Samsung Galaxy Note 5: The note is back

It's a well known fact: the Korean giant always bets big on the Note Series. And the Galaxy Note 5 is no exception. The tech community quite understandably has been eagerly anticipating the Note 5 and now that the new flagship has arrived, it must be said that Samsung has definitely come out with a winner!

Instead of trying to pack the phone with innovations and gimmicks, Samsung went for the more logical approach of tweaking and modifying existing features to perfection so that you can enjoy a truly seamless performance. So let's go and take a look at all the things that make the Note 5 a worthy companion.

Design

With a Gorilla Glass 4 encased front and rear accentuated by Aluminum edges, the Note 5 is definitely among the best looking Samsung flagships. At first look, it seems to have a flat surface and straight, level edges that are typical in smart phones. However, only after picking it up, you can find the difference. Samsung cleverly incorporated the frontal curves of the S6 Edge+ to the back end of the Note 5, which makes it not only comfortable to hold the device, but also adds a sensation of slimness and slickness. However, there is a problem-the glass surfaces on both sides combined with a large size means that the phone can become quite slippery, particularly for those with butter fingers like mine.

Display

The Note 5 is already being touted by some as the phone with the best display ever and surely there is some merit to this point of view. A 5.7" screen with qHD display (2,560 x 1,440 pixels) and a pixel density of 518 ppi provides sharp texts and images and the brightness level is well adjusted so that there is no problem looking at photos and videos even under bright sunlight.

Software

As with other Samsung devices, the Note 5 also runs TouchWiz UI on top of Android 5.1.1 Lollipop- the latest Android OS till date in any Samsung device. Samsung's apps include Note regulars such as S Note and S Health, though the company has really shown control in adding in the bloatware. A quick trip through the settings menu will also show up a whole bunch of extra modes and options. There are also battery saving modes, several gestures and themes for a fresh appeal and also, very conveniently, a user manual!

Hardware

Hardware wise, the Note 5 is nothing short of a powerhouse. It features Samsung's very own Exynos 7 Octacore processor that boasts two chips- a 2.1GHz quad-core chip, plus a second 1.5GHz quad-core chip for lower-powered tasks. The Note 5 features 4 GB RAM- an improvement from the Note 4's 3 GBs. The additional 1 GB does help to make things nicer and smoother and even while running some of the more demanding apps, performance does not falter.

Since Samsung has opted to lose the external memory slot, it means you'll be stuck with either 32 GB or 64 GB storage depending on which variant you buy.

Camera

The Note 5 comes with a 16 MP rear camera and a 5 MP front facing lens. Unlike the S6 or the S6 Edge, Samsung has chosen a wider aperture (f 1.9) for the Note 5. This is good news because a wider aperture means more light can enter the lens; and since more light can enter, the photos will be better, especially those taken at low light conditions. The Note 5 also has Optical Image Stabilization, which counters the effect of shaky hands. There are also a number of photography modes such as auto-HDR, panorama, and selective focus to name a few.

The Note 5 can shoot 4k videos and comes with an interesting feature- live streaming on YouTube! There's also a built in feature that lets you make animated GIFs. Overall, the cameras provide great, crisp images with proper color representation both in lit and low light conditions.

S Pen Stylus

The Note 5's stylus is among the best looking pens out there. However, as soon as you hold it, you'll feel a small pang of disappointment. The pen that looks so sleek with a metal finish is actually made of plastic- which is a definite letdown. Nevertheless, despite the faux metal finish, there's nothing fake about the functionality of the stylus, or S Pen, as Samsung calls it. However, whatever you do, do not put the stylus in its chute the wrong end first. As a number of users can attest, it will lead to either the S Pen breaking or getting permanently lodged in the chute.

Battery

One more thing that Samsung opted to lose is the typical removable battery found in most smart phones. By embedding the 3000 mAh battery in the device, the Note 5 was able to shed off a few extra milligrams and that definitely helps with the phone's appearance. However, if you are concerned that 3000 mAh might be a little too inadequate for a behemoth as the Note 5, then think again. Even after running heavy duty apps all day, the phone showed at least 10-15% charge remaining at the end of the day, which is actually pretty impressive. And since it comes with Samsung's fast charging technology, it means the Note 5 can be geared for action in no time at all!

Specs
Display: 5.7-inch 2560x1440 Super AMOLED (518 PPI)
OS: Android 5.1(Lollipop)
CPU: Exynos 7420 processor, 64-bit octo-core
GPU: Mali-T760MP8
RAM: 4GB
Storage: 32GB/64GB
Camera: 16 megapixel rear camera / 5 megapixel front camera
Battery: 3,000 mAh
Features: Stylus, GPS, Gyroscope, S health etc 
Price: 69,900/-

VERDICT
The Note 5's a looker and a performer, and not even the most hardened Apple fanboys can claim otherwise. It has powerful hardware, stunning cameras, great features and it is also arguably the best device if having a stylus is a must for you. However, at a price tag starting from almost 70K, it is a very costly phone. If you are always on your mobile- working and playing and doodling stuff, then surely this price tag won't stop you from getting a Note 5.