Samsung Galaxy Note 9

[Sensamic]

I think 512/8's are in short supply. I ordered mine (Blue) from Samsung direct a couple days ago and my estimated shipping date is SEPTEMBER 24.

Which suits me just fine, because I'm out of town with my in-laws well past the launch date. I didn't even want to preorder, but I like free stuff

I'd wanted to settle down for a couple of years with my S9+, as it was close to everything I wanted from ANY smart phone. But I wanted more battery life and more onboard storage since I take a lot of long 4K video. So the Note 9 is exactly what I was hoping for. My S8+ is being traded in this time and will not be missed because it had that pink staining flaw that never quite got fixed.

Samsung won me from Google Pixel 2 and kept me with the S9+ I've discovered the power of using their manual photo and video controls and it's been a blast.

I do have an area of concern over gradient banding that seems to remain unpatched. It shows up in dimly lit scenes in movies and videos that are viewed in dimly lit rooms. It had been so bad I wouldn't even watch movies on my S9+ on road trips and used my iPhone 8 Plus instead. When it was bad the movies looked like bad gifs.

It turns out I was missing a patch and that helps significantly, though it does not completely obliterate the problem as I had hoped. Other than that, it's been fun. If the Note 9 has a similar level of banding, I decided I can live with that, so I decided to proceed with upgrading.

Sorry I disappeared abruptly. And no, I was not put in "time out" for bad behavior. I had to deal with suddenly developing urgent eldercare issues. Like many families, we look after multiple elders while trying to raise the next generation. Health care needs for the elders ratcheted up to "nervewracking" at a time everyone was scrambling to meet end of school year deadlines and graduations, so I asked the mods to put my account in suspension while I adjusted to my "new normal". I didn't want to take my stress out on my friends here.

It is "new phone season" though, and you know I couldn't stay away for that!

Curious about those two issues you mentioned with the S8 and S9.

Any link I can check online to see those issues? I was thinking of changing to a S9+ but want to learn of every possible issue before making a decision.

Thanks!

 

[Oohara]

I think 512/8's are in short supply. I ordered mine (Blue) from Samsung direct a couple days ago and my estimated shipping date is SEPTEMBER 24.

Which suits me just fine, because I'm out of town with my in-laws well past the launch date. I didn't even want to preorder, but I like free stuff

I'd wanted to settle down for a couple of years with my S9+, as it was close to everything I wanted from ANY smart phone. But I wanted more battery life and more onboard storage since I take a lot of long 4K video. So the Note 9 is exactly what I was hoping for. My S8+ is being traded in this time and will not be missed because it had that pink staining flaw that never quite got fixed.

Samsung won me from Google Pixel 2 and kept me with the S9+ I've discovered the power of using their manual photo and video controls and it's been a blast.

I do have an area of concern over gradient banding that seems to remain unpatched. It shows up in dimly lit scenes in movies and videos that are viewed in dimly lit rooms. It had been so bad I wouldn't even watch movies on my S9+ on road trips and used my iPhone 8 Plus instead. When it was bad the movies looked like bad gifs.

It turns out I was missing a patch and that helps significantly, though it does not completely obliterate the problem as I had hoped. Other than that, it's been fun. If the Note 9 has a similar level of banding, I decided I can live with that, so I decided to proceed with upgrading.

Sorry I disappeared abruptly. And no, I was not put in "time out" for bad behavior. I had to deal with suddenly developing urgent eldercare issues. Like many families, we look after multiple elders while trying to raise the next generation. Health care needs for the elders ratcheted up to "nervewracking" at a time everyone was scrambling to meet end of school year deadlines and graduations, so I asked the mods to put my account in suspension while I adjusted to my "new normal". I didn't want to take my stress out on my friends here.

It is "new phone season" though, and you know I couldn't stay away for that!

Hey good to have you back! I sometimes don't post for long periods but I read up all the time and the tone in your posts always brighten my day And mucho sympathy for your eldercare issues, I don't have kids but currently working to set up the best possible life for my 80 yrs old mom I know probably at least something of what you're dealing with. It's like solving a rubicks cube while trying to surf using a buttered skateboard....or something All while remaining patient and loving towards mom of course. Anyway, sorry to you others for digressing a bit, but all the best with that, Grumpy!!

 

[Sensamic]

You don't worry what can be done with your financial information? Or your identity? I'm not trying to be paranoid about cyber warfare, but I do think something like identity theft is a genuine concern. Now I'm not saying Huawei is guilty of anything at all, just playing devils advocate to all the headlines out there. But when the heads of the CIA, FBI, NSA and others actually officially advise not to use them, that's got to mean something. It's not like they run around saying that about anyone else, except maybe ZTE.

Remember Edward Snowden?

That was the US government and agencies spying on everyone, not the chinese!

 

[5105973]

Hey good to have you back! I sometimes don't post for long periods but I read up all the time and the tone in your posts always brighten my day And mucho sympathy for your eldercare issues, I don't have kids but currently working to set up the best possible life for my 80 yrs old mom I know probably at least something of what you're dealing with. It's like solving a rubicks cube while trying to surf using a buttered skateboard....or something All while remaining patient and loving towards mom of course. Anyway, sorry to you others for digressing a bit, but all the best with that, Grumpy!!

Ah, my fellow phablet afficianado! Lovely to see you again! You had me laughing so hard. Yes that is a very good description. Bless you for being such a devoted son.

Are you thinking of getting the Note 9, too? Or are you still holding out for something a bit bigger? It will be interesting to see what Apple offers in the iPhone X Plus.

I happily alternate between my silver and red iPhone 8 Pluses and will continue to do so until they no longer function well. I'm very happy and content with what they offer. The camera is not the best but it is adequate. When I want excellence, I use my S9+ or Snowball.

I still have and use my Pixel 2, Snowball. Especially when I need something easily pocketed. But most of the time my priorities are manual camera control and a large display. And my S9+ records in stereo audio so beautifully. I am happy to hear samples in some reviews that indicate the Note 9 will continue this.

I saw the Note 9 in person a couple of days ago and I was blown away. I will continue to think that, ideally, it really should have a flat display. Maybe someday Samsung will return to that. But for now, I thought they did an excellent job refining their iconic curved glass aesthetic to match functional needs.

I was surprised how light and thin it felt. I keep reading reviews that mention the weight of it, but I felt it was quite light.

I still love purple, but this time the deep blue just knocked me over. I couldn't resist. It was just the perfect shade of blue I've wanted for years. Before I finally decided to dive into the Android side, I had wanted that shade of blue for iPhones for many years and wondered why Apple avoided such a popular color as blue. I still wonder. I don't know anyone who dislikes blue. Especially a dignified dark shade of blue.

Ah, I've also long wanted a brownish-copper colored phone, but Samsung saved me from having to make such a choice by only offering blue and purple to the USA during preorders.

 

[jamezr]

I think 512/8's are in short supply. I ordered mine (Blue) from Samsung direct a couple days ago and my estimated shipping date is SEPTEMBER 24.

Which suits me just fine, because I'm out of town with my in-laws well past the launch date. I didn't even want to preorder, but I like free stuff

I'd wanted to settle down for a couple of years with my S9+, as it was close to everything I wanted from ANY smart phone. But I wanted more battery life and more onboard storage since I take a lot of long 4K video. So the Note 9 is exactly what I was hoping for. My S8+ is being traded in this time and will not be missed because it had that pink staining flaw that never quite got fixed.

Samsung won me from Google Pixel 2 and kept me with the S9+ I've discovered the power of using their manual photo and video controls and it's been a blast.

I do have an area of concern over gradient banding that seems to remain unpatched. It shows up in dimly lit scenes in movies and videos that are viewed in dimly lit rooms. It had been so bad I wouldn't even watch movies on my S9+ on road trips and used my iPhone 8 Plus instead. When it was bad the movies looked like bad gifs.

It turns out I was missing a patch and that helps significantly, though it does not completely obliterate the problem as I had hoped. Other than that, it's been fun. If the Note 9 has a similar level of banding, I decided I can live with that, so I decided to proceed with upgrading.

Sorry I disappeared abruptly. And no, I was not put in "time out" for bad behavior. I had to deal with suddenly developing urgent eldercare issues. Like many families, we look after multiple elders while trying to raise the next generation. Health care needs for the elders ratcheted up to "nervewracking" at a time everyone was scrambling to meet end of school year deadlines and graduations, so I asked the mods to put my account in suspension while I adjusted to my "new normal". I didn't want to take my stress out on my friends here.

It is "new phone season" though, and you know I couldn't stay away for that!

SHE'S BAAAAACK
So glad to see you back! You have been missed

 

[Shanghaichica]

I think 512/8's are in short supply. I ordered mine (Blue) from Samsung direct a couple days ago and my estimated shipping date is SEPTEMBER 24.

Which suits me just fine, because I'm out of town with my in-laws well past the launch date. I didn't even want to preorder, but I like free stuff

I'd wanted to settle down for a couple of years with my S9+, as it was close to everything I wanted from ANY smart phone. But I wanted more battery life and more onboard storage since I take a lot of long 4K video. So the Note 9 is exactly what I was hoping for. My S8+ is being traded in this time and will not be missed because it had that pink staining flaw that never quite got fixed.

Samsung won me from Google Pixel 2 and kept me with the S9+ I've discovered the power of using their manual photo and video controls and it's been a blast.

I do have an area of concern over gradient banding that seems to remain unpatched. It shows up in dimly lit scenes in movies and videos that are viewed in dimly lit rooms. It had been so bad I wouldn't even watch movies on my S9+ on road trips and used my iPhone 8 Plus instead. When it was bad the movies looked like bad gifs.

It turns out I was missing a patch and that helps significantly, though it does not completely obliterate the problem as I had hoped. Other than that, it's been fun. If the Note 9 has a similar level of banding, I decided I can live with that, so I decided to proceed with upgrading.

Sorry I disappeared abruptly. And no, I was not put in "time out" for bad behavior. I had to deal with suddenly developing urgent eldercare issues. Like many families, we look after multiple elders while trying to raise the next generation. Health care needs for the elders ratcheted up to "nervewracking" at a time everyone was scrambling to meet end of school year deadlines and graduations, so I asked the mods to put my account in suspension while I adjusted to my "new normal". I didn't want to take my stress out on my friends here.

It is "new phone season" though, and you know I couldn't stay away for that!

Glad to see you back.

 

[5105973]

Curious about those two issues you mentioned with the S8 and S9.

Any link I can check online to see those issues? I was thinking of changing to a S9+ but want to learn of every possible issue before making a decision.

Thanks!

I don't know of any links offhand. On the Android Central forum on older posts there was much discussion on both problems--pink stains for the S8 displays and black crush and gradient banding for the S9 displays-- and a few photos, but then it all stopped.

With the S8/S8+, Samsung issued a patch that allows you to adjust the pink stain out of the edges as well as the rest of the display. It works, but my complaint about that fix was that it forced me to use the Adaptive Display setting which is more saturated and less realistic than I want to use. I think Samsung managed to avoid that problem with later batches of S8 and S8 pluses. I never saw or heard of it on the S9. You'd notice it right away, within the return period, if you got a phone that has it.

Someone had posted that for T Mobile phones there was a patch for the black crush.

I don't know whether there was a problem with AT&T being slow with updates for everyone, or if it was because they screwed up our accounts specifically, but we weren't getting patches until very recently. Also I had put all my phones off to the side for a couple of weeks so I could finally finish my home office. Anyway somewhere in there we AT&T customers got a patch that got rid of the worst of the black crush issues.

Where I noticed the SLIGHT gradient banding still in evidence was viewing Star Trek: Beyond from Amazon Prime while riding in a car at night. And only when the scene in the movie itself was focused on a black or dark object.
That was last night.

On a previous road trip in June, before any patches, under the same conditions, I had tried to watch the same movie and it was like a bad gif even in the bright scenes.

My husband's S9+ was the same.

I have to say with all patches in place you're not likely to see any problems in most lighting conditions. I'm super picky and can live with what remains just fine.

Under most conditions, the display is just stunning.
[doublepost=1534701456][/doublepost]Thank you @jamezr and @Shanghaichica it is fun to be back.

I had an interest in the Red Hydrogen One, as well as the Note 9. I decided it would not be a prudent allocation of funds to jump on that as an early adopter, but it will be fun to see the hoopla when that one finally gets released.

I wonder if anyone from this forum will go for it. I would love to record 3 D images of my family but eh, not at the price of a practically perfected Note 9.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

It seems for the past several years. Samsung's video has become less saturated, and the iPhone's have become more saturated. 6:21 on the video below is the perfect example.

But for photos, even though Samsung has toned down their saturation, it's still more saturated than Apple.

 

[Cryates]

I keep looking for excuses to go to Best Buy and play with the Note. Someone send help. I don't think I'll make it to Friday.

Also I watched Casey's video in the post above and favored the Note 9 in pretty much every shot by a wide margin.

 

[Roadstar]

Thank you @jamezr and @Shanghaichica it is fun to be back.

Let me join them in celebrating your return, welcome back!

What comes to the Note9, a part of me is telling me to order while the other part suggests waiting for at the least the Apple event first. It'll be an interesting week

 

[Shanghaichica]

Let me join them in celebrating your return, welcome back!

What comes to the Note9, a part of me is telling me to order while the other part suggests waiting for at the least the Apple event first. It'll be an interesting week

I’m also waiting to see what Apple bring this year.

Problem is I have so many Apple devices and I’ve tried carrying two phones and it doesn’t work.

 

[koigirl]

It seems for the past several years. Samsung's video has become less saturated, and the iPhone's have become more saturated. 6:21 on the video below is the perfect example.

But for photos, even though Samsung has toned down their saturation, it's still more saturated than Apple.

Wow, I do see some strengths of iPhone X but Samsung really seems to provide clearer, crisper, more realistic-looking in most conditions. Can't decide whether to upgrade my Note 8 to Note 9 or wait for 10 series. No interest in returning to iPhone at this point after a year with Samsung. They are just killing it as regards hardware right now (IMHO) and I prefer Android software at this point. Who would have ever predicted this 5-6 years ago? Certainly not me - I was a 100% Apple fangirl.

 

[bgro]

Let me join them in celebrating your return, welcome back!

What comes to the Note9, a part of me is telling me to order while the other part suggests waiting for at the least the Apple event first. It'll be an interesting week

This is where I’m at as well. Really want to pull the trigger but want to see if there’s any hidden suprises with the new iPhones (I.e pencil support/special pencil features)

 

[Roadstar]

I’m also waiting to see what Apple bring this year.

Problem is I have so many Apple devices and I’ve tried carrying two phones and it doesn’t work.

I'm also carrying two phones right now and it's annoying. However, the Apple event might change things. If for example the rumored new MacBook Air adopts the unreliable butterfly keyboard and the rumored dual-SIM iPhone is for Chinese market only, I'd have a valid reason of starting to migrate away from the Apple gear if they just don't sell a computer I'd like to buy. The Note9 would give me dual-SIM and make my life a bit easier that way, but I'd also need to get a new watch as the Apple Watch doesn't want to play with Androids. Of course Samsung could just finally release Linux on DeX (formerly known as Linux on Galaxy) so I could see if I actually even need to get a new laptop

 

[5105973]

Let me join them in celebrating your return, welcome back!

What comes to the Note9, a part of me is telling me to order while the other part suggests waiting for at the least the Apple event first. It'll be an interesting week

Thank you! Depending on which variant you're interested in, you may end up waiting anyway like me. I was late to the preorder game and ended up with the end of September ship date for my AT&T Note 9. Some folks report slipping ship dates for the 512 GB Blue on some carrier models.

I'm staying put on iPhone 8 Plus. I love this model the way I loved my iPhone 4 back in the day. It gets the job done for me every day.

But I am interested in seeing if they will finally get their audio recording quality up to the level Samsung and others offer.

My S9+ has great, clear, immersive stereo sound for videos. And if that Casey N video is anything to judge by, they're keeping audio great on the Note 9. It would be nice to see Apple step it up on that front.

 

[Grimham]

Mine still shows to be receiving it by the 24th from Best Buy. 512GB/8 model. I'll definitely update when I know it's shipped if I get it. I ordered mine as soon as it opened up.

 

[awtryau89]

I preordered the Note 9 but will most likely get the iPhone X Plus as well. I like to sim swap and would want to have both. I almost did not preorder the Note after I downloaded the latest iOS 12 beta. I am amazed at how much better even my X runs. Everything is more responsive and the new tweaks are really nice too. Still, I just like the bigger screen experience and also prefer Google services; especially Android Auto.

 

[Ralfi]

Man, I really wish I had the money to buy one of these. 8gb of RAM would definitely make this a three or four year phone without any slowdown.

Interesting. It does seem like a device many won't consider upgrading for a while.

Have Samsung gone too hard & spoilt their users with this one?

 

[LukinLedbetter]

It’s nice to see @GrumpyMom back posting again. We all have real lives off these boards that are FAR more important than what happens here. But....when real life allows, this is a fun place to gather and chat with other tech enthusiasts. I know that the crowd here won’t ever look at me odd and say “You got ANOTHER new phone???”

I’ve been eyeing the Note 9 reviews and they seem supremely positive. I’ve been having a lot of fun lately with the latest jailbreak on my iPhone X, but at some point that will fade and I’ll grow bored again and ready to spend some more $$$.

In the meantime, I’m going to continue living vicariously through all of you and your purchases; so keep the posts about your experiences coming!

 

[Cryates]

Not to derail the thread, but I'm not optimistic for the iPhone X Plus (or whatever they call it) at all, and I say that as a person who has been a very avid Apple fan in the past. It's likely just going to be an upscaled version of the current iPhone X. Sure they'll add some iterative features, maybe like Pencil support, but I don't see that being as effective as the Note's stylus. I don't see them making a smaller Pencil and I don't see them implementing a way to house it so it's always around with the phone. Nothing about the phone that has leaked or been rumored has made me think it'll be anything other than a larger iPhone X and not a truly all-inclusive phablet.

I should probably reserve judgement until the actual keynote and for the Note's public release, but the Note 9 is the only phone to this point that has really made me think "this is the pinnacle of the current era of smartphone."

 

[Michael Goff]

Interesting. It does seem like a device many won't consider upgrading for a while.

Have Samsung gone too hard & spoilt their users with this one?

I don't think so, Samsung has people that buy phones every year or two even if the last phone would suffice for a while.

 

[5105973]

I don't think so, Samsung has people that buy phones every year or two even if the last phone would suffice for a while.

Hey, I resemble that remark!

 

[Michael Goff]

Hey, I resemble that remark!

Hey, I don't judge anyone who does that. It's your money, spend it on what makes you happy. I mean, I joined the yearly iPhone upgrade thing just so I can have the newest iPhone every year.

 

[sunking101]

Interesting. It does seem like a device many won't consider upgrading for a while.

Have Samsung gone too hard & spoilt their users with this one?

People upgrade amazing phones every year on this forum.

 

[Ralfi]

People upgrade amazing phones every year on this forum.

I wasn't just referring to this forum. Although many Note users are considered mobile enthusiasts, there are also many who are not. It's this latter group that may be very happy with the Note 9 spec sheet & hold onto the device longer than usual.