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Samsung Galaxy Note 4 up close (hands-on pictures)

Samsung's new quad-core, quad HD Note ditches the S5's faux-leather look in favor of a chrome-y feel.

Jessica Dolcourt
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Jessica Dolcourt
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1 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Note, the new look

Four years after it improbably launched an enormous smartphone with a stylus, Samsung is at it again with the Samsung Galaxy Note 4.

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2 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

TouchWiz inside

Running Android 4.4 KitKat, the Note 4 has Samsung's latest interface on top.

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3 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Mouse, meet stylus

This stylus acts even more like a computer mouse with newfound skills like minimizing app windows and searching for words in a dictionary.

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4 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Don't skip a beat

This version gains the Galaxy S5's heart-rate monitor, but has a textured design all its own.

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5 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Holster it

As usual, the S Pen hides away in a channel cut into the phone's interior.

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6 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Another view

The S Pen disappears almost completely into the Note 4's bottom edge.

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7 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Right spine

The power/lock button on the Note 4's chrome-like spine.

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8 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Left spine

A shorter-than-usual volume rocker lives on the left.

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9 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Edges

Here's a closer look at the phone's chamfered edges.

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10 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

IR, are you?

The Note 4's IR blaster is right there at the top.

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11 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

Toggle town

As with the S5, the Note 4 tucks some useful settings into the notifications menu.

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12 of 12 Sarah Tew/CNET

One last look

The Note 4's softly pebbled backing feels nicer than the Galaxy S5's dimpled plastic.

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