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There were a lot of questions going into today’s Unpacked event. We knew the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 would be announced, but would it be a worthy upgrade from the Samsung Galaxy Note 4? The answer to that question is not as easy as you might think.
Specs never tell the entire story. More megapixels don’t automatically mean better photos, and a new processor doesn’t always mean better performance. Heck, even battery life doesn’t always reflect the number listed next to the mAh. However, it’s a good place to start for a brand new device. Check out the chart below for a quick side-by-side comparison.
The Note 5 certainly does not scream past the Note 4 in terms of specs alone. It’s a lot closer than you might expect. The Note 5 has more RAM, a newer processor, and an improved front-facing camera. The Note 4 matches the rest of the specs, and adds an IR blaster and a bigger battery. Those last two specs might be the tipping point for most users.
As we mentioned above, specs are not the whole story. The Note 5 has fast wireless charging, which is not on the Note 4. It will support Samsung Pay right out of the box without waiting for a software update. They also added some neat features for writing with the display turned off. There’s also the SD card and removable battery situation to consider.
Is the Note 5 worth the upgrade?
Here’s the deal: the Note 5 is not a major upgrade. In some areas it can even be considered a downgrade. For example, if you love controlling your TV with your phone it’s not worth the upgrade. On the other hand, if you feel that 3GB of RAM is not enough then you should upgrade. Another reason to upgrade would be to use the Samsung Keyboard Cover. But, if you need a SD card or the ability to remove the battery you won’t want to upgrade.
What do you think? Is the Galaxy Note 5 a worthy follow-up to the Note 4? Will you be upgrading?
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