Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for Samsung
The Galaxy Note 9 isn’t exactly the most exciting new device.
It has a near-identical design to last year’s Galaxy Note 8 and it runs Android 8.1 Oreo, which isn’t the latest version of Android.
Just because it’s not a revolutionary new device, however, doesn’t mean Samsung didn’t sneak a few cool features into its new $1,000 smartphone.
Below are four of the most innovative and exciting aspects of the Galaxy Note 9.
1. The S Pen
Samsung changed the color of the S Pen that comes with the blue Galaxy Note 9 — rather than matching it to the phone’s finish, the new S Pen is a contrasting bright yellow (with any of the three other colors in which you can get the device, the S Pen comes in a matching color).
But beyond changing the color, Samsung upgraded the S Pen’s insides, too.
The new S Pen has Bluetooth Low Energy, which means it can work with your phone up to 30 feet away, allowing you to use the S Pen as a remote — click the button on the stylus to take a photo, change a presentation slide, or pause and play music and videos.
If there’s one downside, it’s that the new S Pen will need to charge from time to time. Thankfully, it does that while clipped in to the Galaxy Note 9, and Samsung says you’ll get 30 more minutes of use after 40 seconds of charging.
4. Storage
Mike Coppola/Getty Images for Samsung
One major selling point of the Galaxy Note 9 is its storage options: the device has a starting storage of 128 GB, or you can opt for the 512 GB version.
On top of that, the Galaxy Note 9 lets you use memory cards (sold separately) to expand the storage another 512 GB, which means you could end up with a 1 terabyte phone on your hands.