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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.
Click to expand...
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.
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.
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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!
It's pretty clear that the Galaxy Alpha is not being positioned "above" the Galaxy S 5...it's just different. It's smaller, much thinner, but has a lower resolution display (720p vs 1080p) and a smaller battery (1860mAh vs 2800mAh).
So who is this phone for? Would you consider it over the Galaxy S 5, or even the Nexus 5/HTC One M8 for that matter?
Sound off! :victory:
Nope although I love that form factor it lacks some of essential features such as full HD and SD card support.
Also I think the price tag is way too high for the mentioned features.
The mentioned one's aren't alternatives I'll be waiting for the g3 with the snap Dragon 805 maybe they are going to release a smaller one too
The phone is for iPhone users coming over from Apple and direct compression for the z1 compact.
I personally think this is the best looking Samsung phone ever and I want it baaaaadddddd, I know the 720p screen and tiny battery are major drawbacks for most people but I can deal with it, I am by no means a power user. I just think its a great looking powerful phone that's perfect for me I just really hope it has some sort of development here
kayslay21 said:
I personally think this is the best looking Samsung phone ever and I want it baaaaadddddd, I know the 720p screen and tiny battery are major drawbacks for most people but I can deal with it, I am by no means a power user. I just think its a great looking powerful phone that's perfect for me I just really hope it has some sort of development here
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Click to collapse
"B***h, please", you tell those "most people". I challenge your eyes to see single pixels with pixel density above 300 ppi. Also, the less pixels to push around = the GPU has it easier = it's easier on the battery... and battery is STILL bigger than any iPhone battery to date. And with the coming of L, battery life is expected to rise even more.
sirobelec said:
"B***h, please", you tell those "most people". I challenge your eyes to see single pixels with pixel density above 300 ppi. Also, the less pixels to push around = the GPU has it easier = it's easier on the battery... and battery is STILL bigger than any iPhone battery to date. And with the coming of L, battery life is expected to rise even more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Considering this is using the Exynos 5430 using 20nm, it should have have battery life between the 801 and 805 if it was 1080p/1440p. if it's only 720p This device will last more than a day easily.
For that reason alone I'll be picking it up. and the fact I hate QHD on phones.
I would get one only if i dont have to throw a extra penny on xchange wid my 1month old nexus 5...
Comparing it to nexus 5
Pros
Slimmer
Metallic body
Better camera
Touchwiz ui (lol pro??)
Better gpu (yes its btr than a330)
Better battery (newer 20nm )
Cons
Touchwiz
Not full hd (i don't give a **** as i find display of 720p grand 2 to be same as that of my n5 wid naked eyes)
Expect late updates and poorer custom rom support.
I would make the sacrifice wid my n5 only if L doesnt makes it a overkill
Considering @svetius ' interest in alpha i guess he would get one tooo...
svetius said:
So who is this phone for? Would you consider it over the Galaxy S 5, or even the Nexus 5/HTC One M8 for that matter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ummm... me. I'm trim and of average height, not tall or big-boned, etc. I don't have huge hands. I wear 501s much of the time. The S5, G3 and One M8 are a bit too large for my pocket and for one-handed use. A phone is like a sidearm; while the zealots always want bigger and more powerful, if it's inconvenient to carry or use, and so you don't, it's no good even compared to an old flip phone.
But... the Alpha lacks a microSD slot, so it actually fails my requirements. Don't tell me you're selling me a Porsche - small, powerful, expensive - and then cut out the top gear. Charge me another $100 and put in the top gear, and call it a Porsche Xtreme or something silly like that.
As per a report it costs $689 dollars...
Plz throw it in the dustbin ...i am happy wid my sexy nexy...:silly:
I'm interested in getting it. The lack of a microSD card slot (and the price, too, I guess) is a bit of a bummer but who knows...
Deletive said:
Considering this is using the Exynos 5430 using 20nm, it should have have battery life between the 801 and 805 if it was 1080p/1440p. if it's only 720p This device will last more than a day easily.
For that reason alone I'll be picking it up. and the fact I hate QHD on phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People say that QHD displays are just a gimmick but my g3 is hella crisp and as for battery life its fantastic, easily last all day.
Sent from my LGLS990 using XDA Free mobile app
generalkrank said:
People say that QHD displays are just a gimmick but my g3 is hella crisp and as for battery life its fantastic, easily last all day.
Sent from my LGLS990 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No SD card support..... I'd rather get the G3.
I will get one, if the battery is good enough.
Alpha is almost there
Wotta said:
Ummm... me. I'm trim and of average height, not tall or big-boned, etc. I don't have huge hands. I wear 501s much of the time. The S5, G3 and One M8 are a bit too large for my pocket and for one-handed use. A phone is like a sidearm; while the zealots always want bigger and more powerful, if it's inconvenient to carry or use, and so you don't, it's no good even compared to an old flip phone.
But... the Alpha lacks a microSD slot, so it actually fails my requirements. Don't tell me you're selling me a Porsche - small, powerful, expensive - and then cut out the top gear. Charge me another $100 and put in the top gear, and call it a Porsche Xtreme or something silly like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I am in a similar situation -I am what you would call a Power User and need the Phone and nice
Camera for Business but am athletic, active and need the smaller form factor.
I want an Alpha Pro which is thicker with a larger Battery and Larger Camera Sensor like Note 4 ,SD Card for $ 100 more.
Alpha is a fashionable Device.
Alpha Pro would be for Note 4 types who don't want a huge phone.
The "Thinness Race" is surprising to me - I would MUCH prefer a thicker phone with SD Card and larger Battery and less breakable.
This size about 5.2" Tall with 4.7"
screen is perfect for me- and this Camera will be very good for Interior Designers , Real Estate Pros, Artists etc. not replacing a DSLR, but very useful.
Larger screens to me are impractical to carry and more likely to break, but I love the power of a Laptop in my pocket.
The Alpha is close.
The Sony Z3 Compact is close.
I prefer a removable Battery.
If Devs can create an APP that allows direct Storage to USB Stick ,
I could live without SD Card.
Two to Five Millimeters thicker and the Alpha Pro could be the Flagship Compact.
Remember you put a Rigid Case on a 5.6" Tall S5 and it's large and still fragile.
Put a rigid case on the Alpha and it's still pocket sized and less likely to break .
I don't know why it needs to be only 6.7 mm thick and 4 ounces-lol.
Give me the thicker Alpha Pro- a Device I am making up in the hopes it happens....
720p on 4.7" is decent. Even iPhone 6 doesn't have 1080p on their 4.7".
Hmmm I'm divided! I just had the S5 mini for a few days, and the screen on that one is bad. I meen the 720p resolution just doesn't cut it! Even thou the screen is small. It's just as bad as the S4 Mini. You can't read small fonts or read Web pages without zooming.
Soooo....... Does the Alpha has the same problem? I would guess. Even bigger screen with the same resolution. I hope I'm wrong and that Samsung just used a sub par display in the S5 mini. But I'm sceptical of course.
Also not sure if I want to live without the brilliance of a IR blaster in my phone. I use it everyday.
And then finally there is the potential issue about the battery size. Maybe it will be fine, if Sammy has optimized the Alphas HW correct.
So bottom line, I really want to get one, but I'm not to sure! LOOOOOOVE the esthetics!
Should be getting mine this coming Saturday, but stuck deciding what colour to go for...
---------- Post added at 03:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:12 PM ----------
robertkoa said:
Yes. I am in a similar situation -I am what you would call a Power User and need the Phone and nice
Camera for Business but am athletic, active and need the smaller form factor.
I want an Alpha Pro which is thicker with a larger Battery and Larger Camera Sensor like Note 4 ,SD Card for $ 100 more.
Alpha is a fashionable Device.
Alpha Pro would be for Note 4 types who don't want a huge phone.
The "Thinness Race" is surprising to me - I would MUCH prefer a thicker phone with SD Card and larger Battery and less breakable.
This size about 5.2" Tall with 4.7"
screen is perfect for me- and this Camera will be very good for Interior Designers , Real Estate Pros, Artists etc. not replacing a DSLR, but very useful.
Larger screens to me are impractical to carry and more likely to break, but I love the power of a Laptop in my pocket.
The Alpha is close.
The Sony Z3 Compact is close.
I prefer a removable Battery.
If Devs can create an APP that allows direct Storage to USB Stick ,
I could live without SD Card.
Two to Five Millimeters thicker and the Alpha Pro could be the Flagship Compact.
Remember you put a Rigid Case on a 5.6" Tall S5 and it's large and still fragile.
Put a rigid case on the Alpha and it's still pocket sized and less likely to break .
I don't know why it needs to be only 6.7 mm thick and 4 ounces-lol.
Give me the thicker Alpha Pro- a Device I am making up in the hopes it happens....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I get what your saying I thought about it too, but something draws me to this device it just looks good and I think its a combination of the thinness and metal frame, anything thicker here I think would detract from its appeal. As long as I can get from 5am to 11pm with some juice left if I need it im happy
No but I would have if a) I was an at&t customer rather than t-mobile customer (for an on-contract deal) or b) it wasn't $192 more to import than the Xperia Z3 Compact. Who knows, if their resale values converge, I may end up having a green Alpha.
I like the style of the phone and hope Samsung uses this as the inspiration for all of their android devices over the next 6 months. I hope the phone sells well as the future of powerful sub 5" androids depends on this and the Z3C succeeding. I really look forward to seeing a January 2015 Tab Alpha 8.4 with the corners like this (and a snapdragon 810 or intel Broadwell). Similarly, I hope the Alpha sets the stage for a different direction for Samsung's phones (Android 5.0 should be more power efficient in a way that makes smaller batteries more viable).
The Alpha is coming to AT&T this Friday
The Alpha is coming to AT&T this Friday ,
And I'm getting one. I'm looking forward to the form factor, but I especially like, that it is not as huge as most phones out there and still has decent specs. I really wish I could have it all. Until then, I'm looking to have a new toy.
In my eyes, The Galaxy Alpha is Samsung’s most beautiful phone ever. Much more beautiful than the galaxy s5, but the size of its 1,860mAh battery worries me. In conclusion, I will choose the HTC M8 as my next flagship phone.
I sold my S5 for the Alpha a couple of days ago and don't regret it at all! It's a small and very powerful phone and probably one of Samsung's better in many years IMO ☺
Skickat från min SM-G850F via Tapatalk
I've had my phone for two days so far. After spending six months on a Galaxy S6 parts of me are very happy to be home with the Nexus line again.. mainly pure Android and the development sure to come. However, I've noticed two things so far with which I'm not terribly happy.
First, those bezels. Christ, there has to be damn near 1 1/2 inches of bezel on this phone. I thought phones were moving towards a smaller and smaller bezel these days. Apparently Google and Huawei didn't get the memo.
Second, no matter how much they tried to sell it, the camera is just not anywhere near the level of (at least) Samsung's. This camera doesn't even belong in the same sentence as the word Samsung. It doesn't have the ability to snap a clear shot of anything moving, even of my small dog walking. Any motion equals blurry pics. The camera is actually why I tried the S6. It's also why I loved it. Of course, I hated just about everything else on the S6 (even the international unlocked version I bought).
I guess we'll see whether the camera, which is the most important part of the phone for me (kids, animals) ends up being bad enough to seek another phone with a better one.
Your thoughts after using it for a few days?
Don't have mine yet. (Thanks huawei) but hopefully some Google updates can make this a better experience for you. I know the nexus 5 had some updates that improved the camera a bit.
Sent from my Nexus 7
Is this problem with moving subjects with hdr on?
Because if I'm not mistaken, Google camera has some cool but heavy post processing on photos taken with hdr+ and even the capture itself seems a bit slow at times.
This on my Nexus 5 and from what I've seen in videos it's the same pretty much with the 6p. It gives awesome results once you learn how to use it, I've taken some epic shots with my N5 and the camera is crappy.
Just don't use it for moving scenes.
I ended up writing too much xD
So, is this issue with regular hrd off shots also?
Yeah, definitely check HDR is off for motion. That and lots of light. Even with the bigger pixel size, these camera sensors are tiny and have no chance with motion in low light.
I'm actually curious about more opinions on this. I just listed my Note 5 because I had a Nexus 5 before and I want to go back to Nexus with the 6P. The camera doesn't matter that much to me because I use a DSLR for any pictures I actually care about. I'm sure it's still a massive improvement over the Nexus 5 camera I had for years, hah.
I had the s6 and note 5. I will agree that the note 5 is the better of the two, however it's not miles ahead of the 6p. If I graded them on a scale 1 to 100, the note 5 would be 95 and the nexus 6p would be an 90
Got one today. My impression is by far best nexus phone. Only thing i wish thr power button was more stiff its too light.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
2swizzle said:
I had the s6 and note 5. I will agree that the note 5 is the better of the two, however it's not miles ahead of the 6p. If I graded them on a scale 1 to 100, the note 5 would be 95 and the nexus 6p would be an 90
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's kind of how I feel. The Note 5 is very likely the best phone on the market right now, but it's still not a Nexus. And while I like the Exynos hardware, you're stuck with the lack of software. I feel like the screen is by far the best part of the Note though, so I was quite surprised to hear the same screen on the 6P or else I might have waited in the first place.
I'm in love with mine. Just arrived today. Screen is beautiful. Signal/radio is far superior to Samsung....even better than my Busted G3, and I haven't had service this good since I used HTC. Size is bigger than I would have liked. But I knew it was big going in. G3 was about my limit...and this is a tad larger. I'll get used to it. Love the bigger screen but it's just a tad to big for one hand all the time. Fingerprint sensor is flawless for me. Camera seems fine so far for me, but my complaint is the higher resolution photos are only 4:3, not 16:9. Battery life will take a few days to test. I thought I might have to root and rom because I hate the menu set up on my Nexus 7 (2013) but this is ok for me. No complaints.
BTW to the OP...the top and bottom bezels are for the speakers. No bottom speaker, than I would bet smaller bezel.
The Note 5 certainly does have the best hardware. As for the best phone that is subjective. The nexus P is certainly a great contender and at it's price point it is a superior device. No, it isn't the "best" in every category. Neither is the Note 5 or any device for that matter. All depends on what you're looking for. If you don't care about updates, development and the issues that plague samsung phones (memory management for one) then by all means get one. It is a solid device. One of the best out there.
What kept me from buying Samsung is development sucks for them, they lock down devices on the two best carriers in the USA and I'm tired of the Touchwiz bloat. Oh and its almost twice the price. If those were not true I'd gladly give Samsung my money again.
The Nexus P is a very well built device with a display that is very close to the Note 5, a very good camera, great battery life, excellent performance and you are guaranteed to have excellent development here and updates from Google.
Pick which one is more important to you.
I'm the same as the OP in the sense I came to the 6p after 6 frustrating months with the s6.
The screen, camera size and design of the s6 is pretty amazing. Excellent in all regards. But the software... Awful. Multitasking was impossible and touchwiz just annoyed me.
The 6p software is pure and fast. Excellent.
But I agree the camera and screen aren't in the same league as the s6 really.
AJerman said:
That's kind of how I feel. The Note 5 is very likely the best phone on the market right now, but it's still not a Nexus. And while I like the Exynos hardware, you're stuck with the lack of software. I feel like the screen is by far the best part of the Note though, so I was quite surprised to hear the same screen on the 6P or else I might have waited in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
exactly, the note5 is a great phone however if you want stock, are sick of waiting for updates, AND are stuck with one that can't be rooted depending on your carrier you'll move to the 6p like i did.
If you guys got a good pair of headphones then you'll notice the quality of the stock tuning is amazing. Wow in impressed from stock. Not bad google not bad
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Also coming from an S6..
The S6 screen, form factor and stock e-mail app (Exchange still sucks on Gmail) are the only things I'll miss (Maybe the Camera but I really haven't used the 6P Camera much to make that judgement).
The positives though outweigh the negatives.. much stronger latch on to wifi and mobile signal compared to the S6. Places where I would drop out of wifi completly on the s6 still give me 3-4 bars on the 6p. Software.. so much smoother than touchwiz (I'd forgotten how buttery stock android really is). Everything about the device feels faster as a result of the software even though specs wise the S6 out-guns the 6p. Battery life is awesome compared to the S6 - no more mid-day charge required.
I still dream of another Samsung Nexus...
The only bother I have is the screen has a rainbow reflection and I can't read it in my car or in the sun
The only thing that's bugging the hell out of me is the bezels but that's just because the Nexus 6 bezels were so small other than that I'm loving it
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Praises:
Faster/smoother experience vs. my S6
Screen is nearly identical to S6
Stereo speakers are great
Complaints:
Headphone volume seems extra low
FuMMoD said:
If you guys got a good pair of headphones then you'll notice the quality of the stock tuning is amazing. Wow in impressed from stock. Not bad google not bad
Sent from my Nexus 6P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was also vary impressed of the sound quality from just out of the box. I’ve all was prefer stock android but one of the main reasons that I root my phones was to use Viper but now I have been thinking that I’ll won't have to.
BTW:
Headphone - Bose
Bluetooth Earbuds - JayBird X
Only complaint so far is the volume and power buttons being in the middle. the first thing I did was unlock decrypt and root . Plugging in and unplugging the cable I would always hit the power button which sucked when I was in bootloader mode and I plug my cable in and damn the phone is booting because my hand touched the power button. other than that this phone is ace . I need my other cases to come in. I had two verus cases but they weren't cut right so I sending them back for a return.
I'm coming from a oneplus one so I'm sure the camera will be better when mine arrives lol
I`m using this as my work phone, probably the best built Android Device I have ever used. I mainly use iOS devices, but this Nexus 6p is maybe the first Android device I could see my self using as a daily driver assuming I did not use iOS for personal use. Great Device, I had the LG G4 and the S6 edge earlier this yr and enjoy the build quality on this far more, but I will say the s6 has the best phone I used all year on a phone in comparison to the g4, 6p and the 6s+ I use as a personal phone.