Samsung Galaxy Note 5 review
The best big Android phone with a stylus gets a makeover
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is either a game changer or deal breaker for longtime fans of the Android phablet, now that it has a premium look and feel.
Its 5.7-inch display, super-fast processor, improved camera and S Pen stylus are joined by a new, glass-and-metal design that reflects the solid construction of the Samsung Galaxy S6.
That makes it a huge leap over last year's Galaxy Note 4, which backed the phone in cheap, textured plastic. Samsung's build quality is finally fit to compete with the aluminum iPhone 6 Plus and the Huawei Ascend Mate 7.
All of this comes at a cost, however. There's no microSD card slot for expandable storage or removable battery to swap out, like on the Note 4 andLG G4, and the new sealed-shut design is slippery.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is certainly a contender for best phone in the world, but it isn't for everyone who can't grip a two-handed phone, or its compromises in the name of style.
Release date and price
The Note 5 may not be for everyone simply because it's currently only available in the US in the Western world. It launched on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, Sprint and US Cellular on August 21.
That means it's not coming to the UK or the rest of Europe, at least not this year, as Samsung is instead focusing on the Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge+. Anyone there who wants a phone with a stylus is out of luck.
Its price remains competitive, even with its fancy new design. It costs $250 through a two-year contract in the US and as low as $696 at full retail price through Verizon. It'd likely cost £600 in the UK and AU$940 in Australia, the same as the Note 4 price.
Design
The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 has the same basic shape as the Note 4, but the construction of the two phones couldn't be any more different.
Gone is the faux leather back that was made of plastic but felt more like cheap snakeskin. It's been replaced by a glass sheet that's infused into a metal frame, just like on the Galaxy S6.
At 153.2 x 76.1 x 7.6mm, the Note 5 dimensions are certainly bigger than Samsung's 5.1-inch flagship, but it's actually a hair smaller and noticeably thinner than the Note 4. It's lighter too, at 171g, shedding 5g even with its metal-and-glass construction.
Its back glass also curves inward on the right and left sides. This smaller footprint and curved back made it easier to hold in my palm, despite its phablet size.
Glass does make gripping this 5.7-inch phone more of a challenge, breakable and a fingerprint magnet compared to its faux leather predecessor. There's less traction, but it's nowhere near as slippery as a super smooth aluminum iPhone 6 with rounded corners.
Cases will help with the grip and prevent my overarching palm from interfering with the touchscreen, due to its thin bezel. This happens more often as bezels wane, phone sizes increase and my hands get fat. But I don't suggest Samsung's default case offering. I know from my time with the Galaxy S6 – it makes the phone even more slippery.
The Galaxy Note 5 colors include Sapphire Black and White Pearl in the US, with options of Titanium Silver and Gold Platinum on offer elsewhere. The aluminum frame is silver in all cases, with a color-matching power button on the right and volume rocker on the left. These buttons are thin, but feel strong when pressed and, importantly, are situated in the upper portion of the frame, exactly where my fingers clutch the phone.
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