Still not ready to depart from my note 4.

[AXEL314]

Just got my Note 4 today - amazing. Will be retiring the S5, was a great phone. This S Pen is fantastic

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[JimmieCD]

System reset, Action launcher, Samsung browser, uninstall/disable apps that are not used, spare batteries. This is a great phone!!.

 

[Nick_1020]

Have you cleared your cache? If not, I'll explain how. Do you have any apps that you no longer need? Are there settings that are on that you don't need that can be disabled? If you don't like Touchwiz, download another Launcher from the play store. I prefer Action Launcher 3 and Aviate but there are tons more to choose from with several different features. Nova Launcher seems very popular.

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Thanks for the reply Coraya.

I've cleared the cache after installing system updates. It makes a little bit of difference but the issues with lag and general poor performance come back in time.

I've recently gone through my app list and uninstalled all apps/games that I don't use that much. It has freed up a little space but not really made any difference in performance.

I'm sure there are changes I can make in settings that may make a difference such as disabling Bluetooth, NFC and wifi when not in use but I find this a bit inconvenient to keep disabling/reenabling settings in order to improve performance.

I've had Nova installed for a long time but only really started to have a look at it recently. It's certainly faster than TouchWiz and has some nice features but it doesn't fix the other issues I'm having with the phone.

It's looking like a factory reset which I've been reluctant to do as I don't want to lose app/game settings in the process. I fine with backing up photos, contacts, messages etc but I'm not too keen on losing settings and progress for third party apps that don't use the cloud to backup data.

It's the lessor of two evils though. I'd much rather have a phone operating at it's peak performance.

 

[nahoku]

Despite what I hear about how great Android is at managing ram/memory, my gut feeling is that it aint' all it's cracked up to be. I've been dealing with computers since machine language and the way computer drives work is that they become fragmented. Ram/memory also becomes fragmented and if Android works anything like computers, there are small segments of information/data plotted all over the place. Eventually when something is launched, all these fragments need to be found in order to run the app, or display something on the screen... thus lag.

The more apps get installed/uninstalled, texts, photos, videos, music gets moved, added, or deleted, the more fragmentation occurs. Android won't take the time to start shuffling data to make sure things open as quickly as they can. Rather, it just searches until it can find all the parts required and then displays it. So, the longer you own your phone, the more stuff you do, the more it's going to lag. Can't be helped.

In all honesty, I haven't read up on any information about how Android deals with memory, and really, I don't care much... that's why I haven't investigated it. To me, I just accept that as a phone or tablet gets "used", things will naturally slow down. It doesn't bother me as long as nothing takes more than 1/2 second at the most. My Note 4 is just like everyone else's... at times when I change screens, there is a small lag like its waiting to get drawn. Again, to me this is natural as the GPU needs to dump/gather data and draw this stuff.

It's like Windows... at first install, the thing is blazing. After a year... not so much. When the Note 5 first came out, you heard nothing but praises about how fast it was. Now, there are lag threads in that forum too... something I fully expected! I'm not picking on the Note 5, so don't get me wrong... all phones lag over time.

 

[muzzy996]

As you're all making note of as these devices get loaded down with software performance hits are going to happen. Initially factory resets are going to revitalize a device but as a user goes back to using it the way the did before much of the same software invariably gets loaded back on and the lag returns. '

Like Nahoku I admit not knowing the intricate details of how things work. I have however spent a lot of time working with rooted devices and maximizing performance by leveraging hibernation, freezing of unwanted services and controlling startup of apps/services. I can speak from experience that ridding RAM and cache from active applications and services that a user will rarely use is the best way to minimize lag and keep it away for good. Unfortunately this takes far more time than an average user would ever want to spend and of course root . . and the challenges and "risks" assocaited with root.

If you want to see what I'm referring to try installing System Panel Lite Task Manager and looking at the list of cached applications on your device. Chances are there will be applications cached that you may not use frequently yet they sit there in memory waiting for you to open them. Everyone has different applications on their devices and thus each device performs a little differently since RAM and CPU usage is going to vary accordingly. With root if this list is weeded out by hibernating less used applications so that more frequently used ones float to the surface the observed performance of the device will improve because all of your frequently used applications will be preloaded. Left on its own though, Android isn't going to optimize what's cached or loaded and what's not in a way that will please everyone.

 

[jordyd]

Just got my Note 4 today - amazing. Will be retiring the S5, was a great phone. This S Pen is fantastic

Posted via the Android Central App

Hey great!

Looks good with that Samsung case. I got the black version, but dont really use it because it makes the phone just that little bit bigger.

But those cases make the phone look great at the back.

 

[nahoku]

Now this is what a genuine OEM battery looks like! No question of its authenticity; has the water damage sticker on the top and came in retail packaging along with a protective plastic case.

View attachment 223096

The Note 4 battery I just got from AC Store yesterday was sent to me in a plain plastic bag... no wrapping, no box, no semi-clear storage container. I really don't mind so much about the box, but the storage container should have been included. How the heck am I supposed to store and carry a spare battery without a case? Luckily, I have a case from my other battery, but storing a battery in my charger is NOT ideal! AC supposedly sells OEM, but maybe not! Very disappointed in my first purchase from them! I feel like contacting them to ask them to send me a case... in fact, I will, and post back what they say!

 

[AXEL314]

Hey great!

Looks good with that Samsung case. I got the black version, but dont really use it because it makes the phone just that little bit bigger.

But those cases make the phone look great at the back.

What's cool is my Note seems to be fresh off the press: Phone Info reports a manufacturing date of 02/19/2016



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[Vacmfuzzy]

Nova works for me because it is extremely customizable, plays well with different themes and icons, and phone lag is improved vastly over Touchwiz.

 

[Coraya]

The Note 4 battery I just got from AC Store yesterday was sent to me in a plain plastic bag... no wrapping, no box, no semi-clear storage container. I really don't mind so much about the box, but the storage container should have been included. How the heck am I supposed to store and carry a spare battery without a case? Luckily, I have a case from my other battery, but storing a battery in my charger is NOT ideal! AC supposedly sells OEM, but maybe not! Very disappointed in my first purchase from them! I feel like contacting them to ask them to send me a case... in fact, I will, and post back what they say!

I won't speak for AC but I wouldn't be surprised if they sell liquidated products. I'm sure your battery is new. Maybe just a returned item at a retail store with damaged packaging. But again, I'm not speaking for Android Central store, I'm just trying to make sense of the situation.

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[nahoku]

I won't speak for AC but I wouldn't be surprised if they sell liquidated products. I'm sure your battery is new. Maybe just a returned item at a retail store with damaged packaging. But again, I'm not speaking for Android Central store, I'm just trying to make sense of the situation.

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Well, this certainly better not be the case. Selling used or liquidated products should carry a disclaimer. I can see it happening on ebay, but here??? I'm using the new battery right now to test, and the battery that got removed is sitting on the side with a piece of tape over the contacts. I emailed AC Store, so we'll see what they say.

 

[nahoku]

Same here, first time I ordered from them and disappointed that they don't appear to be genuine OEM. Things like that are why I normally only get batteries directly from the OEM (ex. Samsung) or from a retail channel that is known to carry genuine OEM (ex. Best Buy or my carrier Verizon), but they were all out of stock at the time. Then I saw an ad on the AC homepage where they were 43% off at Shop Android (their listing even uses the word OEM). I should've known better and stuck to my M.O. While so far they charge normally and provide good battery life I can't help but wonder about their reliability and longevity.

Thankfully, this past Thursday I found Verizon had them in stock again and where I can use an employer discount (ex. only $20 a battery. ), so I cancelled my order at Samsung that was still 3 weeks in on back order. The Samsung customer service rep I spoke with when cancelling said they're noted to be that way a while yet. I asked if it was due to demand and/or limited supply but he wasn't sure (we both agreed though it's probably both).

Well, I got a reply from ShopAndroid (AC's store). It seems these batteries are OEM, but "bulk" purchase. Nothing in their ad stating so, so no way to tell where these came from. In my opinion, ShopAndroid used deceptive/leading advertising by omitting the "bulk/white box" description, and stating this... "Bring a spare with you on a camping trip, a late night drinking excursion or even while you're traveling" Yah, you can take one somewhere... just make sure you tape over the contacts first! Sad!

Buyer beware... these OEM Note 4 batteries that ShopAndroid sells is NOT in retail packaging and there is NO CARRY/STORAGE CASE included.

This really left a bad taste in my mouth for some reason! I actually feel ripped off... mostly because ShopAndroid knowingly omitted the "bulk" purchase information in their ad. Had I known there was no case, I wouldn't have bought the battery. I've been buying computer stuff for a very long time, and Newegg, and even Amazon, will state "bulk/white box" packaging. What a let down, especially the CS rep writing, "I'm sorry for the inconvenience". Was that supposed to make me feel better?

I have learned my lesson!

 

[Jnug70]

Only Geordy and Data can tell the resolution. Lol

Posted via the Android Central App

 

[John Speros]

I ordered a Note 4 battery from Samsung's website for $24.99 on 3/10/16. It was on backorder but finally arrived on 4/4/16.

 

[nahoku]

UPDATE..

Just wanted to update that ShopAndroid is issuing me a partial refund for not having a case included with the battery. I guess they're doing it because their listing didn't state this. They have not changed their listing to reflect the fact yet, and I don't know if they ever will. I got the battery for the sale price they had it for yesterday, $16.95... but I still much rather have a case instead! The battery works fine, holds a good charge, and appears to be Samsung OEM, so not all is bad.

Next time... well, you know...

 

[ron s2]

i was in verizon today looking at the phones....i compared the note 7 to my note 4,,,i just don,t see where it has the wow factor to make me upgrade...there is just not enough there for me to do it...the other phone i looked at is the v10 from lg...i am dissappointed in the display lg has in it,,ips..sort of dull looking...i am waiting now for the v20 to come out..it is suppose to have a knock out audio on it...and i listen to spotify all the time...just hope lg makes a better screen too..if the screen on lg v20 is better..i might bite for that...due to the audio

 

[michail71]

One thing I'm hooked on with my Note 4 is the smart flip cover. I like that it's a part of the phone and not a case. It makes holding the phone much easier and has kept the phone in pristine condition without being bulky.

From what I understand this isn't an option going forward.

 

[heavyvino]

I have 8 spare batteries and a deep love for old faithful, my note 4. Not the fastest but with 6.x.x it is as perfect a phone for me. I don't get a new car each time I pay it off, so I won't do that with a phone either, as long as it continues to meet my needs it will be my daily driver. I like swappable batteries as I use at least 2 a day.

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and eat meat in it.