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Galaxy Note 7 vs Galaxy Note 4: What We Know Right Now

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Samsung is busy preparing for the launch and release of their next big phablet smartphone, and it could be the perfect replacement for the aging Galaxy Note 4. With the Galaxy Note 7 release date quickly approaching, here we want to go over everything we know so far and how it compares to the older Galaxy Note 4.

In 2015 Samsung released some great smartphones with a few flaws. The Galaxy S6, S6 Edge and Galaxy Note 5 all had smaller battery options, no micro-SD slot for storage expansion but great designs. It upset a lot of users and caused many to keep the Galaxy Note 4 a little longer, rather than upgrade to a phone that (in some users eyes) had less to offer.

Read: Galaxy Note 7 Release Details Firm Up

However, in 2016 Samsung really stepped things up. The new Galaxy S7 is better in every way and has the same stunning premium design, yet also has a better camera, bigger battery, micro-SD slot and more. Countless leaks and rumors suggest the same move will complete the Galaxy Note 7, making it potentially one of the best phones of 2016. Read on for more details.

Note 7 Leaked Design

Note 7 Leaked Design

Last year the Galaxy Note 5 was pretty great. It had an all metal design, big 5.7-inch Quad-HD display and some decent specs. However, the battery was smaller than the Galaxy Note 4 the year before, and it lost the removable battery and micro-SD slot. It wasn’t a good move, but that’s all about to change in early August.

For months on end we’ve been hearing about the new Galaxy Note 7. Yes Samsung will skip the “6” and move right to Galaxy Note 7, purely for marketing reasons. That aside, here’s everything we know about the upcoming Galaxy Note 7 and why it will be a great replacement for older Note users.

Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Review

Before we begin comparing these two phones we need to confirm that nothing here is official. This is all based on leaks and rumors, although we’re pretty confident with most of it. Samsung hasn’t revealed anything, and rumors are still light. That said, many of them come from reliable sources, not to mention make sense given what we saw from the S7 Edge, and the natural progression of the Note and Galaxy S series.

For 2016 the Galaxy Note 7 will be better in every way, more powerful, water-resistant, have a brand new technology for better security and more. Lets get started.

Note 7 vs Note 4: Design

Note 7 vs Note 4: Design

The Galaxy Note 7 will be better than the Note 4 in every way, including the design. Just like the Galaxy Note 5 from 2015 it will have an all aluminum and glass design, rather than the plastic back users saw with the Note 4. Yes that means the battery won't be removable, but it should be big enough and charge super quick, making that a non-issue.

It should feature an all glass and metal design, rounded edges on back, then a flat or curved screen on the front. Basically similar to the Galaxy S7 Edge in every way, shape and form but slightly bigger. That's a good thing too, as the S7 Edge is an excellent smartphone.

Of course the new Note will have an S-Pen stylus, along with a new USB Type-C port for charging and syncing, and reportedly an Iris Eye scanner for improved security on top of the fingerprint scanner. This has been rumored time and time again, and "confirmed" by @evleaks, a very reliable leakster.

Those coming from the Galaxy Note 4 will enjoy the improved premium design, thin design with rounded metal edges on back, better camera, improved performance and battery life, and be happy to see the micro-SD slot return. Allowing owners to add an SD card to the already 64GB of internal storage. At least according to reports.

One big addition is an IP68 dust and water resistant rating. The Galaxy Note 7 even with a slot inside for the stylus will be water resistant up to 5ft for over 30 minutes. That's impressive, and certainly a selling point for many.

Any user that debated getting the Galaxy Note 5 but ultimately passed it up, know exactly what to expect. The phones should look nearly identical, only the Note 7 is better. One big change is the display, but more on that in our next slide.

20 Comments

20 Comments

  1. CR Diddle

    07/01/2016 at 2:35 pm

    Better in every way? I don’t think so! Quick charge is great if you are near a power source but unfortunately when I leave the car in the morning I’m in rural areas with marginal cell signals and that burns lots of power so about mid day I swap batteries and by quiting time I’m at 15-20%. Yes I can carry a battery pack but that is 2-3 times larger then a spare battery and a micro USB plug charging a phone in your pocket while moving eats usb ports. I’m watching the LG and Moto but I hate giving up my stylus. I owned the Note 2, 3 & 4 but to paraphrase Pres. Reagan I didn’t leave Samsung thy left me.

  2. amegosandu (@amegosandu)

    07/01/2016 at 7:10 pm

    Bring back exchangeable batteries

  3. Mike AZ

    07/01/2016 at 7:23 pm

    Why do sites like these almost always push “premium design” as a desired feature? The perfect smartphone presents function over looks. It doesn’t have to match cuff links or earrings or be a piece of abstract art. The materials used do not matter as long as they enable function.

    There are still a few features missing from this smartphone:

    (1) IR Blaster – its a nice feature whether some like it or not

    (2) FM/AM Radio capability – nice to have when the power goes out and the internet and cell towers are down

    (3) Removable battery – This should be required for any power user type device such as the Note series. After around a year or so of heavy use one WILL notice a diminished capacity on the battery. After two years years it may be as much as 50%. This greatly reduces the resale value and also makes it unattractive as a hand me down. Granted the battery can be replaced by a service specialized in doing so, but it is not cheap or timely. It also doesn’t help in situations where power is not available such as on long international flights. Non removable batteries reflect poorly on the manufacturer and more or less give notice that they expect the device to be replaced annually as a “throw away.” Not a good way to retain customer loyalty.

    (4) Good quality forward facing stereo speakers – other manufactures have determine how to do this, it’s about time Samsung does as well.

    Still using and loving my Note 4. Can’t see switching to this unless Samsung guarantees to give me a free replacement in two years to counter the battery degradation.

  4. Double D

    07/02/2016 at 3:27 am

    If the lack of changeable battery turns out to be true. I’m done with Samsung, I’ve only stayed with them because of the pen and removable battery. I too am a power user and need the phone for work but if I can’t change the battery I can’t use the note 7. I was planning on upgrading the note 4. I typically buy 2-3 extra batteries to use with it as the phone is rarely off. So, I can either change the way I work and forget Samsung or cover my bases and try to find a new note 4 some place and be ready if my note 4 dies. Samsung really doesn’t get who the note users are if they’re not going to make the battery removable.

  5. Iconoclast

    07/03/2016 at 3:07 am

    Totally agree with you Mike AZ, i am actually still using my note 3 only just being released from a 24 month contract.

  6. Susan

    07/07/2016 at 9:22 pm

    The Note 7 doesn’t have mhl support, either, like the Note 4. I really use it and was disaapointed to hear Samsung is discontinuing it in all their phones and tablets

    • Larry

      08/04/2016 at 12:56 pm

      Thank you Susan, MHL is a game changer along with battery removal. Note 4 4evr.

  7. Sherri

    07/08/2016 at 12:14 pm

    My note 4 very occassionally locks up and a restart doesn’t help. I take the battery out and back in and it solves the problem. What have you Note 5 people been doing for that problem? Its the difference between fixing it or sending it back. My son has an S6 and hates it with a passion, but he is going to give the S7 a try. I don’t think i’ll try the Note 7, though.

  8. Olaf

    07/20/2016 at 7:23 am

    Sadly samsung is in a battle with apple for a premium look and feel. Personaly i wouldnt min a note 7 in a note 3/4 bod. Is for functionaliteit. Not for look. The glass rear cover is adding for scratches and dents. From all post i see about this New note lajoei wants to pass it over because the limit is battery options ( using 3rd batt on my my 1.5 yr old note 4. One due to low performance other hot damager and would nearly fit. Seriously i font thing samsung knows what type of use get an s model and Who prefer a note. (As excuses for no note 5 in Europese was. That we didnt use the stylus regularly so get an xl s6 edge. As the s6 edge sold more then regular s6 that led them to decide to release Just the edge variant of the note 7. Id say time to check our order brands.

  9. Anthony Cole

    07/28/2016 at 7:34 pm

    Removable battery is a must….

  10. Grumpy

    08/04/2016 at 1:01 pm

    Watch the Marshmallow 6.0.1 update. Too many freezes, uncontrolled reboots, had to run master reset, no way to get Lollipop back. Hoping for patch late August.

  11. Carmen

    08/04/2016 at 3:07 pm

    I’m having one of those days when my Note 4 will not charge. My phone is only one year old and this is my 2nd one. The first one I bought lasted 6 months and the sound went out completely so it was replaced under warranty. My old phones, flip phones, etc. were not so pretty but they sure lasted for several years before replacing. Now they’re pretty and you can do so much but you sure have to pay way too much!!

  12. steve

    08/14/2016 at 6:18 pm

    I am done with Samsung. I used to love them. But since they are chasing Apple instead of their customers they have lost all the reasons for my loyalty. Removable BATTERY is a requirement as well as external storage. LG has a good smart phone with these options and they still concentrate on their customers.

  13. Marrie

    08/16/2016 at 7:40 am

    I love my note 4 have owned it nearly a year now and with no problems. I hate i crap and i would never use one .Nokia will always be my fave.

  14. Richard w Howell

    08/17/2016 at 4:00 pm

    I have had my Note 4 for a year and half now. Great phone but battery needs charged 3 times a day. I have an extra battery and a separate portable charger. I was excited about note 7 in hopes that the battery could be changed. Also the camera on Note 7 is less megapixel and use the camera on the phone for work. I am looking for another phone. Maybe when Note 8 comes out Samsung will be smart.

  15. Perdue

    08/17/2016 at 9:44 pm

    I think that I’m going to wait for a couple of months to see how the note7 pans out. I will be up – grading, but I will have to wait a little while longer.

  16. Tulip

    08/20/2016 at 12:40 am

    I used to love Samsung. But disappointed the Removable BATTERY is replaced by unremovable battery for Note 7….

  17. S da Ponte

    08/22/2016 at 4:09 am

    I love my Samsung galaxy note 4 and it still works perfectly other than an occasional block. When that happens its so easy to open the back, granted the battery out, or it back in again and restart. Easy, only takes a minute. What happens when the note S7 blocks?

  18. Uchenna

    08/26/2016 at 8:19 am

    I have a Note 4 and was looking forward to upgrading to the Note 7, but the lack of no removable battery is just something I can not get past. I am a power user and my phone has to be on all the time. No time to plug it somewhere and wait for 30mins or 45mins. Wireless charging is no good if I am away form a power source, but extra batteries can address the power issue. Still yet to see how

  19. Michel Dorion

    08/27/2016 at 1:41 am

    I like the way you decide for us in your text that the removable battery is a “NON-ISSUE”!!??? For me it’s enough to be a NON-UPGRADE! I was looking forward for upgrading my note 4 but I’ll pass again this year. Why do samsung takes away what makes it’s strength? Anyway at over a $1000 this Note 7 is not worth it for me…

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