Samsung Galaxy Note 4 Challenges Rivals With Big-Screen Phablet

by Don Reisinger

The most striking feature in the Galaxy Note 4 is its expansive display. The device comes with a 5.7-inch screen, boasting a 2,560-by-1,440 resolution. The average Android device has a screen size of around 5 inches nowadays. Apple’s iPhone 5S clocks in at just 4 inches. In relative terms Samsung’s Galaxy Note 4’s phablet is massive.

Although Samsung has its own mobile OS in Tizen and continues to partner with Microsoft on Windows Phone, the company has stuck with Android 4.4 (KitKat) in its latest launch. KitKat comes with a wide range of Google services, including access to Google Maps, Gmail and Google Drive. They’re all available on the Galaxy Note 4.

Samsung is offering two processor options in the Galaxy Note 4. The first is a 2.7GHz quad-core processor. The other is a 1.9GHz octa-core chip that features a 1.9GHz quad-core chip and another 1.3GHz processor. Depending on the market, some customers will be able to get their hands on that octa-core and all of the power that goes with it.

Samsung acknowledged during its press event that cameras have become an important component in devices. Perhaps that’s why the company went so far with cameras in the Galaxy Note 4. The device has a 16-megapixel rear-facing lens, as well as a 3.7-megapixel front-facing snapper. Whether it’s selfies or high-quality photos users want to take, it’s possible with the Galaxy Note 4.

Samsung made a big deal about its support for multiple categories of LTE. The device will work on standard LTE Category 4 networks, which have theoretical download speeds of 150M bps, but the big news is that it will work on Category 6 LTE, as well. In certain countries in Europe where that’s available, Category 6 delivers up to 300M bps download speeds.

Samsung wouldn’t launch a device without bundling its many applications with it. The Galaxy Note 4 supports Samsung’s S Note for writing with the S Pen on the screen, as well as S Health, and the company’s many multimedia marketplaces. It’s worth noting, however, that Samsung is by no means forcing customers to use its services on the device.

It’s hard to argue with the Galaxy Note 4’s design. While it has a big screen, the quality of that display is phenomenal. The device itself is surprisingly thin at 8.5mm and weighs in at just 176 grams. The phablet comes in several colors, including black, white, gold and pink, and wastes little space for a bezel. Overall, it’s a great-looking product.

There should be no doubt that the Galaxy Note 4 will handle heavy requirements on storage and memory. The device has 3GB of internal memory, making it a leader in the marketplace. In addition, it comes with 32GB of onboard storage and the customer’s choice of adding a microSD card up to a capacity of 64GB. The addition of the microSD card should provide enough storage to satisfy most users, and the RAM is more than enough for any high-powered app.

Samsung made some important improvements to the S Pen. For starters, it looks and feels more like a pen and attempts to emulate the feeling of writing on paper. In addition, Samsung has made Air Command a bit more useful for handling software commands, and with just a few taps on the screen, users can quickly gather and share content. It’s yet to be put to use in the wild on the Galaxy Note 4, but the new and improved S Pen looks like a keeper.

Although there are many compelling features baked into the Galaxy Note 4, it’s worth noting that not all of them will be available in every market. For example, some markets will get the quad-core version, while others will get the octa-core option. Samsung also notes that its 4G LTE support will vary by country, as will price and availability options. Look for more details on the specific features for your market in the coming weeks.