Samsung Galaxy S5 (left) - Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (right)Contrary to popular belief the iPhone 6 is not the only new handset being launched this month. Android purists will be focused on the Nexus 6, but for the masses the big interest is Samsung and the new Galaxy Note 4.
The original Galaxy Note was a game changer when it was released in 2011 and with the Note 3 last year the large format 'phablet' hit the mainstream, selling over 10 million units in just two months. Furthermore with smartphone screen sizes getting ever larger phablets are becoming less and less intimidating to transition to and they typically marry their big screens with masses of power and great battery life.
All of which creates a conundrum: phone or phablet? The 4.7-inch Galaxy Alpha is likely to be too small for potential Note 4 owners so my comparison point is the Samsung Galaxy S5 - the biggest selling Android phone on the planet. Let's put the two head-to-head. Display: Galaxy S5 5.2-inches - Galaxy Note 4 5.7-inches
One may be a phone and the other a phablet, but both devices have huge screens. The duo have each increased 0.2-inches compared to their predecessors, but while the S5 maintains the same 1920 x 1080 'Full HD' display as the S4, the Note 4 ups its game to an incredible 2560 x 1440 pixels (also known as 'QHD' aka 2k). Materials: Galaxy Note 4: plastic or metal chassis - Galaxy S5: plastic
Many will rightly question whether the S5 and Note 4's 'pixels per inch' densities of 432 and 550 ppi respectively matter. After all Apple defines a 'Retina display' (where the human eye can no longer make out the individual pixels) as 326ppi, but this is disputed and many swear they can see the difference - notably Forbes' contributor Ian Morris in his review of the 2560 x 1440 5.5-inch LG G3.
As for the screens themselves, sadly Samsung has not matched the much anticipated iPhone 6 sapphire display with either device and both use Corning Gorilla Glass 3 instead. Don't be too put off, Gorilla Glass 3 is currently the toughest material on any handset. Samsung also fits the S5 and Note 4 with Super AMOLED panels which are far brighter than standard IPS displays, though they can also oversaturate colours so it is best to try them in person to see if you're a fan.
Samsung has (in my opinion, rightly) come in for a lot of criticism in its phone construction and neither the Note 4 or S5 will do a lot to change that.
In my Galaxy S5 review I found its faux-leather plastic back in particular feel cheap and the Note 4 carries on this unwelcome design trait. One upside for Note 4 owners is Samsung will release a premium version of the phablet which has a metal back, though no pricing for this has yet been revealed. Read more: Samsung Galaxy S5 Hands-On Review
Of course the good news with Samsung phones is these somewhat unappealing backs can be swapped and they also provide access to the battery, sim card and memory card slots. For some who like to carry spare batteries around this is a deal maker.
Another practical element is, like the S5, the Note 4 is dust and water resistant. This doesn't mean you can go swimming with either handset, but they will survive being dropped in a sink of water or even being used in the shower if you need to answer an urgent call. Power: Galaxy Note 4 Snapdragon 805 Chipset - Galaxy S5 Snapdragon 801 Chipset
Size and Weight Not usually the first consideration of someone interested in devices this big, but nevertheless Samsung has pulled off some impressive nips and tucks with both models.
The Galaxy S5 measures 5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32-inches (142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm) and 5.11oz (145g) which is highly compact for a phone of its size. Meanwhile the Note 4 comes in at 6.04 x 3.09 x 0.33-inches (153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5 mm) and 6.21oz (176g). This is closer than you might expect though, while some may be able to use the S5 one handed, the Note 4 is definitely a two handed device.
While Samsung supplies both devices with its own 'Octa-core' chipsets in its native South Korea, in the wider world the company uses Qualcomm and its ubiquitous Snapdragon chips. Camera: Galaxy Note 4 16MP and OIS - Galaxy S5 16MP
Here the Note 4 has the upper hand. Coming to market six months later it has the advantage of the 805′s quad core 2.7GHz processors and an Nvidia Adreno 420 graphics chip, compared to the 801′s quad core 2.5GHz processors and Qualcomm Krait 400 graphics chip in the S5. Meanwhile the Note 3 packs a massive 3GB of RAM compared to 2GB in the S5.
The end result is the Note 4 will outperform the S5 in every benchmark, but does this make any difference in the real world? For most day-to-day tasks and even the vast majority of gaming, the answer is no. Both devices are blazingly fast. The difference will become more apparent over time as increasingly demanding games come to market, but the real advantage of the 805 now is battery life as it is far more efficient (I'll discuss this in its own section). Memory: Galaxy Note 4 32GB + microSD - Galaxy S5 16/32GB + microSD
Here the Note 4 again wins out. Both models have 16 megapixel rear cameras, but the Note 4 includes optical image stabilisation (OIS). As the name suggests, this stabilises the camera sensor when taking an image resulting in less blurred shots and smoother video (both shoot 4k) and delivers significant benefits at night where longer exposure times are required.
The Note 4 also has a second advantage in the age of the selfie: a better front facing camera. Whereas the S5 has a 2.1MP sensor, the Note 4 ups that to 3.7MP. Make no mistake, the S5 still takes some of the best images we've seen from any smartphone, but the Note 4 represents a step up. Battery Life
I'd give the Galaxy S5 the edge here as it offers more choice with 16GB and 32GB variants, but in reality the ability of both it and the Note 4 to take microSD cards with up to 64GB of storage mean there is a stack of space available.
Furthermore microSD is increasingly becoming a differentiator as main rivals the iPhone and Nexus ranges have never and will never adopt microSD. The likes of Sony, LG, Asus and HTC (via the One M8) offer microSD compatible phones, but Samsung is by far and away the biggest player to do so.
The Note 3 was one of the longest lasting mobile devices and the S5 is one of the longest lasting smartphones and the Note 4 carries on this fine tradition. Miscellaneous:
In order to power its larger, higher resolution screen the Note 4 has a hefty 3220mAh battery compared to the 2800mAh capacity in the S5. Given the Note 3 had a 3200mAh battery this may not sound like much of a bump, but this is where the Snapdragon 805 chipset kicks in. The Note 3 already has the S5 beaten when it comes to battery life (though both comfortably see out a day's intense usage) and while Samsung has not given away figures for the Note 4, it says the new phablet will comfortably outlast its predecessor.
Just as important is the Note 4's new quick charge functionality. Samsung claims the phablet will be able to reach a 50% charge in just 30 minutes. The S5 is no slouch giving a 20% charge in only 12 minutes, but that doesn't extend to getting the phone to the halfway point as quickly as the Note 4.
Disappointingly Samsung has confirmed the Note 4 will ship with Android 4.4 rather than the newer 'Android L' (expected to be called Android 5.0) which will debut later this month. Samsung is traditionally slow with its upgrades and with the S5 also running 4.4 there could be a significant wait on both for an upgrade.
Where the devices offer compensation, however, is their array of sensors. The S5 introduced a heart rate sensor as part of its 'S Health' system and the Note 4 also incorporates this. Both also have fingerprint scanners and while neither is yet as slick as the scanner in the iPhone 5S home button, they do offer a simple extra layer of security. Release Date And Price
In addition the S4 gets a UV sensor to tell you how dangerous the sun's rays are and whether you need to spend some time in the shade.
Quirky as this is, the real differentiator of the Note 4 is its 'S Pen' and the fourth generation Note receives a new version which Samsung boasts has better pressure sensitivity. For those unfamiliar with the S Pen, it is a fancy name for a stylus and gives the Note highly accurate handwriting recognition and drawing abilities while it can also be used for navigation. Read more: Apple iPhone 6 vs Samsung Galaxy Alpha: 2014′s Biggest Smartphone FightBottom Line
While you can go out and buy the Galaxy S5 now, the Note 4 will not hit shelves until October. This may sway users desperately in need of a new handset, but four weeks isn't long to wait and while the S5 will be upgraded in six months the Note 4 will Samsung's flagship phablet for a year.
As for pricing, on contract much will depend on individual carrier subsidies but both should come in around the usual $199 on a two year contract. Off contract it is a similar story. The Note range has previously undercut the S series by about $100 ($799 to $699), but the S5 will be seven months old when the Note 4 launches and more discount deals for it should be available.
On paper the Galaxy Note 4 is a better device than the Galaxy S5. It has more power, a higher resolution screen, bigger battery and better cameras but much will come down to size. If you can make the leap to a two handed phone then the Galaxy Note 4 should repay you in spades, but for some the Galaxy S5 will be as big as they dare go. Follow @GordonKelly
Interestingly both the Galaxy S5 and Note 4 should also have direct rivals from Apple this month in the form of the much leaked 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch iPhone 6. While Samsung's devices trade a lot of blows with one another, their biggest fight has yet to come.
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Post By http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2014/09/04/samsung-galaxy-note-4-vs-galaxy-s5/
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