Samsung Galaxy Note 4 launched sometime back in September at IFA in Berlin. The Galaxy Note line as you may know was Samsung’s bold move to venture into new paths and they really paid off. Now Samsung draws new lines by getting the workhorse that is Galaxy Note 4 better looks and aesthetics.
The device launched last week Friday in South Africa in what Samsung calls S-carpet, you know, launching and availing the phone in markets concurrently in a wave. The device was launched alongside accessories Gear S which is a standalone watch and Gear Circle which adds usability to the Gear S and can also function as an accessory for Samsung Galaxy phones. Now all these will launch in Kenya in the last week of October and as you may also be aware, Samsung launches devices and has them available in the market, not launching then announcing a separate date of availability.
That tells you that you will be able to purchase the best smartphone and phablet in Kenya starting next week, details further down in the article. Now, say you purchase the phone, what are you getting yourself into? First let’s delve into the specs sheet:
- Size & weight: 153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5mm, 176g
- Display: 5.7 inch Quad HD Super AMOLED (2560 x 1440)
- Processor: 2.7 GHz Quad-Core Snapdragon 805 with an Adreno 420 GPU or 1.9 GHz Octa-Core (4 X 1.3 GHz Cortex-A53 + 4 Cortex-A57) Exynos 5433 64-bit chip backed by a Mali T760 GPU (varies by region)
- Memory: 32 GB internal storage expandable upto 128 GB via microSD/ 3 GB RAM
- Camera: 16 MP main camera (with Smart OIS)/ 3.7 MP front-facing camera
- OS: Android 4.4.4 (with TouchWiz, of course)
- Battery: 3220 mAh
- Network: 2.5G [(GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE) : 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz], 3G [(HSPA＋ 42Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz], 4G [(LTE Cat 4 150/50Mbps) or 4G (LTE Cat 6 300/50Mbps)]
- Connectivity: WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (HT80) MIMO PCIe GPS / GLONASS , NFC, Bluetooth 4.1 (BLE,ANT+), IR LED (Remote Control), USB2.0, MHL 3.0
- Additional features: Dynamic Lockscreen, Multi-window, S Health v3.5, Ultra-Power Saving Mode, Air Command, Fingerprint scanner, heart rate sensor, ultra-violet (UV) light sensor
- Colours: Charcoal Black, Blossom Pink, Frost White, and Bronze Gold
The first Galaxy Note 4 reviews are already out and most reviewers agree that this is a device to be hold, see what some had to say in conclusion:
“..no other phone maker can deliver such a clear vision of why the future will be written on these smartphone-tablet hybrids. It may not meet my high aesthetic standards, software-wise, but multitasking on that big, beautiful display makes the Note feel more productive and powerful than any other phablet out there. Even the iPhone 6 Plus. This is the best phone I have seen from Samsung in a long time—maybe ever.” – Joanna Stern, Wall Street Journal.
“A great update for Samsung, if not a huge change. The QuadHD screen more than makes up for iterative design changes.” – Marc Chacksfield, Techradar
“The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 will thrill anyone who loves a fast phone with a large screen, but it’s best for compulsive scribblers willing to pay a lot for its winning stylus.” CNET
“Even if you don’t care for the stylus, the Note 4 is Samsung’s best big phone yet, and continues to stay on top of the phablet category it created.” – TrustedReviews
“The Galaxy Note 4 is the best large phone on the market. It’s a device you’ll be proud to whip out in public, thanks to its elegant design, robust build, beautiful screen, impressive battery life and solid camera. It also excels from a productivity standpoint, offering seamless multitasking and stylus functionality that’s as smooth as I’ve ever seen on a smartphone. And despite its large size, Samsung has nailed the one-handed experience better than the competition. “ Brad Molen, Engadget
“While Apple has only just released its first huge phone, Samsung’s gargantuan Note is already on its fourth iteration. In a lot of ways, it’s the big phone that started this runaway screen-size race. But even though it’s facing an ever-growing army of up-sized competitors, the Note 4 is the only giant phone that gets it right.” – Eric Limer, Gizmodo
“It’s a product for people looking to blur the line between phone, tablet, and desktop – for people who don’t mind using their gadgets with two hands as long as it means they can do more. It’s a smartphone for those who want as much capability as possible, even if they won’t use most of it after the first week. Because sometimes, no matter what you want to do, you just want to know you can. And the Note 4 is the phone that can.” Micheal Fisher, Pocketnow.
Now there are what several trusted sources had to say about the Galaxy Note 4. What do we think about it? Well, we’ve had a short time with the phone and we think it’s great, in fact very great. But as you may know, this is not th device for everyone, you first have to be okay with large display smartphones before you can try loving the Galaxy Note 4, once that is settled, you have the best phablet the world has to offer today. Samsung has worked on productivity and you won’t be getting productivity more developed on a smartphone, the other features are also top noth and Samsung also upped their design game on this flagship.
Things Specific to You if you plan to purchase the Galaxy Note 4
Galaxy Note 4 will be available next week in Kenya as it also launches same week. Price is Kshs 75,000 and pre-orders are already open for those who want to be the first to get it. To make pre-orders you will need to walk in to the following stores: Junction Mall, Galleria Mall, Capital Centre Mall, Thika Road Mall, Village Market, Safaricom Shop Sarit Centre, Safaricom Shop I&M Bank House, Panna Music Brand shop in Eldoret and Shankar Brand shop in Nyali, Mombasa.
Samsung also has an incentive to first adopters; on top of the pre-order price of Kshs 75,000 they will get goodies valued at Kshs 13,000 for free if they are among the first 100 to make pre-orders in the above outlets. The goodies are as follows: Gear Circle, S View Cover and Free 3GB Safaricom Internet Bundle, the latter of which is available at select Samsung Brand Stores.
The phone will be availabe in Charcoal Black, Frost White (personal favourite), Bronze Gold and Blossom Pink.
