Review: Samsung Galaxy Note 2 [Video] - TecMundo - Tecmundo

If today you have a phablet in your hands, you should thank the Samsung. Although the term still arouses many questions for consumers, the mix of smartphone with tablet just becoming popular due to the sales success of the Galaxy Note, released in October 2011.

Both the term and the product are not an invention of the South Korean company (as a curiosity, the patent application the term “phablet” is the LG), but is today the gadgets with screen smaller than 7 inches and larger than 5 inches are between the desires of the consumer population, Samsung certainly has a good share of contribution to this subject.

Thus, after establishing a new segment in the market because of the good reviews received by the first model, nothing more natural than to follow up the evolution of the product, launching its second version. The Galaxy Note 2, one of the most powerful Android available today, immediately fell in love popular, having sold more than 5 million units in the first three months.

analyzed in detail one of the most coveted gadgets by Brazilian consumers and that configurations with robust performance is worthy of envy to competitors and it certainly has everything to maintain the company’s leadership in a young segment phablets.

Approved

Evolution tailor

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

In natural evolution of devices, we used to always see models lighter, thinner and more powerful. In the case of the Galaxy Note 2, Samsung just broke one of the rules, bringing a phablet few grams heavier – 183 grams of the current model 173 grams against the previous version.

However, with a thickness of 0.03 cm smaller and a much more robust hardware, the model surprised positively, showing off one of the most powerful Android available on the market today. The difference from the first to the second version is considerable, showing that Samsung actually bet their chips in the new segment.

Design Construction

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

“In team that is winning, not moving,” the saying goes. Samsung seems to have incorporated this philosophy, and in terms of novelty in design there is very little thing. However, this in no way means a problem, quite the contrary.

The model follows the more curvaceous design of the Galaxy S3, and even larger in size, yet it shows anatomical and comfortable within your proposal. The back remains with the plastic finish, which even criticized by many, had few long-term problems.

integration of S Pen stylus to the body of the product is just as efficient and practical. A single negative mention is for the power button located on the right side of the product. Its positioning can cause some accidental clicks (there were several during our review), but nothing that goes impair usability and performance.

Performance

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

A product that predisposes to the main unit in its class needs to provide the best possible performance for the consumer. Who purchase a Galaxy Note 2 certainly will not be disappointed. Starting with the TouchWiz interface, which has been improved and is even more effective in organizing content.

games that require greater graphics capability also have a smooth performance and no crashes. The transition between screens and applications flows naturally, and internet access was possible to open between eight and ten browser tabs without that compromise the operation.

benchmark tests

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo) (Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo) (Source of image: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

Among all Android devices that have been tested by Tecmundo, the Galaxy Note 2 showed the best benchmark results, with some beating off all competitors to the company. In AnTuTu, the phablet achieved impressive 16,066 points, 15,064 points against the Galaxy S3 and 9,439 points from the first Galaxy Note.

Vellamo, both in HTML5 and Metal variations, the result was no different: win handily the new phablet from Samsung, which reached 1,871 points and 627 points, respectively. The technical tests proved what can be realized in practice: performance is one of the strengths of the device.

battery life

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

One of the main strengths of the Galaxy Note 2 is the duration of your battery. Simulating a conventional situation on a day of use, the device easily withstood more than 15 hours. Our test started at 9 am, with the screen brightness on automatic, on and WiFi internet access routine to check out videos, emails and social networking updates. Around midnight, so 15 hours later, the battery was still at 22%.

already use a more pronounced with displaying videos in high resolution for hours straight and access to games with higher minimum requirements, the duration of the battery went from 5:00 to 1:00 and respectable yield considerable, which will certainly appeal to many different types of users, whether they are seeking pleasure or using phablet to work.

Screen

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

For Samsung, the 5.3-inch Galaxy Note were not enough, and the second generation of the product, the company decided to invest in a screen of 5.5 inches. The 0.2 inch, in practice, it makes much difference. However, the increase in size generated an “involution” curious.

the first Galaxy Note screen resolution is 1280×800 pixels, resulting in a pixel density of 285 ppi. In the second model, the resolution has dropped to 1280×720 pixels, which results in a lower pixel density of 267 ppi – that is, less than 6.31%. But rest assured: this difference is hardly noticeable.

Camera

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

If you liked the features of the camera of Galaxy S3, then surely it will also approve the work done by the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. The camera is exactly the same as the company’s main smartphone with 8 megapixel resolution. The resulting images captured with it is nice and with few noises, which should meet the needs of most consumers.

Even in adverse lighting conditions, it also does very well. In the case of the front camera, curiosity is due to the minimal resolution reduction when compared to the previous model: now, the camera is 1.9 megapixel, 2 megapixel against the Galaxy Note. In practice, however, the difference is imperceptible.

the S Pen Features

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

AS Pen Galaxy Note 2 was one of the aspects that received the most attention from Samsung. In the second generation phablet, she gained new functions and greatly facilitated the integration of the auxiliary device with other software offered by Samsung and the Android too, of course.

pen button also won the Quick Command. It allows, for example, you write an address on the screen and freehand, touching on the text, the system takes care of opening Google Maps to show the location, or by writing the name of a person, just playing on it so that the unit has the responsibility to seek contact in your address book.

Audio

(Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

A great processing power combined with optimal image quality (the Galaxy Note 2 plays videos in 1080p) must also be accompanied by a good set of sound. And in this case, Samsung has done their homework, investing in both speakers relevant to the handset as headphones in quite efficient.

play both bass sounds much sharper reveals very few points of distortion when evaluated the speaker. In the case of headphones, the performance is also extremely satisfying. When crossing the threshold volume recommended for everyday use, it is possible to experience a totally acceptable sound quality.

Galaxy Note (below) and Galaxy Note 2. (Image Source: Baixaki / Tecmundo)

worth?

category phablets remains the absolute realm of Samsung. If the first version of the Galaxy Note already showed a good buy, the Galaxy Note 2, keeping almost the same price, showed considerable changes in terms of processing capacity, and performance software.

available in the Brazilian market for prices ranging between £ 1900 and £ 2200, the phablet excelled with honors in almost all tests. For benchmarks, for example, it reached the highest levels in direct comparison between some of the main products from Samsung nowadays.

The new features of S Pen stylus to become more than a mere luxury accessory, transforming it into a facilitator for the consumer. The screen size “above average”, if we compare the product with a smartphone can be uncomfortable for people with small hands or who prefer more discreet gadgets.

However, aware that profile, Samsung released even a feature that allows you to use only one side of the device, allowing the handling of product with one hand more accessible, without you having to bother with the fact that your thumb does not reach all points of the screen.

Undoubtedly, it is a device extremely efficient and full of features that justify the status of being considered one of the best available today. Among the models tested by Tecmundo Android, this is the one with the best performance benchmarks. Situated in a competitive price range within your proposal, this is certainly a product to be considered among their options.