Galaxy Note 5 vs. Galaxy Note 4: 10 Key Differences

S Pen

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 and Samsung Galaxy Note 5 both come with an S Pen stylus that allows you to write, draw and do an assortment of other thngs on the screen. The two S Pen's aren't created equal though and the Galaxy Note 5 S Pen comes with some improvements. 

Samsung likes to bring new software features to older devices but there's no guarantee that the Galaxy Note 4's S Pen will benefit from the Galaxy Note 5's software.

First, the design features a click-out S Pen. Push it in and the S Pen pops out. On the Galaxy Note 4, you need to pry it out using a fingernail. That can sometimes be a pain. The Galaxy Note 5 S Pen also feels a lot more like a real pen. 

There are software changes as well. The Galaxy Note 5 comes with the ability to add shortcuts to the Air Command feature. Air Command is one of the S Pen's central features and it provides access to key applications. Stock and third-party.

One of our favorite features on the Galaxy Note 5 is the ability to draw on the screen when it's turned off. If you need to scribble a quick note and you don't want to both unlocking your phone, you can now write it down from the standby screen.