Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Continues the New Tradition

Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Continues the New Tradition

Samsung has started making some gorgeous devices lately. While previous generations of their smartphones had some strange details like faux stitching and fake metal looking plastic edging, the S6 and S6 edge have taken on a professional, sophisticated, and frankly gorgeous look. Never before has Samsung been in such direct competition with Apple in the design department. Samsung has continued the tradition with the brand new Galaxy Note 5, the latest and greatest phablet in the smartphone world. Let’s dive in.

note5-fb

Looks

The Note 5 is the bigger brother of the S6 but it borrows a lot from the design perspective. The plastic and faux stitching that were on the Note 4 are gone and the new glass and metal composition from the S6 are here. This is all well and good but there doesn’t seem to be any sort of progress or refinement from what Samsung may have learned from the design of the S6. The rear glass is still slick and prone to smudging. This choice makes the Note 5 hard to hold and a little embarrassing to show to others without doing the quick little shirt rub.

Then there’s the same camera bump on the back; it’s still not flush with the rest of the device. The Note 5 is a bit bigger so it looks more squared which is consistent with other Note devices. It has an added .6 inches of diagonal display length so that’s pretty cool which helps include the stylus into the form factor of the Note 5.

Samsung-Galaxy-Note-5-and-S6-Edge-Plus

What It Does

The Note 5 may not look too different and it’s really not too different under the hood either. The same processor, an extra gig of RAM, the same camera sensor, no removable battery, and no micro SD card slot but there are a few improvements. The screen is a bit larger with the same QHD display resolution and the S Pen has been improved. In reality, the only reason you buy the Note 5 is for the S Pen.

There aren’t any huge new features with the S Pen besides the ability to take notes without waking the phone. Basically, the Note 5‘s screen is off, you pull the stylus out, and the Note 5 launches into a specific black screen mode to record handwriting notes without needing to waking the phone and then launching an app. It’s more in line with some really great tweaks; the new S Pen is easier to use, more intuitive, more fluid. If you loved the last version of the S Pen then pick up the Note 5 as soon as possible.

Weston is our professional gadget reviewer. Nothing thrills him more than being able to get his hands on the latest and greatest in electronics.
Join the Discussion

You Might Also Like

As a non-dev, I tried every AI coding tool—here’s the one that made me feel smart
As a non-dev, I tried every AI coding tool—here’s the one that made me feel smart
As someone who’s spent more time with metaphors than machine learning, I didn’t expect to delve into the world of AI tools for software engineers. But here we are. My Gadget Flow team asked me to write an AI assistant..
Apple WWDC 2025: A new era of Apple Intelligence, Liquid Glass design, and seamless integration
Apple WWDC 2025: A new era of Apple Intelligence, Liquid Glass design, and seamless integration
Apple Park buzzed with excitement as WWDC 2025 kicked off, with CEO Tim Cook warmly welcoming the global audience to Apple’s annual tech extravaganza. This year’s keynote was packed with innovations spanning software, AI, design, and user experience. They all..
3 Best translator earbuds for work meetings and global adventures
3 Best translator earbuds for work meetings and global adventures
Travel always pulls me in. There’s nothing like tasting new food, exploring fresh views, and swapping stories with people from places I’ve never been. But let’s be honest—language barriers can slow you down. I’ve had plenty of moments where I’m stuck..
Giving tech a second chance: Gadget Salvation’s contribution to electronics’ circular economy
Giving tech a second chance: Gadget Salvation’s contribution to electronics’ circular economy
Summary: The rapid evolution of technology over the past two decades has undeniably transformed our lives. With this accelerated pace of innovation comes a significant opportunity for us all to engage with the circular economy. This model of production and..
From cluttered to clear: The gadgets that get you there
From cluttered to clear: The gadgets that get you there
Too many wires on your desk?   Can’t find your charger when you actually need it?  Or maybe your room looks clean only until you open that one drawer filled with random things. We all have that kind of everyday mess...
Sonos Move vs Move 2: Which portable smart speaker would I actually spend my money on?
Sonos Move vs Move 2: Which portable smart speaker would I actually spend my money on?
Portable speakers have come a long way from the days of tinny sound and Bluetooth hiccups. Now we want premium audio that follows us from the kitchen to the backyard to the beach and we want it with style. Enter..