Samsung Galaxy Note II Review
0. phoneArena posted on 24 Sep 2012, 08:40
The GALAXY Note carved a brand new niche for itself, and more than 10 million units have been sold so far. Now we have its successor, the Note II, which transitions the Note family feel from the I’m-with-dork to an oversized-Galaxy-S-III-with-stylus impression. It also ups the ante with a much more ergonomic S Pen stylus that learned new tricks, a larger 5.5” screen in a thinner, narrower body, die-shrunk quad-core processor, and 2GB of RAM. Are there other improvements in store? Read on our review to find out...
This is a discussion for a review. To read the whole review, click here
69. hung2900 posted on 24 Sep 2012, 13:23 6 1
Premium materials with iDents and iChips, blazing fast processor but still behind Note2, nice screen with high ppi but still too small and an optimized OS with the lacks of a lot features, superior iLost.
22. xfire99 posted on 24 Sep 2012, 09:47 8 0
I should never read a review on Note 2. I love mine Note, was not going to get Note 2 and after this review.
+ Better battery life.
+ Better and louder sound.
+ Better screen.
+ Better camera.
Now I do want to upgrade mine Note to Note 2. But gonna wait until it drops in price first and Im not in hurry to upgrade. Still love mine Note.
26. infernal88 posted on 24 Sep 2012, 09:58 3 0
+ twice as fast
+ more S pen apps " but i think it is already ported to note I "
23. Nathan_ingx posted on 24 Sep 2012, 09:47 4 0
I really have to give it for Samsung this time...excellent phone, looks as well as the hardware in the hood. I was skeptical at first when i heard about the Note 2...but this is just plain awesome. I like how is has became narrower, it looks like the SIII but only bigger.
The physical home key, is what i don't like in Samsung but this here, down in the Note 2, is cute...like it.
Daniel, i like this review. Fair, detailed and informative. Not really a fan of Samsung, but i'm beginning to like it...:D
24. Quezdagreat posted on 24 Sep 2012, 09:50 2 3
And they say apple phones looks the same. Looks exactly like the s3
27. speckledapple posted on 24 Sep 2012, 10:04 3 0
This is my new device come November. Getting the 64GB version and pair that with a 64GB microSDXC card.
29. g2a5b0e posted on 24 Sep 2012, 10:13 1 0
I seriously doubt the 64GB version will make it to our shores. The 64GB version of the S3 didn't make it here & it's the more popular phone. Either way, this is the one to get.
30. TheCellX posted on 24 Sep 2012, 10:21 4 0
I will buy bigger pants to carry my Note II... my next phone.
32. Volcomguy51 posted on 24 Sep 2012, 10:27 2 1
Might get this than the S3, so many good choices. Hope Apple doesn't sue for making a phablet then buy a house for another thief. This is why Apple is so corrupt. Go Samsung and go Android!
33. papss posted on 24 Sep 2012, 10:29 0 0
Anyone heard the price of this beast with contract? Im pretty set on the L920 but this is one fine phone
36. -box- posted on 24 Sep 2012, 10:39 0 0
Lumia 920 is almost certainly going to be cheaper, probably $100-200 on contract; when the original Note hit it was $299.99 on contract
44. darac posted on 24 Sep 2012, 11:22 4 0
Actually the score should be higher than 9.
The one gripe they came up with is as minor as can be.
Fantastic device, probably the best handset produced to date.
Should be really awesome drawing and creativity tool also
52. remixfa posted on 24 Sep 2012, 12:03 0 0
Daniel,
Question: On the radios you said its 100mb/s LTE and 21HSPA. Are you sure that's not 42+HSPA? Tmo will have a hissy fit if its not 42+.. and it would be a bit odd at this point in the game anyways.
Also, any word on if all GSM versions are going to be built using the same LTE/HSPA+ chips with pentaband compatibility like the Nexus? That would just be sweet.
If I can get past the massive size of this thing, it may just be my next phone unless one of the new Nexus devices come close. Bout time we get the good hardware in America again.
68. Daniel.P posted on 24 Sep 2012, 13:18 1 0
Samsung has the global version as 21Mbps -http://www.samsung.com/global/
microsite/galaxynote/note2/spe - but in the New York unveiling it confirmed the US versions will be "optimized for the fastest 4G LTE and HSPA+ 42 networks..."c.html?type=find
71. remixfa posted on 24 Sep 2012, 13:46 1 0
sweet. I guess that means its probably not pentaband then if they have a version for the US and for everyone else. You'd think that would be more common by now.
61. jibraihimi posted on 24 Sep 2012, 12:39 1 1
Has Samsung Galaxy Note 2 released in any country................???? According to my knowledge it hasn't been released anywhere. So Phonearena basically you're reviewing pre-release unit, so instead of calling it Review, you guys should have called it 'detailed preview', and then make changes to your detailed preview when the device finally lands for general consumption. I hope that when you will review Release build of Note 2, then you will get better benchmark score, and above all experience will be much better, which can help thi phablet get 9.5............. Any ways still, the review/preview was good.....
62. jibraihimi posted on 24 Sep 2012, 12:47 0 0
"There is a choice of 3D views in the Gallery app - Timeline makes the pictures march towards you in an increasing order chronologically, and the Spiral View is suspiciously like the spiraling Gallery we saw prepped for Samsung’s Tizen OS."
While looking at the picture of gallery with 3D view, I was thinking same, that Spiral view looks very much similar to Spiral view of Tizen which leaked out few months ago. I think now that what we saw in that leak was the leak for Note 2, or maybe samsung might be unifying the UI experience in tizen to the touchwiz UI on it's android smartphones; this looks more plausible as they did same with Bada OS...........
63. remixfa posted on 24 Sep 2012, 13:04 1 0
touchwiz and Tizen are basically the same thing as far as looks go. Samsung keeps both Tizen and its android overlay looking very similar that way in case Apple wins and android collapses, they can just pop out a dozen Tizen based smart phones that look exactly like their android ones. Most people would gravitate right to it because of familiarity to the look. It's a smart business decision.
64. Rayzin posted on 24 Sep 2012, 13:09 0 0
I can't wait to hold this phone in my hands. I'll probably use up all that battery life just staring and admiring it all day at work :)
74. saiki4116 posted on 24 Sep 2012, 13:51 3 1
lol what an irony....iphone 5 and note II rated same...iphone 5 with it's easily scratchable aluminium back and apps that cannot scale properly to the increased screen and maps that get you lost and without innovative and productive features like Airview,smart stay..,etc(another irony is that apple are bragging about the newly introduced panorama mode which has been present in the some of the feature phones of Samsung)....
79. bigstrudel posted on 24 Sep 2012, 15:51 2 4
Glossy cheap plastic is still and always will be a deal breaker for me. If it's more than 500 bucks than there is no excuse for using anything but metal and premium textured polycarbonate.
81. remixfa posted on 24 Sep 2012, 15:56 2 0
you do realize that samsung uses polycarbonate right? if its glossy or textured, it does not change what it's made out of...lolol
99. bigstrudel posted on 24 Sep 2012, 23:53 1 1
Yeah but it completely changes the feel and how easily it scratches. It feels like its made from plasic cups.
83. driveme posted on 24 Sep 2012, 16:09 1 0
It went like this, Honey do you like my S3, good, I want you to have the best so why don't you take it and will wait for a month or so and maybe something I like will come out. Note 2 I'M all yours.
88. pandambaba posted on 24 Sep 2012, 17:45 0 0
i'm curious to know when samsung will put a limit on screen sizes for their phones. pretty soon they are going to go from phablets to full blown mini tablets.
91. sammyfan posted on 24 Sep 2012, 20:11 2 1
The Price of Galaxy s3 is now 33K and Note is 28K and s2 is 24K, so we have a broad range of best smartphones.. and apple iphone 4 34K, 4S 42K and 5 (50K
94. aoikemono27 posted on 24 Sep 2012, 20:43 2 1
They kept the same crappy plastic body of the GS3. I have a hard enough time feeling comfortable holding the GS3 with that body. The Note II is a no go. I actually own the original Note and every time I use it, all I can think about is how cheap it feels. The flimy back is squeaking since one of the corners doesn't snap on properly, and the chrome trim has already gotten scuff marks since it scratches so easily. The GS3 build is even cheaper than the GS2/Note build, so I can only imagine how horrible the Note II will feel.
97. tiara6918 posted on 24 Sep 2012, 21:35 1 0
Best Smartphone by Samsung! I just wish they used a different back panel so it could be more comfortable to hold but nevertheless, everything that this phone has to offer is simply amazing!
104. ddeath posted on 25 Sep 2012, 08:57 0 0
Yeah man! Fantastic phone. Anyway, most of us will use a case so the back isn't too big a deal. :)
98. fanboy1974 posted on 24 Sep 2012, 22:11 4 0
iPhone 5 = X-Wing
Samsung Note 2 = Imperial Star Destroyer
End of review
110. juvane posted on 26 Sep 2012, 19:35 0 0
Day one purchase for me!....is At&t getting it first or what?
112. abrinson posted on 27 Sep 2012, 18:50 0 0
Is it possible to adjust the icon size so you get 5 app shortcuts across the screen like on the original Note? That is one of my favorite features, actually using the real estate the screen provides. Otherwise it's just a big screen with big icons.
113. fineazzpc posted on 28 Sep 2012, 08:53 2 0
When is the Note 2 coming to US? Got to have it! Sorry HTC, been with HTC for over 8 yrs!!!
129. yajia1 posted on 22 Nov 2012, 02:46 0 0
I can't even imagine how horrible that can be. Been with them for 3yrs. I was always afraid to get my phone from my pocket and turn the screen on because the battery would drip and not last for a day! Blinded by brand loyalty no more, I ditched my last HTC, the OneX, bought this beast. Lasts 3 days with 12hours screen-on time. Couldn't be happier. Gone are the horrible battery life days.
114. GrosseFatigue posted on 29 Sep 2012, 07:16 3 0
They rated the Note II below the S3. It is in fact better in every way, it is better than the iphone 5. Apple has peaked. Soon Samsung will bring to the US a two Sim cards Note II and Apple will be left in the dust.
117. techviral (banned) posted on 04 Oct 2012, 23:59 1 0
Read latest review about samsung galaxy note II here
http://www.techviral.com/gadgets/samsung-galaxy-note-2-review/
it covers all the main features of note II and also software and hardware specification.
118. avinashmunnu posted on 05 Oct 2012, 10:01 2 0
http://blog.gsmarena.com/samsu
ng-galaxy-note-ii-battery-life-test-is-complete-here-are-the-results/
Click The Above Link See the Results Of SGN2 Battery
That Was Freaking Aswome
121. JohnnyCageisagirl posted on 06 Oct 2012, 05:37 0 0
I own a note 2 and the audio and noice cancellation was pretty good
122. someones4 posted on 06 Oct 2012, 08:26 0 0
The day when samsung is able to sell 1 mil phones in a day signifies the end of apple.
123. nexusrocks posted on 06 Oct 2012, 08:58 0 0
I really like phone arena. Just discovering the site. Will be a regular reader. I will definitely try this out at gizmotakeout or rentacell. The size does concern me
126. TonyStark posted on 10 Oct 2012, 02:29 1 0
Why not 10?
Ah, I see. No bitten apple on ts back.
127. g2a5b0e posted on 10 Oct 2012, 06:31 0 0
People say such stupid stuff on this site...name the last Apple phone that got a 10 from PhoneArena. In fact, name any Apple product that's ever reveived above a 9. Good luck with that.
130. yajia1 posted on 22 Nov 2012, 02:49 0 0
The fact that it scores a 9 is more than enough proof. 9 for that crap? LOL.
131. GrosseFatigue posted on 22 Nov 2012, 07:48 0 0
Listen it should rate more than 9, more than the iphone, more than the Nexus, more than the new htc, still too small with a 5" screen to surf the net and read the newspapers. It is the best "cell phone". It is nearly flawless and next year it will have a 1080p screen. I have no intention of carrying a tablet around.
132. JuanitaAlfonzo posted on 01 Dec 2012, 23:10 0 0
My biggest fear in holding a phone this big and heavy is dropping in the sinks at my hair salon in Atlanta. I carry it everywhere! Since we got the 4GLTE here in Austin, I've been tempted to get this with AT&T; taking notes would be great. But I've heard HTC phones are great around water.
133. johnriii posted on 27 Dec 2012, 14:20 0 0
I hadn't even considered the note 2 until I actually held one. didn't know anything about the specs, nothing. now, 7 months can't go by fast enough until I upgrade to this beautiful beastly piece of technology. Razr maxx HD was on my radar, but now...I can barely even look at it! the only thing that would change my mind is the S4, which should have the same basic specs, in a smaller package.
134. koiboy posted on 01 Apr 2013, 11:36 0 0
This phone has to be without a doubt the most un-user friendly phone on the market. We are on our 3rd one (returned the other two) as they could not be set up. Had dozens of experts try to set it up and no one has been able to do so. Wish we would have bought a BlackBerry but we wanted the big screen of a Samsung.
135. johnriii posted on 02 Apr 2013, 13:08 0 0
sorry to hear that. I played with one in the verizon store a few days ago, and had no problem whatsoever getting into settings, changing homescreens, etc. apparently it's not a common issue, seeing that this is one of the top selling phones out there, but I hope you can get it set up soon.
