Samsung Galaxy Note 4: An option worth considering

SINGAPORE — With an improved aesthetic and more robust features, Samsung Galaxy Note 4’s is definitely an option worth considering if you are looking to move on to the realm of phablets or upgrade your smartphone.

Sporting a sleek metallic frame, the Samsung Galaxy Note 4 measures 153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5mm and weighs 176g. Slightly heavier than its predecessor (174g) and the iPhone 6 Plus (172g), and significantly heavier than the Sony Xperia Z3 (152g), the solid weight of the Note 4, however, adds to its premium feel.

And while the TouchWiz interface is a joy to just look at – sexy, neat and without the clutter of preloaded widgets – Samsung also improved the resolution and pixel formula of its 5.7-inch AMOLED screen. The Note 4 boasts a 2650 x 1440 quad high-definition display, and a pixel density of 515 ppi, compared to iPhone 6 Plus’ 401 ppi. Only the LG G3 does a better job at 538 ppi . The Note 3, in comparison, has a 1080 high-definition display and a pixel density of 86 ppi.

Underneath the hood is a bagful of (upgraded) tricks. The hardware boasts a 2.7GHz quad-core chip, 3GB Ram and 32GB of storage to complement the Android 4.4.4 KitKat operating system. I played some games from the app store and multi-tasked between apps — from handling Whatsapp to editing images and listening to Spotify — with ease and no bothersome lag.

A promising feature is the fast-charge option, which is supposed to recharge the battery from 0 per cent to half-full in 30 minutes. During the test though, 30 minutes of charging gave me slightly less than the promisted 50 per cent charge. Generally, the battery life of the Note 4 was great but not mindblowing. It gave me a full day’s worth of use and a little more before I had to scramble for my charger.

Another feature that performs well is the Note 4’s 16 megapixel camera with dual-LED flash and optical image stabilisation. The Galaxy Note 4 finally does well in low light, captures plenty of detail and shoots some quality macro photos. Proficient photographers can still access more manual tools like exposure, ISO, white balance and metering tucked away in the settings.

The heart rate monitor at the back of the Note 4 is a fun tool. Simply fire up the S Health app, select heart rate and place a finger over the sensor to get a reading.

For some added security, there’s the fingerprint scanner embedded in the home key below the screen, but it’s a tad troublesome as this takes some getting used to. Unlike the Apple iPhones where you place a finger over the home key, you have to swipe your finger down the middle on the Note 4 at a certain pace.

The controversial S Pen — some users swear by it but plenty others ignore it — seems to have improved sensitivity and accuracy. I was pretty impressed at how precise the S Pen was in recording some of my doodles. I also loved the Screen Write feature, which allows me to scribble on any screen I’m viewing, and share the edited material on social media easily right after.

The Galaxy Note 4 comes with a price tag to match its advancements. It is available at all telcos and Samsung Experience Stores for S$1,088.