In the last month or so, I've spent time with the Galaxy J6 and Galaxy A6+ as my primary devices (read our reviews here and here). While these phones aren't bad (in fact, both devices are quite good even if the A6+ isn't priced right), I couldn't wait to return to my Galaxy S9+. The stellar camera on the S9+ and its performance were the primary reasons for my impatience, but I found the phone's battery drain from 15 percent to 0 on the very first night after switching back.
I woke up to find a dead phone, and it brought back the realization that Samsung's flagship phones just don't have what it takes as far as battery endurance is concerned. And that's why I think the Galaxy Note 9‘s big battery is the only new feature I need.
A 4,000 mAh battery on a Note flagship? Take my money!
While it's all rumors and hearsay at this point, it's looking more and more likely that the Galaxy Note 9 will have a 4,000 mAh battery. The phone is said to be good for up to two days of battery life and up to 25 hours of continuous video playback at maximum screen brightness. Even those figures aren't exact (or even true; we have to keep reminding ourselves that nothing is certain until it's official), it's easy to imagine the kind of battery life the Galaxy Note 9 will offer.
It would be a return to form for one of the Note lineup's original highlights, before Samsung decided that fast wireless and wired charging are a good excuse to put small batteries in its smartphones. Now, Samsung certainly has come back around on that front, and if it weren't for the battery issues that plagued the Galaxy Note 7, the Galaxy Note 8 probably would have had a 3,500 mAh battery and not a 3,300 mAh battery.
In fact, if you look at the endurance of the Note 8, it's hard to believe it only has a 3,300 mAh battery. Samsung has always optimized Note devices better on the performance and battery life fronts, and that's what makes the prospect of a 4,000 mAh battery on the Galaxy Note 9 all the more exciting. Owners of Samsung's Galaxy S Active series of phones know the pleasures of a long-lasting flagship all too well, but the Note 9 may be even better thanks to the aforementioned optimization.
That big battery may be one of the Galaxy Note 9's few highlights
And it's possible Samsung is going to use the big battery as one of the primary highlights because the Galaxy Note 9 won't otherwise bring much to the table. Sure, an S Pen with Bluetooth built-in would be nice, but the Note 9's hardware is expected to be similar to the Galaxy S9+'. And that's not a bad thing. The S9+ is an excellent smartphone with all the bells and whistles a flagship can offer. Add the S Pen (and all those productivity features) and a giant battery to the mix, and that's all the reason I need to throw money on the Galaxy Note 9.
What about you?