Galaxy Note 3 VS Galaxy Note 4

TubeTote

Senior member
May 11, 2006
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I now have both of these phones in working order, and I'm trying to decide which one to keep. I still owe money on the Note 4, and the Note 3 is paid for. I know a lot of people would think 'just keep the newer phone'...but I can get more money for the phone on Ebay than what I owe on it, plus I had some really bad luck with the 4 (see my thread about trying to unroot it). I don't know much about specs and the like, so if someone recommends to keep the 4 over the 3, please explain what is better about the 4 other than it just being newer. One other thing to consider is that the battery in my Note 4 is getting weak. The tech who fixed it explained the this is a known problem with Note 4s.

I also posted this question in the unrooting thread, but no replies yet so I will ask here...what is 'unlocking' a phone? Is unlocking the same as rooting?

Thanks much in advance for any responses.
 
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stormkroe

Golden Member
May 28, 2011
1,550
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Note 4 is better in every way (screen, SoC, digitizer has more levels of pressure sensitivity, etc).
Chances are, if you haven't replaced the note 3 battery yet you will have to soon. I just replaced mine after ~4 years of HARD use, at least 1 full charge cycle per day, construction site use, -30° weather use, etc. If the new note doesn't impress, I'll be riding a note 4 into the sunset. Don't let a weak battery be you deciding factor.
 

Zaap

Diamond Member
Jun 12, 2008
7,162
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How is the battery even a consideration in any of this? One of the huge benefits of the older Notes is the removable battery. Just swap it out for a decent (but cheap, price-wise) battery that practically fall out of trees on Amazon, and think not another thing about it- with either phone.

As for N4 or N3, personally I'd keep the Note 4. As said, it's just better in so many ways. We're all on this kick of needing 'the new shiny' but there is absolutely NOTHING bad about a Note 4 still. It's still a hell of a great device. Heck, even the Note 3 still is- just between the two I'd go for the N4.
 

Insomniator

Diamond Member
Oct 23, 2002
6,294
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How much money are we talking here? Even a note 4 is only worth what ~125 bucks?

Note 3 is nearly 4 years old... time to let it rest. A note 4 is much more modern and should last longer, with a better experience the entire time to boot.
 

Rifter

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
11,522
751
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Note 4 for sure. Ive owned the note 2, 3, and 4 personally and am now on a s7 edge. The note 4 is better in pretty much every regard to the note 3.

The battery can be an issue, i replaced my stock one with a Anker replacement battery and its been fine since, i still use it at home for games when im charging my s7 edge.

The note 4 is still a solid phone.
 

TubeTote

Senior member
May 11, 2006
413
21
81
I owe about $140 on the Note 4, and just paid $60 to get the stock firmware replaced. I have seen some of these phones going for $200 or even more on eBay. My experience with the Note 3 was far better, never really had an issue until I broke the screen...but I strongly believe this was largely in part to letting my friend root the Note 4; it just never really ran well after that.

If the Note 4 has that many advantages over the 3, then I guess it seems like the smartest thing to keep the 4 and sell the 3, even though I just had a nice new screen and digitizer put on it. Even the Note 3 can fetch $100 or so.
 

Raduque

Lifer
Aug 22, 2004
13,140
138
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The note 4 is the superior device.

I had the Note 7 and fell in love with the screen-off writing - really wish the Note 4 had it. Note 5 does but is a gigantic step backwards compared the to the 4, IMO.