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angieutc

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 10, 2009
28
1
To those who have had or have a Note 9, do you like phone. What are pros and cons? Is it a phone you will carry for years?

Thank you :)
 

Tig Bitties

macrumors 603
Sep 6, 2012
5,517
5,692
If your a long term iPhone user, have you thought about the Google Pixel instead? Personally I feel the Pixel phones age much better, than a Samsung phone and their slow updates, and known for maybe not supporting them long term like Google does their own stock phone.

The Pixel 3a XL is a great phone for the price. Or even the OnePlus 7 Pro phone, another great smartphone that will get updated well.

I would recommended the Google Pixel #1, and a OnePlus phone #2. And wouldn't even put the Note on my recommendation list, but that's my opinion, as I'm sure others will disagree. But I'm a super [H]ardcore stock Android nerd, and not into skinned Android phones.
 

MarkX

macrumors 65816
Sep 10, 2015
1,201
1,495
Fochabers, Scotland
If your a long term iPhone user, have you thought about the Google Pixel instead? Personally I feel the Pixel phones age much better, than a Samsung phone and their slow updates, and known for maybe not supporting them long term like Google does their own stock phone.

It’s been said time and time again, outside of this forum and others like it generally speaking software updates aren’t really that big a deal to joe public.

My Mrs had the Note 3 from new until the Note 8 was released, and even then she would have carried on with the 3 had I not bought the 8 for her. She isn’t fussed with software updates and would never bother if it wasn’t for me.

So OP, yes, the Note 9 will be a good purchase for you if it fits your needs, it will easily last you 3 or 4 years without issue.
 
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mjschabow

macrumors 601
Dec 25, 2013
4,924
6,239
It’s been said time and time again, outside of this forum and others like it generally speaking software updates aren’t really that big a deal to joe public.

My Mrs had the Note 3 from new until the Note 8 was released, and even then she would have carried on with the 3 had I not bought the 8 for her. She isn’t fussed with software updates and would never bother if it wasn’t for me.

So OP, yes, the Note 9 will be a good purchase for you if it fits your needs, it will easily last you 3 or 4 years without issue.

Software updates are a big deal though when the Exynos version gets the night camera feature four months before the Snapdragon. It’s a very frustrating thing with Samsung devices. A deal breaker? No. But it is a real issue that an iPhone user wouldn’t be used to.
 

drinkingtea

macrumors 65816
Jan 31, 2016
1,240
3,271
Software updates are a big deal though when the Exynos version gets the night camera feature four months before the Snapdragon. It’s a very frustrating thing with Samsung devices. A deal breaker? No. But it is a real issue that an iPhone user wouldn’t be used to.
It’s a real issue only if they know and care. I would say a majority of Galaxy/Note users have no idea about the night camera feature or even care.
 

Shanghaichica

macrumors G5
Apr 8, 2013
14,725
13,245
UK
If your a long term iPhone user, have you thought about the Google Pixel instead? Personally I feel the Pixel phones age much better, than a Samsung phone and their slow updates, and known for maybe not supporting them long term like Google does their own stock phone.

The Pixel 3a XL is a great phone for the price. Or even the OnePlus 7 Pro phone, another great smartphone that will get updated well.

I would recommended the Google Pixel #1, and a OnePlus phone #2. And wouldn't even put the Note on my recommendation list, but that's my opinion, as I'm sure others will disagree. But I'm a super [H]ardcore stock Android nerd, and not into skinned Android phones.
The pixel 3 is a good phone but I’m not sure how long it will hold up for with only 4 gb of ram when it’s already lagging now due to ram issues.
 

MarkX

macrumors 65816
Sep 10, 2015
1,201
1,495
Fochabers, Scotland
The pixel 3 is a good phone but I’m not sure how long it will hold up for with only 4 gb of ram when it’s already lagging now due to ram issues.

Again, the ram thing is not a concern for most people outside these forums. For the average user that only uses there phone for the basics, ie. social media, light browsing and messaging etc the Pixel 3 will do them well for a good few years.
 
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ramram55

macrumors 6502a
Jul 27, 2012
829
189
Samsung is still the number 1 phone makers of the world, go with the top dog. Every phone has its pros and cons, so what is good for you that matters.
 
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pika2000

Suspended
Jun 22, 2007
5,587
4,903
To those who have had or have a Note 9, do you like phone. What are pros and cons? Is it a phone you will carry for years?

Thank you :)
For iPhone users, updates are important.
For Android users, updates are not important.

Besides, you'll be upgrading that Note 9 in a year or two anyway. Most people will not want to carry Samsung phones for years simply because the trade in values goes way low and the only way to gain something back is to take up on Samsung's trade in offers every time they release a new phone. So yearly upgrades is not uncommon for Samsung users, unless the user doesn't know any better. Most people I know that are using flagship Samsung phones (S and Note series) are upgrading every year, taking advantage of Samsung's trade in deals. So updates are not really an issue.
 
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EasternGangsta

macrumors newbie
Apr 28, 2019
11
5
What's future proof though? IP rated phones have all non-replaceable batteries. So we are talking 2 years max, 3 if you are light user. Sure, you can get it replaced but not all shops can guarantee 100% success rate on these phones + you are losing that water resistance.

As for the updates, they don't really matter anymore for Samsung phones. Their software is much better than what stock Android can offer and it has even future Android features already built in. With Note you are getting an amazing utility in a form of S-Pen with its software features again already built in.

As Android phones don't hold their value well in general, just use it for 2-3 years, toss it/sell it and buy another heavily discounted flagship.
 

Zwhaler

macrumors 604
Jun 10, 2006
7,267
1,965
Note 9 is nice but won't stay future-proof for long. Fingerprint reader on the back (that's going away) top and bottom bezels (that's already gone on the S10 and soon Note 10 and Note 10+) extra cameras, ToF sensor (coming to Note 10+) UFS 3.0 (already in S10 5G and coming to Note 10) are really going to help long term. I would take an S10+ over a Note 9. I'd even consider a Pixel over the Note 9.
 

Cnasty

macrumors 68040
Jul 2, 2008
3,336
2,106
No, get something else as Samsung phones are some of the worst "future proof" phones in the market in terms of updates, resale value, and performance.
 

Shanghaichica

macrumors G5
Apr 8, 2013
14,725
13,245
UK
No, get something else as Samsung phones are some of the worst "future proof" phones in the market in terms of updates, resale value, and performance.
But most of the features introduced in the latest versions of android have been available on Samsung phones for years. So in the end it’s only security updates that matter.
 

Stevie jobz 2.0

macrumors regular
Jul 20, 2019
199
164
No, get something else as Samsung phones are some of the worst "future proof" phones in the market in terms of updates, resale value, and performance.
My other half has an s8, so a couple of generations old, her latest updates the july 2019 security patch, so to say they dont get updates is not quite the story...
 
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mjschabow

macrumors 601
Dec 25, 2013
4,924
6,239
The Pixel is the most iPhone'ish Android so I recommend going that route. Then you don't have to deal with duplicate apps, poor security updates, Bixby, etc. Plus, you having call screening, the only phone that can do that. And the best camera. Wait till the 4 comes it though.
 

pika2000

Suspended
Jun 22, 2007
5,587
4,903
My other half has an s8, so a couple of generations old, her latest updates the july 2019 security patch, so to say they dont get updates is not quite the story...
On Android, there are updates in a sense of Android version upgrades, and there are monthly security updates/patches.

The usual qualm with Samsung for some is that the fact they are charging as much as Apple, but doesn’t support their hardware as long. For a flagship Samsung phone, you usually only get two major Android upgrades (2 years), while an iPhone can still get iOS updates for 5 years.

But then again it doesn’t matter. From Samsung users that I know, I don’t know anyone who still has an S8. Most already upgraded to the S10 by now. No point in keeping a Samsung phone for long.
 

nickchallis92

macrumors 6502a
Mar 4, 2012
906
469
London
The Note 9 is my daily. I bought it on launch. Runs like a champ. Screen is gorgeous. Battery is excellent.

Apart from not having the fingerprint sensor on the front, it is a no-compromises phone.
 
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AnonMac50

macrumors 68000
Mar 24, 2010
1,580
324
4 years? LOL. You will upgrade to the Note 10 or Galaxy S11. It would be foolish not to.

Why though?

Honestly, I'm looking at the new Galaxy S10 series phones, and the leaks regarding the upcoming Note 10, and I feel like the S9 and Note 9 are much better. I feel like Samsung ruined/removed many things.
 
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