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Samsung Galaxy Note 5 tips and tricks

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 5 is a great device, but it's possible that you aren't using it to its full potential. Some of the Note 5's best features are switched off by default, and some other cool things are tucked away inside obscure bits of the interface. You can start making the most of them now by reading this list of our favorite, most useful Samsung Galaxy Note 5 tips and tricks.

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Come on in. The Note 5 is friendly. / © Mobile Fun

Samsung Galaxy Note 5: don’t bring the noise

Like any Samsung device, the Note 5 comes making buzzes and bleeps for every conceivable event, from an incoming text message to the faint murmur of a faraway sheep.

If you’d rather not be alerted to the movement of every individual atom in the universe, open up Settings and head for Sound and Notifications to turn off the ones you don’t want. You can also use this section to change the vibration pattern for notifications such as texts.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5: get 4K video

By default, the Samsung camera shoots video at 1,080p, but it’s actually capable of shooting in even higher 4K resolution. You might think that’s overkill when so few of us have devices that are capable of displaying 4K video, but shooting in 4K effectively gives you magic zoom powers: you can zoom in on your 4K footage and output it in 1,080p, and it’ll still look amazing on an HD screen. You’ll lose some key features such as HDR and stabilization when you turn on 4K mode, but you get many more pixels to play with in your recording.

You’ll find this option in the camera’s settings screen. And while you’re there, you might want to check out our next tip too...

samsung galaxy note 5 heart rate sensor
The camera can shoot 4K video, which will broaden your creative possibilities. / © ANDROIDPIT

Samsung Galaxy Note 5: get HDR photos

The Note 5 does High Dynamic Range photos (HDR), but you’ll need to switch the setting on in the camera's settings screen. While you’re at it, turn the flash off so it doesn’t fire when the light levels are getting dim, because that’ll spoil the HDR effect. 

Samsung Galaxy Note 5: don’t just point and shoot

Left to its own devices, the Note 5 can take pretty good photos, but the built-in camera modes open up more possibilities. You can change the focus, enable pro features such as manual exposure and ISO levels, shoot in slow motion or upload live to YouTube. Enabling grid lines in photos makes it easier to compose good shots too.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5: charge like a demon

Don’t lose the charger that came with your Note: unlike many third-party or older Samsung chargers, it supports Fast Charging. Your Note 5 also supports faster wireless charging, although the only wireless charger that currently delivers that is Samsung’s fairly expensive own-brand model.

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There ain't no party like a Samsung Fast Charge party. / © Samsung

Samsung Galaxy Note 5: don’t hurt your hands

The Note 5 isn’t ridiculously large, but if you’re used to operating a phone one-handed, that extra bit of screen is going to stretch your thumbs. Samsung has two options that can help out here: go to Settings > One Handed Operation and enable Reduce Screen Size and/or One Handed Input.

The first option scales down the screen when you triple-click the home button, making everything more easily reachable. The second rearranges many of the touch targets so they’re not so far away; for example, by shifting the lock screen code entry box and the phone dialer to the right.

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One Handed Mode has been around for a while, but it's the best it's ever been on the Note 5. / © ANDROIDPIT

Samsung Galaxy Note 5: don’t skip the Samsung account

Yes, you’ve got a Google account, but it’s worth signing up for and using a Samsung account as well, to ensure you don’t miss Samsung-specific app updates. You'll also be able to take advantage of Samsung’s remote phone lock and Apple-style phone-finding service.

Samsung Galaxy Note 5: watch what you’re putting where

We’re sure you know this already, but try not to put the S Pen in in the wrong way. As some owners have discovered to their cost, this can do serious and warranty-exempt damage to your device.

samsung galaxy note 5 air command s pen
Be careful where you put the pointy thing. Good advice for the Note 5, and for life in general. / © ANDROIDPIT

Samsung Galaxy Note 5: don’t play fast and loose with its battery juice

Despite Samsung’s best efforts, the Note 5 battery doesn’t last quite as long as we’d like it to. If you’re finding that your battery doesn’t last as long as your days, it’s worth setting Power Saver Mode to kick in sooner than the default point of 15 percent charge.

If things get really desperate, you can go into Ultra Power Saving mode. It throttles back the device considerably but does a good job of eking every last amp out of the Note 5’s battery.

Do you have any great tips or bits of hard-earned wisdom for your fellow Note 5 users? Let us know below!

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Gary Marshall

Gary Marshall
Freelance writer

Former lion tamer, Girls Aloud backing dancer and habitual liar Gary Marshall has been writing about technology since Google was two guys in a garage. He's written for many fine magazines, newspapers and websites, written a range of how-to-books and a novel, co-written a BBC documentary series and dishes out weekly tech advice on BBC Radio Scotland.

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  • 9
    Kiran Naik May 18, 2021 Link to comment

    Hi
    I have purchased my Samsung Galaxy Note 5 in Feb-2018. Till date it is not rebooted OR done master reset. But recently I have noticed that my device getting immediately drain by 2 to 3 % after charging. i.e. after charging @ 100% (Notification light shows Green color), if I disconnect the cable the battery immediately shows 98 to 97% charging level and afterward it continuously getting drain till it comes to 80%.
    Can anybody help me to fix it?


  • Sakshi Gupta 2
    Sakshi Gupta Mar 10, 2016 Link to comment

    Very Helpful post. Samsung's Galaxy Note series stands out from everything else in the Android universe with its fantastic S Pen stylus. If you need a stylus, you need a Note—it's as simple as that. The new Galaxy Note 5 comes with a few new features just work better on this king-sized device.


  • John Bailey 1
    John Bailey Oct 13, 2015 Link to comment

    There are so many tricks with the note 5, but my favorites are the home key shortcuts, tap twice quickly to open the camera and hold for Google, but you can also set the quick triple tap, I have mine set to the small screen


  • 2
    Elizabeth Rose Oct 13, 2015 Link to comment

    Samsung Galaxy Phones are now on sale only at BestAndroidPhoneDeals .com


  • BulletinTech 2
    BulletinTech Oct 12, 2015 Link to comment

    Thanks to Androidpit for for these Tips

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