TLDR: Is the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 worth it in 2021? No, not for most users at this time. For a little more money, you can get a great deal on a gently used Galaxy Note 10 from Swappa.
If you are planning on buying a new Galaxy Note, you may have second thoughts once you see its MSRP. The Galaxy Note 9 launched in August 2018 with a starting retail price of $999.99. There really isn’t any other way to say this, but that is expensive, which is why Swappa recommends buying a gently used previous-generation model.
Keep reading if you’ve been asking yourself if the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 is worth buying in 2021.
Table of contents:
- What are the specs for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9?
- Is the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 worth it in 2021?
- Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. Galaxy Note 10
- You should buy a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 if…
- You should consider a Samsung Galaxy Note 10 if…
Read our Galaxy Note 9 Buyer’s Guide and Galaxy Note 9 Upgrade Guide. You can also check out our overall Galaxy Note Upgrade Guide to learn more about the other models in the Galaxy Note family.
What are the specs for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9?
Newer Galaxy Note smartphones, such as the Note 10 and Note 20 families, included a regular model and a Plus or Ultra model. But things were a bit simpler when Samsung introduced the Galaxy Note 9. There was only one display size available, and instead, your only options were choosing between 128GB or 512GB of internal storage space.
You can review the specs for the Galaxy Note 9 and see how they compare to the Galaxy Note 10 and Galaxy Note 20 5G in the table below.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 | Samsung Galaxy Note 10 | Samsung Galaxy Note 20 5G | |
Display | 6.4″ Quad HD+ Super AMOLED (2960 x 1440) | 6.3″ FHD+ Dynamic AMOLED (2280 x 1080) | 6.7″ flat Infinity-O FHD+ Super AMOLED+ (2400 x 1080) |
Processor | Snapdragon 845 | Snapdragon 855 | Snapdragon 865+ |
RAM | 6GB (with 128GB) or 8GB (with 512GB) | 8GB | 8GB |
Storage | 128GB or 512GB | 256GB | 128GB or 256GB |
Rear Camera | Dual camera with Dual OIS (12MP wide-angle and 12MP telephoto) | Triple camera with Dual OIS (16MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide, 12MP telephoto) | Triple camera with OIS (12MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide, 64MP telephoto) |
Front Camera | 8MP | 10MP Selfie camera | 10MP Selfie camera |
Water Resistance Rating | IP68 | IP68 | IP68 |
Battery | 4,000 mAh | 3,500 mAh | 4,300 mAh |
Charging | 15W wired charging, Fast wireless charging | 25W wired charging, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare | 25W wired charging, Fast Wireless Charging 2.0, Wireless PowerShare |
3.5mm Headphone Jack | Yes | No | No |
Network Connectivity | 4G LTE | 4G LTE | 4G LTE / 5G (sub6 & mmWave) |
Size / Weight | 76.4 x 161.9 x 8.8 mm / 201 grams | 71.8 x 151.0 x 7.9 mm / 168 grams | 75.2 x 161.6 x 8.3 mm / 194 grams |
One feature that has grown more popular over the past few years is wireless charging. The Samsung Galaxy Note 9 has fast wireless charging, which uses the Qi wireless charging standard. Some of the other popular questions involving the Galaxy Note 9 are whether; the phone is waterproof, if it has a headphone jack, and if it supports 5G.
Is the Galaxy Note 9 waterproof?
According to Samsung, the Galaxy Note 9 is water-resistant. The Galaxy Note 9 has an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, which means it can potentially withstand being submerged in up to 1.5 meters of fresh water for up to 30 minutes. Of course, it is important to note that seals on a smartphone may degrade over time. In other words, we wouldn’t recommend intentionally submerging your Galaxy Note 9 (originally from 2018) in 2021.
Does the Galaxy Note 9 have a headphone jack?
The Galaxy Note 9 has a standard 3.5mm headphone jack. In fact, the Galaxy Note 9 was the last Galaxy Note to include a 3.5mm headphone jack. Future models in the Note series use USB-C for headphones, which require a set of USB-C headphones or a USB-C to 3.5mm dongle.
Is the Galaxy Note 9 5G capable?
No, the Galaxy Note 9 does not support 5G. The Galaxy Note 9 supports 4G LTE.
Is the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 worth it in 2021?
Despite the fact that the Galaxy Note 9 has some hardware features that aren’t available on newer models, such as a 3.5mm jack and 512GB storage option — it isn’t the best Galaxy Note to buy in 2021.
The Galaxy Note 9 was released in August 2018, which was about two years before Samsung announced its commitment to providing three generations of Android OS upgrades. The Galaxy Note 9 originally launched with Android 8.1 Oreo and was later updated to Android 10. Samsung’s commitment to three years of Android updates began with the Galaxy Note 10, which means there is a good chance the Galaxy Note 9 will stick with Android 10 forever.
Samsung Galaxy Note 9 vs. Galaxy Note 10
The display size on the Galaxy Note 9 and the Galaxy Note 10 are very similar. The Note 9 has a 6.4” display and the Note 10 has a 6.3” display. But one factor that favors the Galaxy Note 10 over the Note 9 is the size of the phone. Due to the Note 10 featuring slimmer bezels around the display — the phone is smaller, and also, lighter. Some would also argue that the slimmer bezels make for a better looking smartphone.
Some of the other perks you would get if you choose the Galaxy Note 10 over the Note 9 is a newer processor, faster wired charging, and a better camera setup. The Note 9 features an 8MP front camera and the Note 10 features a 10MP front camera. And on the back side, you would get a triple camera with 16MP ultra-wide, 12MP wide, 12MP telephoto if you go with the Note 10.
The S Pen is one of the most important Galaxy Note features for many users, and Samsung rolled out several great S Pen improvements with the release of the Galaxy Note 10. Key S Pen improvements that arrived with the Galaxy Note 10 included support for additional (and more advanced) Air Actions, and an S Pen that is now a single piece (instead of two pieces) of plastic.
Perhaps the key reason to choose a Galaxy Note 10 over the Galaxy Note 9 is the upcoming software updates (noted in detail in the previous section), or potential lack thereof with the Galaxy Note 9.
You should buy a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 if…
- …you want an S Pen and are on a strict budget.
- …you want a Galaxy Note and absolutely must have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
You should consider a Samsung Galaxy Note 10 if…
- …you want future Android updates.
- …you want a newer, more advanced processor, better selfie camera, and faster wired charging capabilities.
Prices for the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 start at around $200, with current prices for the Galaxy Note 10 starting at around $300 for gently used models. Alternatively, if your budget isn’t as strict, you might consider a Galaxy Note 20. Prices for a gently used Galaxy Note 20 currently start at around $500, which is a big jump from $200 or $300, but you will get the added benefit of 5G, a bigger battery, a bigger display, and the newer and more powerful Snapdragon 865+ processor.
Whether you choose to go with the Galaxy Note 9 or opt to go with a newer model such as a Galaxy Note 10 or Galaxy Note 20 5G — you can take comfort knowing that you’ll get the best deals on gently used smartphones in the Swappa marketplace.
Swappa is an active marketplace and an easy-to-use marketplace. Swappa is also the safest marketplace for used tech, so you can shop with confidence.