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Galaxy Note review

Sorry for my choppy English, I'm not a native speaker.
When we first reviewed the mighty Galaxy S II back in June, we called it the best phone ever. But when the Galaxy Note was announced in IFA this september, we thought that it will be the new best phone ever. As it turns out, it wasn’t, and here’s the explaination why.
Design
Galaxy S II already was a huge phone. 4.3” might be too much for some people (usually for iPhone users). Keeping that in mind, try to imagine what were the initial reactions when we first took a glance of Galaxy Note in our hands. An unstoppable stream of many swearwords was ended by „...how big!”. And, if we look at the competitors, there is no surprise why it feels so big – Galaxy S II, Sensation and RAZR – all of them are 4.3inchers, Dell Streak is using 5” screen, but the smallest of tablets are sporting 7 inches. After two weeks of Note usage, almost every phone looks very small.
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Image courtesy of GSMArena.com
Samsung itselves are calling this device neither a smartphone, nor a tablet – it is in a segment of its own. It is in a planet of its own. Of course, the big screen is comfy for Internet, Angry Birds or HD movies, but using this device as a, umm, phone, is a bit tricky. You see, operationing with one hand is pretty much impossible, because the finger can’t touch this. Or that. Or every corner. (Hello MC Hammer!) To reach a control, you must change your grab, and it is not only unconvienient, but a bit dangerous too, since there is a possibility to drop the device and shatter your 700$ on the floor.
Apart from that, you must forget about tweeting and messaging with one hand, because it’s impossible to reach the keys in the other side of the screen. And when I was too lazy to use both hands, I figured that using my nose to touch the controls I can’t reach is good enough. Of course, that sort of device is bought by people who know they will confront with some inconveniences like these, and they just deal with it, knowing that 5.3” screen is included in their needs (architects, IT admins etc.) And, of course, the mighty experience of browsing Internet on screen this big is absolutely magnificient.
Galaxy S II users will recognize many familiar shapes, because the front of Galaxy Note is made by a single piece of Gorilla Glass, which is covering the big screen, a home button, and two illuminated capacitive Back and Menu controls. However, the distance between them is too big, and I can’t reach them with one hand. There is Samsung logo in the top, a speaker, sensors and frontal camera. The proximity sensor leaved us with a bit of disappointment, because its job was to lock the screen down during the call, but all it did was flicker the screen.
Image courtesy of GSMArena.com
The back is more flat on the Note than it was on S II, it hasn’t got the curve that was on the bottom of S II. The back cover is made from black plastic, which, although it isn’t as rough as it was on S II, feels a bit cheap. It is very thin and light. The phone also is very thin and light. Anyway, there are lens on the top, which is companioned by LED, but on the bottom there is Samsung logo and very weak speaker.
Fortunately, the lock button is on the right, and, if you think about it, putting it on the top would be more than insane on a phone this big. On the left we find a volume rocker, which is too high, but on the top is 3.5mm jack and noise-cancelling microphone. There is S-pen stylus and microUSB on the bottom.
Design rating – 8. The design and ergonomics are very well fitted for a screen this big, and, even though it is very inappropriate to think about Note as a phone for daily usage, and it’s too small for being a tablet, as a golden compromise it’s very good.
Hardware
Even though there are many phones that have claimed its title, the mighty Galaxy S II still is the king of smartphones. Its hardware is very great and powerful, and it’s the closest definition of the word perfection. And Samsung thought: If we have such a great piece of hardware, why should we bother of making new one, if the old hasn’t been broken? Indeed, they did transplant it from S II to Note. For example, the chipset is the same (Exynos), the GPU is the same (Mali-400MP), and the ARM-Cortex A9 based dualcore processor (although it has been a tiny bit overclocked to 1.4GHz), is the same. Even though this configuration was initially launched in February, it is still one of the most powerful yet.
The device is powered by 2500 miliamperhour battery, which is huge, measuring it after phone standarts, and, once again, mediocre as a tablet battery. Assuming it is more of a phone than tablet, we will measure it after phone standarts. Even though Samsung is promising cake, magnets and unicorns with its battery life, we didn’t actually get more battery life than from a normal phone, for example, S II. That said, it is very good indeed, meaning that you’ll end up with 20% of battery life at the end of a really busy day.
As we said earlier, the front is occupied by 5.3” SuperAMOLED HD display. Of course, it’s an AMOLED, what would you expect from it to do? Indeed, it has very great and vivid colors, deep blacks and high contrast. It has 800x1280 resolution, which is very popular among laptops, not phones. Its DPI is 285, but we aren’t sure if it’s any better than Galaxy S II which has much lower DPI rates. Prepare for James May mode, because I’ll explain why.
See, SuperAMOLED Plus is better than the original SuperAMOLED, because it has RGB pixel layout instead of Pentile, which means it has the same amount of green subpixels, as it has red or blue subpixels, making it total of 12 subpixels within a pixel. However, SuperAMOLEDs are using PenTile rather than RGB, which means a lower amount of subpixels, making it a total of 9. That’s because AMOLED technology isn’t advanced enough to put enough subpixels in such high DPI, or, let’s put it the other way round, RGB AMOLED pixels are too big to make enough DPI – that’s where Pentile comes in. That’s the reason why Galaxy S II has only 217DPI.
Image courtesy of GSMArena.com
Of course, in daily usage you’ll not notice it. Only, viewed close, yes, you can say it’s PenTile. And, displaying very small text shows up all the disadvantages of PenTile. But, yes, that’s the mark against AMOLED – we hope that until the release of Galaxy S III, which, if all the rumors are true, has HD display too, Samsung will have resolved thi issue.
This phone, being a flagship, doesn’t lack everything in connection departement, and it sports WiFi b/g/n with DLNA and WiFi Direct, 3G HSPA, GPS, NFC in some regions, Bluetooth 3.0, USB-to-go and other familiar things. It has 16/32GB storage, which can be expanded with microSDHC card. It’s possible to connect the device to the big screen with MHL audiovideo cable.
The device has 8MP camera, which is the same as on Galaxy S II. Of course, it can capture HD video. Image quality is very good and you can think of it as a replacement of point-and-shoot cameras.
Hardware rating – 9. The device is very well equipped. Of course, you would demand a RGB screen, but that’s not a big deal – just a little disappointment. Everything else is just great.
Software
Note has Android 2.3.5, which is topped by Touchwiz 4.0. The device’s ROM is very well optimized and the battery consumption is handled nicely, bounding CPU frequency between 200MHz and 1.4GHz. The max frequency is used only 5% of time. Of course, this being XDA, you wouldn’t be interested too much in the stock ROM, but this is one of the best stock ROM’s I’ve ever seen.
The TouchWiz itself is very colorful and flash. Many will dislike it, but we loved it. It’s very functional and easy to use, and, because of the big screen, it has been made possible to put 5x5 icons/widgets on desktop or menu.
Software rating – 10. TouchWiz 4.0 is great, the ROM is optimized very nicely, and it’s a very nice gesture from Samsung to have the bootloader unlocked.
To buy or not to buy...
Amazon has put Note’s price circa 700 dollars.... I would say – not to. Of course, if you aren’t the sort of person who especially wants a big screen – then, and only then – Note is a great buy. But, if you are a normal bloke who wants a great phone with a big screen, you wouldn’t want more than Galaxy S II. It has the same hardware, but a smaller screen, which would be more comfortable in everyday usage. It also is cheaper, more popular and with a better screen (SuperAMOLED+). If you want something smaller than Note but bigger than the pack, you should take look at HTC Titan/Sensation XL, but, because it is more expensive than it’s really worth, and, has the specs of 2010, we wouldn’t recommend it either. That’s the conclusion – if you want a Galaxy S II on steroids, buy Note, but if you are fine with the S II, why should you not take it in the first place?
+ Huge screen
+ Great performance
+ Nice camera
+ Android 2.3.5 + TouchWiz 4.0
+ S-Pen stylus
- Cheap plastics
- Price is too high
- Too huge screen
- Pentile ruins the party
CTRL.lv rating – [9/12]
(Galaxy S II had 11/12)

wow great review! although the note is beautiful, i though the screen might be a little too big, as well.

Thank you!

Thanks for the review. I have added it to the note review sticky. So no need to keep this thread open now.
Thread Closed​

SGT 7.7 vs SGN 5.3

I have a dilemma...
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=4136&idPhone2=4135
i want the Galaxy Note because of it's newer features, but i want the 7.7 size of the Galaxy Tablet, actually i want 10.1 but it's not SAMOLED HD, the Note is only 5.3 not big enough as a tablet, yet not small enough as a phone
i've seen and used the Gnote in person and it's big. way bigger than my SGS2. but not big enough to see games in a bigger screen
so the 7.7 is as good as it gets until the release a 10.1 SAMOLED HD version
the spec on the 7.7 seems a little bit dated vs the Note 5.3 (camera MP, resolution 720 vs 1080, and many many others)
so i'm really unsure about the purchase
if i got for the 7.7 i'll probably go for the 64 GB version or at least 32 GB like on the Note
ideally i'd like to use 3G on either of the two, but both are not compatible with Tmo AWS 1700
it'd have been a simple purchase if the 7.7 had the same spec as the 5.3 except for the better screen

The Note and the 7.7 both have the same resolution.
http://www.samsung.com/global/microsite/galaxynote/note/spec.html?type=find
Really, the Note's strengths are in its digitizer pen and pocket-ability. I can't see keeping both a Galaxy 2 and the Note. It's kind of odd how many niches Samsung is trying to fill, but they're all pretty solid products so there can be a dilemma when choosing. If you just want a larger SAMOLED screen then you may have to wait.

SGT7.7 is using the better screen SAMOLED+ = RGB matrix
while the Note is only using the SAMOLED HD = Pentile matrix

I have a Note, and I have a Tab 8.9 LTE (not Tegra!) and an SGS2.
I haven't touched the SGS2 in three weeks. I rarely use the Tab now. I use the hell out of my Note. I also have a 1st-gen Tab 7" 3G, which is now a very expensive alarm clock.
That said, I'm still going to buy a 7.7 3G. It's just too sexy to resist that big SAMOLED HD Plus display combined with Exynos, in a thin, mostly metal case.
Don't know how much real use I'll get out of it if I keep the Note though.

GT-P6800 vs GT-N7000: FIGHT!!!
Since I currently have both devices, I'll give you my take on them in their own right. Bear in mind, this is my own personal review based on my own experiences with each. So whichever one I favour in the end is really just my own opinion; your experiences may favour a different opinion, and as such, it's really down to the individual as to which one is ultimately better for you. That said, the Galaxy Tab 7.7 and the Galaxy Note are absolutely fantastic devices, and I love them both.
By now, most of us know that these devices are very similar on the inside, so I'm going to break this down by their differences instead. Mainly I'm going to focus on the most obvious differences like screen, battery, camera, form factor, and x-factor (like things which can't really be put on a spec sheet).
So let's begin!
Screen:
Let me just start this section by saying that both screens are absolutely gorgeous! Both have a 1280x800 resolution but that's about where the similarities end. The Note features Samsung's HD SAMOLED display technology vs the 7.7's HD SAMOLED Plus technology. Now, there's a lot of hoo-ha going on about the inferiority of the PenTile subpixel arrangement that the Note uses, and that it would have been just that much better had it been the same kind of RGB subpixel matrix used in the Galaxy S2 (and the 7.7 for that matter!). To this is say in the most respectful manner possible, QUIT YOUR MOANING!!! It makes complete sense as to why Samsung chose to use the PenTile pixel arrangement with the Note due to its smaller size; you can achieve a higher resolution with fewer subpixels. If Samsung had gone with an RGB arrangement instead, with today's current technology, either the screen would have had to have been bigger, or the resolution lower (maybe qHD or something). On top of that, I actually kinda like the way that the PenTile display seems to dither and/or anti-alias images. So oblique angles appear sharper and less pixelated. Text on the Note is crisp and easy to read, even without having to zoom in. On top of that, since PenTile uses more green subpixels than either red or blue, and since human eyes are more sensitive to green, the Note's display appears to be noticeably brighter than the 7.7
Now for the 7.7's display, and oh what a great display this is! If you've ever seen or used the SAMOLED Plus displays found on the Galaxy S2 or other Samsung products using the same technology, you'll feel right at home with the 7.7; it's the same exact thing, only bigger and more of it! What's not to like? Not much really. The only thing I find worth noting when comparing the 7.7's display to the Note, apart from the difference in the subpixel design which I have already talked about, is the brightness. The 7.7 doesn't really appear to be as bright as one might expect. However, what the 7.7 lacks in brightness, it more than makes up for in colour accuracy. The 7.7 reproduces colours which are warmer and more natural looking than what you might see on the Note. Even when I compared my 7.7 to my 8.9 side by side, the 7.7 wasn't as bright as the IPS panel in that device, though there was no competition with the 7.7's contrast levels or colour reproduction. All in all, the 7.7's screen is absolutely brilliant. Its refinement means that it focuses on being the best it can be in all areas rather than having to exaggerate one strength in order to distract the user from any would-be downfalls.
EDGE: Draw.
At the end of the day, both screens are winners because they are best suited to the respective sizes of the devices they're on, which leads me to the next category.
Form factor:
Which do you prefer: A small, slim, lightweight tablet that can double as your phone? Or do you prefer a jumbo sized phone which packs the power and versatility of being able to play the role of a tablet?
This one really comes down to the individual and their lifestyle, so it's very hard to remain objective here.
As a phone, the Note is massive. Once I had become used to the sheer size of it, my old Galaxy S2 felt utterly tiny in my hand for comparison. It's a really strange feeling which you have to experience yourself in order to fully understand. Having said that though, once you get used to it, it feels just like any other smartphone, only better. As someone with pretty big hands, having the extra real estate makes texting a breeze. Viewing web pages is also a much more pleasant experience than on any smartphone I have ever used, period. As large as the Note is for a phone, it was surprisingly pocketable. I rarely had an issue where it didn't comfortably slip right into my everyday trousers or jeans without a fuss. Finally, I never found it to be as awkward as I had expected when it came to the times I had to hold it up to my ear to take the occasional phone call either. I was half expecting to look like a fool holding something so massive as the Note up to my head, but it's really not an issue. It felt obvious to me that Samsung took a lot of care into making sure that the Note would push, but not exceed, the boundaries of what is the best and most comfortable fit for everyday people in most situations, and that's what makes it great.
On the other hand, the 7.7 feels amazing! When I first picked it up out of the box, I was almost startled by how thin and light it is! If Samsung had announced that the 7.7 could double as your razor blade, and you could effectively use it to shave, I could totally see that being a real possibility. Yeah, it's like that. Perhaps it's a good thing that the 7.7 is encased in lovely brushed aluminium to weight it down lest I'd be worried that it would simply float away in a light breeze. For me, the 7.7 hits the sweet spot as a tablet. I have owned both the original Galaxy Tab as well as the 8.9. With the original, I loved how portable it was, but the screen size and resolution left me wanting just a little bit more. For a while I had the 8.9, but compared to the original, it felt just a little too cumbersome and unwieldy for me. With the 7.7, I think Samsung has finally cracked it! It's just big enough that I can still have a full tablet experience, yet it's still just small enough that I can very easily slip it into a vest or coat pocket, with no ill effect. It's nice not having to carry it around in a separate man-purse. Absolutely brilliant! I will say however, that holding it up to your head to take the occasional phone call does look quite ridiculous... However, this embarrassment can easily be avoided by using either the included earphones or bluetooth. Problem solved. I should mention that I have a Samsung HM5000 on its way, so we'll see how that changes or improves the overall experience. Overall though, the 7.7 is still fantastic as both tablet and phone.
EDGE: Draw.
Again, this all comes down to the individual, so in an effort to remain objective on a very subjective category, I can't really award an edge to either device.
Camera:
I'll be completely honest here: The 7.7's 3mp shooter can't even touch the 8mp beauty packed into the Note. To say that the 7.7's main camera is adequate, is about the nicest thing I can say for it overall. Though both units can record 720p video (with the Note being able to take it a step further by doing 1080p as well), the pictures and video captured by the 7.7 are very grainy in comparison. Why Samsung chose to forego a better shooter with 7.7 is beyond my understanding. Perhaps size and/or cost restrictions. Who knows?
So, if you take a lot of pictures, and camera quality is a big issue for you, then you're best off going with the Note on this one. However, if a stellar camera is more of a bonus than a selling point for you, the 7.7's shooter is, as I said, adequate. Either way, the Note's camera is the clear winner here.
EDGE: Note.
Battery:
The Note features a whopping 2500mah battery compared to a stellar 5000mah battery found in the 7.7
Though the 7.7's battery is literally twice as powerful as the Note's, it is having to power a much larger screen. Obviously, battery performance all depends on your usage, so your own experience could vary considerably. Having said that, with both devices I rarely had any issues with getting through a whole day of moderate to heavy usage and still having some power to spare. Now this is moderate to heavy usage with the screens both set to full brightness levels mind you. If you take advantage of the built-in power management features and reduce your screen brightness, I have little doubt in my mind that you can very easily go a couple days of moderate usage without having to worry about charging.
In my experience, I would say that both devices are about equal when it comes to battery performance.
EDGE: Draw.
X-Factor:
This is the category to describe what makes each of these devices special in their own way.
For the Note, the obvious x-factor is the s-pen. For some people, this is a huge selling point. Steve Jobs once said that if you're using a stylus, you're doing it wrong. As much as it pains me to admit, I think he was right... to an extent. The fact that there are a plethora of after-market capacitive styli available for use on our modern touch-screen devices is evidence to the fact that a lot of people still want something to hold in their hands as a way of interacting with their equipment. Anyone who has tried to take handwritten notes using their fingers alone knows this truth; the pen was invented for a reason. Fortunately, Samsung had the creative vision to pose the question, "Why not not have the best of both worlds?" Thus the Note was born. It's important to remember that the s-pen is no ordinary stylus. In fact, Samsung prefers not to even call it that, and no wonder! It would be virtually insulting to call the s-pen a mere stylus, because in many ways, it's really much much more. The s-pen isn't actually capacitive at all in fact. Instead, it uses the very same industry leading technology found in Wacom tablets used by many artists today. To have that same technology in the palm of your hand is truly a worthy x-factor for the Note.
For the 7.7, the x-factor is its very own design and build quality. I'm not sure how to accurately put into words just how well built the 7.7 is and, in turn, just how much of a difference that makes for how it feels in your hands. You really have to hold it to fully comprehend what I mean. Every inch of it feels so well thought out and crafted to perfection. The thought of putting it in an after-market case of some sort, or slapping some screen protector on it just feels sacrilegious in some way; kinda like with what George Lucas has done in his Star Wars remakes. Leave it as it is and appreciate it for its own magnificence. It's rare to see Samsung use this level of quality in the materials it chooses for making its devices. In this particular case, the 7.7 has "premium" written all over it. In short, it's a work of art. Well done Samsung!
EDGE: Draw
Other thoughts and conclusion:
It's incredible to realize just how much we are able to do with our mobile devices today compared to 2 years ago, or 5, or 10, etc. The idea of bringing single device with you which could fill the roles of a phone, GPS, media player, camera, laptop, etc. is something that, at one point, seemed nearly impossible. Yet here we are. We have come to a point where we expect and demand that our devices be capable of doing all these things effortlessly, on-demand, on the go, untethered, and unlimited. So, with regard to the Note and the 7.7 (and indeed any mobile device), the question is: how well can these devices live up to our demands and expectations?
For me, the overall winner here is the Galaxy Tab 7.7
Don't get me wrong, I love the Note. It is a fantastic device, and I feel that it really does what few others do: live up to its very own concept. However, for me anyway, it just doesn't quite fit into my lifestyle quite as well at the 7.7 does. The s-pen is a brilliant idea, but for an IT guy with terrible hand writing who doesn't really spend a whole lot of time sketching or doodling, the s-pen x-factor is somewhat lost on me. At the end of the day, with the s-pen safely nestled away, the Note is just a really big Galaxy S2 to me. That's not a bad thing at all by any right, however, I already have a Galaxy S2, and it does what it does very well. Also, despite the virtually identical internals, the 7.7 does feel much snappier, smoother, and generally more responsive. If the Alpha build of CM9 is anything to go by, I'm sure ICS will all change the user experience for the better on the Note. However, as it stands, the overall fluidity of the 7.7 is something that, frankly, puts even the iPad 2 to shame, and that's saying something! Also, as I mentioned earlier, I have the HM-5000 bluetooth handset on order. I suspect when that gets paired up to the 7.7 it will prove to be a deadly combo by merging a full tablet experience with a practical phone experience, all in a nice neat package.
In closing, here's a little food for thought.
I had posted on the Note forum what I think would be the ultimate device for me:
Imagine an upgraded 7.7 that more-or-less keeps the existing form factor but with subtle refinements. Maybe include a better screen and camera. Perhaps include Samsung's upcoming 5 series Exynos chip as well.
Now imagine an upgraded HM-5000 with a sleeker design which includes s-pen technology on one end, a 3.5mm jack on the other end, and maybe a monochrome OLED display in the middle for things like caller-ID, message info, and media playback info.
Now pair those two together...
Holy hell...
Samsung, I hope you're listening!
Hope you've enjoyed this guys! Thanks!

I have an SGN 5.3 and an SGT10.1V
I sold my SGT 7. Its to small for home use an to big for mobile use.
There is no need for an new SGT 7.7.
An new Tab with 10.1 Amoled and full hd screen compatible with google tv resolution would be great.

Good Read
Nice job of evaluating the two products. I have both the Note and the Tab 7.7. I concur both are extremely good products. The only negative I have found is the font size with the 7.7 appears to be half of the Note size. I wish Tab 7.7 font size would at least match the size of the smaller Note, then a toss up on which is best. Then it becomes per user's needs and interests. Currently, unless something can be done (ICS 4.2?) then readability becomes a real issue, and I would have to select the Note. perhaps all the available software has to catch up with the increased resolutions of the screens. Maybe most software programs are written to work on a 5.3" screen, but lose it when you go to a tablet with 1280X800 resolution. I read the next Prime will be 1920X1200. If true, and if font small now due to increased resolution, or whatever the reasons, how would you even see print with this resolution?
I did have a Tab 7 Plus for a month late last year, with 1024 X 600 resolution, and all software seemed to be readable, not anymore.

I have gone by two Notes by now!
I'm waiting for my 7.7 to get home!
for me, Note requires me to stop doing what ever im doing and use both hands to do it (unlike my 4.2" DHD). so if i have to use both hands, i rather have a bigger screen (and bigger bat).
i do take a lot of photos for internet posting. shame the sensor is worse

I'd say wait for a quad core galaxy tab if you can, if not the note is the way to go.

Thanks Jade Eyed Wolf very good info & more food for thoughts before making the final purchase
... i still can't make up my mind ! LOL i like them both
FernandoMiguel said:
I have gone by two Notes by now!
I'm waiting for my 7.7 to get home!
for me, Note requires me to stop doing what ever im doing and use both hands to do it (unlike my 4.2" DHD). so if i have to use both hands, i rather have a bigger screen (and bigger bat).
i do take a lot of photos for internet posting. shame the sensor is worse
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See, this is EXACTLY one of the points that is bothering the most about the Note, i really like the Note, but being only 5.3 is a really odd and weird side, which i need to use both hands to use it, but the screen readability is not better than those on 4.5"
the resolution is larger, but everything else it seems like compressed due the size of the 5.3 screen
nascar24usa said:
Maybe most software programs are written to work on a 5.3" screen, but lose it when you go to a tablet with 1280X800 resolution. I read the next Prime will be 1920X1200. If true, and if font small now due to increased resolution, or whatever the reasons, how would you even see print with this resolution?
I did have a Tab 7 Plus for a month late last year, with 1024 X 600 resolution, and all software seemed to be readable, not anymore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
now this is the thing that is not really what you believe
both Note and 7.7 runs at the same resolution, so naturally on the 7.7 every thing looks enlarged and easier to read, while both occupaying the same space in relation to the resolution, all these will become more obvious when everything runs 4.x, instead of 3.x vs 2.3.x and all showing different things.
the truth is most of the apps are designed for the old "HD" resolution which was 800x480 the new "HD v2.0" is 1280x800, so anything that you see blurry are probably old 800x480 apps/games displayed (enlarged) on the 1280x800 screen
as Apps/Games maker updates their graphics and fonts to match the 1280x800 resolution screens, you'll see better and crispier text & picture quality
Personally my dilemma is that, i want to see bigger pictures and text on the same 1280x800 scale, that's why i like the 7.7 more it's less of a strain for my eyes, but the lower quality Camera and lack of the Pen and other nice features from the Note, makes is a real hard decision to lock on to either one
if it's all pure like like as in good package of everything i want, i'd have to default to the Note, but... the only turn down on the Note is it's 5.3" screen size
aaaaarrrrrrgggghhhhhhhh.... i'm torn between the two, can't make up my mind
maybe i should wait for the 10.1" SAMOLED version to come out before i revisit my purchase options
Sleek69 said:
I'd say wait for a quad core galaxy tab if you can, if not the note is the way to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
currently that's the last thing that concerns me
once you hit dual core, any extra core are just bonus
all i use my phone/tablet most for is webbing, emails, text, phone calls, games, apps, videos and music, the any extra core will only benefit heavy 3D Games, which i don't have that much luxury of time to play with
as the only times i'll be playing any game is in a bus/subway, bus stop, waiting room, doctor office, restaurant waiting for food or people to arrive, and stuff like that
any good heavy 3D game will usually require you to sit there and play for a good 30 min before you archive progress or able to reach to the next Save Point... so no, not worth it

SpenZerX said:
I have an SGN 5.3 and an SGT10.1V
I sold my SGT 7. Its to small for home use an to big for mobile use.
There is no need for an new SGT 7.7.
An new Tab with 10.1 Amoled and full hd screen compatible with google tv resolution would be great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Note is too big to be an allday phone, the 10.1 is far too big and heavy to be used as a mobile device. The perfect size would be the one of the old 7" but of course the 7.7 is almost the same size and still extremely portable. I can chat on it, use video calls, browse, read my RSS feeds, emails and a lot more. It's my daily companion as the 7" was before and I'm absolutely addicted to either of them.
As you can see, opinions and favours differ very much.
Sent from my GT-P6800 using XDA App

@Jade Eyed Wolf
re: screen
i totally agree with you there, i actually have both pentile on my older SGS i9000 and Nexus S an the normal RGB on my SGS2 T989
i don't mind the pentile that much as other people exaggerate, but at times it's obvious the green line / blue line on the side of the screen but only noticeable on a white screen otherwise not noticeable at all, the only draw back on the pentile readability is white text seems coloured
the RGB SAMOLED+ as mentioned it does definitely produces a much more natural warmer colours, that what makes me want the 7.7 the most knowing it also uses the SAMOLED+ but in HD
re: camera
same view, if Samsung at least included a 5 MP camera, i wouldn't have had a 2nd though about picking up the 7.7 right away, but having a 3 MP camera is like going back to the dark ages of quick shot cameras...
that's one of the factors i could ignore, as i'd most likely hang on to my SGS2 as the main Phone/Camera/WiFi hot spot/GPS
while off loading all the work & entertainment functions to the 7.7 (assuming i go for it)
but it'll always be hanging as a after though in the back of my mind, if i do make the purchase, i wouldn't be completely be happy with the purchase.
re: battery
based on my own personal usage, i'll definitely like the larger battery capacity of the 7.7 that will allow for more action time, my preference on SAMOLED screen is always 30% that is a sweet spot that brings out all its best while not draining the battery too fast, except unless i'm outdoors then i set it to auto and it will go to 100%
battery should last pretty long since the 2G/3G radio will be off (not compatible in Tmobile AWS 1700), and only using the WiFi
re: x-factor
indeed what attracts me the most of the Note is the pen, i'm actually from the old time Palm, the original inventors per-say of the style, obviously the S pen is not a style but my main reason for wanting a pen again is for Hand written notes, as people says, it's natural and faster than texting
and the OCR tech they included in the note is just fantastic, it felt almost like Palm Pilot devices re-invented all over again
for the 7.7 i'll say the X-factor is more on the perfect screen size is just large enough for me (and maybe most other people) to type with full fingers and both hands on the QWERTY keyboard, which makes texting and forum browsing interation much more of a breeze, that's actually one of the biggest factor why i'm not convinced of the size of the Note, but as its name suggest it's meant for Notes with 1 hand on the pen, and one of the device.
I'm sure once upgraded to ICS both devices, and the software for the S pen is ported over to 7.7 i can pretty sure buy the Spen after market and use it on the 7.7, while still able to use both hands to type on the keyboard, so it's a Win-Win for the 7.7 in that regard
re: other
seems like we both reached to pretty much the same conclusion
although i wont be able to shed off the S2 unless they release a version of 7.7 that can run on AWS
having the S2 already i don't really want the Note, as it's just a larger version of the same with upgraded internals
i really liked how i was able to do full Qwerty with 2 hands on the 7.7 or larger tablets, it feels totally natural to use it as a replacement laptop
in fact my last Duo 2 Core high end gaming laptop that i use for work has been sitting on the shelf for the last 2~3 years collecting dust since i moved to the SGS1 ~ SGS2 that replaced all of its functions
but now that i'm so used to Android, i want to be able to type faster or write notes down faster than having to use only 2 fingers to type stuff in a relatively small screen while easily mistyping another letter cuz of the close proximity of the buttons

AllGamer said:
@Jade Eyed Wolf
re: screen
i totally agree with you there, i actually have both pentile on my older SGS i9000 and Nexus S an the normal RGB on my SGS2 T989
i don't mind the pentile that much as other people exaggerate, but at times it's obvious the green line / blue line on the side of the screen but only noticeable on a white screen otherwise not noticeable at all, the only draw back on the pentile readability is white text seems coloured
the RGB SAMOLED+ as mentioned it does definitely produces a much more natural warmer colours, that what makes me want the 7.7 the most knowing it also uses the SAMOLED+ but in HD
re: camera
same view, if Samsung at least included a 5 MP camera, i wouldn't have had a 2nd though about picking up the 7.7 right away, but having a 3 MP camera is like going back to the dark ages of quick shot cameras...
that's one of the factors i could ignore, as i'd most likely hang on to my SGS2 as the main Phone/Camera/WiFi hot spot/GPS
while off loading all the work & entertainment functions to the 7.7 (assuming i go for it)
but it'll always be hanging as a after though in the back of my mind, if i do make the purchase, i wouldn't be completely be happy with the purchase.
re: battery
based on my own personal usage, i'll definitely like the larger battery capacity of the 7.7 that will allow for more action time, my preference on SAMOLED screen is always 30% that is a sweet spot that brings out all its best while not draining the battery too fast, except unless i'm outdoors then i set it to auto and it will go to 100%
battery should last pretty long since the 2G/3G radio will be off (not compatible in Tmobile AWS 1700), and only using the WiFi
re: x-factor
indeed what attracts me the most of the Note is the pen, i'm actually from the old time Palm, the original inventors per-say of the style, obviously the S pen is not a style but my main reason for wanting a pen again is for Hand written notes, as people says, it's natural and faster than texting
and the OCR tech they included in the note is just fantastic, it felt almost like Palm Pilot devices re-invented all over again
for the 7.7 i'll say the X-factor is more on the perfect screen size is just large enough for me (and maybe most other people) to type with full fingers and both hands on the QWERTY keyboard, which makes texting and forum browsing interation much more of a breeze, that's actually one of the biggest factor why i'm not convinced of the size of the Note, but as its name suggest it's meant for Notes with 1 hand on the pen, and one of the device.
I'm sure once upgraded to ICS both devices, and the software for the S pen is ported over to 7.7 i can pretty sure buy the Spen after market and use it on the 7.7, while still able to use both hands to type on the keyboard, so it's a Win-Win for the 7.7 in that regard
re: other
seems like we both reached to pretty much the same conclusion
although i wont be able to shed off the S2 unless they release a version of 7.7 that can run on AWS
having the S2 already i don't really want the Note, as it's just a larger version of the same with upgraded internals
i really liked how i was able to do full Qwerty with 2 hands on the 7.7 or larger tablets, it feels totally natural to use it as a replacement laptop
in fact my last Duo 2 Core high end gaming laptop that i use for work has been sitting on the shelf for the last 2~3 years collecting dust since i moved to the SGS1 ~ SGS2 that replaced all of its functions
but now that i'm so used to Android, i want to be able to type faster or write notes down faster than having to use only 2 fingers to type stuff in a relatively small screen while easily mistyping another letter cuz of the close proximity of the buttons
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your comments AllGamer!
Might I suggest that if you're planning on keeping your SGS2 with you as your main camera and phone device, perhaps you might be more interested in the P6810 instead (wifi-only 7.7)? Seems a bit of a waste having a 3G radio if you're just going to keep it off all the time anyway. Main reason I sold my 3G 8.9 actually.
Pairing up a P6810 with an SGS2, along with a very useful app called Tablet Talk would be a very mean combination indeed! I used to do that with my 8.9 and SGS2, and it was fantastic!
Also, I totally agree with you on the 7.7 inch screen being the perfect sweet spot. I should mention as well that thumb-typing in portrait has never been easier!
---------- Post added at 01:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:36 PM ----------
AllGamer said:
@Jade Eyed Wolf
and the software for the S pen is ported over to 7.7 i can pretty sure buy the Spen after market and use it on the 7.7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wasn't aware that the 7.7 had the necessary hardware built-in to support s-pen functionality. Can you show me a source which claims this?

Jade Eyed Wolf said:
I wasn't aware that the 7.7 had the necessary hardware built-in to support s-pen functionality. Can you show me a source which claims this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't this involve having a Wacom digitizer overlay across the screen? I need proof as well.
That reminds... I just bought the galaxy Note and now I'm comtemplating on the Galaxy Tab 7.7 as well.... But as this thread points out, I don't think there is a point of having both the Note and the Tab 7.7 right?

ckyllr said:
Doesn't this involve having a Wacom digitizer overlay across the screen? I need proof as well.
That reminds... I just bought the galaxy Note and now I'm comtemplating on the Galaxy Tab 7.7 as well.... But as this thread points out, I don't think there is a point of having both the Note and the Tab 7.7 right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why not? Note goes in my pocket and is everywhere I am....Tab 7.7 is not so portable, but still awesome.
TL;DR, if you can make a case for a smaller smartphone and a Tab, you can make a case for a Note and a Tab 7.7 too.

Jade Eyed Wolf said:
Since I currently have both devices, I'll give you my take on them in their own right
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the review and the YouTube video, and fcuk me an hour later I've got one. $21,000NT I hate you

ckyllr said:
Doesn't this involve having a Wacom digitizer overlay across the screen? I need proof as well.
That reminds... I just bought the galaxy Note and now I'm comtemplating on the Galaxy Tab 7.7 as well.... But as this thread points out, I don't think there is a point of having both the Note and the Tab 7.7 right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seeing how Wacom Digitizer from the note doesn't work on my S2, spen from my note won't work on 7.7 either
---------- Post added at 07:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:24 AM ----------
AllGamer said:
@Jade Eyed Wolf
i totally agree with you there, i actually have both pentile on my older SGS i9000 and Nexus S an the normal RGB on my SGS2 T989
i don't mind the pentile that much as other people exaggerate, but at times it's obvious the green line / blue line on the side of the screen but only noticeable on a white screen otherwise not noticeable at all, the only draw back on the pentile readability is white text seems coloured
the RGB SAMOLED+ as mentioned it does definitely produces a much more natural warmer colours, that what makes me want the 7.7 the most knowing it also uses the SAMOLED+ but in HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's really not the same comparison as the SGS vs SGS II since the pentile issue is being made up by the higher resolution and pixel density
I wouldn't call the SGS pentile usage worries as an exaggerated concern. There was a huge jump in pic quality when i moved up to S2's 4.3" from the captivate's 4" screen
in terms of color tone, Note seems to be showing more natural tone than my S2
AllGamer said:
@Jade Eyed Wolf
I'm sure once upgraded to ICS both devices, and the software for the S pen is ported over to 7.7 i can pretty sure buy the Spen after market and use it on the 7.7, while still able to use both hands to type on the keyboard, so it's a Win-Win for the 7.7 in that regard
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like i said earlier, wacom digitizer stylus requires hardware support since it's not based on capacitive

Jimmy34742 said:
Read the review and the YouTube video, and fcuk me an hour later I've got one. $21,000NT I hate you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LMAO!! Well, you're welcome! Spread the hate bro! But enjoy that 7.7 when it arrives
---------- Post added at 12:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:40 PM ----------
ph00ny said:
Like i said earlier, wacom digitizer stylus requires hardware support since it's not based on capacitive
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree. However, there's another thread here about how the display controller used in the 7.7 supposedly has active digitizer hardware capabilities. That's why I was saying that perhaps all that is needed is the software support.

ph00ny said:
Like i said earlier, wacom digitizer stylus requires hardware support since it's not based on capacitive
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jade Eyed Wolf said:
I agree. However, there's another thread here about how the display controller used in the 7.7 supposedly has active digitizer hardware capabilities. That's why I was saying that perhaps all that is needed is the software support.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as both of you have pointed out at the moment this is still a theory, we need a coder/hacker that have access to both devices and figure out how to enable it in the 7.7
knowing Samsung they always take the easy route in the assembly lane, they always have goodies hidden under the hood, and just need a good coder to unlock the hidden features.
i wouldn't be surprised if it can be done, yet i wouldn't be disappointed even if it can not be done, but it's worth a try
either case we are slightly off topic here, we should open another topic to discuss about that possibility
so going back on topic about Note vs 7.7 ... i still have not yet made up my mind
i like them both the 7.7 is winning my vote for the larger size alone, but i still would prefer the features and specs of the note, but there's no point upgrading to the Note when i already have a SGS2

AllGamer said:
so going back on topic about Note vs 7.7 ... i still have not yet made up my mind
i like them both the 7.7 is winning my vote for the larger size alone, but i still would prefer the features and specs of the note, but there's no point upgrading to the Note when i already have a SGS2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just recently updated my Note to its latest available firmware (LA4) to see what that would do, but honestly, it still feels VERY laggy compared to my 7.7
I mean, it's not so bad to the point that it isn't functional or anything like that, but still, for a 1.4ghz dual core? Come on... I blame Gingerbread. Can't wait to see what both devices are like once they get official ICS!
In the mean time, I think I'll probably be making a couple more videos on YouTube. I know I at least want to make a short video showing how well my cheapo velcro car mount for the 7.7 works! Maybe I'll make another short one comparing the Note and the 7.7 side by side so you all can see what I mean by the lag on the Note...

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Review Thread - All Reviews To be Posted Here

Samsung Galaxy Note Review Thread​
As with the original note, i am sure there will be a massive influx of reviews for the upcoming Note 2. We are all keen to take a look at what this great device is going to be like, so i think a centralized place for all reviews is a good idea. Hopefully it should keep the general section clean(er) and give a great resource for future note 2 owners. I will ask all to keep this thread clean of idle chit chat, all we want is quality reviews to give a clear picture of the device.
Thanks in advance to anybody who contributes

The first review is out
Solid rating from PA:
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-II-Review_id3134
I generally don't give much importance to PA reviews, but no harm in reading it whoever is interested.

Another preview: http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_ii-review-811.php

A Korean review (note II got released on South Korea today). Of course I didn't understand a word but I noticed a new feature @1:53, the Note II has the same split screen feature as in the Note 10.1. Pure win. :highfive:

BGR's short pre-review:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaZrC98fnOk
Dialaphone review:
www.dialaphone.co.uk/blog/2012/09/27/samsung-galaxy-note-ii-a-display-of-power/

Hell Guardian said:
Thanks guys, great feed back
any news about the camera unit? no change at all? i know they wanted to use Sony's new BSI 13mp units but the production yields were low and LG already pre-ordered them for its Optimus G so Samsung had to stick with 8Mp camera units, so did they actually get better ones or used the same ones that take REALLY REALLY bad low light pictures? :/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure why you think the Galaxy Note II produces really really bad low light pictures? I have seen a Galaxy Note 1 & 2 picture comparison where it does seem like the Note 1 produces better pictures in wide dynamic range scenes.
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-II-vs-Galaxy-Note_id3136/page/3
But the difference is still minimal. I'm sure there will be a HDR mode like on all Galaxy phones, so when told to, it should be able to produce better images during harsh lighting conditions where there is intense brightness and dark shadows.
From what I hear, the 13 megapixel sensor on the Optimus G isn't all that great. It is providing marginally better resolutions in optimal lighting conditions while doing worse in low light situations than a 8MP sensor. From all the reports I'm reading, I'm seeing that the Note 2 will have a BSI (backlit sensor). Is there an article saying otherwise?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Check out my huge collection of 64GB Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Videos (Demos, Accessory Reviews)

http://www.androidcentral.com/samsung-galaxy-note-ii-retail-unboxing-and-quick-hands-video
Amazing phone.

It may be of interest to some that the Mains charger that comes with the Note II has a 5 Volt 2 Amp output. With the large battery capacity, some of the existing
chargers you may have around your home (as well as car adaptors) are likely to be of a far lower output - typically 0.5 Amp to 1.0 Amp,
My Note II came from Handtec in the UK but the box clearly shows Samsung France and the default language on set up was French.
Not a review as such but a very recent Samsung promo from Korea showing many of the features including the split/multi screen mode (around 2min 10secs through video)
available only in some of the latest ROM versions.

phones4u review:
(can you really trust reviews from a place that sells phones though?)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGxTDlVuoIs

Goodm7sn said:
I think he mentioned that bluetooth has to be ON for the phone to alert u when the s-pen isn't in place!??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, he said bluetooth has to be on to detect if you walked away from the pen.
Regardless I don't believe this, and it doesn't say this in the manual.
I'll be testing it.
Another review:
http://www.autoomobile.com/news/samsung-galaxy-note-2-review/1004297/

Thread Cleaned​
As much as the comments are appreciated, this is a review thread. The idea was to give prospective note 2 owners a good list of reviews to aid there decision. All of the discussion is just going to dilute this. So please i ask you, only post reviews in this thread.
I have now moved the comments thread from the original note forum. Please use that for general comments.​

Cnet Review
http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-note-2/4505-6452_7-35426722.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DigitalTrends Review
http://www.digitaltrends.com/mobile/samsung-galaxy-note-2-hands-on/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

First impressions mini review
I was lucky enough to be one of the first to buy the phone on the pre-launch day in London 30th September. I previously owned the Original Note and currently also have a Galaxy S3 so I was keen to compare them.
First thing I noticed was the Note II seemed less bulky but also appears to be heavier in the hand than the original. It's subjective but I also feel it looks more premium and more attractive. Some people aren't fans of the S3 styling but if like me, you are, then you'll love how the Note II is clearly the bigger brother of the S3.
The screen is vibrant and definitely brighter than original. Loss of the pentile matrix isn't that noticeable, there isn't a blue tint but I can't help feel there is a tiny hint of red instead. It's hard to tell.
Placing the S3 and Note II side by side however revealed something that made me a little disappointed. The text just isn't as sharp as the S3 and although I realise this is down to the overall resolution and on a much bigger screen, it just made me feel a little let down. It's still amazing of course and it was always going to be a challenge to beat the S3. Fortunately the Note II has many more goodies to distract you.
The S-Pen is better, being longer and now has a slight texture to the button making it easier to locate. Also shaped slightly different for easy slot loading. These are welcome changes. There's also a few neat tricks that have been introduced in what happens when you remove, insert or leave behind the pen. Some new gesture commands and clever interactions with various apps have been introduced.
I am not going to dwell on these features as they are all demonstrated in any of the online reviews you look at online. This review focuses on what my first impressions.
For the first time in a long time though I actually had to consult the manual to work out and discover the new smart features, because there are many of them! Various gesture and motions to interact, some useful others gimmicky. I found that: with the screen off and phone laying flat, you place your hand near to the screen and it glows and fades in slightly to reveal any missed notifications. This was a handy one for me. Then there's a way the phone knows you are laying on your side to view the screen so it doesn't rotate to landscape mode. It works and it's amazingly useful.
The speed of the device is highly noticeable over the original Note, understandably. It flies through any amount of screen swiping. Even with a custom launcher and hundreds of installed apps I stuck on there, it has no obvious lag at all.
Battery life is outstanding. Bearing in mind I haven't done too many recharge cycles, the battery is easily lasting all day with the screen on so much of the time and all those apps I mentioned! No issues for me there.
The camera is on a par with the S3, haven't had the pleasure of a nice day outside to test it fully. Low light shots are a slight improvement over previous incarnations.
Sound from the speaker is - at last - very very good. It's loud and has more bass and less distortion. Really am pleased this has been improved.
So for me, Samsung have done a great job with this 2nd generation. Build quality, battery life, raw power, feature rich and fully loaded. Difficult to fault and even more difficult to put down!

apprentice said:
I was lucky enough to be one of the first to buy the phone on the pre-launch day in London 30th September. I previously owned the Original Note and currently also have a Galaxy S3 so I was keen to compare them.
First thing I noticed was the Note II seemed less bulky but also appears to be heavier in the hand than the original. It's subjective but I also feel it looks more premium and more attractive. Some people aren't fans of the S3 styling but if like me, you are, then you'll love how the Note II is clearly the bigger brother of the S3.
The screen is vibrant and definitely brighter than original. Loss of the pentile matrix isn't that noticeable, there isn't a blue tint but I can't help feel there is a tiny hint of red instead. It's hard to tell.
Placing the S3 and Note II side by side however revealed something that made me a little disappointed. The text just isn't as sharp as the S3 and although I realise this is down to the overall resolution and on a much bigger screen, it just made me feel a little let down. It's still amazing of course and it was always going to be a challenge to beat the S3. Fortunately the Note II has many more goodies to distract you.
The S-Pen is better, being longer and now has a slight texture to the button making it easier to locate. Also shaped slightly different for easy slot loading. These are welcome changes. There's also a few neat tricks that have been introduced in what happens when you remove, insert or leave behind the pen. Some new gesture commands and clever interactions with various apps have been introduced.
I am not going to dwell on these features as they are all demonstrated in any of the online reviews you look at online. This review focuses on what my first impressions.
For the first time in a long time though I actually had to consult the manual to work out and discover the new smart features, because there are many of them! Various gesture and motions to interact, some useful others gimmicky. I found that: with the screen off and phone laying flat, you place your hand near to the screen and it glows and fades in slightly to reveal any missed notifications. This was a handy one for me. Then there's a way the phone knows you are laying on your side to view the screen so it doesn't rotate to landscape mode. It works and it's amazingly useful.
The speed of the device is highly noticeable over the original Note, understandably. It flies through any amount of screen swiping. Even with a custom launcher and hundreds of installed apps I stuck on there, it has no obvious lag at all.
Battery life is outstanding. Bearing in mind I haven't done too many recharge cycles, the battery is easily lasting all day with the screen on so much of the time and all those apps I mentioned! No issues for me there.
The camera is on a par with the S3, haven't had the pleasure of a nice day outside to test it fully. Low light shots are a slight improvement over previous incarnations.
Sound from the speaker is - at last - very very good. It's loud and has more bass and less distortion. Really am pleased this has been improved.
So for me, Samsung have done a great job with this 2nd generation. Build quality, battery life, raw power, feature rich and fully loaded. Difficult to fault and even more difficult to put down!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to read more confirmations of the loudspeaker volume-quality as Samsung typically has been surprisingly weak there. Is the screen significantly brighter than the S3? How are the whites? I hope the camera burst mode is better than the S3?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1915487

Many pictures from russian review: http://hi-tech.mail.ru/review/misc/samsung_galaxy_note_2_n7100_obzor.html

An extensive review at Trusted Reviews. Scores higher than Fruitphone 5.

http://www.reghardware.com/2012/10/03/review_samsung_galaxy_note_2_gt_n7100_android_smartphone/
Highest score i've seen, there

GSMARENA Review
Samsung Galaxy Note II review: Writing home
Final Words
The Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100 is one beast of a droid and a major step forward for the class it represents. The second generation of the phablet is a massive upgrade, doubling the processing power of the predecessor, and bringing a bigger, and better, screen and an ampler battery.
The slimmer waistline and narrower body improve handling a great deal, and while the Note II still isn't the easiest smartphone to wield, it's much better than the original Note. There's also the new S Pen, which is not only more comfortable to use now, but also way better integrated into the platform.
Last, but certainly not least important, the Note II has received a host of software upgrades, which take the user experience a level up. From the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean platform and its Project Butter to the Buddy screens - it's obvious that Samsung's developers spared no effort to make the new Note as good as it can possibly get.
So the second-gen phablet comes across as a mature device that's able to deliver straight out of the box and give you a really smooth ride. A 5.5" screen however is certainly not for every taste, so recommending it isn't as easy as it may seem. As usual it all depends on the type of user you are.
The way we see it, there are several groups of users that would do well to consider the Galaxy Note II as their next device of choice.
First and foremost, it's those who want a true all-in-one smartphone. The Note II is able to match everything currently on the market for resolution and processing power and then raise the bid with the S Pen and the extra large screen.
Jelly Bean is still hard to come by on the market too, so the Note II is going to use that to its advantage as well, along with the various home-baked tweaks that Samsung delivered with TouchWiz.
So if you are the type of power user, who values performance over one-handed use and have pockets deep enough (literally and figuratively), the Note II seems like a perfect match. It certainly is more expensive than the Galaxy S III and the One X, but the screen upgrade alone is enough to justify the price difference, with the S Pen coming as a bonus.
The second group Samsung is aiming the Note II at is media buffs. Once again, the huge screen and the ample battery are the key weapons in the phablet's arsenal, but it also has vast codec support (both video and audio), and the expandable memory and mass storage mode to back it up.
If you fall in this group, you'll ideally have a tablet, which seems a bit better suited to the purpose, but it would be next to impossible to carry around in a pocket. We understand that the sheer size of the Galaxy Note II can put some users off, but we find it more than reasonably portable. Also there's the price thing - a capable smartphone and a good tablet will cost more than the Note II.
So if you want to save some cash and/or the effort to carry a bag for your tablet at all times, the Note II seems like a good compromise. In that case though, we'd suggest you check it out in person before forking out the cash.
Next up are people who like sketching things up on their smartphones (designers and the likes) and those who prefer taking notes the old-fashioned way - with a pen or a stylus. Samsung has made the Note II a pretty good device for the purpose and Wacom's input is easily able to make a huge difference between the Samsung phablet and anything else there is in the smartphone market.
And, finally, upgraders - and we'll just say it again: the Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100 is a worthy upgrade of its predecessor. You will notice an improvement in just about every part of the user experience, barring perhaps the camera. However, it's also a pricey upgrade and the original Note is still a pretty solid device. In a bit of a quandary there to be honest - if you love the original Note you'll want the second gen badly. But having money to burn will definitely help.
At the end of the day, the Samsung Galaxy Note II seems to have completed all it's here to do. Samsung have solidified its lead in the phablet market, while offering enough novelties to keep those already in it interested. There's also plenty of exclusive stuff too.
We guess some people will still be less than impressed by a bigger Galaxy S III with a stylus. And we're not saying that a big screen and a stylus is exactly what makes a near perfect smartphone better. But they can certainly do wonders for the right users.

Having come ftom the original Note I have been generally impressed and agree with much that has been said in the previous comments.
My only real disappointment has been to find out that apps cannot be moved to micro SD card. I have discovered that the Note II shares this 'feature' of the S3.
Having a large collection of apps that I have been accustomed to storing on a 64GB card on my original Note, I feel somewhat limited with 16GB of internal memory. I did try to get a 32GB or 64GB variant but their availability has yet to be announced.
Of further concern is that I have read that some leading devs are not supporting some Samsung products so I don't know if there will be a solution to my storsge concerns. Maybe I will have to swap my 16GB model when the 64GB model is released.
Sent from my GT-N7100 using Tapatalk 2

Preliminary battery life review: http://www.digitalversus.com/mobile...te-2-battery-life-test-it-s-beast-n26373.html
Among Samsung handsets alone, the Note 2 pulverises its predecessor by practically doubling battery life! It's the same story compared with the Galaxy S3 too. In fact, the benchmark test showed 15 hrs 10 mins of feasible use time, which basically means the Note 2 can power on for two days of regular, reasonable use. Heavy users can knock about a third off that, however.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

My Xperia Z & Samsung S4

I'm a satisfied owner of the Xperia Z for the last 2 months. Its an excellent device! IMO its the best Android smartphone at the moment that has managed to incorporate a good balance between design, performance and software in an excellent package. I won't go into the details about the Z as I'm sure owners of the device already know it well.
Yesterday I was lucky enough to get my hands on the new Samsung S4 (LTE version). My wife was due for a free upgrade but she didn't want it (as she loves her Note 2 too much!) so I jumped at the chance! After getting home last night I put the S4 on charge and managed to get half of my setup done. Anyway, I'm going to be comparing real life use on both devices for around 2 weeks before deciding which device works better for me and that would be the one I will keep (right now my choice is still the Z :victory.
Here are my initial thoughts after a little feel and play with the S4:
Design & Feel:
Essentially, this is an S3 upgrade, period! I know hardcore fans of Samsung will disagree. Sorry, but its much like the iPhone 4 to iPhone 5 story, its NOT a revolution but an evolution. Samsung touts a premium finish, again sorry but these words do not apply to the S4. Its still plastic but this time round the finish on the plastic, like a high gloss piano finish, is much better than all of the other Samsung devices I've seen. The metallic like rim is plastic with a brushed metal finish. One would not mistake it for metal, it definitely looks plastic. On the 4 corners of the metallic rim are lines which makes it look as if it was 4 pieces joined together but actually I am assuming its due to injection moulding process used to make the part. This is present on the Z also but Sony has done a much better job as its much cleaner and barely noticeable. The addition of the checkered pattern does gives the appearance quite a nice look, though not exactly a premium one. The front of the S4 looks OK, its basically a Samsung look, nothing special but acceptable for me with the exception of the ugly earpiece grill which has never appealed to me. The back is where I have always felt Samsung has failed and need to improve in the design department. The camera design is big, ugly and always protrude, meaning it will be more susceptible to damage and scratches. A slightly recessed and smaller camera design would have made it safer for the camera and improved the looks. A good looking case would be a solution but I prefer to use my devices butt naked.
In the hand, the S4 feels slippery, very slippery, like a fish that will jump out of your hand if you don't hold it tight enough. Definitely needs a case or something on the back to reduce the risk of dropping it. It does however, have quite a nice form factor and feels more comfortable to hold than the Z, I think the curves do a bit of justice here. The placement of the volume and power buttons on the S4 needs improvement, having them on opposite sides just allows for frequent accidental pressing of the unintended button, the guy that designed/approved it should be shot! The volume and power button placement on the Z is just perfect.
Theres nothing really premium about the design and feel of the S4 when compared to the Z. In the hand, the Z gives the feeling of a high quality and solidly built product. The S4 despite the improved plastic finishes, feels a little more comfortable to hold in the hand but does not justify a price tag of $800 in terms of design and finish. Theres no squeaking from the plastic at the moment but hey, I've had it less than a day and time will tell.
Screen
Right now I can't provide my detailed thoughts on the screen as I have not had enough screen time yet. At first sight the screen looks sharp but colours are quite over saturated and less natural compared to my Z. One aspect I can confirm is that the viewing angles of the S4's screen is pretty good.
Update May 2:
Both screens are of different technologies and has its pros and cons. After comparing them both through typical web browsing, reading text, emails, use of same apps and viewing photos:
1. I like the natural colours of the Z more. The S4, no matter what display mode you set it in, the colours are still a little over saturated. The reflections are less on the Z and brightness is higher, thus making it more comfortable to use outdoor. That said, the screen on the S4 is still gorgeous, if not comparing them side by side, you'll get comfortable and used to the colours quite quickly.
2. Both screens display superb sharpness and clarity. You'll have to look hard to notice the difference and I find that the Z has the edge when it comes to sharpness and clarity. Thats obvious given the LCD technology advantage over AMOLED in this respect. However, the screen on the S4 is certainly no loser.
3. I mentioned viewing angles earlier and theres nothing to debate about this one. The S4 is a clear winner. I know that there are Z owners who say things like "who uses their phone and look at the screen from an angle, stupid!" or "I always look at the screen face on, so it doesn't matter anyway". I raise a practical example: in the office my phone is on my desk most of the time, when I check messages I do it with the phone on the desk and a good viewing angle is welcomed here. The fact is, the Z is Sony's flagship: a premium product with a premium price, which IMO should have came with better viewing angles. However, IMO we got a slightly sub-par display.
In terms of personal preference, I'd choose the display on the Z because I prefer the more natural colours. If I had to make an objective judgment, I'd have to give the S4 display the heads-up. In addition to that, you'll get a little more real screen estate because the S4 doesn't use soft buttons.
Update May 3:
As request by member 'thelittleidiot', I did a movie test on both screens. I downloaded and used the latest Superman trailer 3 (HD mov format) because it had a mixture of dark and bright scenes and close-up on characters so as to be able to compare how skin tones rendered. I used MX Player Pro on both phones to make the test as fair as possible and had both screens at maximum brightness with auto adapt off, Bravia engine was on. Before starting the comparison, I watched the trailer on my Macbook just to familiarise with the colours and details. Here's what I found:
S4 in movie mode: Movie mode is supposed to be closest to natural colours but this was not what I saw. Colours were pale as if a little washed out. Seriously I wouldn't chose this option for watching movies.
S4 in professional photo mode: Colours were better and closer to the Z but still not natural when comparing both side by side. The viewing experience is still better on the Z.
S4 in standard mode: Colours are now looking over saturated. Its still the Z that give a better viewing experience.
I didn't test dynamic mode or adaptive mode because these modes would have been even more saturated. The S4 screen is very contrasty and blacks are very good but this is not necessarily a good thing for movies IMO. In dark scenes I could not see all the details on Russell Crowe's face whereas on the Z it was not a problem. On all of the modes on the S4, the blues had a tint of green, whites often not enough and skin colours were either not accurate or way off.
My opinions above are obviously due to the fact that I prefer more natural looking colours, though this may not apply to everyone. Nevertheless, the S4's screen has started to grow on me. I have an almost identical setup on both phones to help with my comparison: the same wallpaper, widgets, app icons on home screen etc. When I have them both side by side, I can't help but notice that the S4's vibrancy and colours just seems as if they want to jump out at you, like theres so much life in the screen. On the Z, despite that colours are more natural and whites are whiter, it just doesn't give me that feeling. I had Galaxy Note 2 before and didn't feel that way but I suppose its because the S4's is a FHD screen.
Performance and Software
OK, so the S4 is a step ahead of the Z with JB 4.2.2 out of the box. Its heavily Touchwiz with UI improvements. It feels smooth so far with no lags or micro lags whatsoever. I ran Antutu benchmark and it scored over 23K compared to 20K that my Z got.
Update May 2:
I don't run intensive apps or do heavy gaming, so my findings are from general use and also based on software out of the box.
I've never been particularly fond of the Touchwiz interface but don't hate it either. The S4's Touchwiz is the latest and comes with some UI improvements and changes. It works well and feels fluid. Though theres been a couple of times when I exit an app to the home screen and theres been a bit of a micro lag or stutter. Not sure what caused it but overall the S4 is very smooth. Samsung's added a host of features and software to the S4, air view, air gestures, smart gestures, S Health etc. They all work most of the time but will add loading on the power consumption. I prefer a little more interaction so I keep most of these features off. To be honest, most of these are a gimmick thing rather than being a real productive feature. The new settings menu is now categorised into 4 tabs which is a nice idea but could have been better if sliding to switch tabs was possible (like the how its possible switch to tabs by sliding left or right in the Z's phone app). The notification panel of toggles are extremely convenient for turning on or off a list of features/functions and can be pulled down by sliding 2 fingers from the top of the screen. I get the feeling that Samsung is trying hard to add/create value to its flagship model with additions of software and features, which is a good thing, but not all of it will appeal to everyone and a lot of it we probably wouldn't use 90% of the time anyway.
The S4 has newer hardware, hence a higher benchmark score over the Z. In standard daily usage though, theres really no noticeable difference. Both phones are very capable of handling almost any task thrown at it and feels very fluid. BTW both get pretty hot on the backside when the CPU is pushed. Overall, performance wise, both phones will satisfy the majority of users day in day out. In respect of the software side, its more of a subjective thing. I like the Z's clean, crisp and minimalist skin. I love its Walkman app (top sound reproduction and 2nd to none!) and Album app & widgets. I also like and use the small apps feature quite often. With the S4, multi window is great and I like being able to continuously scroll through desktops or the app & widget drawers. Microsoft Exchange Active sync works and integrates better on the S4 than it does on the Z. Its hard to a make a decision on the software comparison. However, the good thing is that Android is highly customisable so we can always tune it to work our way. I'd like to have a mixture of both the Z & S4 if I can!
Update May 3:
A small but important update on the software side. Some apps and games that I have been using on the Z which on the screen was not scaled properly (part of the interface goes outside of the screen are) is perfect on the S4. On top of that, certain widgets that not working/displaying properly on the Z works perfectly on the S4. I have to give Samsung a +1 for that.
Update May 2:
Battery Performance
Now that I've completely setup my S4 and managed to fully discharged the battery once, I will get the first battery performance results tonight. Will update then.
Update May 3:
The battery on my S4 won't be fully conditioned until after a few more full charges and discharges. Anyway attached results of the first battery performance after one discharge and then full charge. Now, I have read that other owners of the Z and S4 get amazing battery performance and on screen time of 5 - 6 hours. Honestly, it sounds a bit abnormal for me. I have never got that kind of battery performance on my Z, around 3 hours of screen time is probably the max I get. Are those who get 4+ hours simply turning off the majority of functions? Reduce screen brightness to 25%? Stop every process they can in the background? If thats the case, then we're really not getting most out of our smartphones during normal daily usage. I understand that its important to get the most of out the battery, especially if you are not near a charge port during the day but for me, its most essential to utilise the device for its abilities. Smartphones are really state of the art things nowadays which are simultaneously multifunctional and should be used that way.
Here are the parameters affecting the battery performance of my S4:
- wifi, gps, all sync features on, exchange active sync set on push so constant connection to the server.
- was on wifi network about 70% of the time, the rest was on LTE for data.
- screen brightness adaptive and set at 0.
- vibration, sound and haptic feedback on.
- led on with light flow.
- samsung's smart features/guestures off with exception of smart stay.
- around 25 mins of phone calls and 10 sms
- lots of whatsapp, medium google+, little wechat voice messaging, medium facebook, light browsing on chrome, some youtube, a few emails, some app updates via playstore, some instagram, some news reading, 30 mins or so of gaming.
I'm pretty happy with the results (I consider my usage pattern being medium to heavy) and as the battery gets more conditioned, coupled with further fine tuning of the S4, I'm confident that the battery performance will further improve. For me, its very clear that the S4 battery performance bypasses that of the Z. I use my Z the same way and don't get that kind of battery performance. Note though, the S4 does have the advantage of a larger 2600mah battery and the power efficient AMOLED, so its not like comparing apples to apples here. I have an external battery for my Z and don't mind carrying it when needed, it may not be so convenient when charging the Z but it does the job. As for the S4, I can see myself getting a day's usage on a single charge and if needed a spare battery can be changed easily, a plus point for the S4.
Update May 3:
Call Quality & Signal
In general, when in an area with good signal the call quality on the Z was good. The audio quality is also good. Where I have experienced problems with the Z are:
- When outside or in relatively noisy places its hard to hear the call from the earpiece on the Z. I have to resort to plugging in my hands free to solve the problem.
- In areas where signal is unstable or patchy whether its 3G or 4G, I sometimes find that the Z have difficulties in locking onto the network. It just jumps back and forth between 3G & 4G. This is not good because the phone constantly drains power by trying to lock itself onto a signal and your data connection is also on and off, again draining battery. One time I was outside in a patchy area and data connection was pretty unstable, it ended up that Kaiten Mail was responsible for 50% of the battery consumption because it was trying to sync my mails but couldn't get connected and just forced the phone to boost the radio and try get data connected.
- On a few occasions, where I have made or received a call, I can hear the opposite party but they cannot hear me. Even after hanging up and then redialing it still happens. I have to restart the phone to solve it.
So far the call quality and signal from the S4 have been good and stable, the audio quality of the call is quite a rich experience. Most important of all, the earpiece volume is loud enough that I don't need the hands free in relatively noisy environments. On top of that, the speaker on the S4 is much louder and clearer which is good for me because sometimes I like to hear voice chat messages via the speaker for convenience. I'll need to have used the phone in similar areas as the Z before concluding its signal and call quality. I expect to round this part up in a week.
Camera
Not had time to play and compare the cameras yet. Something for the weekend I think. Stay tuned!
Update May 5
Build Quality
6 days into using the S4 and build quality issues are beginning to show. The first is the slight squeaking of the back cover in certain places. It’s not really bad but enough to be noticeable. The second is the issue of vibration, which I believe may be related to the camera module, as this also happens with the Note 2. When using the phone on a flat surface you’ll hear vibration sounds when tapping the screen. Also, tapping around the camera area on the back of the phone will also emit vibration sounds. Don’t have these problems with the Xperia Z.
Performance & Software
Here are some new findings:
1.Out of the box you get just over 50% of the available storage for use on the S4 whereas on the Z you get closer to 65% of available storage for use. Samsung’s obviously bloated out its S4 a little too much.
2.After boot up the S4 consumed 854MB of RAM, in comparison the Z used less than 600MB. Open a host of apps and soon the S4 will start to show a bit of lag and stutter. Not something to expect considering the faster CPU and RAM the S4 has over the Z.
3.The more I look at Touchwiz the more I think ugly. The appearance of the phone dialer, contacts, notification and toggles, settings menus and pop up settings/menu all look ugly and outdated. The Z beats the S4’s interface design by miles.
4.Tried all of the gimmicky features of the S4 and only found Air View to be the only feature that I could make use of frequently and it works quite well. Its obviously nice to have the other features of S4 and show people what the phone is capable of but I certainly don’t see myself using it 90% of the time.
Call Quality & Signal
So, I’ve managed to use the S4 for calls in most of the areas I have been using the Z and the call quality is good with no dropped call, network signal holds well, though in patchy areas the phone does switch between 3G and 4G constantly. I don’t see this as an issue with the phone but more a network problem as it happens on the Z also. The S4’s voice calls are loud and clear, the Z does have a bit more depth in the call audio department though. Overall, I think both phones hold up pretty well in this area with the only exception that the earpiece volume on the Z is under average thus making it difficult to hear in noisy environments.
Just a note on the wifi. The S4 holds the wifi better than the Z. Where the Z dropped the connection the S4 stays connected.
Music Audio Quality & Headphone Compatibility
The sound quality produced by the Z’s Walkman app is the best. I have not used another app that can produce audiophiles as clean and as original as the Walkman app. Sony must have also used a very good DAC in addition to excellent software. Even music with Poweramp app sounded better on the Z than it did on the S4. The S4’s music app is no match. My only complaint with the Z is that the volume level is a little low but it’s still sufficient for me. Those who like their music loud will not be happy with the highest volume level on the Z.
Now comes the BIG problem with the S4. There are headphone compatibility issues. There is already a thread in the XDA Samsung S4 forum about this, so those who want to know more should give it a read. Basically, there are serious amounts of crackling and distortion with certain headphones when used on the S4 with the volume 50% or above. I was shocked when I plugged my Sony XBA-2VP into the S4. I thought they had failed on me but it turns out the problem was the S4. They work perfectly well on the Z. Now to me, this is a serious problem and one not to be forgiven for. How Samsung failed on this one I don't know. Surprisingly, a lot of the expensive premium headphones have this problem on the S4 and the cheaper (including stock) ones aren’t affected. To me this issue is really a big minus for the S4 and especially to people who crave for excellent audiophiles. On top of that, I don't think we want to splash out more money just buy a good compatible pair of headphones.
Camera
So, I was supposed to do some comparison on the camera over the weekend but sadly the speaker on my Z had some problems and had to go to Sony service center. I did manage to take a couple of shots (attached) for a quick comparison. Here are my thoughts on both cameras:
1.The S4 fires up the camera fast, in a second or so and your good to start snapping away. The Z is slow and takes a few seconds.
2.From EXIF data, I noticed that the S4 has a larger aperture of f2.2 compared to f2.4 for the Z. It’s not a big difference but still means the S4 will capture more light.
3.Burst rates on the S4 are simply breath taking, hold the shutter and you’ll be snapping away at 20 frames per second!
4.Autofocus is fast on both cameras.
5.From the samples, you can see that the photos from the S4 are sharper, more detailed, better exposed and white balance more accurate. The Z simply has too much compression and the photos end up losing detail and sharpness.
I like photography but I’m not a big fan of smartphone photography. To me, cameras on smartphones play a point and shoot role. It needs to fire up quick and get the shot done. Its supposed to be sophisticated (by todays standards) yet is simple to operate and have an easy to use interface. The S4 fits the job very well. I like the S4’s new camera UI, very intuitive and easy to use. The new addition of drama shot and eraser mode on the S4 sounds appealing but in practice it’s quite difficult to get it to work. With drama shot you have to keep a good distance away from the subject so it can be captured throughout the frame to make it work and it wasn’t working for me all the time. In respect to eraser mode, I have had no success with it yet.
Overall, the S4’s camera is a pleasure to use and gives you the feeling of wanting to shoot more pictures. The Z’s camera is not so bad and I’m sure the Z has good camera hardware but Sony needs to improve on the software. Hopefully, this will come soon with the next update.
May 11 – Round Up
Design & Feel
Xperia Z:
-Excellently crafted industrial design: from the details and precision of the power button, to the neatly recessed camera lens and the excellent fit & finish.
-Feels premium in hand. Nicely built and solid yet oozes a very distinctive sleek look.
-IMO the most beautifully designed Android smartphone to date, period! The HTC One is also very nice but I see a bit of following Apple’s suit. The Z shows that Sony really went back to the drawing board and gave us a new and unique product.
-It’s relatively comfortable in the hands but the straight edges may be of discomfort for some when holding it for prolong periods.
-Excellent placement of the power and volume buttons. The speaker is better on the side than on the back but I would have preferred it to be at the bottom to avoid accidentally covering it up when holding the phone.
S4:
-Having closely compared it with my wife’s Note 2, the S4’s design seems more of a downsized Note 2 with a slight facelift. Basically, it’s still that typical Samsung design, look and finish.
-Though I consider it a slight facelift, the changes and finishes does make it Samsung’s best looking phone to date. I kind of liked the diamond-checkered pattern and also found that the buttons are now nicely tapered and beveled. A nice touch.
-The form factor is very comfortable in the hand but feels a lot less solid compared to the Z.
-The home and capacitive button design will increase your usable screen estate by 0.5 inches.
Screen
Xperia Z:
-LCD technology, excellent clarity and details.
-Colors natural and closer to real life. Brava Engine 2 makes viewing photos and videos a pleasure and adds the pop back in the colors.
-Excellent visibility outdoors and in bright sunlight. Less reflective.
-Poor viewing angles and blacks & contrast may not be enough for some.
-I see a bit a of backlight bleeding and this does make the screen appear a little washed out at high brightness levels.
-IMO, kind of feel that Sony used a slightly sub-par display. I checked out the Z tablet yesterday and the screen does not exhibit similar issues.
S4:
-Samsung’s best Super AMOLED yet. Clarity and details par with the LCD. It’s hard to see the difference and I’d say 99% of people wouldn’t notice it.
-Excellent viewing angles and colors pop on this screen, it may be too saturated for some but the S4 provides the option of 4 screen modes to cater for different tastes.
-I’ve noticed that auto brightness allows higher brighter levels compared to manual setting. This is excellent as when in sunlight, the viewing experience was still comfortable.
-I prefer the natural colors of the Z more but the S4 screen has really grown on me. It is simply a superb screen and there is not much I can fault about it.
Performance & OS
-The S4 has the newer tech but in daily use both are just as capable of performing 99% of the tasks you throw at it.
-Power does not necessarily translate into speed. The S4 is well bloated out and consumes a massive 900mb of ram after boot up, whereas the Z is less than 600mb. Open up a few more apps and my S4 lags more than my Z. Your hardware is as good as your software and it’s evident that the software on the S4 is not fully optimized yet.
-Interface wise, the Z is refreshing, clean and minimal with some really nice touches and widgets, there’s also the excellent Walkman and Album (gallery) app that's second to none. If you like stock android, the Z is the closest you’ll get.
-The S4 has a lot of bells and whistles, some work well and others not, and that's all wrapped up in a dated Touchwiz interface. With 4.2.2 comes some nice UI improvements but it could have been better. The dull interface design just does not compliment the wonderful screen.
-Overall, despite a dated interface, Touchwiz does provide a fuller user experience. It’s not just a skin; it’s more of an eco-system which Samsung has put a lot of thought and effort into building.
Battery Performance
-There’s no argument on this one, the S4 has the better battery life. A slightly larger capacity and power efficient screen gives it the edge. Having used the S4 in the same way I have used my Z, the battery lasts well into the evening whereas with the Z it would have died on me by then.
-Another advantage is the option to be able to replace the S4 with a spare battery and this is definitely a convenience as well as a must for power users.
Call quality, Signal & Wi-Fi
-Both phones flared well with call quality and strength of signal.
-The in call audio on the Z has a lot of body but volume level low, whereas the on the S4 it’s crisp, loud and clear.
-The S4 has an adaptive sound capability which works very well as it tunes the audio to fit the listening capabilities of the left and right ears. Note this function works only in stock apps.
-The Z’s Wi-Fi capabilities are one of its weaknesses. Where I lost connection with the Z, the S4 stayed well connected.
Camera
-Despite the similar hardware, the S4 is a clear winner for me. The camera interface, ease of use and host of features make it hard to beat. It does what a smartphone camera is supposed to do but does it better.
-The Z is not a bad performer overall. All that is required is some tuning in its digital processing to improve clarity and sharpness in the photos.
Other Issues
-If you love listening to music on your phone, the Z and its Walkman provides the best audiophile I have ever heard on a smartphone.
-You won’t have headphone compatibility issues on the Z. There is a widespread problem with the S4, I don’t know if its software or hardware, but the audio clipping is frustrating and a nightmare! I had to resort to downgrading the headphone audiophile to avoid the problem.
Final Thoughts
The S4 and Z are excellent flagship smartphones. In the last 2 weeks, I’ve found the S4 to better the Z in some areas, but that should not put you off the Z. Why is that? Design, plastic, build quality and Touchwiz. If these factors bother you, then the S4 might not be the smartphone for you. The Xperia Z, on the other hand, is anything but cheap and plastic, while the interface is much more clean, simple and understated than Samsung’s Touchwiz.
I love the design of the Xperia Z, IMO it has the best balance in design, performance and software. That said, the Z isn’t perfect, the screen should have been better for a flagship and there are issues that need ironing out which hopefully will be fixed in the next software update not too distant away. The S4 has grown on me more than I expected. The plastic and its design doesn’t bother me anymore, I don’t even notice it. The screen looks more beautiful day by day and my work and productivity needs are handled better on the S4. I have also found that I prefer the home and capacitive touch buttons and enjoy the extra screen estate in the absence of the navigation bar. The software isn’t fully optimized, there is lag and Samsung seriously needs to do some work on it. Surprisingly though, at the start of the thread my choice was the Z but after 2 weeks, it appears the situation has changed and the truth is, the S4 suits my needs more. So, the S4 stays and the Z goes back for a refund. I wish I could have a mixture of both though! I highly recommend both devices, my top picks for 2013.

right now i'm holding both of them surely S4 is a winner

I can't agree with your comment until I have really had the chance to get to a complete usage and a thorough run through on the S4. At the end of day, whichever is the winner is purely a personal preference for me and may not be the case for others. If it wasn't for the free upgrade I would have never gone and bought the S4 because the design factor was the first thing that put me off. Now that I am fortunate enough to have both devices, I thought I'll make a thread to let others know how both compare in daily use. My intention is not to make a public judgement of which device is the winner but rather to express my findings on both devices, how well they work for me in a daily use and give members of the forum some factual experiences on both smartphones. Since you say S4 is a winner, perhaps you could share some of your thoughts with us?

I'm sure S4 is a very phone and will outsell XZ for sure, but I'm just sick of this brand (Yes, Samsung, is you!!), I had been using my SGS2 for a year until the emmc brickbug killed it. The thing get me so furious is Samsung said it's my fault and they would not provide any help unless I pay the maintenance fee, which cost about half of a new unit. How dare are they!?

Thanks for the review, I love it how you are accurate, keep it up dude!
Sent from my C6603 using xda premium

When I saw s4 I thought it will be exactly like s3 design like what most website said.
But not, it was nice and better than s3.
S4 is a good phone for everything.
Sent from my C6602 using xda app-developers app

cosinav said:
I can't agree with your comment until I have really had the chance to get to a complete usage and a thorough run through on the S4. At the end of day, whichever is the winner is purely a personal preference for me and may not be the case for others. If it wasn't for the free upgrade I would have never gone and bought the S4 because the design factor was the first thing that put me off. Now that I am fortunate enough to have both devices, I thought I'll make a thread to let others know how both compare in daily use. My intention is not to make a public judgement of which device is the winner but rather to express my findings on both devices, how well they work for me in a daily use and give members of the forum some factual experiences on both smartphones. Since you say S4 is a winner, perhaps you could share some of your thoughts with us?
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I find your 'professional' attitude a breath of fresh air. Congratulations in making an objective set of points rather than a fan boy rant.
I am finding it such a bore to come to the Sony Xperia Z forum to find more posts regarding other brands than the one we own? The more we negatively persist in comparing then rubbishing other brands the more we appear a group of losers. At least your comparison is written fairly with open eyes and not biased.
To date it appears the biggest enemy of the SXZ is its owners by bashing other brands?
Keep up the professional attitude and thanks for sharing your thoughts in a palatable fashion.
Bet wishes..

i very agree this. I'm also sick of Samsung now

Can you please compare battery life of these 2 monsters

Thanks for the post, it's the one I expected to see. I have a Xperia Z and I hesitate to buy a Galaxy S4 to replace it.
For the screen could you test to change the mode natural in mode video. According to the tests, it's the mode to have the best color next to the natural one. And after that, can you tell us, what you think about the screen and compare it to the Xperia Z.

brutal_noise said:
Can you please compare battery life of these 2 monsters
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Yes, this please!

Ryland Johnson said:
I find your 'professional' attitude a breath of fresh air. Congratulations in making an objective set of points rather than a fan boy rant.
I am finding it such a bore to come to the Sony Xperia Z forum to find more posts regarding other brands than the one we own? The more we negatively persist in comparing then rubbishing other brands the more we appear a group of losers. At least your comparison is written fairly with open eyes and not biased.
To date it appears the biggest enemy of the SXZ is its owners by bashing other brands?
Keep up the professional attitude and thanks for sharing your thoughts in a palatable fashion.
Bet wishes..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't think you've spent time anywhere else then because from what I've seen and heard, the Xperia has been the most bashed brand out there. Don't know what world you're living in if you think the bashing of other brands is worse in the Sony forums. You can't have spent any meaningful time in the Samsung forums or htc ones. Or YouTube or the web. To say that Sony fans are in some way more guilty of such things is strange to me indeed.
Fanboys are everywhere, human beings form needles emotional connections with things.
I too got some hands on time with the s4 today in store and first impressions, the black version looks ok. It doesn't scream plastic at you in the same way that the white one does and if Samsung keep putting out black phones, I could see myself owning one. I didn't mind so much the s2 like I did the s3 and I don't mind the s4 too. The ui was silky smooth. It just made want to seek out the Sony developers and scream "enough with all the transparency and animated widgets". It just causes ui glitches and stutters here and there. It may look nice but it's not, in my view, worth compromising on performance for eye candy.
It terms of daily usage, I seriously doubt that you'll notice much of a difference in performance than you'd get with any other quad core phone. 2011 line up included. In graphics intensive games perhaps but what percentage of users play such games on phones.
Its also worth noting that although, certain content might have a slightly bluish tint about them, the s4 doesn't suffer the same yellow screen problem suffered by a lot of high contrast LCD phones e.g. Htc one, iPhone 5, Xperia s etc.
It seems LCD displays cannot compete with amoled displays for vibrancy and contrast without this yellow tint problem. Perhaps that's why Sony walked away from that battle.
The S4's display is almost as clean and clear as the Zs but has more vibrancy. Too much still for me but others may love it. The bluish whites are the only real criticism.
To avoid mumbling on and to put it simply, the S4 is a phone I'd happily recommend.
Also the size and dimensions of the thing show the advantage of plastic for use in construction.
No on screen buttons but still smaller than the Z and equally as thin. It may not offer a premium feel buy there's still much value in its construction. I was thoroughly impressed with it as phone just as I am with the Sony. My two picks for 2013
Sent from my C6603 using xda app-developers app

zodiac100 said:
Don't think you've spent time anywhere else then because from what I've seen and heard, the Xperia has been the most bashed brand out there. Don't know what world you're living in if you think the bashing of other brands is worse in the Sony forums. You can't have spent any meaningful time in the Samsung forums or htc ones. Or YouTube or the web. To say that Sony fans are in some way more guilty of such things is strange to me indeed.
Fanboys are everywhere, human beings form needles emotional connections with things.
theSent from my C6603 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not a sheep and don't follow the crowd. The SXZ is a rather exceptional device and perhaps I expect those who own them to be exceptional and act accordingly? They say there is no such thing as bad publicity and to that end those who criticise the XZ at every opportunity and I agree they are out there, do us a favour? It should not be an excuse for us to write that other brands are poor.
Regards.

brutal_noise said:
Can you please compare battery life of these 2 monsters
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got my S4 today. Battery was at 52% when i turned it on. Used it till the Battery was down to 1%. 10 Hours with 3 Hours Screen on time. I call that pretty good for even no first charging cycle and during the first setup process

brutal_noise said:
Can you please compare battery life of these 2 monsters
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will be providing the first battery performance results tonight!
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium

thelittleidiot said:
Thanks for the post, it's the one I expected to see. I have a Xperia Z and I hesitate to buy a Galaxy S4 to replace it.
For the screen could you test to change the mode natural in mode video. According to the tests, it's the mode to have the best color next to the natural one. And after that, can you tell us, what you think about the screen and compare it to the Xperia Z.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, I will do it tonight and update.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium

Higgins12 said:
I got my S4 today. Battery was at 52% when i turned it on. Used it till the Battery was down to 1%. 10 Hours with 3 Hours Screen on time. I call that pretty good for even no first charging cycle and during the first setup process
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right now i'm at 7 hours with 1 hour 30 mins screen time, 58% battery left from full charge.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda premium

This is really making for a good read, I must say, wish we had more reviewers like you.
I've got a I9500, wish I could get hold of the Htc One or Xperia Z and do a comparison, seems to be a lack of comparisons with it.
Anyway, keep up the great work!

Hi OP! Very nice & unbiased comparison of the two imo :good: ! Having played with the GS4, I mostly agree with your comparison/review.
However, I want you to comment upon the call signal/quality & "in call" volume of the two, if possible. Thanks.

I have the Xperia Z since 2 month. I've just bought the Galaxy S4, for several reasons : want to test it, the lack of update of the Xperia Z and the fact that my followers on my blog would like to have my point of view.
I change fastly the screen selection in video because i wanted to compare the best I can my two phones. The screen of the S4 is definitely better than the Xperia Z. The color are more next to the reality, but the more important is that the contrast is really really awesome in comparaison. The screen of the Z seems to be dull. I didn't test outdoor with sunlight (unfortunatly, the weather is rainy theses days where I live). But when I compared my Z with my iPhone 5, i couldn't use the Z on sunlight at the opposite of the iPhone.
With the Galaxy S4 in my hands, I find 3 defaults on the Z. The screen is definitely not good enough for the best smartphone of Sony. And more when we now the quality of the TV Sony, and the result we have when the bravia engine is activated (even if the colors become less natural). The second one is the form factor. The size of both phones are nearly the same. But the corner of the Xperia are not curve like the S4. So when we have both phones on the hand, the Z seems to be harder to use, less confortable. The last point is the camera (i didn't test yet the one of the S4, but i see many comparison). The camera of the Xperia Z is really worse than the one of the S4 even if it's normally the same cameramade by Sony.
The first and the third point could be correct by an update.
There's no bad point on the Galaxy S4 because i just received it, so i didn't find its defaults and consequently the better point on the Z.
It's just my point of view with my first with the S4.
Sorry for my english, I'm french. I just hope you understand what i mean in my sentences

The Galaxy Tab S3 Broke My Heart.

Hi, SO SORRY for the huge post, just wanted to share my recent experience with the Galaxy Tab S3. I'm not really looking to bad-mouth Samsung or anything, just want to provide my experience, which might help others in some way.
A week and a half ago I decided to purchase an android tablet for entertainment and taking notes/writing down equations at work. After doing some research it was pretty clear that Samsung Tab S series is the front runner here (second was Asus Zenpad 3S IMO). FYI, I previously had a Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and a Google Pixel C. My phone is LG V20.
This was the sequence of events:
1. Purchased Galaxy Tab S2 (Was on discount).
2. Returned the Tab S2 and got the Tab S3.
3. Purchased another Tab S3 to compare to the device I already had for a few days (To see if my device was faulty).
4. Returned both Tab S3 devices and purchased an iPad Pro 10.5 (the newest model).
The Tab S2 was super light, the battery was great, and the screen was absolutely stunning! However, it was constantly stuttering (Snapdragon 652 I think), had no S-pen support, and the speakers were just bad. It was really nice to hold though, light and easy to grip. But after two days I said, well let's get the Tab S3 instead. it has a faster processor, more RAM, S-pen support, and four quality speakers.
Got the Tab S3 and after getting everything setup from scratch I thought it's awesome! Very premium glass design, the INCLUDED S-pen was wonderful to take notes or some minor drawing (it also doesn't require recharging, which is genius), speakers were 1000% better than Tab S2. First day I got 6 hours of Screen on Time. Now, I'm very familiar with android and of course that made sense - new toy, first cycle, extra features enabled, blah blah. After a week, though, I was starting to get annoyed with some things:
1. The battery was just not good, I have no other way of saying it. When the screen is off, no drain whatsoever. When you're doing anything with the tablet, you can literally watch the battery drain one percent at a time. Light usage too, not playing games or anything. The most I got was 7.5 SOT with very low brightness. Here's an example of how my day looks like: Wake up at 5am, have coffee and get ready while watching mostly YouTube on the Tab. Started work at 7am, by then it was at 75%, was taking notes throughout the day. At about 1:30pm it was at 15%. I was taking notes, that's it, fairly low brightness.
2. It felt much heavier than the Tab S2. Yes, it is heavier, but for some reason it feels MUCH heavier.
3. The glass design looks great, but my goodness it's so hard to hold the tablet for more than 5 minutes. It makes your hands sweat and constantly keeps slipping out of them. What it means is that you have to adjust your grip every minute or so.
4. The cameras are just bad in 2017 standards. I got spoiled by my LG phone probably. But these cameras are just below average. Obviously I'm not gonna take pictures with my tablet, but at least put a decent front facing camera for skype and snapchat, etc.
5. But above all, the tablet was just supper laggy. The first day I said "oh well, I was setting it up and stuff so it probably got hot and haven't had a chance to optimize apps". Being objective, when you're using it you notice that it lags constantly. Multitasking, not multitasking, scrolling, just everywhere… To be honest, my LG V20 lags as hell too from time to time which is annoying as well. These two devices have a Snapdragon 820, so this must be it. They get hot and start to lag even more after 10 minutes. Moreover, I noticed that when I'm using the S-pen to navigate the screen, there's a noticeable extra lag. For example, when using Talon for Twitter app or any browser it seems to normally run at 30 fps (could be more, but I'm just making a point). That's what it seems like at least. When scrolling with the S-pen I noticed that it drops to about 20 fps. The activation of the digitizer must have an effect on the smoothness?? And after I noticed it once, I noticed it all the time…
6. I was so confident my unit was faulty, that I went to another store and purchased another Tab S3 haha. All this just to realize they were ALMOST exactly the same. Both lag, both have short battery, but the new Tab I got had some weird light bleed from the top left. Just to be clear, the screen on the Galaxy Tab S3 (or S2 or even the S 10.5) is the best screen you'll probably see. There's nothing better than that, really.
Broken hearted, I gave up, went to the store, and returned both tablets. I have to say, I HATE apple. I just hate their prices, their all-high-and-mighty attitude, "closed" operating system without customization, the fact that you have to buy that stupid apple pencil separately, just not my cup of tea. So I go to the store and say "the hell with this, everyone is drooling over these new iPads, let me see what all of this nonsense is about." I was genuinely saying to myself that I'll play around with the iPad Pro 10.5, realize how much better the Tab S3 was, and have a story to tell how better android is and blah blah blah.
Overall, the iPad Pro 10.5 is about $200 MORE expensive than the Galaxy Tab S3. This is because that damn Apple Pencil costs $150 in Canada. It has more storage (64GB) but lacks a microSD slot. The Tab S3 is expensive. The iPad is EXPENSIVE.
Trying to have as little bias as I can, these are my impressions with the iPad after 4 days:
1. Getting everything set up was super easy. I actually managed to find most of the apps I use on my android devices in the app store. That was unexpected and just shows how little I knew. Some apps were missing (like Palabre), but there are other alternatives that work just fine (but Palabre is still the best Feedly app I've used). Setting up my work exchange account was painless as well. But having to put all apps in folders and not having an app drawer feels a bit stupid.
2. I don’t care who you are, after you use this iPad for a bit you'll say "this is the smoothest, fastest, snappiest device I've ever used in my life". I'm a bit shocked… THERE IS NO LAG
3. The battery is just outstanding! Bravo Apple, you win. Not only it's faster, it lasts MUCH longer than the Tab S3 or the Tab S2. Actually, even longer than the amazing Google Pixel C. Same scenario as I mentioned before. Woke up at 5am, same use pattern. Went to work at 7am, and took notes all day with the Apple Pencil. I left work at 7pm and the battery was at 52%. This is a huge plus, seriously. However, charging it is super slow. Yep. Android users are spoiled with fast charging for sure. But the iPad will last you ALL DAY, so I find that I charge it over night.
4. Holding the device feels great in the hand. Because it's not made out of glass, it feels so solid in my hand/hands. It's heavier than the Tab S3 I think, but it FEELS LIGHTER because it's so easy to grip. Moreover, it has pretty slim bezels. So when I hold it in portrait orientation my thumbs rest sometimes on the touchscreen. That's when I realized how genius the palm/thumb/whatever rejection is. It knows that one finger is holding the device and the other finger is actually using it and scrolling or whatever. I have to say, this implementation is WAY better than it is on the Tab S3.
5. The display on the Tab S3 is stunning, but the display on the iPad is… stunning as well?? It's not better than AMOLED, but IT IS GREAT. It's bright, the colours are punchy, and it has this "True Tone" feature that adapts the display to the lighting in the room. I really dig that a lot, very clever. Also, the display has twice the refresh rate of other displays (including iPads and android tablets). In real life it means that it appears smoother and the latency with the Apple Pencil is very low.
6. Talking about the Apple Pencil. I'm a little ashamed to admit, but it's absolutely wonderful to use. The price is BAD, the size is good, its texture is good, its balance and weight is good, the texture of the tip is good, its battery life is good. The bottom line is, and I'm being objective here, taking notes with this pen on the iPad feels amazing. So smooth and responsive… An absolutely delightful experience. Taking notes on the Tab S3 is GREAT and it has much more actual functionality. Taking notes on the iPad is AMAZING, while lacking a side button or the extra features of the S-pen. But I must say, for my use pattern most of the S-pen features are just gimmicks. Apple should implement an eraser on the other side of the pen (like Microsoft), I bet it'll be in the Pencil 2.0
7. After listening to the speakers on the iPad I realized that the speakers on the Tab S3 are not as good as I thought they were… The sound from these speakers is hands down the best I've ever heard. First time in my life I thought "god, it's too loud…" So so good, really. It's louder in volume, and the sound has much more bass and mids. Just sounds "Fuller", you can feel it vibrate and it feels great. I watched reviews online comparing the sound for both tablets, and people said the iPad is better, but it's a close call. It's not a close call, it's more than that. On top of that, the headphone jack (where is the 'Courage" Apple?!) is again better than the Tab S3. It drives demanding headphones better and louder. There's no equalizer though (am I missing anything here?). Apple is too cheap to include a licenced support for APTX over Bluetooth.
8. The fingerprint scanner is faster and more accurate than on the Tab S3. But for some reason you have to press the home button for it to register, which feels very 2015.
9. I noticed something about multitasking. More apps are kept ready to go in the background, and the implementation of multitasking is smoother and better than on the Tab S3. Actually, better than android in general. I'm not sure what it is, but it seems to work better. No lagginess or stuttering, apps scale better in split screen mode as well.
10. Cameras are awesome. Front facing and back camera. Apple had stock left from the iPhone 7 and they put it to good use. Samsung, get your **** together.
To conclude. The iPad Pro 10.5 is SO EXPENSIVE. It's not perfect. I'm SO HAPPY. I'm keeping the iPad…

Thanks for that. I am considering both the S3 and 10.5. I am a Note 10.1 user so would prefer to migrate to the S3 but the IPad just seems a better engineered device.

The problem with oled display`s is that the brighter the object on the screen the more power the display uses, for white screen like while browsing or writing documents or drawing pictures on a white background they eat the battery life, now if you had white text on a black background your battery would last ages.
Now lcd displays use the same amount of power whatever the screen colour is or what colour the object is.
So it you are going to do a lot of web browsing or writing text or drawing pictures anything with a white or bright background get an lcd display not an oled one.
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jeremyr62 said:
Thanks for that. I am considering both the S3 and 10.5. I am a Note 10.1 user so would prefer to migrate to the S3 but the IPad just seems a better engineered device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is a professional and balanced comparison of the S3 and the Ipad pro. In a nutshell, the ipad has only a slightly better processor and battery life but the S3 has a much better display and is a better overall value:
http://time.com/4708671/samsung-galaxy-tab-s3-release-review-ipad/
The S3 is my first tablet but I have owned each Samsung Galaxy phone since the S2 and like the Android OS. But I seriously considered buying the ipad pro because it will likely continue receiving updates long after the S3. I eventually decided to go with the S3 primarily for the HDR display but I almost switched to ios for the above reason.

Sorry way too long to make a few points.
Nevertheless, just skimmed read your very long post, I can assure you, my Tab S3 has good super battery life, no lagging at all and none whatsoever of any of the issues you claimed to have experienced.

I found it an extremely useful post. It is rare someone posts such detailed comparisons. The Youtube vids that do this are usually useless. Finding this kind of info from someone who has owned both devices gives a much more valid real world comparison.

Looks like the S3 is quite a bit heavier than the S2 though i would not swap either for my S1 as i use video more than anything and the S1 has an 16:10 screen while the S2 and S3 have a 4:3 display more suited to text, and internet browsing.
Below is a link comparing the S1 S2 and S3 specs.
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=8554&idPhone2=7438&idPhone3=6235
John.

Bluering5 said:
Nevertheless, just skimmed read your very long post, I can assure you, my Tab S3 has good super battery life, no lagging at all and none whatsoever of any of the issues you claimed to have experienced.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OP shared the good and bad experience he had with a device he really wanted to like. I like having information when I'm spending hundreds of dollars for a device. So i for one , appreciate this post.

Thanks OP, your post and experience really helped me decide.
Appreciate your time.

This is nothing new really.....it's just the way it is and has been forever. iPad's cost considerably more, yes. But they are also considerably better. I personally prefer Android over iOS without question but Android tablets just do not measure up to iOS tablets. Even with Android tablets being hundreds of dollars cheaper, I ALWAYS end up disappointed in them and doing exactly what the OP did, returning them to get an iPad.
Android tablets are "good enough," yes. But once you've used an iPad it is really, really clear to see the flaws in Android tablets. As has been mentioned, things like battery life, lag, and this isn't even getting into how many more apps are made specifically for iPad vs phone apps being shoehorned into a bigger screen on Android.

Nice write-up.
Price and the incredibly silly glass back put me off the Tab S3. Such a shame that to Samsung nowadays "premium" means fragile and slippery. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the plastic backs they used to use and I'll take that it any day over glass or metal.
The iPad 10.5 is what the Tab S3 should have been in so many ways rather than a minor update to the Tab S2 but I'm not ready to go Apple yet. Amoled is keeping me on Android for the time being so I'll simply stick with my Tab S for at least another year.

I am more or less in precisely the same boat with the OP. While I can't comment much about lag and battery (lag doesn't bother me and I don't use it much at a time and charge it rather often) the other complains are clearly justified.
This glass&metal construction is as bad as it gets, both because it's fragile and because it's hard to grip. It is kind of ridiculous, just try to keep it between your fingers and walk with it balancing your arms normally (or exaggerated, just to see what I mean). It will just inexorably slip through your fingers (not to the point of dropping it, if you're careful but you'll have to push it up with the other hand from time to time). That is without having any kind of greasy or wet fingers. I don't know what was wrong with something like Galaxy Note's (1) plastic (removable!) back. Oh, it doesn't look premium, bla bla.
Other than that the display is fine for browsing but for movies is beyond bad. I posted earlier about the dark screen (what is a little bit dark is completely black). Also in daylight (and I mean indirect daylight, in full shade) it's so reflective that is almost useless if you want to do something comfortably.
I would get the ipad (I can still return the S3) but the price difference is rather large (I can well afford it but can't really justify it). I managed to get the S3 for ~450 euros after all rebates (that is with LTE) and I can't do better (at least for the near future) for the ipad than the official 729 euro. And that would be without LTE, pen and with the pathetic 64GB non-expandable. If I go for 256GB and LTE ... sky's the limit. And even with LTE I still can't use the ipad as a backup phone (this was actually what I've got LTE for).
But with iPad I'll get the better screen (which is what I value most) and a much better camera (which might come in handy). But I'll have to change to iOS and it bothers me to learn new tricks (heh, I'm old).

jonidog said:
Hi, SO SORRY for the huge post, just wanted to share my recent experience with the Galaxy Tab S3. I'm not really looking to bad-mouth Samsung or anything, just want to provide my experience, which might help others in some way.
A week and a half ago I decided to purchase an android tablet for entertainment and taking notes/writing down equations at work. After doing some research it was pretty clear that Samsung Tab S series is the front runner here (second was Asus Zenpad 3S IMO). FYI, I previously had a Galaxy Tab S 10.5 and a Google Pixel C. My phone is LG V20.
This was the sequence of events:
1. Purchased Galaxy Tab S2 (Was on discount).
2. Returned the Tab S2 and got the Tab S3.
3. Purchased another Tab S3 to compare to the device I already had for a few days (To see if my device was faulty).
4. Returned both Tab S3 devices and purchased an iPad Pro 10.5 (the newest model).
The Tab S2 was super light, the battery was great, and the screen was absolutely stunning! However, it was constantly stuttering (Snapdragon 652 I think), had no S-pen support, and the speakers were just bad. It was really nice to hold though, light and easy to grip. But after two days I said, well let's get the Tab S3 instead. it has a faster processor, more RAM, S-pen support, and four quality speakers.
Got the Tab S3 and after getting everything setup from scratch I thought it's awesome! Very premium glass design, the INCLUDED S-pen was wonderful to take notes or some minor drawing (it also doesn't require recharging, which is genius), speakers were 1000% better than Tab S2. First day I got 6 hours of Screen on Time. Now, I'm very familiar with android and of course that made sense - new toy, first cycle, extra features enabled, blah blah. After a week, though, I was starting to get annoyed with some things:
1. The battery was just not good, I have no other way of saying it. When the screen is off, no drain whatsoever. When you're doing anything with the tablet, you can literally watch the battery drain one percent at a time. Light usage too, not playing games or anything. The most I got was 7.5 SOT with very low brightness. Here's an example of how my day looks like: Wake up at 5am, have coffee and get ready while watching mostly YouTube on the Tab. Started work at 7am, by then it was at 75%, was taking notes throughout the day. At about 1:30pm it was at 15%. I was taking notes, that's it, fairly low brightness.
2. It felt much heavier than the Tab S2. Yes, it is heavier, but for some reason it feels MUCH heavier.
3. The glass design looks great, but my goodness it's so hard to hold the tablet for more than 5 minutes. It makes your hands sweat and constantly keeps slipping out of them. What it means is that you have to adjust your grip every minute or so.
4. The cameras are just bad in 2017 standards. I got spoiled by my LG phone probably. But these cameras are just below average. Obviously I'm not gonna take pictures with my tablet, but at least put a decent front facing camera for skype and snapchat, etc.
5. But above all, the tablet was just supper laggy. The first day I said "oh well, I was setting it up and stuff so it probably got hot and haven't had a chance to optimize apps". Being objective, when you're using it you notice that it lags constantly. Multitasking, not multitasking, scrolling, just everywhere… To be honest, my LG V20 lags as hell too from time to time which is annoying as well. These two devices have a Snapdragon 820, so this must be it. They get hot and start to lag even more after 10 minutes. Moreover, I noticed that when I'm using the S-pen to navigate the screen, there's a noticeable extra lag. For example, when using Talon for Twitter app or any browser it seems to normally run at 30 fps (could be more, but I'm just making a point). That's what it seems like at least. When scrolling with the S-pen I noticed that it drops to about 20 fps. The activation of the digitizer must have an effect on the smoothness?? And after I noticed it once, I noticed it all the time…
6. I was so confident my unit was faulty, that I went to another store and purchased another Tab S3 haha. All this just to realize they were ALMOST exactly the same. Both lag, both have short battery, but the new Tab I got had some weird light bleed from the top left. Just to be clear, the screen on the Galaxy Tab S3 (or S2 or even the S 10.5) is the best screen you'll probably see. There's nothing better than that, really.
Broken hearted, I gave up, went to the store, and returned both tablets. I have to say, I HATE apple. I just hate their prices, their all-high-and-mighty attitude, "closed" operating system without customization, the fact that you have to buy that stupid apple pencil separately, just not my cup of tea. So I go to the store and say "the hell with this, everyone is drooling over these new iPads, let me see what all of this nonsense is about." I was genuinely saying to myself that I'll play around with the iPad Pro 10.5, realize how much better the Tab S3 was, and have a story to tell how better android is and blah blah blah.
Overall, the iPad Pro 10.5 is about $200 MORE expensive than the Galaxy Tab S3. This is because that damn Apple Pencil costs $150 in Canada. It has more storage (64GB) but lacks a microSD slot. The Tab S3 is expensive. The iPad is EXPENSIVE.
Trying to have as little bias as I can, these are my impressions with the iPad after 4 days:
1. Getting everything set up was super easy. I actually managed to find most of the apps I use on my android devices in the app store. That was unexpected and just shows how little I knew. Some apps were missing (like Palabre), but there are other alternatives that work just fine (but Palabre is still the best Feedly app I've used). Setting up my work exchange account was painless as well. But having to put all apps in folders and not having an app drawer feels a bit stupid.
2. I don’t care who you are, after you use this iPad for a bit you'll say "this is the smoothest, fastest, snappiest device I've ever used in my life". I'm a bit shocked… THERE IS NO LAG
3. The battery is just outstanding! Bravo Apple, you win. Not only it's faster, it lasts MUCH longer than the Tab S3 or the Tab S2. Actually, even longer than the amazing Google Pixel C. Same scenario as I mentioned before. Woke up at 5am, same use pattern. Went to work at 7am, and took notes all day with the Apple Pencil. I left work at 7pm and the battery was at 52%. This is a huge plus, seriously. However, charging it is super slow. Yep. Android users are spoiled with fast charging for sure. But the iPad will last you ALL DAY, so I find that I charge it over night.
4. Holding the device feels great in the hand. Because it's not made out of glass, it feels so solid in my hand/hands. It's heavier than the Tab S3 I think, but it FEELS LIGHTER because it's so easy to grip. Moreover, it has pretty slim bezels. So when I hold it in portrait orientation my thumbs rest sometimes on the touchscreen. That's when I realized how genius the palm/thumb/whatever rejection is. It knows that one finger is holding the device and the other finger is actually using it and scrolling or whatever. I have to say, this implementation is WAY better than it is on the Tab S3.
5. The display on the Tab S3 is stunning, but the display on the iPad is… stunning as well?? It's not better than AMOLED, but IT IS GREAT. It's bright, the colours are punchy, and it has this "True Tone" feature that adapts the display to the lighting in the room. I really dig that a lot, very clever. Also, the display has twice the refresh rate of other displays (including iPads and android tablets). In real life it means that it appears smoother and the latency with the Apple Pencil is very low.
6. Talking about the Apple Pencil. I'm a little ashamed to admit, but it's absolutely wonderful to use. The price is BAD, the size is good, its texture is good, its balance and weight is good, the texture of the tip is good, its battery life is good. The bottom line is, and I'm being objective here, taking notes with this pen on the iPad feels amazing. So smooth and responsive… An absolutely delightful experience. Taking notes on the Tab S3 is GREAT and it has much more actual functionality. Taking notes on the iPad is AMAZING, while lacking a side button or the extra features of the S-pen. But I must say, for my use pattern most of the S-pen features are just gimmicks. Apple should implement an eraser on the other side of the pen (like Microsoft), I bet it'll be in the Pencil 2.0
7. After listening to the speakers on the iPad I realized that the speakers on the Tab S3 are not as good as I thought they were… The sound from these speakers is hands down the best I've ever heard. First time in my life I thought "god, it's too loud…" So so good, really. It's louder in volume, and the sound has much more bass and mids. Just sounds "Fuller", you can feel it vibrate and it feels great. I watched reviews online comparing the sound for both tablets, and people said the iPad is better, but it's a close call. It's not a close call, it's more than that. On top of that, the headphone jack (where is the 'Courage" Apple?!) is again better than the Tab S3. It drives demanding headphones better and louder. There's no equalizer though (am I missing anything here?). Apple is too cheap to include a licenced support for APTX over Bluetooth.
8. The fingerprint scanner is faster and more accurate than on the Tab S3. But for some reason you have to press the home button for it to register, which feels very 2015.
9. I noticed something about multitasking. More apps are kept ready to go in the background, and the implementation of multitasking is smoother and better than on the Tab S3. Actually, better than android in general. I'm not sure what it is, but it seems to work better. No lagginess or stuttering, apps scale better in split screen mode as well.
10. Cameras are awesome. Front facing and back camera. Apple had stock left from the iPhone 7 and they put it to good use. Samsung, get your **** together.
To conclude. The iPad Pro 10.5 is SO EXPENSIVE. It's not perfect. I'm SO HAPPY. I'm keeping the iPad…
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I have no idea what you are talking about. I have the S3 and I observe no lag. I am not sure what kind of lag you were experiencing but I guess that it is not characteristic of the tablet per se. I wonder if you had a software issue.

I love my Tab s3, but I am getting a little frustrated with the battery drain when wifi is on while the tablet screen is off. I installed tmobile DIGITS and ever since then the wifi won't turn off, even after I deleted the app and did a factory reset.
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

WoW, just when I thought my issue was unique. My issues with the s3 are as follows.
Horrible virtual key accuracy
At times it is very slow and laggy
Like the weight but glass is very slippery
IPad pro
No split screen
MS groove a very poor app
Nook a poor app
OneNote syncs a lot slower than s3
Although the pen is well balanced, the pen tip is like hard plastic against the screen and I find the feel to be similar to the s3's glass feel, not good.
Despite those issues this blog has helped me decide which item I will keep. I will keep the iPad. I use nook and OneNote quite often and the split screen and the quick nav soft buttons on the s3 is far better than the navigation and quickly getting from app to app on the ipad, but. The feel of the ipad is more secure, there is a wider variety of accessories for the iPad pro 10.5 and the speakers and speed is A 1. Thanks so much for this post and, no need to apologize for the length of the post it was awesome.

The tablet actually has decent hardware just poorly optimized apps. Even the stock browser is trash. With stock browser it was taking over a minute to open a page. I'm using puffin browser now big difference.

A good night mode is a must on an oled display for night time browsing or to just save power, beware some browsers send all you detail to china like UC Browser, I use the free no root firewall, it blocks all data to china, russia, ect and shows where other apps are talking to in the world so you can block them if you want.
I have been using it on my Tab S1 for months and very low if any cpu usage.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.lostnet.fw.free&hl=en
John

The comparison between iPad Pro and S3 - like comparing an apple and real tool.
As a former user of iPad Pro 9.7 256 LTE (this is important) i can say that :
apple pencil is a toy . Even note 4 pen is better.
the system is closed and your handwriting is very limited to no value at all.
U have cellular on tablet , but very limited. in some cases you can not even manage your subscription since no phone application is allowed.
you download capabilities limited by system.
you can connect keyboard , but not mouse
using external drives is limited.
etc....
Bottom line - you hardly can leave without regular PC and Apple machine is very preferable.
But I do agree , that iPad Pro is a nice tablet.
Depends what you're looking for and preferable scenarios of use

I have to partially agree. I picked up a Tab S3 last night, and I'm shocked at how laggy it feels. Scrolling through Chrome or whatever other app is jittery. I expect a lot more for the price, and if I have to put up with poor performance, I may as well save a couple hundred dollars and get something around the $300 range.
I'm also taking issue with how dark media can be. A lot of detail is lost in the shadows of any given scene. I never thought I'd say this, but the contrast is just too damn high -- at least, for non-HDR content.
I'll give it a couple more nights to let it grow on me, but I wouldn't be surprised if I end up returning it.
Oh, and it has a light yellow band going across the middle of the screen, so that whites or grays look uneven. I had this same problem on multiple Pixel XLs. I used to think AMOLED was awesome, but it's becoming more hassle than it's worth -- the consistency is crap.

For movies, cinema mode solves any issue. Perfect movie quality in that mode... The Samsung tab S3 does not lag. Just add a adblocker for the Samsung browser and all issues are solved and change the stock keyboard to the Google Gboard keyboard since the stock keyboard is a mess. If you see any yellow banding or graying, your display is defective.