Samsung Galaxy Note / Reviews

With a large number of excellent features and functions, Samsung Galaxy Note has set a benchmark for its close competitors. The only advantage other smartphones has is Galaxy Note’s screen size. Its 1.5 Dual Core ARM cortex A9 processor and 1 GB RAM has worked well with Note. With its forceful promotion strategy, Samsung has an advantage over rivals. We consider it one of the best high end phones.

Read original review at TelecomTiger.

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Let’s be real here folks, the T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy Note is a wonderful device on so many levels, but taking into account its late arrival onto the scene, it no longer has the same appeal and allure when it first arrived. Unless you desperately love its large display and ideal note taking capabilities, it’s really hard to choose this one as opposed to newer offerings out there – namely the Samsung Galaxy S III. We fell in love with this smartphone twice already, but with this third time around, it’s hard to uncover those feelings once again with this version.

Read original review at PhoneArena.

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We're more than a little disappointed that Samsung didn't take the opportunity to update the Galaxy Note with modern internals ahead of its debut on T-Mobile. What was once a premiere superphone is now beginning to show its age. As such, T-Mobile customers who insist on top-notch performance are left with no alternative other than the Galaxy S III (and to a lesser extent, the One S). That said, for those of you who appreciate the Galaxy Note's innate advantages -- namely, its productivity features and beautiful, spacious display -- Samsung's super-sized smartphone remains peerless.

Read original review at Engadget.

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So, the Galaxy Note is finally about to land on T-Mobile after a long time of rumors, and we've got to say that we still like the device a lot. That said, the Note isn't for everyone, as most people don't need a 5.3 inch display in their pockets. Still, the Galaxy Note is great for watching movies on with its big and bright display.

Massive screen and S-Pen aside, the Galaxy Note is still a solid smartphone through and through. With a great camera and fast processor, the phablet can still go toe to toe some of the new smartphones that are coming out today when it comes to specifications. Even with rumors of the Galaxy Note 2 already beginning to fly around, the existing version of the device is fast, powerful, and should keep owners happy.

Read original review at IntoMobile.

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The Samsung Galaxy Note 5.3-inch phablet smartphone has won over more than you’d think. Samsung had massive sales of this phone and an overall awesome response from buyers. If you’ve been eying a bigger screen and are on T-Mobile this is hard to pass up. I’d go for it or the Galaxy S III personally. Get the all new T-Mobile powered Galaxy Note starting August 8th for $249.

Read original review at Android Community.

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There are two main questions at hand: is the Samsung Galaxy Note a phone worth buying, and if so, can it satisfy the need for a tablet?

So long as you're all for supersizing, your answer to the former is mostly yes. The Note has the high-flying specs that we loved in the original Galaxy S II series, so it's strong where it counts. While its size will make carrying the phone awkward for some, the screen real estate is ideal for interacting with HD games and multimedia, and for reading Web sites and e-books. When you add in the S Pen, there's more potential for creative drawings and games. Whether it's little more than a party trick or if you'll ever use it on a regular basis depends on you. I think the screen size, rather than the stylus, will make it or break it for most buyers, but I do worry about the long-term comfort and security of the skinny pen if you don't feel like dishing out for a $50 pen holder accessory -- a price I feel is a lot to ask.

I also think that the starting price will be a tougher sell for those who are also considering the Samsung Galaxy S3, which costs less for the 16GB version and costs the same for a 32GB model. Given the Galaxy Note's 5.3-inch screen, some people could indeed find the Note to be a workable smartphone/tablet hybrid device, or at least those who have casually considered buying a more budget tablet. Depending on the tablet size you'd be eyeing, a 5.3-inch screen is a far cry from a 10.1-inch display. There's really no comparison at that level, but there is an argument for people considering a 7-inch tablet, as well as a 4.8-inch phone like the Galaxy S3. Still, for artists and those who like the idea of a larger, multipurpose device, the Galaxy Note will score points, even if some features, like the S-Pen and the clunkier way the note-taking apps work, could use some attention.

Read original review at Cnet.

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The question it poses isn't 'What is the Galaxy Note?', rather 'Who is it for?'. Smartphone buyers might be put off by the awkwardness of the extra girth, while tablet fans could find the screen too small. What the Note offers, though, is a very lovely halfway house between the two – look at it as a tablet that can make calls and fit in your pocket, or a phone with a bigger, better screen, and it starts to make a lot more sense.

Read original review at Stuff.

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All in all, the Galaxy Note's standout feature, its large, 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED display, is a bit of a double-edged sword. Even though we absolutely loved the additional screen real estate while using many of our favorite apps, watching movies, and surfing the web, we felt awkward holding such a large phone to our ear. We hate to say it, but when looking in the mirror or looking at someone else holding the Note to their ear, they looked a tad funny with the oversized device.

Because Android 2.3 Gingerbread isn't really designed with a 5.3-inch screen in mind, we also ran into a few occasions where buttons were a bit too small within an app. Although this was a minor issue that didn't really bother us much, it makes us long for the Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update that's promised for this phone. Since this latest OS is designed for both smartphones and tablets, we're hoping it will scale some of these buttons to a more appropriate size. Benchmark scores seem a bit lackluster with the Galaxy Note, but keep in mind they were running at a much higher resolution than the other devices. At lower resolutions, the scores would likely have scaled higher. In real-world testing, however, we had no complaints about performance.

It didn't take us long to fall in love with the S Pen that comes with the Galaxy Note. Although we rarely used the pen for things such as clicking a link or writing an email, we really liked the ability to take handwritten notes; add annotations to documents, screen shots, and images; draw; and doodle. Not only is this functionality fun to use, but we also feel it is quite practical for a number of situations.

At the end of the day, we found ourselves really liking the Samsung Galaxy Note. The S Pen functionality is something we'd love to see on additional devices from Samsung. We're also excited about the potential for this device when it receives its Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich update. If you're able to get over the bulkiness when holding the phone to your ear, the Galaxy Note is a device that will give you plenty of functionally in return.

Read original review at Hothardware.

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Considering the large size of the Samsung Galaxy Note, careful consideration is required in order to determine if it's the right smartphone for your needs. I found the big screen to be more of a draw than the actual S Pen stylus, but I would be less likely to buy it because I need something highly pocketable, not something that I would have to carry in a purse or gear bag.

The stylus is a unique addition, but of limited utility for anyone who is already comfortable using a touchscreen and/or a virtual keyboard to enter text. It's fun to use for drawings and such, maybe a quick grocery list, but digital artists and hardcore notetakers would likely be happier with either a larger tablet or a Bluetooth keyboard.

If you're willing to make the commitment, however, the Galaxy Note is a powerful device and a good performer.

Read original review at Brighthand.

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Android fans looking to turn heads should look no further. Short of luxury brands like Vertu and handsets encrusted with gems by third parties, there probably isn’t a cell phone on the planet that will attract more attention than the Galaxy Note. During my time with the device, I was approached by a number of people eager to figure out exactly what I was tapping away on. Most of them, however, seemed to walk away more confused than they were to begin with. Samsung basically just “Samsunged” itself. My sincere hope is that this is the turning point in the giant smartphone trend, and that we will now see smartphones shrink back down to manageable sizes. Having a handful of plus-sized handsets on the market is a good thing. Choice is a good thing. Smartphones like the Galaxy Note and LG Vu have taken things too far though, and they are well-suited to such a small subset of smartphone users that they likely need not exist.

Read original review at BGR.

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