Introduction: The Galaxy Note Legacy
When Samsung first launched the Galaxy Note series in 2011, it was met with skepticism—who wanted a massive phone with a stylus in the age of compact smartphones? Fast forward to 2018, the Galaxy Note 9 emerged as a defining moment for Samsung, offering everything a power user could want: an enormous battery, a beautiful display, a refined S Pen, and powerful internals.
Now in 2025, after using the Note 9 for years and trying nearly every Note and flagship along the way, I’m ready to revisit the Note 9—not just as a phone of the past, but as a legacy device that still has surprising relevance.
First Impressions: A Premium Build That Endures
The moment you pick up the Note 9, you feel its premium weight and glass-metal construction. Unlike many phones today, the Note 9 still feels solid and well-balanced in hand. The curved 6.4-inch Super AMOLED display remains vibrant, even by 2025 standards.
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Display: 6.4” Super AMOLED, 1440 x 2960 resolution
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Body: Gorilla Glass 5 front and back, aluminum frame
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Ports: USB-C, 3.5mm headphone jack (yes, still here!)
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Biometrics: Iris scanner + fingerprint reader
Even after years of use, the screen holds up. HDR content looks stunning, and colors pop just like on newer Samsung displays.
Performance and Power: Still Strong in 2025
Powered by the Snapdragon 845 (or Exynos 9810 outside the US), the Note 9 may not compete with the latest flagship chips, but in daily use, it still runs smoothly—especially with a custom ROM or lightweight apps.
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RAM: 6GB or 8GB
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Storage: 128GB / 512GB + microSD
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Battery: 4000mAh with fast charging (15W)
The phone was the first Note to cross the 4000mAh barrier, and this made a huge difference. I consistently got 6+ hours of screen-on time, and even in 2025, with a well-maintained battery, it still easily lasts a full day.
Gaming and Multitasking
Games like PUBG, Genshin Impact (on medium settings), and Call of Duty Mobile run surprisingly well. RAM management is decent, especially in the 8GB version.
Camera System: Aging but Capable
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Rear: Dual 12MP (wide + telephoto)
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Front: 8MP
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Video: Up to 4K @ 60fps, Super Slow-mo at 960fps
Photos from the Note 9 hold up surprisingly well in good lighting. Samsung’s dual-aperture lens still offers crisp detail and decent dynamic range. Low-light performance is less impressive compared to today’s flagships, but it’s passable.
If you don’t mind missing out on ultra-wide or periscope zoom lenses, the Note 9 still delivers social media-ready photos and videos.
S Pen: The Secret Weapon
The defining feature of the Note series—the S Pen—got a major update in the Note 9. It introduced Bluetooth functionality, letting you use it as a remote control for:
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Taking selfies
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Controlling music or video
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Navigating presentations
Even today, the S Pen feels precise and responsive, and I regularly use it for note-taking, signing documents, and annotating PDFs. No other phone replicates this experience quite like a Galaxy Note.
Software Experience: From One UI to Custom ROMs
The Note 9 originally launched with Android 8.1 and Samsung Experience, but was later updated to One UI 2.5 based on Android 10.
By 2025, Samsung has long stopped official updates—but that didn’t stop me. With a custom ROM like LineageOS or Pixel Experience, I now run a clean, fast Android 13 build on my Note 9, breathing new life into an aging device.
Tip: Installing a lightweight launcher (like Nova) and disabling bloatware greatly improves performance.
Note 9 vs. Modern Phones: Is It Still Worth It?
Compared to a Galaxy S24 or an iPhone 15 Pro Max, the Note 9 is definitely behind in raw performance and camera versatility. But in terms of daily usability, media consumption, and productivity, it’s still very competitive.
What It Still Does Well:
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Productivity with the S Pen
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Multitasking and split-screen features
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Display quality for YouTube, Netflix, and reading
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Long battery life (with battery health above 80%)
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Headphone jack + SD card support (rare in 2025!)
Where It Shows Its Age:
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No 5G
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Older biometrics (iris scanner is slow)
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No 120Hz refresh rate
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Limited low-light photography
My Personal Verdict: A Timeless Tool for Creators and Power Users
As someone who’s used every Note—from the original Note to the Note 20 Ultra—I can confidently say the Note 9 was Samsung’s most well-balanced device.
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It combined performance, premium design, and practical features in a way that few phones have replicated since.
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It wasn’t the flashiest, but it was reliable—and for many users, that’s more important than bleeding-edge tech.
If you find a Note 9 in good condition in 2025, it’s still a valuable phone for productivity, media, and multitasking. Whether you’re a student, artist, or power user—the Note 9 won’t disappoint.
Final Thoughts: The End of an Era
The Galaxy Note 9 marks the last Note before the S Pen started blending into the Galaxy S Ultra lineup. It represents the peak of Samsung’s traditional Note vision—complete with everything: headphone jack, SD card, S Pen, big battery, and expandable storage.
In an era where phones are losing ports and becoming more uniform, the Note 9 stands out as a symbol of versatility and power.
If you’re considering it for your collection or daily use in 2025, go for it—you’re not just buying a phone, you’re holding a piece of smartphone history.
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