Samsung has added another interesting option to its lineup with the all-new Samsung Galaxy Note5, and on paper it looks like a device that wants to be your daily driver. Announced in 2015, August 13. Released 2015, August, it arrives at a time when the competition is as tight as ever.
Design & Display
On the front you get a 5.7 inches, 88.5 cm 2 (~75.9% screen-to-body ratio) panel, pushing a resolution of 1440 x 2560 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~518 ppi density), and in real-world use it looks bright, crisp and easy on the eyes. The build feels well put together, and Samsung has clearly paid attention to the in-hand feel. You can pick it up in a few finishes, including Black Sapphire.
Performance & Software
Powering the Samsung Galaxy Note5 is the Exynos 7420 Octa (14 nm), paired with 4GB of RAM. That combination should handle day-to-day multitasking and most games without breaking a sweat. It runs Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat) out of the box, so the software experience feels current.
Camera
Photography is handled by a main 16 MP shooter that should cover most situations, from daylight shots to the occasional low-light frame. Point-and-shoot results are reliable, and that is exactly what most buyers want.
Battery
Keeping the lights on is a Li-Po 3000 mAh, non-removable cell, which should comfortably see most people through a full day on a single charge.
Our Opinion
So, what do we actually make of the Samsung Galaxy Note5? What you are getting is a device that quietly covers the fundamentals rather than shouting about them. It gets the basics right, offering a dependable main camera, a crisp display, which is exactly what most buyers are really after. If your priority is a phone that just works, day in and day out, then this one deserves a spot on your shortlist. Is it perfect? No phone is, and you will always find a sharper camera or a faster chip somewhere else for a little more money. Overall though, the Samsung Galaxy Note5 is easy to recommend to the right buyer. If you have used this device or are planning to pick one up, do let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
