This fall in the mobile industry an important event. The latest phablet from the popular South Korean brand, Samsung Galaxy Note 4, has gone on sale. You can fall in love with this new product, cool in every way, at first sight. The large screen, thoughtful design and excellent ergonomics will appeal to any user, and the high performance and rich functionality of the smartphone, including stylus support, will completely drive you crazy and win the hearts of fans of modern technology.
The main disadvantage Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is a high price, but you have to pay for the fun. There's nothing you can do about it. Our task is to reveal everything Samsung secrets Galaxy Note 4 in this small review: reveal and determine whether the gadget is worth the money they are asking for it.
Design and ergonomics
On the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 smartphone, the developers of the South Korean company stopped the trend of increasing display sizes, which was pedantically observed in the previous three models of the line. The display diagonal of the new product is the same 5.7 inches as that of the Galaxy Note 3, its predecessor smartphone.
If the quality of the screen, which we will talk about a little later, has changed for the better, then the dimensions have deteriorated somewhat. So, the thickness of the device, which logically should have been reduced in the new smart, is 8.5 millimeters. This is 0.2 mm more than the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.
The display resolution has changed. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has become more elongated compared to previous models. The Note 4's width and height are 78.6mm and 153.5mm respectively. The device also weighs a little more than its predecessor smartphone (by only 8 grams) – 176 grams.
The Galaxy Note series has always been the most expensive and prestigious from Samsung. In addition to high-quality technical filling, distinctive feature its devices have a special exquisite design.
Cameras Samsung Galaxy Note 4
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is equipped with a powerful 16-megapixel camera, the development and production of which is entirely the responsibility of Samsung. The difference between this matrix and the camera Galaxy smartphone S5 is the presence of optical stabilization.
All other parameters are the same: the frame standard is 16:9, good autofocus, F/2.2 and ISO settings from 50 to 1600. The maximum photo resolution is 5312x2988 pixels, and video is 3840x2160.
The camera control interface is very simple. It is concise and understandable - the same as that of the Samsung Galaxy S5. All the necessary touch control buttons for shooting are always at hand.
To evaluate the quality of the camera, we provide you with example photographs:
Examples of pictures from the main camera
The front camera has a resolution of 3.7 MP - this is an ideal setting for fans of selfies and web chats.
Examples of pictures from front camera
Autonomous operation
Compared to Note 3, the battery capacity of the new phablet has changed by only 20 mAh, that is, 3220 mAh. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 charges very quickly. According to the manufacturer, when the battery is fully charged, the smartphone works:
– up to 850 hours in standby mode;
– up to 20 hours talk time;
– from 11 to 13 hours when surfing the web (depending on the type of Internet connection);
– up to 12 hours in video viewing mode;
– about 57 hours when listening to music.
Conclusion
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is equipped with many unique and interesting features. You can admire the autumn novelty endlessly, but any device has disadvantages. On expensive devices they are simply well hidden, but a specialist will always find vulnerabilities. But the important thing is that the Galaxy Note 4 is definitely worth the money they ask for it.
Thanks to its functionality, particularly stylus support, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has a strong advantage over its main competitor - Apple iPhone 6 Plus. The cost of both devices is approximately the same, so you should think twice before buying one or another device.
We hope that our review helped you evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the new Samsung phablet and decide on your possible choice.
, samsung j5 2017 .What users think about Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (reviews)
| “The smartphone is a dream. It’s a cool gadget, you just have to save up for it, but it’s definitely worth the money.” |
| “I like the phone. There is only one drawback - there is no radio, well, sometimes I want to listen to it, for example last news or music." |
| “A lot of guys sort devices by screen size and pay attention to the processor, and they do this mainly for games and the wow effect. And this smartphone is designed for people with all kinds of needs. It's great for geek students and just self-learning. You can, of course, sometimes play on it, but its main purpose is to develop it. It's mostly a tool. And for everyone who doesn’t need the capabilities of a pen, I recommend other models... There are a lot of smartphones with big screen and powerful filling." |
| “I had Note 1 and Note 2. Very cool in everything, real assistants in various fields of activity and, of course, the irreplaceable, famous S-Pen. So for me there are no options – I’ll definitely take the Note 4.” |
| “As a Note 3 owner, I see almost no reason to upgrade. The design is, of course, cooler, but there’s no reason to replace it; I’m not a fan of metal edges. And so, I agree that the smartphone is worthwhile.” |
Thanks for the photos provided: hi-tech.mail.ru, ixbt.com and iguides.ru.
Smartphones with large screens and powerful hardware, despite all the skepticism, have found their consumers. They are used by a huge number of people. Some of them even turned out to be from tablets. The real leader in this segment for the second year in a row is Samsung. Last update line of phablets - Galaxy Note 4, which has become a real embodiment of technology, functionality and High Quality. Finally, this device has reached our editorial office.
Now, perhaps, you won’t understand how smartphones with almost 6-inch screens became bestsellers in the high price segment. Three years ago, few people thought of producing such devices. In 2011, Samsung released its first Galaxy Note. At that time, the model was accepted ambiguously. There were a lot of jokes about bricks, shovels and briefcases. And this is taking into account the 5.3-inch display diagonal. Now every third phone has similar characteristics, and nothing. By 2014 size Samsung screen Galaxy Note has grown to 5.7 inches. And this does not scare away consumers at all, but, on the contrary, attracts them.
As before, the Galaxy Note 4 is a more advanced device in terms of positioning than the . Although functionally there are few differences between them. These are mainly applications for using a large display area. There is also a difference in the materials of the case. in this regard, it is considered more versatile and affordable, and Note 4 is considered premium. Hence the difference in price - 20,000 rubles in new money (before devaluation - 8,000 rubles). Let's see if this device is as ideal as people think of it.
Specifications Samsung Galaxy Note 4
id="sub0">- Network: EDGE/GPRS/GSM (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz), WCDMA (850/900/1900/2100 MHz), 4G+/LTE-A Cat.6 (300/50 Mbit/s) in Qualcomm version
- operating system: Android 4.4.4 (Kitkat), TouchWiz interface
- Processor: 2.7 GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 or octa-core Samsung Exynos 5433 at 1.9 GHz
- Memory: 32 GB, 3 GB RAM, microSD slot
- Display: 5.7" Quad HD, Super AMOLED
- Camera: main 16 MP, OIS, flash, UHD 4K video (3840 x 2160) @ 30fps, front 3.7 MP
- Communications: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac VHT80, MIMO(2x2), NFC, Bluetooth 4.0 BLE / ANT+, USB 2.0, FM radio no
- Sensors: accelerometer, digital compass, magnetic field sensor (Hall Sensor), gyroscopic sensor, light sensor, proximity sensor, hand motion sensor, heart rate sensor, fingerprint scanner
- Battery: 3220 mAh, removable
- Dimensions, weight: 153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5 mm, 176 g
Delivery package and first impressions
id="sub1">Samsung Galaxy Note 4 comes in standard packaging for the latest devices. This is a small rectangular box made of hard gray textured cardboard. Packaging with a large number “four” looks stylish and expensive due to the minimal number of pictures and information printed on its surface.
Inside is the device itself, microUSB cable, which is used for charging and connecting to a computer. In addition, there is a power adapter-plug, a battery, a wired headset with 3.5 mm with a flat tangle-free noodle wire and in-ear gel ear pads. A small stack of paper documents is traditionally neatly secured in a paper pocket. That's all.
The scope of delivery includes:
- Samsung SM-N910C Galaxy Note 4 phone
- Battery 3220 mAh, lithium-ion
- Charger adapter USB devices
- Cable for synchronization with computer
- Stereo headset with miniJack 3.5 mm
- Set of earplugs different sizes
- Set of replacement elements for the stylus
- Instructions, documentation
Taking my smartphone out of the box, I immediately caught myself thinking that in front of me Galaxy Alpha, only with a significantly enlarged screen. The sensations from a metal frame along the contour with a polished chamfer are similar.
But the thickness is quite standard. You can feel the heaviness of the device in your hands. The dimensions here are 153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5 mm, weight 176 grams. The Galaxy Note 4 is big, bulky, heavy, but also quite thin. Thus, the design hides most of the negativity about the size.
It is possible to carry the device in the pockets of tight clothes, but I wouldn’t talk about comfort. Personally, I feel uncomfortable. If you are wearing jeans or trousers, then in the “sitting” position you try to place the device on the table. The gadget bulges out of the pocket.
Design and appearance
id="sub2">The design of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 incorporates the features of previous devices: and . Here you can find the same rectangular shapes, a large screen, a plastic cover with a leather-like texture, a painted steel frame, sharp ends, and so on.
The metal frame seriously changed the perception of the entire device. It has become more solid, reliable and expensive. Previously, such a rim was made of plastic, was streamlined and rounded, giving a kind of lightness and airiness even to such large products as huge representatives Galaxy lines Note. However, it also gave them a characteristic look of cheapness. Now everything is different. The only question is, why did the metal need to be painted? Samsung responds that it is more beautiful this way. In my opinion, a lengthy answer.
The back cover remains plastic, but this plastic is very tactile. It is matte with a leather-like texture. This fact prevents the smartphone from slipping out of your hand. Unlike here, there is no imitation of leather stitches at the ends of the lid.
There are no fingerprints left on the sides of the device and on the back panel of the device. This is a definite plus. The marks are only visible on the display.
As for the assembly, it is perfect. There was no feeling that there was a rattle toy in front of me. Quite the contrary. Everything is very high quality, reliable and tightly fitted.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 comes in four variants: dark grey, pink, white and bronze. The device I tested was dark gray.
Almost the entire front part of the device is occupied by a large 5.7-inch touchscreen display. Above it is a speaker. To the right of it are located: a camera for video calls (3.7 megapixels) and various sensors: motion sensor, light sensor, G-sensor.
Below the screen there is a menu button (it has a built-in fingerprint scanner) and two touch keys. Everything is standard here.
The location of controls and other elements on the smartphone body has not changed compared to Galaxy.
On the right side there is a button to turn on, turn off and lock the phone. On the left you can see the volume key. There is no camera button here; the camera app for shooting can only be launched from the menu or lock mode.
At the bottom end there is a standard microUSB connector for charging and connecting to a computer. Nearby there is a compartment for a stylus pen. There is also a microphone here.
At the top end there is a 3.5 mm headphone output, another microphone, and an infrared port for using a smartphone as a remote control. remote control.
On the back side you can see a 16 megapixel camera lens with autofocus and LED flash. In addition to the main camera protruding above the surface of the body and LED flash You can also see a heart rate sensor here. By placing your finger on this small sensor on the back of your smartphone, you can not only measure heartbeat, but also to assess the level of stress that your body experiences in this moment. All this is made possible with the pre-installed S Health app.
There is a speaker at the bottom for external sounds and calls. I would rate the sound a four minus. You can hear the call well only if the speaker is not blocked by anything. Otherwise, a vibration alert or maximum volume level will help. But in terms of the sound quality of music through an external speaker, the Galaxy Note 4 is completely inferior.
Under the back cover there is a battery compartment, a microSIM slot and a slot for microSD cards. It also contacts the antennas, improving their sensitivity.
The device does not have protection from water and dust, support wireless charging Same.
The build quality of the smartphone is excellent. During the test I did not find any external defects. The impressions are extremely positive. The smartphone is assembled at the company's plant in Vietnam.
Screen. Graphics capabilities
id="sub3">The Super AMOLED screen in the Galaxy Note 4 measures 5.7 inches. Its resolution has noticeably increased to Quad HD and is 1440x2560 pixels with an amazing density of 515 ppi - the highest density in the line. The clarity of the picture is excellent, the fonts are very neat even with a minimum size, in a word - there is nothing to complain about. Even in direct sunlight the image remains readable.
Thanks to the “Optimize display” option, the user can significantly reduce the strain on their eyes. The device analyzes the level of lighting around and, depending on the conditions, sets the contrast and brightness, plus adjusts the colors on the screen. The screen looks good in the sun. I did not notice any problems with reading the information.
The outside of the screen is covered with Corning protective glass Gorilla Glass 3. The thickness of the side frames from the edge of the screen to the edge of the body is approximately 3.5 mm.
Galaxy Note 4 recognizes touches from gloved fingers. To do this, in the settings you need to check the box next to auto-adjust screen sensitivity. The smartphone also has a proximity sensor that blocks the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear.
A separate line should be said about the stylus, which has become a proprietary option of the Note line. Using the pen is as close as possible to a pen or pencil, and the screen's increased sensitivity handles pressure in a way that makes it feel like you're drawing on paper. This allows you to write and draw more and more often.
Fingerprint scanner
id="sub4">As noted above, the Galaxy Note has a fingerprint scanner built into the key below the screen. To identify the user, you need to slide your finger along the bottom of the screen and touch the center key. The initial setup will require 10 prints. In the settings you can register up to 3 different fingerprints.
In 90% of cases the scanner works correctly. The process of unlocking the screen, for example, occurs in a couple of seconds. If problems arise, the smartphone displays messages asking, for example, to wipe the surface of the scanner due to high humidity, etc. Apparently, this uses a sensor that is already in the device and measures the ambient temperature and humidity.
Subjectively, Samsung's fingerprint scanner performs at the same level as Apple's. But I cannot claim the truth in the first instance.
Menu. Interface and navigation
id="sub5">Samsung Galaxy Note 4 comes with Android 4.4.4 operating system and TouchWiz shell. The software can be updated over the air.
As is the case here, the settings menu is made in the form of shortcuts, the appearance of which evokes memories of the deceased Symbian. In the main menu, application icons look familiar.
The Galaxy Note 4 has a multi-window mode, where you can place two windows at once on one screen, for example, a browser or web browser, as well as a photo gallery below it. In addition, there is an S-Pen function that allows you to take notes, write reminders by hand, and also embed individual pictures from the screen into an edited letter, message or document.
The keyboard has an additional row with numbers - this allows you not to switch the layout if you need to enter them. In addition, the keyboard itself has large spaces between the buttons, which is convenient when typing. A swipe mode is also implemented. The keyboard and screen sizes can be reduced to allow one-handed finger control.
When using the stylus, a circular menu appears on the screen, offering four modes of pen operation: context commands, smart selection, image cropping and caption on screenshot. Control using the stylus has become smoother, without jerking or freezing. The S Note service is also updated, synchronizes with the pre-installed Evernote, creates notes both by hand and using virtual keyboard and can convert handwritten text into editable text (Snap Note). For example, you can take a photo of a note on paper and then edit it.
Travel lovers will love the S Translator application, which will become an indispensable assistant. It provides instant translation of words, letters, messages and chats into different languages, and also supports voice input.
In S Health you can measure your pulse, start a pedometer, enter data on the food you eat and admire the number of calories consumed, build a training program for running, walking, cycling or hiking with setting the final goal. Detailed statistics are displayed for all parameters; you can add photos of the area during training or pictures of the food you consume.
For anyone who monitors their health, this application will be extremely useful. It completely replaces everything paid analogues from third party manufacturers. Interestingly, Samsung has removed the ability to measure temperature and humidity levels from S Health.
But FM radio was not implemented into the device, leaving it for music lovers music player, which, without changes, is replete with functions. Videos can be viewed frame by frame and a large number of audio and video codecs are supported. S Voice has improved, but the range of commands it recognizes is still inferior to Siri on the iPhone.
Overall, the system has increased the number installed applications. On the one hand, this somewhat “overloads” the system, on the other hand, it provides maximum functionality right out of the box (a separate article can be devoted to this). There were no bugs in the operation of the applications.
Camera. Photo and video capabilities
id="sub6">The camera is traditionally a strong point Samsung smartphones, and Galaxy Note 4 was no exception. The device takes excellent photographs, the quality of which is quite comparable to those taken by some not-so-cheap digital point-and-shoot camera. The recorded video is not bad. It looks great on a phone screen and looks good on a computer too.
It uses a 16 megapixel camera, the maximum resolution of pictures is 5312 x 2988, video is 3840 x 2160 (UHD). The Sony module and proprietary ISOCELL technology are used. In this case, all the familiar functions are available, including selective focus (after the frame is taken, you can change it and “blur” the desired area, without having to re-shoot the object). HDR mode, Panorama, Selective autofocus, Virtual tour, Post effect), including shooting modes.
The main functional improvements concern the front camera (3.7 MP, lens with F 1.9 aperture): panoramic selfies with a viewing angle of up to 120 degrees and auto-photo when blinking/smiling. Noisy groups of friends will be pleased with this Korean innovation.
Memory and speed
id="sub7">Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is powered by the latest single-chip system (SoC) of Samsung's own production - Exynos 5 Octa 5433, made using a 20 nm process technology. The eight-core processor here has 4 Cortex-A15 cores operating at a frequency of up to 1.8 GHz, as well as 4 Cortex-A7 cores, the maximum operating frequency of which is 1.3 GHz. The graphics core of the SoC is the Mali-T760 GPU, operating at 700 MHz.
There is also a second hardware Note version 4 - quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 with a frequency of 2.7 GHz, with Adreno 420.
During the test, I did not notice any glitches or slowdowns at all. Everything works great. But usually Android smartphones (particularly Samsung) begin to slow down after a while, when the device is filled with data. Initially, Note 4 is one of the most powerful smartphones Now. What’s important is that even in games and other resource-intensive tasks, the smartphone heats up quite moderately.
There is 3 GB of RAM, just like in Note 3. The internal memory is 32 GB, it can be expanded using microSD cards for another 128 GB.
Communication capabilities
id="sub8">In addition to the standard connection to a computer via microUSB 2.0, the Galaxy Note 4 supports Bluetooth 4.0. Bluetooth provides wireless connection peripheral devices: For example, A2DP/AVRCP stereo headsets. When connected via USB, the device is recharged.
When connected to a USB port, there are several connection options: Media, “Charge only”, MTP. In MTP mode, the device is picked up perfectly without additional drivers, you can copy the necessary data.
Note 4 works in Wi-Fi networks standards a/ac/b/g/n (2.4/5 GHz) and can distribute Wi-Fi. The smartphone works without problems in networks mobile communications GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900, HSPA+ 850/900/1900/2100. 4G+/LTE-A Cat.4 (150/50 Mbit/s) is supported.
Among additional options It is worth noting NFC and an infrared sensor.
Navigation is carried out using GPS, Russian GLONASS and Chinese Beidou.
Duration of work
id="sub9">Samsung did it great job to ensure satisfactory operating time for a smartphone with such powerful hardware and a large screen. On the one hand, there is a 3220 mAh battery. On the other hand, there are optimization algorithms. With an average load, a full charge lasts for one and a half to two days, this is comparable to the Note 3 or a little worse. Video at maximum brightness with active Wi-Fi smartphone spins for almost 12 hours (Note 3 had 14 hours).
A productive tablet phone with a maximum range of capabilities
Samsung has once again updated its popular line of tablet phones, introducing new model series called Galaxy Note 4. It is not surprising that the Galaxy Note line was updated again in the fall. It just so happens among mobile electronics manufacturers that they try to coincide the release of most new products with one of the popular international exhibitions: the spring MWC in Barcelona or the autumn IFA in Berlin. Samsung, like many other manufacturers, has made it a habit to announce new products from one of its popular line, Galaxy S, during the spring exhibition in Spain, and in the fall it traditionally presents the next model from the Galaxy Note series of tablets in Germany.
In general, there are no noticeable changes in the next Galaxy versions Note not as much as there was at the moment Galaxy release Note 3, the main differences are in the hardware. Like last time, the Koreans released their new tablet phone with two different electronic components. For Russian market It is planned to supply smartphones running on a new SoC of Samsung's own production called Exynos 5 Octa 5433, the eight-core processor of which has 4 Cortex-A57 cores operating at a frequency of up to 1.9 GHz, as well as 4 Cortex-A53 cores, the maximum operating frequency of which is 1.3 GHz. We're out of luck, as always, because the Exynos system has traditionally been less energy efficient than the Qualcomm SoC. But the main thing is that in this configuration the smartphone supports operation only in LTE networks Cat4 - faster LTE mode Cat6 will not be available for it, unlike another modification of the Galaxy Note 4, based on the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 platform, where the maximum operating frequency of the four Krait 450 cores is 2.7 GHz, and which just supports LTE Cat6. The modification based on the Qualcomm SoC has the index N910S, and for our market the main model planned is N910C - we repeat, on the Exynos 5 Octa 5433. This is the modification that was in our test laboratory, and it is this that we will talk about today.
Video review
First, we suggest watching our video review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 smartphone:
Well, now let’s take a closer look at the characteristics of the new product.
Main characteristics of Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (model N910C)
| Samsung Galaxy Note 4 (N910C) | Huawei Ascend Mate 7 | Oppo Find 7 | LG G3 | |
| Screen | 5.7″ Super AMOLED | 6″, IPS | 5.5″, IPS | 5.5″, IPS |
| Permission | 2560×1440, 515 ppi | 1920×1080, 367 ppi | 2560×1440, 538 ppi | 2560×1440, 538 ppi |
| SoC | Samsung Exynos 5433 (4 Cortex-A57 @1.9 GHz and 4 Cortex-A53 @1.3 GHz) | HiSilicon Kirin 925 (4x Cortex-A15 @1.7 GHz + 4x Cortex-A7 + i3) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 (4 Krait 400 cores) @2.5 GHz | |
| GPU | Mali-T760 | Mali-T628 MP4 | Adreno 330 | Adreno 330 |
| RAM | 3 GB | 2 GB | 3 GB | 2/3 GB |
| Flash memory | 32 GB | 16 GB | 32 GB | 16/32 GB |
| Memory card support | microSD | microSD | microSD | microSD |
| operating system | Google Android 4.4 | Google Android 4.4 | Google Android 4.3 | Google Android 4.4 |
| Battery | removable, 3220 mAh | non-removable, 4100 mAh | removable, 3000 mAh | removable, 3000 mAh |
| Cameras | rear (16 MP; video - 2160p), front 3.7 MP) | rear (13 MP; video 1080p), front (5 MP) | rear (13 MP; 4K video), front (5 MP) | rear (13 MP; 4K video), front (2 MP) |
| Dimensions and weight | 154×79×8.5 mm, 176 g | 157×81×7.9 mm, 185 g | 153×75×9.2 mm, 173 g | 146×75×8.8 mm, 155 g |
| average price | T-11028898 | T-11036156 | T-10752992 | T-10848744 |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 4 offers | L-11028898-10 | |||
- SoC Exynos 5 Octa 5433, 8 cores ARM big.LITTLE (4 cores [email protected] GHz + 4 cores [email protected] GHz)
- GPU Mali-T760
- operating room Android system 4.4 with TouchWiz shell
- Touch display Super AMOLED, 5.7″, 2560×1440, 515 ppi
- RAM(RAM) 3 GB, inner memory 32 GB
- Map support microSD memory up to 128 GB
- Communication GSM/GPRS/EDGE 850/900/1800/1900 MHz
- Communication WCDMA: 850/900/1900/2100 MHz
- Data transmission LTE Cat4 150/50 Mbps
- Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (dual band), (HT80) MIMO PCIe
- Bluetooth 4.1 (BLE, ANT+), NFC, IR port
- USB 2.0, OTG, MHL 3.0
- GPS (A-GPS), Glonass, Beidou
- 16 MP camera (optical stabilization, autofocus, LED flash), 2160p video
- Camera 3.7 MP (front), f/1.9, wide-angle lens
- Accelerometer, proximity and light sensors, gyroscope, fingerprint sensor, UV sensor, e-compass, barometer, heart rate sensor
- Working with the S pen stylus
- Li-ion battery 3220 mAh (removable)
- Dimensions 154×79×8.5 mm
- Weight 176 g
Appearance and ease of use
As for the dimensions, the Galaxy Note 4 has not changed much compared to its predecessor, remaining practically the same dimensions and with the same screen size. New smartphone became literally a couple of millimeters longer and several grams heavier, but given the overall considerable dimensions, such changes seem completely insignificant. Note 4, like previous models in the series, is itself a very large and quite heavy mobile device, but nothing about its dimensions should seem unusual to users already accustomed to modern “shovel phones.” Moreover, at the same time presented there in Berlin, the direct and most important competitor among top-end tablet phones today, a wonderful Huawei Ascend Mate 7 turned out to be with all its positive qualities even larger and more massive (however, it also has a larger screen). Be that as it may, it is not entirely reasonable to discuss seriously the dimensions of this type of device, since the large dimensions (resulting from placement in the case big screen) is a key attribute of tablet phones. We have before us a mobile device, the main purpose of which is to combine the capabilities of a smartphone and a tablet, so in this case there can be no talk of miniature size. However, nothing prevents us from tracing the evolution of products Samsung series Galaxy Note 4 down to fractions of a millimeter:
- Samsung Galaxy Note - 146.8 x 82.9 x 9.6 mm, 178 g
- Samsung Galaxy Note 2 - 151x80.5x9.4 mm, 180 g
- Samsung Galaxy Note 3 – 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm, 168 g
- Samsung Galaxy Note 4 - 153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5 mm, 176 g
In general, in terms of overall appearance and design, the new Galaxy Note 4 is very similar to its predecessors: there are the same rather strongly rounded corners, the same arrangement of parts, controls, the same oval mechanical button under the screen, and even the same coating, imitating leather on the back cover. The only thing that has changed is the wide side rim that runs along the entire perimeter of the device’s body. Here it received not only a rougher, somewhat brutal shape with straight edges and sharply cut edges, but also made of metal, and not plastic, as before. The changed bezel gives more seriousness to the device, makes it a little rough and angular, visually adds volume and heaviness to the smartphone.
The bezel is painted in the same color as the body, but the chamfers on it shine with silver metal, and the whole thing is very reminiscent of the creations of the Chinese brands Vivo and Oppo, which BBK Electronics has been producing with exactly the same bezel since last year. Did Korean designers borrow this element the Chinese or have reached this point with their own minds is unknown, but for people familiar with the Vivo Xplay 3S and Oppo N1 smartphones, such a visual discovery may seem familiar and secondary.
As for the mentioned back cover, then it also underwent some changes in appearance. The pattern extruded into the plastic has become more prominent and now resembles the real texture of the skin much more than before. However, the “seam” “stitched” along the edge of the lid was missing. In general, the changes have only benefited the smartphone; the rough surface of the back cover allows the device to be held securely in the hand and not slip out. There is no need to talk about how dirty the case is: fingerprints can only be left on the front glass, but not on the back surface and sides.
The back cover of the smartphone, as before, is a removable element, so the method of installing cards is familiar for such cases: the memory card and SIM card are inserted into slots hidden under the cover. For microSD memory card supported hot swap, but remove the SIM card without removing it battery, will not work. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 uses a Micro-SIM card, and this fact is surprising, since many famous manufacturers, such as Sony, HTC, Motorola, Huawei and Acer, presented their top devices in the new season with support for Nano-SIM cards. We are not at all going to advocate for any of the standards, but if there is a movement among manufacturers towards the transition to Nano-SIM, then I would like the market to completely come to a single standard and settle on it in the end! Use in different modern smartphones as many as three various formats SIM cards are annoying, and in this case, Samsung could show foresight and alleviate the suffering of users mobile technology. If the market is destined to switch to the Nano-SIM standard, it would be good to do it quickly and smoothly, and not drag out the process for years.
On the outside of the cover, in addition to the usual camera windows and LED flash, you can now find a speaker grille, which is somewhat surprising, because in the previous model the sound output was organized through the bottom end. There is a small protrusion next to the speaker grille, and the camera window protrudes noticeably outward, raising the lying device above the surface, but all this does not help much: the sound of the main speaker of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is still noticeably muffled when the smartphone is lying face up. This was not observed with the Galaxy Note 3, so it becomes completely incomprehensible why such a sudden “regression” suddenly occurred in the next model in the series.
Next to the flash, a single block is placed, as in the case of the Galaxy S5, a heart rate sensor, the functionality of which has been expanded this time. Now, by placing your finger on this small recessed window on the back of your smartphone, you can not only measure your heart rate, but also determine the oxygen level in your blood, and even assess the level of stress your body is experiencing at the moment. All this becomes possible using the pre-installed S Health application, and the sensor on the rear wall can also be used as a shutter button when taking photographs with the front camera, which is convenient.
The front panel is completely covered with scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass 3. In the upper part of the glass there is a slot cut out for the shiny metal grille of the speaker, and nearby you can see the eyes of the sensors and the front camera. To the left is an LED status indicator, shining with a large but dim dot when the screen is off and signaling the charging status and incoming messages. There is a special item in the settings menu to regulate the indicator’s operation.
The most recognizable element of all top Samsung smartphones, the oblong hardware mechanical key under the screen, remained in its place and, as in the case of the Galaxy S5, received additional functionality - a fingerprint scanner. You need to swipe your finger across the scanner; simply touching it, like the Huawei Ascend Mate 7, is not enough. Consequently, you will have to use your second hand to hold the device at this moment. In general, it’s worth admitting that Samsung’s current implementation of the fingerprint sensor is the most inconvenient of all; I don’t want to use it in real life.
The touch buttons next to the mechanical one on the front panel have a bright white backlight with an adjustable glow time; there is also a special item for this in the settings.
The remaining mechanical controls are located on the side edges of the device: on the right is the power and lock button, and on the left is a paired volume key. These metallic keys are not as large and wide as before, but overall there are no special complaints about them. The buttons are quite easy to feel blindly, have a soft springy action and a clear response.
The headphone audio jack (3.5 mm) is located on top here, next to the secondary microphone hole. An infrared transmitter was also placed here, which serves to emulate the remote control of various household appliances. The corresponding proprietary application called Smart Remote moves from model to model - naturally, it is also available here. Functionality Smart programs Remote is top notch: it is not only capable of connecting a smartphone using an infrared port with any equipment, but can also act as an interactive program guide.
At the bottom end, between two microphones (there are three in total in the device), you can see a standard Micro-USB 2.0 connector. Unlike the previous model, which supported USB 3.0, in the subsequent modification the Koreans abandoned this and returned to USB 2.0. The traditional stylus, which has become the hallmark of the entire Samsung Galaxy Note series, is also in its place. In general, the electronic pen has the same dimensions and shape, but the surfaces have changed slightly: now the plastic part has become ribbed, and the metal back has lost its notches and has become completely smooth.
The developers report that in the Galaxy Note 4, the electronic S pen and its operation have again been improved, the response to pressure has been improved, although there was nothing to complain about in the previous model. The Wacom pen technology used here is unique in its own way, and no other manufacturer's attempts to achieve similar results have even come close. The screen processes so many different degrees of pressure that you can not only write with the stylus, but also draw the most intricate pictures. The new model even has a special service called Pen.up, where you can view the most interesting user works drawn using the S pen.
The smartphone comes to the market in four different color modifications, with a choice of cases in white, black, pink and gold. The connectors of the device are not covered with plugs, and there are no fastenings for the strap on the case. The device, contrary to everyone’s expectations, did not receive protection from water and dust, nor did it support wireless charging.
Screen
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is equipped with a Super AMOLED touch matrix. The screen dimensions are 71x126 mm, the 5.7-inch diagonal remains the same, but the resolution has increased - it is now 2560x1440 pixels (Quad HD). Accordingly, the dot density increased to 515 ppi - this is a very high figure.
The thickness of the side frames from the edge of the screen to the edge of the body is more than 3 mm, but with such large dimensions they still seem quite narrow. The screen can be operated with gloves; this functionality is separately enabled in the settings.
The display brightness can be adjusted manually, or you can use automatic adjustment. Multi-touch technology here allows you to process 10 simultaneous touches. When you bring the smartphone to your ear, the screen is locked using a proximity sensor.
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A detailed examination using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections, Alexey Kudryavtsev. Here is his expert opinion on the screen of the sample under study.
The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, the anti-glare properties of the screen may be slightly worse than those of the Google Nexus 7 (2013) screen (hereinafter simply Nexus 7). For clarity, here is a photograph in which a white surface is reflected when the screens are turned off (on the left is Nexus 7, on the right is Samsung Galaxy Note 4, then they can be distinguished by size):
The screen of the Galaxy Note 4 is slightly lighter (photo brightness 102 versus 96 for the Nexus 7) and does not have a pronounced tint. Note that the reflection from bright objects on the Galaxy Note 4 screen has a pale bluish halo without a pronounced direction. The ghosting of reflected objects on the Galaxy Note 4 screen is very weak, indicating that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. Due to the smaller number of boundaries (glass/air type) with very different refractive indices, screens without an air gap look better in conditions of strong external illumination, but their repair in the case of cracked external glass is much more expensive, since the entire screen has to be replaced. On the outer surface of the Galaxy Note 4 screen there is a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, noticeably better than that of the Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much easier and appear at a lower speed than in the case of regular glass.
When the white field was displayed in full screen and with manual brightness control, its maximum value was 350 cd/m², the minimum was 2 cd/m². You also need to take into account the fact that in this case, the smaller the white area on the screen, the brighter it is, that is, the actual maximum brightness of the white areas will almost always be higher than the specified value. For example, when displaying white on half the screen, the maximum brightness with manual adjustment increases to 385 cd/m², and if the white field occupies 10% - up to 450 cd/m², and, as an example, the white area on the main page of our site had a brightness of 415 cd/m² (though with a dark banner at the top of the page). As a result, readability during the day in the sun should be at a fairly good level. The reduced brightness level allows you to use the device even in complete darkness without any problems. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor (it is located to the right of the front speaker slot). You can make adjustments to the operation of this function by moving the adjustment slider from −5 to +5 units. Below, for three conditions, we present the screen brightness values for three values of this setting - for −5, 0 and +5. In complete darkness in automatic mode the brightness is reduced to 4, 10 and 20 cd/m², respectively (the first is a little dark, the rest are normal), in an office illuminated by artificial light (approximately 400 lux) the brightness is set to 70, 150 and 290 cd/m² (a little dark - just right - lightish, which corresponds to the specified correction), in a brightly lit environment (corresponds to lighting on a clear day outdoors, but without direct sunlight - 20,000 lux or a little more) - increases to 350 cd / m², regardless of the position of the slider. This value is equal to the maximum for manual adjustment. In general, the result of the function automatic adjustment brightness is as expected. At any brightness level there is modulation with a frequency of 240 Hz. The figure below shows brightness (vertical axis) versus time (horizontal axis) for several brightness settings:
It can be seen that at maximum (and close to it) brightness the modulation amplitude is low, and as a result there is no visible flicker. However, as brightness decreases, the relative modulation amplitude increases and the duty cycle decreases. Therefore, at approximately 50% and below, the presence of modulation can already be seen in the test for the presence of a stroboscopic effect or simply when fast movement eye. Depending on individual sensitivity, this flickering may cause increased fatigue.
This screen uses a Super AMOLED matrix - an active matrix on organic light-emitting diodes. A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B), but there are twice as many green subpixels, which can be referred to as RGBG. This is confirmed by a fragment of a microphotograph:
For comparison, you can see the gallery of microphotographs of screens used in mobile technology.
In the fragment above you can count 4 green subpixels, 2 red (4 halves) and 2 blue (1 whole and 4 quarters), and by repeating these fragments, you can lay out the entire screen without breaks or overlap. For such matrices, Samsung introduced the name PenTile RGBG. The manufacturer calculates the screen resolution based on the green subpixels; based on the other two, it will be two times lower. The placement and shape of the sub-pixels in this variant is similar to that found in the Samsung Galaxy S4 screen and some other newer Samsung devices with AMOLED screens. This version of PenTile RGBG is better than the old one with red squares, blue rectangles and stripes of green subpixels. However, some unevenness of contrast borders and other artifacts are still present. However, due to very high resolution they have minimal impact on image quality.
The screen is characterized by excellent viewing angles, although the white color, when deviated even at small angles, acquires a slight blue-green tint, but the black color remains just black at any angle. It is so black that the contrast setting is not applicable in this case. When viewed perpendicularly, the uniformity of the white field is excellent. For comparison, here are photos in which the screens of the Galaxy Note 4 (profile Basic) and the second comparison participant, identical images were displayed, while the brightness of the screens was initially set to approximately 200 cd/m², and the color balance on the camera was forced to switch to 6500 K.
Note the excellent uniformity of brightness and color tone of the white field. And a test picture (profile Basic):
Color reproduction is good - however, the color balance of the screens varies slightly, and the colors on the Galaxy Note 4 are slightly more saturated. This is for the profile Basic, there are four in total:
What happens in the three remaining profiles is shown below:
Adaptive display:
Color saturation has increased slightly, but skin tones have suffered somewhat.
Movie AMOLED:
Saturation and color contrast have increased noticeably, and the skin has become slightly more reddish.
Photo AMOLED:
The saturation is still high, but the color contrast has returned to normal, and the skin remains excessively reddish.
Now at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the plane and to the side of the screen (again profile Basic). White field:
The brightness at an angle for both screens has noticeably decreased (to avoid strong darkening, the shutter speed was increased by 2.5 times compared to the previous two photographs), but in the case of Samsung the drop in brightness is much less pronounced. As a result, with formally the same brightness, the Galaxy Note 4 screen visually looks much brighter (compared to LCD screens), since the screen mobile device often you have to look at least from a slight angle. And a test picture:
It can be seen that the colors have not changed much on both screens, and the brightness of the Samsung at an angle is noticeably higher. Switching the state of the matrix elements is performed almost instantly, but at the switching edge there may be a step with a width of 16.7 ms (which corresponds to a screen refresh rate of 60 Hz). For example, this is what the dependence of brightness on time looks like when moving from black to white and back:
In some conditions, the presence of such a step can lead to plumes trailing moving objects, but in normal use these artifacts are difficult to see. Quite the contrary - dynamic scenes in films on OLED screens are distinguished by high clarity and even some “jerky” movements.
In case one of three profiles is selected, except the profile Movie AMOLED, constructed using 32 points with equal intervals according to the numerical value of the shade of gray, the gamma curve did not reveal any blockage in either highlights or shadows, and the index of the approximating power function is equal to 2.18-2.20, which is almost equal to the standard value of 2.2 , while the real gamma curve deviates very little from the power-law dependence (the captions in parentheses show the indicator of the approximating power function and the coefficient of determination):
For profile Movie AMOLED The gamma curve has a slightly pronounced S-shape, which increases the apparent contrast of the image, but shades are still distinguishable in the shadows.
Let us recall that in the case of OLED screens, the brightness of image fragments dynamically changes in accordance with the nature of the displayed image - it decreases for generally light images. As a result, the resulting dependence of brightness on hue (gamma curve) most likely slightly does not correspond to the gamma curve of a static image, since the measurements were carried out with sequential display of shades of gray on almost the entire screen. This image dynamism increases when you select the option Auto tuning screen brightness. In this case, on the graph of brightness (vertical axis) versus time (horizontal axis), when moving from black to white and back, a falling section appears, that is, the brightness of the white field begins to decrease after 370 ms:
Color gamut for profiles Adaptive display And Movie AMOLED very wide and almost covers coverage Adobe RGB:
When selecting a profile Photo AMOLED coverage is adjusted to Adobe RGB boundaries:
When selecting a profile Basic The coverage is further compressed, almost to the limits of sRGB:
Without correction, the spectra of the components are very well separated:
In case of profile Basic with maximum correction, the color components are already noticeably mixed with each other:
Note that on screens with a wide color gamut, without appropriate correction, the colors of regular images optimized for sRGB devices appear unnaturally saturated. Hence the recommendation - in most cases, watching movies, photographs and everything “natural” is better when choosing a profile Basic, and only if the photo was taken on Adobe installation RGB, it makes sense to switch the profile to Photo AMOLED. Profile Movie AMOLED, despite the name, is the least suitable for watching movies or anything else.
The balance of shades on the gray scale is not ideal, but, in general, acceptable. Colorful temperature in profiles Adaptive display And Movie AMOLED above 6500 K, in the remaining two - close to 6500 K, while in a significant portion of the gray scale this parameter does not change very much. The deviation from the blackbody spectrum (ΔE) over most of the gray scale remains below 10 units, which is considered a good indicator for a consumer device, and also does not change much:
(The darkest areas of the gray scale can in most cases be ignored, since color balance there is not very important, and the error in measuring color characteristics at low brightness is large.)
Let's summarize. The screen has a fairly high maximum brightness and has good anti-glare properties, so the device can be used outdoors even on a sunny summer day without any problems. In complete darkness, the brightness can be reduced to a comfortable value. It is permissible to use a mode with automatic brightness adjustment, which works quite adequately. The advantages of the screen include a very good oleophobic coating, as well as an sRGB color gamut and a color balance close to standard (if you select the appropriate profiles). At the same time, let us remind you about the general advantages of OLED screens: true black color (if nothing is reflected in the screen), excellent uniformity of the white field, noticeably less than that of LCDs, and a drop in image brightness when viewed at an angle. Disadvantages include modulation of screen brightness. For users who are particularly sensitive to flicker, this may cause increased fatigue. However, overall the screen quality is very high.
Sound
In terms of sound, there are no noticeable changes compared to previous version the smartphone did not happen, not counting the speaker output on the rear side. Galaxy Note 4 produces a loud, clear, moderately bassy sound, but it doesn’t live up to HTC and Oppo/Vivo devices, and there’s only one speaker. At the maximum volume level, the speaker does not wheeze, the sound remains clear. The interlocutor’s speech is recognized confidently, and the earpiece clearly conveys all the intonations and timbre of the voice. Thanks to three built-in microphones, the noise reduction system has been improved.
To play music, a proprietary player with a maximum number of settings is used as standard. All sound effects it is combined with a technology called SoundAlive - although some of them are only available with connected headphones. The same applies to the sound optimization function. There are a lot of different virtual effects, they are combined into a matrix of squares, you can experiment for a very long time.
Traditionally, an FM radio is not included in the standard configuration of a smartphone, but there is a voice recorder, and the developers have improved its functionality. An “Interview” mode has appeared, in which sound is recorded simultaneously from two microphones, and in the “Meeting” mode, the device is able to distinguish up to 8 sound sources, and after recording is complete, it becomes possible to select individual sources for listening. The functionality of the voice recorder is wide, but recording telephone conversations The smartphone never learned.
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Camera
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is equipped with two modules digital cameras with a resolution of 16 and 3.7 megapixels. The front-facing 3.7-megapixel camera with F1.9 aperture provides a default shooting angle of 90 degrees, as well as 120 degrees in wide-angle mode, allowing users to take even group selfies. To create a panoramic selfie, you need to rotate the camera left and then right, following the arrows and prompts, as when creating a regular panorama.
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The main rear camera with Isocell technology has a 16 megapixel matrix. The camera is equipped with autofocus and LED flash, as well as intelligent optical stabilization (Smart OIS), which will allow you to take high-quality pictures when the device is shaken, and will also automatically lengthen the exposure time in low light conditions. Among other camera features, there is a selective focus mode that allows you to highlight a specific part of the image, leaving the background blurred.
When shooting at maximum resolution, photos are 5312x2988 pixels in size. The camera resolution, organization and design of the control interface are all exactly the same as the Galaxy S5. The settings menu is clear and intuitive, representing a matrix of interactive settings elements. The drawing of the elements is clear, the menu is perfectly visible even in the brightest sunlight.
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The camera can shoot video in maximum UHD resolution (3840×2160). Examples of test videos shot at different resolutions are presented below.
- Video No. 1 (229 MB, 3840×2160)
- Video No. 2 (73 MB, 2560×1440)
- Video No. 3 (54 MB, 1920×1080)
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The foliage is well finished, but there is a strong blur on the right side. |
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In the background, the foliage merges, although the program tries to separate it. There is a slight soapiness throughout the image. |
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Sharping is clearly visible on the wires, but noise in the shadows is well hidden. |
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Sometimes you can find noise in the shadows. |
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Despite the slight soapiness, the license plates of the cars are quite clear, although the foliage still merges in the distance. |
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Sometimes the camera manages to work out the shadows well, and overall the image is very decent. Of course, not counting the same soapiness and strong sharpening on the wires. |
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We can say that even the license plate of a distant car is distinguishable. |
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We can look again at the sharpening, which is too bold for such a resolution. |
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Overall, the camera's handling of foliage isn't too bad, but it's not great either. The blur at the edges has reappeared. |
We're probably so used to good modules in the top Samsung devices, What Note camera 4 doesn't seem very good. Certainly, samsung cameras cannot be called ideal or the best, but they were always on the level. Here we are dealing with either an unfinished module, or, most likely, with unfinished firmware. Noise reduction works differently from time to time, and sometimes its work can be called good. But often it doesn't work very smoothly. In addition, blurring around the edges in some photographs catches the eye, which also cannot be interpreted unambiguously, since the camera does not wash systematically. In addition, pictures of the text confirm that the camera actually does not have any significant problems with the optics. In general, the quality of the camera is quite high, but the above-mentioned points cannot but disappoint.
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Lighting ≈3200 lux. The camera does a good job. |
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Lighting ≈1400 lux. The situation is not changing. |
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Lighting ≈130 lux. The resolution drops, but noise is still not visible. |
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Lighting ≈130 lux, flash. The flash improves the situation significantly. |
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Lighting<1 люкс, вспышка. В темноте вспышка справляется практически так же хорошо. |
The laboratory test in some sense confirms the noted problems. It is possible that the sensor here is similar to the S5, but the camera performs noticeably worse. However, it cannot be said that the quality of the optics has let us down, since the spread of resolution values in the center and at the edge of the frame is, of course, large, but not criminal, and besides, the curves are very similar. And in general, the dependence is not so bad, and the use of the flash completely increases the average resolution value. However, it still remains lower than many other cameras. Perhaps this can be attributed to the program not working well enough.
However, the camera is quite suitable for artistic and documentary photography. It has potential, and with a firmware update it should still be revealed.
Telephone and communications
The smartphone works as standard in modern 2G GSM and 3G WCDMA networks, and also supports fourth generation 4G networks. Moreover, in the case of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 platform, support for the faster LTE Cat6 is promised, while the version supplied with SoC Exynos 5 Octa 5433 supports only the standard LTE Cat4 mode with a theoretical maximum speed of 150 Mbps for reception.
The network capabilities of the smartphone are extensive and correspond to a truly top level: there is support for NFC technology, Bluetooth 4.1 (BLE, ANT+), Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (HT80) MIMO PCIe has support for two bands (2.4 and 5 GHz), as well as 2x2 MIMO mode - in it, data can be received and transmitted in two streams, that is, up to two times faster than in the first generations of devices compatible with 802.11ac.
As standard, you can organize a wireless access point via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth channels; there is an infrared port for controlling household appliances. The Micro-USB port supports USB OTG mode and is compatible with MHL 3.0, but only provides USB 2.0 speed (unlike the Galaxy Note 3, which supported USB 3.0 mode). The navigation module works with both GPS and the domestic Glonass system, and also sees satellites of the Chinese Beidou.
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It’s convenient that the virtual keyboard immediately displays an additional top row of numbers for typing—you don’t have to switch the layout every time. But here you have to switch language layouts by scrolling sideways using the spacebar key. The phone application supports Smart Dial, that is, while dialing a phone number, a search is immediately carried out by the first letters in contacts. Support for input by continuously sliding from letter to letter (Swype) is also implemented here. Using the settings, the virtual keyboard can be reduced in size for ease of control with the fingers of one hand; you can also reduce the size of the entire working screen - for current top-end tablets, all this is quite familiar and familiar functionality. A virtual sidebar of keys has appeared, duplicating the bottom row of hardware control buttons - it can be customized and moved to any of the edges of the screen.
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OS and software
The device uses the Google Android software platform version 4.4.4 and the latest version of the proprietary graphical interface called TouchWiz as a system. Exactly the same one was used in the Samsung Galaxy S5, but some changes and improvements did appear. First of all, a new multitasking mode has appeared, in which you can work in several windows at once. The user selects the format for working with applications - full screen; screen divided into several windows; or pop-up window mode. You can also use the sliders to easily change the size and location of application windows on the screen.
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The functionality of working with the S pen electronic pen has been expanded due to the updated S Note service for creating notes. In addition to standard features such as taking notes by hand or using the virtual keyboard, as well as converting handwritten text to typed text, the updated S Note app has received an instant digitization function (Snap Note), which allows you to convert images into an editable format. For example, a user can take a photo of his note, made by hand on paper, and then edit it. The Smart Select Album feature allows you to bring together content from various sources and share it with friends.
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The shell is maximally saturated with all sorts of tricks for one-handed control, support for contactless and contact gestures. The settings menu can be displayed in two versions: either as a continuous list, when an additional section appears at the top with quick access to the main parameters, or in the form of several tabs, when the settings are divided into topics. By the way, if you move the home screen to the left, the Flipboard interactive news feed will appear, very similar in functionality to HTC BlinkFeed.
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The pre-installed application for tracking your own health, called S Health, has a wide range of health-promoting functions: pedometer, exercise recording, nutrition monitoring, fitness trainer. Now the program, in addition to reading heart beats using a sensor located on the back of the smartphone, also measures the level of oxygen in the blood, as well as stress resistance.
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Performance
Samsung has again released a model from the Galaxy Note series in two versions - on two different hardware platforms (Qualcomm and its own Exynos). As for the modification based on the Qualcomm SoC (N910S), it will run on the latest Snapdragon 805 with four Krait 450 cores at 2.7 GHz, Adreno 420 graphics core and LTE Cat6 support.
Another modification (N910C) is intended for the Russian market, the hardware platform of which is based on the latest single-chip system (SoC) of Samsung's own production - Exynos 5 Octa 5433, made using a 20 nm process technology. The eight-core processor here has 4 Cortex-A57 cores operating at a frequency of up to 1.9 GHz, as well as 4 Cortex-A53 cores, the maximum operating frequency of which is 1.3 GHz. Here the graphics core is the Mali-T760 GPU, operating at 700 MHz, and only standard LTE Cat4 is supported. This review tested exactly this modification of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
The smartphone has 3 GB of RAM, 32 GB of built-in flash memory, and can also expand the memory using microSD cards up to 128 GB. It supports connecting external flash drives to the Micro-USB port using a special OTG adapter.
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To get an idea of the performance of the platform of the smartphone under test, we will conduct a standard set of tests.
For convenience, we have compiled all the results we obtained when testing the smartphone in the latest versions of popular benchmarks into tables. The table usually adds several other devices from different segments, also tested on similar latest versions of benchmarks (this is done only for a visual assessment of the obtained dry figures). Unfortunately, within the framework of one comparison it is impossible to present the results from different versions of benchmarks, so many worthy and relevant models remain “behind the scenes” - due to the fact that they once passed the “obstacle course” on previous versions of test programs.
Testing in MobileXPRT, as well as in the latest versions of AnTuTu and GeekBench 3:
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According to benchmark testing results, the new product showed very high performance results. In AnTuTu 5.x, the test subject lost a little to its main rival, Huawei Ascend Mate 7, in the rest the result was almost equal, the difference was small. As for other previously tested top-end devices, it is not yet entirely clear how the results of the two versions of the popular benchmark correlate with each other, because now the fourth version has been replaced by the fifth, and all new smartphones are now tested in it. Now we have to mark in tablets which version of the benchmark this or that model was tested in, until we accumulate enough results for the fifth version of the benchmark. In any case, the smartphone uses a very powerful SoC; its hardware capacity will be enough for a long time to complete any assigned tasks.
When testing in 3DMark, the most powerful smartphones now have the ability to run the application in Unlimited mode, where the rendering resolution is fixed at 720p and VSync is disabled (which can cause the speed to rise above 60 fps).
Results of testing the graphics subsystem in the Epic Citadel gaming test, as well as Basemark X and Bonsai Benchmark:
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Browser cross-platform tests:
As for benchmarks for assessing the speed of the javascript engine, you should always make allowance for the fact that their results significantly depend on the browser in which they are launched, so the comparison can only be truly correct on the same OS and browsers, and this is possible during testing not always. For Android OS, we always try to use Google Chrome.
Playing video
To test the omnivorous nature of video playback (including support for various codecs, containers and special features, such as subtitles), we used the most common formats, which make up the bulk of the content available on the Internet. Note that for mobile devices it is important to have support for hardware video decoding at the chip level, since it is most often impossible to process modern options using processor cores alone. Also, you shouldn’t expect a mobile device to decode everything, since the leadership in flexibility belongs to the PC, and no one is going to challenge it.
According to the testing results, the smartphone was not provided with full support for all necessary decoders. To fully play most of the most common files on the network, you will have to resort to the help of a third-party player - for example, MX Player. True, even in it you will first have to change the settings, switching from hardware decoding to software or to a new mode called Hardware+(not supported by all smartphones).
| Format | Container, video, sound | MX Video Player | Standard video player |
| DVDRip | AVI, XviD 720×400 2200 Kbps, MP3+AC3 | plays normally | plays normally |
| Web-DL SD | AVI, XviD 720×400 1400 Kbps, MP3+AC3 | plays normally | plays normally |
| Web-DL HD | MKV, H.264 1280×720 3000 Kbps, AC3 | Hardware+ | |
| BDRip 720p | MKV, H.264 1280×720 4000 Kbps, AC3 | plays fine with decoder Hardware+ | The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹ |
| BDRip 1080p | MKV, H.264 1920×1080 8000 Kbps, AC3 | plays fine with decoder Hardware+ | The video plays fine, but there is no sound¹ |
¹ MX Video Player only played sound after switching to software decoding or a new mode Hardware+; The standard player does not have this setting
Additionally, the MHL interface was tested. To test it, we used the ViewSonic VX2363Smhl monitor, which supports direct MHL connection (version 2.0) using a passive adapter cable from micro-USB to HDMI. Let us recall that Samsung has implemented its own version of this interface at the physical level. As a result, to connect an external device via MHL, you need to use special adapters or connect standard MHL adapters through simple passive adapters.
In this case, we carried out the test using a proprietary adapter from Samsung, and output via MHL was carried out at a resolution of 1920 by 1080 pixels with a frequency of 60 frames/s. When the smartphone is in portrait orientation, the image is displayed on the monitor screen in portrait orientation, while the image on the monitor is inscribed within the height of the screen, and wide black fields are displayed on the right and left:
When the smartphone is landscape-oriented, the image is displayed on the monitor screen in landscape orientation, while the image on the monitor fits within the boundaries of the screen and exactly matches the image on the smartphone screen. The exception is the start screen, which is displayed only in portrait orientation.
Sound via MHL is output and has good quality. At the same time, at least multimedia sounds are not output through the loudspeaker of the smartphone itself, and the volume is controlled by buttons on the smartphone body. In principle, in the smartphone settings you can select the sound output mode - stereo or surround. However, in our case, the monitor only received stereo sound, so there was no choice. The smartphone connected via MHL is charging (or at least the indicator indicates this).
Next, using a set of test files with an arrow and a rectangle moving one division per frame (see “Method for testing video playback and display devices. Version 1 (for mobile devices)”), we checked how the video is displayed on the screen of the smartphone itself. Screenshots with a shutter speed of 1 s helped determine the nature of the output of frames of video files with various parameters: the resolution varied: 1280 by 720 (720p), 1920 by 1080 (1080p) and 3840 by 2160 (4K) pixels and frame rates of 24, 25, 30, 50 and 60 fps. In the tests, we used the MX Player video player in the “Hardware+” mode. The results of this (block entitled “Smartphone Screen”) and the next test are summarized in the table:
Note: If in both columns Uniformity And Passes Green ratings are given, this means that, most likely, when watching films, artifacts caused by uneven alternation and frame skipping will either not be visible at all, or their number and visibility will not affect the viewing comfort. Red marks indicate possible problems with playback of the corresponding files.
According to the criterion of frame output, the quality of playback of video files on the screen of the device itself is good, since frames (or groups of frames) can be output with more or less uniform alternation of intervals and without skipping frames. When playing video files with a resolution of 1920 by 1080 (1080p) on a smartphone screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the border of the screen. The clarity of the picture is high, but not ideal, since there is no escape from interpolation to the screen resolution. However, for the sake of experimentation, you can switch to the one-to-one mode by pixel; there will be no interpolation, but the features of PenTile will appear - the vertical world through the pixel will be in a grid, and the horizontal one will be slightly greenish. This is on test worlds; the described artifacts are not present on real frames. The brightness range displayed on the screen actually corresponds to the standard range of 16-235 - in the shadows only a couple of shades merge with black, but in the highlights all gradations of shades are displayed.
With a monitor connected via MHL, when playing a video player MX (not the standard one!), the video file image is displayed only in landscape orientation, while the monitor displays an exact copy of the mobile device screen.
The results of the monitor output tests are shown in the table above in the “MHL (monitor output)” block. The output quality is good. When playing video files with Full HD resolution (1920 by 1080 pixels) on the monitor screen, the image of the video file itself is displayed exactly along the border of the screen, maintaining true proportions, and the resolution corresponds to Full HD resolution. The brightness range displayed on the monitor is equal to the standard range of 16-235, that is, all shade gradations are displayed in shadows and highlights.
The conclusion is typical - an MHL connection can be used for games, watching movies, displaying web pages and other activities that benefit from multiplying the screen size. True, you will have to purchase an adapter specifically for Samsung or find an appropriate adapter.
Battery life
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has a powerful battery; its capacity has remained virtually unchanged compared to Note 3 and is 3220 mAh, so according to testing results, the new representative of the series demonstrates almost the same or slightly shorter battery life. In terms of efficiency, the device lacks stars from heaven, which would be strange with such a high resolution and large display area. However, Huawei Ascend Mate 7 showed much better results in the same modes.
| Battery capacity | Reading mode | Video mode | 3D Game Mode | |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 4 | 3220 mAh | 10:30 a.m. | 8:30 a.m. | 3 hours 50 minutes |
| Huawei Mate 7 | 4100 mAh | 20:00 | 12:30 pm | 4 hours 25 minutes |
| Vivo Xplay 3S | 3200 mAh | 12:30 pm | 8:00 am | 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Oppo Find 7 | 3000 mAh | 9:00 a.m. | 6 hours 40 minutes | 3 hours 20 minutes |
| Oppo Find 7a | 2800 mAh | 16:40 | 8 a.m. 20 p.m. | 3:00 am |
| HTC One M8 | 2600 mAh | 22:10 | 13:20 | 3 hours 20 minutes |
| Samsung Galaxy S5 | 2800 mAh | 17:20 | 12:30 pm | 4 hours 30 minutes |
| Lenovo Vibe Z | 3050 mAh | 11:45 am | 8:00 am | 3 hours 30 minutes |
| Acer Liquid S2 | 3300 mAh | 16:40 | 7:40 a.m. | 6:00 am |
Continuous reading in the FBReader program (with a standard, light theme) at a minimum comfortable brightness level (brightness was set to 100 cd/m²) lasted until the battery was completely discharged in less than 11 hours, and when continuously watching videos from YouTube in high quality (HQ) with The device lasted 8.5 hours at the same brightness level via a home Wi-Fi network. In 3D gaming mode, the smartphone worked for almost 4 hours.
The smartphone battery charges quite quickly - here the developers have provided a fast charging function, in which the battery is charged by about half in half an hour, but for this you need to use the included charger. Fully charging the battery takes less than two hours.
Bottom line
Currently, the cost of Samsung Galaxy Note 4 for the Russian market is set at almost 35 thousand rubles, the start of official sales in retail chains is scheduled for the second half of October this year. The main competitors are the all-metal Huawei Ascend Mate 7 with a lower price, larger screen, better battery life, maximum performance, more advanced fingerprint scanner, and the Apple iPhone 6 Plus, which is not as technologically well equipped and costs even more. but there is a completely different OS and a more attractive power of brand popularity.
An excellent screen, high-quality build, highest performance and an excellent camera, one of the best at the moment - all this deserves the highest praise in the Samsung Galaxy Note 4. As always, the design, which this time has also become angular, is questionable, as well as the manufacturing materials - Competitors have entirely metal cases, but here they again use plastic, albeit with a metal rim. An inconvenient fingerprint scanner, lack of moisture protection and wireless charging also cannot be considered the strengths of the new product. In general, this time there are much fewer changes in relation to the previous model, but in terms of the overall set of technical and hardware characteristics, Samsung’s next tablet phone turned out to be not only very worthy; This is currently one of the best deals among large-screen smartphones on the mobile market.
Packaging and equipment
The smartphone comes in an elegant white box with smooth corners.
Inside the package there is the device itself, a stylus, a battery, as well as a standard USB cable with a charger and a headset, as well as a user manual and warranty.
Design
The device is available in the following colors: white, black, gold and pink.
There are few buttons here. One on the front panel - under it there is a fingerprint scanner. On the right side is the power key, on the left is the volume switch.
The device in operation
The smartphone undoubtedly has top-end hardware, one of the most modern and powerful. Quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor 805 APQ8084 Pro, or 8-core Samsung Exinus 5433. The RAM volume is also good - 3 GB, and the built-in one - 32 GB, but it can be expanded using a microSD memory card.
Display
The screen can be considered the main innovation in the device - Super AMOLED with a diagonal of 5.7 inches with Quad HD resolution. The display is protected by Gorilla Glass 3, there is practically no glare under the sun, the light sensor functions perfectly.
Interface
The device has Android OS version 4.4.4. This is still KitKat, but most likely they will install it soon - Lolilop. The interface for Samsung is traditional.
Camera
The camera in the device also did not disappoint. The 16 megapixel sensor from Sony works wonders. The camera app launches in seconds from the lock screen. The only problem: when you shoot with this sensor, the flash is easy to cover, it is located very close.
Autofocus works clearly and very quickly, and by pressing a dot on the display for 1-2 seconds, you can save the exposure and focus settings for the desired frame. In the resolution settings, along with the full 16 megapixel resolution, you can set pictures with an aspect ratio of 1:1 for Instagram, then the image will have a resolution of 8 megapixels.
The camera perfectly captures details and shades, and shooting in low light conditions will please you with excellent results. There is a double flash, but its quality is not very good - it constantly illuminates the subjects.
The camera shoots UHD (4K) video with good sound and a frequency of 30 fps.
The front camera has also been updated. There is a 3.7 megapixel sensor with an f/1.9 aperture. Added to this is a panoramic selfie mode that allows you to take a photo with a 120° viewing angle.
Wireless network
The option with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor means the presence of the fastest LTE today: 4G+, (LTE Advanced, Cat.6.) The option with the Exynos 5433 processor comes with support for LTE Cat.4. Wi-Fi is the most modern today - the smartphone operates at two frequencies 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz). There are no complaints about Bluetooth 4.0 LE. And the NFC module does not raise any questions. GPS determines location with lightning speed.
Autonomy
The device has a 3,220 mAh battery. As part of everyday use of the device, it will be enough for the whole day of a fairly active life, in particular SMS, calls, constant Internet, reading news on Flipboard and social networks.
Results
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is one of the most powerful smartphones today. The new generation received: a metal frame, top-end hardware, an amazing display and a camera that surprises with its night and day shots, landscapes and macro photography, as well as pictures in HDR mode. If the smartphone also had waterproof functions and supported wireless charging, then nothing more would be needed... The device is already on sale for RUB 34,990.
Technical Samsung specifications Galaxy Note 4
screen: 5.7 '' Super AMOLED Quad HD 2560x1440 pixels
processor: quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 APQ8084 Pro 2.7 GHz / eight-core Samsung Exynos 5433 1.9 GHz;
graphics accelerator: Adreno 420 500 MHz / Mali-T760MP 700 MHz;
operating system: Android OS 4.4.4, interface - TouchWiz;
RAM: 3 GB;
built-in memory: 32 GB;
memory card support: microSDHC (up to 128 GB);
communication: GSM 850/900/1800/1900 MHz || WCDMA 850/900/1900/2100 MHz || LTE-A Cat.6/LTE Cat.4;
wireless interfaces: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, BT 4.0 LE, NFC;
navigation: GPS / GLONASS / Beidou;
cameras: main - 16 MP (OIS, flash, video - 4K, 30fps), front - 3.7 MP;
Sensors: accelerometer, digital compass, magnetic field sensor (Hall Sensor), gyroscopic sensor, light sensor, proximity sensor, hand motion sensor, heart rate sensor, fingerprint scanner;
battery: 3,220 mAh;
dimensions: 153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5 mm;
weight: 176 grams.
Video review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 smartphone
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 SM-N910C is an annual update to the Galaxy Note line of phablets. Despite the fact that the dimensions of the first Note caused laughter among many, over time even Apple recognized the success of this format by releasing its 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is similar in appearance to Samsung Galaxy Alpha: similar design, metal frame and protruding camera lens.
As for the capabilities of the smartphone, in our opinion, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is one of the best offers in its category. It has an excellent Quad HD display (2560x1440 pixels) of incredible clarity, one of the best cameras, enviable battery life (half a day of HD video in our tests), wide functionality, the boundaries of which are expanded using the S Pen stylus, powerful hardware, a scanner fingerprints. All this makes the Galaxy Note 4 not just a smartphone, but a working machine for solving a wide range of tasks.
Whether you want to shoot signature videos, cool panoramas, or more than just side-by-side shots, one of the best cameras is at your service. Thanks to multi-window mode, you can, for example, watch movies and read email at the same time. Wide viewing angles of the bright, technologically advanced display will allow you to show your friends videos or high-quality photos. To watch Full HD video online, the kit includes high-speed Wi-Fi and LTE Advanced. I wanted to play with cool toys - the filling will allow it.
Among the shortcomings of the Galaxy Note 4, we note that at maximum resolution and at the highest settings, new games may slow down in some “heavy” scenes; nevertheless, 3.7 million pixels on the screen make themselves felt. During our two-week test, the smartphone froze a couple of times. In addition, replacing micro-USB 3.0 with the “older” 2.0 looks like a small step back. Also, for that kind of money, I would like to see protection against water and dust, because the Samsung Galaxy S5 and Samsung Galaxy S5 mini have it.
To summarize, let's say that if you want to get everything all at once, then the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 with its wide functionality is for you. However, you can easily get lost in the huge list of settings and functions, and a large amount of pre-installed software can irritate many. If you are one of those who need a premium smartphone, where everything is simple and clear, then you can take the iPhone 6 Plus. Technologically, the iPhone 6 Plus smartphone is “simpler” in almost all respects, but faster, moreover, it is thinner and has an aluminum body. If you are the owner of a Samsung Galaxy Note 3, then do not rush to upgrade and switch to a more expensive “four”: the Full HD display is already quite clear, and the hardware will last for at least another year, and the kit also includes a stylus.
Where can I buy
Dimensions and weight - 3.8
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4, like its predecessor, has a diagonal of 5.7 inches. We can say that, at least for now, the growth of diagonals has stopped, and we’ll see what happens next next year. Externally, the new product resembled the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and the Samsung Galaxy Alpha design model. It was on the Galaxy Alpha that the new processor, design and metal frame were tested, which are now in the service of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
What has changed compared to the Galaxy Note 3? The speaker above the Samsung inscription has become two holes shorter. The front panel feels somewhat reminiscent of the laminated display of the Apple iPhone 6. There are horizontal lines running along the plastic around the display. The back panel remains “leather-like”, but now there is no row of quilted ties along the edges of the panel. The camera lens also protrudes from the body. Let's remember that on the Galaxy Note 3 the lens was visually united by a common outline with the flash, and protruded together from the body. In the new model they “stand on their own”, and the flash no longer “sticks out” from the body. The position of the speaker has also changed: it is not on the bottom end, like the previous model, but on the back. As for the stylus, it remains at the bottom.
The metal frame that runs along the ends deserves special attention. In general, it is the same as that of the Samsung Galaxy Alpha: near the lower and upper ends it thickens slightly on the sides of the smartphone; near the front and back panels the frame is cut off and barely noticeably rises above the front of the device.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is a large and heavy device. Its dimensions are 151x79x8.5 mm, and its weight is 176 grams, which is thicker and slightly heavier than the iPhone 6 Plus and Galaxy Note 3. With a 5.7-inch diagonal, there is no need to talk about using the smartphone with one hand - only with the use of special smartphone features, such as a smaller screen size and the presence of a side key panel. The build quality is excellent - the smartphone is very durable, nothing bends or creaks. However, in the sample we bought for testing, the speaker holes on the front panel at the top are located crookedly - not all of them are on the same straight line. In principle, this is a small thing, but completely unexpected. We also note that the Galaxy Note 4 does not receive protection from water and dust.
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 can be purchased in white, black, gold and pink colors.
Screen - 4.9
The display diagonal of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is 5.7 inches, and with its huge Quad HD resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, the PPI value is off the charts - 515 pixels per inch! Only the LG G3 and Motorola DROID Turbo are higher, but that's because they have smaller, smaller displays. In our opinion, such super-clarity is no longer needed and can have a bad effect on the autonomy of the device.
As is usually the case in the Galaxy Note line, the display uses a Super AMOLED matrix based on organic light-emitting diodes. The display is covered with protective glass Gorilla Glass 3 - yes, it will collect fingerprints, but they can be easily wiped off. Thanks to Super AMOLED technology, viewing angles are very wide. The maximum brightness of the display in our tests reached 415 cd/m2, considering that this display does not need a separate backlight layer and the LEDs themselves glow in it, this is high brightness, visually it is extremely bright. The display remains readable in direct sunlight, and the display also features automatic brightness adjustment. The smartphone supports glove mode. We tested this: the device responds even if your hands are wearing double-layer gloves; answering a call outside in cold weather or scrolling through a couple of screens to read a book or article is just right.
In addition, there are 4 different screen modes, as in many Samsung devices with this type of display: adaptive, AMOLED movie, AMOLED photo and basic. In addition to this, in the settings it is possible to adjust the color rendering, however, we were not able to do this: after passing a mini-test to match the colors of the icons, the phone displayed a message that everything was set up normally and there was no need to change anything.
Cameras - 4.9
According to our tests, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4's camera is one of the best available today. Compared to its predecessor, the cameras of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 are noticeably “heavier” in terms of megapixels. Thus, the main camera received 16 MP versus 13 on the Galaxy Note 3, and the rear camera received 3.7 versus 2 MP. Galaxy Note 4 features new ISOCELL technology that forms barriers between pixels, allowing more photons to be captured per pixel.
The camera has a wide range of functions: a large selection of effects ranging from fisheye to vintage and sepia, it also has dual LED backlighting, autofocus, several shooting modes and optical image stabilization. The camera takes panoramas, has an HDR mode, face and smile recognition, and parallel photo and video shooting. We can say that there is almost everything, the only thing missing is virtual effects for entertainment, as, for example, on the Sony Xperia Z3.
The maximum photo resolution is 5312×2988 pixels. The quality of the images is excellent, especially in good lighting; in poor lighting, in our opinion, the camera is a little lacking. The camera interface is simple and concise. In addition to the main camera, there is a 3.7 megapixel front camera with the ability to automatically shoot when a smile is detected on the face, and you can also take panoramic selfies. By the way, 3.7 MP in camera resolution is not without reason - approximately the same number of pixels fit on the device’s display. As for shooting video, the camera shoots video at 1440p resolution, matching the resolution of its display. This resolution for a front camera is very unusual; as a rule, many smartphones are limited to Full HD video.
The main camera of the smartphone can shoot 4K video - 3840x2160 pixels at 30 fps. It features slow-motion shooting with Full HD video at 60 fps. The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 does not have slow-motion video recording at 120 or 240 fps, like the Apple iPhone 6 Plus. In the video settings, you can turn on video stabilization; tracking autofocus is also available, but if you move the phone sharply and start shooting close objects, the camera takes quite a long time to readjust to the desired distance. Overall, the camera takes excellent quality photos and videos, but only in good lighting.
Photos from the camera Samsung Galaxy Note 4 - 4.9
Working with text - 3.0
The standard keyboard on the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is comfortable, with a Swype feature for text entry, as well as a separate row of number keys above the main keyboard block. The disadvantage is the lack of marking of additional characters and, in our opinion, not the most convenient system for switching between languages without a separate key - you have to hold down the spacebar and swipe to the side. However, perhaps the most inconvenient thing is the absence of a comma on the “main” keyboard screen; to enter it you need to call an additional menu, or hold down the period key and select a comma from the pop-up menu. For lovers of the “antique”, you can choose a 3 by 4 keyboard (12 large icons), you can also configure hot keys - for example, you can enter a predefined phrase or word by holding down a certain number.
Internet - 3.0
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 comes pre-installed as a browser with the standard Internet browser with the Magnifier function and Google Chrome with support for synchronizing tabs with the desktop version of the browser. Both browsers can scale the page to fit the text to a pre-selected size. Both do not have a separate reading mode for multiple page scaling. Chrome can offer traffic monitoring and reduction through data compression. In the “native” browser, switching between tabs takes a long time due to the specific animation of the tab manager; in Google Chrome this feature is not noticed.
Communications - 5.0
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 smartphone is equipped with an excellent set of interfaces. The device has: dual-band Wi-Fi, the ability to act as a Wi-Fi modem, support for the high-speed 802.11ac standard, Bluetooth 4.1 with low energy consumption and an A2DP profile, A-GPS with support for GLONASS and the Chinese Beidou system, as well as an NFC chip and IR port. The N910C model with an Exynos processor is still being distributed in Russia; it operates in LTE networks, but at speeds of up to 150 Mbit/s (LTE Cat 4), and the more advanced model N910S in terms of speed with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor is not yet sold in Russia. and perhaps it won't. It supports 4G, LTE Cat 6 with speeds up to 300 Mbps.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 smartphone works with Micro-SIM cards and microSD cards up to 128 GB. Interestingly, the Galaxy Note 3 used a high-speed Micro-USB 3.0 connector, but here it has given way to micro-USB 2.0. Can this be considered a step back? It is possible, only if it is small, micro-USB 3.0 is not yet very widespread, and perhaps the manufacturer decided that such high transfer speeds via a USB cable are not needed for a smartphone. Note that the USB connector of the Galaxy Note 4 supports MHL for transmitting high-definition video and USB-host for connecting peripheral devices to the smartphone.
As a result, the new product has almost everything: high-speed Wi-Fi, LTE, the latest Bluetooth and even an infrared port with NFC. It’s a bit of a pity that the version with support for LTE Cat 6 is not supplied to Russia, and the USB connector has been “simplified” from version 3.0 to 2.0.
Multimedia - 4.6
The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 audio player supports many formats and plays MP3, FLAC, WAV files and a number of less popular formats (eAAC+ and AC3). The smartphone comes with good headphones with a spare seal. The built-in video player supports most popular video formats (MP4/DivX/XviD/WMV/H.264 codecs), and also works with external subtitles.
Where can I buy
Battery - 4.4
The body of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has become slightly thicker, and the battery capacity is slightly larger - 3220 mAh versus 3200 mAh for the Note 3. We tested the phone in our two standard tests - HD video at maximum brightness and listening to music in player mode - airplane mode "and wearing headphones. The smartphone demonstrates excellent battery life. The device played HD video at maximum brightness for almost 12.5 hours, about half a day, which is an hour longer than its predecessor. But when listening to music with the screen off, the device was discharged in 83 hours.
Separately, we can mention two battery saving modes - standard energy saving with limitation of performance and background data, and extreme with a transition to “grayscale”. The battery charge will definitely be enough for you for a working day, and maybe even for several - it all depends on the usage scenario. For example, in games the battery runs out almost before our eyes. As for charging: from zero to 50% it happens very quickly, we were not able to charge it in the promised half an hour, it took a little longer, but still quite fast. However, once it reaches 50%, the charging process slows down. It took us 1 hour and 40 minutes to charge it from 0 to 100%.
Performance - 4.0
There are different versions of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4, which differ in their hardware. There is a modification of the N910S with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 processor with 4 Krait 450 cores operating at frequencies up to 2.7 GHz and an Adreno 420 graphics accelerator. Unfortunately, it is not sold in Russia. Our country is supplied with a version of the N910C with an Exynos 5 Octa 5433 processor, eight-core (four cores with a frequency of up to 1.9 GHz and four with a frequency of up to 1.3 GHz) and a Mali-T760 graphics accelerator. RAM on both models is 3 GB, built-in memory is 32 GB. The technical characteristics are impressive, and, like the Samsung Galaxy Alpha, the chipset is manufactured according to a new standard - the 20 nm process technology. In everyday use, the smartphone works quickly, although in our tests it froze a couple of times. As for games, the excessive resolution does not play into the hands of the device, even in the Epic Citadel application it slows down in open spaces at very high settings, fps drops to 20 frames per second, which is visible to the eye, this is not what you expect from a device at this price.
The device is suitable for most games, but the excessively high resolution can play a cruel joke, given the more than 3.5 million pixels on the display. According to the results of our synthetic tests, the smartphone occupies a position worthy of a premium device. For example, in the AnTuTu benchmark, Samsung Galaxy Note 4 received 50056 points, one might say a record, and in 3D Mark Ice Storm Unlimited it received 19754 points, slightly higher than, for example, the iPhone 6 Plus. The chipset used in the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is new, and today it is one of the most powerful.
Memory - 4.5
The total amount of internal memory in the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is limited to 32 GB, of which about 24.6 GB is available to the user. The smartphone has a slot for a microSD memory card; cards up to 128 GB are supported. It is also possible to “hot-swap” the memory card without turning off the device - you just need to remove the device cover.
Peculiarities
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 does not have a water-resistant case, but it does boast a functional stylus. Perhaps this is the main feature of the model, and indeed the entire line. With its help, you can not only write notes, type texts or draw, which already opens up wide possibilities for creativity, but also perform various commands, for example, quickly create a note, take screenshots and crop part of the image by placing an inscription on it. There is also an instant preview function: if you point the tip of the stylus at the icon without touching it, you can view a preview of the image, see information about a contact in the phone book, etc.
Android 5.0 Lollipop. The TouchWiz interface is traditionally used. At first, the smartphone is a little intimidating with the abundance of pre-installed software, and an inexperienced user can get lost in the settings, of which there are a lot. There are quite a few pre-installed applications, from a voice recorder and a file manager to pre-installed WhatsApp and Facebook applications. In the proprietary shell, all applications have been redesigned and have an original appearance, which has hardly changed for a long time. The dialer has Russian letters, which is convenient for finding the desired contact.
A special feature can also be called the presence of two energy saving modes, a number of settings for using the smartphone with one hand (reducing the screen size, side panel of keys and adjusting the position of the keyboard, which, in our opinion, does not look very natural and is not so convenient). As always, there are many features such as smart mute and gestures, smart notifications, flipping the smartphone, taking a screenshot with your palm, multi-window mode. For those who find all these settings and the home screen layout complicated and crowded, there is an option to enable a “simple mode” that reduces the set of visible settings and icons. Although first you will need to find it too. And that's not all - there are special features for people with low vision or hearing, such as flash notifications, spoken passwords and much more.
To summarize, we can say that the Galaxy Note 4 is “stuffed” with various functions and features; in our opinion, there is hardly anyone who will regularly use at least half of them, however, there is always a “simple mode” to choose from.
Competitors
The technical characteristics of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 are excellent. Among the competitors are the no less expensive iPhone 6 Plus and the slightly more budget-friendly new Huawei Ascend Mate 7. The price of the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 as of November 2014 is 36,990 rubles (the same as the recommended price for the iPhone 6 Plus 16 GB).
Apple iPhone 6 Plus - with a smaller diagonal (5.5 inches versus 5.7) is slightly “taller” than Note 4, while it is thinner and made of aluminum, while Galaxy Note 4 only has a metal frame, the rest of the body is made of plastic, which in itself is not a disadvantage, but is considered “less prestigious”. The display resolution of the Samsung smartphone is noticeably higher (2560x1440 versus 1920x1080 for the iPhone 6 Plus), viewing angles are also wider, it has a stylus to work with the display, here the iPhone 6 Plus benefits only with more accurate and natural color reproduction. In terms of performance, the Note 4 wins in benchmarks, and in everyday use it is faster than Apple's smartphone. In terms of battery life, the Apple iPhone 6 Plus loses; its cameras are also somewhat “simpler,” albeit with video shooting at enormous speed, up to 240 frames per second. Both smartphones are not protected from water and have a fingerprint scanner. In terms of interfaces, Note 4 is a little more advanced, with “fresh” Bluetooth, LTE Cat 6, which works at enormous speeds (albeit in a modification that is not yet sold in Russia) and an infrared port. Both models have NFC, but in Note 4 it is for exchanging data with other devices and making payments, while in iPhone 6 Plus it is only for its own Apple Pay payment system. The price for Apple iPhone 6 Plus is from 36,990 rubles and above.
Huawei Ascend Mate 7 is an aluminum phablet with a diagonal of 6 inches, its body is thinner than that of Note 4, but it itself is larger and a little heavier. The Ascend Mate 7 has a Full HD display with a lower pixel density, it is also equipped with a fingerprint scanner and has an NFC chip, but it does not have an IR port and high-speed Wi-Fi 802.11ac. Built-in memory is 16 GB or 32 GB in the “premium” version, and a very capacious battery is also among the advantages. For those who are not afraid to buy an expensive smartphone from Huawei and who do not need a stylus, this is a good alternative, although it has not yet appeared on the public market, and it seems that it will not cost much less than the Note 4.
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