Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Review
Nov. 12, 2013Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Review
So, after a couple months of research and grueling first world problem reflection, I finally decided to make the leap into Android and leave the cult of Apple behind. Deciding on what smart phone to step into was an on again, off again affair. Narrowing it down to 3, I walked into the store prepared to make a game time decision. One look at the brand new Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and I knew this was the one phone to rule them all! Naturally, it needed a review!
Yes this phone is big. It’s being called a phablet. But no it is not that big. It’s about as big as a phone can realistically be without it being an encumbrance and it’s relative thinness and light weight counterbalance the size. It doesn’t look absurd to talk with it, fits just fine in pants pockets and doesn’t alter the way I have to sit. I can hold it and use it in one hand just fine with my fingers mostly able to reach anywhere on the 5.7 inch screen without issue. Now the positive to that is that everything you see looks outstanding on the 1080p AMOLED screen. I’ve just never seen a screen that looks better on any device or TV. I was absolutely blown away by it when I first saw it and I am still amazed when I look at it. It looks so good that some lower HD resolutions for the first time show noticeable flaws. Websites are easy to read and see, video apps like Netflix and Twitch look great, and it’s the perfect size for e-books. It’s just a shade smaller than a typical paperback novel and I’ve been reading a lot as a result. Everything about the size and quality of the screen is a huge win.
It has a 2.3 GHZ quad core processor and is one of the new line of power packing smartphones. This thing is a processing beast that kicks my iPad’s ass and gives my Toshiba laptop a run for it’s money. Every little thing I do is quick and responsive and it juggles multiple apps at once with aplomb. It really is a perfect hardware match for Android’s very open Jelly Bean platform. For storage it comes stock at 32 GB and can be expanded to much more via SD card. I do a lot of mobile computing for both the websites and my really real life job and it’s really important to be able to multitask quickly while on my feet. To that end this phone has been a lifesaver and has really freed me up to get things done and stay connected. I’m almost amazed that I made do so long with the small iPhone and Apple’s painfully restrictive iOS. Both cameras are great and it takes beautifully pristine video, and I’ve found myself actually taking pictures of stuff again. Call quality is great and the phone sports a faux leather look that avoids being cheesy and instead looks pretty refined. The overall hardware is sturdy and feels more substantial than its cousin the Galaxy 4.
One of the hallmark advertised features is the stylus and note taking features and it doesn’t disappoint in practice. It is precise and flows just like a gel pen and the size of the screen make it a great writing device. The handwriting recognition is pretty solid should you choose to enter text that way (which I don’t). It shines as a quick note taker as pulling out the stylus prompts a quick launch menu that enables you to jot something down on a digital post it. I love using the stylus more as a navigator. It gives you that mouse like precision and can pinpoint links in tight quarters a million times better than sausage fingers.
This phone is my Apple slayer and a worthy liberator. I consider it the current best in class for smart phones, a processing powerhouse that does all the right things and blurs the lines between phones and tablets in the best way possible. I haven’t turned on my iPad since buying this bad boy and the versatility of the Android platform combined with the size and capabilities of the Note make it possible to do all manner of things on the fly both productive and leisure. It’s really been a true lifeline and has alleviated a lot of stress (just ask Fex how much bitching I’ve been doing over the past few months). If you’re in the market for a new smart phone that you can do everything on, then this classy joint is the one for you.
Emergence
Editor at Fextralife. I look for the substantial in gaming and I try to connect video games to the emotions and stories they elicit. I love all things culture and history and have an odd fondness for the planet Jupiter. I think my dogs are pretty awesome too.
Thanks a bunch dude, i’ve been beating my head off a wall on whether to get the Xperia Z1 or the Htc one now i got a 3rd to consider.
Great write up, check out an app called juice defender, you’ll get another 20-30% on your battery.
Question does the phone require drivers? The original Samsung series required an app to view and copy files from the memory\sd card, which turned me off.
The htc one was one of the three I was considering along with the regular Galaxy 4, they are all quality phones so for me the screen was the determining factor. Thank for the app suggestion, I will check it out although I should have mentioned in the review that the battery life is outstanding. I would have to charge the iphone constantly but with this it just lasts all day it seems. As far as drivers for the external memory card I am not sure. I haven’t had to expand beyond the internal 32 GB.
As an avid Android aficionado, not averse to alliteration, I approve. Most phones come with a phone browser/organizer which works pretty similar to Windows now. If not there’s easy answers to that. Firefox for android can install a flash add on. I could probably go on with Android love…
The flash add on is a nice feature since the rest of the web is not yet up to the html5 standard. It’s been pretty handy.
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