I'm a Galaxy Note user who has had the note since September of 2011. When the Note 2 came out I decided to skip it because I didn't think it was that worthy of an upgrade. So the Note has been my primary device for almost 2 years.
My Note was getting slow and generally couldn't keep up with what I was trying to do (Screen recording, Multiple apps running without closing, running out of RAM...etc) Like you, I discovered the Mega 6.3 and began reading up on it and watching video reviews online. My initial worry was that it wouldn't be as fast as the current flagships and that I'd regret buying a device with last years specs.
My reasoning to go ahead an purchase the Mega was based on the fact that to me it would feel like an upgrade since I was coming from my old Note.
After using the Mega all my fears of it being underpowered and slow were gone. The device has a large bright crisp LCD display which I can now see clearly in daylight! The 1.5 GB RAM is handling my multitasking very well as I've yet seen a launcher redraw occur. The device is very snappy and has had no issues playing large MKV files. One of the coolest features that I was excited about was the IR port. Now you can control all your living room devices with your phone. Camera is on par with the Note which is no slouch even after 2 years.
The big win with this phone is the sheer amount of real estate you get. The original Note fits within the Mega 6.3's display area. You aren't just getting a phone when you get a Mega 6.3 you are also getting a small tablet. This device is a true Phablet. While the Note 1 and 2 were big devices the Mega elevates the browsing and media viewing experience to a true tablet level experience. If this is what you are interested in then I highly recommend you pickup this device. So to recap, this device has a great display, versatile form factor, decent camera and great performance.
If you are trying to win the antutu, quadrant wars then I suggest you stay away from the Mega as the S4 is the current flagship which is putting up crazy benchmark numbers.
If you are looking for a large crisp display with last years flagship specs then the Mega 6.3 is your device. The only thing holding you back from this purchase is whether you want to wait for the Note 3 which will have the S-Pen and a 1080P display. The Mega 6.3 I picked up was sub $440. The note 3 will start at low $700's most likely.
My Mega 6.3 is running on AT&T HSPA
I've attached some camera samples
Repost
inurb said:
I'm a Galaxy Note user who has had the note since September of 2011. When the Note 2 came out I decided to skip it because I didn't think it was that worthy of an upgrade. So the Note has been my primary device for almost 2 years.
My Note was getting slow and generally couldn't keep up with what I was trying to do (Screen recording, Multiple apps running without closing, running out of RAM...etc) Like you, I discovered the Mega 6.3 and began reading up on it and watching video reviews online. My initial worry was that it wouldn't be as fast as the current flagships and that I'd regret buying a device with last years specs.
My reasoning to go ahead an purchase the Mega was based on the fact that to me it would feel like an upgrade since I was coming from my old Note.
After using the Mega all my fears of it being underpowered and slow were gone. The device has a large bright crisp LCD display which I can now see clearly in daylight! The 1.5 GB RAM is handling my multitasking very well as I've yet seen a launcher redraw occur. The device is very snappy and has had no issues playing large MKV files. One of the coolest features that I was excited about was the IR port. Now you can control all your living room devices with your phone. Camera is on par with the Note which is no slouch even after 2 years.
The big win with this phone is the sheer amount of real estate you get. The original Note fits within the Mega 6.3's display area. You aren't just getting a phone when you get a Mega 6.3 you are also getting a small tablet. This device is a true Phablet. While the Note 1 and 2 were big devices the Mega elevates the browsing and media viewing experience to a true tablet level experience. If this is what you are interested in then I highly recommend you pickup this device. So to recap, this device has a great display, versatile form factor, decent camera and great performance.
If you are trying to win the antutu, quadrant wars then I suggest you stay away from the Mega as the S4 is the current flagship which is putting up crazy benchmark numbers.
If you are looking for a large crisp display with last years flagship specs then the Mega 6.3 is your device. The only thing holding you back from this purchase is whether you want to wait for the Note 3 which will have the S-Pen and a 1080P display. The Mega 6.3 I picked up was sub $440. The note 3 will start at low $700's most likely.
My Mega 6.3 is running on AT&T HSPA
I've attached some camera samples
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too came from the original Note and skipped Note 2 because the screen became narrower and the resolution was lower. The main reason I got the Note was that it has the biggest display phablet and not because of the S pen which lost it's appeal after a week. The downside of the Note was the screen issues like black crush (blacks artefacts) on videos, yellowish/bluish whites, black spots on dark backgrounds, and short lifespan/noticeable degrading screen quality overtime due to the pentile AMOLED screen.
Fortunately, the Mega does not exhibit any of the Note's screen problems plus it's brighter and has more accurate colour reproduction. The sheer increase in size and the increase legibility setting is heaven for my crappy eyesight when reading text and browsing the web. It's not perfect though, the super clear LCD shows ripples in places when tapped too hard. I thought it was just me but I have tried ones on display at a phone shop and they too have it.
The Note lasted with me longer than my previous phones because smaller screens did not interest me even if they had better specs. Benchmarks don't impress me much because in actual daily use the Note was smooth and I was using tweaked ROMs. I wanted the biggest possible screen in my pocket to take with me as my main device and the Mega delivers. Playing games is a joy as my fingers don't dominate the screen and the weight/size is more manageable than my Nexus 7 on long hours of use specially at night when I usually hit my face with it while dozing off to sleep.
I personally like Samsung's design language which focuses on function. I like the off screen buttons which let's me enjoy the full screen with little wasted bezel space. I like the plastic body that doesn't block GSM/3G/4G/GPS signals and more scratch proof than metal. I also like the removable battery and SD card slot. Unless other manufacturers have these qualities I will stick to Samsung phones. The only phone I am waiting for now is a high end Mega 2, hopefully with a bigger screen (6.5 @ 1080p maybe?) in a same sized body (less to zero bezel) with better camera (optical stabilisation + better lens), better specs (quad core + latest GPU), front/side facing stereo speakers, and a bigger battery (4000mah or more).
I also attached unedited camera samples direct from my Mega 6.3.
a very good summary in these two posts! gx3k, you've described my wishes exactly about the Mega 2 specs. The only correction i would make is probably a next gen dual core with a more powerful architecture (A15?), smaller manufacturing process (consumes less power) and higher clock speed. Although a quad core would be fine to, if we could disable/enable the extra cores when we need them. Sounds nice
I am a note 1 user and I dismissed the Mega as a mid-range phone. However when I stepped into the Samsung Shop and saw the Mega the only think that held me back from making a purchase was the screen resolution, I am sure that the Note 3 will have a higher resolution, and the lack of S-pen I do love my S-pen. Otherwise I think the Mega is a surprisingly nic piece of Kit and I found the size quite okay to deal with.
darthmaul40 said:
I am a note 1 user and I dismissed the Mega as a mid-range phone. However when I stepped into the Samsung Shop and saw the Mega the only think that held me back from making a purchase was the screen resolution, I am sure that the Note 3 will have a higher resolution, and the lack of S-pen I do love my S-pen. Otherwise I think the Mega is a surprisingly nic piece of Kit and I found the size quite okay to deal with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was that one of the new Samsung Experience Shops that they have been advertising recently? I might stop by a Best Buy if there is one up and running around me so I can check out the Mega 6.3. My gut feeling is that I would prefer the Note III, but my problem has always been being impatient, and the next Note is so far away.
inurb said:
I'm a Galaxy Note user who has had the note since September of 2011. When the Note 2 came out I decided to skip it because I didn't think it was that worthy of an upgrade. So the Note has been my primary device for almost 2 years.
My Note was getting slow and generally couldn't keep up with what I was trying to do (Screen recording, Multiple apps running without closing, running out of RAM...etc) Like you, I discovered the Mega 6.3 and began reading up on it and watching video reviews online. My initial worry was that it wouldn't be as fast as the current flagships and that I'd regret buying a device with last years specs.
My reasoning to go ahead an purchase the Mega was based on the fact that to me it would feel like an upgrade since I was coming from my old Note.
After using the Mega all my fears of it being underpowered and slow were gone. The device has a large bright crisp LCD display which I can now see clearly in daylight! The 1.5 GB RAM is handling my multitasking very well as I've yet seen a launcher redraw occur. The device is very snappy and has had no issues playing large MKV files. One of the coolest features that I was excited about was the IR port. Now you can control all your living room devices with your phone. Camera is on par with the Note which is no slouch even after 2 years.
The big win with this phone is the sheer amount of real estate you get. The original Note fits within the Mega 6.3's display area. You aren't just getting a phone when you get a Mega 6.3 you are also getting a small tablet. This device is a true Phablet. While the Note 1 and 2 were big devices the Mega elevates the browsing and media viewing experience to a true tablet level experience. If this is what you are interested in then I highly recommend you pickup this device. So to recap, this device has a great display, versatile form factor, decent camera and great performance.
If you are trying to win the antutu, quadrant wars then I suggest you stay away from the Mega as the S4 is the current flagship which is putting up crazy benchmark numbers.
If you are looking for a large crisp display with last years flagship specs then the Mega 6.3 is your device. The only thing holding you back from this purchase is whether you want to wait for the Note 3 which will have the S-Pen and a 1080P display. The Mega 6.3 I picked up was sub $440. The note 3 will start at low $700's most likely.
My Mega 6.3 is running on AT&T HSPA
I've attached some camera samples
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With regards to the IR, how do you use/activate it? I simply cannot get it to work.
Geminik said:
With regards to the IR, how do you use/activate it? I simply cannot get it to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use the WatchOn app. It will guide you to set the remote (tap icon on upper right corner).
I have a feeling that samsung won't make the note 3 as large as the mega 6..3
after using the Mega I think it's a perfect size and don't think mobiles should go any larger. If the note 3 isn't the same size as the mega 6..3 then I won't get it. I think mega will be Samsung's new Phablet line whereas the note line will no longer be just about screen size anymore. I think they are going to focus on s pen functionality and features. You'll probably see a flagship spec mega sooner rather than later.
I think that is what samsung is up to.
inurb said:
I have a feeling that samsung won't make the note 3 as large as the mega 6..3
after using the Mega I think it's a perfect size and don't think mobiles should go any larger. If the note 3 isn't the same size as the mega 6..3 then I won't get it. I think mega will be Samsung's new Phablet line whereas the note line will no longer be just about screen size anymore. I think they are going to focus on s pen functionality and features. You'll probably see a flagship spec mega sooner rather than later.
I think that is what samsung is up to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reports indicate that the Note 3 will have 5.7" screen in more or less the same body. I agree that the Mega's size is probably the biggest they can get for pocketability and I'm sure Samsung can squeeze in a 6.5" screen on the same body. I don't care much about the S pen and phones smaller than 6.3" doesn't excite me now. Galaxy Mega 6.5 for 2014 is my next phone
I have used my Note 1 since October 2011 and I just bought the Mega 5.8 Duos - taking 2 SIM cards. So far, it is great. The only reason I may buy the Note 3 is if it has dual SIM as well. For me, the S-Pen is a key productivity tool with apps like SIGNificant, as I now hardly sign work documents on paper. My staff send me documents that need my signature as .pdf files and I just sign with the S-Pen!
Related
My Skyrocket finally died so tomorrow Im getting a new phone. I'm leaning toward the Note, but also thinking about the S3. I think you Note owners could clue me in. Thanks
Well ...
The answers here will likely sway toward the note ...and the S3 has it's fair share of issues ...(they all do )
And having no use of the S3 under my belt...I'll say this ..
Samsung built a good device here. Not great, but good. And I like it's ability to take punishment in the flashing sense.
This note is arguably unbrickable, and the phone just works.
It's not dense, it's not a powerhouse , and it's not the fastest thing on the street. But then we get to the BIG BEAUTIFUL SCREEN !!!
Sammy did good here, with the strong resolution, and gorilla 2 cover, it's a thing of beauty to look at .
All glass, all the time. And not a better view to be had at the moment. Even the note 2 won't look this good ..(fact )
So if you want a very capable , flashable device, that functions well on it's current platform ...then note 1 is it.
It's a proven device with a quality chipset, and can handle pretty much anything you can throw at it.
My only complaints are these:
No built in notification LED, and a small battery.
But honestly, a BLN app solves the first, and with the bigger battery and cover ....it's simply a surfing, movie watching, and music playing beast ...
Now get off the internet, and go buy one ...LOL
Edit: I forgot to mention the great development base, and the abundance of custom software for the note..
If you go S3 ...you'll wait a while for this level of support.
Yes I'm bias, because I know how well the note runs...(using Flappjaxxx. IMM76D UCLF6 build #5)(shameless plug for an awesome developer)
Damn nice ...g
Had a chance to play with both:
S3 is significantly faster (e.g. web browsing) and lighter. The screen seemed a bit brighter/sharper too. It can be bought with 32/64GB builtin space, before adding an extra 64GB card. Has the novetly/wow factor.
Note is best at horizontal resolution (800 vs. 720, a feat not even matched by the new Note II), and obviously screen size, and these make it most suitable for office use, web surfing and videos. S-pen comes handy for precision operations, and the hover cursor icon feels reassuring for heavy computer users. Harder to use with a single hand, if you don't have big hands. It has an extra Search button, which I find useful.
TL;DR
If you need a great tablet/computer replacement without the extra bulk, get the Note.
If you do a lot of real-time social stuff on-the-fly (e.g. Instagram), get the S3 (more nimble/agile/speedy when fractions of a second matter).
I would say get a bunk phone and wait til the galaxy note 2 comes out. It was already announced and looking at the comparison reviews the note 2 will be a lot faster and with a wider screen. Plus the 64gb capacity. I love my Note but why buy it when you can wait a little while and be set? The note 2 looks like it would be worth the wait.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
Note 2 has a taller screen, but it's _narrower_ than Note, in spite of the slightly larger diagonal (due to the different aspect ratio):
The Note screen is 2.8 inches wide (800 pixels).
The Note 2 screen is 2.7 inches wide (720 pixels).
Galaxy Note II has a much better screen than Note I.
It has a new sub pixel arrangement that enhances the color representation and offers more clarity than the original Note.
Also, the new resolution better supports movie viewing experience by offering less black area as it fits the HD movie fully to the screen.
See the preview from GSMArena on this feature. http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_ii_n7100-review-806p2.php
I'm trying to decide if price is playing a huge factor between these two phones. I will also do another post in the Verizon Note 2 forum and see if adding a sd card slot and removable battery to the DNA would get people to change their minds.
I much prefer HTC over Samsung. IMHO, everything from the radios to build quality is better. Having said that, if I hadn't liked what HTC came out with this fall, I would have bought a GS3.
For me it comes down to storage, the Droid DNA only has a 16gb model and no Micro SD, it writes the device off no matter how good it is.
If it had a Micro SD slot at least then both devices are pretty much equal and it all comes down to which one you like the look of and if an extra 0.5 inch matters to you in a screen. Tbh nothing makes the GN2 stutter so I don't care about specs at this point, though the Droid DNA is more powerful on paper. Cameras are about the same, speakers are the same, mics are the same. I personally prefer TouchWiz, Samsung add so many good features standard Android doesn't have and I feel like everyone is playing catch up to Samsung. I mean the Pen has great features like being able to pull it out mid call and write a phone number down, which is a feature I've always wanted, it makes it so seamless. I love the Picture in Picture TouchWiz has and I love the multiple Windows you can have open in the GN2.
You ain't gonna complain with either device tbh...
GN2 has a removable battery, 0.5 inch extra screen size, pen, large storage + Micro SD
Droid DNA has the latest specs but only 16GB and no Micro SD
Really when it comes to screen quality, you wont complain with either, I don't buy into the PPI hype, you don't notice any difference above 250PPI when held from a normal distance.
I would go for note 2 because of the battery... DNA lasts for just 5 hrs
Sent from my GT-I9001 using xda premium
I would still get the DNA: Not a fan of SAmoled screens, Note II would be too large, love HTCs phones and Sense.
yajur1995 said:
I would go for note 2 because of the battery... DNA lasts for just 5 hrs
Sent from my GT-I9001 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not completely true. It depends on usage.
Playing 5 hours straight or 1080p video will definitely kill the battery. But then again that's 5 hours of 1080p video, can't complain there.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using xda premium
I vote Note 2.
The S-pen on the Note 2 is incredibly useful compared to the Note 1.
The Note 2 has true multi-window multitasking, you can watch a video, open up the browser and surf the web while looking at photos in the gallery. All on the same screen. It's actually quite awesome the first time you use it.
Note 2 has flash support in the browser.
The battery life on he Note 2 is hailed as probably the best in the business, lasts about twice as long as the DNA on a single charge.
removable battery is a plus on the Note 2 also.
expandable storage is another great feature of the Note 2. Slap in a 64GB card and you got 80GB of combined storage.
The screen on the Note 2 is quite beautiful, it is non-pentile so it is extra sharp and clear. Honestly I don't think you will be able to tell much difference between the two screens when using it day to day. Like someone said, it's hard to tell after 250ppi.
The Note 2's resolution should be much more compatible with more apps and games in the playstore. The 1080p on the DNA already has issues running many apps and games according to a few reviewers.
The DNA has a bettery cpu/gpu combo but it's pushing a lot more pixels, so I think that any performance advantage is cancelled out.
So it seems like the Note 2 is the much better device.
Everything is awesome about DNA except the battery. I'm a hardcore user i play lots of games. I don't understand HTC.. they didn't learn anything from One X. On the other hand Note 2 is very good but i don't like the Exynos cpu and 267 ppi pixel density is too low. So folks please help me what to choose. I'm driving myself insane.
This is the way I see it. Both phones doing extremely well on benchmarks so I wont comment about speed.
Note II Pros:
- Spen
- Multiwindow
- Battery life + removable
- MicroSD
- Bigger screen
- Available on all carriers
Note II Cons:
- too big, not comfy to hold
- looks ridiculous when held up for phone calls
- slippery plastic build quality
- amoled screen
- cell radio
DNA Pros:
- build quality
- excellent size, same width as SGS3 so its easy to hold
- 1080p screen + SLCD3
- wide angle front camera (pics with wife + video chat, very useful to me)
- best camera software
- waterproof rating is good (i've dropped 2 phones in the water)
DNA Cons:
- no microsd
- 16gb internal storage
- sense + verizon bloat (can both be fixed by roms and disabling)
- Verizon exclusive, works on some other GSM but no HSPA+ afaik
- battery not removable
For me personally I choose DNA. I've decided that the 16gb will do just fine for me since my current phone only has 8gb and is barely full. The rest of the Cons don't bother me at all as everything software side can be customized or fixed through roms. The battery is more than sufficient, especially if its better than SGS3 battery which most reviews seem to be saying.
The Note II is a great phone but the build quality, size, slippery feel and cell radio are things that cannot be changed. I sure as hell would not add a case to make it even bigger. I also would feel like an idiot holding that thing up to my face. Just my opinion though, I'm sure its a great phone for the right person, Lebron James.
Well its difficult to compare a phone and a phablet. Since DNA is almost the same size as S3 it would be like comparing S3 with Note 2.
That said. I dont know but everyone misses out on the Beats functionality in DNA. I have tried One X in ATT with beats headphones and my Nexus with beats head phones and for me the difference was huge.
DNA all the way for me. I've always been a fan of HTC, mainly because of their higher build quality and better radios. In this case, the screen is also better than the Note II, and for me that's among the most important pieces of the puzzle, since that's what you look at and poke with your fingers.
Guys you might want to see this: http://www.starkinsider.com/2012/11/oh-no-htc-droid-dna-battery-lasts-only-425-hours-in-test.html
Vadrieldur said:
Guys you might want to see this: http://www.starkinsider.com/2012/11/oh-no-htc-droid-dna-battery-lasts-only-425-hours-in-test.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is nothing new, he was going off the info from The Verge's review. Doing that same test the SGS3 got around 20min LESS than the DNA.
pottersam said:
This is the way I see it. Both phones doing extremely well on benchmarks so I wont comment about speed.
Note II Pros:
- Spen
- Multiwindow
- Battery life + removable
- MicroSD
- Bigger screen
- Available on all carriers
Note II Cons:
- too big, not comfy to hold
- looks ridiculous when held up for phone calls
- slippery plastic build quality
- amoled screen
- cell radio
DNA Pros:
- build quality
- excellent size, same width as SGS3 so its easy to hold
- 1080p screen + SLCD3
- wide angle front camera (pics with wife + video chat, very useful to me)
- best camera software
- waterproof rating is good (i've dropped 2 phones in the water)
DNA Cons:
- no microsd
- 16gb internal storage
- sense + verizon bloat (can both be fixed by roms and disabling)
- Verizon exclusive, works on some other GSM but no HSPA+ afaik
- battery not removable
For me personally I choose DNA. I've decided that the 16gb will do just fine for me since my current phone only has 8gb and is barely full. The rest of the Cons don't bother me at all as everything software side can be customized or fixed through roms. The battery is more than sufficient, especially if its better than SGS3 battery which most reviews seem to be saying.
The Note II is a great phone but the build quality, size, slippery feel and cell radio are things that cannot be changed. I sure as hell would not add a case to make it even bigger. I also would feel like an idiot holding that thing up to my face. Just my opinion though, I'm sure its a great phone for the right person, Lebron James.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to agree with you HTC's phones all have amazing build quality and that is a major factor for me when buying a phone, unfortunately I hate sense. The S-pen and multiwindow is what does it for me, as for screens I can't really say until I can test both of them, I honestly can't tell the difference between a retina display and my Droid Incredible's Amoled screen (unless I hold it within an uncomfortable range of my eyes).
pottersam said:
That is nothing new, he was going off the info from The Verge's review. Doing that same test the SGS3 got around 20min LESS than the DNA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a relief.. I'm sticking with DNA then.
pottersam said:
This is the way I see it. Both phones doing extremely well on benchmarks so I wont comment about speed.
Note II Pros:
- Spen
- Multiwindow
- Battery life + removable
- MicroSD
- Bigger screen
- Available on all carriers
Note II Cons:
- too big, not comfy to hold
- looks ridiculous when held up for phone calls
- slippery plastic build quality
- amoled screen
- cell radio
DNA Pros:
- build quality
- excellent size, same width as SGS3 so its easy to hold
- 1080p screen + SLCD3
- wide angle front camera (pics with wife + video chat, very useful to me)
- best camera software
- waterproof rating is good (i've dropped 2 phones in the water)
DNA Cons:
- no microsd
- 16gb internal storage
- sense + verizon bloat (can both be fixed by roms and disabling)
- Verizon exclusive, works on some other GSM but no HSPA+ afaik
- battery not removable
For me personally I choose DNA. I've decided that the 16gb will do just fine for me since my current phone only has 8gb and is barely full. The rest of the Cons don't bother me at all as everything software side can be customized or fixed through roms. The battery is more than sufficient, especially if its better than SGS3 battery which most reviews seem to be saying.
The Note II is a great phone but the build quality, size, slippery feel and cell radio are things that cannot be changed. I sure as hell would not add a case to make it even bigger. I also would feel like an idiot holding that thing up to my face. Just my opinion though, I'm sure its a great phone for the right person, Lebron James.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just how many of you who really used note 2? Many of the cons you listed are not valid.
Note II Cons:[/B]
- too big, not comfy to hold : now this is subjective call. But I rarely see note 2 user who complaint about the phone being too big after using it for a couple if days. Testing the phone on the store won't do it justice, unless you really hate big phone.
- looks ridiculous when held up for phone calls : since I used note 1 last year, there is only a few people who told me how big my phone is. Of course it will be different on each neighbourhood. But big phones are common nowadays. You won't be looked ridiculous when you use note 2 for phone calls. Using 7 inches tablet however is a different story
- slippery plastic build quality : I very much agree on this. But for me personally, I'd take removable battery and micro sd over superior build quality any day of the week
- amoled screen : past amoled screens have burn ins and black crush. not with note 2. Check the poll results in note 2 thread.
- cell radio : no comment on this. I don't have this problem
That said, I never used DNA yet. So I might change my mind when i get my hands in it.
Judging from the reviews, it looks to me that DNA is One X with superior speeds.
I got a Note 2 because Samsung's software advancements. Plus I sold my tablet, the multi tasking caught my eye. I hwen't used a Samsung phone since the first Epic. Touchwiz is smooth for once compared to sense.
I upgraded from a HTC One S, even-though Sense is elegant it does not have as many productive settings to make your life easier like the S 3 or Note 2 I Find myself doing less steps to complete simple task than I did with my One S. Like making a phone call. Zooming in and out with motion. Sure I look like a fool moving my phone around in the air but it is simple.
The AMOLED burn-in issue is what worries me the most about this phone.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2
Note 2 is a great phone and I have nothing against it, had it been 5 inches and same dimensions as dna I would hands down get it. It is just simply too big for my hands I have held one and I wanted to put it down right away.
Now people talking about htc sense, sense has come a long was from being a system hog, it is no longer the same sense it used to be and much more efficient.
Although HTC has absolutely failed when it comes to multitasking, I mean can we please have some features similar to samsung or even LG, seems like HTC has settled in on sense and focused more on hardware design totally forgot about innovation on software side. I hope they are working on improving their multitasking.
It seems like HTC is learning a lesson when it comes to updating sense. They used to never update the sense version on the older phones and you used to have to get new htc phones to get improvements of sense interface, but it seems that they have learned a lesson and all the one series are being updated to sense 4+, its about time they learned from samsung that you cant just update the OS version and leave the new sense version out because that really doesn't count towards a great user experience.
azhurvadal said:
Just how many of you who really used note 2? Many of the cons you listed are not valid.
Note II Cons:[/B]
- too big, not comfy to hold : now this is subjective call. But I rarely see note 2 user who complaint about the phone being too big after using it for a couple if days. Testing the phone on the store won't do it justice, unless you really hate big phone.
- looks ridiculous when held up for phone calls : since I used note 1 last year, there is only a few people who told me how big my phone is. Of course it will be different on each neighbourhood. But big phones are common nowadays. You won't be looked ridiculous when you use note 2 for phone calls. Using 7 inches tablet however is a different story
- slippery plastic build quality : I very much agree on this. But for me personally, I'd take removable battery and micro sd over superior build quality any day of the week
- amoled screen : past amoled screens have burn ins and black crush. not with note 2. Check the poll results in note 2 thread.
- cell radio : no comment on this. I don't have this problem
That said, I never used DNA yet. So I might change my mind when i get my hands in it.
Judging from the reviews, it looks to me that DNA is One X with superior speeds.
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Click to collapse
Yep, like I said in my post, It's all my personal opinion. I could get used to using a Note II for calls just like I can get used to using a Nexus 7 for calls, but it doesn't necessarily mean I want to. In my experience with using a Note II I could feel my hand straining a bit while I griped it, while the S3, One X and GNex felt nice. I would say I have average size hands, 6ft tall and can 1-hand grip a basketball.
I don't mean to sound offensive, but a phone nearly the size of a tablet does look a little interesting during calls. Here's a few examples:
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
But again, just my opinion, maybe its because I'm in california where most people have iphones.
And regarding the amoled screen, as a photographer my main beef with it is color accuracy. If I didn't care as much about using the phone as a mobile portfolio, it wouldnt matter as much. I'm sure the colors could be tweaked, but afaik SLCD3 > Amoled
They're 2 completely different devices.
I don't know why people insist on comparing the DNA to the Note. The DNA is the phone, its not even 5mm taller than the S3. Compare it to that. Compare it to the Optimus G, the Nexus 4, etc.
Just cause it hit some magical 5in screen size its now a direct competitor to the Note? If the DNA were 4.9in would these threads even exist? When Samsung starts with their 5in phones will people be comparing the S4 to the Note? I'm guessing not, since by then it'll be common place.
The DNA is a phone, not a 'phablet', there is no direct competition to the Note at this moment, besides that LG thing.. Which isn't much competition.
After using the mega for a couple of weeks the size is awesome. I'd be disappointed if Samsung doesn't at the very least make a 6.3" Note 3.
Would you consider a Note 3 if it had a smaller screen size than 6.3" ?
inurb said:
After using the mega for a couple of weeks the size is awesome. I'd be disappointed if Samsung doesn't at the very least make a 6.3" Note 3.
Would you consider a Note 3 if it had a smaller screen size than 6.3" ?
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Nope. It's like when I got the original Note, anything smaller didn't interest me as it felt like a downgrade. Having the Mega for almost a month, the size is normal to me now and I don't feel it lacks in performance even at mid range specs.
My next phone should fulfill the following criteria:
* Maximum possible screen size for a device that still fits my pocket
* Removable battery with higher capacity
* Better camera lens with optical stabilisation / xenon flash
* Higher resolution screen (maybe 6.5 but same body size as the Mega)
* Quad/Octa core CPU with high end graphics + 3Gb RAM or more
* Spen and waterproof not necessary
The only phone I'm waiting for now is the Galaxy Mega 2.
gx3k said:
The only phone I'm waiting for now is the Galaxy Mega 2.
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Yes, same here,I love this phone
Sent from my GT-I9205 using Tapatalk 2
inurb said:
After using the mega for a couple of weeks the size is awesome. I'd be disappointed if Samsung doesn't at the very least make a 6.3" Note 3.
Would you consider a Note 3 if it had a smaller screen size than 6.3" ?
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Every phone should be this size. I cannot imagine anything smaller. If only you could see the reactions i get. iPhone owners stand behind me peeking at my gorgeous screen and the awesomeness interface. I have had people willing to jump to Android cause of this device.
Yes, Apple heeds to hurry with their 5.7" phone! 4" just doesn't cut it any more.
Yes, I'll be disappointed. It won't be 6.3 unfortunately, unless they go down the route of releasing multiple screen size options.
They will probably watch to see how well the Xperia Z Ultra sells.
Yes just bought mega instead of experia ultra
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
I totally agree with you on that in fact this phone is so awesome people really notice the big bright display. I can tell you the display so beautiful so stunning so accurate and color reproduction that it's unbeatable at this size. The biggest balls of them about the phone as it has been able to run everything that I've thrown at it it just simply doesn't lag not a single lag in any of the high end games or applications simply remarkable
Sent from my GT-I9200 using xda app-developers app
Doesn't worry me the least as I'm definitely going for the z ultra. A real high end phone.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2
Just bought th8s mega with no regret
Sent from my GT-I9205 using xda premium
I own this now its awesome!
I have the Samsung Galaxy make a 6.3 and it's such an awesome phone it has got a gorgeous high definition 6.3 in screen the best part about this is that it's the biggest phone which can be easily pocketed. the size is just perfect its just big enough to be pocketed and big enough to compete with any tablet at the same time there's absolutely no compromise on screen quality as well as the screen size playing games on this huge devise is the treat watching movies is simply awesome reading ebooks is so simple and so beautiful and convenient you don't have to zoom on web pages you can view the full screen web page the doubt zooming in you can read smallest of the small text very easily and as far as gaming goes this phone is a real monster when it comes to processing power the Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 CPU clogged at 1.7 gigahertz gives the necessary power to smoothly run all high definition games the games open up really quick and have absolutely zero lag even on the most and resource intensive games so far I have not seen a single leg in any of the high and high definition gamesthis phone clearly is the best size and price combination you don't have to carry your tablet you don't have to carry your computer at the same time you don't have to struggle with the smalls clean you don't have to the zoo every corner of your phone to read text it's so convenient and soul majestic
---------- Post added at 01:23 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:18 PM ----------
....I have the Samsung Galaxy make a 6.3 and it's such an awesome phone it has got a gorgeous high definition 6.3 in screen the best part about this is that it's the biggest phone which can be easily pocketed. the size is just perfect its just big enough to be pocketed and big enough to compete with any tablet at the same time there's absolutely no compromise on screen quality as well as the screen size playing games on this huge devise is the treat watching movies is simply awesome reading ebooks is so simple and so beautiful and convenient you don't have to zoom on web pages you can view the full screen web page the doubt zooming in you can read smallest of the small text very easily and as far as gaming goes this phone is a real monster when it comes to processing power the Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 CPU clogged at 1.7 gigahertz gives the necessary power to smoothly run all high definition games the games open up really quick and have absolutely zero lag even on the most and resource intensive games so far I have not seen a single leg in any of the high and high definition gamesthis phone clearly is the best size and price combination you don't have to carry your tablet you don't have to carry your computer at the same time you don't have to struggle with the smalls clean you don't have to the zoo every corner of your phone to read text it's so convenient and soul majestic[/QUOTE]
you lost me at the zoo.. and sorry to hear your CPU is clogged.
I am not looking forward Note3 but Mega2. I would like an even bigger screen, from 7" to 7.3" FHD with slim bezel. My pocket still have room for something bigger. The size limit is that I can hold it firmly with one hand and I can do swipe up/down and from the side with my thumb. Dual core is enough for me. I do not do gaming. I mostly surf web. Weight increase by no more than 50g. Yes I would like a one-hand held tablet with phone function on the go. Also look forward to 8 hours on screen time (average 50% of max. brightness), and a replacable battery.
I'm just disappointed at the specs the only thing making it almost worth while is the 13mp camera...
But WTF @ Just a bigger s4 and another quad-core processor, unless ya wanna scarifice LTE for an octa-core.
dchsub said:
I am not looking forward Note3 but Mega2. I would like an even bigger screen, from 7" to 7.3" FHD with slim bezel. My pocket still have room for something bigger. The size limit is that I can hold it firmly with one hand and I can do swipe up/down and from the side with my thumb. Dual core is enough for me. I do not do gaming. I mostly surf web. Weight increase by no more than 50g. Yes I would like a one-hand held tablet with phone function on the go. Also look forward to 8 hours on screen time (average 50% of max. brightness), and a replacable battery.
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Look to the International version of the Tab 3 ..7 inch....slim bezels and phone function..
I just dont like the NO LED flash/flashlight...
just have to wait....
good luck
How much do the phone enabled 7" Tab 3's run? The Mega might be a better bet, what with importing and such.
jimmbomb said:
Look to the International version of the Tab 3 ..7 inch....slim bezels and phone function..
I just dont like the NO LED flash/flashlight...
just have to wait....
good luck
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I think, without a Full HD screen, Tab3 7" size and form style would not be worthwhile when compared to Mega 6.3.
Upgraded from Note 2 to Mega and here's some thoughts after using it for nearly a week. This is based on the unrooted stock rom.
Likes:
1. Bigger, brighter, and whiter screen on the Mega. It makes watching video on the phone a real pleasure. The white colors on my Note 2 are always yellowish and blacks are clipped.
2. More natural color compared to the Note 2. My favorite screen mode is "standard".
3. Handles videos well. Played 720p mkv action movies with DTS audio and it handles them without a single hiccup. I used Archos Player to do that. Didn't test the stock video player since it doesn't support DTS audio
4. Easier to grab compared to Note 2.
5. The power button and the volume rocker are easier to press.
6. Higher DPI. It seems Samsung is using higher DPI for fonts, which makes the phone feel more like a tablet than a phone.
Dislikes:
1. No S pen. If you use that a lot, then you are going to miss it. I use it sometimes but I can manage the life without it.
2. No AC3 support. Sammy wants to save money here therefore you will have to buy a third party player with AC3 and/or DTS decoding. Of course if you don't mind, you could always re encode mkv movies to MP4 with AAC or mp3 audio which is then supported. I am just lazy.
3. Not enough accessories on the market. This is not he most popular phone so not so many accessories are available yet. Hope there will be more.
4. The rear camera lens: why does it have to stick out so much from the back??? Look at the iPhone, and some Sony phones. They don't have that ugly protrusion at the back!
5. Although easier to grab compared to Note 2, it is still a slippery phone. I am getting a rubberized back case to improve that.
6. When I am typing, the predicted words comes up later than on the Note 2. It's noticeable but not annoying yet because I don't type that fast. You may not like it if you are a turbo texter.
Everything else is pretty much the same as my Note 2. The Mega may not have the fastest CPU in the world, and it doesn't have 3 Gb of ram, but I didn't experience much lag at all.
Games:
I don't play games so I asked my 8 year old boy to test it for me. His answer is "no lags". Of course he didn't test all those CPU and GPU intensive games so don't quote me on that.
Battery life:
At full blast which means full brightness, all radios on, it lasts between 5 to 6 hours. I am quite impressed.
Screen sharpness:
being a 720p phone with the largest screen (am I right? ), I was worried that I will see a lot of pixelation. In reality I hardly notice that at all. I am sure a 1080p screen will look nicer. Maybe we will see that in Mega 2? Let's hope for one. And I don't mind if they make the screen even larger. If they can narrow the bezel like they did with the Note 3, they can make a 6.5 inch screen without making the phone larger.
Pocketability: it fits in my pant pockets but I have to admit it reaching the limit.
Final thoughts: Obviously there's a limit how big a phone can be. With the Note 3 being nearly physically identical to the Note 2, it looks like Samsung has decided that's the largest size they are willing to go if they wanted to keep the Note series popular. Hence the Mega looks like their experimental device: let's throw everything on the wall and see what sticks. It will be interesting to see how the market responds to the Mega within the next few months.
Conclusion: I am keeping the Mega and selling my Note 2.
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Sent from my AT&T Galaxy Mega
I must add that the viewing angle of the Mega is less than the Note 2.
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Sent from my AT&T Galaxy Mega
I was strongly considering one (or a voice capable 7" Tab 3 for less!) but found a T-Mobile Note 2 at a really good price. The screen resolution never bothered me; my 7.0+ has the same resolution in a larger device and it looks just fine. It all came down to the deal I could get. I still might get a T211, though I'm not thrilled about it's camera.
I just bought a brand new Alpha online for $299. I called Samsung and they confirmed that it's a legitimate phone with a full warranty. I haven't turned it on yet because I'm debating keeping it or returning it and waiting for the new S6 that's coming out soon. I have AT&T and I'm not eligible for an upgrade so I would have to pay full price for any phone I get. I previously went from a Note 3 to a S5, then to some Lumia phones.
I loved the screen size and clarity on both the Note 3 and S5, but I did think they were a little too big for they way I like to use my phone. The Note 3 was just gigantic to me and felt ridiculous to make a call with. But, the screen was great for playing on the web. The S5 had great specs, but I didn't like the plastic feel of it, and I did notice some lag when scrolling through pages, which was unacceptable to me given the high price of the phone.
I think the Alpha might be a great size phone for my needs, and most of the specs on the phone are really good. My only hesitation is the screen. I've read on forums online that people are pretty divided with the quality of the screen. Most people are OK with it, but some say it's downright subpar.
Right now, I'm on the fence...do I keep the alpha (with a better size overall, but possible poorer quality screen), or wait for the S6?
That is an question only you can answer, i like my Alpha and I don't switch for the next two years
The screen is absolutely fine.
Sendt fra min SM-G850F med Tapatalk
cebulank said:
That is an question only you can answer, i like my Alpha and I don't switch for the next two years
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I usually change my phone every 6 months...I get bored I guess. My goal is to finally find a phone I like enough to keep longer than 6 months. So far, I haven't found it.
skirush said:
I usually change my phone every 6 months...I get bored I guess. My goal is to finally find a phone I like enough to keep longer than 6 months. So far, I haven't found it.
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I'll say this. My wife calls me a phone whore. I have owned over 30 phones in last 3 years, I get bored I sell I buy. I recently picked up alpha for 319 outright by having bestbuy match amazon. This phone for that price is amazing. It's only .04 mm smaller than s5 and 12mp not 16mp but every other spec is identical. It's feels great,looks great, runs great. It would be hard not to justify this phone which is essentially a flagship for its price. Why I can't seem to justify getting anything else right now especially now that it's become pretty stagnant in improvements in phones
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G850A using XDA Free mobile app
skirush said:
I just bought a brand new Alpha online for $299. I called Samsung and they confirmed that it's a legitimate phone with a full warranty. I haven't turned it on yet because I'm debating keeping it or returning it and waiting for the new S6 that's coming out soon. I have AT&T and I'm not eligible for an upgrade so I would have to pay full price for any phone I get. I previously went from a Note 3 to a S5, then to some Lumia phones.
I loved the screen size and clarity on both the Note 3 and S5, but I did think they were a little too big for they way I like to use my phone. The Note 3 was just gigantic to me and felt ridiculous to make a call with. But, the screen was great for playing on the web. The S5 had great specs, but I didn't like the plastic feel of it, and I did notice some lag when scrolling through pages, which was unacceptable to me given the high price of the phone.
I think the Alpha might be a great size phone for my needs, and most of the specs on the phone are really good. My only hesitation is the screen. I've read on forums online that people are pretty divided with the quality of the screen. Most people are OK with it, but some say it's downright subpar.
Right now, I'm on the fence...do I keep the alpha (with a better size overall, but possible poorer quality screen), or wait for the S6?
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In comparison to S5 the screen is smaller and with only HD ress, but since its my second 4.7 inch phone with same resolution i would say its more than enough for daily usage as browsing, playing games , watching movies or pictures. Also the metal frame that it has gives to it pretty damn good look and feel and a nice grip in your hand. Performance wise its almost the best there is if you ask me and hasn't let me down so far. The only thing that would make a real impact on your decision maybe would be the battery since it comes with a 1860 mah capacity and for a heavy usage it would be too low.
Sent from my SM-G850F
@skirush, the real only problem with Alpha is the battery capacity and it's real for users who play games or web browsing a lot. For all the other users i would recommend Galaxy Alpha 1000%. The screen is great. Don't focus only in reviews. Go in a local store and check it by yourself both in image and text reproduction.
Yes.
Now that the S6 has been released we can see that the main advantages are a
1) Super high res screen- the Alpha looks very good to me- super high res screen is for
Aficionados of those screens like Note 4 and LG G3 they eat a lot of battery and difficult to see much difference for many.
Ideally a 2K or 4K screen should be switchable in the Menu.
2) The Camera in S6 will be noticeably better than Alpha although Alpha is very good it is a half notch below S5 in sharpness and detail and The Note 4 is up from there.
S6 is similar to Note 4 but better in low light
and a hair less sharp than Note 4 due to wider lens ( same Sensor).
S6 has great versatile Software for Camera.
3) S6 has louder speaker than most Alphas.
4) S6 is much larger like S5 .
5) Alpha is more rugged than S6 due to fragile Camera sticking out further from back and glass back on S6.
6) Alpha is very fast faster and less lag than S5 but S6 is just as lag free as Alpha plus more powerful multi tasking IF you use your phone like a Laptop.
7) I think you are so frustrated by Alpha Battery Life that:
A) Get the 2500 Mah battery kit and keep Alpha.
B) IF you can send it back and get S6 and can be happy with OK Battery Life of S6 I think it's about 70% of S5 but charges quickly -read GSM Arena Review-
You may be better off with S6 because the Alpha is annoying you .
Also SIZE of S6 is about like S5 check the size of S5 to see if size of S6 will work for you.
If you like a lot of excellent photo options S6 will be really fun IMO.