Samsung Galaxy Note 9 deals and reviews

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 builds upon the huge improvements made with the Samsung Galaxy Note 8 from the disastrous, exploding Note 7. The Note 9 features a large 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display, a long-lasting 4,000mAh battery and an exciting Bluetooth S Pen which allows remote control of the camera.

Reviewers liked

• Innovative Bluetooth-connected S Pen
• Two excellent cameras
• Stunning high definition display
• Large 1TB storage option

Reviewers disliked

• Similar to the Samsung Galaxy Note 8
• Hefty price tag
• No HDR video recording

Samsung Galaxy Note 9: in more detail

Samsung's latest device in the Note series builds upon everything that was right about its superb predecessor to create a real challenger to the iPhone X — although the price is similarly high. Noteworthy additions include the new Bluetooth-enabled S Pen, which can be customised for remote controlled shortcuts. TechRadar called it 'a contender to unseat the Galaxy S9 Plus as our top smartphone recommendation', while Tech Advisor said 'the Galaxy Note 9 is looking to be one of the best phones of 2018 stuffed with every feature imaginable'.

Design

The Note 9 is definitely an attractive phone. Fans of the Note 8 will spot that it's pretty similar in style, with the same Infinity Display and elegant curved edges.

The most keen-eyed may also detect that the Note 9's screen is a tenth of an inch larger than its predecessor - although this new release comes in at slightly shorter and wider than the Note 8. Plus it weighs a bit more: 201g v.s. 195g. Changes also include a relocated fingerprint reader, which is still on the back, but in the middle rather that off to one side — a seemingly minor change that marks a vast improvement as you won't now smudge the camera every time you go to unlock your device.

The monochrome metal frame comes in chic black, lavender or blue with an S Pen to suit the phone.

Display

Samsung's brilliant Super AMOLED display consistently leads the market in terms of quality. With the Note 9, Samsung have, once more, improved upon an already fantastic product.

The edge-to-edge screen produces a record-breaking level of quality with the most colour-accurate display available, according to displaymate.com. Tech Advisor agreed, calling it 'still the best you can ask for on a phone'.

Performance and battery

The new 4,000mAh battery capacity is, undoubtedly, one of the centrepieces of the phone, with Mashable praising it as a 'stamina champ'. Samsung boasts that the Galaxy Note 9 can make it through the whole day on a single charge, while drained phones can be topped up with fast wireless charging.

The phone's storage is also a true highlight. The standard model comes with 128GB of internal storage. However, plump for the upgraded 512GB model and add a 512GB microSD card and you've got 1TB available - making mass photo deleting sessions a thing of the past!

The chipset of the Note 9 is - as one would expect - world-leading. The Exynos 9810 CPU (or Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845 for the US markets) is about 33% faster that the Note 8's CPU, and is paired with either 6GB or 8GB RAM depending on whether you pick up the 128GB or 512GB model.

Samsung has also included a water-carbon cooling system into the phone, which will help prevent overheating and deliver more consistent performance. An added gaming bonus includes first access to Fortnite on Android for all Samsung smartphones above the Galaxy S7.

Camera

The Note 9 brings a 12MP rear camera with dual aperture, which automatically adjusts between f-stops for a better photo in low and bright light scenes.

The phone's front-facing 8MP camera also comes with facial detection for the perfect selfie.

The camera app is laden with a number of great features including the new Flaw Detection and Scene Optimiser plus Super Slow-Mo, which records at 960 frames per second.

Interface

The Note 9 builds on the success of the rebranded Samsung Experience software featured in the Note 8. It will start with the Android 8.1 Oreo operating system, but as a flagship Samsung phone, it's reasonable to assume that it will be receive Android 9 Pie, the latest version of the OS, in the coming months.

The Note 9 also includes Samsung's Bixby personal assistant, which debuted on the Galaxy S8 and Note 8 devices.

S Pen

Another sweetener to the Note 9 is the Bluetooth-enabled S Pen, which brings a number of fun tricks to the phone. One of the most interesting features is the ability to create customisable shortcuts for the phone, which can help control the camera, music player or a PowerPoint presentation.

A number of reviewers including IGN have praised the S Pen for its ability to take selfies with just a click of a button. However, while TechRadar did say the function is a nice idea it added that 'the business-class Note 9 may not be the right audience for that'.

While the stylus does need to be charged, this is easily done by inserting it into the phone – the natural place for it to rest when you aren't using it.

Release date

The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 was released in the UK on 24 August 2018.

What the critics say (scores are out of 100)

100	What Hi-Fi? A big smartphone with a big price tag. It won't suit everyone, but the improved Note 9 is one of Samsung's best. Read full review
100	Ubergizmo | Hubert Nguyen If you like very large-display phones, and if you can afford it, nothing can beat the Galaxy Note 9 on its turf. Nothing can replace a Galaxy Note 9. Read full review
100	Alphr | Alan Martin As per usual, Samsung's flagship is top drawer, but it struggles to justify its huge price tag. For those who want the best of the best, it's right here – but your wallet is sure going to feel it. Read full review
100	T3 | Robert Jones The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is the most functional, feature-packed, and premium Android smartphone in the world. Read full review
97	TechAeris | Alex Hernandez The Samsung Galaxy Note9, in my opinion, is still the king of the big-screen smartphones. It started the trend and it continues to be the best large screen phone out there. Read full review
92	Engadget | Cherlynn Low You'll have a hard time finding a phone that does more, and though I'm reluctant to recommend any device that costs this much, I have a feeling power users will want to get their hands on this thing. The Note 9 has a few minor quirks, but overall it feels like more than the sum of its parts. Read full review
90	Pickr | Leigh Stark The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is your life encapsulated in a smartphone, and it's hard to ignore. There are things about this phone we like and adore, and other bits and pieces that are a bit of a bore, but for the most part, we'd say Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 is one hell of a smartphone score. Read full review
90	The Indian Express | Nandagopal Rajan Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is clearly one of the best Android phones you can buy, but the S Pen is the one reason why you might end up buying it in the end. Read full review
90	Tech.co | Tom Fogden ... if you need a phone that can do everything from gaming to photography to Excel spreadsheets, the Note 9 is the only choice. Read full review
90	Australian PC World | Fergus Halliday This is one of the best smartphones you can buy right now. But whether you should buy it is another question entirely...This is a device that offers the world. It's got one of the best displays you can get on a smartphone. It's got one of the best camera systems you can get on a smartphone. It's got one of the best processors you can find in a smartphone. But so does the Note 8. Read full review
90	New York Times | Brian X. Chen The new device is aimed at power users who work, play, consume and create on their phone. For others, there are plenty of cheaper options. Read full review
90	Coolsmartphone | Ian Furlong I absolutely loved my time with the Note 9. Yes, I know it's nearly double the price of my beloved OnePlus devices, but it's just a truly gorgeous screen to look at, with a fantastic feel in the hand. Read full review
90	The Inquirer | Carly Page The Galaxy Note 9 may have more competition in the so-called phablet market, but in our opinion, it still remains king. Read full review
90	Gizmodo UK | Sam Rutherford And while its price tag means this isn't a device for everyone, for the people who want to push the limits of what a phone can really do, the Note 9 is here to give them that opportunity. Read full review
90	Digital Spy | Stefan Vazharov The Galaxy Note 9 is Samsung's most advanced smartphone to date, as well as the best big-screen smartphone available today. Read full review
90	Toronto Sun | Adam Swimmer The Samsung Galaxy Note9 is easily the best phone currently out right now but the price is expensive. Read full review
90	NotebookCheck | Florian Wimmer With the Galaxy Note 9, Samsung delivers a great business phablet again – this time with a big battery. Read full review
90	NDTV Gadgets | Jamshed Avari In a world full of nearly identical smartphones, the Galaxy Note 9 does stand out, and while it is expensive, you get what you pay for. Read full review
90	AndroidPit | Luca Zaninello The Note 9 isn't the fastest smartphone. It doesn't have the best battery life in the world and the cameras can lag in some situations compared to the competition, but where will you find another device with all these high-level features? Read full review
90	Firstpost | Sheldon Pinto Note 9 is the complete package from Samsung both Note fans and Android fans have been waiting for. Read full review
90	PC Mag | PC Mag Asia The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is an attractive pen-enabled phablet with a fast processor, a terrific modem, and a huge battery. Read full review
90	Phone Scoop | Eric M. Zeman The Note9 is for people who need to get work done, or for people want to be creative, wherever they happen to be. Read full review
90	Android Central | Andrew Martonik The Galaxy Note 9 represents the biggest and best that Samsung has ever made. Read full review
90	Android Headlines | Nick Sutrich If you want the most powerful hardware, the most features, the most customization and the widest ability of any smartphone on the market with almost no compromise, you absolutely want the Galaxy Note 9. Read full review
90	Android Authority | David Imel If you're a power user who wants a ton of storage, the best display on the market, and the S-Pen, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 might be for you. Read full review
90	Mashable | Raymong Wong Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 is pricey, but it's the only flagship Android phone with every feature under the sun. Read full review
90	phoneArena | John Velasco Note 9 packs a convincing performance to back its premium cost! Read full review
90	Mobile Syrup | Patrick O'Rourke The Note 9 truly is one of the first Android devices I can confidently state is nearly perfect as long as you're fond of big phones. Read full review
90	Trusted Reviews | Max Parker There isn't another phone on the market quite like the Samsung Galaxy Note 9. Read full review
90	TechRadar | Matt Swider The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is the best smartphone that money can buy. Read full review
90	Pocket-lint | Britta O'Boyle With a premium build, an absolutely excellent screen, a mature software experience, great cameras, all the power you could possibly need, excellent battery life and fabulous AKG-tuned speakers, there's little it gets wrong. Read full review
90	CNET UK | Jessica Dolcourt The ultrapricey Note 9 is one of the year's best phones. But unless you're in dire need of an upgrade, the smart move is to wait for what the next iPhone, Pixel and even Galaxy S10 bring. Read full review
87	Mr Phone | Ershad Kaleebullah All in all, the Note 9 is truly the Swiss Army Knife of phones. Like the Genie from Alladin, the Note 9 is here to grant all your smartphone-related wishes. Read full review
85	India Today | Sanket Vijayasarathy ... if design, big and bold, is something you don't mind much and you are not in a hurry to taste Android 9 Pie, the Note 9 is one the best phones you can buy in the market right now. Read full review
85	The Verge | Dan Seifert For the Note 9 to make sense, you need to want more than just "more," you need to want the most. And having the most will cost you the most. Read full review
80	GadgetMatch | Isa Rodriguez ... the bottom line is that all you really need is a phone that can cover the basics and do it well. The Note 9 is a definite candidate in that department. Read full review
80	TechPP (Technology Personalized) | Akriti Rana If you can ignore its occasionally slightly sluggish behavior over time and can forgive (or maybe even learn to love) the feature-heavy UI, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is the phone for you. It does everything that you would expect a high-end flagship to do. Read full review
80	Gadget Speak | Paul Smart Sound quality from the speakers is good and provided by Dolby....the 'S Pen' and apart from it being a stylus it can also act as a remote control via Bluetooth...The battery should smash through all day usage....The units camera was one of the first with 'AI' and it can recognise up to 20 different shooting scenarios to automatically give you the best shot.The OLED screen is both sharp and clear and the colours deep and easy to watch. My one slight moan is with Bixby it's not as full featured as Siri or Alexa. Read full review
80	IT PRO | Nathan Spendelow Equipped with all the flagship bells and whistles you'd come to expect from a pricey, top-end handset, the Note 9 is undeniably top of its class. Read full review
80	TheEffect.Net | Derek Reilly A really great phone, what bothers me is that we don't see too many of them around. Read full review
80	Expert Reviews | Nathan Spendelow Equipped with all the flagship bells and whistles you'd come to expect from a pricey, top-end handset, the Note 9 is undeniably top of its class. But there's so little reason to upgrade from any one of 2017's best high-end models – especially with that price tag attached. Read full review
80	91mobiles | Prateek Pandey Everything considered, the Galaxy Note9 is quite possibly the best Android flagship out right now and other Android manufacturers will really have to pull a rabbit out of the hat to sway buyers away from Samsung's offering. Read full review
80	The Economic Times | Ians If you have been using a Note device, this is a real upgrade. If you are on other premium-segment smartphones, Note 9 is definitely worth trying. Read full review
80	PCWorld | Michael Simon If you want pure power and performance, the Galaxy Note 9 is the best Android phone you can buy, but it's expensive and not very exciting. Read full review
80	Wired | Lauren Goode Samsung markets the Note as something beyond a smartphone; something more akin to a superphone. It comes close to being that, but the Note 9 also lacks the whiz-bang of what a next-generation smartphone should really have (including 5G support and 3D front-facing cameras). Read full review
80	AVForums | David Phelan It looks great, and works tremendously, offering fast, reliable performance whatever you throw at it, handling video playback, demanding games and power-hungry apps with ease. Read full review
80	Digital Trends | Julian Chokkattu The Galaxy Note 9 is the best big phone you can buy. It's hardly worth upgrading to, however, if you have a Galaxy Note 8, Galaxy S9, or Galaxy S9 Plus. Read full review
80	Tom's Guide | Caitlin McGarry & Mark Spoonauer Get the Note 9 if you want a big-screen phone with a pen and strong cameras. Read full review
80	SlashGear | Chris Davies The Note 9 is a supercar smartphone. Like all supercars, you pay handsomely for the privilege of driving a flagship. Read full review
80	The Telegraph | Matthew Field There is everything here that Samsung fans will love. It certainly may not be enough to win over Apple fans. Read full review
80	The Guardian | Samuel Gibbs If you need your phone to be able to do just about anything, the Note 9 is it. Read full review
80	Stuff | Andrew Williams A near-perfect phone for true phone enthusiasts. If only the giant battery lasted a little longer Read full review

Compare Samsung Galaxy Note 9 specs side-by-side with other phones COMPARE SPECS

Dimensions & Form	Form factor: Touchscreen bar Dimensions 161.9 x 76.4 x 8.8 mm (6.37 x 3.01 x 0.35 in) Weight: 201 g (7.09 oz)
Screen	Size: 6.4 inches diagonal Resolution: 2960 x 1440 pixels Screen Density: 514 ppi Screen-to-Body Ratio: 84 % Display Type: Super AMOLED
Runs
Performance	Chipset: Exynos 9810 Octa CPU: Octa-core (4x2.7 GHz Mongoose M3 & 4x1.8 GHz Cortex-A55) GPU: Mali-G72 MP18 RAM: 6/8GB
Camera	Main Camera: Dual 12 megapixels with Optical Image Stabilisation (OIS),2x Optical Zoom, and LED flash Secondary Camera: 8 megapixels
Storage	Built-in Storage: 128GB, 512GB Expandable Storage: Micro SD
Battery & Charging	Capacity: 4000 mAh Removable Battery: No Wireless Charging: Yes Quick Charge: Yes (v2)
SIM standard	Nano SIM Compare SIM Only deals
Water & Dust Resistance	IP68 Rating: Protection from contact with harmful dust, and protection from immersion in water up to a depth of 30m for up to 30 minutes
Fingerprint Reader	Rear
References & More info	Official website GSMArena specs page

Photos taken with the Samsung Galaxy Note 9

We've used Flickr to find a selection of pictures taken by the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 camera. Here is a selection of photos taken by users from around the world so you can see what kind of picture quality you can expect from real-world use of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

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All images shown are used under the rights and terms specified by the Creative Commons.