[Galaxy Note5 General] xeeshan:
Disappointed but...

I was robbed of my note 4 a month ago. Tried the blackberry Q10 for a while and then recently went back to using my note 1 as my daily driver (yes that's right) to be able to wait for the note 5. Let me tell you it is crazy slow even with Cyanogenmod!! I also use the note 3 - it cannot be used for calling without a headset anymore since I screwed it up the last time I opened it. Works great for watching movies on my ageing TV with MHL though!

I have to get a Note because of the stylus. There simply isn't any alternative if you actually use that stylus. You can rail against Samsung all you want but they have stylus users like me by the throat :( Living without a stylus for a month has been torture - well not really but you know what I mean.

Yes, the non-existent SD card slot is a disappointment. I hate this cloud thing! But, I think I can even live with a 64GB Note 5 version IF copying files over the USB is faster. Hate the slow transfer speeds and the iffy nature of the media transfer protocol. What's that? It is still going to be crappy? Well even then I'll buy it I guess. Sigh!!

I was initially pissed about the battery too but mainly because it is only 3000 mAh. However, I would probably have been disappointed with anything lower than 4500 mAh which was never going to happen. I say this because there isn't always (read never) a WiFi spot around here in Karachi and 3g/4g data is the way to go which kills battery super fast. Somebody mentioned a quick charging portable battery I think. Any links?

Had only used a second battery with the Note 1 only but the replacement battery is somehow never as good as the original shipped by Samsung and the charging protocol with 2 batteries is just too cumbersome especially without a method to charge that second battery separately - I remember HTC providing a separate battery charger in their docking station with the XDA II (or was it Sony Ericsson's P800? I forget). So non-removable battery is OK too except that the Note 5 is not going to be able to last me like the Note 1 has. Somehow I don't think any battery is going to last me a few years :)

Now I can get a Note 4 again but it is just not satisfying. Very likely will go for a Note 5. However, it would pay to keep a look out on the Note 4 forums to see how many of the software features (like the screen off memo) make it to Note 4. In the end I might just get the Note 5 for the better fingerprint unlock which is again a feature that I migrated to my note 4 over the the pin unlock.

What is really disappointing is that Samsung did not give us ANYTHING brand new this time around and took away too much. For instance, I don't use the IR regularly either but when you can't find that AC remote because the little one has been playing with it then it was a handy enough thing to have. I even bought the Smart Remote app off of Play store for it because it supported some devices that Samsung's provided app didn't. Now if they had put in an IR sensor so that it could function like a proper universal remote (like the old HTC devices) then it would have been even more useful? USB-C would have been nice too and would have given a sense of something added if others were taken away. Hey, I would not minded a bundled accessory or two with the box.

It will be at least a month before the Note shows up here in Pakistan going by the previous track record. By then the LG G4 Pro (or whatever) may be an option but I doubt their software will be anywhere near good enough when it comes to the pen. Note 5 in a month or two I'd say. That's my 2 cents anyway.