Android
Galaxy Note 7 vs Galaxy Note 5: What You Need to Know
The new Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is finally official and set to be available on August 19th. Loaded with top-tier specs and improvements across the board the Note 7 could be a great replacement for last years Galaxy Note 5. Below we’ll compare the two for potential buyers or those looking to upgrade.
On August 2nd Samsung unveiled the next Galaxy Note with a better design, improved specs, a brand new Iris eye scanner technology, a curved 5.7-inch display and last but not least confirmed it’s water resistant. There is a lot to like, and multiple reasons its worth getting over the Note 5.
Read: Galaxy Note 7 Release Date Breakdown
For months on end rumors were talking about a Galaxy Note 6, but Samsung skipped right to calling it the Note 7, and it’s worthy of the name thanks to a slew of important upgrades. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Note and now it compares to last years model.
Note 5 (left) vs Note 7 (right)
The Galaxy Note 5 debuted last year during the month of August with the Galaxy S6 Edge Plus, and both phones were extremely popular and powerful. However, they didn’t have a micro-SD slot, enough storage, a removable battery or even a big battery for that matter. Both of those problems have been fixed in 2016 with the Note 7, along with countless other new features that owners will be happy to have.
One thing worth mentioning for many potential buyers is the display, which we’ll talk about more in the slideshow below. The Galaxy Note 7 does not have a regular flat screen like most smartphones, and all other Note devices. Instead it’s curved on the edges like the Galaxy S7 Edge, or the Galaxy S7 Edge Plus from last year. Some will love it, others not so much, but it’s actually something we don’t think any owner will mind.
When the Galaxy S7 Edge was announced with a big 5.5-inch screen many figured Samsung would increase the size of the Note, to separate the two. However, that didn’t end up happening and the end result is two phones that are extremely similar in what they have to offer. The Galaxy Note 7 is a combination of the older Note 5, and the impressive new S7 Edge.
Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 5 Review
Those who passed on the Galaxy S7 Edge because of the smaller screen size will be happy with the size of the new Note. It’s bigger, curved, more powerful, faster, more secure and water-resistant. It has all the makings of a flagship smartphone, and all the issues owners had with the Note 5 have been addressed. Lets get started.
Note 7 vs Note 5: Design | |||||||
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A big part of the Galaxy Note 7 vs Galaxy Note 5 will be the design. Mostly because the design will be almost identical, at least on the outside. Like we saw earlier this year with the Galaxy S6 to the Galaxy S7, where Samsung made almost no visual changes, the same thing happened with the Note series. Owners will enjoy a similar all glass and metal design, rounded edges on back, but also a curved edge on the front of the phone, the display. The result is rounded edges on both sides making the phone feel thinner than it actually is, and very easy to hold. The new Note 7 is 2.2mm thinner than last year, lighter, yet more powerful in every way. The design is rather similar, but more refined. It just feels better, and is clearly a polished improvement over prior models. The design is a little different, and not as industrial with the big metal bezels, but it's still a premium smartphone. As far as the design the biggest changes are the new USB Type-C port on bottom for charging and syncing, a micro-SD slot, the Iris eye scanner, and full IP68 dust and water resistance. Everything else looks the same. Yes, the Galaxy Note 7 even with a slot inside for the stylus is water resistant up to 5ft for over 30 minutes. That's impressive, and certainly a selling point for many. To make things even better the stylus is water resistant too, and can write on the screen under water. Perhaps the best part of the design is the fact that the new phone is thinner and lighter, while having a bigger battery built-in. | |||||||
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Daniel
06/29/2016 at 7:21 am
HI, I know people must ask this all the time. But here I go, I am currently using xperia z5 and I’m unimpressed. I got this phone as note 5 and s6 had no expandable memory. I have this daft mobile on contract for 2 years. Can Samsung please donate me Samsung note 7. I would like to witness the new edge around the corner.
William Turner
07/14/2016 at 1:09 pm
Your specifications appear to be a little off. You have Samsung Exynos 8-core processor with 3GB of RAM for the Note 5. My US edition (incase it’s different than international) as 4GB of RAM. This is why, with the recent leaks that are not as encouraging, it appears the Note 7 really only has a bump up (and a big one) of the IP67 (or 68) water and dust resistance, memory expansion and Iris scanner. If one already owns a Note 5, performance may be close enough that if one has a 64GB version like me there is much less incentive to upgrade this time around.
William
08/17/2016 at 5:45 am
I concur William Turner 😎
Kenneth R Kloppel
08/21/2016 at 10:21 am
i agree with w t also & i looked at a note7 yesterday & see nothing that i have to have, same display, s-pen….you really have to look to see the curvature.
Bestoc
08/23/2016 at 10:47 am
I have the Note 5, the day I bought this I asked dealer right away why this doesn’t have SD slot like the Note 4? I was told Samsung took away that feature because the photos stored to that SD card has a lower resolution with that of photos stored to the built in storage. How great would the one be on Note 7?
ALICE G SMALLS
08/27/2016 at 10:29 pm
I’m kinda confuse, I own the note 5, and the note 7 to me the ONLY important factory is the memory(expansion) the cost is a bit higher, but as far as phones they look extremely the same maybe the rounded edge…I don’t know should I order should I not….