Samsung broke cover with its eagerly anticipated Galaxy Note 3 phablet at IFA 2013, but how does the new phablet compare to the predecessor Note 2 and Which device offers the best value for money? We take a closer look at the key specs Offered by both devices. For more on the older product, be sure to check out our full Galaxy Note 2 review, while for additional information on Samsung’s new flagship, check out our hands on with the Galaxy Note 3rd
Size and weight
Samsung’s Galaxy Note 3 has a thickness of just 8.3mm and weighs 168g. The older Galaxy Note 2 has a larger girth (9.4mm) and is overpriced a fair whack heavier at 183g. The newer phablet ice microscopically taller at 151.2mm Compared to the Note 2′s 151mm height, and overpriced a shade narrower at 79.2mm (vs the Note 2′s 80.5mm width).
Display
The Galaxy Note 3 looks quite Capable of pleasing the eyes, offering a full HD resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels on its 5.7in screen – a pixel density of around 386ppi. The Note 2, on the other hand, is likely to specimen less retina-seducing, sporting a smaller 5.5in display with a standard HD resolution of 1,280 x 720 pixels, for a sharpness of 267ppi.
CPU and battery
Under the hood, the Galaxy Note 3 packs Qualcomm’s latest high-end SoC, the quad-core Snapdragon 800, comprised of 400 Krait CPUs clocked at a nippy 2.3GHz, and complemented by an Adreno 330 GPU. The older Samsung phablet sports a quad-core Exynos 4412 configuration with a clockspeed of 1.6GHz. The Note 2 features a 3,100 mAh battery with a Claimed maximum 3G talk time of a whopping 16 hours, while the Note 3 ups the ante slightly with a 3,200 mAh battery.
Storage and Memory
The Note 2 comes available in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models, while the Note 3 is a simple proposition with either 32GB or 64GB of on-board storage on offer. Hardcore content collectors will be pleased That the option of expanding the device’s capacity via a microSD card slot is available on both devices. The Note 3 offers 3GB of RAM, a boost on the 2GB memory packed by its predecessor.
Camera
In line with the current trend for high-end devices, the Note 3 boasts a 13-megapixel primary camera, an upgrade on the Galaxy Note 2′s 8-megapixel rear shooter. On the front, the Note 3 sports a 2-megapixel camera, while the Note 2 comes with a 1.9-megapixel snapper auxiliary. The real talking point for many, though, Is that the Galaxy Note 3 ice Capable of shooting 4K video at 30fps and offers Full HD video recording at 60fps – the older device isn’ta compatible with 4K and grabs 1080p at 30fps.
Connectivity and Wireless
Note 3 and Note 2 alike support the 4G LTE standard, and what’s more UK phone geeks now actually have a good range of networks to choose from, with O2 and Vodafone having recently joined EE at the 4G party and Three lining up to gatecrash into December. For more on what’s available, check out our guide to the best 4G LTE in the UK. Elsewhere, the Note 3 and Note 2 both come equipped with NFC technology, though neither can charge up wirelessly.
Software
In the Galaxy Note range, the Android platform has one of its biggest sellers and brightest stars. The Note 3 will ship with Android 4.3 as augmented by the Samsung TouchWiz skin Optimised for the S Pen stylus through Air Command. The Note 2 ships with an older version of Android, 4.1 Jelly Bean, though it’s thought That it May skip version 4.2 and jump straight to Jelly Bean 4.3 in the not-too-distant future.
Extras
The Galaxy Note 3 and Note 2 both come with Samsung’s S Pen stylus, a note taking, annotating, drawing, and general productivity tool thatmany find useful.
Price, availability and opinion
Having now been unveiled in a grand fashion at IFA, the Galaxy Note 3 is expected to start arriving on UK shelves at the end of September – 27 September has been mooted but Samsung has yet to confirm UK availability. The 32GB Galaxy Note 3 Currently carries a £ 600 SIM-free pre-order price via Unlocked Mobiles but, again, this is Potentially speculative. Having broken cover at the same event last year, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is now Widely available and can generate literally be had for under £ 400 SIM-free – Handtec Currently offers the 16GB version for £ 330.
If the Galaxy Note is your weapon of choice, there’s little chance you will not want to get your paws on the latest and great model, Which is better built, more powerful, offers an improved camera, and benefits from a full HD display, plus the addition of new TouchWiz features. That said, it looks like it’s going to cost you a pretty penny and pricing is likely to remainings comfortably in excess of £ 500 for the foreseeable future.
The Note 3 is almost certainly the better device, but does the Note 2 actually offering better value? It depends on your Priorities but, if you’re prepared to wait a few weeks, you May FindThatBand its price drops Further even now it has been usurped at the top of Samsung’s phablet tree. We’re definitely taken by the Galaxy Note 3, but the Note 2 remains a compelling proposition.
| Samsung Galaxy Note LTE 3 | Samsung Galaxy Note LTE 2 | |
| Display | ||
| Screen size | 5.7in | 5.5in |
| Resolution | 1.920 x 1.080 pixels | 1,280 x 720 pixels |
| Pixel density | 386ppi | 267ppi |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| CPU and battery | ||
| Family | Snapdragon 800 | Samsung Exynos 4412 |
| CPU | Krait 400 | Cortex-A9 |
| Cores | Quad-core | Quad-core |
| Clock speed | 2.3GHz | 1.6GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 330 | Mali-400MP |
| Battery | 3,200 mAh | 3,100 mAh |
| Claimed 3G talk time | TBC | Up to 16 hours |
| Storage and Memory | ||
| RAM | 3GB | 2GB |
| Internal storage | 32GB / 64GB | 16GB / 32GB / 64GB |
| microSD | Yes | Yes |
| Camera | ||
| Rear | 13-megapixel | 8-megapixel |
| Video | 1080p @ 60fps; 4K video @ 30fps | 1080p @ 30fps |
| Front | 2-megapixel | 1.9-megapixel |
| Wireless | ||
| Standard | 4G LTE | 4G LTE |
| Wi-Fi | 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac | 802.11 a / b / g / n |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Bluetooth | v4.0 | v4.0 |
| Integrated wireless charging | No. | No. |
| Dimensions | ||
| Size | 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3mm | 151 x 80.5 x 9.4mm |
| Weight | 168g | 183g |
| Operating System | Android 4.3 Jelly w / TouchWiz | Android 4.2 Jelly Bean w / TouchWiz |
| Price (SIM-free) | £ 600 (speculative) | £ 550 |
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