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Try as we might, there's no better introduction to the Galaxy Note than the one proffered by Samsung itself. “It's not a phone, it's not a tablet,” as the marketing blurb reads.
The 5.3inch screen seems too big to hold next to your cheek for making calls, but it's not quite large enough for serious writing or learning to play the guitar with one of those fancy apps. So what, exactly, is the Samsung Galaxy Note?
Samsung Galaxy Note – Stylus
The multitouch capacitive screen also has a digitizing layer to use with a stylus. For today's digital scribe it should be what Moleskine was for Hemingway.
Samsung's handwriting apps aren't as good as those on the HTC Flyer, though, and using a third party stylus on the Galaxy SII phone is just as natural. And cheaper.
Samsung Galaxy Note – Screen
The Galaxy Note's screen has just about every high end technology available to a smart phone layered into its glassy surface. The AMOLED technology makes it bright and colourful, Gorilla Glass protects it from scratches, and the 1280x800 resolution is an almost obscene number of pixels to squeeze into each square inch. It really is beautiful.
Samsung Galaxy Note – voice control
Ironically, it's the voice control app provided by Vlingo that really stands out, and more so than the handwriting recognition. The former has more features than the one bundled with the Galaxy SII, and is Siri-like in its seeming prescience. Someone had better remind Samsung that voice is the future – Microsoft cracked handwriting recognition in the year 2000, and look where that got them.
Samsung Galaxy Note – Size
Despite its size the Galaxy Note does feel good in the hand. The rear of the device has a textured finish that puts you in mind of a leather bound notebook. It also hides a big 2500mAh battery. It doesn't say 'phone' and it doesn't say 'tablet', but it does shout 'quality' very loudly.
Samsung Galaxy Note – Android
There's also a very fast 1.4GHz dual core processor behind that screen, which powers Samsung's TouchWix interface running on top of Android Gingerbread.
Stuff understands there's an update to Ice Cream Sandwich in the works, possibly before the end of the year but more likely in early 2012. Here and now, that processor provides plenty of poke for capturing gorgeous 1080p videos from that 8Mp rear camera.
Samsung Galaxy Note – Verdict
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.
Promotional link: Click here for the latest Galaxy Note deals
Tech Specs
- Bluetooth
- 3.0
- Dimensions
- 146.85 x 82.95 x 9.65mm
- FM radio
- Yes
- Main camera resolution
- 8MP rear, 2MP front
- Memory card slots
- microSD, microSDHC
- Screen resolution
- 1280x800
- Screen size
- 5.3in
- Storage
- 16GB
- Storage media
- MicroSD
- Video resolution
- 1080p
- Weight
- 178g
Comments
HillaryShindler
1 year ago
Although it's not quite as small a a phone or big enough to be a tablet, the Samsung Galaxy Note is great for text marketing, viewing of videos due to it's high resolution screen and any multimedia application. I am very content with mine and I wouldn't yet change it with any other smart phone on the market at this time.
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1 year ago
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sl786982
1 year ago
I fell on love woth it even before i could really touch it.Excellent piece of work.
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1 year ago
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danman
1 year ago
This truly is a fantastic bit of kit! No longer do I struggle with my sausage fingers to type. Movies are very very watchable and thanks to the MX video app that plays any format you can think of I was able to put 1 1080p and 5 720p feature films on my mini sd card to take with me on a skiing holiday. The scren is out of this world even at the lowest battery saving brightness, Friends and other people who saw it were incredibly impressed!
So far I cannot find anything to fault it? I was a little concerned on the size but within 2 days I was used to it and no issues at all with it in my pocket. daily car insurance
doibi
1 year ago
wow.. this is an awesome review and thanks for that at least I know now. video to Flash converter / hulu to ipad / ipad 3 converter
Thomas13
1 year ago
Samsung galaxy note is a awesome device. I really like to use it. Lawyer Burnaby
healthelectron
1 year ago
cheek for making calls, but it's not quite large enough for serious writing o customized bags
Thomas13
1 year ago
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1 year ago
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1 year ago
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lewo
1 year ago
I had my eye on this handset since it was announced back in September and I got it on a contract deal in the middle of January.
This truly is a fantastic bit of kit! No longer do I struggle with my sausage fingers to type. Movies are very very watchable and thanks to the MX video app that plays any format you can think of I was able to put 1 1080p and 5 720p feature films on my mini sd card to take with me on a skiing holiday. The scren is out of this world even at the lowest battery saving brightness, Friends and other people who saw it were incredibly impressed!
So far I cannot find anything to fault it? I was a little concerned on the size but within 2 days I was used to it and no issues at all with it in my pocket.
Using the S pen is interesting? I find that it's easier to use in landscape as touching the screen with your hand while writing is an issue. I love the screen save function with it! Brilliant idea and very handy.
I cannot impress how much I love this smartphone...For me it's the perfect tool and where as before I was intending to upgrade my 8" cheapy cheap tablet to a branded product, This phone has made that purchase reduntant.
Dying to see how it will work on ICS!!!!
Moodyman69
1 year ago
This really is an awesome handset, in this modern age and the ongoing battle of mobile vs tablet vs laptop vs desktop this is a serious contender for all. All media and work based applications are a pleasure to use with the Super AMOLED screen and the Stylus just offers you that extra edge for anything more - range of features with this can be found at their YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/user/SAMSUNGmobile?blend=6&ob=video-mustanginstant - and to top it all off, the camera is excellent. All powered by a dual-core 1.4GHz processor, what's the problem with a bulge in your pocket?! You can actually trial it from these guys if your uncertain http://www.techtrial.co.uk/catalogue.php?&pid=125 which is a pretty cool deal...
Moodyman69
1 year ago
This really is an awesome handset, in this modern age and the ongoing battle of mobile vs tablet vs laptop vs desktop this is a serious contender for all. All media and work based applications are a pleasure to use with the Super AMOLED screen and the Stylus just offers you that extra edge for anything more - range of features with this can be found at their YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/user/SAMSUNGmobile?blend=6&ob=video-mustanginstant - and to top it all off, the camera is excellent. All powered by a dual-core 1.4GHz processor, what's the problem with a bulge in your pocket?! You can actually trial it from these guys if your uncertain http://www.techtrial.co.uk/catalogue.php?&pid=125 which is a pretty cool deal...
Moodyman69
1 year ago
This really is an awesome handset, in this modern age and the ongoing battle of mobile vs tablet vs laptop vs desktop this is a serious contender for all. All media and work based applications are a pleasure to use with the Super AMOLED screen and the Stylus just offers you that extra edge for anything more - range of features with this can be found at their YouTube page http://www.youtube.com/user/SAMSUNGmobile?blend=6&ob=video-mustanginstant - and to top it all off, the camera is excellent. All powered by a dual-core 1.4GHz processor, what's the problem with a bulge in your pocket?! You can actually trial it from these guys if your uncertain http://www.techtrial.co.uk/catalogue.php?&pid=125 which is a pretty cool deal...
Tahta .D.B
1 year ago
I think this is the Android best phone mobile and it's better than product of legendary Steve Jobs (iPhone 4S).
*my opinion*
catang7
1 year ago
best smartphone i never had... Best...
catang7
1 year ago
best smartphone i never had... Best...
rajiva kumar
1 year ago
I fell on love woth it even before i could really touch it.Excellent piece of work.
Kathleenl
1 year ago
Best site to learn about everything multi-media. I would not buy anything new unless I checked STUFF to read all reviews!!
superdanster
1 year ago
the phone's specs look really good but i'm worried about how big it is because my hands are a bit small