The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 sported a familiar design language to the Galaxy S5, featuring a faux-leather back with stitching. While subjective, some found it classier than the plastic backs common at the time. The phone felt substantial in hand due to its size (5.7-inch display) and weight (176g). A metal frame added a touch of premium feel.
Display
The 5.7-inch Super AMOLED display was a marvel in 2014. It boasted a Quad HD (2560 x 1440) resolution, resulting in incredibly sharp visuals, deep blacks, and vibrant colors. Even by 2024 standards, the display remains impressive, offering a great viewing experience for multimedia consumption.
S Pen Stylus
The S Pen received significant upgrades in the Note 4. It offered improved pressure sensitivity and a more pen-like feel. New features like handwriting recognition and multi-tasking gestures enhanced productivity and creative workflows. While styluses are more commonplace today, the S Pen in the Note 4 was a pioneer and remains a compelling feature.
Performance
The Note 4 packed a powerful Snapdragon 805 processor (or Exynos 5433 in some regions) paired with 3GB of RAM. This combination offered smooth performance for everyday tasks and even some demanding games in 2014. However, by 2024 standards, it struggles with high-end applications and multitasking compared to modern flagships.
Camera
The 16-megapixel rear camera captured good quality photos in good lighting conditions. It offered features like optical image stabilization (OIS) for sharper low-light shots and faster autofocus. While not groundbreaking in 2014, the camera held its own. However, today’s smartphones boast superior camera technology with multiple lenses and computational photography advancements. The Note 4’s camera falls short by comparison.
Battery Life
The 3220mAh battery provided decent battery life for a phone with such a large display. Users could expect a full day of moderate use on a single charge. In 2024, with more power-hungry apps and displays, the battery life wouldn’t be as impressive.
Software
The Note 4 launched with Android 4.4 KitKat with Samsung’s TouchWiz UI on top. TouchWiz was known for its customization options but also for bloatware and resource intensiveness. By 2024, the software is outdated and wouldn’t receive security updates, making it a security risk.
Overall
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 was a powerful and feature-rich phablet in 2014. It offered a stunning display, a refined S Pen experience, and capable hardware. However, by 2024, the outdated software, aging processor, and average camera make it a tough recommendation.
