Here's the lowdown on one of 2018's most powerful smartphones (in 2019) 💥

Released in August 2018, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is still one heck of an Android phone that brings a lot of power, functionality, and style to the table.

We're expecting its successor, the Galaxy Note 10, to arrive at some point in August, but whether you own a Note 9 or are thinking about picking one up now that the price has come down, there's still plenty to like.

If you're in search of our full review of the phone, its specs, cases for it, or anything else in between, here's everything you need to know about the Samsung Galaxy Note 9!

The latest Galaxy Note 9 news

March 12, 2019 — Android Pie now rolling out to unlocked and Verizon Note 9 handsets

A little less than two weeks since the Note 9 on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint received the big update to Android 9 Pie, the Verizon and unlocked versions of the phone are now joining in on the Pie fun.

In addition to Pie / Samsung One UI, this update for the Verizon and unlocked Note 9 also brings the February 2019 security patch to ensure your device is as safe as can be.

March 1, 2019 — Galaxy Note 9 on AT&T, T-Mobile, and Sprint gets Android Pie

Samsung's One UI/Android 9 Pie update brings a lot of goodies to the Galaxy Note 9, and if you bought the phone on AT&T, T-Mobile, or Sprint, Pie should now be rolling out to your phone.

The update comes in at around 1.8GB, so you'll definitely want to make sure you're connected to a reliable Wi-Fi network before you start downloading it.

February 4, 2019 — Android Pie with One UI comes to the Note 9 on AT&T and Sprint

If you're rocking a Note 9 and have it on either AT&T or Sprint in the U.S., your wait for Android Pie has ended. According to tips from multiple readers, the Pie/One UI update is now arriving to the Note 9 on both carriers.

We haven't seen the update size for the AT&T update, but the Sprint one shows up as 1840.5 MB. It's also rocking the January 1, 2019 security patch.

The updates are widely rolling out now, so if you haven't received it yet, you should see it soon.

January 27, 2019 — Android Pie update with One UI scheduled for February 4 on Rogers

Samsung's One UI update with Android Pie has been graduating from betas to stable release in countries around the world, but we should soon be seeing the update rolling out in North America with the announcement that Rogers will be updating the Samsung Galaxy Now 9 to Android Pie on February 4, a week before Rogers pushes the Android Pie update for the Galaxy S9 and S9+.

While one Canadian carrier may not seem like a big deal, this is a great sign for all American and Canadian Note 9 users, as these software variants are developed side by side. If the version for Rogers is rolling through its final testing, hopefully the update will be ready soon for the rest of the US and Canada carriers. Bugs could still arise in the next week before the rollout, but hopefully the One UI update will be here in just a few short days!

November 24, 2018 — "First Snow White" Note 9 launches in Taiwan

There have been whispers and wishes of a Note 9 as white as snow, and Samsung has official launched a "First Snow White" Note 9 in Taiwan, and wow, it's pretty! The name homages the first snowfall of the year, which is what the Taiwan launch coincides with.

This Note 9 features an all-white back, including the camera and fingerprint module. The S-Pen is also snow white, while the front of the phone is the same deep ebony black as the current color line-up, and inside, everything else matches the other Note 9 colors. The Snow Fall White model was unveiled in Taipei and will be exclusively sold by Samsung in Taiwan beginning in December.

It's not clear if or when this color could make its way to other markets, but this beauty has me dreaming of a White Christmas.

September 19, 2018 — Latest Bixby update for Note 9 has a new press twice to open option

Ever since we were first introduced to Bixby on the Galaxy S8 and S8+, Samsung's virtual assistant has proven to be an annoyance rather than genuinely helpful more times than not. Users have previously been allowed to disable the physical Bixby button if they don't want to use it, but with the Note 9, Samsung removed this option.

A new Bixby update is rolling out now to Note 9 owners, and while there's still no way to disable the Bixby button entirely, you can make it more difficult to accidentally trigger the assistant.

Under the new Bixby Key setting, you can now choose to open Bixby by pressing the button once or twice. By switching over to twice, it's far less likely you'll unwantingly open Bixby when you mistake its button for the power/lock one.

What do you think of this update? Is it enough to keep Bixby at bay or do you still want a way to turn it off completely?

September 17, 2018 — A woman is suing Samsung after her Galaxy Note 9 caught on fire

Ever since Samsung's Galaxy Note 7 debacle from a couple years ago, the company's been under a fine microscope when it comes to the safety of its devices. A little less than a month since the Note 9 officially went on sale, there's already one report from a woman in New York claiming that her Note 9 randomly caught on fire while it was in her purse.

Diane Chunge is a real estate agent in New York City, and according to her recently filed lawsuit against Samsung, she was in an elevator when she noticed that her Note 9 was unusually hot. She put the phone in her purse, but shortly after, she says "she heard a whistling and screeching sound, and she noticed thick smoke."

Chunge did make it safely out of the elevator (someone in the lobby she exited the elevator from threw the Note 9 in a bucket of water) and is now suing Samsung for unknown damages and wants it to cease further sales of the phone.

Following this, a Samsung spokesperson said, "We have not received any reports of similar incidents involving a Galaxy Note9 device and we are investigating the matter."

It's believed that this was a one-time fluke seeing as how Samsung's phones now go through a rigorous battery safety check following the release of the Note 7, but even so, it'll be interesting to see if any additional reports come to light following this.

August 27, 2018 — Samsung's now offering free Gear VR adapters to Note 9 owners

While there was a lot of hype and fanfare surrounding the Note 9 when Samsung announced it, something that was noticeably absent was a new Gear VR. Last year's model doesn't currently work with the Note 9 due to the phone's larger size, but thankfully, Samsung's announced a small fix.

If you call 1-800-SAMSUNG and give the company your Gear VR's serial and model numbers, you'll be sent an adapter within 10 business days that allows the Note 9 to properly fit inside the headset.

There's currently no way to purchase the adapter online or in-stores, and as a quick reminder, this only applies to the Gear VR headset that was released last year alongside the Note 8.

August 21, 2018 — Google names the Note 9 as the best phone for YouTube

The Note 9's 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display is one of the best you'll find on a smartphone in 2018, and thanks to this, Google's deemed it as the best phone for binging YouTube on.

YouTube's Signature Devices list recently launched as a way to highlight Android phones that offer the best experience for all things YouTube, and as part of it, it's noted that:

With this transition from TV screen to phone screen, YouTube has announced its Signature Devices for a best-in-class YouTube experience. Ranked against a variety of key attributes, YouTube endorsed a variety of devices as best-in-class for the platform.

Their top choice? The Samsung Galaxy Note 9

August 21, 2018 — The 512GB Note 9 saw more pre-orders than the 128GB model in Korea

Pre-order numbers for the Galaxy Note 9 are slowly trickling out, and according to a report from The Investor, Samsung's highest-end 512GB model was the most popular in the country.

SK Telecom, Korea's biggest wireless carrier, notes that "users mostly preferred to buy the 512GB version" which costs 1.35 million won (or $1,208 USD). At this time, it's unclear if the 512GB preference carriers over to the U.S. and other markets.

Korean pre-orders for the Note 9 have also been stronger than that of the Galaxy S9, but not as high as last year's Note 8.

August 17, 2018 — Galaxy Note 9 already getting a software update that adds August 2018 security patch and more slow-mo video options

The Note 9 won't officially be released until Augst 24, but even so, Samsung's already pushing a software update to the phone that adds a couple goodies.

This update changes the software version number to N960FXXU1ARH5 and allows users to record Super Slow-Mo video for moments that last either 0.2 seconds or 0.4 seconds when in manual mode. 0.2-second shots are still in glorious 960 FPS while 0.4-second ones are limited to 480 FPS.

Additionally, this update also brings the more recent August 2018 security patch.

August 15, 2018 — Samsung talks about what it took to make the Note 9 so darn pretty 😍

It's no secret that Samsung makes stunning phones, and with the Galaxy Note 9, the company put all of its design prowess on full display. However, as much fun as it is to look at and hold the Note 9, it's even more exciting to take a closer look at just what goes into crafting a device of its caliber.

Samsung's Infinity Display is once again being used on the Note 9, and measuring in at 6.4-inches, is the biggest the company's created to-date. Samsung also says that the Note 9's screen is an ever deeper black compared to past handsets, which "allows it to blend in with the bezels when the device is off and enhances the overall aesthetic."

A process called Die-cutting was used to craft the Note 9's frame, and as a result of this laborious process, the frame of the Note 9 " features an interplay of glossy and matte finishes that complements the Galaxy Note9's premium design cues."

To read more about the Note 9's design and the time/attention that went into its S Pen, check out Samsung's full deep dive below.

Beautiful From Every Angle: The Design of the Galaxy Note 9

All the big details

Check out our written and video reviews

Before you do anything else, be sure to check out our full review of the Galaxy Note 9!

While the Note 9 may not be the newest Samsung phone on the market these days (that title goes to the Galaxy S10), it still has a lot going for it. The Note 9 has a gorgeous display, insanely fast processing tech, a massive battery, and much, much more.

Get the full lowdown in the video review above and our written one below.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review: Welcome to the one comma club

Here are the specs

Like past Notes before it, the Galaxy Note 9 is packed to the gills with all of the latest available tech. That means it has a speedy processor, massive battery, an insane amount of RAM, etc.

Here are all the specs you can look forward to.

Category	Spec
Operating system	Android 9 Pie Samsung One UI
Display	6.4-inch Super AMOLED, 2960x1440 (18.5:9)
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 845
Storage	128/512GB
Expandable	MicroSD up to 2TB
RAM	6/8GB
Primary rear camera	12MP Super Speed Dual Pixel, OIS, f/1.5 or f/2.4
Secondary rear camera	12MP, OIS, f/2.4, telephoto lens
Front camera	8MP, f/1.7, auto focus
Connectivity	Wi-Fi 802.11ac MIMO, 1.2Gbps (Cat-18) LTE, Bluetooth 5.0 LE ANT+, NFC, GPS, Glonass
Audio	Stereo speakers Dolby Atmos 3.5mm headphone
Battery	4000mAh Non-removable
Charging
Water resistance	IP68
Security	One-touch fingerprint sensor Iris scanner Samsung KNOX
Dimensions
Colors	Ocean Blue, Lavender Purple (U.S.) Midnight Black, Metallic Copper (intl)

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 specifications

Should you upgrade from the Note 8?

As powerful as the Galaxy Note 9 is, 2017's Note 8 is still one heck of a smartphone, too.

The Note 9 offers the expected improvements in regards to RAM, camera performance, etc., but really gets a strong edge over its predecessor thanks to its improved S Pen and a massive battery.

Then again, if you already have the Note 8 and don't feel like throwing down a lot of money right now on a new phone (or want to wait for the Note 10, you may want to hold off on upgrading.

Let Andrew break everything down for you in his comparison of the Note 8 and Note 9

How's it compare to other phones?

That's fine and dandy, but how's the Note 9 hold up against other non-Note devices?

Without a doubt, one of the Note 9's biggest competitors comes from Samsung itself with the Galaxy S10+. The S10+ offers a newer processor, an additional rear camera, and Samsung's new Infinity-O display, but the Note 9 comes in at a more affordable price and is the only one of the two that has the iconic S Pen.

Outside of Samsung devices, there's also the Google Pixel 3 XL. This is the go-to phone for people that want to take the best pictures possible, and from a software perspective, it benefits from a cleaner user interface and faster updates.

Should you wait for the Galaxy Note 10?

While the Galaxy Note 9 may still be kicking along in 2019, it's no secret that it'll be replaced soon by the Galaxy Note 10.

We're expecting the Note 10 to be released in August or September of this year, bringing the usual laundry list of upgrades. The processor will be newer/faster, the AMOLED display will be better than ever, and we'll get big upgrades in the camera department.

If you've been holding off on getting the Note 9, it won't hurt to wait a little while longer to see what Samsung brings to the table. At the same time, if you don't care about owning the latest and greatest and just want a new phone right now, you can buy a brand new Note 9 for well under $800 in the U.S.

Samsung Galaxy Note 10: News, Rumors, Release Date, Specs, and More!

A lot is new with the S Pen

The S Pen is easily the biggest reason so many people flock to the Note series year after year, and this time around, Samsung's giving the S Pen one of its biggest upgrades in years.

For the first time, Samsung's added Bluetooth Low Energy to the S Pen. With this new connectivity, the S Pen picks up a heap of new features that allow you to control the Note 9 from a distance.

Some use cases include being able to use the S Pen and its button as a camera shutter, navigating through presentations, and more. The presence of Bluetooth also means this is the first S Pen to have a battery, and as with all things that have a battery, the S Pen needs to be charged.

Thankfully, seeing as how the S Pen seamlessly charges in the background when stored inside the Note 9, this doesn't ever prove to be an issue of any sort.

What color should you get?

Samsung's typically one of the better OEMs when it comes to offering a good variety of colors, and with the Note 9, that's no different.

In the United States, buyers can choose from Ocean Blue, Lavender Purple, Midnight Black, and Cloud Silver.

See at Samsung

Don't forget about the cases!

The Note 9 has a striking design that combines metal and glass into one gorgeous package, but as great as the phone might look, it's certainly not the most durable handset you'll find.

Thankfully, to help keep your Note 9 looking as good as can be through all sorts of wear and tear, there are already a number of cases being sold.

Here are our favorites!

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Tuesday, April 9, 2019

Everything you need to know about the Galaxy Note 9!