The Samsung Note 9 came out today with the “Unpacked” event in Brooklyn, and for once, I’m a little underwhelmed. This year’s release event seemed to be a little ominous, like a lead up to the doctor delivering bad news.
Rumors have been circulating for the past few months now, making a compelling enough argument that Samsung will be discontinuing the Note line. While I myself view this as a colossal mistake, both for business and brand, I can certainly appreciate the focus on what is coming next: folding “Westworld” style phones. SIGN. ME. UP.
Make no mistake, I will be getting the Note 9. I have the Note 8 and absolutely LOVE it. I also have an S7 Edge, which will be retired soon; my Note 8 will very happily replace it as my “work” phone. There’s also another reason why I’m getting the 9: I think this will be the last iteration of the “Note” series.
While this may be the last of the Note series, and the Note 9 looks identical to the Note 8, there are some pretty big new features:
- 4000mAh battery (as opposed to 3300mAh with the 8) is supposed to last all day. My 8 lasts all day as it is, so this should actually hold up from the moment I wake up, until I go to sleep.
- Up to 512gb of storage (the largest built-in storage offering in the smartphone world) with expandable storage (up to 1Tb)
- 8gb RAM
- Dex upgrade (connect your Note 9 to a computer monitor and now it’s an Android computer)
- S-Pen is now a remote control (YAASSSSSS)
- Fortnight exclusive (meh, don’t really care)
- AKG stereo speakers
- Water cooling (yes, in a phone)
- AI photo algorithms (detect color balances and objects)
Samsung has made statements putting the writing on the wall about the Note’s future. Basically, Samsung execs have hinted that if the Note 9 doesn’t “wow” with number of sales, then it’s going to go to the grave. Much to the chagrin of Note loyalists (myself included) who wailed at the thought, Samsung has very quietly readied us for the end.
While I’m ready for the future of phones that Samsung will surely bring, you’ll have to pry my S-pen from my cold lifeless fingers..