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HiDEF

macrumors 68000
Jun 23, 2010
1,711
395
Miami, FL
How to root the Samsung Galaxy Note5 (SM-N920T & N920P) and install custom recovery
http://www.phonearena.com/news/How-...T---N920P-and-install-custom-recovery_id73635

You can't be a true Note5 power user if you have not yet rooted the smartphone and installed a custom recovery to take advantage of all the clever hacks, custom roms and tweaks that the developer community has come up with.
But Samsung pay! Lol.. I think I'm good with just Google wallet, tbh.
 
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Tig Bitties

macrumors 603
Sep 6, 2012
5,517
5,692
Easily get 6h Screen On time with my Note 5. I think with some more updates from T-Mobile and Samsung and the ROM's mature, I will get 6.5h to maybe 7h :D

This is on 4G all day, no WiFi at all.



 
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mpavilion

macrumors 65816
Aug 4, 2014
1,461
1,072
SFV, CA, USA
I'll give a more detailed review this weekend, but first my quick comment after owing the Note 5 for a few days. I've owned all three of the these phones now. Will explain that in more detail later.

The Note 5 feels like the iPhone 6 Plus and Nexus 6 had a baby together.

The N5 reminds me and feels like a 6 Plus in a good way, super high quality build, very good looking phone, jaw dropping beautiful display. But of course is running Android, but not the stock Android we all love, so this TW OS feels almost like a mix and mash of iOS9 + Android in a strange way.

I've rooted my Note 5, and am running a custom ROM, which is tweaked performance, better battery life, and debloated. I am also using Nova launcher, and a different icon theme, and the Material Dark theme from the Samsung store.

So my Note 5 now looks like a stock Nexus type phone, but with the added Touchwiz stuff like S-Pen apps, and actually some of the default apps are nicer than I expected. Like the dialer I prefer this TW Dialer more than Stock Android's. And just the way certain core apps run and operate I surprisingly like better than stock Android. When a phone call is over, the screen fades away after a few seconds back to the home screen, without me pressing the home button. Just little tweaks on TW that I am shocked seemed to be nicer than stock Android.

Battery life seems to be really good, easily on par with my tweaked Nexus 6, I am thinking it will be even better. This Note 5 will easily get 5h to 6h Screen On time for sure.

Do you find it to be significantly easier to handle/pocket than the 6 Plus - or not really much a difference?
 

nviz22

Cancelled
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
Returning my Note 5. For the price I paid, not really impressed with the device. I think I will go with that Moto X Pure Edition though.
 

M5RahuL

macrumors 68040
Aug 1, 2009
3,469
2,133
TeXaS
Need some help. I just noticed that I can't back out of the Gmail app using the back button. Seems to have worked before. Can somebody else test this?

I have the same issue with the Chase Bank app, and still not sure what's causing it...
 

pdqgp

macrumors 68020
Mar 23, 2010
2,131
5,460
Returning my Note 5. For the price I paid, not really impressed with the device. I think I will go with that Moto X Pure Edition though.


Ironically I did what I didn't really think I would and even said I wouldn't........I bought a Note 5 and I really like it! Off to re-purpose my Note 3 that works great.

Love the bump in speed/power
Love the big increase in screen quality
Looking forward to the wireless charging
Looking forward to seeing the bump in IQ from the camera with OIS finally.

Not happy about the lack of a secondary sd card
 
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nviz22

Cancelled
Jun 24, 2013
5,277
3,071
Ironically I did what I didn't really think I would and even said I wouldn't........I bought a Note 5 and I really like it! Off to re-purpose my Note 3 that works great.

Love the bump in speed/power
Love the big increase in screen quality
Looking forward to the wireless charging
Looking forward to seeing the bump in IQ from the camera with OIS finally.

Not happy about the lack of a secondary sd card

Well, I am glad you like it. For me, I had the S6 Edge, so I got to experience the stuff the Note 5 has for the most part. I will consider keeping it, but having two top of the line phones may not work. I am in Law School and changing phones every so often will be like changing cars for folks. I prefer not to have to adjust too much, but I'll have to sit down and think about this long and hard.
 

Dmaynard83

macrumors 6502a
Jul 16, 2012
825
66
Wish I could write anywhere with the S-Pen and have it transcribed to text.

I tried it here on Chrome on my Note 5 right now. Pulled the S-Pen out, went to handwrite in this reply box, but nothing happens.

I then opened Google Messenger, tried writing and a little Blue circle with a T popped up, and yes, I could handwrite a message, and then it transcribed it, and I sent it.

So can only certain apps allow you to handwrite instead of typing ? I thought with a Note phone, anywhere that could use the keyboard, you'd also have the option to use the S-Pen and void handwrite if wanted ?
You should be able to do it everywhere. At least when my s pen hovered over a text field it would give me that option.
 

rhinosrcool

macrumors 68000
Sep 5, 2009
1,761
695
MN
Ironically I did what I didn't really think I would and even said I wouldn't........I bought a Note 5 and I really like it! Off to re-purpose my Note 3 that works great.

Love the bump in speed/power
Love the big increase in screen quality
Looking forward to the wireless charging
Looking forward to seeing the bump in IQ from the camera with OIS finally.

Not happy about the lack of a secondary sd card

Coming from an excellent Note 3, I agree. My Note 5 is fantastic. All of the things listed. Also, I was a frequent battery switcher. Not only is my Note 5's battery excellent, but the fast charging is great. I do not miss the removable batteries.

Samsung really did a great job. Hopefully, they release it in Europe sooner rather than later and get more Note fans on board.
 

BlueGoldAce

macrumors 68000
Oct 11, 2011
1,951
1,455
Note 5 only thing holding me back is No Gear VR Support
Surely that will come soon? If the s6 edge plus doesn't, then they will be releasing an updated model or support somehow. The note 5, IMO, may be the best phone out (available or announced) but the edge plus is Samsung's true flagship phone. Both have been selling well, so I surely vr is in the works?
 

pdqgp

macrumors 68020
Mar 23, 2010
2,131
5,460
I'm also not in love with the 16mp talk around the camera when at first glance it appears that's a 16:9 resolution. Otherwise at 4:3 it's only 12mp. Right on part resolution wise with the iPhone for stills. Looking into the camera stuff today.

I was also surprised and a bit bummed out about the lack of an IR Blaster too. Not sure if it was a space or size thing but actually used that feature. At home I can control my entertainment system when my kids are hogging the remote and won't turn the volume down. At bars and hospitals I can use it to control the TV's too :)
 

BlueGoldAce

macrumors 68000
Oct 11, 2011
1,951
1,455
I'm also not in love with the 16mp talk around the camera when at first glance it appears that's a 16:9 resolution. Otherwise at 4:3 it's only 12mp. Right on part resolution wise with the iPhone for stills. Looking into the camera stuff today.
Then use 16:9, and crop it if you want. 4:3 option is indeed 12 mp, but the default option is 16mp.
 

pdqgp

macrumors 68020
Mar 23, 2010
2,131
5,460
Then use 16:9, and crop it if you want. 4:3 option is indeed 12 mp, but the default option is 16mp.
I get that cut the problem is IMO don't touted a 16mp camera in and industry where 16:9 isn't a well placed standard. Cheesy way of marketing it IMO.
 

BlueGoldAce

macrumors 68000
Oct 11, 2011
1,951
1,455
I get that cut the problem is IMO don't touted a 16mp camera in and industry where 16:9 isn't a well placed standard. Cheesy way of marketing it IMO.
Isn't most android devices 16:9, or at least a lot?

It's no different then listing OIS as a feature of the iPhone 6 Plus, but only allowing it to work in a limited number of situations. Same can be said for the majority of an Apple keynote (most companies as well).

Marketing is what it is, and all companies do it. Same with politics, they hope your not smart enough to do your own research, and form your own opinion.
 
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