Note 5 or 6P

[Snappy Phoenix]

I am a little concerned about the size. The note 5 is smaller and it has hardware buttons. The 6P has a pretty big gap under the screen and software buttons. Wouldn't the note 5s screen be bigger because it haven't software buttons? (Never used software buttons, so I don't know anything about them )

Software buttons are annoying, you sometimes hit them right and sometimes find yourself tapping on air, just my 2 cents. I'd take a hardware button any time of the day.

 

[krishnansasikumar]

@qnet - One of the most balanced post I've seen. Thanks a lot.

 

[So Cold]

I am a little concerned about the size. The note 5 is smaller and it has hardware buttons. The 6P has a pretty big gap under the screen and software buttons. Wouldn't the note 5s screen be bigger because it haven't software buttons? (Never used software buttons, so I don't know anything about them )

The software buttons are not static. It's a tough thing to just explain but if you watch any nexus or moto in depth video you'll get an idea for how the buttons work and when they will and will not show up.

I personally don't have any problem with them and after using nexus phones and tablets for years it becomes very natural.

I'm sure they could have trimmed the bezels and gotten the overall size of the phone down but that also costs money and the nexus is a cheaper phone than the note 5.

 

[qnet]

Your welcome, krishnansasikumar. If a Google Play Edition Note 5 existed with all the S-Pen, and screen features the decision would be much harder for me.

I don't mind the software buttons but i have a car app where they don't go away when viewing in landscape, but they may be more on the developer of the app.

 

[titaniumSS]

Also the reason the N6P is big is due to the front facing speakers; something the Note 5 does not have. The 6P is barely larger than the Note 5. I hardly doubt you would be able to notice in hand. If you're considering a Note 5, then the N6P isn't too big.

 

[Wildo6882]

I will reiterate what some others have said in here:

If you aren't worried about future updates, and don't care about a clean and uninhibited OS, then go with the Note 5. It's a great phone. Has a great screen, pretty solid battery life, absolutely impeccable camera, and has some great features that many people love.

I, however, really love getting updates when they're released, not when Samsung and AT&T say I can have it. I want a clean OS without the extra junk that Samsung throws in. I'm fully invested in Google, and you just get a clean interface the way Google intends it on Nexus devices. And I don't use a lot of the features that are tossed into the Note 5. I am going to miss the camera, but the reviews so far of the 6P camera show that it isn't a piece of junk either.

 

[So Cold]

Also the reason the N6P is big is due to the front facing speakers; something the Note 5 does not have. The 6P is barely larger than the Note 5. I hardly doubt you would be able to notice in hand. If you're considering a Note 5, then the N6P isn't too big.

Every little bit can make a difference. I've got a Moto X PE in hand (same size screen and front facing speakers) and the N6P will be noticeably larger in footprint but also noticeably thinner.

 

[constable]

If the brutal combination that is Rogers and Samsung had the brains to bring the 64gb version of the note 5 to Canada,I would have already purchased it. They didn't so now the 6p looks to be my next phone .

 

[mojook]

If the brutal combination that is Rogers and Samsung had the brains to bring the 64gb version of the note 5 to Canada,I would have already purchased it. They didn't so now the 6p looks to be my next phone .

Exactly. I would have loved to keep going with the note series, but 32gb is useless to me. I'll miss a lot of the TouchWiz features some I've been on the note series for the last 4 years, but I'm excited to start using the stock Android everyone is raving about when I get my hands on the nexus 6p

 

[Trym Bjerkvik]

Wort waiting to next year instead? (Snapdragon 820)...

 

[titaniumSS]

No because it will still have to be cleared through Samsung or whatever manufacturer you have.

 

[RoadTripEric]

What do you think?

I held strong to the Note line through the Note 4. At a certain point TW and lag became a deal breaker for me. Since the Note 4 I have gone to Windows Phone, LG G4, Moto X Pure and now have a 6P on order. I am confident the Note 5 is a fantastic phone, but if the 6P screen can even play in the same sandbox as the Samsung display, it is an easy choice for me. I give very little up with the 6P - and gain the light software footprint and fast update.

Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

 

[toyanucci]

6p all the way. I've been with Samsung for years and I honestly don't mind the newer touchwiz as it adds a few things that I consider missing. Full month calendar widget, an awesome voice recorder app and share via WiFi direct are my to 3, but even with that, noting beats stock android. Battery life is better, the device is smaller too. So me coming from s3 all the way to note 4, I'm giving Samsung a little break and going by to nexus.

Sent from my SM-T800 using Tapatalk

 

[CincyGuy]

The other thing to consider is security. If you have access to your corporate email on your phone, or if you access sensitive personal info on your phone like bank or credit card info, security is becoming more of an issue. It seems weekly now we are getting reports of major malware being discovered for Android. I believe only Google has guaranteed monthly security patch releases. The only other Android manufacturer I would have any faith in at this point, from a security standpoint, is Samsung. However, I still doubt in their ability to get security updates out to multiple phones and through multiple carrier certifications as quickly as Google will be able to do for Nexus phones (which is why I will only buy Nexus from now on).

Honestly, if you are buying any other phone other than a Nexus, I would strongly urge you to look at some anti-virus app in the Play store.

AVG and Avast seem to have the best ratings (4.5 stars) and both have a free version. Paid version for Avast is $15 annually, no price shown for paid version of AVG. Having looked at both of these just now, they seem to have some neat options, making me consider trying them out just for the extra piece of mind.

 

[TripleOne]

Both are great devices. Whichever one you choose, it can't go wrong.

 

[WeAreAllUnique]

I watched some videos of the Nexus 6P and the phone looks great. My Nexus 6 was a beast of a smartphone. I had no complaints about anything. Now, I have the Note 5. I love this smartphone. It has the best camera, build quality, and screen I have ever used on a smartphone. And the s-pen has become a staple on how I use my smartphone throughout the day. Wireless charging is also a great feature. The fact that I don't ever need a post-it is huge for me.

Note in my house!

 

[Lepa79]

I watched some videos of the Nexus 6P and the phone looks great. My Nexus 6 was a beast of a smartphone. I had no complaints about anything. Now, I have the Note 5. I love this smartphone. It has the best camera, build quality, and screen I have ever used on a smartphone. And the s-pen has become a staple on how I use my smartphone throughout the day. Wireless charging is also a great feature. The fact that I don't ever need a post-it is huge for me.

Note in my house!

My brother has the same story above. He got me hooked on Nexus line (I was a note user before) and he switch to Note 5 from Nexus 6. He loves note 5.
Both great devices. You can't go wrong.

 

[So Cold]

if the 6P screen can even play in the same sandbox as the Samsung display, it is an easy choice for me

It's the same display.

 

[kalookakoo]

It's the same display.

All they said was it it is Samsung's latest generation panel. That's like saying you have Honda's latest generation car. So is that a 2016 Honda? Civic? Who knows.

And even if it had the same panel, it doesn't mean it is calibrated the same way or be on the same level. Most reviews so far say while it is close to the Note 5, the note 5 is still the clear winner.

 

[Wildo6882]

All they said was it it is Samsung's latest generation panel. That's like saying you have Honda's latest generation car. So is that a 2016 Honda? Civic? Who knows.

And even if it had the same panel, it doesn't mean it is calibrated the same way or be on the same level. Most reviews so far say while it is close to the Note 5, the note 5 is still the clear winner.

"...still the clear winner..." doesn't and won't mean much to the vast majority of people. If you put them side by side, then maybe someone would notice. But I'd wager that most users, including us junkies here, won't noticed or be bothered one bit by the 6P screen. It's not going be so vast of a difference that it really, er, makes a difference.