happy to stay with it forever. Ticks all the boxes, and thats the problem for me.
Lg G5 is nice but lacks something to convince to change. V20 on another hand is tempting. I really like the idea with second wide angle lens. If nothing jumps till march I will give Lg a go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
don't forget about the EMMC time bomb, and it's low performance (read/write speed).
also, it could be time to upgrade to a faster, more efficient chipset with a modem of a higher LTE Category, and more bands.

lisbon2004 said:
don't forget about the EMMC time bomb, and it's low performance (read/write speed).
also, it could be time to upgrade to a faster, more efficient chipset with a modem of a higher LTE Category, and more bands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine just started showing the EMMC issue's. No luck at the end of year. The only option for me is S7. The best choice from what I can get from my provider, not much too choose from.

anyone still here? the note 4 continues to impress me....

Yeah.
It really was a great phone.
How long now? 4 years? 5?
The screen is still fantastic. Big and wide and great definition and deep blacks.
The pen is not trying to do too many things.
The back cover comes off - and there's the battery.
Change the camera lens cover and the photographs are still excellent.
And the lovely metal work is elegant all the time.
It still manages all the games fine, boots fast, is quick with apps.
It's the best ok phone I've had - and I've had them all.
The note 10 is the first one that comes close. I like that they've kept it slim
But the Note 4 still rocks.
Ok. Bye!
Let me know what you think!

Why, of course, the battery is sealed now. Otherwise not much reason to upgrade year on year anymore. Phones are not leaps and bounds better from a few years ago. Only add gimmicks like in screen finger reader. Older flagship speed is enough if you don't play games. This world is sad.
Sent from my VOG-L09 using Tapatalk

Long may it last!

I haven't found an equivalent replacement yet. Sadly, iR control in restaurant/bar TVs seems to be declining...

I have the SM-N910C and I live in Brazil.
I bought it new in 2016 and until today never gave problem. The battery is still great. I almost bought Note 8 or 9 recently, as I needed more internal memory, but solved the problem by going back to Android 5.1.1 (WanamLite, which I've used once for a long time).
I was almost 9 Gb free. Now you will be much longer with me. The device is fantastic.

N910F is still my daily driver! I have modded the cr*p out of it, feels so good, fast, smooth. Hope to be able to use it for 4 to 5 more years.
Bought a LG V20 for my girlfriend, 130 euro. Might also be an option for me, in case my Note 4 breaks down.

BACK BUTTON TO KILL app (only works once)
I fully agree with you aboyut Note4. I bought my wife one and she wanted a 10. I told her I could make the guts do the same thing (plus I can't see spending arms and legs for the most rapidly depreciating item). I've got 128 memory card, one of those massive multiple day batteries, round magnet charger mini USB that jumps on (no plugging), happy as a clam!
Does anyone on earth know of an apk that won't turn off after 1 use back button to kill app? That's my favorite function and I can't stand not being able to close them as I finish except those I return to. I have the apk but I have to keep going into settings, turning it back on for a one time use. Ive searched programming apps but there's none on earth I see that will do the job, and my OS doesn't allow it (I'm still trying to get a custom ROM but having no luck, bricked my other phone yesterday (I think bad CPU sector somewhere based on symptoms).

Hello, I'm currently on a OnePlus 5 but think that it's really overrated coming from my mod friendly S5 mini. I plan on maybe going back to an older phone, because I don't really need performance for anything except Dolphin and Citra Emulator (the MMJ variants of course) but I'd be willing to sacrifice it, since I've seen myself using it only rarely anyway, but I'm a little concerned about 1. The community, since it's an old phone, even though it's a really loved phone. 2. The stylus - does it work on custom ROMs? 3. The battery - I'd definitely buy a 3rd party battery, since the originals will have lost a LOT of capacity, but going from a 10nm SoC (SD 835) to a 20nm one (Exynos 5433) is a little concerning. (4. The kernel and modding sector - Are there good kernels from honest people, not guys like franciscofranco, and mods?) I'd really appreciate answers, maybe I could be helpful because I'm still very young but pretty experienced with modding, development and that stuff, even though I don't even own an x86 desktop and don't even speak english as a native language.

The Note 4 ... a great phone, the best I've ever had! Using it for 4 years now. If it breaks I will upgrade to the Samsung Xcover 4s. It also has a removable battery and the phone looks very reliable. But unfortunately no customs ROMs avaible for it now..

GameShadow7 said:
The Note 4 ... a great phone, the best I've ever had! Using it for 4 years now. If it breaks I will upgrade to the Samsung Xcover 4s. It also has a removable battery and the phone looks very reliable. But unfortunately no customs ROMs avaible for it now..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My depend on what version N4 you have?
---------- Post added at 06:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:28 PM ----------
GameShadow7 said:
The Note 4 ... a great phone, the best I've ever had! Using it for 4 years now. If it breaks I will upgrade to the Samsung Xcover 4s. It also has a removable battery and the phone looks very reliable. But unfortunately no customs ROMs avaible for it now..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may depend on what version of the Note 4 you have or if you know how to port roms. For instance, i have a n910p and locked to the fused5,binary4 aboot preventing downgreading the bootloader. So stuck on 6.0 MM, so thrat sucks but the n910f is very similar in compatibility so that opens up other options. Theres also a GRX touchwiz home mod V8 that is pretty cool.
Im running a combination of Dtux Rom with an N7 custum kernel by freeza r61 and GRX V8 along with. alll sorts of ports from different develops. Thats just part of what I have done with the old N4.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/no...are-customizations-mods-roms-kernels-t3960353

Still Have My Note 4 & Note 7
The Note 4 with Android 6 still serves very nicely as a work phone. At the office, it does everything I need very well. The Note 4 is a better phone than my mom's Galaxy J7 from 2018. But for fun and photography, my Note 7 rocks. Those two Note models remain my favorite. I gave my Note 8 to my wife.

kolembo said:
Yeah.
Change the camera lens cover and the photographs are still excellent.
But the Note 4 still rocks.
Ok. Bye!
Let me know what you think!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you expand on the camera cover statement please Kolembo ... how, from where ?
Agree wholeheartedly ... The Note 4 still rocks,
Cheers .... Alan.

Note 4 was best choice am happy with my note 4
Now am using s10 plus & note 4 ♡

Note 4 is still my favorite of all phones I have had.

I am considering the Xiaomi Mi 9 lite.
It has quite a lot of features of the Note 4: iR port, SD card, oled, earphone plug.
No removable battery, no pen, no barometer. Oh, and doesn't cover so many bands. B12 seems missing.
Would also have some advantages over Note 4: faster, security updates, bigger screen, FM radio (ha), longer battery life, better bluetooth.

I love my note 4. It covers so many functions such as tv remote, portable mp3 player, book reader and movie player. I also love the fact that I can swap out deodexed roms and custom roms at will to enhance the device's longetivity. I do believe that there is no other phone quite like it on the market so I guess thats why I bought a back up note 4 many years ago ??

Yup we're still building
10 Android ROMs and counting.
Plus Ubuntu touch !

I am wondering if my Note 4 is finally dead. I love the phone and was hoping to still be using it but a few hours ago the phone just froze so I just removed the battery. After that, I put the battery back in and it wouldn't power up. I left the battery out for a 20-30 mintues and then put it back it. It was able to power on but after the Tmobil splash screen it goes to the screen before going to the home screen and when I swipe nothing happens. I am afraid my Note has finally given up after years of service. Is everyone else's Note 4 still kicking?
kolembo said:
Yeah.
It really was a great phone.
How long now? 4 years? 5?
The screen is still fantastic. Big and wide and great definition and deep blacks.
The pen is not trying to do too many things.
The back cover comes off - and there's the battery.
Change the camera lens cover and the photographs are still excellent.
And the lovely metal work is elegant all the time.
It still manages all the games fine, boots fast, is quick with apps.
It's the best ok phone I've had - and I've had them all.
The note 10 is the first one that comes close. I like that they've kept it slim
But the Note 4 still rocks.
Ok. Bye!
Let me know what you think!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

After several update over last year the phone started to be very slow. The final blow came beginning Dec 2019 when it did restart by itself and did install then 1 app. Usually will ask me for this. Since then the battery drains 10 times faster. So it is obvious that the update was meant to make me buy a new phone... But I like soo much the note 4.
First I did a factory resent. Did not help at all. Then I did flash it with Odin - now it works soooo fast, better than the new phones. But the battery drain continues. Fully charged in the evening I leave it in flight mode. In the morning the battery is only 50%. And this is with a new original Samsung battery I just bought. Will a re-flash with nand erase help? Does anyone have experience with this?

Andrey12 said:
After several update over last year the phone started to be very slow. The final blow came beginning Dec 2019 when it did restart by itself and did install then 1 app. Usually will ask me for this. Since then the battery drains 10 times faster. So it is obvious that the update was meant to make me buy a new phone... But I like soo much the note 4.
First I did a factory resent. Did not help at all. Then I did flash it with Odin - now it works soooo fast, better than the new phones. But the battery drain continues. Fully charged in the evening I leave it in flight mode. In the morning the battery is only 50%. And this is with a new original Samsung battery I just bought. Will a re-flash with nand erase help? Does anyone have experience with this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it hard for you to find or buy another Note 4 battery? I know it's old by today's standards but I would assume there might still be some new third-party batteries for it. I still have 2 new batteries from Anker when bought two extra for the device a year or two ago. Good luck on trying to find something.