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Galaxy Note 5 MicroSD and Battery Details Frustrate Buyers

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Samsung’s Galaxy Note 5 smartphone comes with a beautiful 5.7-inch display and an all-new durable aluminum and glass design, but that premium design language comes with a few compromises. The tradeoff is it’s missing a micro-SD card slot for expandable storage and has a smaller, non-removable battery. A move that has potential buyers frustrated.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and its Galaxy S6 Edge Plus sibling were both announced today in NYC, and will be available starting August 21st around the globe. Both devices have some of the best specs and features available today, and are arguable two of the best Android phones on the planet.

Read: Galaxy Note 5 Hands-On Video

For years the Samsung Galaxy Galaxy Note has been a do-it-all smartphone. With top specs across the board, a stylus, tons of storage options and a huge battery that lasts for two days. One that could be swapped out when it runs out. This year though, neither of those are an option and buyers simply get a pretty design instead, a move that has some buyers upset.

All Samsung devices have been made of plastic, which was fine for most, and came with expandable storage and removable battery options. Last year the Note 4 was better than most with an aluminum ring bezel, but the rest of the device was still made out of plastic. It came equipped with 32GB of storage and a micro-SD slot, as is powered by a huge 3,220 mAh battery that can be removed and replaced, and lasted for hours and hours. Not to mention some users replaced it with bigger extended batteries, battery cases and more, along with added 128GB micro-SD cards full of content to enjoy.

With the Samsung Galaxy S6 earlier this year we saw a glimpse of the future, with Samsung completely changing the design and dropping both of these features. Many hoped Samsung would keep a few of these features with the Galaxy Note, simply because it’s their highest end phone available, and a micro-SD slot just makes sense. Having a big screen for content consumption and a stylus allows owners to do a lot, but not if they’re running out of storage.

Shown above is a picture of the new Samsung Galaxy Note 5 with 32GB of storage. This year Samsung completely removed the micro-SD slot, and the phone only comes with 32 or 64GB of storage. They aren’t even offering a 128GB flavor like the Galaxy S6 earlier this year.

As a result, after all the software, apps, TouchWiz, and S-Pen tools users end up with roughly 20GB or so of space, and that’s it. There’s no way to add more like every other Samsung Galaxy S or Note device ever released. This has left countless users debating whether or not to get the Note 5, or pass and buy something else. It also seems to be alienating current Note users who now see no reason to upgrade.

Looking through the announcement posts by Samsung Mobile on Twitter and Facebook we’re seeing countless complaints about the lack of a micro-SD card and the smaller battery. In fact, some users are calling this a downgrade over the Galaxy Note 4 from 2014.

https://twitter.com/CosmicBomber/status/631910754564767744

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It is worth mentioning that Samsung is offering a 32 and 64GB option for buyers, and we’re hearing a few rumors that a 128GB version will be offered, but Samsung didn’t mention that during its unveiling today. Samsung claims the smaller battery won’t be an issue for multiple reasons. Those being the more efficient 8-core processor, and Android 5.1 Lollipop, both which help deliver similar battery performance with a smaller battery. Fast charging technology allows the device to recharge so fast that the small battery shouldn’t be a concern, and they’ve even introduced “fast wireless charging”. All moves to help settle the angry mob of users upset about the smaller battery.

 

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We are seeing a lot of users on Twitter stating that the battery isn’t a concern, but the micro-SD missing is a huge no-go for many potential buyers. With fast charging we’d agree, the battery isn’t a deal breaker, but the lack of a micro-SD card slot for expandable storage certainly was a poor decision, or huge oversight.

At the end of the day users will have to decide if these missing features are truly a deal-breaker that will stop them from getting arguably one of the best looking and most powerful Android smartphones available today. Buyers have a few weeks to decide, as the smartphone hits all carriers in the United States on or around August 21st. Go with the Galaxy Note 5, try the fancy Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, or check out LG’s G4 that has plenty to offer, including a micro-SD slot.

88 Comments

88 Comments

  1. Leslee Hudnall

    08/13/2015 at 6:16 pm

    They hyped this to be a bigger and better phone. Umm not. I need extra memory.

  2. Wil

    08/13/2015 at 9:16 pm

    Until they put back the SD card my Note 4 will be the last I buy. Very sad.

  3. Shizo

    08/13/2015 at 9:43 pm

    cant remove/replace a dead battery for 100% in under a minute? Skippin it Samdung…LG G4 looks better for this customer.

  4. Dave Kirkwood

    08/14/2015 at 2:03 am

    At work, I use GPS location apps on my Note 3 for up to several hours at a time. This drains even the biggest batteries and I rarely have immediate access to a charger. The swappable battery is a complete deal breaker for me, and the lack of SD support just puts the final nail in the coffin. The 5 is the coolest looking phone that I will never buy.

    Oh, and the Notes have been one of the most popular phones for the people I work with, most choosing them for the same reasons I did– all 20-some THOUSAND of them. I’m guessing Samsung has hurt their chances with a lot of these people, along with many other people who have Proffesions that demand extended preformance time.

  5. Rush More

    08/14/2015 at 6:53 am

    Sure they are offering 64GB and eventually 128GB (for some that offer it), but you are paying a more higher premium than sd cards and still have LESS storage than with sd cards. Samsung needs to understand they are NOT Apple and do not have an ecosystem like Apple and iTunes that millions of consumers use. Epic misread by Samsung that they will regret,

    • Nelson Benavent-Valentin

      08/17/2015 at 4:40 am

      Exactly if I am a android freak I have a world of choices unlike apple fans who must stick with the iPhone

    • Jim

      09/16/2015 at 5:40 pm

      I would never buy Apple and never have just for that reason. Their proprietary attitude may have a loyal fan base, but it severely limits their expansion. You’d think they’d have learned the first time with the Mac vs PC.

  6. Kathy

    08/14/2015 at 7:55 am

    I loved my note because I could change the battery and extra memory. Travel constantly and loved not having to plug in to recharge – I just swapped out for a fresh battery. Plus having the extra memory is huge. Without those options, I won’t be upgrading. Was already to upgrade. Not a smart move Samsung.

  7. Randy

    08/14/2015 at 8:27 am

    Was waiting on the 5 … now waiting on the MS Cityman with surface oen support. WTH Samsung? If I wanted an Apple I would buy one.

  8. Eric Egan

    08/14/2015 at 2:25 pm

    My Note 4 is my last Note. :( what was Samsung thinking? No Nope 5 for me.

  9. Madmax71470

    08/14/2015 at 6:23 pm

    i use my hotspot, and gps all the time for work. I use all of an extended battery in one day! To quote Randy “If I wanted a crapple, I would have bought one. Thanks for nothing Samsung!

  10. Bethany

    08/14/2015 at 9:03 pm

    I was pissed that the Note 4 didn’t have the Theme Engine that the SG6 has (can’t stand fugly lollipoop material design, teal with yellow, etc…,) complaints went nowhere at Samsung. I thought about “upgrading” to the Note 5 to get this functionality if they brought it to the Note 5, but not even that would convince me to move to the Note 5. I do a lot of 4K recording (I have the hack to go beyond 5 minutes) and rely on my SD Cards for storage and changing the battery — this is a deal breaker. I wish I could say I could go to HTC or a Windows Phone or even an iPhone, but they are all doing this crap now, and so there’s no reason to be brand/phone loyal (actually, feature loyal) like I was with the SG Series before the SG6 came out which drove me to the Note 4 for the battery/sd card slot — it all comes down to features and usability, and that leaves out the iPhone — it’s nuts trying to manage copying/delete/upload photos and videos using itunes. I don’t care much about the Windows Phone, so it looks like I may go LG or HTC after my Note 4 completely dies in the years to come, unless another company comes out with these features again along with solid 4K video recording with 100% mjpeg quality (not the 96% default that Note 4 ships with.) And don’t even get me started with the Knox crap Samsung uses, it’s my phone, I own it and I control it, don’t tamper/blow a physical fuse on my phone if I want to root it. This is what Andriod was supposed to be open and customizable, not a locked down, gimped, iphone wanna be.

  11. Note 4 User

    08/15/2015 at 8:57 am

    Samsung has finally pissed me off as well. Say hello to LG and/or… Microsoft? ;)

  12. Scot

    08/15/2015 at 9:43 am

    Well I guess I will go back to Iphone, the battery and SD card was the difference…..

    • everydream2077

      08/21/2015 at 12:01 am

      I agree with you 1000% I am going back too no more juggling and wasting time.

  13. Rick

    08/16/2015 at 12:38 pm

    every year since the galaxy s1 i had a Samsung phone, every note also but now there is no way i am upgrading, i must say i am disappointed with the direction they are going, its like they are trying to create iPhone, i think i may just jump ship and go windows phone when the new high end phones hit later this year

  14. Ellis Z

    08/17/2015 at 2:31 pm

    The main differentiator (hardware wise) between the iPhone 6 Plus and the Note 4 was the stylus, SD card and changeable battery. All very compelling reasons to to use the Note 4 over an iPhone.

    With only the stylus remaining, I don’t believe that it would be as compelling a case to choose the Note 5. (Suddenly the Apple ecosystem makes a better case for the iPhone 6 Plus) … or one of the other devices that still offer a changeable battery and SD Card slot, even though no other device offers a stylus. (Which to me is quite useful, but not at the expense of the other features.)

    • Ellis Z

      08/31/2015 at 4:33 pm

      I may have to retract part of my earlier comment. The S-Pen is actually far more useful to me than I originally thought. Worse, I played with a Note 5, and although I do like the look of the Note 4 better, there is no denying that the Note 5 is noticeably faster. So, I’m on the fence as to weather I’ll upgrade/sidegrade to the Note-5. But LG is out just due to the lack of S-Pen.

      • lcast

        09/19/2015 at 6:23 am

        I can’t believe that they thought going the way of the iphone would be a better thing for the note 5. Very, very disappointed.maybe someone will wise up and bring back the sd slot and the battery change after they see that they lost their best customers. I use to tell people to leave the iphone behind and had most of my friend convinced when I showed them what my phone could do and they went for the note but now i have to tell them the note went the way of the iPhone. Why change something that was great to just not worth it?
        Somebody please listen to us and bring back the sd card slot and the battery. Don’t try to copy Apple, be your own ideas and run with it and make that better. Fire the people who thought this idea is the best for us note users.

  15. stephanie

    08/17/2015 at 2:40 pm

    I will not be switching over from the note 4 to the note 5 that is so stupid no removable battery or more space for SD card I diffenetly will be staying with my Note 4

  16. stephanie

    08/17/2015 at 2:42 pm

    I am very disappointed with this change we might as well just move over to the iPhone instead

  17. zeeshan Hameed

    08/17/2015 at 4:57 pm

    Samsung has just ruined the Note Legacy. It is heart breaking to see a NOTE with no card slot. The NOPE series just got started. ;p

  18. Anthony

    08/17/2015 at 9:27 pm

    Why would I ever give up sd card capability with the ever increasing quality of photo and video taking up more and more memory, lame. Apple wannabes, if I wanted that I’d buy an I phone.

  19. Dan M

    08/18/2015 at 10:40 am

    Those who are worried about the swappable battery should check out the options for portable lithium ion usb chargers. They are very handy and, in my opinion, much more convenient than swapping a battery because you can leave the device on. You also don’t need any special charging equipment. The lack of micro SD is a complete deal breaker though. No way I will buy the note 5. I am very disappointed. I guess I’ll upgrade from the note 3 to the note 4. Or maybe look at LG.

    • Dave Kirkwood

      08/18/2015 at 11:12 am

      Partly agree here. The problem with portable USB chargers, however, is that your phone is now tethered to a little brick. If you need to recharge your battery off of something like this, you are probably on the fly and moving around, hince the lack of access to a conventional charger. It can be really inconvenient using your phone while moving around if it’s tethered to something like that. Source: I had that problem with my last integrated battery phone and it was irritating.

      If the 5 had 128gb internal, I would still strongly consider it, even though the battery is normally a dealbreaker for me, but max 64gb on a phone that’s designed to be media powerhouse and records 4k video? as it is, transferring everything I have on my Note 3 +SD would leave me with less than a gb of room on a 64gb 5, assumming that Samsung doesn’t take up more data with their software on the 5 than the 3. No thanks. This phone us useless to me. I’ll be going with the 4 as well. It’s almost identical aside from processor and ram, but they are both OP anyway, so there’s no reall point to the 5 at all when the 4 has more capabilities.

  20. samrt

    08/18/2015 at 3:42 pm

    Funny thing is if samsung was smart they would see this outcry and immediately delay release, do a complete redesign geared for Holiday release instead of releasing a FLOP.

    • acemanx

      08/20/2015 at 3:38 pm

      so true bro, if only they would open their eyes and read the forums, everyone is bitching, just release a Note 5+ and have it have microsd and battery swap and ir blaster lol

  21. kristianto

    08/18/2015 at 10:30 pm

    Samsung probably never realized that user in Indonesia do not have stable Internet connection so that we can not backup everything in Google drive. We still relying on SD card which is very safe. If it is in main memory and for some reason or other we have to do a hard reset.. then.. bye bye all 64 gig of life time memory. So.. maybe after my note 4.. my next move is LG g5.. if they too don’t get rid off the SD card.

  22. ed s

    08/18/2015 at 11:03 pm

    samsung blew it. i had the note note 3 and note 4 …i wont buy another note unless they return the sd card and removable battery

  23. ryan

    08/20/2015 at 4:01 am

    What a let down, won’t be buying another new Samsung phone,

  24. FartManly

    08/20/2015 at 4:45 am

    No microSD = Game Over. Incredibly disappointed with this dumb decision by Samsung.
    Sticking with my trusty Note 2 for now, but eyeballing the Moto X Pure ….

    • acemanx

      08/20/2015 at 3:34 pm

      what, why?? you should be upgrading to the Note 4 from you 720p Note 2 bro..trust me im a bonafide note fan boy, ive had every one since yours, and trust me when I tell you the 4 blows the 2 out of the water, heck even the Note 3 does, but the 4 has such an incredible screen, nothing beats the super amoled Samsung uses, that’s a fact, even by scientists who test the screens, they say that nothing beats the note 5 screen, which the 4 is based off, remember when the 4 came out, it was ranked by displaymate as the best screen out, until the s6 beat it, then the 5…IPS, LCD, none of those hold a candle to OLED…oled has an infinite contrast ratio, the deepest blacks possible (because it turns itself off rather than mix colors in like the others do)…the best looking TV’s in the world are based off this OLED technology…why go to something else when you spend the whole time looking at the screen, the 4 has: microsd, replaceable battery, fingerprint scanner, heart rate monitor, way more ram and way faster than the 2, go to bestbuy and see a 1440p native video and watch it blow your socks off…honestly the 5 made the decision for you…get the 4 and be done with it, it truly is..the last great phablet.

      • Ellis

        08/21/2015 at 5:56 am

        Agreed. The Note 4 will be a good device for the next year or two. It’s also the only device (currently) with a pressure sensitive stylus. Now that the Note 5 is a dud, I’ll be paying off my T-Mobile Jump Note 4 and sticking with it for the next year (or two if the Note 6 is equally bad). After that I’ll have to find something else (stylus or not)

    • NeXX

      09/15/2015 at 12:49 pm

      Lol. A Note 2 in 2015 is pathetic.

      I don’t care how “trusty” you think that POS is, it’s still a joke in this day and age.

      Don’t mention your phone again until you upgrade. It’s seriously embarrassing.

  25. acemanx

    08/20/2015 at 3:29 pm

    im in the same boat as everyone here, waited months for the 5, read all the articles, to then get fked in the ass, no microsd, no ir blaster, no replaceable battery…I will staying with my note 4 and upgrading my 64gb stick to 128gb…maybe they will go back to their senses in the Note 6…which I am already searching for on the web lol

  26. george

    08/24/2015 at 11:09 am

    not having a swappable battery and microsd slot are definite deal breakers for me. if they don’t change this for future models, my note4 will be my last note phone I guess.

  27. Unclejakey

    08/24/2015 at 7:39 pm

    Was a big fan of Samsung
    Note pro 3, Note pro 4, Note pro 12.2 tablet
    No sd card & no swap battery = not upgrading to note pro 5
    Very disappointed with Samsung

    • Whatever

      12/04/2015 at 9:51 pm

      had the original note 1, note 10.1, still have note 8, note 12.2 & note 4..

      This is just sad, I hope samsung reconsiders, another year and it’ll lose the loyal fans for good!!

  28. Hrj

    08/25/2015 at 2:11 am

    Everything good but bad thing is no msd slot and battery .i was hope to buy a note5 .but now no.destroy my hope.note5 uncompleted without msd and removeble battery .so i have to go microsoft or htc.samsung ratings down with this phone

  29. Deshawn Greenfield

    08/25/2015 at 8:59 am

    Stop complaining and the “I guess I’ll go back to the iPhone” sound like bs. After years of using iPhones, you left to Sammy for sd and removal battery lol. Shut up, you never had a Samsung phone to begin with, trolls lol.

  30. BA

    08/26/2015 at 8:22 pm

    We have Note 3 & 4 here. Any device without replaceable battery is obsolete, as all batteries wear out. Also, SD card more effective, more flexible than hard memory, which once bought cannot be changed.

    The style nurds are now in charge at samsung. Too bad. Perhaps if their sales drop, they will dump that bunch and get the original engineers back.

    Ridiculous to see decent replaced by junk because they are trying to “me too” with apple.

    We will see what the next LG looks like…

  31. Ben

    08/27/2015 at 10:13 am

    I’m a note 3 user and was looking forward to the note 5. But no battery swap and no sd card killed it for me. I looked for a new phone case with a sd slot in it, but that’s stretching a little too far. As for me to upgrade to the note 4 will be the newest, latest, and greatest that I need. A 128 GB card does sound enticing. And the phone for $200.00, that’s a bargain for the best, and latest, that I’ll ever need. Save $100, buy a big card, still cheaper, and more feature packed than the Nope 5. Be Blessed, Ben

  32. Gigi

    08/28/2015 at 6:07 pm

    I hate that you cant replace the battery or add memory. If I wanted an iPhone I would get an iPhone, but no I got a note 4 for a reason, and now that reason is gone. Stop trying to sell me an iPhone, I don’t want that! I want the choices that the Android system gives and I want my samsung note advantages back!

  33. Carl

    08/31/2015 at 3:44 pm

    LG G4 here I come

  34. Myrna Harris

    09/01/2015 at 4:22 pm

    Both the Note 5 & Galaxy 6 Edge Plus, came out on my birthday 8/21. I was going to upgrade as a present to myself. BUT my brother said, what they did did not make sense. An internal battery????So, maybe around Xmas, they will have improved both. I really wanted the Note 5, I have a Samsung Galaxy 5 with a SD card in it.

  35. Anthony Steg

    09/03/2015 at 10:11 am

    I upgraded every year since my first Samsung phone – an S3. When the Note came out, I thought “how cool is that? A phone you can write on!!” Now with my Note 4, I use the stylus more than ever, and have a very stable and safe SanDisk Extreme 64gb card as well as a nice Mugen extended battery. I couldn’t wait for the Note 5 to be released (as the Note series got better every year), but thought it was some internet joke when I read that Samsung was removing the replaceable battery/expandable storage and IR blaster (use it all the time at work). Now that it’s true, I will NOT be buying another Samsung phone until they come to their senses. ALSO- I love how Samsung is refusing to release exact sales figures for the S6/Note 5 and how disappointing they have been.

  36. Blake

    09/06/2015 at 7:05 pm

    No Sd slot = deal broker for me. We have over 300 Note 4s at my company. We deal in HIPPA regulated data, cloud storage is not an option no matter how well it works. We looked forward to the extra RAM in the 5 because we run VMWARE on the phones… but all the upgrades to the note 5 are not worth the loss of the SD, OR or battery.

    Before you throw the Note 5 under the Bus…. keep in mind that most android phones will no longer allow you to move and run apps from a SD card. That means SD is only good for pix, vids and documents. Unless you frequently record large videos, the SD is more or less useless anyway….

  37. John

    09/09/2015 at 12:45 pm

    Samsung now definitely do not know what they are doing.
    If they really want to succeed, they should produce a “NORMAL” Note 5 ( ie nice light plastic, nice indefinite power with removable battery, and nice infinite storage with removable MicroSD card.

    If they are so keen on catering to the “iphone brick” crowd, they can produce a variant “Note 5P” model (or more accurately, “Note 5U” (U meaning Usesless) that is this HEAVY, NO swappable Battery, NO memory version.
    The Note 3 was the last GREAT Note – even number 4 started the slide DOWNWARDS with its HEAVIER metal that nobody wants.

    • Ellis Z

      09/09/2015 at 3:21 pm

      I owned the Note 3 for a year, and the Note 4 subsequent to that. To be fair, the Note 4 was a far superior device. The Note 3 was outright sluggish by comparison, and the Note 4 screen and camera was far improved.

      But, if you have something that works for you, stick with it. The markets for these things eventually sort themselves out.

      • NeXX

        09/15/2015 at 1:00 pm

        Had a Note 4 and sold it because it lagged too much. Went back to my Note 3 for a year and was happier.

        I’m on Note 5 now, I’m not like you guys. I don’t care about battery or SD card, I want CPU/GPU performance and more RAM.

        Note 5 has that in spades. Fastest phone I’ve ever used by a wide margin.

        64,000 Antutu. Note 5 will be the first to hit 70,000 with OC.

        Snapdragons suck. Sorry. Plus 64 bit. Nuff said on my end.

  38. Rick

    09/09/2015 at 9:04 pm

    I’ve been waiting for months for this phone to come out! Now that it did and it doesn’t have the 4k display! But the deal breaker for me was the non removable battery and no micro sd slot! I have all the micro sd cards from the time my son was born. He’s 2 years old now and I havn’t stopped snapping pics and videos of him on my note 2 till this day! I have ever micro card till this point. I would pop it into my bigger san disk adapter and put it in my tv or computer. Now I can’t do that with the note 5. I’m very disappointed in not having this feature! I’ll be keeping my note 2 for as long as I can! Note 4 will inevitably be my last and final note upgrade! My note 2 is still in perfect shape!

    • NeXX

      09/15/2015 at 1:02 pm

      No one cares about your Note 2. Owning a Note 2 as your primary phone in 2015 is embarrassing.

  39. john hanke

    09/12/2015 at 9:07 am

    No SD card slot and no removable battery is samsung trying to imitate apple. But why should i buy a samsung when apple is the premium for these type of features? I’d rather buy an apple instead since samsung has chosen to be greedy and stupid. Apple in this sense is the best of the worst

  40. Wayne Ramsden

    09/13/2015 at 11:49 am

    My note 3 does me proud.l love usb 3 on it.as i transfer files between my tablet,laptop and phone which can be very large.super fast transfer with my note 3.love that.not tried a note 4.av got a metal bumper on it and a 9000 mil amp extended battery in too.also got a 128gb micro sd card. so it all works sweet as for me.i can’t now do with out my spen.i was waiting for the nope 5.but as others have said no battery replacement or sd card slot buggered that idea.am sick really to be honest.but fook em if there going that way..all the other stuff like heart rate monitor and finger print scanner are just gimmicks to me.ad never use them if i had them.or well.i will wait to see what else comes along.but as for now my note 3’s with its updated android 5 feels better than ever from its old 4.2.2.

  41. Esquivel Spyros

    09/14/2015 at 1:12 am

    its as if apple paid samsung to commit suicide. no removable storage? no removable battery? no infra red? all these 3 features were THE reason i was using the note series. i really dont care about the stylus, the shitty heart rate monitors, the fingerprint recognition…these are just bullshit gimmics to sell to reatards who just log on facebook and check emails. for the last 4 years i had completely replaced my desktop with a note phablet and the experience has been amazing. now its just like an iphone. tied bound to its shitty “ecosystem”, fully depending on bullshit cloud storage (that for me should be illegal- why do i want google to store all my music for me and why do i have to use data plan to access my media? why do i even have to log in to do all that? cloud storage is a way to make everyone dependent to big corpo) and able to tell you at what rate you heart is beating. crap crap crap

    • ellisz

      09/14/2015 at 3:29 am

      Seriously, if you are going to use a very offensive pejorative in your rant, at least spell it correctly.

  42. Napple

    09/14/2015 at 10:50 pm

    History – Apple 4s, Note 3, now Note 4. I’m optimistic that the Note 5 sales will tank. I want Samsung to realize they made a big mistake by removing the sd card slot. I would upgrade today if they moved the sd slot to the side of the Note 5 even if they had a non-removable battery. One can carry spare usb batteries for emergencies. LG G4 is not good enough and I cannot go back to crapple and stupid icons. I like my widgets and freedom to install apps I want. I will sadly wait for the Note 6 to bring back common sense with the sd card slot. If not, bye bye Samsung.

  43. Jim

    09/16/2015 at 5:36 pm

    I was considering getting this phone for the faster processor and it would be my first personal smart phone (have always had company provided phones from work). Not being able to replace the battery or expand the memory – WTF were they thinking? May have to go with the older Note 4 – if I do wind up getting a Samsung, may be looking thru the competition’s offerings again with these details.

    • Jim

      09/16/2015 at 5:37 pm

      Let me add – this is about as big a bungle as Windows 8 was.

  44. Wayne Ramsden

    09/20/2015 at 10:24 pm

    Ellisz..har ha.i spelled it like that not to be offensive.your so easy to offend.yorkshire humour lost on you.

  45. Damu Collie

    09/22/2015 at 6:43 am

    Damn, I wish I would have read all your guys comments before but this goddamn phone! I need extended storage also.d

  46. Martin Thomsen

    10/01/2015 at 3:07 pm

    “Fast charging technology allows the device to recharge so fast that the small battery shouldn’t be a concern” oookay…!? so we should just carry arround a charger all the time or what!? They seem to be missing the point! It’s not when I’m at home or at work that I’m concerned about running out of juice, it’s when I’m out on the town, or going home from work, sitting in the train for a couple of hours and having my electronic ticket on my phone, considering if I should use my very expensive phone or conserve the power and just read a newspaper/book and kind of negating having the phone in the first place. I’ll be sticking with my note 4 or even going back to my note 3 as the note 4 is having huge battery problems with lollipop installed.

    And don’t get me started on the absence of an SD card! That in it self is a dealbreaker as is the small non replaceable battery. So I say shove you fancy design! What good is it whe you have a “dead” (though fancy) piece of glas and metal jn your pocket!

  47. Toby Mcilrath

    10/02/2015 at 3:38 pm

    I’m a big music buff. And I like to take my music with me everywhere I go. I have 48 gigabyte on my SD card full of music. And if I were just to load all that on my phone and not an SD card. then what I have an issue with my phone. And I have to factory reset it. I lose all my music. And now I get to load all the music again that takes almost 3 hours to set my phone back up. Streaming my music and my videos from the internet when the Internets not available in 60% of the places I go. that renders my phone to working only 40% of the time. Samsung you need to bring the SD card back so I can listen to my music on your new devices. I will be sticking with the note 4 for now but if they don’t have an SD card on their next note 6 device. I won’t be buying a Samsung. 64 gig is not enough memory for 60% of the users if it was we would all be using iPhones. The number one reason why I’ve never had an iPhone is because it’s too expensive for the little amount of memory on their devices.

  48. Turd Ferguson

    10/02/2015 at 7:52 pm

    Shame on you Samsung!
    Loyal user but can’t get rid of the SD slot and need the battery to be removable for a multitude of reasons.
    I used to like knowing I could kill the phone and KNOW it was OFF.
    Occasionally your phone gets so jacked up that cyling power is the only solution!

  49. Chris McCarron

    10/04/2015 at 7:29 pm

    No note 5 for me either! I will keep my Note 3 or maybe try to get the Note 4 or just wait for the next one! Dumb move on Samsung! Extremely disappointed!

  50. Paul Rezendes (Acill)

    10/07/2015 at 11:13 am

    I felt the same at first as all of you that say the lack of an SD card and removable battery is a deal breaker. My last phone was a Google Play Edition M8. I have a 64GB SD card in it that has nothing on it because the only thing you can move to it is music and documents. I got a One Plus One to see how the lack of a SD slot and 64GB would do. I loved the phone and didnt miss the SD card. That alone got me to upgrade to the Note 5. I picked up a couple of $7 wireless chargers from Amazon and have them at home and at work. I even have one in the truck. For storage I picked up a wifi memory stick with 64GB of storage for only $40 on Amazon. I can access that directly without even pulling it out of my bag or pocket any time I want just as I did with my SD card in the M8. Trust me, the 5 is well worth the upgrade over the 4 and anything before it.

    • SAM

      10/09/2015 at 7:58 am

      I am not sure that the above solution can be considered progress! Having to carry another device around for memory storage that also need to be kept charged and connected via WiFi… No thanks!

  51. larry

    10/07/2015 at 6:34 pm

    I went ahead with the Note5, big big mistake. it’s fast, S-pen is wonderful, so and so on. I can deal with the battery issue, but the missing s slot is ridiculous. selling this phn at a loss to return to my memory.

  52. ian b

    10/09/2015 at 3:16 am

    the only reason i left apple was the changeable battery and the micro sd card,looks like i will just go for a cheaper contract and not buy the note 5 and stick with my note 4,you have just shot yourself in the foot good and proper .listen to your customers and give them what they want or we will just walk

  53. Robo

    10/09/2015 at 5:40 am

    I love my Note 3 and was looking forward to upgrading to the Note 5. But guys, I need to swap extra batteries in and extra memory. I gave up iPhones purely because of those features. I shoot a lot of video on my phone so need the extra space and juice. So…..looks like I’ll have to go back to Apple and get a Plus 6s. Not happy Samsung!

    • SAM

      10/09/2015 at 7:54 am

      Ditto Robo. I have a note 3 and was also looking forward to upgrading to the Note 5 but not having removable storage is a deal breaker. Oh well, given my Samsung TV also just blew up I am thinking it is time to ditch the Samdung Apple ripoff and head elsewhere. I really am amazed that anyone would think it was a good idea to remove the SD card from a workhorse like the Note. Silly, illy, silly… Please put it back!

  54. Moshe

    10/09/2015 at 11:51 am

    I may live without removable battery, but not without external SD slot, this made me skip the S6 and skip the Note 5.
    Very disappointed, lack of understanding and lack of a vision.
    Samsung lost me as I am with all S1 to S5…Note 4, me and my family and friends.

    I will stay now with Note 4, and move only to phones that offer me the SD slot, like LG 4, or other phines
    No thank you, I separated from Samsung.

  55. Daniel Dubreuil

    10/12/2015 at 7:11 pm

    I was gonna buy the samsung note 5 today. But then i saw no Sd Card. All my music is there. Wtf. Are they trying to look like apple that we samsung users hate to death.

    I defenitely wont buy it. Really pissed off…. who’s the smart ass that decided that.

    LG 4 is the alternative.

    Bye bye Samsung. I bought all the note but now. Its over….

    Hope they read this

  56. Donald Becker

    10/18/2015 at 1:24 pm

    Do not know WHY Samsung would do something sooooo stupid as to remove the SD card. I will never upgrade to another of their phones until they bring back the SD card!!!!!! I am not happy with the removable battery loss either.

  57. maaen

    10/25/2015 at 12:38 am

    I have got over this stupidity of sealed up phones….I am sticking with Note 4 and my older Note 3 for as long as there is life in them and to hell with these makers of so called fine phones if they do not want to make phones with removable batteries or removable memory cards….they will not be able to control how I use my phones. If technology is denied to me because of these marketing strategies then hell with technology…I do not really need to go so fast into a new world and I really do not need to be controlled by the selling tactics of these brand enterprises.

  58. nexx

    10/27/2015 at 11:44 am

    i am not going to deluge in there competitive bull shit and allow my self to be controlled by these ass oles i will not have it,,,, sticking to my note 4 no micro sd or removable battery no support

  59. osalt (@osalt)

    11/12/2015 at 12:05 pm

    As an owner of a Samsung Note 4; I will not replace it without something with additional storage such as an Micro SD. Thanks to competition; LG is offering some good alternatives with the V-10 and G4.. Sorry Samsung is a loser IMO.

  60. evlover

    12/02/2015 at 12:25 am

    I will certainly skip Note 5 due to its non-removable battery and memory. There have been times that I could change to a spare battery easily at the end of a day or due to heavy camera/flash usage. There have been times to take the memory card out for PC card reader to transfer files/pictures much quicker.

  61. Wayne

    12/02/2015 at 5:04 am

    I was planning on upgrading from note 3 to 5 today as my 3 oz getting sluggish. I’m having second thoughts now. Any thoughts on improving the speed of my 3?

    • Whatever

      12/04/2015 at 9:25 pm

      I’d say sell your device and buy a used note 4, make sure its owner used to care for it. best bet, at least for the current time, Hope samsung reconsiders!!

  62. Whatever

    12/04/2015 at 9:26 pm

    Hope Samsung reconsiders what it has done, if note 6 doesn’t have it I am sure they’ll lose the loyal fans for good,

    i saw it on a poll that 82% where “bothered and looking for other options”, i have been a loyal fan to the note series since note 1 and was always recommending it to my friends, i’ve convinced a bunch to buy one, which i didnt need much convincing, the note was speaking for itself, but now its sad, just sad.. the note series was supposed to be for the ones who care about rich features, but now its nothing extraordinary.. at least for me and for a good amount of the hardcore note series fans

    Samsung if you dont keep & sacrifice a little for a flagship device then your name in phones industry will be just like the others. and now there are so many,

    know that they all boast and rival about pushing some lame “latest” technology but at the end at least for this series people are looking for features and a good device to depend on, not just a fancy looking device..

  63. nate

    12/24/2015 at 7:58 am

    Loved the my s5, got a note 5. What a disappointment. Returning it today

  64. Sam Presley

    12/25/2015 at 9:02 am

    Actually yes Samsung Did Blow it by nothaving a SD Card slot but if you grab a OTG (On the go) cable and plug it into the phones charger port then plug in a fat formatted usb stick then you can save things to that for backup purposes.

    Yes it can be annoying to carry the device with the otg cable with usb stick plugged into that around but it works just as well as a sd card..

    and these days usb sticks are cheap to purchase.

  65. Kenneth W Noble

    12/30/2015 at 7:30 am

    Switched to Samsung on the release of the Note 3! I was in Heaven and the envy of my friends and peers. Put to shame many iphone owners!
    USB 3, Stylus, removable huge battery, sd card,double Wow! 2 year contract so was about to update to Note 5, so decided to compare to the Note 3. Unholy Shock! Stop, jump back! No, No, No! New batteries for the 3 and searching for an alternative. Not a blind fan boy! Awesome features needed to make the grade! Samsung you took the world’s elite phone and turned it to unusable for many users! So very sad.

  66. Sam

    02/23/2016 at 4:13 am

    WTH!!!!!!!!!! Wow, Great Great, well Done i can’t Believe This! No Doubt Note 5 is The Best powerful SMARTPHONE With Great Design,Great Display,Great Camera and the S-pen BUT Wait…. What???? Are u kidding me Non-Removable battery and No sd card slot? Battery is NOT Issue Memory is!!

  67. Cheryl verrier

    02/27/2016 at 2:06 pm

    You people are all crazy!!!! I have the note5 n its one of the best phones out here. Just because it doesnt have the sd card slot or removable battery doesnt mean it sucks the iphone 6s+ is wat i had n i hated it so i switched to the note 5 n i havent been able to put it down. Sorry everyone has their own opinions n you are intitled too!!! But i personally love it.
    You shouldnt judge a book by its cover, could be the best one you ever read just sayin dont knock it until you try it

  68. Gayle Knight

    03/09/2016 at 11:15 pm

    When i bought my note 5 i didnt do my homework, i was just interested in the 32 g of memory and the apps, now i regret it , the sd card and non removable battery are now a big issue, feeling betrayed by Samsung and sprint who sold me my phone i should of stayed with my note 2. …

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