Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Hit the nail on the head...he's comparing it to the 2013 display, which was pretty much crap. Next to that model, of course it's going to look like a 10.

Same symptom of the Note 5's review--too much comparison to previous version and less emphasis on how it stands on its own.

Yeah thats the thing.
 
Alright, I went back to peruse some of the Verge's other review and see where the Note 5's score of 8.7, what I initially considered to be quite good, stood in comparison. A few things jump out at me to basically reduce any credibility their review staff has.

1) The iPhone 6 scores a 9 (highest ever), while the 6+ scores an 8.7. Except for size, the 6+ trumps the 6 in every measurable fashion--better camera, display and battery life top that list. The iPhone 6 also having the highest rating ever amongst smart phones? It's a good device but come on...review just screams 'thank God there's now a larger screened iPhone...'

2) The Moto X (2014) scored second highest rating ever...same as the Galaxy S6, at 8.8. Yet dig down into the ratings of individual aspects and it's considered to have mediocre battery life and camera. They also consider the Moto X display to be rated a 10 out of 10. It was better than the 2013 iteration of the Moto X but no where near as good as the equally rated S6, Note 5, or even iPhone 6+.

3) They scored the Galaxy Nexus...the Verizon version...at 8.7. :eek: 'Nuff said. ;)
As long as reviews are written by human beings, opinions will be biased to a personal level. I doubt any of us here could write a truly neutral review of a device, in fact I am positive we couldn't. I couldn't personally score an iPhone 6 Plus higher than the 6 because it instantly loses for me because of its size. It would be the same for the S6 over the Note 5, but I am human after all lol.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Fernandez21
As long as reviews are written by human beings, opinions will be biased to a personal level. I doubt any of us here could write a truly neutral review of a device, in fact I am positive we couldn't. I couldn't personally score an iPhone 6 Plus higher than the 6 because it instantly loses for me because of its size. It would be the same for the S6 over the Note 5, but I am human after all lol.

Well, shoot for moderately neutral then. ;)

We'll just have to agree to disagree then. Trying to offer as much objectivity as possible is inherit to the reviewer's job and IMO, they aren't very good at it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MRU
Can't wait to see the 6S+ revealed. It's going to be between this and that for my next phone, a 3 year device.
 
You mean Steve?

Oopps, yes it is Steve and if there is a Nick out there I probably like better than him. :)

I got my ready for pickup for Friday from BB and it includes the charger. If I cannot trade in a smartphone for $200 because I am buying the device outright, I am not getting it.
 
Samsung hasn't said anything about it?

What the heck...

Doesn't that affect our pal MRU? Does that mean MRU isn't getting it? On second thought, nothing stops him...

=]

I would have indeed and so would many others here but yeah, they decided not to release due reportedly to a 'focus group' saying they didn't use the S-Pen very much. ?!?!

So yeah in great wisdom they decided, no Note 5 for Europe. Leaving only the S6 Edge Plus and the 64gb version is as high as I feared at just shy of €1000 here which I just can't justify when the resale value of my S6 Edge has lost 45% in last few month.

Likewise because of its high cost I doubt the Edge Plus will make up for lost sales of Note 5 in Europe.

So yeah I'll get the Moto x Style and iPhone 6S Plus next month and see what Samsung have lined up for the new year - rumor is already suggesting the S7 could be brought forward from its usual April release.

Perhaps around December I'll look at getting at Note 5 from importer like eGlobalCentral when it's inevitably dropped a bit in price.
 
I would have indeed and so would many others here but yeah, they decided not to release due reportedly to a 'focus group' saying they didn't use the S-Pen very much. ?!?!

So yeah in great wisdom they decided, no Note 5 for Europe. Leaving only the S6 Edge Plus and the 64gb version is as high as I feared at just shy of €1000 here which I just can't justify when the resale value of my S6 Edge has lost 45% in last few month.

Likewise because of its high cost I doubt the Edge Plus will make up for lost sales of Note 5 in Europe.

So yeah I'll get the Moto x Style and iPhone 6S Plus next month and see what Samsung have lined up for the new year - rumor is already suggesting the S7 could be brought forward from its usual April release.

Perhaps around December I'll look at getting at Note 5 from importer like eGlobalCentral when it's inevitably dropped a bit in price.
It's a strange move by Samsung. They have effectively given Apple their share of the European phablet market for the remainder of 2015. Odd but very welcome for Apple I would have thought. I know the Note didn't compete particularly well against the iPhone 6 Plus here in Europe, but it did have its customer base and I would imagine there are a lot of disappointed loyal customers left empty handed. This pushes people to find alternatives and a certain percentage may not be tempted back if they decide in future to reintroduce it. An odd strategy IMO.
 
  • Like
Reactions: epicrayban
Wow, that's a shame about Europe.
It's actually more a shame for the Note series because not releasing it in Europe, alongside releasing a bigger S6 variant - it will inevitably impact sales of the Note series and have a big impact on the Q3/Q4 earnings / sales figures for Samsung.

If it's sales even flag a little in Asia or USA it's entirely possible this could be the last Note device released period ...

If S7 as rumoured is 5.5" it's possible the line between a 5.5 & 5.7" device will be too close especially as they share similar design ethos now. So it's possible they could release an S7 that supports the S-Pen alongside an S7 edge variant.
 
  • Like
Reactions: epicrayban
My friend brought over his Note 4 this morning, no app refreshes on 4.4.

So is it really TW?

AND his Note 4 opened Angry Birds 2 faster than my Nexus 6 so go figure as the latter is tick android. Nothing else was open on either device.

My Nexus 6 running a custom CM/AoSP Rom has the app refresh issue so I'm not so sure.
 
  • Like
Reactions: jamezr
It's actually more a shame for the Note series because not releasing it in Europe, alongside releasing a bigger S6 variant - it will inevitably impact sales of the Note series and have a big impact on the Q3/Q4 earnings / sales figures for Samsung.

If it's sales even flag a little in Asia or USA it's entirely possible this could be the last Note device released period ...

If S7 as rumoured is 5.5" it's possible the line between a 5.5 & 5.7" device will be too close especially as they share similar design ethos now. So it's possible they could release an S7 that supports the S-Pen alongside an S7 edge variant.
I just got a little sick in the stomach, thinking of how big a possibility this is. :(
 
I forgot to mention I did not care for the onboard speaker's sound. I tried a couple of youtube videos for acoustic guitar and some classical and it was meh. No vibration to the hand holding the device though, the S5 was ridiculous.

Much better with using earphones, I carry a cheap pair of JBLs with me in the car so I used those. The output volume could be better but still I wasn't turned off by the sound.

Any of you that have the Note 5 do any listening yet? Wasn't their some reviews saying the audio was supposed to be excellent?
 
I forgot to mention I did not care for the onboard speaker's sound. I tried a couple of youtube videos for acoustic guitar and some classical and it was meh. No vibration to the hand holding the device though, the S5 was ridiculous.

Much better with using earphones, I carry a cheap pair of JBLs with me in the car so I used those. The output volume could be better but still I wasn't turned off by the sound.

Any of you that have the Note 5 do any listening yet? Wasn't their some reviews saying the audio was supposed to be excellent?

I always find its better to set up adaptive / clear sound and adjust it to your specific hearing. It's one of my favourite Samsung additions actually. I listen to a lot of acoustic guitar singer songwriter type and classical music myself and find once calibrated with clear sound the sound tends to be excellent.

Of course I can't test this on a note 5 but I assume it still has the setting.
 
I forgot to mention I did not care for the onboard speaker's sound. I tried a couple of youtube videos for acoustic guitar and some classical and it was meh. No vibration to the hand holding the device though, the S5 was ridiculous.

Much better with using earphones, I carry a cheap pair of JBLs with me in the car so I used those. The output volume could be better but still I wasn't turned off by the sound.

Any of you that have the Note 5 do any listening yet? Wasn't their some reviews saying the audio was supposed to be excellent?
I use Bluetooth headsets with mine and they sound great, the connection seems stronger than with my Note 4, haven't had any clipping. The on board speaker seems ok, not as loud as my iPhone but gets the job done when I used it.
 
It's actually more a shame for the Note series because not releasing it in Europe, alongside releasing a bigger S6 variant - it will inevitably impact sales of the Note series and have a big impact on the Q3/Q4 earnings / sales figures for Samsung.

If it's sales even flag a little in Asia or USA it's entirely possible this could be the last Note device released period ...

If S7 as rumoured is 5.5" it's possible the line between a 5.5 & 5.7" device will be too close especially as they share similar design ethos now. So it's possible they could release an S7 that supports the S-Pen alongside an S7 edge variant.
5.5 for the S7 would be madness. They have the bigger option in the edge plus. Not everybody wants the bigger phone.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.