What's so great about the Note 4? I've had one for a week and it's been average

[leilah]

well i guess, no matter how good the device is, it still boils down to user's experience. i have had the opportunity to use it a few times and so far it was good.

 

[gorcorps]

I'm surprised to read the bad reviews about the fingerprint scanner on the Note 4. The scanner works perfectly for me, consistently. I only use it to log onto my phone, and use a fingerprint security app to lock down several apps from my kids, and also log onto my password manager. So far it's really been spot on for me. I love it, it just works.

How do you hold the phone to get it to read perfectly every time? I was able to get it to work fine too if I held the phone in one hand, then used the finger from my other hand to log in... but that's cumbersome. I was not able to reliably use the thumb from my hand that was holding the phone, and that's an issue. The iPhone scanner beats the panties off of what Samsung went with.

The issue (in my eyes) seems to be that the Samsung scanner requires you to swipe down on the scanner to read the whole print, and the button is so far down the phone that any case you use will have a lip that can get in the way. It'd be much nicer if you could just press the button instead of swipe down, but I can't so for me it's useless and I turn it off.

 

[sweenish]

Fingerprint scanner to me is the most useless of useless gimmicks. The whole idea of one on a phone is pure silliness to me, so could care less how 'good' the gimmick is on my note 4.

For me, it's the perfect device,still. Spend $12 or so and add wireless charging and stop fretting over battery life. (Not given a thought to it personally, since with wireless my N4 is always charged.

I say take advantage of the N4's strengths that other phones dont have rather than complain its gimmicks aren't as gimmicky.

I'm going to be that guy, but it's couldn't care less. Could care less implies you do care some.

And how is a fingerprint scanner a gimmick? It's better than a PIN lock in that there's nothing to remember and it encourages better security.

I don't know what you roll on your phone, security-wise, but it would only take it being stolen once for you change your tune, I imagine.

And I would just call it a Note 4. N4 is typically reserved for the Nexus 4. I realize that in the context of this thread, people know what you're talking about.

 

[holden j caufield]

How do you hold the phone to get it to read perfectly every time? I was able to get it to work fine too if I held the phone in one hand, then used the finger from my other hand to log in... but that's cumbersome. I was not able to reliably use the thumb from my hand that was holding the phone, and that's an issue. The iPhone scanner beats the panties off of what Samsung went with.

The issue (in my eyes) seems to be that the Samsung scanner requires you to swipe down on the scanner to read the whole print, and the button is so far down the phone that any case you use will have a lip that can get in the way. It'd be much nicer if you could just press the button instead of swipe down, but I can't so for me it's useless and I turn it off.

I have this same exact problem can't get it to reliably read my thumb on the holding hand. I've registered 3 fingerprints of the same thumb in every position imaginable and it's still unreliable. If I register my index finger on the non holding hand and swipe down I'm still only 80% success rate.

Also for those who change dpi in lollipop is there a program you used or edited the build prop individual apps to get everything working?

 

[Oyeve]

The scanner was horrid on the S5 as well as the Note 4. I just don't use it. It was never a purchasing factor for me to begin with.

 

[dawheat]

I have this same exact problem can't get it to reliably read my thumb on the holding hand. I've registered 3 fingerprints of the same thumb in every position imaginable and it's still unreliable. If I register my index finger on the non holding hand and swipe down I'm still only 80% success rate.

Also for those who change dpi in lollipop is there a program you used or edited the build prop individual apps to get everything working?

Yeah - I can get the fingerprint scanner to be reasonably reliable for one finger. Still beats a PIN but I really REALLY like the smart unlock feature tied to my Moto 360. Cuts down the times dramatically I need to unlock my phone.

I believe the only approach is to use the xposed mod 'App Settings' to set the stock apps to 640. You'll have to be rooted and make sure to install the right version of xposed.

What dpi are you using? I'm happy at 480.

 

[holden j caufield]

I'm still using the default dpi. I just used Nova Launcher to give me more rows/columns for now. I do know last time I changed the dpi too much on my xperia and had a bootloop luckily I had twrp and a backup. Right now I only have the stock recovery.

What are the best accessories you guys have bought for the phone. I got one of those cases with a compartment in the back for a DL, credit card and some cash. No need to lug my wallet around. Also a desk mount for it. Is there a micro usb to displayport or dvi port adapter that will let me display QHD to my computer monitor. Or does it only work up to 1080p.

 

[openwheel]

does Note 4 have same fingerprint scanner as S6? The S6 scanner is reliable and fast.

With that said, I think home button fingerprint scanner is stupid. If they can make the entire screen a fingerprint scanner, then I'll be truly happy. Better yet, palm print scanner Skyfall style. Otherwise, just a gimmick.

 

[Red Storm]

does Note 4 have same fingerprint scanner as S6? The S6 scanner is reliable and fast.

With that said, I think home button fingerprint scanner is stupid. If they can make the entire screen a fingerprint scanner, then I'll be truly happy. Better yet, palm print scanner Skyfall style. Otherwise, just a gimmick.

Won't be too long before you can scan your fingerprint on the display itself, it is being worked on now.

 

[AznAnarchy99]

Fingerprint scanner to me is the most useless of useless gimmicks. The whole idea of one on a phone is pure silliness to me, so could care less how 'good' the gimmick is on my note 4.

For me, it's the perfect device,still. Spend $12 or so and add wireless charging and stop fretting over battery life. (Not given a thought to it personally, since with wireless my N4 is always charged.

I say take advantage of the N4's strengths that other phones dont have rather than complain its gimmicks aren't as gimmicky.

I used to think so too before I had my IP5s. Now I can't live without it.

 

[Oyeve]

does Note 4 have same fingerprint scanner as S6? The S6 scanner is reliable and fast.

With that said, I think home button fingerprint scanner is stupid. If they can make the entire screen a fingerprint scanner, then I'll be truly happy. Better yet, palm print scanner Skyfall style. Otherwise, just a gimmick.

Nope. S6 scanner is loads better, on par with the iphone scanner.

 

[VashHT]

Meh I had it on the iphone 6, while it was really nice I wouldn't say it was a must have feature for me. I eventually took it off my phone anyways since I'd hand my iphone to people to change music and I'd have to unlock it with my finger before giving it to them (not ideal while driving). I will say it worked almost perfectly though, very rarely did I have it misread my finger and being able to just place your finger instead of sliding it makes the whole thing a nicer experience.

I'm going to have to try it on my gf's S6 edge, I had nothing but problems on my note 4 with it, maybe like a 10% success rate. If it actually worked on my note 4 I might use it, but I don't really care about locking my phone anyway so it's not a big deal for me.

 

[openwheel]

I tried using home button fingerprint scanners, it was awkward with an iPhone 5S, and it still is with Galaxy S6. They are both fast and reliable, but just awkward to use.

"Front screen fingerprint scanner": That's the real deal.

 

[poofyhairguy]

The only reason I want a decent fingerprint reader is for password management. Right now I don't use the best/unique passwords on my many apps/accounts because a unique hard complicated password for each account requires a password manager unless you are some sort of savant. But if you use an app like LastPass you still have to remember the "base" password or whatever that is WAY more complicated than the crappy password I now use all over the place. Basically I should do it but I don't because its hard. So my personal security is very weak (luckily I am not worth much).

But my sister has a S6 and she has LastPass tied to her fingerprint. So when she needs to enter a password she simply sticks on her finger to make LastPass happy and then LastPass brings in that crazy unique password for her. For her doing security the right way is even EASIER than it is for me doing it the terrible way thanks to a fingerprint reader.

My next phone must have a fingerprint reader for this reason alone.

 

[holden j caufield]

does mirrorlink have issues with lollipop. I have a samsung smart tv but my phone just keeps says connecting and never connects