Galaxy Note 9 vs Galaxy S9+: One big reason to go for the Note
To some of you, I may sound like a broken record when I say this, but if you’re someone who cares about their smartphone’s performance, you should be picking up Galaxy Note flagships in general over the Galaxy S models. And that makes the choice easy when it comes to deciding whether you should wait for the Galaxy Note 9 or just pick up a Galaxy S9+.
Of course, this advice is not for those who buy the Note flagships for the S Pen. But there are many out there who don’t care about the S Pen and will be wondering if there is another reason to go for a Galaxy Note, which is always costlier than the Plus-sized Galaxy S flagship launched in the same year. This time around, the expected 4,000 mAh battery is already a big reason to wait for the Galaxy Note 9, but what if that doesn’t pan out? What makes it worth waiting for the Galaxy Note 9 if you don’t care about the S Pen and Samsung pops in a smaller battery in it?
Galaxy Note 9 vs Galaxy S9+: Performance is key
As I said in the first sentence of this post, it’s performance. Or, to be more precise, consistent performance. Galaxy S flagships are pretty much as quick as Galaxy Note flagships when they’re new, but even in 2018, the Galaxy S phones tend to develop noticeable stutter and lag a few months down the line. In fact, that’s true for all Samsung devices, only mid-range and budget phones slow down considerably more than the flagships.
But, for some reason, it’s not the same for Note flagships. The Galaxy Note 4 may have been a disaster on the performance front, but things have changed. Galaxy Note 8 owners will know how that phone continues to perform well, and I’m sure Galaxy S9+ owners will have a few complaints. I’m not saying the Galaxy S9+ is slow. But it sure isn’t as consistently smooth and quick as it was when it was new. The Note 8 is, and even the Galaxy Note 5 fared better than the Galaxy S6 and S6 edge with long-term usage.
The Galaxy Note 9 will most likely be similarly consistent with its software performance even months after use, and it’s one of the major reasons I think it’s worth waiting for the Note 9, even if it might be costlier than the Galaxy S9+. Again, the Galaxy S9+ is a solid device and a good choice for those uninterested in what the S Pen brings to the table, especially if they are looking to save some money. But if you demand excellent performance from your phones, the Galaxy Note 9 would hands down be the better choice.
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I have to say if you’re honest about this, it’s very disappointing, as a new Samsung user. The S9+ is not some lower-midrange garbage where it would be acceptable to slow down after mere months. I’ve had a Huawei P9 before this for 2 years, without any noticeable stutter throughout, so it would be very disappointing if the S9 performed any worse. It wouldn’t be realistic for a phone in this price range to go down that early, I understand the Note 9 has to be sold somehow, but come on…we’re talking about a phone that’s not even a year… Read more »
these guys are sick here they talk alot of garbage here s9+ will not slow down even after 1 year of use
Wow! The salt is thick in the comment section!
The Note 4 was certainly not a disaster performance wise. In it’s time it was one of the most powerful devices available. However, compared to the Note8 today, of course it’s slower. You guys really display your ignorance sometimes. Also reviewers should grow a few brain cells and realize that Note users will always buy the Note, normally for work reasons, and S users will buy S phones for their own reasons. Different device type, different customer base. Now it’s evident that many writers here know very little about the technology they write about, but try a little lateral thinking… Read more »
Um, not the Note 4 wasn’t just slower compared to the Note 8. Samsung’s software was horrible until the S6 came out and they did some optimization. Samsung itself said on-stage that they got rid of the lag when they were introducing the Galaxy S6. In fact, it’s wrong to just give the Note 4 all the blame, since all Galaxy devices until that point came with extremely laggy software. It’s still not as good as it can be, but far, far better than what it used to be. And yes, Note users will get the Note, S users will… Read more »
Well, it’s a matter of perspective. I have owned every Note from the very first model. Each one a huge improvement on the previous one.. Many people still think the Note 4 was the best one. Of course there is no comparison to the Note8 today and while the software on Samsung S models was slow, the Note 4 was different. The Note 4 was the biggest success of any of the Note devices up to that time, precisely because it was better than all previous Notes and performed better than the S5 which came out the same year. The… Read more »
Yes, then I have less experience with the Note lineup, as I started with the Note 3 and got each device since. And to me, the performance on all of them were abysmal for what they costed and how other software from other companies was optimized. Actually, my experience with the Xperia Z1 and the HTC One M8 after losing my Note 3 is what made me realize how horrific Samsung’s software’s performance was at the time, and the fact that they had amazing hardware made it worse.
So you got every device from Note 3, thought they were abysmal and kept buying them? Seriously? That’s a load of bull. Maybe you should be working for some other website, seeing as you hate Samsung so much?
I never used the Note 4, but they’re not wrong, there was a huge outcry of the performance optimisation. I remember the Note4 being absolutely PACKED full of features, vast majority people would rarely use, but many I quite liked. they were like 13 camera modes! Complaints about bugs, lags and battery drain. Yeah, it may have been fine for you but to deny they weren’t problems is ignorance on your part.
I’m typing this from an Exynos Galaxy S7. I’ve had very little to complain about my phone. Is 2 years old but still runs very well. Of course I see stutters but only when I am running maps for 1 + hours in Bangalore traffic. I put my phone through extreme use as I have a dual sim one . I’m very happy with it and unless this phone breaks into 2, I’m going to wait till S10 . ☺️
I will wait till note 10 as i am also on s7 exynos indian dual sim vairant fd model,i had note 4 and i know how amazing is spen to be honest
I’ve not had any problems with my Exynos S9+ since I’ve had it and I’m constantly using it.
I couldn’t be happier with my Note 8’s performance. Almost a year now and it’s as buttery smooth and snappy as on day one. In my experience the Note series has been a flawless performer since the Note 5.
The Note 4 was indeed a nasty, laggy, headache inducing, worthless POS in terms of performance. Couldn’t get rid of that garbage fast enough.
I do not agree with this. i am on the T-mobile JUMP on demand plan which allows me to upgrade my phone whenever i want, and i have rotated from the S series phones half the year to the Note series the other half of the year for 3 years now, and i find the exact opposite. the note phones seem to slow down faster, and wont hold a battery charge as long, than the S series. i always find myself factory resetting the Note phones every 2 months to speed them up, while i usually only do it every… Read more »
That might actually be the Snapdragon helping as well. I’ve said it before, Samsung’s budget phones work better with the Snapdragon chips despite the same Cortex-A53 cores (and slightly higher clock speed, but that’s not always the case). The Snapdragon flagship chips are actually not as well optimized as the top-end Exynos on Note and S flagships, but again, it may be the case for why the US Note seems to slow down while it’s really been the opposite for many of us who have Exynos versions of Samsung’s flagships. Even battery life is more consistent and the Note 8… Read more »
Couldn’t disagree more vehemently. I find the Note series superior in every way except that the s series are thinner and lighter and arguably very slightly esthetically superior.
Also if you use the S Pen line Note fans do, that alone renders every other phone inadequate.
As far as your suggestion of slow downs, my USA unlocked Note 8 hasn’t experienced any lag in almost a year. I also a heavy user BTW.
No offense Stondec, but as i see in your comments above, you only ever use the note series phones and only upgrade every few years, i don’t think you have any experience using the S series phones as your daily driver, so your opinion is going to be one sided.
How can this be? I’ve had the S8+ for a year and still performs as well as it did on day 1. Then again, I’ve never messed with rooting nor downloaded any sketchy APKs. Before this I had the S5 and never had an issue either. My buddy’s Note 6 died within a few months of purchasing it from constant rooting and rom flashing. I guess it comes down to the type of use you give your phone.
None of us here at SamMobile root or flash our phones like that, actually, since that stuff really isn’t required unless you just like to play around for the heck of it. The S8+ (Exynos version) has quite a bit of stutter from time to time, the Note 8 doesn’t. S9+ gets a few stutters as well, though it’s generally lower than what the S8+ goes through.
Yes I’ve notice the stutter when i use the S flagship. But here in Note8, i never complaint of it. I just enjoyed using it. I hope samsung optimized the S flagship phones like the note line up
It is so wrong, Samsung. My S8+ stutter sometimes, that’s a shame. Buy Samsung and wait for long term