Overview: Samsung Galaxy Note 5

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

High-speed charging and wireless charging are game changing features that every modern smartphone should have and Samsung's got those two features spot on. They just work.

Easily one of the most attractive flagship smartphones in the market today, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 continues the evolution of Samsung's steadiest and most beloved line of supersized smartphones. The Galaxy Note 5 is textbook Samsung, and representative of a company that goes to where popular trends seem to lean.

Since the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge were lauded for their premium design which incorporate aluminum and glass, it is no surprise that the new Note borrows heavily from this design aesthetic, but at what cost?

Some first impressions

As someone who owns and loves the Galaxy Note 4, which was a premium device in its own way and suitably robust enought to handle the rough and tumble BYOD and enterprise markets, where it fit in perfectly. I was apprehensive at the Galaxy Note 5's sudden leap into trendy-device territory. I was more disappointed than surprised when I learned that many of my favourite Note 4 features; namely the removable battery, microSD card slot and the super useful IR Blaster remote control, were jettisoned for design's sake.

Certainly, having these features were more important that a flush glass enclosure, no? To top it all, battery is smaller on the Note 5 and if you inadvertently insert the SPen ass-backwards, then you'll destroy the sensor that deploys the note-taking app when you release the SPen. This was truly shocking.

I mean, the past four versions of the Note were designed in such a way that you couldn't insert the SPen the wrong way, so why was that an issue with this latest (and most expensive) version?

I've finally spent some time with the Galaxy Note 5 and while I'm impressed at the performance and software of the 16 megapixel camera (with an f/1.9 aperture) and the bright 5.7" Quad-AMOLED display plus 4GB or RAM, outside from spec updates there's very little about this new Note that makes me want to trade in my Note 4.

It would be great if both the Note 4 and the Note 5 could coexist, one geared for business and BYOD and the other a fashion-phone variant for folks who like larger phones and SPens.

Anyone pining for a Galaxy Note 5 will get all the goodies expected of a Samsung flagship. The multi-tasking and split-screen features are still best in class for a smartphone of this size. High-speed charging and wireless charging are game changing features that every modern smartphone should have and Samsung's got those two features spot on. They just work.

The device that kicked off the phablet segment may not be the biggest dog in the pound anymore, but Samsung still knows how to add value to their Note line while paying homage to their slinkier Galaxy S6 line. Note 4 holdouts like myself will probably stick to what we know and love, which is a well designed and sturdy enterprise-focused all-day device.  The Note 5, on the other hand is sleek, fashionable and should satisfy users looking for a larger Samsung flagship.