Engadget
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Engadget Review
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 review: the best big-screen phone you can buy right now
Summary
Not only is the Note 4 the best Samsung smartphone I've ever used, but it's also the best large-screen phone on the market -- even better than the iPhone 6 Plus.
Pros
- Gorgeous design with high-end materials
- Nice display
- Best camera in a Galaxy smartphone
- Powerful performance
- Great battery life
Cons
- Isn't waterproof
- Loudspeaker still needs work
What began in 2011 as a brand-new phone category has flourished into one of the most popular in the world. Smartphones with big screens (phablets, to some) are now ubiquitous, but it all started with an odd device called the Samsung Galaxy Note. At 5.3 inches, it was a behemoth for its day -- and yet, it sold like hotcakes thanks to its unique S Pen stylus, which provided users with extra functionality, and a copious amount of screen space.
Four iterations later, the Note series has continued to grow, mature and dominate the genre. Not only does the latest version, the Galaxy Note 4, come with the snazziest spec sheet on the market, but it also ushers in a fantastic new direction in Samsung's design. It sure sounds like an improvement over last year's model, and it is. Now that Apple's ready to tackle the Note with a large-screen phone of its own, however, is Samsung's baby still the best in its class?
