Question to those who upgraded from Galaxy S2 - Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

If you take battery life and camera quality out of the equation, do you think there is a good reason to upgrade to S4 from S2 ? do you find something particularly better on the S4 ?
Thanks.

Screen resolution..
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LTE
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Overall screen quality, much much faster charging, lots of smart features which makes life easier.
For me, the screen and battery life(also the charging speed, was frustrated by S2 taking 4-5 hrs to charge) were the reasons enough to upgrade.

I'd say I do like the phone but was almost slightly disappointed when I first got it...I preferred the size of the s2 but have since become more used to the s4 size wise. Otherwise as others said, screen quality is much better, battery is better for me at least, some of the gimmicky stuff is good for some, nfc and just generally faster etc
worth the upgrade if you want to!

Thank you for your answers.
From what you say, it seems I don't have much to gain by upgrading from S2 to S4 currently.
I don't have LTE in my country.
I keep a spare S2 battery in my wallet (so battery is never an issue).
All the gimmicks I'll probably never use...
I do like the bigger screen, but it also makes it harder to carry...
It seems that even though the S4 is about 10X faster than the S2, this huge hardware advantage doesn't translate to real life performance gain (apart from 3D games maybe, but I hardly play those).
2 years ago I upgraded from HTC HD2 to Galaxy S2, because the S2's internet browsing speed was about 2-3 times faster than the HD2. This was a real advantage I could enjoy every day (and I am enjoying it everyday). It seems that the S4 simply doesn't have that "killer feature" which will make it a much more functional device than the S2 (browsing speed for example is practically identical between these two devices)... It could be that Android 5 will finally unleash the S4's potential (and totally kill the S2 because of lack of support), but I think Android 5 is very far away... (by then we might have the S5 already)

Ultimately, it does come down to what you use. I must say though, the S4 is very easy to get used to. So, once you're used to the 5inch in hand, it'll be hard for you to go back to anything smaller.
But browsing is smoother if anything. But, if you're happy with your S2 then you should stay and wait for S800 CPUs to arrive atleast Then, you may witness some real performance boosts. Not that you wont see any improvement with the S600 [you will ]

I upgraded from s2 to i9500.
The screen resolution its A WHOLE NEW WORLD i can tell you that, also the size of it, once you get confortable with the size, you cant never go back. The only thing its that there is a lot less roms, and another thing from my model is that there is a problem with the camera driver and some apps wont work.

I upgraded from the S2 to S4 (I9505 edition)
PROS:
* Bigger screen / better resolution / much more vibrant / much more clear / heaps better colour
* Faster / more powerful in EVERY aspect (CPU, RAM, WIFI, LTE etc etc)
* Newer / faster updates (especially with the Google Edition ROMS)
* Super Customizable (S2 was great about a year ago, since then it has died off substantial as developers have moved onto other devices)
* A HUGE number of developers on the S4 (XDA and other forums)
* Bunch of new features - pedometer, thermometer, gyro, humidity monitor, eye tracking, air-view, etc etc etc (not going to list them all, because i don't have time)
CONS:
* nothing.... S4 is basically an S2 on steroids and 2 years more advanced hardware combined with brilliant software.
Basically comes down to:
1) can you afford the upgrade
2) do the PRO's features benefit you in anyway
3) am i able to handle, such amazing power and put it to a good use...

Cons: no fm radio
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andymihail said:
Cons: no fm radio
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Much better, use tunein radio.
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Related

Note vs Sgs2

Hi guys,
I want to buy Galaxy note but first want ti know some things about Note.
At this moment i have Sgs2 and want to know how much is Note better then Sgs2...
Faster,smoother,,etc,,
Please help me to decide.
Tnx
Sent from my Transformer TF101G using xda premium
Better battery , bigger screen. If you use your phone while commuting, prone to dropping get the s2 since it is palm size that can maybe save it from dropping. Note is almost as big as my palm and I consider my palm to be bigger then normal
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Well, despite having 1.4Ghz CPU instead of 1.2Ghz do not expect it to be faster. Remember, the same GPU has to deal with a resolution screen of 1280x800 instead of 800x480. EDIT: It has gone from a 0.38 megapixel screen to a 1.02mp...
It needs to work harder when surfing the web, for example.
Coming from the Galaxy S2, my feeling, more than speedier, I would say the software feels more stable, better battery saving -remember although bigger screen, the bigger battery drain when truly using it!-.
Swaping a SGSII for a Note for Speed improvements does not seem very good idea to me.
It never feels slow by any strech of imagination, but it is very hard to say those 200Mhz play any roll outside of benchmarks.
The browser feels faster, but I am pretty sure it has more to do with software improvements (last update was really good).
Think of the Note as a replacement for both your smartphone and a tablet.
YEAH..tnx guys..
I know everything about Note ..reason why i ask...
Sgs 2 have 1.2ghz..right and Htc sensation have 1.2.too but in real life sgs2 is much faster then Htc.
I just want to be sure that the Note faster then Sgs2..
I saw some videos and i saw lags on Note.So just because of that i ask.
Also..what about cam and recording..quality..photo..?
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Video n photo capturing is faster n smoother. Playback looks much better due to screen real estate. I came from sgs2 n no regret getting it. It was laggy when i first got it. After kies updated it to the latest firmware, it has no more lag. And in my very humble opinion, i think the memory management is much better too. Coming from custom rom, i don't see the need to flash it unless you absolutely just want to try it out or you r a seasoned flasher.
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Galaxy Note is faster than Galaxy S 2 on some benchmarks, browermark for example. I choosed the Note for the 5.3" screen, nothing else. I use the device mostly for reading so a big screen is the determinant factor.
If you use the phone to play music, you can be better off with a smaller one, with 64 GB integrated ROM but smaller screen. If you use it to talk and send SMS, then maybe a phone with physical keyboard would be better. There's no perfect phone for everybody.
What I can tell you is that the camera on the galaxy note is very good, better than a Kodak Camera I had on 2006. The GPS is the best I've seen. Yesterday I compared it to a Galaxy S II, inside a train and the Note got more satellites every time.
Of course you have to deal with the size of this thing, you can barely hold it on one hand (depends on your hand size, not recommended for a girl). The battery lasts longer despite the bigger screen. The screen is very bright and does not have a blue tint like my old Galaxy S.
,,no i need that phone because of internet and email..i dont play games ,music etc.
Thank you guys i decide,,,,NOTE IS MY NEXT PHONE.
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Hi there.
Just to add to your post. I have both S2 and Note. In my case, both are performing very good in their respective area. Finally, I settled for the Note and give the S2 to my wife. She loves it especially the camera and the screen. This is her 1st experience with Android since she is so used to Nokia phone. It took about a week for me to convince her to use the S2 and finally she is happy with it. We (me and my wife) do not play games with the phone. So I can't really answer for gaming things. But for internet browsing, music, camera, email, social networking(facebook/twitter etc), both S2 and Note are a class of their own. Go for it and you will not regret the decision. By the way, you will love the S-pen that comes with the Note.
Regards,
Morisa
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Tnx pal..
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I went from a GS2 to a Note and the difference for me was like night and day. The Note sometimes begins to bog down, but I've found that a shutdown/restart once a day keeps this to a minimum. This issue aside it is without a doubt the best device I've ever seen - the screen is an absolute joy, and the S-pen is more useful than you might think.
By contrast, going from a Desire HD to the GS2 left me feeling disappointed - I'm afraid I thought the GS2 was pretty mediocre.

galaxy note v/s galaxy s3 (which one should i buy)

i currently have htc sensation and want to buy a new phone
which one would u advice galaxy s3 or galaxy note ???
if u can mention the merits and demerits of taking either of phones??
please advice me
i am looking for a phone with big screen,
good dev support(custom roms), good battery and performance
Search. There is a thread that is exactly the same.
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i got it thankx
"i am looking for a phone with big screen,
good dev support(custom roms), good battery and performance "
They both have big screens with Note obviously being a bit bigger
They both have good dev support with slight advantage for the Note as it's older and more has been created for it
They both have good performance, believe me dual core 1,4Ghz is perfectly enough at the moment, the only thing that is not so adequate is the GPU, but they both use the same one so no difference here
They both have good battery, but from my personal experience, Note lasts longer when used as a feature-phone thanks to 2500mah
Of course the Note has the s-pen but i personally never use it - it's not that useful ( for me of course ) and it scratches the screen like crazy
For me - Note is better if you're all about the screen size. If you don't care for screen size go for S3.
note: big screen + s pen.
if those 2 things are of little importance to you then i'd go s3.
samsung would care more about s3 atm and little about the note.
the note is after all, almost a year old.
both have black crush issues. (i know my note does, but ive heard the s3 has it too (but i could be wrong so don't quote me on it.))
only the s3 doesn't have the emmc brick bug.
i only bought the note two weeks ago.
cuz the s3 is like 200+ bucks more expensive. XD
and i wanted a huge omgwtfbbq phone.
I have them both.
Excellent phones, but my Note has a terrible screen....a lot of black crush and green tinting.
The GSIII has a better screen and a good shape to hold in hands.
I had a lot of Android phones but the GSIII is really the best.
Pro:
Excellent audio quality through headphones;
Good audio quality and good and loud income/outcome calls volume;
Loud ringtones;
Excellent screen (but the best remain the first galaxy s screen...);
Good grip and good shape;
Fast even if You use touchwiz roms;
Excellent battery life;
Excellent camera and immediate shutter time (the only better is the Iphone 4s);
Good bluetooth audio e A2DP quality (no quality loss in audio transfer);
Very sensible and responsive touchscreen.
Cons:
The phone is made with plastic (when you hold in hand you can hear som cric crac sounds);
Low maximum brightness (difficult to use it under direct sunlight, the best screen in these conditions remains the lcd);
Fragile scree even if it is made of Gorilla Glass II (I accidentally dropped mine and now I have a lot of scratches, I dropped around 30 times the first galaxy s and the galaxy sII and they have almost a perfect unscratched screen);
You can't mount your internal sd as a sd card in your car audio system;
Hope it can helps, have a good day and good choice
Dont buy phone yet wait for galaxy note 2 in october then its not hard to choose.
S pen
I use the S-pen frequently and have no screen scratching issues at all.
The pen is very handy for quick notes,or handing the phone to someone for quick" give me your email" notes.
go with note, the BIGGGGG screen advantage is all that is needed.
The Galaxy Note, in my opinion, is the greater media device thanks to its beautiful display which is larger and with a higher resolution than the Galaxy S3. However, the Galaxy S3 will have better performance, but that is only if you can find something that can truly use that massive quad-core processor. Heck, many laptops/computers don't even have quad-core processors and I think it is a bit overkill. But, it's all personal preference.
Honestly I'd say the s3. I absolutely adore my note and I wouldn't switch it for anything but the note 2 at this point. If I didn't have either, however, then I'd go for the s3 purely on hardware performance. Don't get me wrong, the note is an incredible phone but it is almost a year old now and of course we all want the latest and greatest if you want a bigger screen + s-pen then I'd stick it out with your sensation and wait for the note 2, if those are unimportant to you then pick yourself up a gs3
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I have both phones, so go for the S3 if you like more rom support and all kind of accesories and stuff like that.
If you want a bigger screen then get the note, asi simple as that.
Although the S3 is technically the better device I would go for the note because of its huge display. It's simply awesome to surf the internet with this device. Generally I think almost every functionallity the note offers benefits from the big screen.
Sent from my Galaxy Note running ICS
I have both them, the N7000 and AT&T S3. The Note's screen is by far much better. I don't know if its CM9/PA that adjusted the screen, but the whites on the Note are so white and clean whereas S3's whites are pinkish (especially when you compare them next to each other). The Note's speaker also louder, but not by much. The S3 is better in everything else though. It feels great in the hand, battery life is better, its incomparably much faster and responsive, and the software is OMG good (AOSP looks pretty meh in comparison tbh and I've been using PA on the Note since it was released). TouchWiz 5 is really impressive, the skin is consistent across the entire system, making it look like its own platform and not some half-baked skin, and its so freaking fast and smooth that I sometimes wonder if I'm really using Android. The S3 is like iPhone level fluidity with Android functionality.
The only thing I miss from the Note is the screen though - not the the size but the quality of the display. Hopefully this can be fixed with mods/tweaks.
EDIT:
Never mind lol, I just flashed the LQ2 (TW ICS 4.0.4) and compared the screen brightness/colors to my Stock S3 and the S3 blows it out of the water. So I guess I right in my assumption that it was CM9/PA that adjusted the Note's screen to such superb levels. Can't wait for the same on the S3.
The best phone is clearly the S3 but if you can handle a big screen and want a big screen go with the note.
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according to this the S3 has more reasons to buy:
http://versusio.com/en/samsung-galaxy-s3-vs-samsung-galaxy-note
but it depends on what values you want more...
S3 small
S3 = small screen for small hands ( you know what they say about small hands )
Gnote = big screen for real big hand man....
if you have small hands, i don't blame you :good:
inflamess said:
S3 = small screen for small hands ( you know what they say about small hands )
Gnote = big screen for real big hand man....
if you have small hands, i don't blame you :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You know what they said about big trucks are for small d**s hahaha anyway i Have both international version phones and the s3 is not even close to small, its smaller than Note but is not a small phone.
I like both a lot, but I use the s3 as my primary phone since its faster and have a lot of things to play.
Finally, the screen of the S3 its better, same technology but blacks look a lot better, not video clipping and good constrast.
Note. There is no question which is better.
Criskelo 4.04 ICS LRG v9, LRB Modem, speedmod k3-9 kernel, Carrier: AT&T (US)
incisivekeith said:
Note. There is no question which is better.
Criskelo 4.04 ICS LRG v9, LRB Modem, speedmod k3-9 kernel, Carrier: AT&T (US)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you already test the s3? There is nothing better in the note. There are bigger things but bigger doesn't mean better.
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People who prefer the Galaxy Note over the S3, please do share your experience here.

Hi guys,
I know there are many similar threads like "Note vs. S3" and "S3 vs. Note" here but I wanted to bring everyone's opinions under one roof and make it clear for future buyers of either devices.
Those of you who own or have used the Galaxy S3 and still prefer the Galaxy Note over it, please do share your reasons and experience here.
I own both the Galaxy Note and the Galaxy S3 and to be frank, I prefer the Note over the S3 despite the S3 being newer, more powerful, etc.
I had bought the Note in June reluctantly as I was afraid it would be too uncomfortable to use due to the screen size. I was leaning more towards the S3 as it was a more valid upgrade over my S2 and the latest newest piece of technology in town. But the initial asking price for the S3 was quite high for me and hence I decided to give the Note a try, slightly worried that this may be the worst decision I made as an upgrade, (again due to the size) but I was mistaken.
Anyways luckily after a month, my dad bought an S3 and hence I got to use the phone in a more personalized manner and guess what? I prefer the Note over the S3.
The reasons being:
a) Screen: I've grown so used to the Note's screen size that it makes me feel that the s3 is small and the S2 which set the standard for screen size in 2011 looks tiny. The screen of the note is also much brighter than the S3 ( I'm not talking accurate measurements but percievable brightness). The note at the lowest brightness is equivalent to the S3 at 30-40% brigntness. Its also great browsing on the bigger screen. There are disadvantages with the Note's screen too, mainly the poor gamma calibration, banding and clipping but the positives weigh over the negatives.
b) ]The S-Pen: This is maybe the main reason why I prefer the Note over the S3. The S-Pen still amazes me with its accuracy and using the S3 makes me "miss" the S-Pen. Makes me wonder why the S-Memo and S-Note exist on the S3. And sketching on the S3 during leisure hours is pure bliss.
I'm not much of a gamer and I havent seen much apps which utilize the dual core processing other than benchmarking tools, so for me, quadcore A9 just doesnt cut it, atleast for now. Lets talk Cortex A15s and then maybe I'm game.
So what is the only thing which I find attractive on the S3?
The Wolfson WM1811 Audio Chip ofcourse. The wolfson on the original Galaxy S, changed the scene for Music on a Mobile Phone. Hence, I have high hopes about this one too.
Apart from this, I dont find anything else attention grabbing about the S3. Nothing revolutionary either. To be frank, I regret cutting my SIM into a MicroSIM to trial the S3 for a couple of days. Will revert back to the Note soon.
Disadvantages of the Note (My experience)
Screen again: Improper gamma calibration of the Note's screen causes a noticeable amount of black clipping in images and videos which depict dark shades or shadows.
The EMMC Brick Bug: Considering that every Galaxy Note has the chip with the faulty firmware, it makes me fear owning the phone beyond warranty period as even though however careful we may be, accidents do happen. This and the time when dualcores may be lacking (which isnt soon) may be the only reasons for me to sell the Note.
Will I ditch the Note and buy the Note 2?
If its about the quadcore A9's, Maybe Not
Considering the S3 still costs atleast 200$ more than the Note, The Note 2 would definitely be more expensive than the S3, which makes it much more expensive than the Note, Hence making it difficult and a pointless upgrade for people who've bought the Note recently.
And maybe if the Note 2 comes with anything truly "revolutionary", I might consider it, but again, not anytime soon.
So people who've moved on from the Note to the S3, who are planning to or who still prefer the Note over the S3, please do share your opinions here. Also please make it a point to share the reason why you prefer one over the other. This would help other people who are confused between both. This can also help some people understand their needs and maybe even save some considerable amount of money.
Please share your opinions in the following order, making it easier for readers to follow.
A.) If you prefer the Note over S3,
a.) Reasons: (Advantages based on experience)
b.) Disadvantages (Again based on experience)
B.) For those who've moved on to the S3 from the Note but still own one,
a.) Advantages of the S3 over the Note (based on experience)
b.) Disadvantages of the S3 compared to the S3 (based on experience)
C.) Will you upgrade to the Note 2 upon launch?
Please note that the advantages or disadvantages you post are ONLY based on experience and NOT merely Technical Specs. Anyone would prefer going for the latest anyday if it was mere Technical Specifications.
would like to see Note 2, i am sure it will be better than s3..
I have seen S3, and it looks pretty good too. But I love the size of our BIG G Note
Hi I use my note for the past six months and it gives me better satisfaction over s3....because the screen size, s note and the speed.
As a normal user with the given drugs of games the speed is more than enough.. I prefer my note than my system for gaming.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium
One simple reason.
Real estate. Screen real estate.
I simply cannot downgrade to anything below 5.3".
CorruptedSanity said:
One simple reason.
Real estate. Screen real estate.
I simply cannot downgrade to anything below 5.3".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. Even if S3 had 8 cores and 4gb of RAM i'd still prefer the Note. Great specs are useless if you have a tiny screen ( hello iphone )
Galaxy note screen size is both its biggest advantage and disadvantage. I love the size. Guess its the biggest size of a phone that you can carry. I think coz the phone is so slim its managable. I use the phone mostly in a landscape mode so get the tab experience.
S3 seems like your everyday phones. I dont know why its priced so high. Guess the price will fall soon.
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I have both the s3 just does not do anything for me yes its virtually lag free however screen is too small compared to note. Everything has less impact than the note. And i dont think the s3 could feel any cheaper. I know sammy use more plastic than lego but the S3 just feels tacky compared to my note which is yhe blue one as i know the white one also has the glossy black plate like the s3
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Prefer note over s3. S3 looks like a toy
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I like the screen size
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I like my purse to be full and not empty..
Using Note past 4months and totally satisfied by the experience...i'm a hardcore gamer and developer and so the big point awsm HD screen which really enhances my Hydef games like asphalt6,7, real soccer, batman,etc...
The only mob with stylus/S Pen which is an ease of access
...also after the 4.0.4 update everything is just gr8 except some minor UI probs but again Sammy is there for us....pls Sammy give us a gud news JELLY BEAN
Well Indeed it is the best phone available before Note 2 arrives.... Hpy «Noting»
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Note is of course is still better compare to S3.
Other than the censors on it, S3 has nothing to boost up.
Screen is not as big as Note
Has S-Note and S-Memo, but no S-Pen to support. At the end you have to write / draw with ur fingers, which defeat its purpose.
But yes, S3 screen, sounds, and battery is slightly better than Note. Still, comparing the price and the functions, Note is still all the way best to S3.
Till Note-2 comes up (and if it's much better than N7000), I will stick to this N7000.
The S-Pen makes me easier in work also. :highfive:
I use and alwasy bring both S3 and Note whereever I go
But in term of speed, S3 is awesome
I would buy Note 2 only if it can make a recording continously while writing using SNote application.
Currently, when the screen getting off, the record will stop and when adding the new page as well.
I also have Flyer that can make a record and writing continously, however due to the weight, I use Note more than Flyer.
I love all my gadget, actually :victory:
Note is Better than S3
I've used galaxy s3 for a month now and i found it very buggy ..
i prefer galaxy note and i hope note2 will be better than s3
Advantages of S3 -
Best,smoothest Touchwiz stock launcher from samsung till date
holding grip
pixel density is amazing , super clear
smart stay (can be installed on note too with smartstay ex but its not the same)
Goes into pocket very easily..
gorilla glass
Disadvantages of S3
microphone malfunction - i face it sometimes..
random reboots when running high processing power games
smaller screen than galaxy note
back cover isn't impressive .
camera is same as note - when u transfer photos to computer n view it u wont find major differences
battery life is very low of 3.5 hours
gets heated up more than note
Advantages of Note -
bigger screen
s pen
s apps
dual core processor is almost perfect for playing popular games
battery life of 6hours on hardcore gaming on low brightness n when sound is turned off
Disadvantages of Note -
No Gorilla glass , delicate screen - gets scratches very easily
laggy stock launcher
ics 4.0.4 fixed all the bugs previously which were - hangs,laggy browser,task manager fake reading..
dual core processor - i feel its enough for gaming but ppl out there think its too low..
Hope this helps ..please press thanks if this helped :good:
samsung_saad said:
I've used galaxy s3 for a month now and i found it very buggy ..
i prefer galaxy note and i hope note2 will be better than s3
Advantages of S3 -
Best,smoothest Touchwiz stock launcher from samsung till date
holding grip
pixel density is amazing , super clear
smart stay (can be installed on note too with smartstay ex but its not the same)
Goes into pocket very easily..
gorilla glass
Disadvantages of S3
microphone malfunction - i face it sometimes..
random reboots when running high processing power games
smaller screen than galaxy note
back cover isn't impressive .
camera is same as note - when u transfer photos to computer n view it u wont find major differences
battery life is very low of 3.5 hours
gets heated up more than note
Advantages of Note -
bigger screen
s pen
s apps
dual core processor is almost perfect for playing popular games
battery life of 6hours on hardcore gaming on low brightness n when sound is turned off
Disadvantages of Note -
No Gorilla glass , delicate screen - gets scratches very easily
laggy stock launcher
ics 4.0.4 fixed all the bugs previously which were - hangs,laggy browser,task manager fake reading..
dual core processor - i feel its enough for gaming but ppl out there think its too low..
Hope this helps ..please press thanks if this helped :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have different experience from yours
My GNote is hotter than S3 when playing game (Asphalt 7)
My S3 Battery lasts longer than GNote
Cheers
I like the big screen size coz I'm using it to replace my gtab.
Galaxy S3: Faster, better battery life.
Galaxy Note : Bigger and better screen.
Verdict: Galaxy Note.
Sent from my Note
I'll bite.
I chose the Note over S3 because it's more useful.
S3's advantages based on my smartphone usage as an IT professional and Android enthusiast with explanations:
Quadcore/faster CPU. This is a valid an good advantage, but by no means is the Note slow or incapable, the S3 is just better.
Umm... http://www.phonearena.com/phones/compare/Samsung-GALAXY-Note,Samsung Galaxy S III/phones/6116,6330
Scrolling down...
Oh, 4.0 Bluetooth stack, ummm...
Gyroscope that I would really need for... something.
Let's look at the Note's advantages:
Bigger screen. That's quite nice, but the S3's screen is still really good.
Higher resolution. A little bit, but not enough to get worked up over.
S-Pen. This depends on if you would use it. I use mine WAY more than I expected to.
Okay, so cost to buy them...
Note is about $550, S3 is about $600, so not much difference.
Well, what do you want? Big screen and S-Pen or a quadcore?
It really comes down to that question.
I compared my Note with CM9 ICS ROM to Stock Galaxy S3 and Note was way smoother and faster. Also i can't think of going back to smaller screen... To me S3 doesn't offer anything, that Note couldn't offer.
Rooted Galaxy note with Asylum ICS ROM and Google Now is WIN!
Powered By Asylum ICS
Dungeon47 said:
I'll bite.
I chose the Note over S3 because it's more useful.
S3's advantages based on my smartphone usage as an IT professional and Android enthusiast with explanations:
Quadcore/faster CPU. This is a valid an good advantage, but by no means is the Note slow or incapable, the S3 is just better.
Umm... http://www.phonearena.com/phones/compare/Samsung-GALAXY-Note,Samsung Galaxy S III/phones/6116,6330
Scrolling down...
Oh, 4.0 Bluetooth stack, ummm...
Gyroscope that I would really need for... something.
Let's look at the Note's advantages:
Bigger screen. That's quite nice, but the S3's screen is still really good.
Higher resolution. A little bit, but not enough to get worked up over.
S-Pen. This depends on if you would use it. I use mine WAY more than I expected to.
Okay, so cost to buy them...
Note is about $550, S3 is about $600, so not much difference.
Well, what do you want? Big screen and S-Pen or a quadcore?
It really comes down to that question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The galaxy Note also has a gyroscope. Some of the specs listed on your link is wrong.
The only features differenciating the Galaxy S3 from the Note is:
Quadcore, Smaller but better calibrated screen, Latest bluetooth stack, Really optimized, more functinal and visually pleasing touchwiz, cheaper quality plastics
And for the Note, Dual core, bigger and much brighter screen though poorly color calibrated, Wacom digitizer which is the actual magic behind the S-Pen, sturdier build quality.

note3 vs s4, worth the upgrade?

so i know a lot of people are debating getting the note 3, coming from their note 2s, but is anyone else out there considering doing it from their s4?
i like my s4, out of the box theres very little needing to be done. it was the first phone ive owned where custom roms would only mess things up. battery life for days, camera didnt need any hacking, everything ran fast, and looked good. there was an annoying popup turning up volume with headphones, and that was pretty much it. oh yeah and it didnt have a good sound chip like the s3, but the note3 wont either so thats not in the running.
despite being a solid phone, my reason for considering an upgrade is really just to change things up. is anyone thinking of moving to the note3 from the s4?
ill add "Thanks" to anyone giving feedback/input/2¢
note3
better gpu/cpu
more ram
internal memory
possibly s pen features?
s4
screen has better density,, otherwise no other differences?
up in the air
glass type?
probably same LED?
gps?
still pictures?
4k is alright, but what looks better in 1080p? (only thing that matters in 2013)
battery life?
radio?
air gesture? (really ONLY useful for gloves)
I have considered it and for me it's simply a matter of do I need...
1) a bigger screen again and
2) the spen features.
Although tempted by the Note 3 (after a year of the Note and Note 2) I went to the S4 in May. I really miss the spen and larger screen but found the size of the Note devices to be too much of a hassle in/out pocket, etc. But that's just me....I use my S4 (gps) for a lot of outdoor activity (backpacking, running, biking, note taking..ideas, etc.), and the Note 3 size would just make it more difficult to lug around.
My experience w/S4* has been nothing but excellent and it really fits all my needs for a smartphone...although I wish it had an onboard stylus.
So I basically think it's a matter of how you use your smartphones. Currently I'm sporting a S4 combined with Nexus 7. If I did get the N3 I'd get rid of the N7.
No doubt however, when it arrives in the stores i will definitely compare my S4 to the N3 and ponder...can I make it work for me? But the 5", physical size, sensors, etc. of the S4 work great.
*S4: stock, nova. Other than the original Palm pilot, it's the first smartphone I've owned that I haven't jailbreak, rooted, romed, etc. I enjoy the fact that everything works.
I actually will be going from the S4 to the Note 3.
The larger screen size will be nice for the real estate, but it's a slight trade off as I will lose the 1 handed operation I'm used to, and it's the same screen and resolution (diamond Pentile 1080p) as the S4 so you will technically lose some PPI, relevant or not.
For me getting the N3 is largely about the SPen features I'm looking forward to, especially with what I'm working on these days. The bump from 16 to 32GB storage is also welcomed. Also the new radio power management should provide a nice boost and I have little doubt the N3 will last a bunch longer on battery than the S4. USB3 is also a nice plus.
Everything else for me is a wash, Sammy's TW 4.3 will feel the same I'm sure. Yea the 800 will be faster than the 600 but will you see all that in day to day? probably not, but it's more future proof I suppose. Don't care about 4K video, and the camera stills will likely be the same between the two.
soraxd said:
up in the air
glass type?
probably same LED?
gps?
still pictures?
4k is alright, but what looks better in 1080p? (only thing that matters in 2013)
battery life?
radio?
air gesture? (really ONLY useful for gloves)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not the same LED. The N3 has more pwoerful LED than the S4.
Both the two variants wont have FM Radio on board.
S4 vs Note3 are pretty much the same device, only in a larger screen.
If I had the S4 I'll probably not get the Note3 unless i wanted a larger screen plus the S-pen
Originally i was going to get the S4 when it was released earlier this year, then i got winds about the Notes3 coming out so I held back, as I wanted all the features from the S4 plus all the feature that the Note3 offers
I'm very glad I waited.
I had this question in mind when I was on s3. I moved to note 2 as it had all features from s3, bigger screen and most of all bigger battery. I am very proud I made that decision so I guess it will be worth to upgrade to note 3 considering the overheating, smearing and poor battery issues of s4.
Sent from the New S Pen
I personally think people buy the Note-series for the wrong reasons. The only reason I owned a N2 (and soon an N3) is because I use S Pen/S Note, inking,, and multiview heavily. Those things require a screen at least as large as the Note's. If I didn't use those things I'd have a SGS4 or one of its competitors because lugging around a phablet isn't always fun. If you have decent size hands one-handed operation is workable but still not ideal.
Ask yourself these questions...
Do I want a larger display? - If yes, from a feature/performance/size perspective the N3's a great choice. If you're not in to S Pen/S Note or inking there are other large screen devices, both available and rumored, to consider that may have larger displays than the N3 or lower prices.
Am I moving to the N3 strictly for performance gains? - The Note-series phones have a lot going on under the hood. 3GB of RAM sounds fantastic but multiview and some of the other S Stuff are going to use a chunk of it. S-800's impressive but other smaller devices including the Nexus 5 and a possible LTE-A S-800 version of the SGS4 will be released with it too. So if you're hunting for performance the N3's a great choice but you may have other smaller-sized choices available soon. If you're going to root and run a non-TW ROM the performance of the N3 without Samsung's "features" should be impressive.
Am I creation/productivity user? - Used for what it's intended, there's nothing that competes with the Note-series. If you aren't currently using a device for creation/productivity but are in a creative line-of-work or do a lot of business communication and time management on your phone it might be worth exploring what the Note's features can provide. I have a Note 10.1 and N2 and would never own a non-Note device again. One man's opinion of course.
BarryH_GEG said:
Do I want a larger display? - If yes, from a feature/performance/size perspective the N3's a great choice. If you're not in to S Pen/S Note or inking there are other large screen devices, both available and rumored, to consider that may have larger displays than the N3 or lower prices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another thing to consider when answering this question is the downside of having a Larger Display, is the size form factor of the phone itself.
Ask you self these questions:
4. How I'm going to carry this phone on a daily basis?
5. How easy/hard would it be for me to access the phone when I need to answer/make a call?
for me I'm still trying to answer #4, I have Notes 1 and it hasn't been easy, I still use my Galaxy S2 more than my Notes 1 because of this reason.
for answer #5 the Samsung Gear, that watch will finally solve my problem I've been having with the Notes 1, yes, i used Bluetooth before, but it wasn't the same, it was really hard to access the phone to look up things as it didn't quite fit in the usual pockets, specially if you are out in Shorts and T-shirts
at least with the Samsung Gear, no I can keep the Note 3 in arm pocket or something, and then use the Gear to do the basic stuff when i'm out biking on Shorts & Tshirt
which in a way solves the conodrum i was having with quesiton #4
AllGamer said:
How I'm going to carry this phone on a daily basis?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's funny you'd say that. A ton of people were pissed when it was confirmed the N3 was "only" going to have a 5.7" display. I was thrilled because the N2's size is the max I'd go for something whose primary purpose is a phone and the N3's actually smaller.
I think people play with a phablet in a store and think "it'll be fine." In addition to things you mentioned try to use one running through an airport trying to find a connecting gate. Or with only one hand free walking down the street. What seems "fine" in a store or speculatively changes real fast depending on your lifestyle.
I'm going to upgrade from the S4. I actually don't mind the touch wiz that much I just don't think the S4 has enough juice to run it. I love the phone it just gets really hot when I'm playing games and the battery doesn't last me half a day.
Here is my thought process:
Size - S4 is already large so I already had to get used to changing the way I carry my phone
Battery - I can't get half a day out of my S4 in power save mode with features I would use turned off
Screen - I like as much screen size as I can get and I have trouble typing stuff out on smaller phones. I spend a lot of time correcting.
S Pen - This is something I actually really like, some might not care at all about it
RAM - More = better!
Storage - I got the 16GB S4 and didn't realize how little of it would be left. Without installing anything on my phone I'm at 9 GB with some games at 1-2 GB that is not enough space
I'm jumping from the S4 to Note 3. Can't wait!
I'm also ditching the s4 and getting a note 3.
Being a note 2 owner before the s4 I really regret selling my note 2!
I miss the big screen and tons of battery Life.
Also the s-pen makes it worth while for me.
The s4 is a good device but it doesn't fit my needs.
Can't wait till I get my note 3!
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
I too will be making the change from a S4 to a Note 3. Main reason being the bigger screen and the ability to use the S-Pen. I had a Note 2 and sold that to get the S4. After a while, I just really started missing the bigger screen. Even with the smaller S4, I still found myself using two hands anyways. So for me it's really a "once you go big, you don't go back." Also I was able to sell my S4 for $500. Purchasing the Note 3 off-contract which is really the same as purchasing the phone on contract since it's a $225 difference or so between what I sold my S4 for and what I'm paying for the Note 3.
wow what awesome feedback!
so everyone seems to agree the biggest selling point is the S-Pen! what exactly does the S-Pen do? i thought the airview/air hover was supposed to the s4's version of the S-Pen, but airview and air hover are absolutely 100% useless in every possible way imaginable. all these features do are get in the way if youre trying to actually do something.. im positive everyone turned them off after the first few days.
so what does the S-Pen contribute?
i was hoping being able to hover over an area of a webpage would act the same way hovering a mouse does, where it brings dropdown menus, mouse hover features, toast popups, any java/flash/html5 features, and every other thing an on-screen mouse is used for. however samsung implemented none of this, and closesourced its hover features. theyre only used for gimmicky things like turning pages on the touchwiz launcher if you hold it a certain way.. -___________-"...
soo, S-Pen?? wutitdo?
I'll keep my S4. Having a larger phone would only be a hassle for my pockets. Plus I have small hands. My S4 will be my pick. I don't need a bigger phone...
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk 2
I missed the screen real estate going from the Note 2 to my S4. I have been anxiously awaiting the Note 3 to step back up to a good size screen. I don't agree that the S4 didn't need anything done to it, but I'm not a fan of all the bloat Samsung and the carriers include on these great pieces of hardware.
edit - For me the S-Pen is secondary. It just happens to be included in a great specced phone with a large screen. I'd gladly buy an identical model without the Pen.
The s-pen isn't the deciding factor for me, though I don't want to give it up either! (I have the Note 2). I use it every once in a while but not often. For me it's all about the screen size. I am one of those who wanted the N3 to be 6" or perhaps even bigger.
However there have been times when it was a bit larger than comfortable in the pocket - ie especially during sports. This was partly the weight, not the size - with loose trousers and big pockets it's worse. Still doable but not ideal; it's a trade off I am happy to make though. Hopefully the lesser weight of the N3 will mitigate that problem somewhat.
On the other hand I'm not considering other brands with larger phones because I think Samsung brings way more software-wise to the table - lots of new features each model, and the s-pen is perhaps the best example. For me the S4 would be too small after the Note 2.
I'm really looking forward to the upgrade as it appears that almost everything on the phone will be improved. Since I have an extra Att upgrade to use and it will cost effectively nothing, upgrading is a no-brainer. If I had to pay full price though I'd wait.
I think if I were you, I'd figure out which phone was the right size; the one I'd be most comfortable with most of the time. After all, feature wise they're pretty close. Both are great devices. (Sorry for long response...)
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using xda app-developers app
One thing I haven't seen people taking about is signal strength.
Maybe it's just me but when I went from the Note to the SGS 3 I noticed a big drop in signal.
soraxd said:
soo, S-Pen?? wutitdo?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are already two detailed (p)reviews from phonearena and gsmarena. The former stated the new s-pen features and the latter described them comparatively more in-depth.
Links:
http://www.phonearena.com/reviews/Samsung-Galaxy-Note-3-Preview_id3423/page/2
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_3_preview-review-986p4.php
So, we got a new pen window to start these fresh new things to enhance the multitasking:
Action Memo
Srapbooker
Screen write
S Finder
These are already been mentioned by knowledgeable and assumption-expert member(s) like @BarryH_GEG earlier in the general threads. Demo'ed in those vids too.
I am using s3 for a li'l over a year and I find s-pen along with these new features (with varying degrees) interesting.
For an S4 (i9500) user it should be exciting to have the exynos variant. Because now the exynos 5420 has HMP support which will never be possible for i9500 s4.
I really don't understand the OP's question
GNote2 owners doubting to upgrade to the Note3 is understandable, however ..
The S4 is a PHONE while the Note3 is a PHABLET, with S-pen capabilities ...the choice is totally personal
Correct me if I'm wrong .....
Edit: Not to mention the fact that somebody already started a thread just like this one a couple of days ago ....what a mess ....
.

Will the S4 be the last Samsung Smartphone you buy?

Sadly due to all the crap Samsung is doing atm with it's smartphones I've decided to part ways with my S4 while it still worth something, & that will be my last Galaxy S i buy.
As from now on the only Android smartphone i will buy will be the Nexus range, as i want the freedom to do what i want with my Smartphone, without having to worry about warranty problems should something go wrong with the hardware, that is not the fault of a custom rom or kernel.
I'm using my trusty little Nokia 800 as backup now until the Nexus 5 32gb launches which i'll be ordering as soon as it shows up on the Play Store in the UK, I'm just hoping now the camera & video recording quality is at least on par with the Galaxy S3 this time around unlike the Nexus 4 which tbh had a terrible camera.
The S5 can be the best thing since slice bread, but with all the lockdown Samsung is currently doing it might aswell rename itself Apple.
Anybody else also plan on ditching Samsung due to the way they are going?
ixon2001 said:
Sadly due to all the crap Samsung is doing atm with it's smartphones I've decided to part ways with my S4 while it still worth something, & that will be my last Galaxy S i buy.
As from now on the only Android smartphone i will buy will be the Nexus range, as i want the freedom to do what i want with my Smartphone, without having to worry about warranty problems should something go wrong with the hardware, that is not the fault of a custom rom or kernel.
I'm using my trusty little Nokia 800 as backup now until the Nexus 5 32gb launches which i'll be ordering as soon as it shows up on the Play Store in the UK, I'm just hoping now the camera & video recording quality is at least on par with the Galaxy S3 this time around unlike the Nexus 4 which tbh had a terrible camera.
The S5 can be the best thing since slice bread, but with all the lockdown Samsung is currently doing it might aswell rename itself Apple.
Anybody else also plan on ditching Samsung due to the way they are going?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FOr me Yes and no I love the TW features and pure android is smooth and fast but again its boring as well....When i say TW features I aint talking about the gimmicky ones but the useful ones like the camera, and others I am tempted to buy the nexus 5 but as my s4 is just 2 months old and especially after the brilliant job samsung has done with the 4.3 update am not sure I will stick to the S4 atleast till the S5 arrives
Updating my phone to 4.3. Heard that It is smooth and that's what I want. Sometimes I think to get Nexus 5 but then I realize how useful TW features are to me.
I've used Xperias (for a year or so) and even iPhone (for somedays) but none satisfied me as much as S4.
The most important thing that keeps me on Samsung is the Camera. Features + Quality. Yes, I'm sticking to Samsung
Definitely. I've had the S2 for 1.5 years and then the S4 for six months. I'm thoroughly bored of the Galaxy S range now. Gonna switch to some other OEM for the next phone. Or a nexus maybe if it doesn't compromise on screen, battery life and camera.
100% no samsung for me in the future. With no sources for exynos and all the knox ****, I am fed up. I could live with TW but the fact its laggy even with 2 gb ram and an octa core processor, I think I will look at other options.
Cheers!!
sent from my S4 (9500 international)
I hate Samsung and their current Knox implementation, turning them into Apple basically. Also I feel their AMOLED technology is nowhere near perfect (low brightness, unreadable under direct sunlight compares to LG screen or Iphones). However, no other phone in this current generation I can switch into. Newest releases contains so many flaws that are such a deal breaker for me: LG G2 without micro sd; Iphone 5s with terrible iOs 7; Xperia Z1, well, let's just say that it doesn't even ring any bells around. All and all, as much as I loathe my s4, I still have to stick with it because there is no other viable alternative that suit my needs currently. Probably won't be using s5 and try to avoid samsung like a plague next generation.
I went with the S4 GPe, and didn't look back. I looked at the Nexus 4, and it lacked features that I needed; no LTE, no 1080p screen, not enough storage or MicroSD to make up for the lack of storage, and no removable battery. Even the Nexus 5 won't have a removable battery, and while 32GB is an improvement, i need at least 48GB for my usage (I have 80GB on mine).
count me in.... i'm fedup with all samsung crapness... next will be a sony or a nexus for me
I'm done with Samsung definitely my next is gonna be something else, not because I think they suck or I'm against their practices but cause I've been using Samsung exclusively since the Galaxy S up till my current S4 and I think I need a break from Sammy!
AsterFenix said:
I hate Samsung and their current Knox implementation, turning them into Apple basically. Also I feel their AMOLED technology is nowhere near perfect (low brightness, unreadable under direct sunlight compares to LG screen or Iphones). However, no other phone in this current generation I can switch into. Newest releases contains so many flaws that are such a deal breaker for me: LG G2 without micro sd; Iphone 5s with terrible iOs 7; Xperia Z1, well, let's just say that it doesn't even ring any bells around. All and all, as much as I loathe my s4, I still have to stick with it because there is no other viable alternative that suit my needs currently. Probably won't be using s5 and try to avoid samsung like a plague next generation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
iOS 7 isn't all that bad tbh from what I've seen of it, my sister just got herself an iPhone 5s, so like anything i had to have a good look at it & at one point i was actually tempted to get myself a 32Gb iPhone 5S, but the screen abit on the small side for my liking.
The camera on the otherhand is brilliant, really have to give Apple credit for this, the camera functions itself is very basic not many options to mess with, but soon as you take a picture 99% of the time the images are spot on & even stay looking decent in low light aswell, something i found impossible to do on the S4 was to get a decent image in low light as most of the time it came out as a blurry mess due to the camera lag, which the 5s doesn't have a problem with.
If the iPhone 6 has a bigger screen & iOS 8 allows widgets then i might be slightly tempted to switch next year & just have a Nexus 2014 tablet for my Android fix.
I'm new to Samsung. Can somebody tell me what the knox implementation is?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
As long as they keep releasing phones with Google Edition roms available, I'll stay with Samsung. 1080p amoled + sdcard + switchable battery + decent camera + stock android = almost the perfect device for me (performance could still be better, but that is mostly an android problem (and don't give me **** about how your phone isn't lagging because it is, you just might not perceive it)).
Yup Sony for me next time. I've had every Galaxy S since the S1 but Samsung have really put me off.
Sent from my GT-I9505
Give me a nexus with an awesome camera, Bluetooth 4, beep n go, and a memory card slot and I'll give up Samsung.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk
Maybe is my Last, i'm taking a Sony device
Sent from my GT-I9500 using xda app-developers app
I'll definitely stick to samsung, take note that this is just my personal opinion.
I like touchwiz, for me it's very simple, i've had the xperia z for a couple of months, s4 camera i would say is far better, and i don't like the way the sony launcher is. And definitely the screen on the sony ones has not impressed me at all, i even owned an xperia tx but on all sony is prone to quick scratches even the sony z1 has the same screen compared to samsung's screen, which are much better.
The only drawbacks i have against samsung is about the plastic body, and chinese manufacturers can easily make a copy of the phone!
well despite the fact that for the i9500 in terms of rom development is slow, i prefer stock rom! it's very stable!
so i will definitely stick to samsung unless s5 mess things up
i would then move to an htc phone maybe! :3
kesh9293 said:
I'll definitely stick to samsung, take note that this is just my personal opinion.
I like touchwiz, for me it's very simple, i've had the xperia z for a couple of months, s4 camera i would say is far better, and i don't like the way the sony launcher is. And definitely the screen on the sony ones has not impressed me at all, i even owned an xperia tx but on all sony is prone to quick scratches even the sony z1 has the same screen compared to samsung's screen, which are much better.
The only drawbacks i have against samsung is about the plastic body, and chinese manufacturers can easily make a copy of the phone!
so i will definitely stick to samsung unless s5 mess things up
i would then move to an htc phone maybe! :3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People on about knox bootloader etc being implemented and that samsung have locked there bootloaders,yeah its a blow but then again we have to remember that Sony,Lg and HTC also lock there bootloaders so its nothing new,yeah Sony screens arnt that great anymore,they look a bit washed out now,T was nice device,I loved my T before it got beer damage,in my opinion the Hardware of the s4 isnt to bad,yeah it is plastic which is a let down but the software is the issue,its heavy due to all the bloatware,slim roms work really well but is it my last Samsung phone,we shall see,at the moment i think HTC one is best alternative,the only thing that gets my back up with Samsung isnt with the s4,thats surprising but with the Galaxy Camera,lovely device but its like theyve forgoten it already ,no updates for past 6 months
jaykresge said:
I went with the S4 GPe, and didn't look back. I looked at the Nexus 4, and it lacked features that I needed; no LTE, no 1080p screen, not enough storage or MicroSD to make up for the lack of storage, and no removable battery. Even the Nexus 5 won't have a removable battery, and while 32GB is an improvement, i need at least 48GB for my usage (I have 80GB on mine).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. Removable battery is priority #1 for me. SD card slot is a very close second. I also like the shape/profile of the GS4 over Nexus devices, but that is a minor concern compared to the previous points. LTE is also very nice, but not a necessity for me. If a Nexus device had removable battery and SD card, I'd probably choose it.
If there is another high end phone with removable battery, sd card slot, ir blaster and a Qualcomm SOC I will buy non Samsung.
But those things are more important than anything else.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
Keep S4 for a while.
S4 is good choice. I have octa core version and with litlle work new jb 4.3 can be rooted and debloated. Knox applications should be removed ,possibly with aromafm in recovery before booting.

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