Samsung Note 5 rumors/hype thread

[dawheat]

Many folks, including myself, consider the Note series the best all-round Android device you can buy in any given year. It's also the device Samsung often adds new functionality first - such as OIS, 2K screen, and so on.

While it's way to early to know anything definitive about the Note 5, the stories have started to crop up. Obviously most of it is going to be pure hope, but what do you want in the Note 5?

http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_5_to_feature_a_usb_typec_port-news-12613.php

- USB 3.1 - yes please. Beyond the even faster charging capabilities, Apple users know how nice it is to have a reversible connector.
- 5.9" screen - ambivalent as I like the current size of the Note 4. If they manage to keep overall dimensions relatively static - then great. If it grows proportionally for the added .2", then meh.
- 2K screen - yes please. No need to go pointlessly to 4K
- UFS storage - no questions this is coming. Hopefully Samsung sells 64 and 128GB variants like the S6.
- 14nm Exynos SOC based on the 7420 - most likely as their custom core SOC or the 820 probably won't be available by September. Still should be a great SOC.
- 4100mAh battery while being thinner? I honestly don't believe it. I'd love for it to happen as battery life will go from very good to amazing with the SOC improvements. Even a jump to 3500mAh would be great IMO with the 14nm SOC - I won't even dream of 4100mAh.

Camera will probably be a variant of the S6 - so excellent. Some new S-pen functionality for sure. Touch biometrics for sure.

Biggest questions:
- Will it use the S6 unibody or have a removable back? I don't want it, but I do think it'll follow the S6
- Will it have mSD and removable battery? I hope it has a SIM-type mSD slot, but could go either way. If it truly has a 4100mAh battery, I'd be OK without removable battery.
- Will there be 2 variants or just 1. Will the Edge version have 2 curves or 1? I do think it's going to move to the double curve a la S6 and have two variants.

 

[ThisIsChrisKim]

I'll be following closely. This along with the new Nexus line, one of one will be my next.

 

[ChronoReverse]

Yeah, depending on how this turns out, it has a high chance to be my next phone after the GS4.

For me, at minimum it needs:
1) Same camera as the GS6
2) 3500mah battery (or removeable battery)
3) Battery life and camera performance at the expected levels given 1-2
4) 64GB UFS storage (or microSD)
5) Everything else at least Note 4 levels

I'm really hoping Samsung hits this one out of the park. I think that except for the battery, there's no reason Samsung can't hit those points.

 

[PowerYoga]

removable battery and sd card above all.

 

[core2slow]

Why does 4100mah so hard to believe? You do know Chinese manufacturers have been cramming 4000mah, 5000nah, and now even 6000mah batteries into a dimension that's only 8-11mm in thickness, right? My huawei ascend mate 7 packs a 4100mah non removable battery and the phone is only 7.9mm. It'll no doubt be non-removable, but judging how the s6/edge is fairing I doubt this would even be an issue.

 

[dawheat]

Why does 4100mah so hard to believe? You do know Chinese manufacturers have been cramming 4000mah, 5000nah, and now even 6000mah batteries into a dimension that's only 8-11mm in thickness, right? My huawei ascend mate 7 packs a 4100mah non removable battery and the phone is only 7.9mm. It'll no doubt be non-removable, but judging how the s6/edge is fairing I doubt this would even be an issue.

Mostly b/c the Note has to include a digitizer and space to house the s-pen - non-trivial components to internal packaging. If the Note 5 is thinner than the Note 4 (8.5mm) - which won't surprise me considering their desire to compete with iPhone thinness.

So thinner phone while maintaining the digitizer and pen + a 33% larger battery? I wish but again, I'm skeptical. I'll be happier with any increase honestly.

 

[core2slow]

Mostly b/c the Note has to include a digitizer and space to house the s-pen - non-trivial components to internal packaging. If the Note 5 is thinner than the Note 4 (8.5mm) - which won't surprise me considering their desire to compete with iPhone thinness.

So thinner phone while maintaining the digitizer and pen + a 33% larger battery? I wish but again, I'm skeptical. I'll be happier with any increase honestly.

You're skeptical, but I think this is Samsung's reply to some of the major Chinese manufacturers who have been digging lately at the mobile market share by introducing big, thin phones with giant batteries...the Note's phablet territory.

Not only do I think the note 5 will be thin and sleek, but 4100mah battery will be in tow as well. They're one of the few mfgrs who listen to the customers and in tuned with the trend (unlike HTC and Sony), so I'm sure they won't disappoint.

 

[Artdeco]

I've owned every version of the Note, if they don't keep the expandable memory and replaceable battery, I'm done.

 

[J_IVAN]

To me, the mSD slot is a must have. If no removeable battery, the battery should be 4100mAh or above.

 

[lothar]

This phone has zero chance of me getting it because it inherently has the same problem as the Nexus 6.
Oh, and it also has TouchWiz.

 

[Zaap]

I've owned every version of the Note, if they don't keep the expandable memory and replaceable battery, I'm done.

I feel the same way, although I can't say I'd be done because I'm doubtful that even without mSD and rem battery there will be anything to best the Note 5. (Since just about everything else is the same, minus the stylus).

I could concieve of giving these up for wireless charging built in, huge memory capacity like say 128GB onboard, stellar battery life and a compelling sleek design.

Otherwise, I'd love all that plus the mSD and remBat.

If they revamped the edge version to similar to the S6 edge I'd probably go for that.

The note 5 will be interesting whatever approach Samsung takes. It'll either rule the roost or just drop the ball entirely.

 

[dawheat]

I feel the same way, although I can't say I'd be done because I'm doubtful that even without mSD and rem battery there will be anything to best the Note 5. (Since just about everything else is the same, minus the stylus).

I could concieve of giving these up for wireless charging built in, huge memory capacity like say 128GB onboard, stellar battery life and a compelling sleek design.

Otherwise, I'd love all that plus the mSD and remBat.

If they revamped the edge version to similar to the S6 edge I'd probably go for that.

The note 5 will be interesting whatever approach Samsung takes. It'll either rule the roost or just drop the ball entirely.

I upgrade my phone every year and I honestly haven't bought an additional battery the entire time I've owned the Note 3 and Note 4. I did use one on my Note 2.

So removable battery is a non-issue for me as long as battery life is good enough. Note 4 level is the minimum for me - so I do hope Samsung pushes it up quite a bit. However, as always I do understand those who want it - I just think the vast majority of users will be fine with very good stock battery life - clearly not average S6 battery life.

As for mSD - I do want it b/c I'm value concious and already have a 128GB card. But if Samsung pulls a S6 and sells 64GB and 128GB variants, I'll grumble but definitely get at least the 64GB and think hard about the 128GB.

Like you said - I may not like the removal of mSD, but what would be a better phone that has an amazing screen, battery life, touch biometrics, amazing camera, great performance, and so on? Honestly nothing except the 6S Plus.

 

[gorcorps]

I fully expect the Note 5 to have a non-removable battery, built in wireless charging, and no mSD support just like the S6. Usually when they make changes to one line of phones, the other line of phones keeps those changes with maybe a little bit of refinement.

I don't mind the non-removable battery, especially if it means they can increase the capacity of the one that's included. The memory is a bit of a hit though, so it'd be a tough one. I'll be happy w/ my note 4 for another year though so it shouldn't really matter. I'm not a fan of making the thing even bigger though, that doesn't sound good.

 

[Artdeco]

I always buy a 2nd battery, they're a great backup especially when I'm traveling or too busy to charge my phone...

 

[StrangerGuy]

This phone has zero chance of me getting it because it inherently has the same problem as the Nexus 6.
Oh, and it also has TouchWiz.

From the business side of things I think whatever Samsung is going to with the Note 4 it's a goner against the iPhone 6S plus.

 

[dawheat]

From the business side of things I think whatever Samsung is going to with the Note 4 it's a goner against the iPhone 6S plus.

That's a pretty ridiculous statement. The iphone doesn't eliminate the market for Android flagships, and the 6S Plus won't for the Note 5. Sure it'll outsell it, but it'll still sell tens of millions since it's the best android phablet and arguably the best phone hands down.

 

[Crono]

That's a pretty ridiculous statement. The iphone doesn't eliminate the market for Android flagships, and the 6S Plus won't for the Note 5. Sure it'll outsell it, but it'll still sell tens of millions since it's the best android phablet and arguably the best phone hands down.

Which is probably what he meant.

 

[GTRagnarok]

Front facing speakers, please.

 

[zerogear]

Front facing speakers, please.

Then people will say omg look at that bezel, horrible. etc etc etc.

 

[core2slow]

Then people will say omg look at that bezel, horrible. etc etc etc.

nexus 6

 

[Oyeve]

I hope (but it probably wont) the N5 keeps the MSD. All I really want is MSD. The S6 is the first galaxy phone I am not getting because of no msd.

 

[dainthomas]

Front facing speakers, please.

Ugh, nobody wants that. I'd rather get a bluetooth speaker than have ugly front speakers taking up all that room.

 

[Oyeve]

Ugh, nobody wants that. I'd rather get a bluetooth speaker than have ugly front speakers taking up all that room.

True, I do wish they put the speaker on the bottom at least, like on the Note 3.

 

[GTRagnarok]

nexus 6

Exactly. Or the Xperia Z3. They don't need to be big boomy speakers like HTC's. I just want to stop cupping my hand to direct the sound. That's the only thing that would compel me to upgrade from the Note 4. Everything else is just incremental.

 

[zerogear]

Yet if you really looked at the Z3, the bezel/speakers take up just about the same amount of space as the bezel/speakers on the One M8.

I haven't seen N6 in person, no clue there