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.
Its successor, the Galaxy Note 10, is arriving on August 7, 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!
- First, read and watch our review
- Then check out the specs
- Let’s compare the Note 9 to other phones
- The S Pen is better than ever
- Samsung created some great colors
- Here are our favorite accessories
- Should you wait for the Note 10?
Still worth a look
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
From $850 at Amazon
From $900 at Samsung
A powerful flagship that’s more affordable than ever.
The Galaxy Note 9 has been succeeded by the Note 10, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely irrelevant. In 2019, the Note 9 still has a great design, gorgeous AMOLED display, fast processing speeds, and a 3.5mm headphone jack — something that’s missing on the Note 10.
Check out our written and video reviews
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uYrGOThVDo?modestbranding=0&html5=1&rel=0&autoplay=0&wmode=opaque&loop=0&controls=1&autohide=0&showinfo=0&theme=dark&color=red&enablejsapi=1]
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, 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 ones below.
- Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review: Welcome to the one comma club
- Samsung Galaxy Note 9 review, 3 months later: The uncompromising flagship
Here are the specs
Like past Notes before it, the Galaxy Note 9 is packed to the gills with all of the tech you could want. That means it has a speedy processor, massive battery, a large amount of RAM, and much more
Here are all the specs you can look forward to.
Operating system | Android 9 PieSamsung One UI |
Display | 6.4-inch Super AMOLED, 2960×1440 (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 LEANT+, NFC, GPS, Glonass |
Audio | Stereo speakersDolby Atmos3.5mm headphone |
Battery | 4000mAhNon-removable |
Charging | |
Water resistance | IP68 |
Security | One-touch fingerprint sensorIris scannerSamsung KNOX |
Dimensions | |
Colors | Ocean Blue, Lavender Purple (U.S.)Midnight Black, Metallic Copper (intl) |
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 specifications
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.
There’s also the new Galaxy Note 10+, offering a more modern design, three rear cameras, and an improved S Pen, but at the expense of a headphone jack and a large price tag.
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. There’s also stiff competition coming from the OnePlus 7 Pro thanks to its outstanding design, performance, software, and aggressive price tag.
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ vs. Galaxy Note 9: Should you upgrade?
- Galaxy S10+ vs. Galaxy Note 9: Which should you buy?
- Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. Galaxy S9+: Which should you buy?
- OnePlus 7 Pro vs. Galaxy Note 9: Which should you buy?
- Google Pixel 3 XL vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Which should you buy?
- Huawei Mate 20 Pro vs. Samsung Galaxy Note 9: Which should you buy?
- Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. iPhone XS Max: Which should you buy?
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.
Does Samsung sell replacement S Pens for the Galaxy Note 9?
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.
Check out all of the colors at Samsung’s website
Don’t forget about the accessories!
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 a ton of excellent cases out there.
- Best Samsung Galaxy Note 9 Cases in 2019
- Best Heavy Duty Cases for Galaxy Note 9 in 2019
- Best Thin Cases for Samsung Galaxy Note 9 in 2019
- Best Leather Cases for Samsung Galaxy Note 9 in 2019
- Best Wallet Cases for Samsung Galaxy Note 9 in 2019
- Best Galaxy Note 9 Battery Cases in 2019
Once you’ve picked up a case or two for the Note 9, there are a few other accessories we also recommend getting.
- Best Screen Protector for Galaxy Note 9 in 2019
- Best microSD Cards for Galaxy Note 9
- Best Wired Headphones for Samsung Galaxy Note 9
What about the Galaxy Note 10?
While the Galaxy Note 9 may still be kicking along in 2019, it has since been succeeded by the Galaxy Note 10 and Note 10+.
Samsung’s two latest Note phones bring a lot to the table, and compared to the Note 9, benefit from less display bezel, a faster processor, three rear cameras instead of two, and a more functional S Pen.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Note 10 series is flashier than 2018’s Note 9, but don’t count the Note 9 out quite yet. It actually has the advantage over the Note 10 in a few different areas, and thanks to its age, costs considerably less money.
The Note 9 and Note 10 are both excellent smartphones. You just need to decide which is the better fit for you.
- Samsung Galaxy Note 10: Everything you need to know!
- Forget the Note 10: Why right now is the perfect time to buy the Galaxy Note 9
Still worth a look
Samsung Galaxy Note 9
From $850 at Amazon
From $900 at Samsung
A powerful flagship that’s more affordable than ever.
The Galaxy Note 9 has been succeeded by the Note 10, but that doesn’t mean it’s completely irrelevant. In 2019, the Note 9 still has a great design, gorgeous AMOLED display, fast processing speeds, and a 3.5mm headphone jack — something that’s missing on the Note 10.