I went from 6+ to Note 7 for 2 weeks. Here're some of my observations :
- android Bluetooth is PITA, I couldn't make it talk to Google Now using my car(2016 Honda Civic). I tried everything! It looks like Google just doesn't care to update their protocol. With my old 6+ I only paired it once and it was done. I use Siri a lot in my car and the only way to use Google Now was via plugging Note through usb(which will activate Android Auto). Usually I have phone in my bag and I simply don't have time/too lazy to take it out and plug it in. Can't wait for Siri start talking to third party apps in iOS 9!
- stuttering and hiccups(especially in Chrome). That alone drove me nuts. I disabled like every little bloatware Samsung put into Note and it still was laggy. My wife's S7 is was snappier! Samsung put like every feature possible into Note 7, but didn't optimize it. It looks like 4GB of RAM is barely enough. You won't get lag-free experience you got used to on iPhones. End of story.
- a lot of ghost touches on edges even with a case on. I got better at it, but I still wish they released one with flat screen. Edges are really in the way. Also, there're numerous reports of screen shattering on every Android forum - as soon as edge hits hard object(even in a case) it's done. And screen replacements are expensive, because they have to re-seal waterproofing parts. I was always worrying about dropping my Note. I dropped my iPhones(original, 3G, 3GS, 4, 4S, 6+) countless times and I never broke anything.
- software design and UI design are far behind Apple. No news here, Android still looks non-uniform. Apps that made along Material Design guidelines looks good, but still not quite there.
- quality and optimization of apps is trash. Real dealbreaker. Yes, you have lots of options with Android, but usually they're not good.
- fingerprint scanner is just ok. Sometimes it couldn't recognize my finger because of positioning. Never happened to me on my old 6+.
- battery life is just ok. Yeah, you could charge it fast and it has wireless charging(something I really love about Android phones), but it's not near as reliable as my old 6+.
- keyboard lag. I am one of those people who would feel it. I tried all usual suspects - Google keyboard, Swiftkey, Chrooma, but they all fall short behind native Apple keyboard.
I really wanted to keep Note. I honestly tried. I love camera, screen(not edges though), feature like always on display and night clock, but Apple's software design and quality of apps brought me back. Returned Note few days ago and picked up pretty much brand new 6S+ off Craigslist. I always buy phones outright, so waiting for iPhone 7 Pro is not on my list - I simply can't go back to screen that is smaller than 5.5 inches, so 7 Plus is the only way to go and simply don't have cash to buy it outright. The only reason I bough Note 7 outright was because Samsung Canada ran a promotion of giving you $200 off when you trade-in ANY phone. I brought an old Alcatel and they gladly took it. They were trying really hard to make people buying Notes, but with recall it all went downhill... I always buy my iPhones in the fall when the new one is released - you could pick them up for cheap, so the cost of yearly upgrade is very reasonable. Note is a great phone, but just not for me.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram