Samsung Galaxy Note 4
How long will it last?
Our estimateSupported until October 2017 · Buy-by October 2015
Apple doesn't publish an end date, but iPhones have a consistent ~3-year update track record — on that basis the Galaxy Note 4 should be supported until around October 2017. Buying it today still gets you about -8.7 years of safe use (Apple's written legal minimum is 5 years).
Source: Samsung's official policy · last verified 2026-06-12 · how we compute this
Our verdict
Many fans' favorite Note, with a removable battery and S Pen, but its patches dried up years ago.
Pros
- Removable 3220mAh battery and microSD slot
- Excellent S Pen with a sharp QHD screen
- Metal frame gave it a more premium feel than the S5
Cons
- No updates since roughly 2017
- Old microUSB and Android 6 ceiling
- Bulky and heavy by modern standards
Full specifications
Display
💡 Bigger numbers = smoother scrolling (Hz) and easier outdoor reading (nits).
| Screen | 5.7-inch Super AMOLED, 1440 x 2560 (QHD), 60Hz |
Performance
💡 The phone's brain — it decides speed today and how well it ages.
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 (US) / Exynos 5433 (intl) |
| RAM | 3GB |
| Storage | 32GB |
Cameras
💡 Megapixels aren't everything — lens variety matters more day-to-day.
| main | 16MP |
| front | 3.7MP |
Battery & charging
💡 Capacity in mAh — bigger usually means longer between charges.
| Battery | 3,220 mAh |
| Charging | Adaptive Fast Charging wired (microUSB 2.0) |
Build
💡 Size, weight, and the materials between your phone and the floor.
| Dimensions | 153.5 × 78.6 × 8.5 mm |
| Weight | 176 g |
| Materials | Plastic back with metal frame, removable cover |
| Water resistance | None |
Software & connectivity
💡 The software it ships with, and how far it can upgrade.
| Software | Android 4.4.4 with TouchWiz at launch |
| Connectivity | 4G LTE, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, microUSB 2.0, 3.5mm jack, S Pen |
| Update policy | ~2 years of updates (our estimate from Samsung's track record — written minimum is 5 years) |
Better-value alternatives
Similar price, lower cost per month of safe ownership.
Frequently asked questions
How long will the Galaxy Note 4 get updates?
Support ended around 2017 after Android 6 Marshmallow. It has had no security patches for many years.
Does the Galaxy Note 4 have a removable battery?
Yes. It is one of the last Notes with a user-replaceable battery and a microSD card slot under the back cover.
Is the Note 4 still good for the S Pen experience?
The S Pen and screen still work well for sketching and notes offline, but the dead software support limits it to casual or hobby use.
Compare it
Specs are collected from manufacturer documentation; prices reflect major US retailers and change often. Support end dates follow each brand's official policy (or, for Apple, its documented historical pattern). Last verified 2026-06-12.