The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is a phone worth being excited about, and you should be perfectly aware of that if you've already read our Galaxy Note 4 hands-on post. What makes Samsung's new phablet better than its predecessor, however, is likely not as well known. That's why we though we'd clear things up a bit.
Long story short, the Note 4 isn't dramatically different from the Note 3. It is still that S-Pen-equipped phablet with top-notch specs we know and love. But at the same time, a number of changes have been introduced – changes that we're about to go over. So here are 9 major things that make the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 better than the Galaxy Note 3.
1. Improved design with metal elements
At a glance, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 may not look too different from the Galaxy Note 3 – the two have a lot in common when it comes to design. However, the new model has been treated to a softer leather back. The leather isn't genuine, of course. It is still a piece of plastic with a fancy finish applied to it. Yet nevertheless, we think the presentation is more refined this time around. But more importantly, the Galaxy Note 4 features a solid metal frame around its sides, which looks and feels nicer than the Note 3's shiny plastic frame.
2. Color-accurate QHD display
Yup, you read that right. The Galaxy Note 4's display is shaping up as a very color-accurate one, as our measurements proved. And the bump in display resolution is definitely worth being mentioned. There's a QHD (1440 by 2560-pixel) panel on the Galaxy Note 4, bringing a more detailed image compared to the Galaxy Note 3.
3. Crazy-fast Snapdragon 805 SoC
When the Note 3 launched, it carried the fastest SoC that Qualcomm had to offer, the Snapdragon 800. Now, history appears to be repeating itself as the Note 4 is powered by the Snapdragon 805 chip, which is, once again, the fastest market-ready SoC by the company. Something needs to handle those extra pixels, after all. For more details on the Note 4's processor, you can dive into ourSamsung Galaxy Note 4 specs review.
4. 16MP camera with optical stabilization
The awesome 16MP camera from the Galaxy S5 has been transplanted over to the Note 4. What's more, it has been upgraded – optical image stabilization has been added as a remedy for shaky hands. Not that the Note 3's 13MP snapper is bad. Quite the contrary – it produces commendable results, as we know from experience. Still, the Note 4 is the better-equipped shooter, and we're looking forward to testing its camera thoroughly.
5. Upgraded front-facing camera
And speaking of cameras, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 has a 3.7-megapixel front-facing camera with an upgraded optical setup – ideal for selfies.
6. Enhanced S Pen stylus
Another, ahem, notable difference is that the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 comes with an upgraded, more sensitive S Pen stylus. Not that the one on the Note 3 was bad, but room for improvement was still available. The Note 4 should be better at recognizing written text, Samsung claims, and the interface has been optimized for use with the accessory even further. For example, you can now encircle multiple image in the gallery to select them.
7. Fingerprint scanner in the home button
For those who want an alternative to a lock screen PIN or pattern, there's the Note 4's fingerprint scanner. It is embedded in its home button and allows one to unlock their handset without having to input a single digit.
8. UV radiation sensor
With its newly-added sensor for measuring ultraviolet radiation, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 can help you determine whether staying under the sun is safe or not and whether you should apply sunscreen to your skin. A neat feature, don't you think?
9. Cat. 6 LTE connectivity
And last but not least, we have to highlight the fact that the Note 4 is a category 6 LTE device. Also referred to as LTE Advanced, support for the standard should translate to even faster data transfer rates, at least in theory.
