Samsung Galaxy Note 9 first impressions: bigger screen, S-Pen goes Bluetooth, huge battery and AI cameras the highlights
New handset is an evolution of Last year’s Samsung flagship, and comes with a 6.4-inch screen, new chips that give it a faster data connection, and improved processors. The S-Pen stylus can function as a remote control for presentations
Samsung is sticking to its tested formula for the Note 9, its newest high-end smartphone. The company unveiled the latest addition to its Galaxy smartphone line-up at a New York event on Thursday, where it increased the screen size of its largest smartphone but kept most of its core features the same.
The new release follows a quarter of disappointing sales of Samsung’s Galaxy S9. Samsung is facing increased pressure from Chinese smartphone makers overseas and a continued battle with Apple for market share in the United States.
The Note line, which set the trend for large-screen phones and includes a stylus, has traditionally been one of Samsung’s most distinctive and has acted as a testing ground for new features. And despite a disastrous spate of battery fires that prompted the recall of the Note 7, the Note line has proved to be the Samsung product with the most loyal following.
The Note 9, which has a 6.4-inch screen, comes in two colours: blue and lavender. The blue phone has a yellow pen, which slots in to the bottom of the phone. The release date for Hong Kong is to be announced.
The S-Pen, the Note stylus, has got the most technological upgrades since the last model. It now has a Bluetooth connector, meaning it can function as a remote control for giving presentations or listening to music. Samsung said the pen’s battery will last for 200 clicks, or a half-hour. It will charge in less than a minute.
The Note 9 itself looks fairly similar to the Note 8, but it has a few key differences. One is the battery, which has got a size bump to 4,000 mAh – up from 3,300 mAh – which the company says should extend the battery life beyond a day of use.