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Post all Note Reviews Here!

Note Review Thread​
Hi all
After the influx of reviews for our great device. I feel a centralized location for them would Idea. So i have created this thread for that. Please try to keep pointless comments out. I would prefer this to be a collection of peoples thoughts on the note. I plan to move any reviews to this thread and close the original threads. Hopefully this will keep some clutter down in the general section. Making it easier for us all to find what we need.
Hopefully this could be Good reference for prospective note owners!
Note Review Links:
http://www.coolsmartphone.com/2011/11/30/samsung-galaxy-note-review/
http://www.freeyourandroid.com/inthenews/samsung-galaxy-note-hands-on
http://www.digitalversus.com/mobile-phone/samsung-galaxy-note-p11735/test.html
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_gala...review-676.php
http://www.mobiletechreview.com/ubbt...p?Number=41874
http://hemorrdroids.net/samsung-galaxy-note-review/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxxEm_P57JE
http://www.androidnz.net/2011/12/samsung-galaxy-note-complete-review.html
Thanks to, Arkymedes, Gaugerer, deymayor, AndyCr15,NZtechfreak for supplying a link to above reviews (sorry if i missed anybody)

This is just a video I created to really show off a fully customised galaxy note. Link it to your friends (including iphone lovers) and spread the word about this crazy ass device!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JyfrD4VrHY

I am experienced with the 5" form factor having owned a Dell Streak.
The Note? Wow!
The good:
- The Screen is amazing! Wonderful! Colours are incredible.
- The feel of the device in hand is great! I was surprised, by this, after reading reviews. It's light... grips nicely... the back textured cover is a nice touch. It doesn't feel like it needs a case.
- The camera is better than the reviews here. It's not going to replace your camera if you are a photo freak... but it's pretty darn good.
- The speed. I've got another dual core tablet... and I'm pleasantly surprised by the speed of this device. Get ICS on it and it will be really-really good.
- I like touch wiz. I've not owned a Samsung Android device before... but the touch wiz is nice.
- It's pocketable. Yes... again... I knew it would be... but when looking at Tablets the Note has an advantage here.
- The "on-board" ability to edit photos and video (with good tools) is cool. It's one of the things that drew me to the Note.
- The SPen. Admittedly, I don't use it much yet. It's got potential though in some applications.
- The battery life. It's really-really good. Granted... I use mine exclusively as a pocket tablet on 3G/wifi... but it's got plenty of life at the end of the day.
- The screen is wicked bright! Holy smokes! I don't think I've had brightness above 50%.
The bad:
- The buttons (power, volume, etc) can get easily pressed when gripping.
- There is color shift (green/blue) when viewing at angles.
- The scrolling can lag or be glitchy occasionally. Nothing big. Just a tad.
It's a great device! I'm stoked! I love my Samsung Galaxy Note!
Cheers!

It anyone is looking for a very comprehensive and balanced review of the Note mine is finally complete.
You can find the review all in one volume here (be prepared, it's LOOOONG!).
Or, alternately in it's individual parts:
The Galaxy Note "Real-user" Review: Part 1 - Unboxing, Initial impressions, Design/build quality, Screen and Benchmarks
The Galaxy Note "Real-user" Review: Part 2 - Entertainment and media - Music and video playback, gaming, browser
The Galaxy Note "Real-user" Review: Part 3 - GPS and Telephony
The Galaxy Note "Real-user" Review: Part 4 - the "ABCs of smartphone review" - Addendums, bugs, battery, camera, conclusion... and S-Pen!
...and we also have a Root guide replete with video here.
Stay tuned, we have Motorola Razr and Galaxy Nexus reviews in progress currently.

I thought this was an interesting comparison -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36gO7BuzUxs
It's very close, but the Note does edge it, as I think you would expect.

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

Hi everyone, I'm not much of a forum poster per se, but the immense sense of satisfaction if I dare call it that this device has given me I wanted to share with the community and perhaps sway people that are on the verge of deciding whether to take the plunge or not.
Little demographic info because I believe it will influence this short review since the device itself falls under a sort of intermediary category (phone/tablet). I am month away from 30 years of age, 181 cm tall, big giant head, small hands .
-----
• Size and handling:
The SG Note in my palm, feels like a phone. I have by no means large palms, and the general feel is that the device is perfectly operational with 1 hand with the exception of typing. It's doable but the device has to be positioned so it's bottom edge in portrait lies on the little finger, then the whole on-screen keyboard is accesible with the thumb. In other words, for my type of usage, I'd even dare to ask for an even bigger screen, 5.5"-5.65" and even then I'd be using it as an all-in-one device.
Positioned next to the ear, you might get asked the "what's that question" but teen insecurities are long behind me so I don't give a damn of other people's opinion when it comes to my style or appearance let along gadgets I use. Small talk is for the weak.
In the pocket, the phone can fit just about any size, front/back pockets. So this is a non-issue when it comes to transport. I prefer wearing it in my front pockets. It doesn't create any noticeable bulge. Minor exception might be extremely elegant silk suits, but that's couple times a year scenario for me, and even then, the front jacket pockets would do just fine.
7.5/10 for size and handling (I'd give 9 to SGS2, 9.5 to HTC sensation)
• Weight:
With it's 178g, the device is light and easy to work and hold in the hands for prolonged periods of time. I've watched a full video without having to switch hands or body position, something I frequently do when using a tablet or a netbook. It's weight isn't felt even when worn in the front pockets of loose trousers, so you won't be getting that uncomfortable feel of unbalance and a weight pulling down.
8/10 for size and handling (I'd give 10 to SGS2, 8.5 to HTC sensation)
• Display:
In order to comment of the display, I have to mention previous handheld/PDA/cell phone history: Palm Vx, Nokia 6600, Dell Axim X5, Toshiba 640x480, Iphone 2G, Nokia E90, Nokia N900, HTC HD2, HTC Desire, Nokia N8, HTC Sensation, Samsung Galaxy S2.
And without hesitation I'd like to declare that SG Note offers the best viewing experience out of any of the aforementioned devices. It's a perfect blend of resolution and picture quality.
- Black color: 95% pure black. SGS2 has perfect, 100% black tones, and Note, in a pitch dark room can distinguish between absolute darkness and on-screen tones. But it would be an extreme nit-picking if anyone finds this objectionable since the difference is so miniscule that doubt any sane person or even extreme gadget/visuals freak will find it objectionable. Introducing ambient light in the room, makes the on screen black appear as perfect blacks.
- White color: perfect white! Unlike my SGS2 which was simply put blue, in the 6400K range, the SG Note has extremely accurate white color tones. Beats my IPS apple cinema display 30" / 27" setup. Not having a true white color made browsing and watching web sites unbearable of the SGS2, outweighing to a big extend the joy from watching 720p videos.
- Contrast, saturation and brightness : Perfect. Unlike SGS2 where red/green/blue was heavily over saturated, the balance here is perfect. Everything is easy on the eye, colors pop-up just enough to make you want to stare for a long time admiring HD pictures, videos or simply browsing your favourite sites. You don't get tired when watching the screen.
In a way, all the benefits or Super amoled combined with all the benefits from an IPS display technology.
The resolution, paired with 5.3" or real estate, is something I've been waiting since I first got my hands on a mobile device. Sole reason I've changed devices was having the need for getting the highest resolution on an ideal size (4.5-6"). Although Iphone 4 had and still has the highest PPI, the 3.5" makes it useless for my needs.
1280x800, on a 5.3", + the contrast, tonal clarity, 0% light bleeds/leaks or similar effects, only 1 stuck sub pixel (stuck red, unnoticable in daily use) - make it the best panel I've ever seen.
9.5/10 (I'd give 8.5 to SGS2, 7.5 to HTC sensation)
(To be continued)

No, it isn’t a movie starring Ghita Muresan, but we’re still dealing with a Star!
One came from Samsung – Galaxy Note for instance, what makes us wondering if we are faceing with a Smarphone, or a small Tablet. One of my mate called it ,,tablophone”, and who knows, maybe it suites it?!
Beyond the unusual size, Note still keeps the body line of the Galaxy class with simple and sober shapes, but with a particular add: the S-Pen, an useful tool what resembles with the PDAs of a decade ago.
On a first sight, the Note is equipied with a 8MP camera, 1080p video recording with a LED flash, and a nuclear powerplant-like batery of 2500mAh. From my experience I noticed that it passed away only after 3 and a half day of heavy usage: Internet, taking photos, videos, and using as a GPS module.
On the hardware side, the exterior body size is matchet on the internal ,,soul”: an 1.4 GHz Arm-Cortex A-9 Processor and 1 GB of RAM memory.
The Tablet-Phone’s Display is impressing for any demand: from the huge 5.3” diagonal with SuperAmoled technology, to 1200X800 pixels resolution (full scale Tablet, isn’t it?) up to the fact that on the easel-sized display you can give reign to imagination and to the painting talent with the wonderful S-Pen. With this pen you can cut out and crop images from the Internet and edit them on a funny way, you can scribble on his sizeable ,,board” or you can take screen-captures by a push of a button.
The main menu is reminding you of his smaller cousin Galaxy S II, because Galaxy Note use the same Android Gingerbread (yet) with Touchizz 4 interface, wich assures you of simple operations and unique design.
The main menu is reminding you of his smaller cousin Galaxy S II, because Galaxy Note use the same Android Gingerbread (yet) with Touchizz 4 interface, wich assures you of simple operations and unique design.
The 16 GB of internal memory + the card slot are very useful to upload your music and video content up to 1080p, and the games, thanks to the powerful processor are very, very pleasant to play with! Asphalt 6 HD is beyond any imagination, a real blessing for gamers!
On the Internet you can surf with an ease of a Tablet, with Adobe Flash Player and 21Mbps speeds, you are aloud to swipe through pages within a blink of an eye.
You can syncronize the Calendar as you wish, and the Polar Office app helps you to view and edit your documents very useful to your office. The incorporated GPS module is proving very useful thaks to the brighted and big display, being a very trusteful friend to your long journeys.
As Samsung wanted to create the ultimate and complete device, the snaping and video recording part is without any compromise! This cameraphone has an 8MP back camera and yields very sharp images as you can see beyond. The LED flash added to the camera helps you to manage succesfuly as a photografer on the parties in night clubs.
The videos taked with this device have a maximum resolution of 1080p, at 30 frames/second. There is also present a front camera with 2MP suited for 3G/Skype calls.
In Quadrant, the results are telling everything: Galaxy Note scores 3750, a record in the real meaning!
Through Note, Samsung succeeds to create the ultimate and perfect device: a cross-over between a Smartphone and a Tablet, a new start-up by implementing the S-Pen that allows you to completely give reign to creation, top harware set, and by his abilities as a cameraphone, you can forget that there are specialized photo-video appliances.
Samsung Galaxy Note is not delicate and smooth, an not aimed to be! It is a powerful device, for powerful men, and... as its owners, it doesn’t go unnoticed!
You simplu like the Note or not! Uncompromising! More on: Samsung Mobilers Romania Mihai Nanu

Made a review of the galaxy note after having it for a few weeks... check it out if you are interested. Hope it helps someone
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOLisyA2VXc

dears,
i got my note (white) 3 days back, and im lovin it. i just thought of writing a small review. i will compare it with my sgs2 and iphone 4(not S).
size, usability, display
most people say this is 'big', but let me tell u, this should be ideal sized phone. its just amazing. due to its low weight you really dont feel that you are holding such a 'big' phone.i feel its easily pocketable. and display s 100 times better than my s2 and phone 4. technically pentile might be inferior, but in reality u just cant feel so.
let me tell u, white is far better than blue version(my personal opinion). there are so many black devices available. and white just stands apart
performance
lets accept the fact.galaxy note has lag. but not a deal breaker, but it isnt as good as s2. reason: big screen!!!more pixels...switching between application menu and home screen is smooth in s2 , but not in gnote. u can test it by fastly switching between those two screens. also sometimes, when some applications are touched, it takes 3-4 seconds before app opens. but this doesnt happen always.gs2 is just amazing when it comes to speed.im using stock rom and i beleive future upgrades should fix this. but let me tell u, this is noticeable only if u r already having a s2 or iphone4s. but suppose u r coming from a different phone, u wont be able to notice it.
battery
decent enough for such a big high end phone. bteer than my s2 and iphone4.
flipcase
good. galaxy note really turns into a 'notebook' with the flipcase(samsing). it doesnt protect the phone as such, but good enough to protect the front part of the device. but i love the white flipcase. actually the backcover which comes with the flipcase protects ur camera lens as well. because with the default back cover, it doesnt protect the camera lens, especially when when u keep the phone down.
overall rating.
i'd rate my note 8.75/10.
my gs2 9.5/10
iphone 4 (6/10 for size, and 9/10 for speed).
I updated with KL7 and now i feel note is on par with S2. May b little bit less faster than S2. but after KL7 theres a dramatic increase in performance and the lag is gone., now il rate my Note 9.25/10

I did a video review-type thing of the Galaxy Note. It's the first time I've done a video like this - please let me know what you think!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEJCVQA-VeE

A very positive review of the Note in this phones show video; once he got past the 'how big do your pockets need to be issue'.
http://stevelitchfield.com/sshow/

For all those comparing the Note to the Nexus I would like to throw in my two sense. I currently own the Galaxy Nexus and the Galaxy Note and I would like to give a comparison from build quality and ergonomics point of view and performance.
Ergonomics and design:
We all know the answer to this. The Galaxy Note has a large display so the ergonomics win would go to Galaxy Nexus. The Galaxy Nexus form factor is just amazing. I think its just about one of the sexiest phones ever made. The screen size is something I thought would be a problem but it wasn't that big of deal because for me the larger the screen the harder one handed use is and after about 4.3 (4:3 aspect ratio) you can't reach the left corner with the thumb of your right hand without shuffling the device in hand. Once that can't happen i think the screen size doesn't matter anymore.
Performance:
This is a hard one to really compare since ICS isn't completely working on the Galaxy Note. I have installed it on my note for a few days to see how it ran. Most tech reviewers have said there is no lag on the Galaxy Nexus and I just see that as a bold faced lie. There is noticeable lag on the Nexus to the point it actually annoys me. The Galaxy Note on the other hand does have lag on third party launchers but not on touchwiz but I suspsect there is some sort of catch there that I'm not seeing. As an overall use standpoint I think the Note is just faster. I'm not annoyed with it on an everyday basis. It doesn't have same gusto as the Galaxy S2 (which i've also owned) but that is probably just based on it pushing more pixels. When the Galaxy Note gets ICS i think its going to be a much better experience than the Galaxy Nexus. I'm like 100% sure of that.
Final Thoughts:
The Galaxy S2 was the best android experience I've ever had but there were only two flaws IMO and that was the lack of notification LED and low resolution screen. The Galaxy Nexus is the best form factor and aesthetic pleasing experience i've ever had on an android phone. The on-screen buttons just lead to a very nice looking device when off and when on. The curved screen, although slight, lead to a very nice in-hand experience as well as gorgeous look. That all being said the performance of the Nexus was abysmal after using the Galaxy S2. It might have been tolerable before I used that device. The Galaxy Note is an awkward experience as far as size but I have to say its still extremely enjoyable. The larger screen allows for more useful layout of widgets and icons.
My guess is the GS3 will be a combo of the note and the gs2 and will be the ideal phone for me.

This is a very good review:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBhEiiMd3qU
It's technobuffalo's "what I think of the Note one month later" review.
He did his preview before, but I think these 'how do you like it after using it for a while' stuff to be much more real.
- Frank

My review is in my signature. Hope you guys like it.

i check these Amazon reviews everyday...bunch of liars, no way this phone can be that good!!
http://www.amazon.com/Samsung-Galax...iewpoints=0&sortBy=bySubmissionDateDescending

NZtechfreak said:
It anyone is looking for a very comprehensive and balanced review of the Note mine is finally complete.
You can find the review all in one volume here (be prepared, it's LOOOONG!).
I viewed ALOT of reviews and hands-on videos before deciding to purchase the Note, and I gotta say NZtechfreaks review is by far the most indepth and detailed review out there! Definitely worth a read.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Jay-Taicho said:
NZtechfreak said:
It anyone is looking for a very comprehensive and balanced review of the Note mine is finally complete.
You can find the review all in one volume here (be prepared, it's LOOOONG!).
I viewed ALOT of reviews and hands-on videos before deciding to purchase the Note, and I gotta say NZtechfreaks review is by far the most indepth and detailed review out there! Definitely worth a read.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, nice to know people enjoyed it!
MOD EDIT: Added to OP. Thanks for the review
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

http://www.bgr.com/2012/02/13/samsungs-galaxy-note-is-the-most-useless-phone-ive-seen/
In case you don't want to reward BGR with page views, here's the summation:
The phone is too big. You will look stupid talking on it, people will laugh at you, and you’ll be unhappy if you buy it. I really can’t get around this, unfortunately, because Samsung pushed things way too far this time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I had a chance to use the device for 7 days and I would say its a great device and full of potential but it has its faults as well, Im not sure if this thread is the right outlet to post the negative side as I see this is only a positive 'review' posts and I cant post a full review nor the positive only.
If this post is in anyway offensive to this thread or its users please ask a moderator to remove it, cheers!

Why so expensive?

I am really interested in getting tablet, only thing holding me back is the price. I can only seem to find it on ebay (looking for wifi version, live in the US) and its around $500 despite being out for a while. It just puzzles me that the 10.1 (which I currently have) is a lot cheaper than this. Can the AMOLED screen really bump the price up? Or is it that Samsung didn't make too many of these therefore increasing demand thus raising price?

I started to reply to this but then noticed that Googling "Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 vs 7.7" gave me all the answers that I just deleted my post and wrote this instead.
In a nut shell: much faster, better battery life, better screen, and much smaller parts costs more $$
Yeah.. Googling.. I like the sound that I make when saying that.

Actually they set the price just below the maximum amount that customers in that region are willingly to spent, regardless of the cost. I know this fact doesn't help you much.
May be the super amoled+, amazingly lightweight and incredible slim design would be worthy? I for one spent extra on them.

kable said:
I started to reply to this but then noticed that Googling "Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 vs 7.7" gave me all the answers that I just deleted my post and wrote this instead.
In a nut shell: much faster, better battery life, better screen, and much smaller parts costs more $$
Yeah.. Googling.. I like the sound that I make when saying that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i own 7.7 and 10.1
7.7 is not much faster then 10.1, battery life 10.1 better, 7.7 better screen and smaller yes
---------- Post added at 06:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:01 AM ----------
九千. said:
Actually they set the price just below the maximum amount that customers in that region are willingly to spent, regardless of the cost. I know this fact doesn't help you much.
May be the super amoled+, amazingly lightweight and incredible slim design would be worthy? I for one spent extra on them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if it once by mistake fell down from your hands it will have lots of ugly bumps and scratches even each of its four corners get scratch by it self they are using some kind of cheap plastic to make a back side but super amoled+ is great much tougher than its lightweight and incredible slim body

irmani said:
i own 7.7 and 10.1
7.7 is not much faster then 10.1, battery life 10.1 better, 7.7 better screen and smaller yes
---------- Post added at 06:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:01 AM ----------
if it once by mistake fell down from your hands it will have lots of ugly bumps and scratches even each of its four corners get scratch by it self they are using some kind of cheap plastic to make a back side but super amoled+ is great much tougher than its lightweight and incredible slim body
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As a matter of fact, it did, fall from my hand, in a public toilet, toward a moist ground which I didn't want my tablet falling onto. I attempted to grab it mid-air, but out of panic I flapped it toward the opposite wall a meter away, and regardless of my efforts, it still hit the floor. It slided for about 2 meters before it finally stopped by fiction.
Fortunately for me it slided face up. The back panel got some slight scratch on the plastic corner, and an unnoticeable scratch on the metal brand name "Samsung". Amazingly there isn't a noticable scratch on the main metal back panel, though I am sure it must have been in contact with the rough toilet ground.
Regardless of the impacts the tablet is still running without a glitch. This device is more robust than I thought.

irmani said:
i own 7.7 and 10.1
7.7 is not much faster then 10.1, battery life 10.1 better, 7.7 better screen and smaller yes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I disagree.
Just got my 7.7 and sold my 10.1. The 7.7 is much snappier and more responsive in every way. One thing that drove me nuts was how laggy the 10.1's gyrometer was in responding to screen rotation. Loading apps and app animation were smoother.
Another issue with the 10.1 was, half the time wifi would take longer (up to 1 min) to connect after wake from sleep. Sometimes, I even need to toggle wifi on/off to force connection. So far, the 7.7 connects instantly (2 s) from every wake.
Finally, the 10.1 must have older graphics hardware. When I use MX video to play a variety of movie formats, some require additional codec download as the files were not compatible with the H/W decoder. For the 7.7 (and a Galaxy Note that I had before), all the movies that I have, originally converted for iPad, work with the H/W decoder.

ikeny said:
I disagree.
Just got my 7.7 and sold my 10.1. The 7.7 is much snappier and more responsive in every way. One thing that drove me nuts was how laggy the 10.1's gyrometer was in responding to screen rotation. Loading apps and app animation were smoother.
Another issue with the 10.1 was, half the time wifi would take longer (up to 1 min) to connect after wake from sleep. Sometimes, I even need to toggle wifi on/off to force connection. So far, the 7.7 connects instantly (2 s) from every wake.
Finally, the 10.1 must have older graphics hardware. When I use MX video to play a variety of movie formats, some require additional codec download as the files were not compatible with the H/W decoder. For the 7.7 (and a Galaxy Note that I had before), all the movies that I have, originally converted for iPad, work with the H/W decoder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To defend the 10.1 which I use on a daily basis for a large variety of things, from youtube to reading documents and pdfs. You obviously had not rooted it and run a custom rom on it. There are a few roms out for it and Galaxy task is one hell of a rom. My wifi is instantaneous (I have set to turn off when screen turns off, but when I turn the screen on, wifi connects my to the internet and google servers before I even pass the lockscreen) and it doesn't lag for me that severely (lag still exists, just not crazy lag to the point of being frozen). The gyroscope when turning the tablet isn't instant, but its not long enough to bother you(takes less than a second to respond).
The main reason I want the 7.7 is because I could go for something a bit smaller than the 10.1, not a 7" tab though. Also being so used to the AMOLED of my S2, I'd really like a tablet to have the same quality screen. I'm thinking about waiting for the Toshiba Excite 7.7 and seeing what happens to the price of this then.
Also thanks for you input everyone.

九千. said:
As a matter of fact, it did, fall from my hand, in a public toilet, toward a moist ground which I didn't want my tablet falling onto. I attempted to grab it mid-air, but out of panic I flapped it toward the opposite wall a meter away, and regardless of my efforts, it still hit the floor. It slided for about 2 meters before it finally stopped by fiction.
Fortunately for me it slided face up. The back panel got some slight scratch on the plastic corner, and an unnoticeable scratch on the metal brand name "Samsung". Amazingly there isn't a noticable scratch on the main metal back panel, though I am sure it must have been in contact with the rough toilet ground.
Regardless of the impacts the tablet is still running without a glitch. This device is more robust than I thought.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Double harrowing story...Firstly, because it actually happened to you, secondly because it sounds like the kind of thing that keeps happening to me
XK

Will be holding this tab in couple more days and I can't really wait
One thing about the gyroscope sensor in, probably, all android tablet devices is that they are not very instant, are they ?
(if you compare to iPad's, it's tad score slower and is not very responsive )
Note that I will and can only fully justify this once I've got this tab on my hand. But experiences on stores showing that the response is very slow. There is even a 7.7" tab on store display that sometimes get "stuck" in orientation when you change from landscape - portrait and vice versa
Now, is it just because it's HC issue or is it more because of TW issue ?
( all store display will run HC - TW by default )
Would installing Go Launcher HD solve or improve the response ?
I have S2 and it doesn't really have this problem
Cheers,

Just got a 7.7 yesterday and I can say I have been buying Android tablets since the chinese have started doing them (which means I bought a lot of crap lol).
Never held a tablet that gave such a feeling of quality when you hold and use it. Never had a tablet not crashing once while using it for a whole evening. And I could not believe how good the sound is albeit not very loud. First tablet ever with 0 light bleed, by now I thought it was impossible for this to happen.
This thing smells of quality like nothing else, definitely in another league than the Asus stuff for example. It's like Samsung said let's use the best of everything and put it together.
No ICS yet, but besides extra smoothness when navigating within the OS, it's not like it's day and night when you are actually doing something in an app. For having had different tablets that were updated to ICS, I know it's better to have no ICS than buggy ICS that's crashes or eats battery like a monster.

aleifuu said:
Will be holding this tab in couple more days and I can't really wait
One thing about the gyroscope sensor in, probably, all android tablet devices is that they are not very instant, are they ?
(if you compare to iPad's, it's tad score slower and is not very responsive )
Note that I will and can only fully justify this once I've got this tab on my hand. But experiences on stores showing that the response is very slow. There is even a 7.7" tab on store display that sometimes get "stuck" in orientation when you change from landscape - portrait and vice versa
Now, is it just because it's HC issue or is it more because of TW issue ?
( all store display will run HC - TW by default )
Would installing Go Launcher HD solve or improve the response ?
I have S2 and it doesn't really have this problem
Cheers,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a horizontal calibration option somewhere in the main settings. This might help the gyro. Overall I don't think its as responsive as an ipad.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

for me its definitely worth every bucks i spent on this little beast .
the perfect screens for movie , just nice screen size for e books .
its worth it

Build quality second to none. Longest battery ever tested on a tablet via engadget review. Screen is amazing. Thin and small bezel looks sexy. Its perfect. IcS will put it over the top.
Sent from my GT-P7500 using XDA Premium HD app

I 'm hardcore android fan.
About 5-6 Mobile & 3 Tablets in a year.
7.7 is worth every $ because
- it's Super AMLED screen is work outdoor.
- Screen density.
- 5000 mAh Battery. & Use as phone : with good BlueTooth, this is only 1 android device that battery over 75% at the end f the day.
- Weight & Handling : Best of single hand's handling.
7.7 price is high but If you use as tablet , Phone , BIG! GPS in car , Movie Player in car
, it totally worth.

OK guys. I caved in and bought the wifi version today. Should be here in a few days, am pretty excited. I'm a student so I'll be using it for browsing, reading documents and pdfs, also movie/YouTube viewing. Didn't need the phone version since I have the sgs2 which is super great btw.
A few questions though, is it just me or us the development slow? I'd think with a superb tablet like this, there would be tons of developers flocking here.
Also any other issues due to software I should know about?
Does this tablet have haptic feedback?
And finally any accessories to recommend? I only bought some anti glare protectors on Amazon.
And one last thing to do, sell my current tab lol
Thanks for all the input guys.

I think development is slow because of it is expensive, and not many devs have this, over say the 10.1 or 7.0 counterparts.
Nonetheless, aside from other users saying that it has a great battery and screen, I would say that not other tablets have a built-in phone. So the fact that this can double as one, it sounds a lot more reasonable doesn't it!

I've bought mine from Dixons, in the Netherlands, for 479 EUR early this month.
I can't force myself to considering it expensive, no matter how I look at it and taking into consideration what it offers me, for the price.
The single fact that it can double as phone - and as a smart one, for that matter - is reason enough to consider this a bargain, let alone the incredible screen, the form factor, the ability to take 64Gb Micros Sds or the USB with host controller capability.
If anything, for what it so aptly does, this one is pretty cheap, me thinks...
XK

I think the price is comperable to the IPad.

murmur70 said:
I think the price is comperable to the IPad.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it is not, precisely... (at least over here)
My 7.7: 479 EUR
iPad3 16Gb, Wifi+3/4G: 599 (...the same all over Europe. Apple has a tight hand on pricing...)
So, for 120 EUR less (!) I got:
1. A better display.
2. A better format (subjective)
3. The ability to expand the internal 16Gb with 64Gb more, via the SD slot.
4. The ability to use an host enabled USB slot.
5. The ability to use it as a phone.
6. Complete customization for my particular needs, supported by an ever-helping, outstanding community.
Now, if this is not a deal, I don't know what is...
XK

As I posted in the other thread, you can get it in switzerland for 499chf thats 415euros. Maybe you can import them to other european countries but beware of local sales tax.
Sent from my GT-P6800 using xda premium

Why I chose the Galaxy Note... one mans journey

I had been in the market for a tablet for a few weeks, having not owned one before, I felt it was time to take the plunge. The main purpose was for evening internet browsing, maybe accompanied by a pint of beer. I'd previously purchased a galaxy Note phone for this very purpose, but I found even that was too much of a compromise screen wise, 5" just wasn't doing it for me, I had to go large. And if I had a tablet I could downgrade to a smaller size phone in future.
After extensive research on the net I narrowed the choice down. A 7” tab would be too small a leap in screen real estate for my needs, so the Nexus was ruled out, which left the front runner been the Transformer TF300, I though a keyboard would be nice for my very basic needs of Word and Excel, and of course it had the Tegra 3, which I had convinced myself I needed. I was aware the 300 could have a few ‘issues’ after reading the xda forums.
I resisted the urge to purchase as the Berlin IFA was about to commence, and Samsung and others would be releasing their latest tech there. Along comes the Note 10.1. And with that comes more frantic Googling for the latest internet reviews ( I ain’t gonna let go of £400 without knowing exactly what I’m buying!).
After reading the review at Android Police the Note seemed a pile of crap. A turd in the bath. A stink in a cesspool. However, my research goes further than that and I started reading user reviews and of course the review from Lisa Gade on youtube. All these seemed to counter what android Police had stated. With my head spinning I had to put some rational thought to my purchasing decision, and my thoughts were…
Do I need a keyboard – would be nice, but given my very limited use of work related stuff, and a large onscreen keyboard on tablets anyway, it would be possible to manage without, I shouldn’t compromise other factors just to have a keyboard.
Front facing stereo speakers – basic design principles tell me this is the way it should be done.
S pen – never really used it on my phone, but I was intrigued by the ‘hover’ function when viewing the web.
Charging cord – Another bummer mentioned at Android Police, its only 3 feet long, no way I could use the Note when its charging. Solution, charge it overnight.
Build quality – now that review at AP had a lot to say about flexing, squeaking and poor fitting. I saw the videos on that site and I agree with what the reviewer was showing us there. But I can only conclude that the unit he had must have been either pre production or had been subjected to some fairly vigorous tear downs.
I have my Note here and I must say it has very high build quality, absolutely no squeaking, all panels are flush fitting, and the only flex is right in the middle of the back panel, which incidentally is where I never hold it anyway. Also I’ve never had an issue with lightweight back panels, right from my first Samsung Galaxy phone. The technology is there to make things like that these days, it just makes sense, lightweight and no signal interference.
Tegra 3 – The reason I was after a Tegra device was so that I could ‘enter the tegra gaming zone’. It seems a nice place. But then again I don’t spend much of my life playing games and I can easily get my fix from whats available on Google Play.
Now that I have a Note I’m very happy in the knowledge that I have an even better processor, preloaded with masses of codec support and developed hand in hand with the Note to give a great browsing performance.
Cameras – I have no need for cameras on a tablet, waste of time. Oh hang on though, what have Samsung got here, this thing watches my eyes and doesn’t dim the screen unless I fall asleep, clever b******s.
GPS – I’ll only want this if I use Google Sky maps, I usually know where I am if I’m in my own house.
But it’s good to know that Glonass is included on the Note, another thumbs up in the high quality components list.
Audio quality. - Note has a Wolfson DAC. Nothing more to add here.
A note about resolution. One tablet I considered was the transformer Tf700 for its high res screen. Much talked about and much coveted. I wouldn’t turn it down. But when people are buying a tablet they need to consider what device they will be replacing. For me it will be primarily replacing my laptop, which has a 17” screen with a resolution of 1600 x 900. So just by downgrading to a 10” size screen with 1280 x 800 I’m getting higher res anyway, and given that it’s a PLS screen its higher quality to boot. So I’ve already gone ‘high res’ just by getting the note.
I’ve only wrote this review because I’m so impressed with my Note. I hope many others buy it and it gets the success it deserves.

Nice review, enjoyed reading it and hopefully teaches people not to be in haste at knocking a device without seeing real world usage user reports.
I think you have made a good choice and am happy that you are enjoying your note as it is out of the box, hopefully with the Jelly Bean update around the corner it will get even better.
Also love Lisa's reviews because her reviews do not seem to be biased unlike a number of other 'professional' reviewers.

same things i considered and bought note on its day of launch in india..
btw u forgot multiscreens and an extensive battery life
Sent from my GT-N8000 using XDA Premium HD app

Here's my bottom line. If I could have bought a 10.1 inch tablet with a 1920 x 1200 screen and a wacom digitizer and pen along with a 1.4 ghz quad core CPU and zero lag for $500 instead of this I would have.
Doesn't exist.
So I bought this.
** The problem I have with reviewers who have slammed this tablet is that they are comparing it either to tablets that do far less or simply do not and cannot exist at this price point. The lowest price for a pen based Windows RT tablet from Samsung will start at $150 more. And that will have worse dpi than this.
Sent from my GT-N8013 using Tapatalk 2

mitchellvii said:
Here's my bottom line. If I could have bought a 10.1 inch tablet with a 1920 x 1200 screen and a wacom digitizer and pen along with a 1.4 ghz quad core CPU and zero lag for $500 instead of this I would have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hehe, +1.
mitchellvii said:
Doesn't exist.
So I bought this.
** The problem I have with reviewers who have slammed this tablet is that they are comparing it either to tablets that do far less or simply do not and cannot exist at this price point. The lowest price for a pen based Windows RT tablet from Samsung will start at $150 more. And that will have worse dpi than this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get a sense that what the OP and I need is more like Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 with GN 10.1 specs less s pen + better screen / premium quality. I don't really care that much for the s pen. I do need everything else you mentioned out of the tab though. So, I feel that some of the low points of this tab, screen resolution and lack of premium build feel, could've been mitigated had Samsung saved the money on S Pen and associated hardware and software expenses.

SM05 said:
Hehe, +1.
I get a sense that what the OP and I need is more like Galaxy Tab 3 10.1 with GN 10.1 specs less s pen + better screen / premium quality. I don't really care that much for the s pen. I do need everything else you mentioned out of the tab though. So, I feel that some of the low points of this tab, screen resolution and lack of premium build feel, could've been mitigated had Samsung saved the money on S Pen and associated hardware and software expenses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol, yeah that crazy Samsung with their crazy s-pen.
It's simple, if you don't need or use pen input, why the hell are you buying this tablet? Buy an iPad or an Infinity that are pure consumption devices. The SGN 10.1 is for people that want to do WORK with their tablet.

mitchellvii said:
It's simple, if you don't need or use pen input, why the hell are you buying this tablet? Buy an iPad or an Infinity that are pure consumption devices. The SGN 10.1 is for people that want to do WORK with their tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it were that simple I wouldn't be replying on my GN 10.1. I posted this before but yeah, consumption device is what I mostly need. I don't plan on buying any Apple devices, don't wanna say ever but for a long time. That leaves android, which I prefer anyways (GS2 is my current phone). There aren't that many stable, fast and well built android tabs out there. Build quality + specs is why I went with GN. S pen is just an appendix as far ad I'm concerned. Lol
So, if you're listening Samsung, give us galaxy tab 10.1 with the same specs as GN, premium/better finish and improved screen dpi, if possible, and no s pen. All under 500 please. Lol

SM05 said:
If it were that simple I wouldn't be replying on my GN 10.1. I posted this before but yeah, consumption device is what I mostly need. I don't plan on buying any Apple devices, don't wanna say ever but for a long time. That leaves android, which I prefer anyways (GS2 is my current phone). There aren't that many stable, fast and well built android tabs out there. Build quality + specs is why I went with GN. S pen is just an appendix as far ad I'm concerned. Lol
So, if you're listening Samsung, give us galaxy tab 10.1 with the same specs as GN, premium/better finish and improved screen dpi, if possible, and no s pen. All under 500 please. Lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, they need 2 models. Consumer - $400, without the pen. Creator / Producer - $500 includes pen . Display on both needs to be the same (highest resolution and quality they can manage without slowing the system down.)

mitchellvii said:
Lol, yeah that crazy Samsung with their crazy s-pen.
It's simple, if you don't need or use pen input, why the hell are you buying this tablet? Buy an iPad or an Infinity that are pure consumption devices. The SGN 10.1 is for people that want to do WORK with their tablet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't say the infinity is a pure consumption device. I like my note a lot more then the prime I owned but with the keyboard dock it really does move it out of a pure consumption device.

nice review. exactly what i went thru lols

I mentioned it elsewhere, but the first review I read was from Lisa. Always unbias and as someone that knows about stylus's and wiacoms, she was very to the point about the device. Most if not all the others, reviewed the device as a competitor to the iPad, Transformer etc, when in reality those devices do not do what the Note does. After reading that stupid review from AndroidPolice, and I say stupid since no journalist/writer would make such a headline or put in stupid comments of the device giving them cancer, I went to the store to test it myself. It was nothing like what the reviews mentioned and right then and there I knew this was the tablet to get. A few days later I got it.
Haven't regretted it since.
is it the perfect device, No. nothing is, no matter what any one says, including Apple. Each and every device has its pro and cons, but this device runs circles around my previous Lenovo and overall, its one awesome device.
TS

As has been noted, I did not buy the Note for its pen, this was low on my list of needs as I had never found much use for it on my Galaxy Note phone (I found it just too cramped a space for my liking). I was instead drawn more by its quality and cutting edge components. However, given that the pen was there I’ve been giving it a go anyway, and I’ve found it a much better experience on this larger screen, infact I’m now beginning to use it all the time, it just seems easier and quicker for most things.
Websites are not designed to be prodded at with fingers, but to be used by a precise pointing device, so navigating using the pen feels quicker and more natural. When playing games (Air Attack HD) its easier to slide the pen around the screen and fingers are not blocking out the action.
Oh, I forgot about another reason that swayed me towards buying the Note, and that was to do my own little bit to support Samsung against the dark forces of crApple and its abuse of the (broken) patent system. Or as someone else on the net succinctly put it – the American patent system is a pile of ****, and Apple is sitting on top of that pile.
I’ve been listening to the sound quality of this thing, I’m going to put up a new post about it so its easier for people to find.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Overall love

Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!

Overall this tablet is incredible. The speakers are great, the screen is crisp and not to mention huge. An incredible device priced just a little too high

Not worth the money. I am very disappointed with the rams. My note 9 has 8 GB ram but this tab only comes with 4 GB and no option to increase the ram like the note 9.
This tablet should have had 6 GB then it would have been worth the money.
Right now I got 600mb rams free and if I startup the DeX then I don't know how it will work.
Just haven't had the chance to try DeX yet as I am working non stop for 14 days on 14 hour shifts but after 14 day I'll report back.

SyCoREAPER said:
Overall this tablet is incredible. The speakers are great, the screen is crisp and not to mention huge. An incredible device priced just a little too high
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've found the speakers very disappointed. Zero bass and not much depth

Zionator said:
Not worth the money. I am very disappointed with the rams. My note 9 has 8 GB ram but this tab only comes with 4 GB and no option to increase the ram like the note 9.
This tablet should have had 6 GB then it would have been worth the money.
Right now I got 600mb rams free and if I startup the DeX then I don't know how it will work.
Just haven't had the chance to try DeX yet as I am working non stop for 14 days on 14 hour shifts but after 14 day I'll report back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you doing that you need more than 4GB of RAM?

Reuben_skelz92 said:
I've found the speakers very disappointed. Zero bass and not much depth
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Click to collapse
I dont mind the speakers. They are loud enough but you're right, they wont win any sound awards.
SyCoREAPER said:
Overall this tablet is incredible. The speakers are great, the screen is crisp and not to mention huge. An incredible device priced just a little too high
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And a little too heavy. Looks like I will be keeping my Tab S 8.4 for reading

Had mine for a week now and have been using it pretty much non-stop. Screen is superb for video. Have the keyboard cover too and it has been useful for doing some work emails and stuff. Used Dex for a few days until the novelty wore off. Having said that will use it occasionally when docked to a bigger screen. Yes it's heavy and yes it's expensive.....but I still love it.

I do love it overall. Big and beautiful as a tablet, while cute and compact as a partial laptop. But i am also disappointed like many people that it did not have more ram. I had apps crashed and hanged on DeX before

kane274 said:
And a little too heavy. Looks like I will be keeping my Tab S 8.4 for reading
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Click to collapse
I do love my S4 and S 8.4 which I was planning to sell or gift. Decided to keep it for reading and quick browsing. Phone 6.2", two sizes of tablets 8.4" and 10.5" and laptop 13.3"=device for every occasion :victory:

Too51oll said:
I do love my S4 and S 8.4 which I was planning to sell or gift. Decided to keep it for reading and quick browsing. Phone 6.2", two sizes of tablets 8.4" and 10.5" and laptop 13.3"=device for every occasion :victory:
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Click to collapse
apart from size, how clear is text on S4 compared to S 8.4"? I have a S 8.4" and use it 95% of the time for reading kindle and google books, and wonder whether that with 25% fewer pixels per inch, clarity of text might be reduced on the S4 compared to the S 8.4".

antskip said:
apart from size, how clear is text on S4 compared to S 8.4"? I have a S 8.4" and use it 95% of the time for reading kindle and google books, and wonder whether that with 25% fewer pixels per inch, clarity of text might be reduced on the S4 compared to the S 8.4".
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Click to collapse
Even though the screen has lower ppi it's still an awesome display. At first I was noticing lower ppi here and there. I guess I was looking for it as I don't notice it any more. Text is really nice and sharp, you shouldn't be disappointed. The reason I've kept S 8.4 is it's size, it's an easy one hand device unlike S4.

S4 is awesome!
Sent from my SM-T830 using Tapatalk

I think it is a mixed bag. I moved from an S2 to an S4, and there are multiple things I miss
Pros: processor, internal memory, video resolution, pie, battery life, speakers at all corners
Cons: Screen aspect ratio (too tall for books in portrait mode) , not enough ram for dex, no thumbprint sensor, no wireless dex, mirroring sucks
Yeah, the aspect ratio is better for movies, but I mostly cast video. Likewise the speaker location is much better, but I mostly cast or use head phones.
I won't be going back to the S2, but I miss it sometimes.

XDA_RealLifeReview said:
Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Samsung Galaxy Tab S4 is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm with you on that!
Just got my S4. Unicorn edition straight from Samsung South Korea!
6GB RAM / 256GB Storage / LTE / FULLY UNLOCKED! It works as a phone, with the phone and sms apps enabled. ZERO restrictions on this!
Pics up on instagram @RDA1074 will post some videos too!
I'm going without a physical PC for a week to check this out! I'm putting down my XPS 13 QHD i7 2-in-1 (9365) so....let see!

I needed something to replace my Tab E so purchased the Tab S4. I don't think they gave us value for the cost it was to buy it.

RDA3440 said:
I'm with you on that!
Just got my S4. Unicorn edition straight from Samsung South Korea!
6GB RAM / 256GB Storage / LTE / FULLY UNLOCKED! It works as a phone, with the phone and sms apps enabled. ZERO restrictions on this!
Pics up on instagram @RDA1074 will post some videos too!
I'm going without a physical PC for a week to check this out! I'm putting down my XPS 13 QHD i7 2-in-1 (9365) so....let see!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How does one look into getting one of these and is there a wifi only version? Thanks!

I am very pleased with it. A family member of mine recently bought a 6th gen iPad and the Tab S4 is way more capable! (but also quite a bit more expensive. I use Dex alot in combination with the Samsung keyboard case. The S Pen is useful, but is too light for my liking.

The verry best of my owneds devices, only one bad point, i'v still no succes on rooting it.

I had both ipad pro (1st gen) 9.7 and 12.9 versions, sold them both and got a used S4 tab. So far really liking it. I used ot have a Note 9 so I'm used to the software. My phone is a P30 pro which is superb but the software sucks ass. Samsung software is on a different level from Huawei, it's not even comparable. I think atm Samsung software is better than apple products. The battery drain is a bit fast for me, but since I live in Korea I can always get the battery replaced at the Samsung service center for around $17 usd.

Comparing Tab S6 and Tab S4:
- S4 has slightly better display, with less backbleeding
- both tablets cannot be authenticated in a modern way, fp / iris / facelock are almost unusable
a) S6 fingerprint is a classic samsung joke since they moved fp reader under display
b) S4 intelligent scan is unsafe as it takes whatever authentication gets processed first.. iris OR face
c) S4 iris or faceunlock don't work in dark, and are in fact much worse than S6 fingerprint
d) S4 won't provide biometrics to apps... you simply enter the era of entering passwords by hand.. this is huuge disappointment
e) so there's another option: Direction Lock. this is a less secure pattern lock unfortunately it's first tier auth (it can't register on top of password), the best model would be strong base auth (password) + medium to strong comfy auth (iris AND faceunlock) but no luck here.. and again, it's not registered as biometrics. i don't know why Android recognizes only fingerprint as biometrics - bad
- both are slow, S4 feels like 10year device with its lags update: got much better when disabled proca why this is not disabled in kernel
- S4 can be rooted much better, no combination of keys needed to boot.. full safe setup twrp, kernel, xposed+xprivacy+xedge, encryption, no boot keys needed
- both have HDR playback, even if brightness is not enough..
- human control is painful:
a) you can't touch buttons when pen is accidentally close to the screen..oh my god..so many mistakes with this
b) the hardware keyboard is withough backlight so it's almost invisible, and the screen brightness won't help.. very painful keyboard.. i threw it away already
c) when using hardware keyboard, there will be accidental touches to screen..dialogs will be cancelled.. really annoying
d) i hate when i cannot dismiss notification menu by touching around it
e) pen doesn't slide on the screen easily.. it's not the same feeling like Note9.. it's almost difficult to move it around (new tip..a Lenovo pen would slide easily)
f) the expensive keyboard cover attracts fingerprint dirt like nothing else. crazy how it gets more dirty than glass!
- wifi reception is poor
- sound is fantastic... i despise all 3D, Vipers and modifications, but 4 speakers with Atmos sound so good in movies.. clear dialogs and atmospheric background sounds go beyond ears
the S4 tablet is good for media, games. Both are nowhere near producitivy and speed of modern mobile phones. Since i hate the keyboard and even stylus, the Samsung benefits are partially gone. I wish it was easier to control, snappier.
(updates)