The Samsung Galaxy Note 4: What You Should Know

The Galaxy Note 4, Samsung's latest offering in the phablet department, is scheduled for wide release on October 17th, with all four major carriers (AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless) pushing the device to their respective subscribers. People are already pre-ordering their Galaxy Note 4 units, and a few others are even receiving their devices ahead of the release date.

But as for those who are still mulling whether or not they should buy Samsung's newest phablet, here is a primer of what the Galaxy Note 4 is all about.

Design

The Galaxy Note 4 comes with a sleek metal frame made of aluminum and magnesium. Apart from the back plate, the frame covers most of the sides and exterior of the device, giving it more rigidity as well as providing a more enhanced look. 

As for the back plate, it is still made of plastic and as expected of any Samsung handset, can easily be removed. This allows users to quickly assess the phone's Micro SIM, MicroSD card, and battery. With regards to the SD card slot, it can support up to 128 gigabytes of additional storage, that is if users still find the already generous 32 gigabytes built-in internal memory somehow inadequate.

Handling Its Size

No bones about it, the Galaxy Note 4 is huge -- its 5.7-inch display screen can be a lot to handle, especially for those who do not have Kawhi Leonard hands. Thankfully, Samsung has included some nifty features that should help make the Galaxy Note 4 a little more “handy.” Under the One-handed operation part of the settings, users can reduce the size of the device's screen, just enough to handle the phone using only one hand. You can also activate a side key panel in order to get easy access to the Home, Back, and Recents buttons in soft keys located on the side of the phablet.

Optical Image Stabilization (OIS)

This feature is for all the photophiles out there. It helps stabilize the camera inside the Galaxy Note 4, minimizing blurring when taking photos or videos in low light conditions. There is still room for improvement for sure, especially when it comes to the Galaxy Note 4's sensor and software, but the OIS feature is definitely a step in the right direction.

Panorama Selfies

If you have not outgrown taking selfies yet, you might find the panorama selfie mode pretty interesting. To use it, just switch to the 3.7-megapixel front-facing camera, activate panorama selfie mode, press the shutter one time, and then sweep your Galaxy Note 4 back and forth. The software in the device will then meld the captures together into one wide-angle shot. Well, if you have to take a selfie, why not take a panoramic one?

Improved S Pen

Casual users may not mind, but those who are fond of using the S Pen will likely welcome news of an enhanced version for the Galaxy Note 4. The latest S Pen now comes with a ribbed design, allowing for better grip. Moreover, its software is noticeably improved, in terms of usability and interface design. 

Adaptive Fast Charging

The Galaxy Note 4 supports Samsung's own Adaptive Fast Charging technology, as well as Qualcomm's Quick Charge. So this means that the device can be quickly powered up using any compatible wall charger. According to Samsung, the Galaxy Note 4 can charge up to 50 percent in just half an hour with the right charger, that is, depending upon phone usage while charging, of course.

Other Cool Features

Check out Multi Window. It allows users to divide the Galaxy Note 4's screen into multiple windows, which is perfect for multitasking. Then there's the fingerprint sensor and of course, the heart rate monitor, which health buffs should find useful. 

The Galaxy Note 4 still has loads of features not mentioned here, and we will leave them for the buyers to discover for themselves. To explore other Samsung devices, you can start comparing them here.