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Our readers review the Samsung Galaxy Note 9
Our review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 was largely positive; reviewer Cherlynn Low found the handset impressive, calling it "one of the best phones of the year." With a "brilliant display," hearty battery life and speedy performance, the Note 9 did plenty to earn its lofty score of 92. Our December call for readers to submit their own reviews of the Note 9 also produced impressive results: We saw nearly 120 new scores and reviews for the flagship phone, most of them agreeing with Cherlynn. But they also tended to be harsher about the phone's shortcomings, resulting in an average user score of 87.
T-Mobile starts verifying callers to fight spam
More US carriers are taking steps to prevent junk calls from reaching your phone. T-Mobile has launched a Caller Verified system that uses new standards (SHAKEN and STIR) to fight caller ID spoofing and ensure the number you see is real. Ideally, this makes it harder for ad spammers and tech support scammers to dodge screening efforts and blacklist apps.
Samsung is the next tech giant expecting a sharp earnings drop
Apple isn't the only tech industry behemoth dealing with a rough fourth quarter. Samsung has warned that its earnings likely dropped significantly during the last three months of 2018 due to both tougher competition in the smartphone space and mediocre demand for memory chips. Analysts were predicting sales equivalent to about $56.2 billion, but Samsung now expects 'just' $52.7 billion -- not a huge drop, but disappointing for a company used to growth. Accordingly, the Korean firm now expects profits around $9.7 billion versus the $11.8 billion observers thought they'd see.
Pixel 3 XL vs. the competition: Beyond the notch
With all the leaks during the past few weeks, it may have seemed there wasn't a lot more to reveal about the Pixel 3 XL. But after today's announcement, we finally have some official confirmation of its internals, including a whopper of a front camera in that notch. While you'll have to wait a few weeks for our official review of Google's newest large handset, we can at least stack up the XL against its closest competition. Check out the table below to see how the specs fare against behemoths like the Galaxy Note 9, the budget-priced OnePlus 6 (the 6T is still a few weeks away) and of course, Apple's mega-sized iPhone XS Max.
Samsung makes it easier to avoid Bixby on the Note 9
Samsung's Bixby isn't exactly the most popular voice assistant, which is why some Galaxy Note 9 owners have been frustrated by the inclusion of a Bixby button on their handset. One tap would bring up the voice assistant, often by accident, and there was no way to disable it. Now, according to Android Authority, the new Note 9 software, which rolls out today, gives users the option to launch Bixby with a double tap, rather than a single tap.
The iPhone Xs Max vs. the competition: A huge step up in size
Farewell "Plus" and hello "Max" as the name for Apple's larger handsets, with today's reveal showcasing a massive 6.5-inch screen size on the iPhone Xs Max. But how does it compare to the current crop of flagship phones, to which screen sizes bigger than six inches are old hat? We've taken the Xs Max and lined it up against two of Samsung's Galaxy siblings as well as the budget-friendly OnePlus 6. (We'll have to wait a few weeks to see how it stacks up against the Pixel 3 XL.) Of course, specs aren't everything. For a full accounting of how the iPhone XS Max shakes out, check out today's hands-on with the new device, and keep an eye out for our full review in the next few weeks.
Chat with Bixby to buy tickets from Ticketmaster
Ticketmaster has partnered with Samsung's Bixby, allowing users in North America to find and purchase event tickets through the virtual assistant. The feature is powered by Ticketmaster's API and Galaxy Note 9 users can now ask Bixby to find events by artist, team, location or date. Just say something like, "Hi Bixby, find concert tickets in Los Angeles," or, "Hi Bixby, what sporting events are happening in New York this weekend?" The assistant will provide results fitting the request and users can then purchase tickets to events available through Ticketmaster.
Samsung is offering free Gear VR adapters to Note 9 owners
When Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note 9, there was no sign of an accompanying Gear VR headset, but virtual reality fans need not fear. You'll be able to use the last model designed for the Galaxy Note 8 via a free adapter. "The Note9 is compatible with your existing Gear VR, but a new Type-C adapter is required," Samsung states in its troubleshooting guide. "Current owners of the Gear VR with Controller (model SM-R325) can obtain the new adapter at no cost by contacting 1-800-Samsung."
Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 is available today
Just a couple of weeks after the Galaxy Note 9 was revealed, Samsung's latest flagship smartphone is now available at retailers and through carriers. The handset includes a 6.4-inch screen, stereo speakers, a 4,000mAh battery that should keep you going all day and 128GB or 512GB of storage, which is expandable using microSD cards.
Bixby still isn’t smart enough for a speaker
As it gears up to move into a new home (a Galaxy Home, to be specific), Bixby is far from ready. Samsung's digital assistant has become infamous for its tardiness, and even after showing up late to the AI party, Bixby doesn't have much to show for the extra time. It's not smarter than the rest and doesn't offer any new tricks, even in the recently announced Galaxy Home, other than perhaps better sound quality. As much as I'm excited about Samsung potentially giving Amazon, Google and Apple some competition in the smart speaker space, I'm pretty sure they have nothing to worry about, if my time with Bixby on the Note 9 is any indication.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review: A better Note for most of us
The biggest, beastliest phone of the year is here, and spoiler alert, the Galaxy Note 9 lives up to the lofty expectations. In addition to a huge battery, large screen and generous onboard storage, Samsung taught the old S Pen a few new tricks that should make the stylus more useful to a wide audience. 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.
Samsung is still trying to make DeX happen
There was a common thread running through Samsung's two big launches this week. Both the Galaxy Note 9 and the Tab S4 feature DeX mode, a desktop-friendly interface for Android devices that the company has been working on since 2017's Galaxy S8. In fact, since the introduction of the DeX dock with the Galaxy S8 last year, Samsung has continued to expand the DeX portfolio, adding new hardware alongside minor compatibility and software updates. The company is clearly invested in making this A Thing, even when numerous tech companies in the past have failed to succeed at smartphone-powered desktops. Why?
Watch Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 event in 12 minutes
Samsung wasn't holding back at its Unpacked event. The centerpiece was clearly the Galaxy Note 9, but it had a veritable onslaught of announcements beyond that. The Galaxy Watch, Galaxy Home smart speaker and a two-device wireless charger were on deck for hardware, while special deals involving Fortnite and Spotify also provided a good reason to tune in. But what if you don't have one hour and 40 minutes to relive the whole thing? Don't worry: We've boiled the presentation down to a 12-minute supercut to save you some time. Follow all the latest news from Galaxy Unpacked 2018 here!
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. the competition: Big and getting bigger
Phone screens continue to get larger, with many flagship phones regularly breaking the 6-inch mark. Still, the Note 9's slightly larger display and bigger battery might provide the edge it needs to succeed, in addition to its ever-trusty S Pen. To see how the Note 9's specs stack up against some of its leading competition (like its sibling, the Galaxy S9+), we've assembled the relevant details in the table below. Of course, while specs are interesting, they're ultimately not the final word on the phone's real-world performance. For that verdict you'll have to wait for our full review in the coming weeks.
Samsung's smart home devices can pick up Spotify streams from your phone
Samsung just announced the Galaxy Home, a clear competitor to Apple's HomePod, and the speaker will be powered by Spotify. The company also announced a new partnership that'll tie the two companies pretty closely together: Beyond using Spotify for music on the Galaxy Home, Spotify will also be included on all Galaxy devices in the setup process. So if you have an account, you'll set it up as you set up your phone; if you don't, we imagine you'll be prompted to get a free trial.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. last year's Note 8: What's changed?
Last year's Galaxy Note 8 largely succeeded at redeeming the Note line in the wake of its predecessor's battery troubles. The new Note 9 doesn't have as much pressure on it this time around, so the changes are a lot less dramatic than the addition of a dual camera and virtual assistant. Still, there are a few things worth noting here: The cameras have gotten a bit of a bump to sit comfortably alongside those on the Galaxy S9 and S9+ while the Note 9's 6.4-inch screen size is also a nice advantage. To get the full details on all the small but key changes to Samsung's newest S Pen-equipped handset, check out our spec chart below, and stay tuned in the coming weeks for our full review.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 hands-on: All about the S Pen
Hello, stylus, my old friend. I've come to talk with you again. Today Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Note 9 -- the latest in its flagship big-screen phone series. Like its predecessors, it comes with a stylus, which has gotten a refreshing makeover. Samsung also added an AI photography feature, updated the dual cameras and threw in some compelling performance improvements that power users will appreciate.
Samsung brings new controls to the Note 9 with redesigned S Pen
As we geared up for today's Samsung event, the announcement for which teased us with a close-up image of the Galaxy Note 9's S Pen, there's been a fair bit of speculation regarding what new features might be coming with the phone's redesigned stylus. An FCC filing that surfaced last month gave us a peek -- namely that it would be Bluetooth-enabled -- but today we got to see what the S Pen can do and how it works with the Note 9.
Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 is bigger and more powerful than ever
After more than a few leaks (including from Samsung itself), the Galaxy Note 9 is finally official. Samsung's new flagship is an evolution of the Note 8 that promises to "never slow you down or let you down," according to the company. It touts a slightly larger 6.4-inch end-to-end 2,960 x 1,440 screen, a 4,000mAh battery that promises "all-day" use and a minimum 128GB of storage -- there's also a 512GB version that, with 512GB microSD cards, can give you a full terabyte of space. Samsung is also bringing over welcome improvements from the Galaxy S9 family, including stereo speakers and the variable aperture f/1.5-2.4 12-megapixel primary camera (there's a second 12-megapixel camera on the back, of course). This year, though, the most conspicuous change revolves around the S Pen.
We're live at Samsung's Galaxy Note 9 event!
When it's time to unveil some flashy new hardware, Samsung is known for taking things way over the top. Today's event just might take the cake though: The company is going to officially reveal its new (and thoroughly leaked) Galaxy Note 9 at Brooklyn's Barclays Center, a 19,000-seat arena that's best known for basketball games and massive concerts. Will Samsung's news be big enough to fill all this space? Well, we're about to find out: The show starts in earnest at 11AM Eastern/8AM Pacific, so lock your browser window here and join us for the ride. Follow all the latest news from Galaxy Unpacked 2018 here!
