The camera on my S9 plus was a bit of a mixed bag. It was good in low light but daytime shots could be blurry. The portrait mode also wasn’t as good as it was on the note 8.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 9
- Thread starter jamezr
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My Note 9 is handling my business needs flawlessly. Just finished sending off some photos, writing a document, editing a program, and working on spreadsheets, all on the phone. Super fast with the limited multi-tasking I require. This will definitely be a keeper for me.
Still handling all my calls and music on my trusty Iphone X, but my other tasks have migrated to the Note.
Both phones are really great: Note wins on screen, storage, and ability to manipulate files. Iphone wins on simplicity and has a couple of apps (Documents & Notebook) that I use constantly.
With the low price of the second line, I will keep it even though I could certainly live without it. You really can't go wrong with either phone.
Still handling all my calls and music on my trusty Iphone X, but my other tasks have migrated to the Note.
Both phones are really great: Note wins on screen, storage, and ability to manipulate files. Iphone wins on simplicity and has a couple of apps (Documents & Notebook) that I use constantly.
With the low price of the second line, I will keep it even though I could certainly live without it. You really can't go wrong with either phone.
I’m kind of doing the opposite. I don’t like call quality on my iPhone 8 Plus as much as I do on my S9+ or on my Pixel 2 when I have a sim in it.
Unfortunately the bulk of my non-call communication is handled on my iPhone as most of my contacts use iMessage and FaceTime. I like how music sounds on my Android phones a bit better especially over Bluetooth. However I do get really good sound using the dongle and wired earbuds on my 8 Plus.
I have AirPods but unfortunately I seem to get a headache from using them for too long. It’s a shame because I quite like them. They fit in my ears just fine. I’m not sure why I get the headaches, but I’ve read other people mentioned headaches from the AirPods not fitting well.
From what I recall of the month I had it, the X did do calls decently. I am interested in the new modem capability of the XS. The Keynote should be interesting despite the rumors of the upgrades being only marginally incremental.
I am really curious about how much they might continue to let coast on in mediocrity. It would be great if the answer is “nothing” but past history is not encouraging. Still, I am looking forward to it. If nothing else, the Apple Watch leaks exceeded my expectations on appearance alone.
You might want to try the Samsung icon X headphones, if you liked the airpods but found them uncomfortable I highly recommend the Samsungs.
I prefer the airpods myself, but the icons a close 2nd.
Would anyone with the Note9 who isn’t going to play Fortnite/logged on yet like to help me get the galaxy skin? I will pay for your time 
I own them and forgot I own them! I got them for Christmas a couple of years ago when I got my unlocked S7 and my iPhone 7 Plus. That was one awesome Christmas! The 7 Plus was a huge surprise. The S7 I had asked for. Anyway the Icon X not only work their way out of my ears but actually kind of “sproing” out and go flying!
I kind of gave up on wearing them and forgot I even own them! Fortunately they came as a free gift with the phone.
I figured it would be the airpods that would fall out. You tried the different tips and earwings?I own them and forgot I own them! I got them for Christmas a couple of years ago when I got my unlocked S7 and my iPhone 7 Plus. That was one awesome Christmas! The 7 Plus was a huge surprise. The S7 I had asked for. Anyway the Icon X not only work their way out of my ears but actually kind of “sproing” out and go flying!
Though if you got them when with the S7, they are probably the older version with only 2 hours battery. The new ones get 8.
At the time when I was freelancing I loved this about S6 Edge Plus. Ms office, a file explorer and split screen meant that I could, when urgent, amend files on the go.
Credit when credit is due and few phones are as empowering as flagship Samsung phones.
Yep I tried all the different combos it came with. Sproinggggggg! And they are definitely the old ones. The sound quality isn’t as good as the newer ones are reported to be.
The wired Samsung earbuds sproing out, too, but I don’t mind as much because they don’t go flying away from me, being tethered and all.
I can’t remember having AirPods ever fall out. They FEEL like they fit just great. I am not sure why I get the headaches if I wear them past about half an hour. Might just be I hold myself stiff necked without realizing it, too subconsciously worried they will fall out or something?? Who knows. If there’s one thing I have an abundance of, it’s ear buds and headphones. I’m good for sound!
Edit Update: Since it was on my mind to pay attention I went ahead and wore my AirPods and folded some laundry. I noticed there’s a faint high pitched screechy buzz sound I can hear even with the music on. It’s sort of like the sound my normal tinnitus makes but amplified. When I finished listening to my playlist after about 15-20 minutes and took them out my tinnitus was definitely aggravated.
I don’t suppose I had ever really taken notice before because usually I’d be wearing these at home during the day where there’s a lot of background noise masking my tinnitus plus that screech in the AirPods. But I’m at a vacation place and it’s just me and my in-laws here at the moment. And the in-laws went to bed hours ago. Noises and my tinnitus don’t usually give me a headache but this one is kind of scratchy and harsh. I don’t know if it’s a sound the AirPods emit or if there’s something about them being in my ears at all that accentuates and aggravates the tinnitus. I don’t play my music loud at all but I do notice I get a bit of the same effect at the amusement park where it’s loud.
This doesn’t happen to me with my other earbuds or headphones.
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Sounds very cliche, but sadly, I couldn't give up iMessage and FaceTime since many of my friends/family use iPhone's. Also using an old S7 for media consumption but probably going to sell both, get the Note 9 as all-in-one.
One thing I will say to all the iPhone converts out there who are trhinf to make the switch is to give it time, research, and fool around with different workflows. This phone can do some amazing things. One of the main features I missed from the iPhone was the swipe gesture to go back. Absolutely hated browsing on the note without it. Found out that the Samsung good lock app replaced that function laity of the iPhone perfectly and in fact better because you can customize certain aspects of it.
I'm still not sure if this phone is for me as I still miss iOS but the more I use it the more I like it. Crazy amount of features and the performance is excellent.
I'm still not sure if this phone is for me as I still miss iOS but the more I use it the more I like it. Crazy amount of features and the performance is excellent.
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I’ve just had a second child so need to wait awhile before I acquire any new phones. My HomePod and echo have been met with rolled eyes so I have to wait a bit[/QUOTE]
Congrats on your second child. The Note 9 is very tempting but waiting another 1-2 month is a good idea. I don’t think we have seen the last of Note 9 price promotions.
I’ve just had a second child so need to wait awhile before I acquire any new phones. My HomePod and echo have been met with rolled eyes so I have to wait a bit
[/QUOTE]The trade in value for the iPhone X is quite high though at the moment. It’s £620. It will come Plumet after the event. I have an upgrade coming up in December anyway. So I’m just gonna wait until then. By that time the iPhone X plus will have been out a good while for me to see how it stacks up to the note 9. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t still tempted by the note 9.
Might go the two phone thing again, if the iPhone X plus isn’t worth the upgrade.
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I’ve just had a second child so need to wait awhile before I acquire any new phones. My HomePod and echo have been met with rolled eyes so I have to wait a bit
Congrats on your second child. The Note 9 is very tempting but waiting another 1-2 month is a good idea. I don’t think we have seen the last of Note 9 price promotions.
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I’ve just had a second child so need to wait awhile before I acquire any new phones. My HomePod and echo have been met with rolled eyes so I have to wait a bit
Congrats on your second child. The Note 9 is very tempting but waiting another 1-2 month is a good idea. I don’t think we have seen the last of Note 9 price promotions.[/QUOTE] Thanks.
I agree. It’s gonna come down in price soon so it’s good to wait a bit.
Good luck with number 2.
This phone just works for me. After a full week, I have settled back in with it like I did my Note 8. I am a person that has bounced back and forth between Android and iOS. I have always used Google services on iOS. The main reasons I always seemed to default back to iOS was threefold: support from my IT department, family interaction (using iMessage, Airdrop, Find My Friends, Apple Music plan, etc) and smoothness. Those are big reasons and there were many times I would think I would never go back and just "live" with iOS. With the Note 8 things started changing.
My IT department is fully supporting all things Samsung now and to a smaller extent Android. All of our workflow actually works better on the Note series. I also find that the Microsoft Office 365 platform performs a good bit better on the Note. I do have an Essential phone with Pie and I cannot say the same things about it. While I love the stock Android experience, I believe Microsoft treats Samsung's platform a bit more like it would the Apple ecosystem. That's just an opinion but their apps just seemed to be optimized better. We use Airwatch and now Boxer for email. I really like the Boxer experience and its better than the stock email or the stock iOS email app I would have to use on Apple. I am learning to use the S Pen more and more which was never a priority for me. Now in business use its becoming and asset I could not live without. There are small things I do miss though. I travel alot and I miss iOS Wallet and having my airline boarding passes easily available on my lockscreen. Android or Samsung need something like this to compete. Another thing is how iOS handles airplane mode and bluetooth. I hate having to reconnect my headphones when activating airplane mode. Maybe they can emulate what Apple is doing there as well.
Family has learned to adapt. I don't miss iMessage that much. We use Duo and Alexa for video calling as much as Facetime anyway. I travel with my iPad so Find My Friends can be accessed there. I know there are other apps that do the same thing but getting my family to install and use those is not going to happen. We swap any photos through Google Photos links. While not as easy as Airdrop, it works. Apple Music has now almost caught up on Android. I am on the beta version and my biggest complaint is now fixed; playing Apple Music on Android Auto. Overall, we have adapted.
Smoothness and overall OS is good enough. Apple has gone through a rough patch with iOS 11. It bugged out for us alot. The betas of iOS 12 seem to be great. It is quick and fluid and will only get better. That being said, the Note 9 is right there and I would not trade the things I like about Android for that extra bit of smoothness. Things I prioritize are Google services and Android Auto. Again, I travel alot. Navigating and finding my way in unfamiliar areas are important. Using Google Assistant is important. The implementation of Android Auto is important. I find it much better than Apple Carplay. I may be in the minority here but I like it better. I am at the point I could not buy a new car without either of those services. The Note screen and media consumption is much better than any iPhone at this point. The XS may change that but I think it would just pull Apple even and again not enough to pull me back. Battery life is also very good. I am finding normal days leaving me in the 30% range. This is on par with my iPhone X. Yesterday I had a lighter day and I was over 50% after a 16 hour day. The Note 9 has solved the Android battery anxiety issue for me although my Note 8 did a fine job as well. Not a camera aficionado so this one is absolutely more than enough for me.
I am probably just echoing what we already have heard many times but Samsung finally incrementally updated everything enough to just get it right. Stock Android does not really tempt me. I disable or hide all the Samsung apps I don't use, set up Nova to get things right for my tastes and still have all the great things from Samsung that make it a better phone than any other Android out there. It just works.
My IT department is fully supporting all things Samsung now and to a smaller extent Android. All of our workflow actually works better on the Note series. I also find that the Microsoft Office 365 platform performs a good bit better on the Note. I do have an Essential phone with Pie and I cannot say the same things about it. While I love the stock Android experience, I believe Microsoft treats Samsung's platform a bit more like it would the Apple ecosystem. That's just an opinion but their apps just seemed to be optimized better. We use Airwatch and now Boxer for email. I really like the Boxer experience and its better than the stock email or the stock iOS email app I would have to use on Apple. I am learning to use the S Pen more and more which was never a priority for me. Now in business use its becoming and asset I could not live without. There are small things I do miss though. I travel alot and I miss iOS Wallet and having my airline boarding passes easily available on my lockscreen. Android or Samsung need something like this to compete. Another thing is how iOS handles airplane mode and bluetooth. I hate having to reconnect my headphones when activating airplane mode. Maybe they can emulate what Apple is doing there as well.
Family has learned to adapt. I don't miss iMessage that much. We use Duo and Alexa for video calling as much as Facetime anyway. I travel with my iPad so Find My Friends can be accessed there. I know there are other apps that do the same thing but getting my family to install and use those is not going to happen. We swap any photos through Google Photos links. While not as easy as Airdrop, it works. Apple Music has now almost caught up on Android. I am on the beta version and my biggest complaint is now fixed; playing Apple Music on Android Auto. Overall, we have adapted.
Smoothness and overall OS is good enough. Apple has gone through a rough patch with iOS 11. It bugged out for us alot. The betas of iOS 12 seem to be great. It is quick and fluid and will only get better. That being said, the Note 9 is right there and I would not trade the things I like about Android for that extra bit of smoothness. Things I prioritize are Google services and Android Auto. Again, I travel alot. Navigating and finding my way in unfamiliar areas are important. Using Google Assistant is important. The implementation of Android Auto is important. I find it much better than Apple Carplay. I may be in the minority here but I like it better. I am at the point I could not buy a new car without either of those services. The Note screen and media consumption is much better than any iPhone at this point. The XS may change that but I think it would just pull Apple even and again not enough to pull me back. Battery life is also very good. I am finding normal days leaving me in the 30% range. This is on par with my iPhone X. Yesterday I had a lighter day and I was over 50% after a 16 hour day. The Note 9 has solved the Android battery anxiety issue for me although my Note 8 did a fine job as well. Not a camera aficionado so this one is absolutely more than enough for me.
I am probably just echoing what we already have heard many times but Samsung finally incrementally updated everything enough to just get it right. Stock Android does not really tempt me. I disable or hide all the Samsung apps I don't use, set up Nova to get things right for my tastes and still have all the great things from Samsung that make it a better phone than any other Android out there. It just works.
I've been curious about these. Do you know how they sound compared to Air Pods? I love mine but was thinking of trying something with a better seal. The Air Pods stay in well enough but I seem find myself adjusting them more frequently lately for some reason.
They sound quite a bit better than the AirPods in my opinion. I think the seal helps with that.
Normal for Samsung phones. I recommend doing an animation speed drop in the dev settings to add a bit of pep to your Note 9. Until Samsung learns how to make a lean ROM or offers Pure Android, it could be awhile before the jitters go away completely.
Though, if you can get passed that, Samsung products feature a bevy of additional bells/whistles.
For me, picking up the Note 9 was an experiment. Could I switch from T-Mobile and my unlimited data plan to Xfinity's 12.00/month per gb. Well, so far so good. With Xfinity (running on the Verizon network), it will latch onto all of the Xfinity wifi hotspots on the fly, which then doesn't count towards data usage. I've had the phone since Wednesday and while walking back and forth to work, I have used a total of .1gb. And to be honest, most of that was from when the phone was initially setting up for the first time. I've found that now I download the music to my phone that I want to listen to on my commute, whereas before on T-Mo I would just stream everything (I have a 64gb iPhone X and have only used maybe 10gb total and that includes iOS).
The screen is massive, but the phone still fits in my pocket. I've not really started messing around with the s-pen yet, but in time I'm sure I'll find a use for it. I'm really digging the Ocean blue, especially with the satin finish on the edges. It does take a while to charge, even on my fast charger, but of course, it's a 4000mah battery so that is expected. I'm still looking for a decent thin case (think Peel), but since the phone is so new, I'm sure it will take a little bit of time.
While I still find myself attempting to use the gestures from my iPhone X, the experience with Android hasn't been too bad. With google messages on the web, I've not really missed iMessage as much as I thought I would, which is nice. The phone is fast, I have no idea what I'll do with 128gb of storage (other than download music TO my phone to cut down on data use).
One thing that I HAVE noticed and this is a carrier issue (thanks to those on the forum for pointing that out). A friend who uses AT&T sent me a video from LA last night (she has an iPhone X), and indeed AT&T IS still degrading the quality of the video when it is sent via MMS. So that's a bummer. However, that's not the fault of Samsung or Android, so I can deal.
Google is sometimes great, and sometimes a bit creepy; went to a place last night here in Seattle called "Some Random Bar" and what pops up is a notification from Google "would you like to answer questions about this place?" Sure Google, why not. I uploaded all of my photos to Google Photos and I received a notification "We made you a panorama from these pictures". It looks amazing and the AI behind it is insane. I had hiked Mount Si, taken a few pictures which weren't necessarily panorama shots but Google found a way. It's creepy and impressive at the same time.
Enough ranting. I'm pretty happy with it.
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I am actually looking forward to giving these a try. I think the build in storage for music is pretty slick, though I'm not sure If I can put stuff from Apple Music on them, or if I have to use Spotify, or if it has to come from a personal library.
Is this just an AT&T thing? Curious because I expect this to be an issue for my wife and I and we are both currently on AT&T, but are open to switching.