When phones were function over form.

Summary

The Galaxy Note 4, released a decade ago, is celebrated as one of Samsung's best smartphones. Featuring a sharp 5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, a powerful 16MP camera, and the iconic S Pen, the Note 4 was ahead of its time. It offered unique features like a removable back, replaceable battery, and expandable storage, which are no longer common in modern smartphones. Despite showing its age in terms of software and processing power, the Note 4’s design and functionality still hold nostalgic appeal. While Samsung’s modern devices have surpassed it, the Note 4 remains a landmark in smartphone history.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Galaxy Note 4 is widely regarded as one of the best smartphones Samsung ever made, known for its sharp display, impressive camera, and unique features like the removable back and headphone port.
• 😀 The phone's design, featuring metal rails and a solid feel, holds up well even a decade later, with its ergonomic form being easier to hold compared to modern smartphones.
• 😀 The Note 4’s removable back allowed for easy access to the SIM tray, microSD slot, and the 3220 mAh battery, providing a level of customization and convenience that newer phones lack.
• 😀 The S Pen, while not as advanced as today’s version, was still highly responsive and served its intended purpose, though the change in stylus placement (from right to left side) was a design flaw for right-handed users.
• 😀 The Note 4 featured a 5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, which, despite looking outdated by today’s standards, still offers vibrant colors and remains impressive due to Samsung’s expertise in displays.
• 😀 The display was limited by a 60Hz refresh rate and relatively low brightness compared to modern phones, showcasing the evolution of screen technology over the past decade.
• 😀 Despite its 16 MP rear camera and 4K video capabilities, the Note 4’s camera shows its age with noticeable issues in dynamic range and stabilization, especially in video.
• 😀 Storage was expandable with a microSD card, allowing for easy upgrades, and the removable battery meant users could replace it with a fresh one, giving the phone a longer usable life compared to current non-removable battery models.
• 😀 The phone ran on Android 6.0 Marshmallow with Samsung’s TouchWiz interface, which was heavy and bloated, making the device feel slower over time, especially when compared to modern One UI-powered phones.
• 😀 The Galaxy Note 4 marked the end of the 'Note' era as Samsung moved to the Galaxy S Ultra series, but it remains a fan-favorite and possibly Samsung’s best-ever smartphone for its combination of features, performance, and style.

Q & A

What makes the Galaxy Note 4 considered one of the best Samsung smartphones?

The Galaxy Note 4 is regarded as one of Samsung’s best smartphones due to its premium design, impressive 5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLED display, the functionality of the S Pen, and its features like a removable back and expandable storage. These features made it stand out in 2014 and continue to evoke nostalgia among users.

How does the Galaxy Note 4 compare in size to modern smartphones like the S24 Ultra?

When compared to the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, the Note 4 is surprisingly close in size. The Note 4 is 25% lighter, slightly shorter, and while it’s only 0.1mm thinner, its tapered back makes it feel more slender and comfortable to hold despite its larger dimensions.

Why is the S Pen considered such an important feature on the Galaxy Note 4?

The S Pen was a key selling point for the Note 4, offering precise input for tasks like note-taking, sketching, and navigation. Though not as advanced as modern S Pens, it was highly responsive and added significant value to the device, especially with its integration into the phone's software.

What is the significance of the removable back on the Galaxy Note 4?

The removable back of the Note 4 allowed for easy access to the SIM tray, microSD card slot, and the 3220 mAh battery. This feature was particularly valued because users could swap out batteries for extended use, a capability now largely absent in modern smartphones.

What were the main drawbacks of the Galaxy Note 4's camera in 2024?

The main drawbacks of the Note 4's camera in 2024 are its lower resolution (16MP), lack of advanced stabilization for video, and limited dynamic range. Despite these limitations, it was still a high-performing camera in 2014, though modern devices have significantly improved in terms of both hardware and software.

How does the display of the Galaxy Note 4 compare to modern standards?

The Note 4's 5.7-inch Quad HD AMOLED display still offers vibrant colors and sharpness, but it feels outdated compared to current smartphones. It’s limited by its 60Hz refresh rate and lower brightness compared to modern displays, which have reached higher levels of brightness and smoother refresh rates.

What is one of the most nostalgic features of the Galaxy Note 4?

One of the most nostalgic features of the Galaxy Note 4 is the headphone jack. At a time when wireless audio was beginning to take off, the Note 4 retained the headphone jack, which has since been phased out by most modern smartphones.

What impact did Samsung's TouchWiz UI have on the Note 4’s performance?

TouchWiz, Samsung's user interface at the time, was criticized for being bloated and heavy, which significantly slowed down the performance of the Note 4. Despite the phone's capable hardware, the software was not optimized well, contributing to a less responsive user experience.

How does the Galaxy Note 4’s performance hold up in 2024?

The Galaxy Note 4’s performance in 2024 is far from snappy due to its aging hardware and outdated software. With 3GB of RAM and the Exynos 5433 processor, the phone struggles with modern apps and tasks, particularly because of the heavy TouchWiz UI that slows down performance.

What makes the Galaxy Note 4’s battery and storage system stand out?

The Galaxy Note 4 featured a removable 3220 mAh battery, which allowed users to carry spare batteries and swap them on the go. Additionally, the phone had expandable storage via a microSD card slot, making it a highly practical device for those who needed more storage than the base 32GB provided.