Samsung Note 5: Mind-Boggling Array of Models?

[PeteCress]

Somebody suggested that the logical replacement for my Note 1 is a Note 5.

Looked at the specs and that seems to be right on the money for me.

But now I am shopping and getting confused by all the models.

Right away, there are 32GB and 16GB models - but the price diff is consistently $200+ and that seems so much extra for 16GB of RAM that I think I am missing something else.

Musts are ANT+, WiFi, and tMobile compatibility.

32GB is a nice-to-have, but not $200 worth of nice...

Battery life tradeoffs with "OctaCore" vs other?

Can anybody cut through the mess of G920C, N920, G920, G900H, G900F.... and so-forth?


Edit 2016 03-17 16:19

Starting to get the picture:

• "H" indicates Octa-Core/Exynos - which is faster, but does not do LTE.
  
  
• Anything besides "H" is Quad-Core/Snapdragon, which does LTE, which is what tMob uses.

So it's starting to look like G900F is the ticket so far: 16GB, LTE, Quad-Core, $325-350

 

[KOLIO]

The base model number for the T-Mobile Note5 is SM-N920T
It's available in 32gb & 64gb storage options & two color options.

https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phones/samsung-galaxy-note5.html

If for some reason you want to try a different model/version of the Note 5,use this tool for the best match w/T-Mobile:
http://willmyphonework.net/

 

[PeteCress]

RE/ https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phones/samsung-galaxy-note5.html

Seven Hundred Bucks???? Holy Shimoley!

 

[chanchan05]

RE/ https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phones/samsung-galaxy-note5.html

Seven Hundred Bucks???? Holy Shimoley!

$600-700 seems to be the standard pricing for new flagships anyway.

You could look at a Note 4 instead if you're not willing to part with that much money.

 

[PeteCress]

$600-700 seems to be the standard pricing for new flagships anyway.

If "New Flagship" means latest model, I was unaware that S5 was the latest model. .... Had seen references to a Samsung S6 and assumed that S6 was the latest and S5 was in my preferred range of 1-2 models behind.

I am seeing consistant prices for G900F (16GB, LTE, Quad-Core) at $325-350.

What might I be missing ?

 

[chanchan05]

If "New Flagship" means latest model, I was unaware that S5 was the latest model. .... Had seen references to a Samsung S6 and assumed that S6 was the latest and S5 was in my preferred range of 1-2 models behind.

I am seeing consistant prices for G900F (16GB, LTE, Quad-Core) at $325-350.

What might I be missing ?

Your post said Note 5. That's the latest Note phone. It's a different range from the S7.

 

[AZgl1500]

I bought a used Note 4 for ~ $300 bux

and it can do everything that all the shiny $700-$1000 phones can do, so why waste the money?

I have never been one to change just because there is a newer car on the block....
shucks, my old F-150 has 220,000 miles on it, don't use any oil, runs just like it is brand new, so why replace it?

 

[chanchan05]

I bought a used Note 4 for ~ $300 bux

and it can do everything that all the shiny $700-$1000 phones can do, so why waste the money?

I have never been one to change just because there is a newer car on the block....
shucks, my old F-150 has 220,000 miles on it, don't use any oil, runs just like it is brand new, so why replace it?

The only thing it CAN'T do that the Note 5 can that may be relevant is hold two sims.

 

[PeteCress]

Your post said Note 5. That's the latest Note phone. It's a different range from the S7.

Now it is starting to soak in: Samsung Galaxy S5 <> Samsung Note 5.

When I went to gsmarena.com to compare them, I noted that the Note 5 lacks one of my (unspoken) "Musts": an external card slot - although it does seem tb available with 128 gigs of internal. OTOH, it looks like, to have a sylus, the model name must be "Note".

Looking at Note 5 vs Note 4, Azgl1500's decision is starting to look good to me. 4 does not have the Octa-Processor, OTOH it seems to have slightly better battery life - at last for Music.

Only question that seems to remain is whether the perceived performance diff of the 5 is worth the price diff to me.

 

[AZgl1500]

The only thing it CAN'T do that the Note 5 can that may be relevant is hold two sims.

hell, I can't afford paying for the one SIM that is in it now

 

[chanchan05]

The performance difference from what I can tell isn't something really you'd want to pay for if your looking to cut corners. The Note 4 would still be good for at least 2 more years. Heck my Note 2 would still be good for me for at least another year if it wasn't for my current need for a dual sim phone (just waiting til May when my contract ends. ).

Although of course that depends on your usage.

 

[PeteCress]

Heck my Note 2 would still be good for me for at least another year if it wasn't for my current need for a dual sim phone (just waiting til May when my contract ends.

At that time do you think you will go for whatever the latest-and-greatestis, or for an older one that still supports dual SIMs?

 

[girolez]

Well, my 3 year old note 2 died recently and I have replaced it with a new Note 4 - perfect , plenty fast enough and cheaper than the Note 2 was when new! It was over €300 less than a new S7 edge (in France).

 

[chanchan05]

At that time do you think you will go for whatever the latest-and-greatestis, or for an older one that still supports dual SIMs?

Will be getting the latest. My network went into a bit of restructuring in their plans, and basically I can get the S7 or S7 edge for the same monthly bill as I am paying now, even less if I build the details of service correctly. No reason to skimp when my current bill won't be changing for the worse anyway. Plus that means that the phone should be good for at least another 2 years with the latest updates. Which will make it good for at least 3-4 more years for me as long as the battery holds up. My Note 2 is about 2 years old (bought it around the time Note 3 was new) and the original battery still lasts a good while. 20hrs standby on a single charge and perpetually connected and syncing to the internet on a 2 year old battery is pretty good. Lasts longer when disconnected.

Probably will go S7 though. Better for single handed use. The battery size is the only thing going for the S7 Edge, and I already own a 9000mah powerbank. I could miss the screen size in playing Clash of Clans and Boom Beach, but I need the one-hand operation more. And I'm pretty scared of dropping it since the edges are glass. Plus won't be too big of an adjustment to me as I am switching between my Note 2 and Galaxy V now (personal and work phone), with the latter being only 4inches.

Of course my case is different. I'm getting mine on contract with no change in expenses, so I can go latest without any issues. In your case, you're going to spend, so price is more of an issue than in mine. Same as when I got my Note 2. I could have it + a Tab 3 for the same contract as a Note 3 alone. Hence the Note 2. In your case, how much is the price difference with a Note 4? If the price is about 70% or less than that of a Note 5, I'd say the 4 is a good buy. It's still going to get Android N most likely. And you can use that extra money for something else. A cheaper 7 inch tablet for reading books sounds nice, which you can get for the price difference of a Note 4 and 5. Heck, a 16GB Note 4 and a 16GB Note 8.0 together would cost less than a Note 5, and the Note 8.0 would be better than either phone for being a notebook with the 8inch screen.

 

[The_Chief]

Our local Verizon reseller has a sign advertising $200 off the Note 4. Clearly the pricing has dropped on it (as well it should... it's a 2-year old phone)... my Note 4 Developer Edition and Gear VR Innovator Edition will be up for sale just as soon as I pick up a Note 6 this fall. Doesn't help you right now, but the Note 4 is a solid device.

 

[KOLIO]

Our local Verizon reseller has a sign advertising $200 off the Note 4. Clearly the pricing has dropped on it (as well it should... it's a 2-year old phone)... my Note 4 Developer Edition and Gear VR Innovator Edition will be up for sale just as soon as I pick up a Note 6 this fall. Doesn't help you right now, but the Note 4 is a solid device.

When the time comes,if you do indeed want to sell the VZW Note4 DE,PM me,I know someone who'd appreciate it.

 

[PeteCress]

Our local Verizon reseller has a sign advertising $200 off the Note 4. ..., but the Note 4 is a solid device.

Does anybody know how amenable these things are to being unlocked?

I have unlocked a few tMobile candybar and flip phones, but have no clue about smartphones.

 

[KOLIO]

Does anybody know how amenable these things are to being unlocked?

I have unlocked a few tMobile candybar and flip phones, but have no clue about smartphones.

If it's a carrier branded phone & the account that it's tied to is up-to-date &/or the phone has already been paid for in-full,just contact the carrier for SIM Unlocking instructions.
If you're buying sight unseen (private seller/craigslist/etc..) request the IMEI so that you can verify the phone is free & clear,regardless of carrier affiliation,to ensure it hasn't been stolen or reported lost either.
https://swappa.com/esn

Another big BTW:
If the phone in question is an AT&T device,you'll need an active AT&T SIM Card installed to receive any pending software updates.

 

[PeteCress]

FWIW, I just pulled the trigger on a 32GB Note 4 (SM-910C) from B&H Photo (huge store in NYC... great service, decent prices) for $470 plus a 128GB Class 10 SD for $35 - free overnight shipping.

Might not have been the lowest price world-wide, but seemed pretty good and B&H are are a known quantity for when/if stuff happens.

I was about *that* close to impulse-buying a Note 5 just because I could notice how much faster/smoother it was than the sales guy's Note 4 that I tried at Best Buy.

But then I remembered that the Note 5 does not accept an external memory card..... Got to wonder what Samsung is thinking when they discontinue a feature like that on such a high-end device...... Maybe some exposure to OS problems that's baked in to external memory cards?

 

[chanchan05]

But then I remembered that the Note 5 does not accept an external memory card..... Got to wonder what Samsung is thinking when they discontinue a feature like that on such a high-end device...... Maybe some exposure to OS problems that's baked in to external memory cards?

Nah. They removed it on the S6 and returned it on the S7. Probably will make a comeback on the Note6. It's interesting to note that they disabled the Marshmallow feature that extends internal memory to include the SD card though.

 

[PeteCress]

FWIW I now have a new Note 4 and find it totally satisfactory.

Thank you AZgl1500.

To Wit:

• It is significantly faster in all operations. .... Not just a little bit - more like "Whoa!... How did *that* happen so quickly".... especially obvious when opening the Camera app and accessing web pages.
  
  
• At first I had the dreaded problem with third-party apps being denied permission to write to the external SD card, but Rooting seems to have made that go away. ..... "Seems" because my competance level with this stuff in general and Android in particular is not very high.... and maybe there was no problem in the first place and I just stumbled into the right procedures. ..... X-plore and Root Explorer...
  
  
• The faster charging is worthwhile. ..... Never thought of it as an issue, but I can see that I am going to get used to the rapid charge feature very quickly.