Samsung Galaxy Note 5 review:

Samsung's Galaxy Note 5 is the smoothest, sleekest stylus-equipped jumbo-screen smartphone that the company has ever made. On the plus side: a slim, shiny, large-screened luster; strong camera; retooled stylus; and killer battery life. But these assets are subverted by two key omissions; the Note 5's battery is not swappable and there is no expandable storage slot (though there is free cloud storage).

The Note 5 is the least distinctive of the Note line. It's Samsung's only 2015 model to come equipped with a stylus -- and a good one at that -- but it otherwise looks pretty much the same as the Galaxy S6 Edge+, featuring the same dual curved-edge screen and nearly identical specs. And the Note 5 and S6 Edge+ are basically supersized versions of the Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge models that Samsung debuted in March 2015.

In fact, the stylus (Samsung calls it the "S Pen") is about the only thing that makes the Note 5 truly distinctive. As such, it's a bit underwhelming compared with 2014's Note 4, which leap-frogged its peer, the Galaxy S5, in the hardware department, even without its S Pen. Nevertheless, the Note 5's flaws are few and far between, and its stylus gives it a functional edge over all other large-screen devices.

With the introduction of the current generation of Galaxy phones in March 2016, Samsung fans would do well to take a close look at the new lineup. A CNET Editor's Choice, the Galaxy S7 delivers the goods in spades with a polished design, awesome camera, long battery life, microSD slot, and water resistance (though no stylus). And the supersized Galaxy S7 Edge, an Editor's Choice in its own right, comes equipped with an even bigger battery and screen, a curved screen with "edge" software navigation, and a sky high price tag (but, again, no stylus).

Premium phone, premium price

The Galaxy Note 5 is available in gold, silver, white and sapphire black (which looks blue in the light), though not every region carries every color. Prices vary by retailer and country; be sure to check current promotions before you buy.

There's no denying that the Note 5 costs a lot, though it varies depending on where you live and where you buy it. That noted, as of October 2015, the 64GB version costs roughly $800 and the 32GB model costs about $700, making the Note 5 more expensive than the $649 64GB iPhone 6 Plus and the $749 64GB 6S Plus. The Note 5 is cheaper than the S6 Edge+, however; you'll pay even more for that curved display.

Compared to other large-screen models, like the 5.5-inch LG G4 or 5.7-inch Moto X Pure, the Note 5 is straight up pricey.