I wouldn't call the complaints BS. Your points are valid, but so are Note 4 lovers'. Regarding sd card expansion, battery life, and IR blaster, the key difference is convenience. We can achieve the offline Action Memo on the Note 4 as well. The new out of the box 5.1.1 Note 4 is just as fast as the Note 5, with very little difference. I agree though, the look of the Note 5 is awesome, but once we put a plastic case over it, both look the same.Interesting dilemma. I went through this myself a couple of weeks ago. My push toward the Note 4 was the sim card. I wanted a phone that used the Micro Sim Card like my Galaxy S5 as I wanted to be able to switch back and forth between the S5 and the Note. The Note 5 uses a Nano Sim Card.
Then I found out (here at Android Central) about sim adapters and I found the best sim adapter was already in my kit from Tmobile. It is the Trio Sim Card from Tmobile and allows me to easily switch my sim from the Note5 to the S5. I am ecstatic that I didn't have to downgrade to the Note 4. The truth is about the interchangeable battery is that while thought I wouldn't be able to live without an interchangeable battery that was just nonsense when I shined the hard light of reality on the subject.
I had my Galaxy S5 for about a year with one extra battery. Not once in that entire year did I ever need to change the battery. So that knocked the "interchangeable battery deal breaker" out of the picture. Not an issue especially since I picked up a 15,200 mAh power bank by Choe from Amazon. This will do a FAST recharge if needed of my Note5, 5 times on one charge. However, the Note 5 is less power hungry than the Note 4 in the first place. Now the battery issue was truly eliminated.
Then regarding the absence of the micro SD card, I picked up a Dash Micro SD Card Adapter from Amazon for $13. It will adapt up to 128GB micro SD cards to my Note 5 with a tiny accessory that simply plugs into the USB slot. Bingo! There went the so called "micro SD card deal breaker" issue.
Then the only thing remaining that could even remotely be considered a "con" in upgrading from a Note 4 to a Note 5 is the absence of the IR Blaster. Again, for me, this was a non issue. All of my equipment at home is controlled by Logitech WiFi remote control which offers an Android app that works perfectly without IR.
So bottom line is I went with Note 5 and I am very glad that I did. The feel, the horsepower, the improved software - everything is just better on the Note 5. I have no reason to ever look back.![]()
The only valid reason I can see someone might need to go with a Note 4 would be cost. If the prospective buyer cannot afford the Note 5 then by all means, the Note 4 is a good alternative. But all these other BS complaints about the battery, the SD card, etc., are just that - BS.
I believe that the technological advancements on the Note 5 are worth every penny of extra cost over the Note 4. In fact, in my business, the ability to take notes down without having to engage the S Notes app has paid for the cost difference already. I just pop the pen out and start writing, try doing that with any other smart phone on the market, it won't happen.
Congrats. Does yours come with 5.1.1 out of the box? And what carrier? I had a Note 5, reverted to my Note 4. Then bought a Note 5 again to use Samsung Pay, only to find out my bank has yet to participate. Now I go back and forth between these 2 phones, and honestly, being tethered to a charger with my Note 5 is really a hassle, and I even have the quick wireless charger, ha.I got the note 4 - did a nice little trade deal for it. I love it. So far I haven't been disappointed at all. It keeps up with everything I was doing on the note 5. I haven't used the camera too much yet so will see how that goes. Nice phone
Posted via the Android Central App
Note 4 is a no brainer. Note 5,
Smaller battery
No sd card slot
No removable battery.
An easy decision.
Posted via the Android Central App
I had the note 4 and have to disagree with some of these after 2 months with the note 5. The battery is almost the same as the note 4 if not better (it's definitely better in standby time). The exynos 7420 and ddr4 ram is definitely taking a huge effect on battery life. The battery lasts all day so I never find the time to miss the replaceable battery.
And sd card slows your phone down
Posted via the Android Central App
I agree with you...the 5.1.1 Note 4 out of the box seems to be better overall than the ones released a year ago. Regarding the Note 5's battery life seems to be better may be because it has a newer battery cuz it's a much newer phone. When I popped in a new battery for my Note 4, it's battery life is the same if not a bit better than my Note 5, same carrier, apps, usage, etc.Same here. I switched from Note 4 to Note 5 a few weeks ago and my battery life is about 10-15% better. I went with the 64GB model which more than meets my needs. I've had SD card problems off and on with phones so I'm happy to be rid of it. On rare occasions I had carried and used a spare battery but switching to a quick charge 2.0 portable battery charger is not a big deal for me and overall I'm very glad I made the switch. I also got tired of waiting for T-Mobile to make the 5.1.1 update available. The previous update made the phone worse with several ongoing issues, the worst being the GPS being practically useless and required me to buy a dedicated GPS for my vehicle. The Note 4 is still a great phone and maybe a better choice for some, especially if you can get the 5.1.1 version, but not a no brainer decision.
Exactly, right on the button. It's great to hear from the voice of experience, someone who has owned both and is discerning and honest enough to report the realities of these two great phones.I had the note 4 and have to disagree with some of these after 2 months with the note 5. The battery is almost the same as the note 4 if not better (it's definitely better in standby time). The exynos 7420 and ddr4 ram is definitely taking a huge effect on battery life. The battery lasts all day so I never find the time to miss the replaceable battery.
And sd card slows your phone down
Posted via the Android Central App
I agree with you...the 5.1.1 Note 4 out of the box seems to be better overall than the ones released a year ago. Regarding the Note 5's battery life seems to be better may be because it has a newer battery cuz it's a much newer phone. When I popped in a new battery for my Note 4, it's battery life is the same if not a bit better than my Note 5, same carrier, apps, usage, etc.
Regarding Note 4 users with a spare battery, but rarely used it...I understand...but once they use it the way I and some others use it interchangeably in the day, they would understand the beauty of never needing to be tethered or recharged their phone in the day. To me, would you want 16+ hours/day of ongoing battery life with a spare battery or 8 hours with the hassle of recharging it?
Well, my real world experience is perhaps comparing apples to apples since I am using the Note 4 and 5 concurrently, same usage pattern, apps, carrier, signal strength, etc. While my Note 5 is optimized better than my Note 4, the battery life is not that much better, honestly. And certainly not enough to offset the benefit of the swappable battery feature of the Note 4. The Note 5 though is pretty to hold and look at, naked.Exactly, right on the button. It's great to hear from the voice of experience, someone who has owned both and is discerning and honest enough to report the realities of these two great phones.
I have my Note 4 for six months and love everything about it. After using my son's Note 5 I am convinced that I have the right phone. For sure I would not trade my 6 month old Note4 for a new Note 5.