so, 9+ users...why upgrade?

[jlangner]

Love the article on front page...S9+ phone still the best, yet he makes the comment "The Galaxy Note 9 is easily the best Note phone Samsung has ever made, and for once it's actually better than the latest Galaxy S phone in every way. The battery has jumped up to 4000mAh, which gives you effortless all-day battery life, and the rest of the experience is the same as what the Galaxy S9+ offers."

Guess he defines "best" at a price he likes. Best is best, regardless of price or whether it is for everyone.

 

[aggie]

Been using the Note 9 for a few days. The most obvious improvement for me is the battery life. I was not getting good battery life at all out of the S9+ while the Note 9 has been amazing. I'm at 2.5 hr screen on time right now and battery life is still at 75%. I was getting 3-4.5 hrs screen on time with my S9+ and I'm easily beating that with the Note 9. Ive always been a Note fan and am glad to have the pen back and I like the way the phone feels better for some reason. I'm assuming because it's more "boxy" and also the edge curves appear to be less pronounced than the S9+.

Only downside for me is I wanted black. If they release a black one in the US I'll sell this blue one and buy a black one the second it is released.

 

[bls819522]

I was just like you I was on the fence about making the switch. I ended up giving up my S9+ for the Note 9. I have only had it 2 days. But I love the battery so far. This is my first time charging it today of course I didn't play on it much due to my case just coming in and I am weird about that. I love the screen better and storage for about the same price at least on AT& T. The S9+ was $914 and the Note was $999.

 

[Deaconclgi]

For me, the Spen. Bigger battery, bigger screen, more storage, just because it's a Note!!

Same here. Upgraded from my S9+ to the Note 9 last Saturday.

I really wanted the 8GB 512Gb version but I'm not prepared to spend that kind of a down payment. In a few years I'll be ready for the next Note with huge storage options.

 

[illdini]

I'm waiting for the S10+...the specs should be the same or better than the Note 9 (especially the triple camera), & I have no need for the S-Pen (I barely use the one with my Tab S3).

 

[tonyron227]

I'm on T-Mobile's Jump on Demand so I went from the S9+ to the Note9. It's bigger in multiple ways: screen, battery and storage. The S pen upgrade tops it off. I will be jumping to the S10+ next year and I WILL miss the S pen, as I always miss it when I jump from the Note but I just have to have the latest and greatest...

 

[Keith Ian]

Unlike all the posts here, I decided for the first time not to upgrade. This is due to Tmobile screwing their loyal jump on demand customers with down-payment fees that aren't necessary just because the retail price crossed an artificial line called 'expensive'. Lease folks, especially those with excellent credit like me, normally don't have to put anything down. We would rather pay a bit higher monthly fee knowing we probably aren't going to keep the phone for more than a few months. Now, we have to pay a monthly fee plus the downpayment which you have to divide that by how many months you plan to keep the phone before you realize you are paying an outrageous total monthly cost.

Seems odd to me that I can lease a $60,000 car with no downpayment (which I have done), but I can't do that for a $1000 phone. So many of us are contemplating switching back to other carriers we originally came from because of this dishonest business practice. Though I can easily afford it, I am not going to donate my money to Tmobile out of principal. So I'll probably get rid of Jump on demand, buy out my S9+, sell it like everyone else, and get the S10+...but probably direct from Samsung, not Tmobile.

 

[tonyron227]

I feel you and I felt betrayed by TMO when I couldn't get it without a down payment. I was willing to pay the higher monthly for 6 months then JOD to the S10+...in the end, I caved in...

 

[monsieurms]

For me, the Spen. Bigger battery, bigger screen, more storage, just because it's a Note!!

Is the screen really all that much bigger in actual feel when you're using it?

 

[monsieurms]

For me I like the more squared off corners of the Notes. The S series phones are always too rounded.

I have to admit I would prefer the square as well

I was just like you I was on the fence about making the switch. I ended up giving up my S9+ for the Note 9. I have only had it 2 days. But I love the battery so far. .

All batteries seem great for the first couple of days, but the consensus seems to be that the note has a better battery. I wouldn't object, but....On my 9 plus I really don't see that much of an issue. Admittedly,I always keep it topped up. I never run it down, even to the point of keeping external battery packs hooked up. Once the removable battery went bye-bye, I decided I was never going to run the batteries down again..

But the consensus seems to be that the note battery is far better, which is not irrelevant. So, that is one important point.

 

[chanchan05]

If you have the cash lying around, why not? An upgrade is an upgrade no matter how incremental it is. It's like asking if you should upgrade from an Altis to a Camry. Both do the same things, the other is just better at some of those things.

If you have to try and justify the upgrade, maybe you should postpone it until you actually think you need to upgrade.

 

[monsieurms]

I

If you have to try and justify the upgrade, maybe you should postpone it until you actually think you need to upgrade.

That is actually a very good way of putting it. Truthfully I am most concerned with 5G and I am past the point where I'm going to upgrade every year automatically. It just isn't necessary to me anymore. With 5G looming and from what I'm hearing, relatively small points in favor of the Note, I'm thinking it may well be the Note 10 next.

 

[Nakrohtap]

Unlike all the posts here, I decided for the first time not to upgrade. This is due to Tmobile screwing their loyal jump on demand customers with down-payment fees that aren't necessary just because the retail price crossed an artificial line called 'expensive'. Lease folks, especially those with excellent credit like me, normally don't have to put anything down. We would rather pay a bit higher monthly fee knowing we probably aren't going to keep the phone for more than a few months. Now, we have to pay a monthly fee plus the downpayment which you have to divide that by how many months you plan to keep the phone before you realize you are paying an outrageous total monthly cost.

Seems odd to me that I can lease a $60,000 car with no downpayment (which I have done), but I can't do that for a $1000 phone. So many of us are contemplating switching back to other carriers we originally came from because of this dishonest business practice. Though I can easily afford it, I am not going to donate my money to Tmobile out of principal. So I'll probably get rid of Jump on demand, buy out my S9+, sell it like everyone else, and get the S10+...but probably direct from Samsung, not Tmobile.

As stated before, you can still keep T-mobile while get ting your phone from Samsung or unlocked from Best Buy. I doubt most people would change carriers because of this. I was one who switched to T-mobile and JOD had a lot to do with it. It's a shame it comes down to this. But, I think with all the money they lost on JOD the past few years, they probably don't care if their customers get their phones elsewhere. It's all about the service. T-mobile probably wishes JOD would go away as well.
Keep in mind some of the issues people are having buying direct from Samsung as well.

 

[Nakrohtap]

I feel you and I felt betrayed by TMO when I couldn't get it without a down payment. I was willing to pay the higher monthly for 6 months then JOD to the S10+...in the end, I caved in...

Did you get the low down payment or the $279? If you paid the latter knowing you would jump again in 6 months, that's robbery. $400 for 6 months use of a phone just to turn it back into them. With the old JOD, it would have been about $250 for 6 months.
If I can't get the lower down payment at the end of this week, I'm done with JOD as well.
Everyone is different, though, I know.

 

[chanchan05]

That is actually a very good way of putting it. Truthfully I am most concerned with 5G and I am past the point where I'm going to upgrade every year automatically. It just isn't necessary to me anymore. With 5G looming and from what I'm hearing, relatively small points in favor of the Note, I'm thinking it may well be the Note 10 next.

You wouldn't be looking for reasons to upgrade if money wasn't an issue. Or even if it's not and you can afford upgrading, at the back of your head it's more that you're trying to justify the cost. Basically, if you have to think about justifying the cost and even ask people if it's worth it when you have something that can do all of your needs, it's probably not. It's of course a difference if we're talking about should you buy an S9+ or a Note 9 coming from say, an S7 era device. The price difference is not big enough to justify choosing the S9+ unless you have money concerns. But if you already have an S9+, the "worth of upgrading" drops drastically, and makes it very case to case.

 

[anon(20964)]

What is this blasphemy, people are leasing cellular phones?

I thought most simply buy outright, no credit, no leasing. What happened?

 

[tonyron227]

Is the screen really all that much bigger in actual feel when you're using it?

It it much bigger than the S9+ but only slightly wider than the Note8...

 

[tonyron227]

What is this blasphemy, people are leasing cellular phones?

I thought most simply buy outright, no credit, no leasing. What happened?

I lease it because I keep getting the newest one every 6 months...now, I don't have to sell it on eBay and lose money...

 

[tonyron227]

Did you get the low down payment or the $279? If you paid the latter knowing you would jump again in 6 months, that's robbery. $400 for 6 months use of a phone just to turn it back into them. With the old JOD, it would have been about $250 for 6 months.
If I can't get the lower down payment at the end of this week, I'm done with JOD as well.
Everyone is different, though, I know.

My down payment was $81.99 plus tax...

 

[tonyron227]

As stated before, you can still keep T-mobile while get ting your phone from Samsung or unlocked from Best Buy. I doubt most people would change carriers because of this. I was one who switched to T-mobile and JOD had a lot to do with it. It's a shame it comes down to this. But, I think with all the money they lost on JOD the past few years, they probably don't care if their customers get their phones elsewhere. It's all about the service. T-mobile probably wishes JOD would go away as well.
Keep in mind some of the issues people are having buying direct from Samsung as well.

Actually they do want it to go away but I will never leave that program..