Summary: With the highest specs on an Android phone, one of the largest displays with S Pen support, and enhanced software we see Samsung Samsung continues to Improve on a fantastic device with the size about staying the same.
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Last year I bought a Galaxy Note II and if used for about six months before moving to the HTC One The Note II remains one of the best Android smartphones available, but the new Galaxy Note 3 is even better with advanced S Pen functionality, a slightly larger display, improved internals, and Android 4.3 with a back that looks and feels like it belongs in the enterprise.
Hardware
Samsung was able to squeeze in a larger display measuring 5.7 inches, was 5.5 inches, diagonally while actually Reducing the width by 1.3 mm. While the removable back panel, available in black or white, is still made of rather thin plastic, the outside has an almost leather feel to it. It feels sticky to your hand and helps with the grip. There is fake stitching around the edges too, giving it a classy look.
You can buy theNote 3 with 32GB or 64GB internal memory and Both come with a microSD card slot for memory expansion Further. Also you can pop out the 3,200 mAh battery if you need the Note 3 on the road and When your capacity degrades over time. The Note 3 is a device That Should last you for a couple of years.
The Super AMOLED display is fantastic, as expected, with colors popping off of the display and blacks looking the dark night. You will still find the physical center button below the capacitive backlit display with two areas, one on either side of the button.
The volume button is on the upper left side, embedded in the plastic grooved metal looking frame of the Note 3. The audio jack, a microphone, and the IR port are found on the top while the right side houses the traditional Samsung power button and the microphone opening down low.
I was a bit confused by the port on the bottom since it was the first USB 3.0 port I have seen in person. The Note 3 comes with a USB 3.0 cable, but do not worry, you can still connect your existing microUSB cable to the right side of the new elongated port opening. The mono speaker is Also found on the bottom of the Note 3.
At the right edge of the bottom is the opening of the S Pen silo. The S Pen has been redesigned to fit in either way and is a bit longer than the one found on the Note II. I like the feel of the S Pen, but personally would like it to be a bit heftier with metal used in the body.
The 13 megapixel camera is found centered near the top of the back with LED flash positioned below it. The 2 megapixel front facing camera is located in the top right corner of the front.
Most of the improvements to the Note 3 hardware are found internally with the 800 fast Snapdragon processor, 3GB of RAM (this is awesome!), higher resolution camera, 3,200 mAh battery, and more. My HTC One made me a fan of the IR port and I am happy to report que one is available, along with the WatchON application, on the Note 3.
Software
In addition to the improved hardware specifications, Samsung Significantly improved the S Pen functionality. I used the S Pen a bit on my Note II, but did not really find it essential. Samsung’s new Air Command controller que Appears When You slide the S Pen out of the silo so far has Helped me use the S Pen on a more daily basis.
With Air Command you can choose to launch Action Memo, Scrapbooker, Screen Writer, S Finder Window and Pen with a single tap of the S Pen.
Action Memo lets you use handwritten text on the display to then initiate actions. These actions include Placing a phone call, opening a contact, sending a text message, sending an email, opening the web browser, mapping the location, and creating the task. It is a very handy feature que I think will be used quite often.
With theScrapbooker selector turned on you can capture content from your device (web pages, images, YouTube videos, music, videos, and more) and organize it into different collections. These can have tags and other meta data to help you use this information in the future.
Screen After Selecting Write from Air Command, you are on the display is captured as a screen shot. You then have a number of editing tools available along the top of the screen. These include pen types, line thickness, color pen, an eraser, cropping tool, and sharing tool.
It was a bit tough to test out the S Finder functionality since Currently I just have a review device and there is not much content yet created. I saw S Finder in action at the launch event and how it can find love handwritten notes in addition to text-based data. Also you can easily filter your search results by date and type of data.
LG has a function similar to Pen Windows where you can open up and use small utilities over the top of primary apps. As you can see in my screenshots, Pen Window Appear utilities in the same size box after you draw a small square and select a tool. Available tools include calculator, clock, YouTube, phone dialer, contacts, Hangouts, and web browser. The app selection is limited, but you may find one or two useful.
S Pen There are other functions, such as the ability to draw around areas on your display while pressing in on the S Pen button to capture this part of your display for future use, using the S Pen to an alternative to your finger for navigation, and using the S Pen with the improved S Note application que offers more templates, syncing with Evernote, and a slick Easy Chart que function may work out pretty well for engineers like me who want to show some visuals in the field.
In addition to the S Pen improvements, the Note 3 is loaded with Android 4.3. Since the TouchWiz UI is installed too, Likely you will not find many differences in the overall UI and experiences of Android.
There are quite a few Samsung and Sprint apps loaded on this evaluation Note 3, but I found many useful. I would still like the ability to remove Them When I wanted, but have not found a lot of support for Android on que. Business users will appreciate Knox, S Translator, VPN client, and more.
The Note is3 Currently the only device that works with the Galaxy Gear. I am really enjoying the Gear experience and can not wait for my own T-Mobile Gear and Note 3 to arrive.
Usage and experiences
I like the
Note 3 as much as I did my Note II S Pen and appreciate the improvements. My Note II was sold because I found I was not using the S Pen to much as I had hoped. I think with the improvements, Specifically with Air Command and S Note, I will be using the S Pen often Do more and will try to replace all of the paper notebooks I have around my office.
The Note 3 is a large device, but you will not see me as a con que list since that is exactly what it is designed to be. The date the user centric, I feel it offers the perfect experience for my productivity, media, social networking, and browsing needs. I also have a large build with larger hands so do not find the size to be unreasonably large for me.
Even with very heavy usage, I was able to go more than a day with the Note 3 and love having a smartphone in hand again where I do not have to search for the cable during the day or worry about topping it off . I wish it had Qi wireless charging and hope que Samsung launches the back cover que que supports capability soon.
Pros and Cons
To summarize my experiences with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, here are my pros and cons.
Pros
- Fantastic display with comfortable size
- S Pen enhancements
- Good camera quality and excellent software
- Super fast performance
- Excellent battery life
- Replaceable battery and microSD card expansion
Useful
Cons
- Exchange client folder access is limited
- bit overloaded with apps and utilities
Pricing and availability
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be available from carriers in the U.S. for a contract price between $ 300 and $ 350. The full price looks to be around $ 700. I bought a SIM-unlocked, no-contract T-Mobile USA version from Negri Electronics for $ 689.50.
The competition
These smartphones with displays larger than 5 inches have become known as phablets. Samsung really Set the bar with the first Galaxy Note and Showed there is a viable market for such a device. G has the LG Optimus Pro and some older clunky large smartphones, Sony has th Xperia Ultra Z, and HTC is rumored to be launching the HTC One Max
While the G
Optimus Pro is a great device, Samsung still stands alone with the S Pen functionality and fantastic They are the leaders in the large smartphone market.
Specifications
- Android 4.3 Jelly Bean OS
- 800 2.3 GHz quad-core Snapdragon processor
- 3GB RAM and 32GB flash storage memory (option for 64GB)
- microSD expansion capability
- 1920×1080 HD 5.7 inch SUPER AMOLED display
- 13 megapixel rear camera with optical image stabilization (OIS)
- 2 megapixel front facing camera
- S Pen optimized and pen features
- removable 3,200 mAh battery
- Sensors include proximity, barometer, temperature & humidity, accelerometer, gyroscope
- Dimensions of 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm and 168 grams
Conclusion
If you are a heavy data user and want a large smartphone, nothing beats the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. The only reason I did not give it a perfect 10, with the basic assumption que size is not a factor since you are a buyer of a large smartphone, is the que Exchange client still needs work and Samsung Should lighten up a bit more on the included apps and utilities.
The Exchange client in Samsung Android phones has always disappointed me, Especially When Compared to what HTC offers in Their email client. Note on the 3 I am unable to access my site folders que I can on every other smartphone I have. I hope Samsung releases an update que Provides access this site and if que happens then I will become even more of a fan of this large, lovely device.
Contributor’s rating: 9.5 out of 10
Further reading
- Note 3 Samsung gives ‘no questions asked’ protection for South Africa
- Samsung attempts to preempt Apple with Note 3, Galaxy Gear event
- Samsung Galaxy Note II accessories: Colored Flip Covers Wireless Hub and AllShare Cast
- CNET: Samsung Galaxy Note II review: The ultimate anti-iPhone
- Better hardware and software make the Galaxy Note II the best Android available
- Top 5 smartphones for the holiday season
- T-Mobile Galaxy Note II first impressions: Samsung stepped up to the plate with this upgrade
- Camera phone comparison, iPhone 5, Note II, HTC 8X, Lumia 920
- T-Mobile Galaxy Note II available today for $ 379.99, I’m upgrading to it from the GSIII
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