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Cryates

macrumors 68040
Nov 19, 2013
3,341
5,283
One more review, MKBHD. Note 8 was his choice for phone of the year last year. I think, based of his review, it's safe to say, the Note 9 wins it again this year.

Just watched that actually. I had a feeling this phone would check all of his boxes.
 

torana355

macrumors 68040
Dec 8, 2009
3,633
2,734
Sydney, Australia
Just watched that actually. I had a feeling this phone would check all of his boxes.
Yeah the biggest weakness that Samsung phones had was always the battery but with the 4000mah battery upgrade it makes the Note 9 the most complete phone on the market. The other issue was always touchwiz lag but Samsung have managed to fix that as well, even my S8 with the Oreo upgrade runs super smooth well over a year later.
 
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Cryates

macrumors 68040
Nov 19, 2013
3,341
5,283
Yeah the biggest weakness that Samsung phones had was always the battery but with the 4000mah battery upgrade it makes the Note 9 the most complete phone on the market. The other issue was always touchwiz lag but Samsung have managed to fix that as well, even my S8 with the Oreo upgrade runs super smooth well over a year later.
TouchWiz turned me off from Samsung for years, and is the main reason I stuck with Apple, but they've really come into their own with Samsung Experience. It's light years better.

One thing I've noticed, are Apple and Samsung the only ones who can get the ambient light sensor right? My Essential phone auto brightness has gone wonky over the last few days I was using it. The Pixel 2 XL auto brightness was terrible.
 
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Cnasty

macrumors 68040
Jul 2, 2008
3,336
2,106
MKBHD makes me want the Note 9.

It's the ultimate phone.

You and me both.

If I can figure out the best deal, I may be in.

Best Buy trade in
Add a new line on my art and get the BOGO
straight from Samsung and get the deal package

Too many options have crippled me from pulling the trigger. Might a good thing in the long run as I am iOS guy through and through but this device checks all my boxes and haven’t been this tempted on an android device in many years.
 

Sensamic

macrumors 68040
Mar 26, 2010
3,072
689
I tried it on the store last week and not that impressed, mainly because I can't understand how yellow Samsung's screens are lately.

Every time I go to check the S9, S9+ and now the Note 9 I'm surprised at how yellow their screens are compared to IPS displays, like the one in my P20.
 

mib1800

Suspended
Sep 16, 2012
2,859
1,250
You and me both.

If I can figure out the best deal, I may be in.

Best Buy trade in
Add a new line on my art and get the BOGO
straight from Samsung and get the deal package

Too many options have crippled me from pulling the trigger. Might a good thing in the long run as I am iOS guy through and through but this device checks all my boxes and haven’t been this tempted on an android device in many years.

Where you are at you don't have the "free upgrade to 512gb version" deal? Seems like quite a number of countries have that deal. I bought due to this offer. Just can't resist the 512gb and 8gb RAM.
 

5105973

Cancelled
Sep 11, 2014
12,132
19,733
As far as yellowness of displays go, I didn't notice that. There's much that can be done to calibrate the white balance of the display so I am not concerned, yet. But I will keep my eyes and ears open about potential problems.

I think the autobrightness on my S9+ is among the smoothest I've seen in action. I can only anticipate the Note 9 will keep up the standard. That's one reason I am going for the Note 9, though I could comfortably wait for the S10 since my S9+ is indeed nice. The Note 9 should be a really good improvement on everything I already know and love. Look at MKBHD, his face says it all. Providing the battery behaves itself this time, this phone looks practically perfect.

Maybe the S10 will be, too. But if they throw in even one big new thing on, well then I'm back on the merry-go-round of waiting for the new feature to be improved the next year.

I went through that years and years with the iPhones starting with 6 plus. Every year I would get this phone and I would look at it and see that, sure enough, they're holding out on me and I want to kick somebody at Cupertino. This isn't the time or place for me to spell out where I felt each generation fell short until the 8 Plus, but I was always restless with those phones.

I got the iPhone X and decided nah, don't want to go through this again and went back to iPhone 8 Plus where they finally got everything perfected as much as it ever could be and I am ridiculously happy with it. I even got a second one in a different color. In a couple of weeks Apple could announce sharks with lasers and I would not care. I'm going to savor owning the 8 Plus and knowing they finally got the damn thing right. In my opinion. This is all subjective of course. I know plenty of people who feel the 6s/6s Plus was the best of the bunch.

Anyway, it's a good feeling owning something and knowing this is exactly what you've been waiting for, that it is exactly what it should be. That's the feeling I got when I held the Note 9 in Best Buy for the first time last week. As with any opinion, yours may differ.
 

Ralfi

macrumors 601
Dec 22, 2016
4,373
3,101
Australia
One more review, MKBHD. Note 8 was his choice for phone of the year last year. I think, based of his review, it's safe to say, the Note 9 wins it again this year.

Just watched it...

The industry needs companies to max out their flagships & keep their competitors on their toes. Their boundary-pushing feature-set should trickle down the pecking order in the near future. Well played, Samsung. Ball now in Apple's (6.5" iPhone) court.

All of us need to do away with our bias & instant reaction to put down people who use a competitors device - appreciate the progression Android AND Apple are coming up with every year, as it means all our phones will keep getting better.
 

JaySoul

macrumors 68030
Jan 30, 2008
2,629
2,865
OK.... Thanks to YOU LOT, I just pre-ordered the sim-free Note 9!! Arrives tomorrow.

That Carphone Warehouse tip-off was fantastic, thanks @michael9891. They valued my Pixel 2 XL at £350, and then they are giving an additional £200 off.

Plus if you get a 1 month rolling SIM-only deal, they basically knock another £60 off (although you pay £15.50 for one month, it still works out as taking another £44.50 off the price).

So it's basically £300 for the phone. Considering I barely paid anything for my Pixel 2 XL, then I'm financially doing well out of this. The Pixel is about to plummet in price, now actually makes sense.

I'm used to Samsung S series... Always wanted a Note, and this will be my first!
 

Cnasty

macrumors 68040
Jul 2, 2008
3,336
2,106
Where you are at you don't have the "free upgrade to 512gb version" deal? Seems like quite a number of countries have that deal. I bought due to this offer. Just can't resist the 512gb and 8gb RAM.

Texas

I don’t see that option around but to b honest, not sure that would entice me more than some of the other deals I posted above.

Adding another line adds $50 a month to my phone bill but also gives me the flexibility to get the X+ down the road on my upgrade for comparison.

Freakin tech addiction :(
 

nrvna76

macrumors 65816
Aug 4, 2010
1,243
1,268
Question for you guys who are switching from iPhone to the Note. Does the privacy/security discussion concern you with Android? Such as the recent study about how often Android phones talk to the mother ship vs iPhone's? Not looking to debate iOS vs Android, just wondering your thoughts from folks who have been (or are currently in) both camps.
 

pika2000

Suspended
Jun 22, 2007
5,587
4,903
Question for you guys who are switching from iPhone to the Note. Does the privacy/security discussion concern you with Android? Such as the recent study about how often Android phones talk to the mother ship vs iPhone's? Not looking to debate iOS vs Android, just wondering your thoughts from folks who have been (or are currently in) both camps.
Very few people actually cares about privacy. Seriously, we are at Android P now. Clearly whatever Google is doing doesn't bother them.

As for the Note itself, it's all about status symbol. Most people getting the Note 9 simply gets it because it's Samsung's latest and most expensive phone. When the Note 7 got recalled, majority of the users switched to the S7 Edge on the replacement program, the next most expensive Samsung phone, instead of the Note 5 (this data is from Samsung themselves). It shows that the unique Note features like the stylus is not really the decision factor in purchasing the product for most.
 

Klyster

macrumors 68020
Dec 7, 2013
2,231
2,642
Very few people actually cares about privacy. Seriously, we are at Android P now. Clearly whatever Google is doing doesn't bother them.

As for the Note itself, it's all about status symbol. Most people getting the Note 9 simply gets it because it's Samsung's latest and most expensive phone. When the Note 7 got recalled, majority of the users switched to the S7 Edge on the replacement program, the next most expensive Samsung phone, instead of the Note 5 (this data is from Samsung themselves). It shows that the unique Note features like the stylus is not really the decision factor in purchasing the product for most.
Yeah I got the S7 plus but rather than being status thing, I already had the Note 5.
That's a rather wide brush you're using there.
 

torana355

macrumors 68040
Dec 8, 2009
3,633
2,734
Sydney, Australia
Question for you guys who are switching from iPhone to the Note. Does the privacy/security discussion concern you with Android? Such as the recent study about how often Android phones talk to the mother ship vs iPhone's? Not looking to debate iOS vs Android, just wondering your thoughts from folks who have been (or are currently in) both camps.
I embrace it, I like that it gives me a personalised experience and it makes the Google assistant so much more useful. If privacy is very important to you then at least we have the choice to go with an Apple device.
 

Cryates

macrumors 68040
Nov 19, 2013
3,341
5,283
I embrace it, I like that it gives me a personalised experience and it makes the Google assistant so much more useful. If privacy is very important to you then at least we have the choice to go with an Apple device.
Agreed. We're already being tracked every where we go anyways if we are being honest. Not to give any companies a pass, but it's the reality of the situation. I said that in the Apple forum and got flamed by Apple diehards. I would imagine that if Siri had any contextual awareness and wasn't such a half-baked attempt at an assistant, Apple would take advantage of location tracking more than it already does. Personally I don't mind it, because Google Assistant actually gives me useful information when I need it.
 
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nrvna76

macrumors 65816
Aug 4, 2010
1,243
1,268
Very few people actually cares about privacy. Seriously, we are at Android P now. Clearly whatever Google is doing doesn't bother them.

As for the Note itself, it's all about status symbol. Most people getting the Note 9 simply gets it because it's Samsung's latest and most expensive phone. When the Note 7 got recalled, majority of the users switched to the S7 Edge on the replacement program, the next most expensive Samsung phone, instead of the Note 5 (this data is from Samsung themselves). It shows that the unique Note features like the stylus is not really the decision factor in purchasing the product for most.

I guess my question isn't specifically geared toward the note, this was just a highly anticipated phone where it looked like folks like me (iOS user) were considering a switch.. I am sure I do not 'need' a Note, however I am big on maximizing decisions.. I like smartwatches because it maximizes the value of the space on my wrist, arguably the Note can do that for my smartphone space vs an iPhone..
[doublepost=1535025966][/doublepost]
I embrace it, I like that it gives me a personalised experience and it makes the Google assistant so much more useful. If privacy is very important to you then at least we have the choice to go with an Apple device.

I guess I haven't decided how important privacy and security are to me in my smartphone decisions.. this is why I ask possibly like minded folks.. clearly I want my banking apps secured, but that is all that is necessary.. a smartphone is what I use for everything, it is my only computing device, however nobody would be interested in the things I do.
 

michael9891

Cancelled
Sep 26, 2016
3,060
3,945
As for the Note itself, it's all about status symbol. Most people getting the Note 9 simply gets it because it's Samsung's latest and most expensive phone.

While I'm sure a lot on here will be buying the Note 9 because it's the latest and greatest, I doubt anyone posting on here will be doing so because they see it as a status symbol. You don't "simply" drop over a grand on a phone because you think it makes you look good. Not unless you're a ****
 

Klyster

macrumors 68020
Dec 7, 2013
2,231
2,642
While I'm sure a lot on here will be buying the Note 9 because it's the latest and greatest, I doubt anyone posting on here will be doing so because they see it as a status symbol. You don't "simply" drop over a grand on a phone because you think it makes you look good. Not unless you're a ****
Agreed, especially as it looks near identical to the Note 8.
Or every other recent Samsung phone according to some.

And no phone is going to make me look good :D
 

mib1800

Suspended
Sep 16, 2012
2,859
1,250
While I'm sure a lot on here will be buying the Note 9 because it's the latest and greatest, I doubt anyone posting on here will be doing so because they see it as a status symbol. You don't "simply" drop over a grand on a phone because you think it makes you look good. Not unless you're a ****

I wouldn't have bought it if it is a grand. I got my 512gb n9 for $400. Never see a phone as a status symbol. Maybe it is for those who dropped a grand for the iPhone X
 

Cryates

macrumors 68040
Nov 19, 2013
3,341
5,283
I bought the Note 9 because it's got literally everything I've ever wanted in a smartphone and packs more value and useful features than any other device on the market. It's my vision of the perfect device in 2018.

Also, the Note is a very niche line that your average consumer may not even be vastly aware of. Hardly a status symbol.

Not knocking those who purchase it at all (I own one), but the iPhone X is far closer to a status symbol than the Note line. The difference in what you're paying for is quite staggering tbh.
 
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5105973

Cancelled
Sep 11, 2014
12,132
19,733
Question for you guys who are switching from iPhone to the Note. Does the privacy/security discussion concern you with Android? Such as the recent study about how often Android phones talk to the mother ship vs iPhone's? Not looking to debate iOS vs Android, just wondering your thoughts from folks who have been (or are currently in) both camps.
Well I haven’t actually switched. I use two separate lines, one with Android and one with iPhone. I welcome your question because I do ponder it often.

Yes, it DOES concern me. In fact it infuriates and totally creeps me out. However, I realize my privacy was already bled dry long ago and continues to be whether I have a phone or not. Before I was persuaded to join FB by a friend, the fact that she was already on it and had me as a contact siphoned off some of my information to them. I was furious at FB when I found out.

Now I use my iCloud mail in attempt to keep from having topics in private discussions show up as targeted ads, but because the person I am talking to uses her gmail account, somehow it still looks like our conversations are fodder for ads. Or maybe it just seems that way. All I know is that when we talked about psoriasis and pinched nerves, the ads about those things started following us everywhere when we would peruse news feeds or click articles where ads are served.

AT&T is my carrier and Verizon is my ISP for my house. They know more about me than I can possibly stop them from knowing without persuading my representatives, who are in their back pocket, to change existing laws.

The information I would really love to keep to myself such as all the houses I’ve lived in my entire life and who lived in them with me is easily searchable public data, as is the amount I paid for each house and their finished square footage. Any of you who have ever been divorced and gone through custody hearings, all that is usually publicly searchable data, too, as my nephew discovered to his chagrin.

Going to the grocery in my area is an increasingly sobering experience and probably a grim one for even a lot of middle class families. Even at our current income level, the store savings club cards make things noticeably easier on our budget. In the past year though, not by as much as we’d like. Those cards hemorrhage yet more data about ourselves.

Where I live, if you are out in public parks, even if you’re with your children, the police will stop and question you. They want to know why you’re there and how long you intend to stay. I’m assuming there’s some sort of child trafficking or drug trafficking problem they’re trying to keep an eye on. They’re all over the nearest town, at the shopping plazas, just watching over everything. I guess it should be reassuring but it feels a bit weird.

Go look up your home on Google Earth and Google Maps. Cool, but creepy.
 
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Klyster

macrumors 68020
Dec 7, 2013
2,231
2,642
Where I live, if you are out in public parks, even if you’re with your children, the police will stop and question you. They want to know why you’re there and how long you intend to stay. I’m assuming there’s some sort of child trafficking or drug trafficking problem they’re trying to keep an eye on. They’re all over the nearest town, at the shopping plazas, just watching over everything. I guess it should be reassuring but it feels a bit weird.

That's a bit full on!
I can't imagine it, it must feel very disconcerting.
 
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