Samsung's Note line of phones has always been about three things: a huge screen, outsized performance, and a stylus. But now, with the Galaxy Note 5, two of those three things aren't so special anymore. Every Android phone is big now, and almost all of those big phones are fast and powerful.

Amazing screen; Stylus getting more useful; Great performance

Can't replace battery; No 128GB option and no microSD expansion; Expensive

Once upon a time, the large-screen smartphone category was dominated by one device: the Samsung Galaxy Note. It was literally the original phablet (not counting the ill-received Dell Streak), and it was the only smartphone north of five inches worth considering.

Excellent design; the Note5 looks great; Superb display; S Pen features useful and well implemented; Powerful and stable performance

Pricey at launch; It's time to move on from USB 2.0; Samsung should have kept the removable battery and microSD card slot

Note fans will not be disappointed in the Note5. It's big and powerful, with a top-notch design and one of the best displays on the market. It excels at just about everything, and is a leading contender for the best overall smartphone to date.

The latest iteration of Samsung's other major smartphone series (the other being the regular "Galaxy" phones) is here with a faster belly, more solid skeleton, and a brighter view on the world.

Feels fantastic in the hand; Beautifully built; One of the best and brightest screens ever; The pen feels better than ever; with a tip that feels more like you're using a pen; S-Pen clicks at the back; allowing you to annoy people during a meeting (!

Only 32GB of storage; and it isn't expandable

With a gorgeous screen, top-notch specs, and a capable stylus that will help you stay productive, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 ($696; 32GB) is the best phablet on Verizon Wireless - for the moment.

Fast processor; Excellent camera; Top-notch reception; S Pen functionality

Expensive; Verizon model lacks Samsung Pay; No removable battery or memory

Samsung has done very well with a couple of key design elements in their previous smartphone offerings, curved displays and the larger format Galaxy Note line. The Galaxy Note series has done especially well for the brand, with a user base that doesn't mind a bit more heft in exchange for more...

Samsung's Galaxy Note series has never been for everyone, but the Note 5 just might change some minds. It's the smallest, most comfortable version of the phablet to date, and thoughtful software tweaks make the S Pen feel way less gimmicky.

Amazing screen; Top-tier performance; Much-improved S Pen experience; Great camera

Grabbing the S Pen takes an extra step; Some will miss the microSD slot; Far pricier than similar phones

Is the Galaxy Note 5 worth the upgrade if you already have a Note 4 or Galaxy S6? The push-button S Pen is genuinely ergonomic and more than just a novelty feature, while the brighter and more accurate display will easily draw in enthusiasts.

Brighter and more accurate Super AMOLED 1440p display, Thinner and lighter than Galaxy Note 4, Push-button feature works without issues, Metal edges and corners; Solid construction, High-performance Exynos 7420 SoC with 4 GB RAM, Good outdoor usability; High automatic brightness, Great SSD...

Non-removable battery; No Dual-SIM support; IR support removed; MHL support removed; MicroSD support removed; No USB Type-C; Plastic back cover; S Pen is uncomfortable for extended use; Same throttling issues as the Galaxy Note 4; Unimpressive speaker

Samsung recently released its new Galaxy Note phablet, and we thought it was time for a Samsung Galaxy Note 5 review choice with expert verdicts. It's a sound idea to check out a video review of a brand new device before making your purchase, and what could be better than one review… well two of...

A lot of the Note5's DNA comes from the Galaxy S6 range released earlier this year. Some of these changes might come off as familiar, but compared to its predecessor, the Galaxy Note 4 , the Note5 represents a complete overhaul.

Excellent 5.7-inch Super-AMOLED display; Extended functionality with improved S-Pen stylus; Made from glass and aluminium; Improved ergonomics with curved back; Competitive 16MP and 5MP cameras; Fast wireless charging and support for Cat9 LTE

No support for expandable microSD memory; Only offered as a 32GB variant