Overall a step backwards compared to the Note 4? Alternatives?

Overall, it looks like this phone doesn't seem to offer much compared to the Note 5 for enthusiasts.


This seems to be a matter of form over function here:

• 3000 Mah battery, which will probably not last 1 day of heavy use - even less so if you are outside (you must turn up the screen brightness in the sun)


• To add insult to injury, no removable battery, so extended batteries by companies like Hyperion are harder to come by and in 12 months, changing the battery (because it doesn't hold as much of a charge) will be more difficult


• No SD Card (for people who want to store FLAC and movies on their phone)


• Exynos means that this phone will probably not be getting an AOSP ROM (not saying the 810 Snapdragon is perfect, as it overheats, but the larger size of the Note might be able to mitigate that)


• Glass back assures that you have to use a case or it will crack (plus it makes the "premium" pointless)


• No features like water proofing or anything else special


• Other specs are not a huge upgrade - the Exynos is faster than the Snapdragon 805 on Note 4, but not by much

I guess we should look for alternatives? There were rumors of an LG G4 Note (or Pro) and LG's executives did confirm they were releasing an "ultra premium" (their words) device.