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[Q] S Pen Accuracy and responsiveness

Not bought this tablet yet as only the 16gb is currently available in the UK and I'm after the 32gb.
My question is with regards to the S Pen accuracy and responsiveness on this tablet. From the videos I've seen online, the S Pen looks both accurate and responsive. When I tried it out in the shop (Samsung store at Westfield Centre, Stratford), I was pleased with the results. So much so that I've already gone out and bought the S Pen with eraser despite not having a tablet to use it on.
I've been reading every review I can get my hands on, but most just seem to compare the tablet to a standard capacitive screen tablet and almost dismiss the S Pen and functionality that it brings to the table.
One review that seemed to cover the S Pen in detail said it was good but didnt match the feel and responsiveness of the Surface Pro. Has anyone had any issue with using there Note 8.0 for drawing? If the answer is yes (although I suspect there is no issue, only that the reviewer was being particularly picky...), is it only with the pen that comes with the tablet or are all wacom compatible pens slightly unresponsive on this tablet? The exact complaint is to do with lag and palm regection...
- cant post link as I am a new member. it was on AnandTech
If there is lag, then my guess is that its OS or processor related (although the 1.6GHz Samsung Exynos 4412 is no slouch), may be rooting it, replacing the kernal and overclocking it would help. I wouldnt want to replace the ROM as I think alot of the functionality of touchwiz sounds useful.
I cant afford the surface pro plus its larger than I would like. I'm just looking for some confidence that I'm investing in the right device for my intended use (portable sketching, inking and colouring of images using either sketchbook pro or layerpaint). Any other functionality on top of that is a bonus (I do enjoy a bit of gaming).
Sorry for the long post. It's my first and I wanted to be clear with my question and expectations from this tablet.
Ben

hertsjoatmon said:
Sorry for the long post. It's my first and I wanted to be clear with my question and expectations from this tablet.
Ben
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The S-Pen is leaps and bounds better than any non-Wacom solution, you already know this but it should be stated regardless. As far as accuracy, it is pretty much the crispest experience available right now. The Win8 tablets have the same digitizer specs, and no increases in sensitivity. The extra real estate on an 11.6" tablet vs. an 8" tablet is about the only benefit the Surface has over any of the Note series. I own a Note 1, Note 2, Note 8.0 and a Fujitsu Tablet PC (previously the most accurate Wacom device in my quiver.) and the Note 8 is far and above the most accurate and sensitivity is excellent. I think most of the reviews are playing with S-Note and assuming that's as good as it gets, but the S-Note app is geared toward writing, and when you use Photoshop Touch, the sensitivity REALLY shines. I can draw fine hairs and detail with ease.
Hope this helps you!

It's accurate and responsive. A fabulous little sketching tablet paired with Sketchbook Pro for tablets.
The calibration of the point to nib is better than I have achieved on my Surface Pro.
Also, you shouldn't compare a Surface Pro to the Note 8.0. They aren't in the same class of machine or tablet.

cmunho said:
Also, you shouldn't compare a Surface Pro to the Note 8.0. They aren't in the same class of machine or tablet.
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Can I get a little extra clarification on this point? What I'm after is a portable tablet that I can use for sketching. I dont care what OS or manufacturer it is. I just want something I can chuck in my backpack and take out and draw on when im away from home. To me, my only options are Samsung Note 10, 8.0 or surface pro. I dont know anything else that is appropriate which is why I have classed them together. Different OS, but similar format and both use Wacom Digitizer tech.
I'm going to have to get it on credit as my funds are tight at the moment so dont want to break the bank. What should i be comparing the Notes to for portable drawing use?
Thanks for you reply

robyr said:
The Win8 tablets have the same digitizer specs, and no increases in sensitivity. The extra real estate on an 11.6" tablet vs. an 8" tablet is about the only benefit the Surface has over any of the Note series.
I think most of the reviews are playing with S-Note and assuming that's as good as it gets, but the S-Note app is geared toward writing, and when you use Photoshop Touch, the sensitivity REALLY shines. I can draw fine hairs and detail with ease.
Hope this helps you!
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That does help. Thanks!
I hadnt realised the Surface was 11 inches. I thought it was 10". I've only seen them in adverts to be fair and once I saw the price of the pro, had no interest in reasearching it further.
That could be it... I used S-Note for about a minute in the store before deciding to move on to a dedicated drawing programme. Heard complaints about photoshop touch from other forums that are focused around digital art. Thats what lead me to the decision to use Sketchbook Pro (which i already have on my ASUS TF101 but dont use as its horrible on a touch screen) or LayerPaint (which seems to be the most praised but I have no experience with personally).
The trouble I have found with most reviews to date is that they are geared towards general users. I consider this a specialist device which is why im looking for specific feed back on those uses. It will replace my note pad, sketchbook and current tablet.

cmunho said:
The calibration of the point to nib is better than I have achieved on my Surface Pro. QUOTE]
I'm assuming you can adjust this. My girlfriend has the original note phone, but I wasnt particularlly impressed with its accuracy. I tried the *#0*# trick (or what ever the code is) to get you into calibration mode, but it only seemed to help a little bit. the point on the screen seemed to be perminantly offset from where i was pointing the tip. This was very frustrating, Id get used to it in one orientation, then turn the phone 90 degrees and completely miss the point i was trying to draw next.
I've also read the trick about taking the button of the S Pens so that you can fine tune the pressure sensitivitiy by adjusting the potentiometer closest to the tip (turn clockwise to decrease, anti clockwise to increase sensitivity).
So it seems like there is room to manuvor to adjust the experience to my prefference.
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I'm not much of an artist, but I do love to doodle and I've found that doing so on the Note 8 is as close to doing it on paper as I've ever seen on a computing device (outside of an actual Wacom tablet, that is). The bigger part for me, however, is the ability to take hand written notes. For this, the accuracy is nearly perfect and its ability to ignore my palm while writing justified the extra cost over a standard tablet.
Why this part is glossed over in most reviews of the device is beyond me. Unless there's another device on the market in at a reasonably similar price point, the head lines may as well read "Galaxy Note 8 is sill not an iPad Mini".

hertsjoatmon said:
Can I get a little extra clarification on this point? What I'm after is a portable tablet that I can use for sketching. I dont care what OS or manufacturer it is. I just want something I can chuck in my backpack and take out and draw on when im away from home. To me, my only options are Samsung Note 10, 8.0 or surface pro. I dont know anything else that is appropriate which is why I have classed them together. Different OS, but similar format and both use Wacom Digitizer tech.
I'm going to have to get it on credit as my funds are tight at the moment so dont want to break the bank. What should i be comparing the Notes to for portable drawing use?
Thanks for you reply
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The Note 8 is better suited to this. Surface Pro is a full computer in Tablet form factor. But if you just want to sketch, buying a $3 sketchbook is much cheaper since you said you have to buy on credit. Never good to go into debt for things that get outdated so quickly.
hertsjoatmon said:
That does help. Thanks!
I hadnt realised the Surface was 11 inches. I thought it was 10". I've only seen them in adverts to be fair and once I saw the price of the pro, had no interest in reasearching it further.
That could be it... I used S-Note for about a minute in the store before deciding to move on to a dedicated drawing programme. Heard complaints about photoshop touch from other forums that are focused around digital art. Thats what lead me to the decision to use Sketchbook Pro (which i already have on my ASUS TF101 but dont use as its horrible on a touch screen) or LayerPaint (which seems to be the most praised but I have no experience with personally).
The trouble I have found with most reviews to date is that they are geared towards general users. I consider this a specialist device which is why im looking for specific feed back on those uses. It will replace my note pad, sketchbook and current tablet.
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Click to collapse
LayerPaint is good, but I think Sketchbook Pro is better. The tools are more pencil like and geared toward sketching. I find LayerPaint more difficult to use. But I've also used Sketchbook Pro for a couple years (on iPad, then PC and now on PC and Android). Another app I really enjoy is called Infinite Painter. Good tool, nice developer that I like supporting.

hertsjoatmon said:
cmunho said:
The calibration of the point to nib is better than I have achieved on my Surface Pro. QUOTE]
I'm assuming you can adjust this. My girlfriend has the original note phone, but I wasnt particularlly impressed with its accuracy. I tried the *#0*# trick (or what ever the code is) to get you into calibration mode, but it only seemed to help a little bit. the point on the screen seemed to be perminantly offset from where i was pointing the tip. This was very frustrating, Id get used to it in one orientation, then turn the phone 90 degrees and completely miss the point i was trying to draw next.
I've also read the trick about taking the button of the S Pens so that you can fine tune the pressure sensitivitiy by adjusting the potentiometer closest to the tip (turn clockwise to decrease, anti clockwise to increase sensitivity).
So it seems like there is room to manuvor to adjust the experience to my prefference.
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Click to collapse
The Note 1 should not be used to judge modern SPen devices. It had a gimped 256-stage digitizer and very low thresholds. It is in no way comparable to the current gen, amd was generally only good for writing.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD
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robyr said:
hertsjoatmon said:
The Note 1 should not be used to judge modern SPen devices. It had a gimped 256-stage digitizer and very low thresholds. It is in no way comparable to the current gen, amd was generally only good for writing.
Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk HD
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Agreed, I had an Original Note and it was pretty poor in comparison to what's in the Note II or Note 8.0. Samsung has done a really good job with this device. I think it's a little expensive, but it's exactly what I've been looking for in a tablet for about a year. I think I've tried 5-6 tablets since I started the quest.
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cmunho said:
robyr said:
Agreed, I had an Original Note and it was pretty poor in comparison to what's in the Note II or Note 8.0. Samsung has done a really good job with this device. I think it's a little expensive, but it's exactly what I've been looking for in a tablet for about a year. I think I've tried 5-6 tablets since I started the quest.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the advice. Taking it all on board (including the part about may be not getting one due to money issues) I think I'm definitely on board and want this. I can get 16 months interest free. Paying it back £50 a month is acheivable for me.
The reason I want to move on from pen and paper is the bulk/ storage of said medium and the ability to ink and colour my images for other use. I like the idea of doing short comics. Being able to work on the cells both home and away is a big attraction. In addition I dont like the size and weight of my 10 inch tablet as it means I have to carry a larger bag than is otherwise necessary.
Being able to reduce my 10 inch tab, not pad and sketchbook to just one device that is smaller than all of those individually is huge for me. I also carry a camera with me everywhere (NEX 5N). I think this device would be ideal for me to review and cull any missed shots while out and about. I'm looking at RawDroid for that purpose and using a class 10 MicroSD card with my Camera.
Not decided to wait for the 3G version or not. My phone is a Blackberry Curve 9360. I am able to use that as a wireless mobile hotspot. I dont think my service provider charges me extra for it, but it is an extra step in setting it up when needed. I think reading through what I just wrote, I'm ok with the WIFI only version. How long until the 32GB is available? :victory:
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Tab S 10.5 or Note 10.1 2014 edition?

which one would I buy?

I haven't seen a tab s in person yet but if it's available now here I would definitely choose it if the screen is as good as they say

Do you need the s-pen?

I have both and I'm feeling the Tab S more due to the screen. You won't go wrong if you choose the Note, its a great tablet, the main attraction is the pen which I hardly used. The Pro tablets weren't available at the time of purchase. After a few more days ill make my decision, but I'll probably keep the tab s.
Sent from my LG-LS980 using Tapatalk

dcaplinger76 said:
Do you need the s-pen?
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I had the same question before. The only advantage the Note has is the Pen.
The Tab s has better screen, better battery life and it is a brand new device therefore more likely would receive updates. The Note is more then 6 mths old. The HW specs are nearly the same as the Tab S but for the same price. For me the Tab S won and I love it.

Wish Samsung put it the pen in Tab S. I'll think I'll just wait for the next Samsung Note.

I went through this dilemma and ended up with the note. It's a tough call. I love oled but also had the older note and did use the spen for meeting notes. It's really oled vs digitizer.... nothing much else in it though the UK note is annoyingly still on 4.3. The note screen is lcd but very clear.
One consideration on screens. For movies etc and anytime the screen is darkish the oled will use far less power. All whites ie some Web browsing is worst case for oled and will such juice worse .
They're both superb tablets.

Which would you buy, a second hand 10.1 for $300 AUD or a brand new 10.5 for $580? Both 16GB wifi only model.

I sold my note for the tab s 8.4 and never looked back. Owning the note always felt like it was an incomplete job and unfortunately Samsung has a bad habit of not updating the software of older models even if their hardware can run it properly.
This is the best Android tablet I've ever of we'd and there's absolutely no reason for you not to like it

I have both (actually just sold my Note 10.1 2014). Here's is how I'd compare the two:
Advantages of Tab S:
- Tab S has better screen (colors in photos are more realistic on Tab S)
- Tab S has some better/updated apps (e.g., sidesync lets me make/take calls from my Galaxy S5)
- Tab S has better accessories available (covers, keyboards)
- Tab S has side power plug (precludes need for stand and angled power cord when used with book cover)
- Tab S is thinner/lighter (but the Tab S' smaller bezels make it a bit harder to hold...minimizing this advantage a tad)
Disadvantages of Tab S
- Note 2014 has S-Pen/Wacom, but this disadvantage is mitigated a bit by the fact that the Tab S has a sensitive screen works with fine tip (3mm) capacitive pens (e.g., iCooly). http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009XGMO1A/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
- Gold trim on Tab S is gaudy to me
- Note has S-Pen related apps/functions (e.g., action memo, pen window). But, I never found much use for those though.
Performance-wise, the two are about the same. By my standards, both are very fast. The Tab S is just a tad smoother. I don't notice any of the browsing lag some others have complained about.

...and when I found out that some of those s-pen related apps e.g S -Note, were available for download onto the tab s, I was you even more convinced that I had made right decision to get rid of my Note 10.1
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

No Wacom, what is the point having S-pen app?

You can use a stylus with the Tab S. You just need to provide some sort of Palm rejection when writing. A simple cleaning cloth will do. Not as good as a Wacom Stylus but for simple note taking workable.
What we really need is a good aftermarket Bluetooth stylus but so far the available models work with Apple (grrrr) only.

Bluetooth still will not be as good as Wacom and kills battery.
Just going to wait for Note 10.1 2015 model with AMOLED and WACOM.

mitchellvii said:
You can use a stylus with the Tab S.
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You can drive a Camry off-road, it doesn't mean you'd want to. Using a stylus on a standard conductive display, even an iPad's, is painful. It's not the lack of palm rejection, it's the lack of detail, sensitivity, and precision. I'm not selling people on Note's per se, but unless you're making short, and I mean short, hand written notes and lists trying to use a conductive display in the same way as a Note will be pure frustration.
Now let’s check out the Note 10.1’s trump card: its S Pen. The S Pen is, when you get right down to it, a Wacom stylus and digitizer. Considering Wacom make the best graphics tablets in the world bar none (like the*Intuos 5, for one) that’s a very good thing.
Samsung is the first manufacturer to integrate this tech into an Android tablet – both the Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet and HTC Flyer used N-Trig pens that were lumpy, required batteries, didn’t offer as many pressure levels and weren’t nearly as responsive, nor did they give you a choice of nibs.
Now for those who might say: “but the iPad has plenty of styli available for it, what makes this special?”, here’s the deal. With one exception, all the styli you can get for the iPad and every other capacitive tablet are only a minor improvement over using your finger. There’s only one capacitive stylus that gives a thin point, and it doesn’t offer pressure sensitivity or palm rejection.
With the S Pen - and other Wacom digitizers as found on the likes of the Samsung Series 7 Slate – you get 1,024 levels of pressure, which lets you draw weighted lines as you would with a real pencil. You get palm/finger rejection, which means you’ll rarely draw an accidental line with your hand. Basically, it’s akin to upgrading from using a chalk to an art pencil.
http://www.trustedreviews.com/samsu...w_s-pen-performance-and-video-playback_Page-4​​

@ BarryH, You can pick up more chicks with a Porsche but a 72 Pinto beats walking to work.
Wasn't trying to answer "should you" but more "could you". But seriously, if you want a tablet for notetaking, I would go with a Windows variety due to the OneNote full handwriting support. Sharp was supposed to release a 10.1 Windows tablet with the same resolution as the Tab S (not amoled) but appears to have been vaporware.
Sadly now that I have owned an amoled tablet I am spoiled forever. My Tab S is purely an entertainment toy. I use my Acer R7 for any handwriting (although that is far more rare than I imagined it would be - typing is just better).

Do you think if your Tab S was Wacom, would it be good enough to replace your Acer?
I have an ageing Thinkpad X200 Tablet, but I still can not find any good candidate to replace it. The only laptop I found good enough to replace the X200T is Fujitsu tablets, but they are so expensive.

WHat would you do?
I currently own a Note 10.1 (2014), and the screen has been cracked for about 6 months. Now the screen is not responding to a finger touch (although the stylus still works). I am told that there is a dual digitizer in the device, and the one which responds to the finger is dead.
Although the device is still technically under warantee, Samsung will reject the work because the screen is cracked.
SO... and the reason I am posting here specifically
Do I pay $280 to get my Note 10.1 repaired, or do I go buy an S 10.5?
I do like the stylus for some features, but have found a BT keyboard to be a faster interface for notes
Thoughts?
GO!

I personally think that unless you find the stylus useful, the Tab S has the better screen by far. If the screen of the note doesn't bother you, though, it may very well be worth simply getting the repair instead of shelling out more for a new tablet.
Not that I ever avoid getting new toys.
Sent from my Galaxy S5

Buy S7 edge plus c pen and you get the note 7?

Hi All,
I saw a video review of the new c pen Samsung released for the tabpro S windows tablet. I can't embed a link, but it's on youtube. Turns out, it works very well with the S7edge. With the price of the S7 edge dropping and samsung essentially re-releasing this phone with a pen (Note7), I thought maybe for some users it might be worthwhile to consider buying the cheaper S7 edge plus the c pen. You save money, can port the grace UX rom and basically have a note7. Yes, the pen does not fit in the phone, but aside from that and the restricted iris scanner, is this a bad idea? I'm curious to hear your thoughts.
cheers,
Rekil

Bad idea is not a good way to put it. I'd say more so that it is comparing a mouse to a elephant. The note 7 has features that the s7 does not have the s pen functionality is priceless if you need it. The iris scanner is for security of unlocking the device itself, also for protection of passport banking ect in a folder you can only access and even hide. I would say the note 7 is the better of the two.
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Free mobile app

matsuyamakaze said:
Bad idea is not a good way to put it. I'd say more so that it is comparing a mouse to a elephant. The note 7 has features that the s7 does not have the s pen functionality is priceless if you need it. The iris scanner is for security of unlocking the device itself, also for protection of passport banking ect in a folder you can only access and even hide. I would say the note 7 is the better of the two.
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Free mobile app
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I think you're grossly exaggerating. The hardware is 100% identical. Hardly befitting of a mouse vs elephant. With the Grace UX rom you get all the same pen features, just select manually. So, nothing missing. Finally, for one to believe the hype regarding the first gen tech of iris scanner, which samsung themselves point out is extremely restrictive,is highly naive. How good was the first gen fingerprint tech on the Note 4? Besides, the security can probably be achieved using the fingerprint anyways.
Having said all that, I'm still getting the Note7!

rekil goth said:
The hardware is 100% identical.
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Nope. You're comparing a capacitive stylus using s/w to approximate pressure and location to a Wacom digitizer. The display not the pen is what makes a Note a Note. More here.
http://www.howtogeek.com/177376/not...ual-capacitive-wacom-and-bluetooth-explained/

Yeah your Edge screen isn't going to suddenly sense 4096 levels of pressure sensitivity and let you hover your pen over the screen to access drop down menus, etc.
Sent from my SM-N920V using XDA-Developers mobile app

As long as i know is the answer is No! S Pen stylus won't work on others than Galaxy Note series itself. Because all the Note series have an additional screen layer in their LCD Digitizer which allows the S Pen stylus that comes with them to work. So the answer is NO LAYER NO STYLUS SUPPORT.

Gosin active stylus

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Fine-Point-Precision-Stylus-Pen-Gosin-Universal-Pinpoint-Digital-Stylus-for/112742795026
For the last 7 years I've been keeping notes in my mobiles, sometimes with better, sometimes with worse results. My previous device was the Samsung Note 4, after which my note-keeping standards reached new heights. Now that I switched to an LG G6, I tried to find a decent alternative. I tried a simple one, one of those Adonit Jot knockoffs and the results were near perfect, in terms of writing, but the transparent disc at the tip is distracting. My next purchase was a cheap USB-powered active stylus, and it was also perfect, but the need for charging kept me from carrying it with me. So I bought the Gosin.
First of all, its built quality is absolutely great, it feels like an ordinary, good quality pen in terms of weight and materials. Its handling is also identical to a heavy, good pen, which makes writing on screen even more similar to writing on paper. Its main difference is that it's powered by an AAA battery and that makes it very independent. You just have to carry one more spare battery in your bag and you have enough energy for days of writing.
One other feature that actually works is its adjustable power. I tried the stylus on my notorious Xiaomi MiPad and on low power the results were terrible, as usual. When I turned the power on, my writings were actually usable. Keep in mind that the first and most important factor in note taking on mobile devices is the device's Digitizer. A good digitizer can make note taking a whole lot easier. Are there any cons? Just one, the battery cap is plastic, I'd surely prefer a metal one.
Bottom line, this is a great active stylus. It works very well, it feels great in hand and is power independent.

Hello. Can you "actually" write notes comfortably on the G6 with this pen?

fmboots said:
Hello. Can you "actually" write notes comfortably on the G6 with this pen?
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Hi, as I said, you can actually write notes on G6 with every stylus, at least those three I have tried. All three were great, I have never missed a single dot. G6's digitizer is very sensitive and works great. The sample I uploaded was all written on a single try and, as you can see, even the finest line has been put on the screen.
The Gosin is great for me because it feels like a real pen in my hand, it uses an AAA battery and has a very fine tip compared to those with a disc on the tip. It's more expensive than other solutions though, so I'd recommend that you first tried a cheap one and if it suits you, then buy the Gosin.

I have had styluses recommended that were as fine tipped as a rolling pin. I could see from your samples it obviously looks great - and isn't a rolling pin - but had to ask. Thank you very much for the review.

Few Qs: stylus, PPI, case, camera etc

I never realised pen tech has finally matured. Wow!! At least with the Note 9 and iPad pro and surface book 2 I tried, it's like writing on paper! So I'm changing my whole workflow and am seriously considering this phone.
So a few Qs please:
1) is the stylus as lag free and responsive as the Note 9? I.e. decent lag?
2) is there a mini more portable version of the stylus just as good? (Like the s-pen in the Samsung?)
3) is the screen's relatively low PPI (346 compared to my Mate 10's 400+) going to be an issue for reading Kindle books kind of closeup (6"). I know it's not technically "retina" at this distance.
4) is the camera actually that good? I've read it's brilliant but the aperture is larger than the f1.5 on the Note 9 so so don't see how it can be that good unless in lots of light. It can't be better than my mate 10 as that also has a larger aperture but perhaps it is because it uses three cams so can let in more light I don't know.
5) Most importantly despite searching hard I can't find a case that can house a stylus. Has anyone come up with a workaround? This is Note taking size yet they've failed to think about any means of housing a stylus... I was thinking perhaps stitch a loop into a case.
6) what is the latest update on the best version to buy?
Thanks to anyone who can help with any of these.