The Galaxy Note 3 from Samsung wasn’t just another device that got unveiled at the IFA in Berlin, as most of you might already know. The phablet is among the showstoppers at the event, and the launch of the Note 3 was a significant step forward as far as Samsung is concerned.
The device, as expected, packs the best possible internals one can expect today which includes the Snapdragon 800 (which probably don’t need no introduction) and a wholesome 3GB of RAM! Let us scrutinize the device the GadgetsToUse way, and see what’s the good and the bad!
Camera and Internal Storage
As you might have expected, the Galaxy Note 3, like other 2013 flagship phones, comes with a 13MP main sensor on the rear of the device. This unit will be able to take pictures up to 4128×3096 pixels in resolution, and will come with a host of features and enhancements including Dual Shot, Simultaneous HD video and image recording, geo-tagging.
The front of the device will house a rather surprising 2MP unit (we expected to see a 3.2MP-5MP one here) which will be used for video calls. Although the resolution count isn’t as great as you might’ve expected, we’re pretty sure that this one will be better than other 2MP units out there.
The phablet will come in 32GB and 64GB variants, giving the 16GB a miss which is quite sensible as far as we think, since most common users don’t really like the hassles that come along microSD cards.
Processor and Battery
The Note 3 will be powered by the extremely powerful Snapdragon 800 processor on the LTE version, while the 3G version will have the Exynos 4+4 core setup. This means that the device will be second to none when it comes to processing power, be it with the Snapdragon 800 variant or the Exynos one.
What’s more is that this device packs 3GB of RAM, which is a first for any Android device. This amount of RAM promises lag-free usage as well as insanely fast app-loading times. Note 3 buyers, for sure, will have a sense of future proofing when they get this device.
The phablet impresses yet again with an adequate 3200mAh unit for the battery which promises long hours of usage. The Note 2 came with a 3100mAh unit, and users reported up to 2 days of battery backup. We expect similar performance from this unit too, although with the much more powerful hardware the backup on this one might be slightly lesser.
Display and Features
Samsung decide not to play around with their tried and tested formula of Super AMOLED screens. The Note 3 now comes with a full HD display, upped a notch from what we saw on the Note 2 – a 720p HD one. The display size on the Note 3 comes out to be 5.7 inches, which is probably phablet makers’ favourite size.
Other features of the Note 3 include the trademark active-capacitive stylus for easy UI navigation and other tasks, and TouchWiz overlaid on Android v4.3.
Looks and Connectivity
The device carries the trademark Samsung Galaxy styling, without much of a change. However, the advancement in technology can be realized by looking at the thin bezels and the overall dimensions of the device. The back cover sports a “Faux Leather” look with stiches around the edges, this looks tacky on white version but feels good in hand.
On the connectivity front, the phone comes with all you expect of a 2013 flagship that includes WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth, NFC, etc.
Comparison
The device can be compared to a few devices based on screen size, and based on the chipset it comes with, it will turn out to be a competitor to the Sony Xperia Z1, LG G2 among other devices of 2013.
Key Specs
Model | Samsung Galaxy Note 3 |
Display | 5.7 inches, full HD |
Processor | 1. 2.3 GHz quad core (LTE version) 2. 4+4 core 1.9 GHz+1.6GHz (3G version) |
RAM, ROM | 3GB RAM, 32GB/64GB ROM expandable by up to 64GB |
OS | Android v4.3 |
Cameras | 13MP rear, 2MP front |
Battery | 3200mAh |
Price | To be announced |
Conclusion
Like other Note series devices, we foresee this one doing well in the market as well. The phablet comes with a very powerful processor along with 3GB RAM – a first in the market.You can expect the device to be faster than any currently. Also, with the 3200mAh battery, it promises a lot of usage on a single charge. However, this will need another glance since the real life performance would probably depend on the characteristics of the Snapdragon 800 chipset.
All in all, the device seems like it came out at the right time.