1 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:08,520 Speaker 1: Samsung Galaxy Note nine review. It's a big, expensive phone, 2 00:00:08,520 --> 00:00:11,200 Speaker 1: but you get it all. What's going on? I'm Rich Demiro. 3 00:00:11,440 --> 00:00:15,240 Speaker 1: This is Rich on Tech. The Samsung Galaxy Note nine 4 00:00:15,360 --> 00:00:18,239 Speaker 1: is in stores right now and it sells for one 5 00:00:18,520 --> 00:00:22,120 Speaker 1: thousand dollars. That gets you a six point four in screen, 6 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: one of the best I've ever seen on a phone, 7 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: plus one hundred and twenty eight gigabytes of storage, dual 8 00:00:27,880 --> 00:00:31,320 Speaker 1: cameras on the back, an s Penn Stylus with Bluetooth, 9 00:00:31,640 --> 00:00:34,520 Speaker 1: and one of the biggest, baddest batteries you can pack 10 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 1: into a phone that still feels pretty darn good in 11 00:00:37,080 --> 00:00:39,479 Speaker 1: your hand. How's that for an intro. Well, I've been 12 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:41,320 Speaker 1: using this device for the past two weeks and I 13 00:00:41,320 --> 00:00:43,960 Speaker 1: can tell you it is one of my favorite phones ever. 14 00:00:44,360 --> 00:00:47,120 Speaker 1: It is a pleasure to use. It's fast, it has 15 00:00:47,159 --> 00:00:50,239 Speaker 1: every feature you can think of, a fun camera, the 16 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:53,240 Speaker 1: stylus makes a great addition to Instagram Stories in general 17 00:00:53,360 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 1: navigation when you remember to use it. Plus, it's big, 18 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:58,440 Speaker 1: but it's not on wield. And although I still prefer 19 00:00:58,480 --> 00:01:01,200 Speaker 1: the clean software and faster camera on the pixel, the 20 00:01:01,240 --> 00:01:04,440 Speaker 1: Note nine offers so many more features. Let's talk about 21 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:07,120 Speaker 1: some of them for starters. The battery in this thing 22 00:01:07,280 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 1: is just a rock star. It's four thousand million hours, 23 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,160 Speaker 1: which is a lot, about a third more than other 24 00:01:12,200 --> 00:01:14,480 Speaker 1: big smartphones, and the battery is going to be the 25 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:17,520 Speaker 1: least of your concerns on this device. It charges super 26 00:01:17,560 --> 00:01:20,399 Speaker 1: fast with the cable or wirelessly, and if you drive 27 00:01:20,480 --> 00:01:22,080 Speaker 1: for a bit during the day and have it plugged 28 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:25,080 Speaker 1: in your car, like I often do in Los Angeles, realistically, 29 00:01:25,160 --> 00:01:27,800 Speaker 1: battery life is not a concern at all. There are 30 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: even some nights I didn't even bother to plug it 31 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:31,440 Speaker 1: in because it was still so full by the time 32 00:01:31,480 --> 00:01:33,840 Speaker 1: I went to bed. The storage is also great. It's 33 00:01:33,880 --> 00:01:36,679 Speaker 1: one hundred and twenty eight gigabyte standard. You just won't 34 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:40,839 Speaker 1: worry about anything taking tons of pictures, videos, downloading Spotify 35 00:01:40,920 --> 00:01:44,200 Speaker 1: music and Netflix shows and YouTube videos. I didn't even 36 00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:47,000 Speaker 1: consider how much storage everything was taking up because it 37 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:49,320 Speaker 1: doesn't matter. And if you get close to filling up 38 00:01:49,320 --> 00:01:51,200 Speaker 1: that one hundred and twenty eight gigs, you can just 39 00:01:51,240 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: add a memory card. Two hundred and fifty six gigs 40 00:01:53,800 --> 00:01:56,560 Speaker 1: on Amazon right now is just about eighty dollars, and 41 00:01:56,600 --> 00:01:58,320 Speaker 1: you can go all the way up to a five 42 00:01:58,360 --> 00:02:02,200 Speaker 1: hundred and twelve gigabyte memory car when that's available. Performance 43 00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:05,040 Speaker 1: on the Note nine has been great. Samsung software gets 44 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:07,040 Speaker 1: a bad rap and there are little things I don't 45 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: like about it, like the way it handles notifications and 46 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:12,200 Speaker 1: the always on screen, but I can live with that, 47 00:02:12,320 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: and for ninety nine percent of people, you're probably not 48 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:17,400 Speaker 1: gonna care. The phone hasn't gotten hot even once, which 49 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:19,959 Speaker 1: is a departure from other Samsung phones which have eate 50 00:02:19,960 --> 00:02:22,680 Speaker 1: it up in the past. Maybe it's because Samsung added 51 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: some sort of new liquid cooling inside, but I can't 52 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,040 Speaker 1: be sure, but this thing stays pretty cool throughout the day. 53 00:02:27,560 --> 00:02:30,120 Speaker 1: The Spen with Bluetooth is really cool, but you have 54 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:32,720 Speaker 1: to remember to use it otherwise it's useless, and that's 55 00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:34,640 Speaker 1: one of the big features of this device. You have 56 00:02:34,720 --> 00:02:36,799 Speaker 1: to remember to pull it out. When I did, it 57 00:02:36,840 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: would come in handy for various creative situations like Instagram 58 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,240 Speaker 1: stories and writing on pictures. You'll figure out what you 59 00:02:42,280 --> 00:02:43,880 Speaker 1: need it for, but it's a useful thing to have. 60 00:02:44,680 --> 00:02:46,880 Speaker 1: And yes, I am the weirdo that sets up my 61 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 1: phone on a tripod to take group pictures at family 62 00:02:49,200 --> 00:02:51,560 Speaker 1: and friend gathering, so I'll definitely be using the Spen 63 00:02:51,600 --> 00:02:54,560 Speaker 1: in the future versus the typical timer. I would normally 64 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:57,720 Speaker 1: set the Spen lasts for thirty minutes on Bluetooth use. 65 00:02:57,800 --> 00:02:59,600 Speaker 1: Then you pop it back into the phone and it 66 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,800 Speaker 1: takes forty seconds to recharge it. But it always works 67 00:03:02,840 --> 00:03:04,920 Speaker 1: to write on the screen no matter whether it's charged 68 00:03:05,080 --> 00:03:07,200 Speaker 1: or dead. Now let's talk about the camera, because this 69 00:03:07,280 --> 00:03:09,720 Speaker 1: is one of the biggest parts of any smartphone, and 70 00:03:09,960 --> 00:03:12,800 Speaker 1: on the Note nine, it is good. It borders on great. 71 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:15,680 Speaker 1: It's a very capable camera and you will have lots 72 00:03:15,680 --> 00:03:17,919 Speaker 1: of fun with it. I really love having the two 73 00:03:17,919 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: times lens so I can zoom into things optically versus digitally. 74 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,040 Speaker 1: And the camera performs good, but I'd like to see 75 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:25,920 Speaker 1: it perform great. It can be a little slow to 76 00:03:25,960 --> 00:03:29,400 Speaker 1: react and focus sometimes, and things like zoom and movements 77 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,160 Speaker 1: can look a little jittery in the preview window. But overall, 78 00:03:32,160 --> 00:03:34,399 Speaker 1: the photos you take on this device are very, very 79 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 1: good and many times excellent. It does a great job 80 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:40,440 Speaker 1: in low light, one of the best performers in low light, 81 00:03:40,520 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: and I'm very impressed with the detail on pictures compared 82 00:03:43,600 --> 00:03:46,280 Speaker 1: to the iPhones photos. I think those look nice, but 83 00:03:46,320 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: they always look kind of flat. The Galaxy Note nine 84 00:03:49,000 --> 00:03:51,520 Speaker 1: has much more depth and detail. Of course, not as 85 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 1: much as a pixel, which has like crazy computer processing 86 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:56,960 Speaker 1: going on to make any shot look good. But Samsung 87 00:03:57,000 --> 00:03:59,360 Speaker 1: definitely makes one of the top cameras on the market. Now, 88 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:02,400 Speaker 1: they did add some sort of scene detection artificial intelligence, 89 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:04,560 Speaker 1: but I can't really tell if that's helping my photos 90 00:04:04,560 --> 00:04:07,040 Speaker 1: look better or just boosting things like color and other 91 00:04:07,120 --> 00:04:15,080 Speaker 1: stuff depending on the situation. It can recognize scenes including food, portraits, flowers, animals, landscape, sky, sunrise, sunset, text, 92 00:04:15,120 --> 00:04:17,839 Speaker 1: and more. The camera also tells you when someone blinks, 93 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,320 Speaker 1: or the shot is blurry, or there's some bad backlight. 94 00:04:20,440 --> 00:04:23,280 Speaker 1: I found this feature nice to have, but not entirely useful, 95 00:04:23,320 --> 00:04:25,440 Speaker 1: because look, if it's an important shot, I'm gonna be 96 00:04:25,480 --> 00:04:28,240 Speaker 1: reviewing it anyway. Now. The front facing camera is a 97 00:04:28,279 --> 00:04:30,960 Speaker 1: totally different story. If there's a source spot to this device, 98 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:33,800 Speaker 1: this is it. In a word, I'm unimpressed. It's very 99 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:35,600 Speaker 1: hit or missed. Sometimes you get such a good shot 100 00:04:35,640 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: it looks like a pro took it. Other Times you 101 00:04:37,440 --> 00:04:39,800 Speaker 1: get something that looks kind of muddled and blurry. The 102 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:41,920 Speaker 1: front facing camera is not a deal breaker, but it's 103 00:04:41,920 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 1: definitely the biggest disappointment on this device. Low light is 104 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:48,360 Speaker 1: especially challenging for it. It will take a noticeable amount 105 00:04:48,360 --> 00:04:50,640 Speaker 1: of time to snap a front facing photo and the 106 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:52,839 Speaker 1: result is often not very good, so you're gonna have 107 00:04:52,880 --> 00:04:55,320 Speaker 1: to take a couple of front facing photos to get 108 00:04:55,360 --> 00:04:57,480 Speaker 1: a good one. As for the rest of the Galaxy 109 00:04:57,480 --> 00:05:00,440 Speaker 1: Note nine, it is a very complete package. The screen 110 00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:03,760 Speaker 1: just simply amazing. It puts other smartphone screens to shame. 111 00:05:04,080 --> 00:05:06,359 Speaker 1: I watched the original Jurassic Park movie on a plane 112 00:05:06,400 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 1: and I just can't tell you how good it looked 113 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:11,080 Speaker 1: on that big, bright, six point four inch screen, and 114 00:05:11,120 --> 00:05:12,760 Speaker 1: that's an old movie. If you look at some of 115 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:16,240 Speaker 1: the new stuff on Netflix with HDR, that's unbelievable. You 116 00:05:16,279 --> 00:05:19,000 Speaker 1: also get Dolby at most. Video on this thing is 117 00:05:19,160 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 1: just amazing, and plus you get all the features you need, 118 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:24,160 Speaker 1: like a headphone jack and the fingerprint reader. Although it's 119 00:05:24,160 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: a tad small, it's in a dream spot compared to 120 00:05:27,279 --> 00:05:29,960 Speaker 1: last year's model. You can actually reach it without looking, 121 00:05:30,240 --> 00:05:32,800 Speaker 1: and it's properly placed under the camera instead of to 122 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:35,039 Speaker 1: the side of the camera. Now, the Note nine is 123 00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:37,479 Speaker 1: expensive and I'm not thrilled about either color combo. You 124 00:05:37,480 --> 00:05:39,839 Speaker 1: can choose from blue or lavender. In the US right now, 125 00:05:40,080 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: there is a black and copper model available, just not 126 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 1: in the US just yet, but I expect them to 127 00:05:44,680 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: make their way here eventually. And one thing I don't like. 128 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:49,880 Speaker 1: You no longer have the option to turn off the 129 00:05:49,880 --> 00:05:52,800 Speaker 1: Bixby button now unless I'm missing it in the Bixby settings. 130 00:05:52,800 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: They seem to have gotten rid of this entirely, which 131 00:05:55,240 --> 00:05:58,359 Speaker 1: is unfortunate because you do press that dedicated button a 132 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 1: lot and it activates Bixby, which I don't think is bad, 133 00:06:02,040 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: but I just don't need another assistant in my life 134 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:06,679 Speaker 1: right now. So let's compare against some other phones. Against 135 00:06:06,680 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: the iPhone ten, well, at number one, we're coming out 136 00:06:09,000 --> 00:06:11,120 Speaker 1: with the new iPhone very soon, so if you're comparing 137 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:12,919 Speaker 1: those two and deciding, you probably want to wait to 138 00:06:12,920 --> 00:06:15,320 Speaker 1: see what Apple does. But against the iPhone ten, you're 139 00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:17,800 Speaker 1: definitely getting more for your money with the Note nine. Now, 140 00:06:17,880 --> 00:06:20,720 Speaker 1: I rarely compare Android to iPhone anymore, because, let's face it, 141 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:23,839 Speaker 1: I've realized most people don't care through either Apple or 142 00:06:23,839 --> 00:06:25,960 Speaker 1: Android for life, and they don't want to switch, And 143 00:06:26,000 --> 00:06:28,680 Speaker 1: that's kind of fine with me. It's personal preference, and 144 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,719 Speaker 1: I understand how Apple folks will miss I Message, FaceTime 145 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,919 Speaker 1: and other niceties of the Apple ecosystem, So I'm not 146 00:06:34,920 --> 00:06:36,599 Speaker 1: trying to convince you to switch here now. If you 147 00:06:36,640 --> 00:06:39,240 Speaker 1: don't need the stylus or the large battery, you'll be 148 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,359 Speaker 1: perfectly happy with the Samsung Galaxy S nine plus. This 149 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:45,159 Speaker 1: is nearly the same phone, just slightly smaller, with less 150 00:06:45,160 --> 00:06:47,880 Speaker 1: bells and whistles, but it's a very similar camera setup, 151 00:06:47,880 --> 00:06:50,520 Speaker 1: and it has that gorgeous screen again just a bit smaller. 152 00:06:50,560 --> 00:06:52,200 Speaker 1: And if you don't want to spend one thousand dollars, 153 00:06:52,240 --> 00:06:55,160 Speaker 1: the one plus six is a really nice Android device. 154 00:06:55,200 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: It has amazing software, it's super fast, it charges fast 155 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:02,120 Speaker 1: although there's no wirel charging, and the software is updated 156 00:07:02,240 --> 00:07:04,599 Speaker 1: way more often. The only downside of the one plus 157 00:07:04,640 --> 00:07:07,440 Speaker 1: really is you don't get as good of a camera. 158 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 1: But I will tell you the one plus six is 159 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:13,160 Speaker 1: doing some amazing pictures for that five hundred and thirty 160 00:07:13,200 --> 00:07:15,640 Speaker 1: dollars price. One plus you're doing a great job. Now 161 00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:17,600 Speaker 1: against the Pixel. That's a tough one, because that is 162 00:07:17,640 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 1: my favorite phone ever. And rumor has it that the 163 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:23,800 Speaker 1: new Pixel is gonna add wireless charging in wired headphones, 164 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:26,640 Speaker 1: which are two chief complaints I had against the last one, 165 00:07:26,880 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 1: and the Pixel camera is just a monster. It's the 166 00:07:29,320 --> 00:07:32,240 Speaker 1: absolute best in the world on a smartphone and one 167 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:34,320 Speaker 1: of the reasons I keep going back to that device. 168 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: And also, the Pixel is going to be cheaper than 169 00:07:36,440 --> 00:07:38,600 Speaker 1: the Samsung Note nine, but it won't come with as 170 00:07:38,600 --> 00:07:41,920 Speaker 1: many software bells and whistles. Some will like that, others won't. 171 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 1: Samsung versus Pixel is a tough one. If you're a 172 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:47,320 Speaker 1: true Android hardcore, that's a tough decision. All right. There 173 00:07:47,360 --> 00:07:49,440 Speaker 1: you have it at my review of the Samsung Galaxy 174 00:07:49,440 --> 00:07:51,440 Speaker 1: Note nine. Bottom line, this is a beast, but in 175 00:07:51,480 --> 00:07:54,239 Speaker 1: a good way. Samsung has managed to cram just about 176 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:57,720 Speaker 1: every feature known to man in a smartphone that actually looks, feels, 177 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,960 Speaker 1: and performs great. The price tag and large size are 178 00:08:01,000 --> 00:08:05,040 Speaker 1: basically the two biggest downsides, along with infrequent software updates, 179 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:06,920 Speaker 1: but that's about it. You're really getting one of the 180 00:08:06,960 --> 00:08:08,920 Speaker 1: best phones on the market. Thanks so much for listening. 181 00:08:08,960 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: If you want photo samples, video samples, plus my TV review, 182 00:08:12,600 --> 00:08:15,320 Speaker 1: check the show notes, or just go to richontech dot 183 00:08:15,400 --> 00:08:17,320 Speaker 1: tv and let me know if you have any questions. 184 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:20,000 Speaker 1: You can find me on Facebook, on Instagram, on Twitter, 185 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:23,360 Speaker 1: I will be listening and answering. Amrich Demiro, I'll talk 186 00:08:23,400 --> 00:08:24,160 Speaker 1: to you real soon