Key Features

• Android 8.1 (Oreo) with Samsung Experience UI
• 6.4 inch QHD+ (1440 x 2960) display (18.5 : 9 ratio) - Always-On Super AMOLED
• Dual 12MP rear camera with OIS, dual pixel phase-detection autofocus
• 8MP selfie camera with autofocus
• 4,000 mAh battery with fast charging and wireless charging (Qi or PMA)
• Gorilla Glass 5 front & back

Overview

Every time Samsung release a Galaxy Note device, new ground is trodden. In some ways, we know what to expect in terms of incremental performance boosts, although there's always something different about a Note device. The Note9 is no different.

Design
The Infinity Display was the first successful mainstream move towards the now commonplace trend of having extended 'bezel-less' displays. At 6.4 inches, this is Samsung's largest example of the technology to date. 

Always-on Super AMOLED technology delivers incredible colour contrast with excellent power efficiency.

All the required front-facing sensors such as the selfie camera, iris scanner, proximity sensor and others are all neatly tucked away in the smallest possible space at the top of the phone. A pressure-sensitive section at the base of the phone mimics the feel of a traditional home button. 

Unlike many of their contemporaries, Samsung retains the 3.5mm audio jack. Elsewhere on the phone are the usual control keys as well as a dedicated button for launching and interacting with Bixby, Samsung's AI assistant. A fingerprint sensor is mounted on the rear of the handset underneath the cameras. 

Camera
The Dual Aperture technology first seen on the Galaxy S9 returns to the Note9. This intelligent technology adapts automatically to your surroundings, choosing between two f-stop modes.

Make the most of having two lenses; one is a telephoto lens, the other a super-wide angle. Together you'll find that the camera may have actually taken more image than your current filter, mode or zoom level shows on screen. When you go to edit pictures after taking them, you might find there's a whole lot of extra image around the edges you can play with!

Performance
Battery life is the bain of all modern smartphone owners. We're dependent on lithium batteries technology, so there's only so much we can do until new technology arises. Until then, manufacturers like Samsung will continue to eke out not only the density and performance of their cells but also optimise the hardware and software for ultimate efficiency. 

The 4,000 mAh cell on the Note9 is a great start but it's more than just numbers that produce excellent battery life.

The new Exynos processor is fine-tuned and optimised for the best possible performance in conjunction with Note9's software. Both CPU & GPU are faster than ever before and will only use the requisite amount of power for the task at hand. If you're just reading the news, the phone doesn't need to work as hard as if you're playing a game. So it won't.