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

The Galaxy Note 5 is still one of the best phablets you can buy.

Stylish look and quality build; Cool new S-Pen features; Comfortable to hold; Great camera; Quick charging is super fast

Glass back picks up fingerprints; No MicroSD card slot

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'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

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 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

Having been an HTC One M7 happy owner since its release in 2013, I hoped to replace it by a new flagship from the Taiwanese manufacturer, but neither M8 nor M9 with their poor camera performance had enough strong points to want them.

Screen; performance; 64GB of internal memory; camera; stylus; quick and wireless charging; speakers; fingerprint sensor; Screen Mirroring

Not easy to hold and unlock the phone by same hand using fingerprint sensor due phone size

When Samsung released the Galaxy S6, its first flagship with an all metal-and-glass construction, we were understandably excited. Other smartphones had done the same thing, certainly, but this was Samsung – for years, the company packed incredible components into phones with rickety, cheap-feeling...

The Note5's components positively scream; They shredded our benchmarks, and the camera bested every one we've previously reviewed

Despite improvements; the device is still hefty enough to scare away anyone who prizes comfort and usability over screen size

The Galaxy Note 5 is Samsung's best phone ever, but by a narrower margin than any previous Galaxy device preceding it. That not only sums up the state of Samsung's…

Beautiful; lush display; Excellent performance; Superb camera performance; S Pen improved

TouchWiz is still ugly in places; Mediocre battery life; Expensive

Priced at Rs 53,900 for the 32GB variant, the Samsung Galaxy Note 5 comes at a premium pricing, but comparing the iPhone 6S Plus price , the Note 5 looks much more value for money. If you are looking to invest in a premium high end smartphone, the Note 5 is a good choice with great design and build,...