What is a "phablet" anymore? - Galaxy Note 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I had three people tell me the Note 3 would be too big. I would hate it. This, of course, was based on their opinion of holding the Note 2 and being put off by the size. I get it, it's not for everyone. It may not even be for me. Two years ago, I know it wasn't. But today, I might be coming around.
A relative of mine had the first Note. At the time I had the Evo 3d. I remember being so put off by that monstrous phone that I thought no way could I deal with something as big. But then I got a Galaxy Nexus. And now I've held the S4. And I see the G2. And I have to wonder, is this really a HUGE phone anymore?
Below on the left are the phones I've owned with the GN being the current. On the far right are the current choices for top in the Android world. Is the Note 3 bigger than average? Yes, but not so much anymore. Now it just seems like it's ahead of the curve.
So is this really a device in a different category due to it's size, or is this just progress?

My original smartphone was the Droid eris. I then moved to the Galaxy Nexus, and at first i thought the screen was pretty big, but I got used to it within a week lol...
fast forward to last week, when my nexus died... I have me beat up old eris and I cannot wait to have a big screen again lol...
yes, the note is big, but that much bigger than current phones, whereas the original note was gigantic compared to the current phones of the day.

I have the Note 1 and think its great, but like you said people go what the hell you need a phone that big. Then I show them how much more I can do because I have a bigger screen and 9 out of 10 people after go, "that not so bad after all". Just need to think beyond only calling and texting

Handling it should be no problem for you seeing that you're used to a gradual increase in size...and if you think note is big see the z ultra in person XD..you won't understand till then

3 years ago I bought s1 and everyone told me that my phone is too big to use comfortly.:laugh:

Ergonomically, there is a huge difference and more relative to hand size and finger length. The main function for a lot of people is phone and text. Most prefer one hand operation most of the time in that regard. Previous size progression did not breach this function for most people until the phablet, hence the term.
Phablet is a fair and accurate term for most people. Either choice depends on the user and nobody else. If I did not have a tablet, I would get the N3, since more display and IMO, a better all-in-one if no tablet. I though have a Excite 7.7, TF300, Nook HD+ and iPad 4. I will stick with the S4, but would not be surprised if there is a S800 refresh of some form for the S4.

I have the (original) Note, bought it when they first came out, before it was even evident that any of the US carriers would offer it. So I didn't even have a chance to see one in person before I ordered it. I mocked up the phone by gluing two pieces of corrugated cardboard together, cut out to the same size as the Note. It fit in my pocket, and didn't feel awkward holding it to my face, so I ordered it. Once I got the phone, I loved it, and wouldn't go back to something smaller. However, I also don't want anything larger, as I do feel this pushes the limits of what comfortably fits in my pockets in certain clothes or activities. In fact, I wish they would have rounded the ends of the N3 more like the S4 just for that reason. But it really took no time at all for the size to seem normal to me. Of course, I grew up holding the Bell "trimline" phones to my face, so the Note is an amazing shrinking of technology from that perspective. When I first got the Note, I did get occasional "is that a tablet or a phone" questions, but not so much any more.

Size is not a big factor nowdays even more for those who seek the best experience
I am in full agreement with most of you on this matter. Basically my thinking and reasoning is this: I want the best (IMO) smartphone but at a reasonable size, so I want to look at Galaxy S4, LG G2, Sony Z1,Nexus 5 and Note 3. But hey, these mobiles are quite big and in my case in which I have small hands, it is difficult to operate them in one hand. So in essence, all these smartphones are big for me so the size factor is almost eliminated and therefore I am only after the total power, experience and functionality from those smartphones! Therefore I think Note 3 is the winner! Not to mention that Z1 is almost reaching the Note 3 dimensions but having only 5 inch display, so Note 3 at least is exploiting the big screen at an optimum level compared to its size! Now I hope the battery life of this beast will be great and at least to be on Note's 2 range.

SAVVAS. said:
I am in full agreement with most of you on this matter. Basically my thinking and reasoning is this: I want the best (IMO) smartphone but at a reasonable size, so I want to look at Galaxy S4, LG G2, Sony Z1,Nexus 5 and Note 3. But hey, these mobiles are quite big and in my case in which I have small hands, it is difficult to operate them in one hand. So in essence, all these smartphones are big for me so the size factor is almost eliminated and therefore I am only after the total power, experience and functionality from those smartphones! Therefore I think Note 3 is the winner! Not to mention that Z1 is almost reaching the Note 3 dimensions but having only 5 inch display, so Note 3 at least is exploiting the big screen at an optimum level compared to its size! Now I hope the battery life of this beast will be great and at least to be on Note's 2 range.
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This is exactly where I'm at. I just want the best phone. And at the moment, the Note 3 looks like it. It just happens to be a bit bigger than average. But I think much of the stigma of holding the "phablet" to your head is gone with the Note series. I mean, is it maybe a half inch longer and quarter inch wider than the S4? Not so noticeable anymore.

dscline said:
I have the (original) Note, bought it when they first came out, before it was even evident that any of the US carriers would offer it. So I didn't even have a chance to see one in person before I ordered it. I mocked up the phone by gluing two pieces of corrugated cardboard together, cut out to the same size as the Note. It fit in my pocket, and didn't feel awkward holding it to my face, so I ordered it. Once I got the phone, I loved it, and wouldn't go back to something smaller. However, I also don't want anything larger, as I do feel this pushes the limits of what comfortably fits in my pockets in certain clothes or activities. In fact, I wish they would have rounded the ends of the N3 more like the S4 just for that reason. But it really took no time at all for the size to seem normal to me. Of course, I grew up holding the Bell "trimline" phones to my face, so the Note is an amazing shrinking of technology from that perspective. When I first got the Note, I did get occasional "is that a tablet or a phone" questions, but not so much any more.
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I cut out cardboard last night for the Note 3 size... Glad I'm not the only one who obsesses over things like this.

I think we've become desensitized to devices the size of the Note (all three are similar as is OG Pro). I've been using a N2 for eleven months and it’s become "normal." It's not normal though. One-handed operation was and still is a pain in the a- and I've got fairly large hands. I was recently visiting some friends and family in another state and they all had iPhones (at least a dozen of them) in various shapes and sizes. I felt like Gulliver with my N2.
I would never buy anything larger that the Note to use as my only phone. I have a large tablet so don't need my phone for the majority of my consumption. I'm betting others increasingly have 7-10" tablets too. And at least with a Note you can justify the larger screen as anything smaller would make multitasking and inking impractical. What’s the justification for the XZ Ultra?
So what problem does something like the XZ Ultra or even the One Max really solve? They create a portability problem if they are someone's primary communication device. I guess the problem they solve is not having to buy and/or carry both a phone and a tablet. But a 5.9-6.6" display is still too small for a tablet which is why the 8" form factor is the fastest growing. And God knows 5.9-6.6" is laughable as a communication device.
It kind of reminds of pre-gas crisis times where gargantuan SUVs were the biggest selling segment and people that didn’t need them bought them purely because "bigger was better" and the statement they made - “mine’s bigger than yours.” I think phones larger than the N3 will find their niche but I think once the novelty wears off people that buy them and use them as their primary device will come to their senses.

Other phablets are just "big smartphones." The Note is an honest to goodness productivity machine. There are plenty of options in terms of larger smartphones, but there is only one (well 3 now) Note.

hdad2 said:
I cut out cardboard last night for the Note 3 size... Glad I'm not the only one who obsesses over things like this.
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I am glad I'm not the only one who did a cardboard cut out

The phone is just a feature
Bah, I got the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 3G (T-311). Why bother with tablet + phone? Just carry one device. But seriously, it really depends how important the phone function is to you. For those who only take the occasional call, the bigger the screen, the better. The Sony SBH52 handset will take care of the rest.

joe_dude said:
Bah, I got the Galaxy Tab 3 8.0 3G (T-311). Why bother with tablet + phone? Just carry one device. But seriously, it really depends how important the phone function is to you. For those who only take the occasional call, the bigger the screen, the better.
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Talking isn't the limiting factor to me. I don't talk much, I text, email, and browse much more. I could hold an 8" screen up to my face and talk, but it would be an issue fitting that into many of my pockets or keeping on me for certain activities. The Note is about as big as I'd want to go for someone who prefers to just drop it in a pocket & go.

dscline said:
Talking isn't the limiting factor to me. I don't talk much, I text, email, and browse much more. I could hold an 8" screen up to my face and talk, but it would be an issue fitting that into many of my pockets or keeping on me for certain activities. The Note is about as big as I'd want to go for someone who prefers to just drop it in a pocket & go.
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Short answer: Cargo pants/shorts
What I did was get a belt pouch that was designed to carry a small tablet. Easier to take out while sitting down, and no wardrobe malfunctions. 8) It leaves my hands free, which is the important part. But again, it depends on each person's needs. I wanted one device to do everything, including remote desktop.

joe_dude said:
Short answer: Cargo pants/shorts
What I did was get a belt pouch that was designed to carry a small tablet.
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I suppose if I could or wanted to wear cargo pants to every thing I did, that would be an option. It's rare (read: never) that I'm interested in sporting some kind accessory to carry my phone in. For those who are willing to dress around their phone, then sure, size isn't really an issue. May as well carry a full tablet around. Heck, you can make calls on a laptop if you want.

dscline said:
I suppose if I could or wanted to wear cargo pants to every thing I did, that would be an option. It's rare (read: never) that I'm interested in sporting some kind accessory to carry my phone in. For those who are willing to dress around their phone, then sure, size isn't really an issue. May as well carry a full tablet around. Heck, you can make calls on a laptop if you want.
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Yeah, 8-inch tab is about the biggest that can be held in one hand. Even then, it is a bit extreme. It's kinda like heading back to the days of carrying a ghetto blaster. Totally retro, man!

staryoshi said:
Other phablets are just "big smartphones." The Note is an honest to goodness productivity machine. There are plenty of options in terms of larger smartphones, but there is only one (well 3 now) Note.
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I agree. I've been a Samsung user for years, and I have to say that the gradual changes that they've made with the S series and now the Note series have been nothing but benefits. It's crazy, I didn't even know until recently that Samsung offers phones even larger than the Notes: the Mega has a 5.8 inch screen in diameter, and the second one in that series is at 6.3.

BarryH_GEG said:
I think phones larger than the N3 will find their niche but I think once the novelty wears off people that buy them and use them as their primary device will come to their senses.
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If you don't care about one handed use, and i don't, then the biggest practical phone is the one that still goes where your current phone goes.
I could easily go a bit bigger than the note 3. I know several girls who have the note 2 that carry the phone in their purse and there is no reason they couldn't go bigger as well.
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Related

Dell Streak or Captivate (Galaxy S)

Hey guys,
I would really appreciate it if you could tell me which phone you think would be the better choice. I have had an upgrade from AT&T for over half a year and have been waiting for a big bad a** Android phone to get but have not been inspired yet. The Streak is looking really good and has had me interested for quite some time, but this new Samsung Captivate looks just as great. What do you guys think will be the best choice?
Ive seen a lot of these threads, but i rarely see how the 2 devices are rivals for each other.
The streak is a landscape pad, that can make calls. The Galaxy is a phone.
All you can do is try them in store to see what you think.
Just depends what you want! Streak is much larger of course.
rovex said:
Ive seen a lot of these threads, but i rarely see how the 2 devices are rivals for each other.
The streak is a landscape pad, that can make calls. The Galaxy is a phone.
All you can do is try them in store to see what you think.
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I agree with that, to me i wanted a tablet and i did not want one as big as the Icrap hence a came across the dell its everything i wanted in a tablet that size and the bonus to me was you can make calls from it as i was not looking for that at first, at present i do not think there is anything better on the market,but now HP has acquired Palm i am sure they will come up with a little gem
Depends on what you want it for.
My usage of a 'mobile device' is a tool first, then a phone. I spend a lot of time travelling and the large screen of the streak makes web browsing, emails, work stuff and games really easy. I rarely use it as a phone other than for a quick call that lasts a minute or two.
So in my case the streak is perfect - especially since my eyes are going. However if I was primarily a phone user - then it would be the wrong device - too big, awkward to hold on a long call compared to a basic nokia anyway.
My view is that now days the phone part is the least used function - so if its going to be a web browser/facebook/twitter/email client then it needs to have a usable screen that makes its main function pleasant to use.
Its not saying the phone part is not important - for me its critical it works as a phone - which it does - its easy to hear, people reckon the sound is good so it fulfils that requirement - but as I said - the phone bit is only used for 5 minutes a day so the big screen means more to me than the fact it feels odd when you talk into it.
On a carrying it around front, its not too big at all, it fits in my pockets quite easily as it's so slim. It gets good signal strength, it hasn't crashed and I've even read an ebook on it which I wouldn't have even attempted on the desire.
(oh and it's quite cool putting other peoples phones on it and saying - oh look, your whole phone is smaller than my screen.......)
But if you spend hours chatting on the phone, either get another phone or buy a bluetooth headset.
navrac said:
(oh and it's quite cool putting other peoples phones on it and saying - oh look, your whole phone is smaller than my screen.......)
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LMAO! Sorry to intrude, but that was a hilarious comment!
navrac said:
(oh and it's quite cool putting other peoples phones on it and saying - oh look, your whole phone is smaller than my screen.......)
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I can't wait to do that to the iFolk. Of course, they'll defend their god and justify their purchase anyway they can.
I have had both of these within the last couple of weeks so can make a direct comparison. The Galaxy is a 4" display and most definitely a phone. The Dell Streak has a 5" screen and also a reasonable sized surround and in my view looks absolutely daft held up to the ear like a phone.
I remember buying an early Nokia Communicator to use as a converged device and it wasn't until I saw someone else using it like a phone that I realised that instead of looking like the cutting edge device it was, it actually looked like a throwback to the early days of mobile phones.
What I usually do if I havn't actually seen the phone in the flesh is to make a little paper model of it from the dimensions and see how it is going to fit in the hand etc.
navrac said:
Depends on what you want it for.
My usage of a 'mobile device' is a tool first, then a phone. I spend a lot of time travelling and the large screen of the streak makes web browsing, emails, work stuff and games really easy. I rarely use it as a phone other than for a quick call that lasts a minute or two.
So in my case the streak is perfect - especially since my eyes are going. However if I was primarily a phone user - then it would be the wrong device - too big, awkward to hold on a long call compared to a basic nokia anyway.
My view is that now days the phone part is the least used function - so if its going to be a web browser/facebook/twitter/email client then it needs to have a usable screen that makes its main function pleasant to use.
Its not saying the phone part is not important - for me its critical it works as a phone - which it does - its easy to hear, people reckon the sound is good so it fulfils that requirement - but as I said - the phone bit is only used for 5 minutes a day so the big screen means more to me than the fact it feels odd when you talk into it.
On a carrying it around front, its not too big at all, it fits in my pockets quite easily as it's so slim. It gets good signal strength, it hasn't crashed and I've even read an ebook on it which I wouldn't have even attempted on the desire.
(oh and it's quite cool putting other peoples phones on it and saying - oh look, your whole phone is smaller than my screen.......)
But if you spend hours chatting on the phone, either get another phone or buy a bluetooth headset.
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You just helped me make my decision. Your view on the function of what a phone is used for is just like mine. It is a media device that makes phone calls from time to time when you need to make one. I can not wait for the streak to be released in the US. I hope that July 14 date turns out to be true!
abezapata said:
Hey guys,
I would really appreciate it if you could tell me which phone you think would be the better choice. I have had an upgrade from AT&T for over half a year and have been waiting for a big bad a** Android phone to get but have not been inspired yet. The Streak is looking really good and has had me interested for quite some time, but this new Samsung Captivate looks just as great. What do you guys think will be the best choice?
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If you are planning to watch videos on streak then I will tell you this that its screen is inferior when comparing AMOLED screen on desire .. colours are dull screen looks washed out & strangely looks a bit pixalated too .. I dont think its resolution is high enough ..
Other than thats its a perfect tablet with the only other let down 1.6 which shouldnt be an issue as 2.2 should come soon. Build and look is awsome, good camera, good in every other aspect in my view
ufh1 said:
If you are planning to watch videos on streak then I will tell you this that its screen is inferior when comparing AMOLED screen on desire .. colours are dull screen looks washed out & strangely looks a bit pixalated too .. I dont think its resolution is high enough ..
Other than thats its a perfect tablet with the only other let down 1.6 which shouldnt be an issue as 2.2 should come soon. Build and look is awsome, good camera, good in every other aspect in my view
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The movie problem would not be too bad since I prefer watching them at home on the big screen. I just want the screen to perform well when I am browsing the web and using social apps on it.
abezapata said:
The movie problem would not be too bad since I prefer watching them at home on the big screen. I just want the screen to perform well when I am browsing the web and using social apps on it.
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+1
I have a half dozen movies, and dozens of Seinfeld episodes, that I use on every phone I buy. When I watch a video on a phone I'm not looking for "true blacks" or "bright vibrant colors" or anything approaching high end quality. I'm looking for a quick and dirty way to kill some time while staring intently at a sub 6" screen.
YMMV but for me, the size of the streak's screen trumps all the advantages of AMOLED's superior color rendering, etc.
Pick them both up in a shop and have a go!
Something that may sway you is that the AMOLED screen on the Galaxy is really fragile, drop it on a floor and it will break
And it's really soft glass, even the softcase that it comes with has been known to scratch it
'navrac' summarised the phones' attributes perfectly. I would also like to add that it has a certain feeling of quality. It seems to be the choice for the connoisseur and enthusiast, a device whose qualities only become fully appreciated after an extended period of ownership. Whilst other smart phone users may try to ridicule it's size, the Streak owner will just smile quietly inwardly to himself, safe in the knowledge that his device will still be giving useful service long after their buzz boxes have been consigned to the rubbish bin.
I'd definately take a look at the HTC Desire
abezapata said:
Hey guys,
I would really appreciate it if you could tell me which phone you think would be the better choice. I have had an upgrade from AT&T for over half a year and have been waiting for a big bad a** Android phone to get but have not been inspired yet. The Streak is looking really good and has had me interested for quite some time, but this new Samsung Captivate looks just as great. What do you guys think will be the best choice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Speaking as someone who has just switched from a Samsung Galaxy S (i9000 model) to the Dell Streak, here are my reasons for doing so:
1. GPS problems on the i9000 - I'm not convinced they'll ever be fixed. Certainly for me SatNav is a big factor in my smartphone usage.
2. The "lag" problem on the i9000. Indicative of sloppy coding (some say bad choice of filesystem, so perhaps just sloppy engineering decision). There are fixes but none of them seem to be the "true" fix.
3. I do a lot of reading (RSS feeds etc) so I came to realise that I could benefit from a larger screen - but not so large I couldn't pocket it.
4. Although the build quality of the i9000 didn't bother me (I did manage to take a minuscule chink out of the glass by dropping it on ... carpet?!) it did creak a bit because it seems to be virtually all plastic. The Streak on the other hand seems really well put together and solid - no creaking. The Streak looks quite menacing, the i9000 looks like an apology for an iPhone 3G
There are annoyances with the Streak, my main gripe is that the default orientation for everything is Landscape and there's no way of changing it (that I know). Even if I lock ADW launcher into portrait mode - in reality it stays locked to landscape! Maddening!
I was also concerned that the size of the Streak might mean I'd have problems pocketing it - no worries so far, it slides easily into my front trouser pocket and comes out just as easily.
Neither device is perfect, but really the GPS issue on the i9000 was the dealbreaker.
checkbox111 said:
Pick them both up in a shop and have a go!
Something that may sway you is that the AMOLED screen on the Galaxy is really fragile, drop it on a floor and it will break
And it's really soft glass, even the softcase that it comes with has been known to scratch it
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Um the captivate has gorilla glass so i don't see how it is fragile
gorilla glass is more scratch resistant than it is shatter/chipping resistant
fragile can imply either case
You got your point,that's for sure.But,hey,it's too naive to comment "its resolution is not high enough" ,the truth is 800x480 for a 5' screen,as a tablet,is a bit too high.
Typical tablets have some PPI(pixel per inch) like 132(iPad),170(Samsung P1000),149(Lenovo Lepad).Sure,higher PPI means better video/picture viewing,but it also means the control/text in softwares will become smaller by compare,and that would make you experience difficulty interacting with softwares design for tablets.
Dell Streak's PPI is 187,which is already a little bit too high as a tablet,it would become a phone/mp4 if you make the resolution even higher.
You can always change the phone's DPI setting by editing the build prop
the streak's default DPI is 160 and if it were brought to a similar ratio as HTC phones it would be set to around ~200
DPI determines the size/scaling of everything, the only issue is that the stock dialer in streak and a couple of other widgets are not Android stock, they break at 200 DPI but otherwise it works well enough at 200-240 DPI

Is this about "form follows function"?

Those who have already got the Note, what was your primary requirement/logic for the choice?
I am looking for couple of major factors. Is it the screen size that sucked you to buy? Is it the display resolution, the raw horse power? Or just too excited about using a stylus ala S Pen?
or is it about an image - an attempt to create an identity in the crowd?
How do business man/executives/IT managers feel about this phone? I think Note's main target demographic are those guys.
rd_nest said:
Those who have already got the Note, what was your primary requirement/logic for the choice?
I am looking for couple of major factors. Is it the screen size that sucked you to buy? Is it the display resolution, the raw horse power? Or just too excited about using a stylus ala S Pen?
or is it about an image - an attempt to create an identity in the crowd?
How do business man/executives feel about this phone? I think Note's main target demographic are those guys.
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Click to collapse
I was attracted by larger screen, S memo and processing power. Yes, I am a business person and work constantly using a smart phone. Had a SG2. This is better-larger screen helps with e mail and web research especially working on issues related to the company web site. I can get more of a desk top view and really see the problems clearly. I can take screen shots and add notes as well as draw and sketch as necessary.
Coming from a Dell Streak...I was never going to use a phone smaller than 5".
I used my Streak a lot in the train watching Movies. I use it quite a lot around the house doing web browsing and Youtubing
My reason for the Note from the Streak is because of the Super Amoled screen. I have fallen in love with the Amoled screen since my first Samsung Phone (I8910)
so...there you go, some of my reasons.
ps. 5" phone is not that big....seriously
I have heard this statement - once you use a large screen, you can't go back to anything smaller. Very true as I myself found with GS2.
Do you think that the S Pen would be truly useful in long term? Do you feel that it's a gimmick or does it actually help with whatever you normally do?
I've been waiting for years for the stylus to make a proper comeback. I want what my Tablet PC can do but in a smaller form factor. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction. Also, I've been using my Galaxy Tab as my phone so I hope the smaller screen isn't too much of a step back.
ilovemyjasjar said:
I've been waiting for years for the stylus to make a proper comeback. I want what my Tablet PC can do but in a smaller form factor. Hopefully this is a step in the right direction. Also, I've been using my Galaxy Tab as my phone so I hope the smaller screen isn't too much of a step back.
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I have been using my EP121 less since I got my note. Once Win 8 gets officially released, that might change a little.
rd_nest said:
I have heard this statement - once you use a large screen, you can't go back to anything smaller. Very true as I myself found with GS2.
Do you think that the S Pen would be truly useful in long term? Do you feel that it's a gimmick or does it actually help with whatever you normally do?
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At the moment I don't really think the stylus and note taking function would be that useful. I think I would still prefer the normal pen and paper. But maybe I will change my mind after I get the phone
and ....YES...definitely recommend you to upgrade to a 5 inch....it's big...but not too big
I remember back in the Streak forum....a lot of us were saying that we wouldn't mind someone come up with a screen size that's a bit bigger than 5 inch...maybe like a 5.5 inch would be Perfect...I guess Samsung must have heard us
Form and function in harmony
I relate to the Bauhaus aesthetic.
This device surely is designed to function well but it is beautiful in it's design.
Not just beautiful without function.
To me, great beauty is form and function in harmony and the GNote is.

I for one think the phone looks great!

The phone isn't going to win any aesthetic prizes but it looks like very post iPhone mobile out there, nothing hideously ugly but nothing amazing. It's just a massive 4.8 inch OLED screen which is amazing to look at that you aren't going to be looking at the rest of the phone.
All this pentile complaints are unfounded, most of the people complaining weren't at the event so don't know what it looks like in person. Wait till the phone is in stores and then make your decision, however I really doubt at 306PPI and 720 resolution that you'll see a difference side by side with the GS2, unless you try and find a fault.
Comes with the CPU that we expected and has benchmarked well already, has a GPU that I was disappointed with at first but also has benchmarked better than anything else out there atm. 8MP camera is the norm, it isn't all about MPs anyways, I'm much more interested to see if the pink spot in the camera has gone and if the lag gone from the GS2 as well. So I'm not disappointed with the hardware at all, it looks like it'll be the fastest and have a good enough camera.
Sorry for admitting this but I think Touchwiz is better than stock Android. I tried to go from Touchwiz back to stock GB on the GS2 as everyone said it was crap and I couldn't, it had much better features. Looking at Samsungs new updates to it for ICS, it just looks amazing and much better than stock ICS, which I thought was a major disappointment. S Voice shuts up the Apple fanbois and the feature I'm excited for is the Picture in Picture stuff, that looks worth it alone for me. I dunno who Samsung have hired to make Touchwiz good since the GS2 but they should be paying them more lol.
I just don't see how people complain about the phone, what do they expect? Yeah the phone is made out of plastic, have you ever owned an iPhone 4? If you drop it the back shatters and the metal always gets dented or scuffed, I used to own one before the GS2. I personally think Plastic is a much better material for a device you will probably drop and most people get an iPhone and put a cheap plastic cover on it and never see the phone under it either. So that makes the phone look worse and makes it much bigger, it probably gets dirt under it and scratches the phone anyways. I dropped my GS2 many times and it never shattered or broke, if the back cover broke then just buy another one, plastic is cheap to replace!
The other great thing is it has a micro sd slot and removable battery, which are features you'd all be moaning are gone if they tried to make the phone out of another material. All these other phones are made Unibody to make them feel more sturdy and yet they lack what people on these forums want.
I don't get the complaining, I'm going to see it in a store and if I like it in person then buy one. I think it looks great and what I expected from the GS3. All the leaks too didn't big the phone up to being this mad crazy super phone that changes the world or whatever. So I don't see what people were expecting...
I have ur same opinion, totally agree
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Same opinion also.
Its the iPhone effect as I call it - Everyone will always find something to moan about but will still end up buying one and loving it. It will sell in the millions regardless.
Pretty much agree. I think the phone looks pretty decent, then again the whole zen theming is kinda my thing anyway, so I might be kinda biased. Also I really don't understand whats the problem with the homekey, I actually MUCH prefer having a real homekey than onscreen buttons... They take up screen space cause burn in and I hit them by accident ALL THE TIME.
The screen is a bit of a letdown but I think AMOLED HD+ is just not ready yet and with that resolution pentile isn't that much of a problem. Also once you go AMOLED you can never go back, those washed out blacks on an LCD are just unaccaptable for me..
People were expecting WAY too much. If they really did use a ceramic body people would complain about the pricing because it would be a hell lot more expensive. The hardware in this phone is very good ,zero shutter lag and the improved camera software are really great and some of the gimmicks look really practical (I can see me use popup play all the time). Oh and btw. with the tiny camera sensors in smartphones image quality will actually get worse by bumping up the Megapixel count, but I guess people will never understand that..
TouchWiz is not the most beautiful launcher out there, but it is one of the smoothest (the new version looks even smoother) and I find alot more appealing than Sense. Sense is actually one of the reasons I'd never get a HOX along with the poor unreplacable battery and the lack of an mircrosd card slot.
Once it hits the shelves I'm sure people will stop complaining and see what a nice device samsung has made here. It is not a revolutionary update but it is a pretty good update and I will use it until the next S phone comes out or if the other companies will come to their senses and give us back microsd card slots and removable batteries.
Same here, personally I love the look, what were HTC thinking with the no SD or replaceable battery.
What happens in a year or so when all the batteries start falling over!
I think this version of Touchwiz looks the best personally and I love the new icon style, it feels much more like Ubuntu or something.
The features in Touchwiz though just make it much better than stock ICS, that is if they work...
Yep, i'm bored of the iphone look and welcome change.
Well said folks and i agree totally, look forward to getting this phone
Can't agree more. The pebble blue looks great. The only thing I still worry is the battery life. I hope it is better than gs2 with the 2000 mah battery. I have been spoiled.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA
Having read the"designed by lawyers" article I'm buying just to laugh at Apple as they scratch their heads over what to sue for this time! And I like the look and I bet it gets a big female following too
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium
I think it looks great and possibly even better when you get it in your hands. And it's a distinct samsung design. They have a good brand and it's time to trust in it, I think.
I for one did not like the design one bit when I first saw it, but then it kind of grew on me, and I've now pre-ordered two. The whole "designed for humans" slogan didn't make much sense to me, but after actually taking the time to investigate the shape of the sgs3 up close, it dawned on me just how comfortable the thing will be in your hands. The iPhone 4/4S is in my opinion absolutely horrible when it comes to ergonomics, and the SGS2 does not win any prizes in that category either, and now Samsung has designed an ergonomically sensible phone that will fit into your hand perfectly, and thus has been designed with human use in mind. Instead of just having something pretty to look at, like the post 3GS iPhones have been, we now have something that'll be comfortable to handle and hold for long periods of time.
I for one can't wait to get my hands on my new phones!
Will buying depending on when its released for us. I do hope a Bigger battery comes out around release with it being a slim 2700 or even 3000 would be amazing. Add a little bit to the phone and its fine.
I think it looks ok.. Nothing really to dislike. I would say the Samsung widgets could do with some attention. The widgets on my sgs2 are inconsistent. Look at the agenda widget next to the clock. It looks like they have been downloaded from different developers. If they had made the widgets look consistent that would be an improvement. Look at sense for example. The widgets are slick.
The weather widget on the sgs3 is ugly and won't really fit with many wallpapers.
I find this quote applicable:
The take-home message: People don't like change. The Galaxy S III represents a departure from the design aesthetic the S-line has carried on for the last two years. Instead of more of the same, Samsung opted to continue along the design route it forged with the Galaxy Nexus. And guess what? It's welcomed. Personally, I'm tired of the rectangular phones.
...Samsung didn't cater to the sheep-mentality. Earlier I said, it met all my expectations. I was wrong. It went beyond expectation. Samsung delivered gave the world a stand-out [completely different] device....The trust that Mr. Savov indicates is being lost is untrue. The opposite is valid: Samsung continues to build trust among it's faithful, while earning and winning the trust of newcomers by pushing the boundaries in its latest flagship. Like most outrageously designed products (Bangle's BMW designs come to mind), at first, they startle, but over time, you come to appreciate how far-reaching the design perspective was. Samsung is looking ahead to what we will understand to love, once we dispense with the "sheepish" attitude that drawn to the same old rectangular slab that employs the same old tired heuristic.
http://www.theverge.com/2012/5/4/2998912/how-samsung-renewed-my-love
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Which is not to say I agree with him on the S3's "beauty" and "falling in love", but that a lot of the reactionary crap spouted here was just because people hate change. The same thing happens everytime facebook makes a major UI change, then people get used to it. Given this, there is a minor irony in that "sheep" thing.
I honestly don't know why there is so much backlash on the design. It looks great!
The ugliest phone this generation has got to be the Nokia Lumia series.
1. rear flash and speakers. way too exposed
2. not a big deal but it does bother me. just make it smaller.
3. home button. if they kept curve on both sides the same it would look like the shape of the phone, it would look nicer.
4. curves too much and looks like the top part is also smaller...should be the other way around if you want to save the phone from dropping.
5. size. for people who wants a bigger screen. that's where the Note comes in. but for a phone to use with one handedly and with the thumb. it say it's too big for the majority.
might change my mind later down the road, who knows.
prob still get it, just to toy around and its newer but not for full price.
The front is very identical to Nexus devices which I like, but the back is quite metrosexual, they should have given its some pattern, which would help with grip too. I guess they'll be some custom back cover for it. It would have looked nicer with the curved body.
I just bought a Nexus instead, so if anyone asked me what it is, I'll say its the new SIII: http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/2707/nexuss3k.jpg
Will wait till Christmas and get myself a global SIII when it lowered price after the American versions are released. Hopefully the price lowered as fast of a rate as the Nexus, by $350 after six months, but unlikely this time as quadcore is still new and S series is popular.
Don't forget, there were quite a few complaints about the S2 when it came out.
Same exact comparisons were made against the sensation
I do like most of the external design except for the rear battery cover. Maybe someone would make a nice replacement cover that's less slippery
I disagree with the op,
I think this phone will indeed win in the looks department. Like i said before I was too overhyped initially. Expecting it to be made with T1000 metal with Phasers shooting out the side. Now, I can see that it's one of the most beautiful minimalist phones ever made. I think it will win in the aesthetic category.

Anyone else having trouble deciding?

I'm having a hard time deciding what my next phone will be. I'm stuck between the Xperia Z1 and the Note 3. I really like how big the note 3 is but at the same time the camera and waterproofing in the xperia is very attractive. How are you guys coping with this decision?
systoxity said:
I'm having a hard time deciding what my next phone will be. I'm stuck between the Xperia Z1 and the Note 3. I really like how big the note 3 is but at the same time the camera and waterproofing in the xperia is very attractive. How are you guys coping with this decision?
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Click to collapse
Same here. I really wanted a waterproof phone. Maybe they will have an Active version without watering down the specs.
goodwinod said:
Same here. I really wanted a waterproof phone. Maybe they will have an Active version without watering down the specs.
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Click to collapse
That would be very exciting. Here's hoping.
systoxity said:
That would be very exciting. Here's hoping.
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Click to collapse
Can you explain to me why that's important to you? Waterproofing that is? Have you had problems with getting your phone wet in the past? What appeals to you in that you will pass on a phone that's not waterproof? Just wondering...
bossei said:
Can you explain to me why that's important to you? Waterproofing that is? Have you had problems with getting your phone wet in the past? What appeals to you in that you will pass on a phone that's not waterproof? Just wondering...
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Click to collapse
Yeah no problem, there's quite a few reasons why waterproof seems attractive to me. I live in Fl and i often have to contend with rain/sweat. I ride a motorcycle and run outdoors on the regular. I guess all that boils down to peace of mind (i damaged a S2 canoeing and got caught in the rain a few times with the Note II no damage though thankfully). Also i think it'd be pretty cool to grab some pictures under water of course.
Problem is, if i'd never owned the note 2 i would have hopped on the z1 no problem. But i really liked its large screen. I have big ol hands (the note 2 almost looks normal when i'm holding it). Also the large screen is very easy on the eyes. I also regularly used the stylus.. . Wish i could buy them both.
systoxity said:
Yeah no problem, there's quite a few reasons why waterproof seems attractive to me. I live in Fl and i often have to contend with rain/sweat. I ride a motorcycle and run outdoors on the regular. I guess all that boils down to peace of mind (i damaged a S2 canoeing and got caught in the rain a few times with the Note II no damage though thankfully). Also i think it'd be pretty cool to grab some pictures under water of course.
Problem is, if i'd never owned the note 2 i would have hopped on the z1 no problem. But i really liked its large screen. I have big ol hands (the note 2 almost looks normal when i'm holding it). Also the large screen is very easy on the eyes. I also regularly used the stylus.. . Wish i could buy them both.
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Thank you that makes perfect sense.
Im torn between Z-ultra and Note-3. Leaning towards the Z-U... becuase of the screen size. We'll see, i have to see them in person 1st...
Only trouble I'm having is deciding which variant to go for 3G or LTE, which is going to see the most community input, what's the battery life between the two etc....
Even if they made a waterproof N3, is the SPen waterproof as well? And, no, I'm not about to go test mine.
If the z1 comes to att I'll probably go with that just bc I haven't had a Sony and two the specs and looks are love
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
hockeyfan said:
Even if they made a waterproof N3, is the SPen waterproof as well? And, no, I'm not about to go test mine.
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haha i doubt the s pen is waterproof. You could probably dunk it a bunch and it will work for a while but it does have some metal parts inside that would suffer some oxidation in the long term.
RavenY2K3 said:
Only trouble I'm having is deciding which variant to go for 3G or LTE, which is going to see the most community input, what's the battery life between the two etc....
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Click to collapse
Thats a good point, I think i read somewhere that the s800 has more processing power and less battery drain. I can't cite that though. Someone chime in if they know? I think i would get the lte one even if battery life was a smidge shorter.
cholepuree1 said:
Im torn between Z-ultra and Note-3. Leaning towards the Z-U... becuase of the screen size. We'll see, i have to see them in person 1st...
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Click to collapse
Can you wield that phone? It looks big even by my standards.
Anon9mouz said:
If the z1 comes to att I'll probably go with that just bc I haven't had a Sony and two the specs and looks are love
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
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I have not had a sony either. My recent experience with a lumia 1020 have made me really appreciate good cameras on phones though. The z1 seems like the ultimate compromise of features. idk though...
systoxity said:
I'm having a hard time deciding what my next phone will be. I'm stuck between the Xperia Z1 and the Note 3. I really like how big the note 3 is but at the same time the camera and waterproofing in the xperia is very attractive. How are you guys coping with this decision?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know 100% that the Note 3 is the phone for me because a) The specs are monstrous and b) it's the only viable option for someone who wants to use a stylus seriously (In the immediate future / present market). I'm using a capacitive stylus on the (2012) Nexus 7 and it just doesn't cut it. The new Note 3 is going to allow me to ditch my Epic 4G Touch and Nexus 7 in one fell swoop while increasing my productivity
No other phone comes close in my search - although I LOVE stock android so I'm quite tempted by the prospect of a new Nexus phone, but I'd rather have the epic stylus functionality.
My only debate right now is which carrier to go with - The Sprint voice/data networks have been garbage for me over the last 2 years here in Colorado. (I'm debating between Sprint, T-Mobile, and AT&T - Verizon is prohibitively expensive)
systoxity said:
haha i doubt the s pen is waterproof. You could probably dunk it a bunch and it will work for a while but it does have some metal parts inside that would suffer some oxidation in the long term.
Thats a good point, I think i read somewhere that the s800 has more processing power and less battery drain. I can't cite that though. Someone chime in if they know? I think i would get the lte one even if battery life was a smidge shorter.
Can you wield that phone? It looks big even by my standards.
I have not had a sony either. My recent experience with a lumia 1020 have made me really appreciate good cameras on phones though. The z1 seems like the ultimate compromise of features. idk though...
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But what's hard to leave camera aspect and unlocked bootloader is the HTC one for them having super low light sensor plus HTC giving u access to unlock bootloader something that's gonna be a tough cookie on all new phones that's out and will come out for att except HTC almost why I kinda wanna go HTC one max but still idk. Plus I wanna get a phone with a good dev community so I can build for it. So idk what to get. G2, Z1, N3, 1Max, MotoX. I'm just bored with my black 64 gb HTC one I need something new to play with
Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk 4
No, no trouble deciding. After using the (original) Note for the past two years, there was no question that my next phone would be a similar size. I find it to be as large as possible w/o being too difficult to handle or fit in my pocket. I think the Mega would be too big (not to mention it's inferior specs). Personally, I would be surprised if they introduced an "Active" version. Not just because of the s-pen itself, but because of the hole the s-pen fits into. It's just another possible water entry point that would have to be addressed. Besides, the note is marketed as more of a business device vs. the S4. It doesn't seem like there would be as large of a market for a waterproofed Note vs. S4. FWIW, I ride a motorcycle too. Although I'm more of a fair weather rider, I have gotten drenched on several occasions, and it's never been an issue for my current Note. The phone does get wet while in my pocket in a storm, but it's not really the same as getting submerged.
dscline said:
No, no trouble deciding. After using the (original) Note for the past two years, there was no question that my next phone would be a similar size. I find it to be as large as possible w/o being too difficult to handle or fit in my pocket. I think the Mega would be too big (not to mention it's inferior specs). Personally, I would be surprised if they introduced an "Active" version. Not just because of the s-pen itself, but because of the hole the s-pen fits into. It's just another possible water entry point that would have to be addressed. Besides, the note is marketed as more of a business device vs. the S4. It doesn't seem like there would be as large of a market for a waterproofed Note vs. S4. FWIW, I ride a motorcycle too. Although I'm more of a fair weather rider, I have gotten drenched on several occasions, and it's never been an issue for my current Note. The phone does get wet while in my pocket in a storm, but it's not really the same as getting submerged.
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Yes to the screen size. I feel like you nailed that subject. Its just the right size. I also doubt they will release an active version of the note 3. Not because of the pen silo though, where the silo fits the pen doesn't have to interact with any electronics, therefor the silo could be part of a unibody shell without having to introduce any seams into the design.There are plenty of other reasons why making an active version of the note would be challenging though...
For me i think its going to come down to who offers me the best price/package. Z1 or Note 3. I'm looking to purchase outright full price on att lte network and i'm getting antsy. I don't want to wait too long. I think the longest i'd be willing to wait is until nexus 5 reviews come out.
On the topic of waterproof of the xperia. Even though it's a great function and I was very tempted with it on the ultra z.
There was a YouTube video I have seen last night about how the screen of ultra z would not response if it's fully immerse in the water. Somehow the water makes the screen unresponsive. I'm not too sure if it's the same with z1 though.
It might also be a pain to constantly making sure there's no dust building up around and under the flaps so to keep the waterproof function working 100%
Sent from my GT-N7100 using xda app-developers app
Valid points, i saw that video too. I wonder how they advertise it taking pictures under water... I bet they only use the physical camera button. Cant wait for more reviews on all these phones.
RavenY2K3 said:
Only trouble I'm having is deciding which variant to go for 3G or LTE, which is going to see the most community input, what's the battery life between the two etc....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assuming you are buying for the use in the US (snapdragon processor), the phone is tri-band, it supports both GSM and LTE.
bossei said:
Can you explain to me why that's important to you? Waterproofing that is? Have you had problems with getting your phone wet in the past? What appeals to you in that you will pass on a phone that's not waterproof? Just wondering...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My note 1 made it all the way through my rafting trip (I was tracking our 5 day trip with gps). Then I got home and was pre-soaking my pants prior to washing them and it was in the pocket. It was a sad day. I've had to use my gs2 for about a month while waiting for the note 3.
And yes, the spen still work. I tried it on my note 10.1.
systoxity said:
I'm having a hard time deciding what my next phone will be. I'm stuck between the Xperia Z1 and the Note 3. I really like how big the note 3 is but at the same time the camera and waterproofing in the xperia is very attractive. How are you guys coping with this decision?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep my choice as well. I am not so certain on the Note 3 size though & the Z1's camera is a very big plus point for it.

Ergonomics of the Nexus 6

For its size it's a surprisingly easy phone to use & that's with a case on it too. My last really large phone was the Note 2 & I couldn't get on with that at all so sent it back in the fourteen day period. Think the curved back makes a lot of difference in this respect. I haven't quite got the hang of two handed typing on it yet but I'm getting there. I was intending to use this as my second phone but I'm now thinking of selling my iPhone 6 & using this as my main device.[emoji3]
Was just wondering how others of you find it to use as a larger phone?
Its brilliantly constructed and as ergonomic as any phone made to date IMO!
Agreed. The curved back sits nice in my hand.
Good to hear. I've been using a GPe M8 and I actually don't like the feel of it in my hand. Makes me long for my N5. I'll be returning it for an N6 soon, I think.
I find it really easy to use. I use it one hand most of the time. It has gotten even better with reducing the dpi setting to 380, now i can type entire emails with one hand with swiping gestures. I am really glad I got this after seriously considering the moto x because of its size.
I still feel like I'm going to drop it all the time and am undecided if I like a phone this big. I'm still in the honeymoon phase I think. Having said that I like the feel of it. Feels better than holding a note 2. The note 4 might feel better to me though (my wife has one).
I have been getting progressively bigger devices over the last several years. S3 to s4 to s5 and now the n6 which is quite a jump. To be honest I thought the s5 was a little to big bit for some reason the n6 even though larger for the hand well
Evo_Shift said:
I still feel like I'm going to drop it all the time and am undecided if I like a phone this big. I'm still in the honeymoon phase I think. Having said that I like the feel of it. Feels better than holding a note 2. The note 4 might feel better to me though (my wife has one).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is slippery on its back side especially in cold dry weather. Have you tried a case yet
Personally I prefer using it with a case because the microusb cutout at the base of the device makes for a nice pinky rest.
Evo_Shift said:
I still feel like I'm going to drop it all the time and am undecided if I like a phone this big. I'm still in the honeymoon phase I think. Having said that I like the feel of it. Feels better than holding a note 2. The note 4 might feel better to me though (my wife has one).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I find a case helps with that. Only problem with the case I use is it makes the buttons on the side hard to reach.
My cruzerlite case offers plenty of grippy surface. Minimal risk of dropping with it on
Sent from my Nexus 6

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