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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!
Hi Everyone,
I thought I'd share some thoughts on this device after having purchased it yesterday afternoon.
I bought this phone because I felt it was the first device that gave me what I had been craving for a long time - an Android version of the iPhone 6s. I like the size, build and feel of the iPhone 6s/7, but not the software or the price.
I think I am in the minority of people who prefer a smaller handset, and even though Android devices tend to fit a lot more screen real estate into smaller bodies, I still feel that the 4.7in screen size is ideal for me.
The only phones that run Android of that size have been the Xperia compact line, and the Galaxy Alpha/A3 2016 models. There have been others, but only these have come close. Unfortunately, they have suffered compromised designs and specs that have left me wanting (I have owned them all, and this is my opinion which others are free to disagree with).
This new handset, however, has me ticking a lot of boxes.
- Size is fantastic. Just a little smaller than the iPhone 6s, and feels great in the hand. Premium materials, solid build quality, great ergonomics, clicky buttons, no camera hump.
- The display is good, not awesome, but vibrant and colourful without being too over the top. Can be tweaked to each user's preference, and gets both very bright and very dim.
- fingerprint scanner is fast and accurate.
- Camera is good, not amazing. An iPhone definitely trounces this setup, but I paid £280 sim free and my usage is not too demanding so it's absolutely fine for me. Daytime shots are actually very pleasant and I think here it punches above its weight; low light is where it struggles, but I feel that most shots at night are not too important for me so it's a compromise I'll happily make.
- Call quality is very good and it holds onto signal well in my area.
- Sound quality out of the side mounted speaker is actually surprisingly good, at least as good as an iPhone 6s. Headphone performance is also excellent .
- Performance has been nothing short of excellent. I feel we have reached a point where there are not that many tasks that we do that actually need a Snapdragon 821 to run smoothly - granted, some 3d games need serious power on tap to run at their highest settings on a quad HD screen, but with a 720p screen, the A3 2017 runs pretty much anything at best quality without delay or hiccup. And everyday operation is smooth as butter without any lag or slowdowns. Granted, this is very early days, but I am hopeful this will continue.
- Battery life is astounding. I charged it on Saturday night and hit 100% at 10.20pm. I took it off charger and only put it back on at 2% while writing this review and I had nearly 9 hrs and 30mins of screen on time over 1 day and 3 hours. That includes 64 mins of voice calls. Please note that I was home all day on Wifi, but still, I have never seen times like that, not least from a 2300 odd mah battery. Awesome. It also charges pretty fast.
- Other stuff - water proofing is great, finally have USB-C, charges really quickly with the included adaptive charging brick, finally has a blue light filter.
And now for the balance of the review:
- Slippery despite its size, so a case or a skin is advisable.
- 16gb of internal memory nearly broke the deal for me, but a 64gb card and some transferring of apps has left me with 3.8gb left to play with internally. Definitely not ideal and a very cheap move from Samsung, but I'm also hoping Nougat brings adoptable storage soon which will eliminate this as an issue (here's hoping!).
- No notification light is something I have to adjust to, but the always on display does help *somewhat* ( I prefer the light as it's something that alerts me from afar, whereas the display is on regardless of whether you have a notification or not).
- Camera as described above has some shortcomings.
- Usual Samsung software compromised with bloatware - lots of useless stuff on here that eats into that 16gb that I cannot delete (Microsoft suite, Samsung junk, usual duplicate apps that we all use the Google version of). I'll keep trying the usual routes to rid the phone of this but I may have to wait a while.
Other than these points, I am really pleased. It feels nice to have paid relatively little for a device that feels so premium. I know there are other phones at relatively low prices that kill this on specs (OP3, Axon 7, Honor 8, etc) but they are generally much bigger handsets, so for anyone looking at something smaller, this is a great buy.
TL;DR, it's great, buy one if you like small phones ?
I always wanted a phone with an small amoled screen and water proofing so i jumped ship from the huge mate 8 to witch i am comparing. I agree with your pros but i found: 1-the camera is average and lacking OIS (need very stable hands), 2- cannot use sd card as default storage (very handy on mate 8), 3- phone very slippery, 4- Design and Screen of a3 2016 seemed better (personal opinion), 5- no stutter but little slow (comparing to mate 8). Only lacks IR blaster to check all boxes but we can't have everything.
Great feedback, thanks guys.
You mentioned not display is good but not awesome, could you elaborate? Is issue clarity or something else? Thanks.
Sent from my Moto X using Tapatalk
mario24601 said:
Great feedback, thanks guys.
You mentioned not display is good but not awesome, could you elaborate? Is issue clarity or something else? Thanks.
Sent from my Moto X using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Coming from a larger phone with a quad HD screen, it's never going to look as dazzlingly sharp, but on a 4.7 inch screen 720p still looks great and it is perfectly sharp and clear - if you've ever seen an iPhone screen, this feels much the same. Colours can be adjusted to your preference - I prefer accurate rather than punchy, but you can set it to either or somewhere in between.
I've had everything from a galaxy s6 which has crazy high pixel density to a Moto x, and personally I prefer the 720p smaller screen because it's far more efficient and I don't notice the pixel density difference after an hour or two.
Hope this helps.
Sunil_Kaura said:
Coming from a larger phone with a quad HD screen, it's never going to look as dazzlingly sharp, but on a 4.7 inch screen 720p still looks great and it is perfectly sharp and clear - if you've ever seen an iPhone screen, this feels much the same. Colours can be adjusted to your preference - I prefer accurate rather than punchy, but you can set it to either or somewhere in between.
I've had everything from a galaxy s6 which has crazy high pixel density to a Moto x, and personally I prefer the 720p smaller screen because it's far more efficient and I don't notice the pixel density difference after an hour or two.
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!
Sent from my Moto X using Tapatalk
Thanks for sharing this. I am also very happy with this phone so far. It's my second day with it, the battery is at 39% with 4h45 sot and 1d3h total since unplugged. In a night of 9 hours, the phone just lost 3%.
I have noticed though that wifi is constantly detected as running by betterbatterysats, even if it's turned off. Any idea how to fix this?
patci32 said:
I have noticed though that wifi is constantly detected as running by betterbatterysats, even if it's turned off. Any idea how to fix this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you checked in Settings -> Connections -> Location?
There are some wifi settings behind it (in location method and improve accuracy) you can deactivate.
F157 said:
Have you checked in Settings -> Connections -> Location?
There are some wifi settings behind it (in location method and improve accuracy) you can deactivate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed, I didn't know. Thanks, I hope this works.
---------- Post added at 01:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:33 PM ----------
F157 said:
Have you checked in Settings -> Connections -> Location?
There are some wifi settings behind it (in location method and improve accuracy) you can deactivate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, could you please tell me if you use other settings to improve your battery life?
patci32 said:
Indeed, I didn't know. Thanks, I hope this works.
---------- Post added at 01:38 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:33 PM ----------
Also, could you please tell me if you use other settings to improve your battery life?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mm, nothing special yet, as I'm really happy with battery life so far.
What I did in the past with other devices is for example use the app greenify (needs root) to hibernate apps you don't want to run in the background.
Also, something that really helped me with my old s4 mini was to set mobile network to 2g, and only switch to lte once required.
And as always, use wifi instead of mobile network as often as possible, disable Bluetooth if not needed, etc.
£280?!?! That's highway robbery for a device with 720p, small battery and everything in budget-range. You get this, all the bells and whistles for £150 with a well known Chinese brand. Now I know why I'd never ever get a Slamsug.
iMaterial said:
£280?!?! That's highway robbery for a device with 720p, small battery and everything in budget-range. You get this, all the bells and whistles for £150 with a well known Chinese brand. Now I know why I'd never ever get a Slamsug.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please could you elaborate on one of these phones that you can get for £150? I'm pretty clued up but if I've missed something I'd be keen for you to share what you've found for myself and the community - my mother needs a new phone so if you've seen something better than the A3 for less I'd love to buy it
Sunil_Kaura said:
Please could you elaborate on one of these phones that you can get for £150? I'm pretty clued up but if I've missed something I'd be keen for you to share what you've found for myself and the community - my mother needs a new phone so if you've seen something better than the A3 for less I'd love to buy it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which stats are you looking for? Battery? Screen res? SoC power?
Compare, with €150 phones, battery, res, SoC, well anything really part from 10 mm in size.
iMaterial said:
Which stats are you looking for? Battery? Screen res? SoC power?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm referring to your comment that you could get a better phone for £150, so I guess I'm wondering what phone you are saying is better for that price...
The battery life of the A3 is epic, the PPI is still perfectly decent (720p on 4.7 inches is still perfectly usable and arguably 1080p is unnecessary) and the SoC is both fat and frugal.
So really I'm wondering whether you can get something the same or better for less money
I'd be happy with an alternative with same form factor. Any recommendations? The A3 still not available in US.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
mario24601 said:
I'd be happy with an alternative with same form factor. Any recommendations? The A3 still not available in US.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4.5 to 4.7" screen, 720p res. 2015 - today, only 4-5 options comes up.
http://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?nYearMin=2015&nHeightMax=135&nDisplayResMin=921600&fDisplayInchesMin=4.5&fDisplayInchesMax=4.7
Only A3, Sony X and Z5 compact, Xiaomi Redmi 2 Pro has enough RAM, battery and goodies. LG Spirit and Alcatel Idol 3 only has 1 GB and 1.5 GB RAM, not really a viable option.
Sunil_Kaura said:
Well I'm referring to your comment that you could get a better phone for £150, so I guess I'm wondering what phone you are saying is better for that price...
The battery life of the A3 is epic, the PPI is still perfectly decent (720p on 4.7 inches is still perfectly usable and arguably 1080p is unnecessary) and the SoC is both fat and frugal.
So really I'm wondering whether you can get something the same or better for less money
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Redmi 4 Pro can be had for €150 and its battery life is Epic also, the Redmi 3 Pro is way better than A3 and Redmi 4 Pro, with 720p but alas 5". Redmi note 3 is also really good, for even less than €150. Samsung is priced at least £100 than it should, but the same can be said about Sony and Apple also.
iMaterial said:
4.5 to 4.7" screen, 720p res. 2015 - today, only 4-5 options comes up.
http://www.gsmarena.com/results.php3?nYearMin=2015&nHeightMax=135&nDisplayResMin=921600&fDisplayInchesMin=4.5&fDisplayInchesMax=4.7
Only A3, Sony X and Z5 compact, Xiaomi Redmi 2 Pro has enough RAM, battery and goodies. LG Spirit and Alcatel Idol 3 only has 1 GB and 1.5 GB RAM, not really a viable option.
The Redmi 4 Pro can be had for €150 and its battery life is Epic also, the Redmi 3 Pro is way better than A3 and Redmi 4 Pro, with 720p but alas 5". Redmi note 3 is also really good, for even less than €150. Samsung is priced at least £100 than it should, but the same can be said about Sony and Apple also.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree the Xiaomi phones are compelling - my main issue is the fact that they are all grey imports - many purchasers have reported that they do not get any warranty support whatsoever, they generally require a more experienced android user to side load the Google play store, and they have sketchy android skins which have also been reported to spy on their users.
Don't get me wrong, Touchwiz (or Grace UI as it's now known) is not exactly great, but I'd rather know I can walk into a Samsung store and get a problem fixed than rely on a Hong Kong based website for support.
I think it's only fair to compare this phone to what can be had in Europe, and in that regard, it blows the Sony X Compact, Alcatel and others out of the water.
And given its build quality and design, it's good value compared to phones that retail for double this cost.
Also, most Xiaomi phones don't come with NFC (no android pay), some don't have scratch resistant glass, no quick charging, etc
The A3 also uses a processor built on the 14nm process which is up to date technology, whereas the Xiaomi phones at that price point use outdated processors like the 650 and 616.
The 14nm process is what gives the A3 it's great battery life without needing a 4000mAh battery and heavier construction.
A final point - check out the videos of the Redmi note 3 bend test - not encouraging! (I will add the Redmi 3 pro did significantly better though which is good progress).
Sunil_Kaura said:
I agree the Xiaomi phones are compelling - my main issue is the fact that they are all grey imports - many purchasers have reported that they do not get any warranty support whatsoever, they generally require a more experienced android user to side load the Google play store, and they have sketchy android skins which have also been reported to spy on their users.
Don't get me wrong, Touchwiz (or Grace UI as it's now known) is not exactly great, but I'd rather know I can walk into a Samsung store and get a problem fixed than rely on a Hong Kong based website for support.
I think it's only fair to compare this phone to what can be had in Europe, and in that regard, it blows the Sony X Compact, Alcatel and others out of the water.
And given its build quality and design, it's good value compared to phones that retail for double this cost.
Also, most Xiaomi phones don't come with NFC (no android pay), some don't have scratch resistant glass, no quick charging, etc
The A3 also uses a processor built on the 14nm process which is up to date technology, whereas the Xiaomi phones at that price point use outdated processors like the 650 and 616.
The 14nm process is what gives the A3 it's great battery life without needing a 4000mAh battery and heavier construction.
A final point - check out the videos of the Redmi note 3 bend test - not encouraging! (I will add the Redmi 3 pro did significantly better though which is good progress).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Redmi 4 Pro that I bought for a friend in Jan has the 14 nm Snapdragon 625. I can agree that it might lack a few finishing touches, but I could buy it for €150 inc shipping from aliexpress and get it in 7-9 days. But it's half the price, and I know the Adreno is a better GPU than the Mali.
Both on the Xiaomi and the Slamsug, first thing I would do it TWRP and LAOS ROM, they can keep their crap TW and MIUI, can't stand it.
Never the less, it shouldn't be 2x the price for something that is almost inferior in some points and better on others. Esp not in 2017, maybe some years ago, but every day there are better and better phones for under €200, like the Moto G5 and such, only problem is they are so damn big, and big phones are 99/100 new that are coming out, these days, sadly.
iMaterial said:
The Redmi 4 Pro that I bought for a friend in Jan has the 14 nm Snapdragon 625. I can agree that it might lack a few finishing touches, but I could buy it for €150 inc shipping from aliexpress and get it in 7-9 days. But it's half the price, and I know the Adreno is a better GPU than the Mali.
Both on the Xiaomi and the Slamsug, first thing I would do it TWRP and LAOS ROM, they can keep their crap TW and MIUI, can't stand it.
Never the less, it shouldn't be 2x the price for something that is almost inferior in some points and better on others. Esp not in 2017, maybe some years ago, but every day there are better and better phones for under €200, like the Moto G5 and such, only problem is they are so damn big, and big phones are 99/100 new that are coming out, these days, sadly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't disagree there - it's frustrating how few phones there are under 5 inches available.
I will say though that besides the Xiaomi phones which look to have a nice build, the Moto G4 is very cheap feeling, as are most of the other phones available here in that price bracket, so I would happily pay a little more for a nice looking and premium feeling device.
If the Samsung we're £220 I think it'd sell by the bucket load as £20-40 above phones like the G4 would likely tempt many up, but at £280 I agree that it's a harder sell for the lay person.
I'm looking at from the other side - it's a mild compromise from an S7 or a iPhone 6s/7 , but it's half the price, rather than double that of a cheaper device.
And it absolutely looks and feels as good as a £5-600 phone.
Sunil_Kaura said:
Can't disagree there - it's frustrating how few phones there are under 5 inches available.
I will say though that besides the Xiaomi phones which look to have a nice build, the Moto G4 is very cheap feeling, as are most of the other phones available here in that price bracket, so I would happily pay a little more for a nice looking and premium feeling device.
If the Samsung we're £220 I think it'd sell by the bucket load as £20-40 above phones like the G4 would likely tempt many up, but at £280 I agree that it's a harder sell for the lay person.
I'm looking at from the other side - it's a mild compromise from an S7 or a iPhone 6s/7 , but it's half the price, rather than double that of a cheaper device.
And it absolutely looks and feels as good as a £5-600 phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are so many on this forum and in other places that airs the same frustration, so few options for a mobile ca 130mm lenght and 4.5 - 4.7" screen (720p at least), that I'm starting to wonder if we should do something about it, maybe talk to so manufacturer to make at least 1-2 phones under 5"
The Redmi 4 Pro I used for a few weeks felt no worse in build than the Iphone 6 or 6S I have tried a few times, both in metal around 140 - 145mm size. But for €310 I can get a Xiaomi Mi 5 with 820 and have €100 in change over. I have never held a Moto G, last Motorola I have tried was the 4.3" Razr Maxx and it felt solid as a rock.
The J5 goes for around €180-190 here and I see no reason why this smaller, entry level A3 shouldn't be priced in a similar fashion. These days due to deaths in the family and such I'm so poor that €100 is more than I can spare and my Android mobile that I have now is from 2012 or so, single core with 512 MB RAM and I hate every minute when I'm using it. I'm lucky to have been given a 2009 Sony Ericsson C901 as my main caller.
Just my 1¢ (It used to be 2¢, but due to the recession I've had to make cutbacks)
---------- Post added at 07:26 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:16 PM ----------
What annoys me a lot is also that this A3 is bigger than the A3 (2016) and the battery is only 50 mAh bigger. They could easily have put a 2500 - 2800 mAh battery in this one, just like the Sony Z3, Z5 or X compact, which is 5 mm smaller.
My last perfect phone was the original moto x. I still use it. I am not a power user but the X just needs lil more power but on cm13 it's not bad.
I don't even mind going with old phone as long as has some custom roms to improve performance.
Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
I've had a Note 2 then 4 since @ 2012-2013. I just bought a used Note 8 and have had it for @ 3 days. I really don't like it very much. I remember feeling like going from the the 2 -> 4 was unnecessary, but don't think I disliked the 4 when I first used it. I'm wondering if I just need to acclimate to it & tweak it to my preferences.
The camera seems awesome, I like the water resistance, I love having more RAM, fingerprint is great, otherwise:
-it feels more difficult to use
-it feels less intuitive opening multi window, using the settings menu, it feels like everything requires an extra 2-3 steps
-it doesn't feel noticeably faster to me in everyday use. Apps seem to take @ the same time to transition open, screen swiping feels about the same. Maybe it's noticeable under heavy use.
-it still takes 1:45 to charge
-the width feels much better in my hand, but I don't like the screen ratio. When using it as GPS in the car, it feels, at best, equal to the Note 4 (I think the 4's width is an advantage). It's really irritating that the top/bottom edges of videos get cut off when fullscreen. The screen color is nice.
-menu/back buttons are a wash. sometimes annoying, sometimes nice.
-i hate the s-pen pop out so far
I use my Note 4 mainly for:
-music + video playback over bluetooth earphones & connected to the car's head unit
-web browsing and/or youtube split screen
-S-Pen gets used almost daily (Note 7 stylus tips are awesome in the 4's pen!)
-GPS, I don't have many GPS problems or complaints about the receiver
-camera
I use the exclusive Note 4 features-
-swapping batteries (OEM + 2 Ankers/wall charger)
-IR transmitter @ 2-3x/week
I like that the Note 8 has-
-Awesome camera
-fingerprint sensor that you don't have to swipe
-more RAM. I haven't put it through the wringer with tons of open apps etc. Honestly I could just focus on shutting stuff down & clearing the phone more often, it's just a convenience.
-I really like pulling out the S-Pen and instantly writing on the lock screen. But pulling out the S-Pen is such a PITA compared to the 4, I think I would hate it for daily use.
-feels better in hand, I don't like the height so far.
-the curved front/back is a positive and negative
-the speaker sounds.. different. louder- i'm not sure if it's 'better'
I'm planning on reselling the 8 after 1-2 weeks. Any tips or suggestions before I do? I think I'll keep using the 4 for another few years. I've seen good reviews of the Pixel XL 2's speediness; but I have a 256gb microSD in my Note 4. I wish I could shave a couple mm's off the 4's bezels & give it some more powerful hardware. Thanks for any advice
Almost all your problems are solved in settings itself. Try to explore.
pfdeadpool said:
I've had a Note 2 then 4 since @ 2012-2013. I just bought a used Note 8 and have had it for @ 3 days. I really don't like it very much. I remember feeling like going from the the 2 -> 4 was unnecessary, but don't think I disliked the 4 when I first used it. I'm wondering if I just need to acclimate to it & tweak it to my preferences.
The camera seems awesome, I like the water resistance, I love having more RAM, fingerprint is great, otherwise:
-it feels more difficult to use
-it feels less intuitive opening multi window, using the settings menu, it feels like everything requires an extra 2-3 steps
-it doesn't feel noticeably faster to me in everyday use. Apps seem to take @ the same time to transition open, screen swiping feels about the same. Maybe it's noticeable under heavy use.
-it still takes 1:45 to charge
-the width feels much better in my hand, but I don't like the screen ratio. When using it as GPS in the car, it feels, at best, equal to the Note 4 (I think the 4's width is an advantage). It's really irritating that the top/bottom edges of videos get cut off when fullscreen. The screen color is nice.
-menu/back buttons are a wash. sometimes annoying, sometimes nice.
-i hate the s-pen pop out so far
I use my Note 4 mainly for:
-music + video playback over bluetooth earphones & connected to the car's head unit
-web browsing and/or youtube split screen
-S-Pen gets used almost daily (Note 7 stylus tips are awesome in the 4's pen!)
-GPS, I don't have many GPS problems or complaints about the receiver
-camera
I use the exclusive Note 4 features-
-swapping batteries (OEM + 2 Ankers/wall charger)
-IR transmitter @ 2-3x/week
I like that the Note 8 has-
-Awesome camera
-fingerprint sensor that you don't have to swipe
-more RAM. I haven't put it through the wringer with tons of open apps etc. Honestly I could just focus on shutting stuff down & clearing the phone more often, it's just a convenience.
-I really like pulling out the S-Pen and instantly writing on the lock screen. But pulling out the S-Pen is such a PITA compared to the 4, I think I would hate it for daily use.
-feels better in hand, I don't like the height so far.
-the curved front/back is a positive and negative
-the speaker sounds.. different. louder- i'm not sure if it's 'better'
I'm planning on reselling the 8 after 1-2 weeks. Any tips or suggestions before I do? I think I'll keep using the 4 for another few years. I've seen good reviews of the Pixel XL 2's speediness; but I have a 256gb microSD in my Note 4. I wish I could shave a couple mm's off the 4's bezels & give it some more powerful hardware. Thanks for any advice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"I wish I could shave a couple mm's off the 4's bezels & give it some more powerful hardware." How about use the Note 8! And go into the developer menu and speed up the animation! This thing flies!
- R. Kruse Ludington
Galaxy Note 8<-5<-3<-S3<-Nexus; Droid X; HTC HD2<-Touch Pro 2<-Tilt<-8525; O2 XDA II<-XDA
If you don't like the Note 8 & it's not for you, go ahead & sell it as planned. Everyone is different, no one here should convince you otherwise, they shouldn't have too, no point in asking our opinions, it's your preference. I went from Note 2 to Note 5. I'm not the type to upgrade every single year, not worth it IMO. Note 8 was a nice upgrade from the Note 5. I'm loving the Note 8, my favorite phone to date, but I'm also rooted with custom recovery so I can configure as I please, I can't live with out those features.
pfdeadpool said:
I've had a Note 2 then 4 since @ 2012-2013. I just bought a used Note 8 and have had it for @ 3 days. I really don't like it very much. I remember feeling like going from the the 2 -> 4 was unnecessary, but don't think I disliked the 4 when I first used it. I'm wondering if I just need to acclimate to it & tweak it to my preferences.
The camera seems awesome, I like the water resistance, I love having more RAM, fingerprint is great, otherwise:
-it feels more difficult to use
-it feels less intuitive opening multi window, using the settings menu, it feels like everything requires an extra 2-3 steps
-it doesn't feel noticeably faster to me in everyday use. Apps seem to take @ the same time to transition open, screen swiping feels about the same. Maybe it's noticeable under heavy use.
-it still takes 1:45 to charge
-the width feels much better in my hand, but I don't like the screen ratio. When using it as GPS in the car, it feels, at best, equal to the Note 4 (I think the 4's width is an advantage). It's really irritating that the top/bottom edges of videos get cut off when fullscreen. The screen color is nice.
-menu/back buttons are a wash. sometimes annoying, sometimes nice.
-i hate the s-pen pop out so far
I use my Note 4 mainly for:
-music + video playback over bluetooth earphones & connected to the car's head unit
-web browsing and/or youtube split screen
-S-Pen gets used almost daily (Note 7 stylus tips are awesome in the 4's pen!)
-GPS, I don't have many GPS problems or complaints about the receiver
-camera
I use the exclusive Note 4 features-
-swapping batteries (OEM + 2 Ankers/wall charger)
-IR transmitter @ 2-3x/week
I like that the Note 8 has-
-Awesome camera
-fingerprint sensor that you don't have to swipe
-more RAM. I haven't put it through the wringer with tons of open apps etc. Honestly I could just focus on shutting stuff down & clearing the phone more often, it's just a convenience.
-I really like pulling out the S-Pen and instantly writing on the lock screen. But pulling out the S-Pen is such a PITA compared to the 4, I think I would hate it for daily use.
-feels better in hand, I don't like the height so far.
-the curved front/back is a positive and negative
-the speaker sounds.. different. louder- i'm not sure if it's 'better'
I'm planning on reselling the 8 after 1-2 weeks. Any tips or suggestions before I do? I think I'll keep using the 4 for another few years. I've seen good reviews of the Pixel XL 2's speediness; but I have a 256gb microSD in my Note 4. I wish I could shave a couple mm's off the 4's bezels & give it some more powerful hardware. Thanks for any advice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't worry, you'll get used to it.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
what I miss the most from the note 4 is the leathery back and the paint on the bezel that wasn't as likely to scratch or chip.
what I definitely do not miss is the 1 year life expectancy of the motherboard.
mine died from motherboard failure after about a year, it got repaired under warranty, and a year after I got it back it died from the exact same motherboard failure.
the note 8 feels more fragile on the outside, but I definitely wouldn't ever want to go back to the note 4.
I got the 8 and used it for a month or so. I them went back to the 4 for a couple of days thinking there wouldn't be much difference but in reality the 8 is so much better.
Although I wasn't a fan of the 18:9 display initially I do prefer it now and the 4 was also noticeably slower. Even with a new Anker battery the 8 out lasts the 4 by some margin.
I still have my Note 4 as a backup but definitely no going back for me.
A side from not having the user removable battery. I actually like the Note 8 more than I expected. It is fast, the design and features are very good. Just wished that Samsung Notes and S Note had the OCR function from the Note 8.
I had the Note, Note3, LG G4 (worst decision I've ever made) and now the Note8. When I got the Note3 I thought it was the best phone ever created, with so many good features that I liked. Now, having the Note8, I feel like this is the greatest phone ever made. There's nothing about the Note8 that I don't like.
Max_Terrible said:
I had the Note, Note3, LG G4 (worst decision I've ever made) and now the Note8. When I got the Note3 I thought it was the best phone ever created, with so many good features that I liked. Now, having the Note8, I feel like this is the greatest phone ever phone. There's nothing about the Note8 that I don't like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto
- R. Kruse Ludington
Galaxy Note 8<-5<-3<-S3<-Nexus; Droid X; HTC HD2<-Touch Pro 2<-Tilt<-8525; O2 XDA II<-XDA; Motorola StarTac
Max_Terrible said:
I had the Note, Note3, LG G4 (worst decision I've ever made) and now the Note8. When I got the Note3 I thought it was the best phone ever created, with so many good features that I liked. Now, having the Note8, I feel like this is the greatest phone ever made. There's nothing about the Note8 that I don't like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same as above, except for me I tried the LG V10 hated it.
Note 4 was my favorite so far. Obviously not withstanding technology advancement etc compared to the Note 8.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
This is my 1st Note. I remember one of my colleagues had a note some years ago and I thought it was a monstrosity at the time. But he loved the thing and he would pull that S pen out and looked like he was having a ball. Now that I have one I understand that gleam in his eye. This device is just a great big beast of functionaliy and fun and hands down one of the best devices I've owned. Almost a year after purchase and it's running as smoothly as the day it was unboxed. I'm still on Nougat and Oreo has been sitting in the cue for weeks now. My phone runs great as it is now and I don't see anything that O has to offer that compels me to risk all of the problems others have had after upgrading. Anyone else?
I Have a note 3, a note 4, a note 7 and a note 8, the note 8 is obviously the best in every aspect, only thing I sometimes miss a little is the IR blaster, and of course the removable batt, but the water resistant feature gives you peace of mind, so, it is a ttade off, my note 4 has a a very annoying echo in calls, that would be my only complaint got tired trying to eliminate it
Limeybastard said:
Same as above, except for me I tried the LG V10 hated it.
Note 4 was my favorite so far. Obviously not withstanding technology advancement etc compared to the Note 8.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wanted the V10, but it wasn't available in South Africa. The reason I went for the G4 and not the Note5, at the time, is because I wanted a slightly cheaper phone and the Note5 didn't have the SD Card storage feature, which was a deal-breaker for me.
I see a lot of people saying the Note4 is or was their favourite. I have a friend that still has a Note4 and an S8 and she says she still loves the Note4 very much. More than the S8. She basically just uses the S8 for Whatsapp and the Note4 for everything else.
Max_Terrible said:
I wanted the V10, but it wasn't available in South Africa. The reason I went for the G4 and not the Note5, at the time, is because I wanted a slightly cheaper phone and the Note5 didn't have the SD Card storage feature, which was a deal-breaker for me.
I see a lot of people saying the Note4 is or was their favourite. I have a friend that still has a Note4 and an S8 and she says she still loves the Note4 very much. More than the S8. She basically just uses the S8 for Whatsapp and the Note4 for everything else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, Note 4 was lovely. Skipped the Note 5 for the same reason you did. Not being finiky, but I'd like to see some sort of future Note model without the curved edges. I don't think the curved edges have any purpose currently.
Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk
Medevac1 said:
My phone runs great as it is now and I don't see anything that O has to offer that compels me to risk all of the problems others have had after upgrading. Anyone else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's great you like it as it is but the big argument for upgrading is the security patches...
You might find a few little extra's included that need searching for too as they aren't paraded around or listed in the changelog...
Not saying you have to but I have never had any problem with upgrades - using a non-rooted Exynos 950F.
Sometimes the pay-off is worth the risk and sometimes not, I'll leave it in your hands to decide what to do with your toy...
The curved and TV-remote type of body is definitely lame and unnecessary for a gadget that is supposed to have notes taking as its strong point. Why not leave those for the Galaxy S family ? The inability to change/remove battery is a combination of planned obsolescence and surveillance dystopia. The absence of AOSP/Lineage/Resurrection ROMs is the price we have to pay for Exynos. Battery and standby time are mediocre but at least it charges fast and the camera is good enough. The stylus is as crap/cheap as ever.
The problem is that, with Note 4, you want to go with performance/Exynos; then you basically have an unsupported/abandoned mobile, even though LineageOS has been resurrected lately in XDA by @dl12345 (original work by @bonuzzz). And the damn thing typically runs too hot and often throttles. RAM is low too.
Note 5 was a downgrade in every regard.
Note 3 was my favourite and probably the best, at least regarding popularity/support/market impact. But no OIS, terrible camera performance by today's standards (especially if you got rid of Samsung ROMs in order to make sense for having it), and the phone's built quality leaves a lot to be desired (Note 4 was an improvement).
A Note 7/FE with removable battery and a better built stylus would have been the ideal phone for me but designers/marketers/managers at Samsung never have a clue.
My Note 4 died a view months ago so I bought a Note 8. Although it has more power and all I still miss my Note 4. I hate the round edges of my Note 8. It's a pain in the a.. to use it with remote desktop. Those edges are good for nothing. I also hate the fact that I can't replace the battery anymore. Now I have to carry a power bank with me, while before I just had a fully charged replacement battery with me.
Screen and power is very good, but the old screen was better as it has not had this silly aspect ratio. I want to show my pictures with my phone, but due to the silly aspect ratio, I have huge black borders left and right and the actual area feels smaller than on my Note 4.
So yes, I liked my Note 4 more, but the Note 8 is not a bad phone at all.
...
Fellow XDA Members I was fortunate enough to have had some hands on time with the S10 5G, I thought I would share what I found with you so if you are thinking about buying one in the future or waiting for it over the standard S10 Plus, feel free to ask me any questions. I have also created a video about the S10 5G and the link is below but please read my experience with it first, VIDEO LINK HERE: https://youtu.be/dyrG-nAJFvc
Holding it in my hand I realise how big this phone is but it still feels smaller than I thought it would thanks to the hole punch camera design infact I would say it feels very similar in size to my Note 9. In a similar vein to the other S10 models Samsung has chosen to give us an aluminium frame sandwiched between two panes of curved glass with gorilla glass 6 covering the screen. I’m glad they didn’t go with a stainless steel frame otherwise it would be a very heavy device. The back has a stunning new colour that Samsung is calling Titan which has a rainbow shimmer effect but it will also be available in silver and gold.
The screen is stunning, a massive 6.7inches way bigger than the S10 plus but Samsung has also said that it is a wide Quad HD Plus screen with Dynamic Amoled technology and boy does it look good, Samsung are the kings of mobile screens. Hidden in the screen is the all new ultrasonic fingerprint sensor which works well and only needs the slightest touch to unlock the phone even when the screen is off.
Running this titan is the Snapdragon 855 the same as the other s10 models, but the difference is Samsung has included the X50 modem chip which gives it that hyper fast 5G connectivity. Of course none of this matters if the battery is not up to par and wisely Samsung has included a 4600 mah power pusher in the S10 5G. Samsung has also included the all new 25W fast wired charging capability which according to Samsung will charge the phone from 0 to 20% in just 10 minutes and to 100% in less than an hour. Just like the S10 plus the 5G has fast wireless charging 2.0 and wireless power share.
It will come with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of inbuilt storage but unfortunately it is not expandable due to lack of room within the phone.
This video wouldn’t be complete if I didn’t talk about the cameras, firstly it is obvious to see the punch hole in the screen is bigger than the one on the standard S10 plus. That is because it now houses the same 10mp f1.9 primary camera and 8mp f2.2 depth sensor but also included is an all new HQVGA 3D depth sensing camera which will be used for advanced AR features and is capable of measuring distances. This same sensor is included in the rear camera cluster alongside the 12mp variable aperture primary lens, the telephoto 12mp f2.4 camera and the ultra wide 16mp f2.2 sensor which gives a 123 degree viewing angle like human eyes.
Like the other s10 models the 5G comes with android 9.0 onboard and all the pie goodness such as night mode, the sleeker ui design, gesture controls and an overall smoother experience. So you are thinking great device I would love to own one, well I have a different opinion, now hear me out , my issue is that I don’t believe it will sell well because Samsung have said it will be released in summer. Now bearing in mind the networks won’t be fully 5 g ready by then coupled with the fact that the 5G Note 10 will be only a couple of months away, I can see consumers waiting for that instead of investing in the S10 5G.
Nice write up my friend, yeah your conclusion is the same as to why I went with the S10+ and I am happy with my choice. I will be getting the note so holding off for the S10+ 5G didn't make sense.
However I think it is indicative as to what the Note 10 will bring and boy is it going to be good....:good:
Good to hear your review! I'm going to enjoy my S10+ for a while and wait for 5G to get established...
i just not sure how I am going to afford the 5G plan in U.S.
So I am fine with Note 9 and s10
Thanks for taking the time to do the write up. I'll be looking to trade up to this once available for sure!!
Duncan1982 said:
Nice write up my friend, yeah your conclusion is the same as to why I went with the S10+ and I am happy with my choice. I will be getting the note so holding off for the S10+ 5G didn't make sense.
However I think it is indicative as to what the Note 10 will bring and boy is it going to be good....:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Note 10 will be fantastic if the rumours are true, I'm looking forward to it definitely.
shollywood said:
Thanks for taking the time to do the write up. I'll be looking to trade up to this once available for sure!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not tempted to wait for the note 10?
ramheer said:
Not tempted to wait for the note 10?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not if it's anything like the s10+. Going back to Note 9 though.
shollywood said:
Not if it's anything like the s10+. Going back to Note 9 though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand, the note 9 is still one of the best devices out
Good review
Yes, yes, it's possible to love a phone. Heck, you sleep next to it, don't you? Rate this thread to indicate your love for the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+, all things considered. A higher rating indicates that the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ is an incredible phone that you enjoy tremendously. You love it.
Then, drop a comment if you have anything to add!
So perhaps this review might be slightly contradictory to my other thread (Samsung Giving up or....). Only way to find out is to dive right in......
So I'm not here to praise or affiliate myself with a particular brand, what I mean is that some very much love Samsung and don't like any criticism, or others may disagree and that's fine (my words are just from my perspective). Everyone has there own likes, things they find useful, basically we are all different and that is just fine. Opinions from others that may follow are to be respected as we all won't share the same experience or views.
The Galaxy Note 10 got released in two variants oh wait no make that three, and yes I think this is a good idea (although price points i am not agreeable on).
However as the title suggests this little review is based on the model I have SM-N976b that's the Exynos 9825 5G variant.
Display: What we have is a 6.8" Dynamic Amoled Display and there is very little disputing it's best in class. From the vibrant colours to the deep blacks it really is a stunning screen. The punch-hole is symmetrical and really doesn't get in the way or my enjoyment (however some might not like, and find it distracting). I tend to appreciate larger displays (having recently purchased the Mate 20 X 5G 7.2") I was particularly pleased that Samsung decided to make the Display larger on the + variant. With it being a note , that is aimed at productivity and media 6.8" was/is a delight for me personally.
Performance: The performance of the 9825 is marginal if anything above the 9820 (used on the S10, S10+). However I get tired of the complaints, yes perhaps the 855 is marginally better in certain areas, it's not a huge gulf between the two that is going to dramatically affect the user experience. I have found it to be very fast and fluid and hasn't hindered my experience. Basically it performs as a flagship processor should. Very little complaints from me.
Functionality: We have the good old S-Pen and without a doubt it's still industry leading (Perhaps because not many oem's have decided to compete) however as a productivity tool it's fantastic (wether you use it not). I am not sold on the Harry potter waving the pen around, it's just a feature that I think Samsung could have left out & focused that time and resources in another area. However I get that they wanted to add something else to the pen, but I don't think many will be using it.
You have here with the Note 10+ a device that offers up great features as in improving DeX to be used as a virtual environment on a laptop (Some may benefit from this) link to Windows to provide that ecosystem and connection with your PC/Laptop. We also have Gamelink (Conning Soon) along with all the other things like app edge, dual window. So it really does offer up that fantastic functionality.
Battery: Well I have the Mate 20 X and with the 7.2" Display (all be it 1080p) it without a doubt lasts longer than the Note 10+, wouldn't say by a huge margin, I usually and can easily get 7hrs on the note, but with the X it can be 8+, but EMUI is more restrictive in app management. I think the Note could be better optimised and I'm sure with updates it will.
Camera: The cameras on the Note all be it just little improvements over the S-Line, they perform well in most areas, fall short in others. Yes you can say the P30 Pro or pixel are better, some areas yes they most certainly are, but even they fall short in let's say the video department, so as a balanced camera then yeah it's great and that is what I look for, if you want the best if everything Also buy the P30 Pro & Pixel and carry around 3 devices
Design: I think this is where Samsung spent a chunk of time, with the Display & rearrangement, all be it most certainly Q's from Huawei but that's not a negative thing and I absolutely love what Samsung have done here. It's a stunning device.
My Honest opinion: I was complaining slightly that Samsung perhaps could of should of done more and I still stand with that in certain areas. These are in the camera software, perhaps that 90hz (yes I don't think this was possible, due to the S-Pen), but would have been a nice option, but when you look at it, its an iterative improvement, but the areas of focus have been done well, and here we have a stunning productivity device that will make many users happy, but leave some disappointed as expectation, left us without some of the little things we are seeing from others not here on the note.
After using it now for 5 days I fully appreciate a nice and solid device that covers most areas well, but like any device falls short in others. I'm very happy with my purchase and I hope you all are to
Please feel free to add to this, or add in constructive criticism, it's all appreciated, just be respectful, and don't disregard others opinions (unless they are just rediculous).
Duncan1982 said:
So perhaps this review might be slightly contradictory to my other thread (Samsung Giving up or....). Only way to find out is to dive right in......
So I'm not here to praise or affiliate myself with a particular brand, what I mean is that some very much love Samsung and don't like any criticism, or others may disagree and that's fine (my words are just from my perspective). Everyone has there own likes, things they find useful, basically we are all different and that is just fine. Opinions from others that may follow are to be respected as we all won't share the same experience or views.
The Galaxy Note 10 got released in two variants oh wait no make that three, and yes I think this is a good idea (although price points i am not agreeable on).
However as the title suggests this little review is based on the model I have SM-N976b that's the Exynos 9825 5G variant.
Display: What we have is a 6.8" Dynamic Amoled Display and there is very little disputing it's best in class. From the vibrant colours to the deep blacks it really is a stunning screen. The punch-hole is symmetrical and really doesn't get in the way or my enjoyment (however some might not like, and find it distracting). I tend to appreciate larger displays (having recently purchased the Mate 20 X 5G 7.2") I was particularly pleased that Samsung decided to make the Display larger on the + variant. With it being a note , that is aimed at productivity and media 6.8" was/is a delight for me personally.
Performance: The performance of the 9825 is marginal if anything above the 9820 (used on the S10, S10+). However I get tired of the complaints, yes perhaps the 855 is marginally better in certain areas, it's not a huge gulf between the two that is going to dramatically affect the user experience. I have found it to be very fast and fluid and hasn't hindered my experience. Basically it performs as a flagship processor should. Very little complaints from me.
Functionality: We have the good old S-Pen and without a doubt it's still industry leading (Perhaps because not many oem's have decided to compete) however as a productivity tool it's fantastic (wether you use it not). I am not sold on the Harry potter waving the pen around, it's just a feature that I think Samsung could have left out & focused that time and resources in another area. However I get that they wanted to add something else to the pen, but I don't think many will be using it.
You have here with the Note 10+ a device that offers up great features as in improving DeX to be used as a virtual environment on a laptop (Some may benefit from this) link to Windows to provide that ecosystem and connection with your PC/Laptop. We also have Gamelink (Conning Soon) along with all the other things like app edge, dual window. So it really does offer up that fantastic functionality.
Battery: Well I have the Mate 20 X and with the 7.2" Display (all be it 1080p) it without a doubt lasts longer than the Note 10+, wouldn't say by a huge margin, I usually and can easily get 7hrs on the note, but with the X it can be 8+, but EMUI is more restrictive in app management. I think the Note could be better optimised and I'm sure with updates it will.
Camera: The cameras on the Note all be it just little improvements over the S-Line, they perform well in most areas, fall short in others. Yes you can say the P30 Pro or pixel are better, some areas yes they most certainly are, but even they fall short in let's say the video department, so as a balanced camera then yeah it's great and that is what I look for, if you want the best if everything Also buy the P30 Pro & Pixel and carry around 3 devices
Design: I think this is where Samsung spent a chunk of time, with the Display & rearrangement, all be it most certainly Q's from Huawei but that's not a negative thing and I absolutely love what Samsung have done here. It's a stunning device.
My Honest opinion: I was complaining slightly that Samsung perhaps could of should of done more and I still stand with that in certain areas. These are in the camera software, perhaps that 90hz (yes I don't think this was possible, due to the S-Pen), but would have been a nice option, but when you look at it, its an iterative improvement, but the areas of focus have been done well, and here we have a stunning productivity device that will make many users happy, but leave some disappointed as expectation, left us without some of the little things we are seeing from others not here on the note.
After using it now for 5 days I fully appreciate a nice and solid device that covers most areas well, but like any device falls short in others. I'm very happy with my purchase and I hope you all are to
Please feel free to add to this, or add in constructive criticism, it's all appreciated, just be respectful, and don't disregard others opinions (unless they are just rediculous).
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Not too much to add here.
Really great package!
Terrible speakers
Worst cellular connection to date
Bloatware
tethering feature is broken/lags
Pretty much fantastic in every aspect, minus four:
- terrible battery life (the worst I've ever had to my opinion, compared to Mate 9, Note 4 and Xperia Z1...)
- no high refresh rate display (and still annoying OLED motion blur)
- slow/unsecure unlocking (UDFS/front camera)
- Samsung's "OneUI" software is good overall, but has still strong geographic differences (in term of app availability, see goodlock software for exemple), and doesn't allow you to tweak your terminal to the extent to it should be possible (Galaxy Theme store (yerk!) should basically be Substratum (lite) + Synergy))
darkphoenix2012 said:
Terrible speakers
Worst cellular connection to date
Bloatware
tethering feature is broken/lags
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It is really amusing to see how some complain about mainly, battery, speakers, camera and signal, to the grade of "terrible", "worst" etc, I have no complain at all, I come from a note 8, which indeed was an excellent device, and this note10+ is way better, in all aaspects, I did not have the 9, but I have heard always that it was just a little increment over the 8, any way, I am really, really pleased with my note10+, the best device I have had
winol said:
It is really amusing to see how some complain about mainly, battery, speakers, camera and signal, to the grade of "terrible", "worst" etc, I have no complain at all, I come from a note 8, which indeed was an excellent device, and this note10+ is way better, in all aaspects, I did not have the 9, but I have heard always that it was just a little increment over the 8, any way, I am really, really pleased with my note10+, the best device I have had
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Ditto x10!
Sent from my Note 10+ using Tapatalk
And would you guys say note 10+ over note 10?
tileeq said:
And would you guys say note 10+ over note 10?
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As far as i'm concerned yes...
- battery life
- microSD
- TOF, even though still beta-like software for 3D scan, but works very well for blurring background photos (you can see it when comparing front cam and rear cam)
- larger screen, cause i love this (better for watching videos or multitasking)
I would always feel like i have a sub phone if i went note10 route but that's juste me
Downside is the weight of note10+, i find it kinda heavy in the hand.
Yeah, I absolutely love my note10+
I absolutely love my Note 10+. I wish I had pre-ordered, but I wasn't ready for an upgrade from my Note 8 yet.
I got the Aurora Glow (Snapdragon, Verizon US), mainly because it was the one that was readily available and I wouldn't have to wait. I thought I'd just slap a case on it and never have to look at it, but it turns out I love that crazy rainbow bastard and got a nice clear case. I'm averaging 7hrs of SOT (at highest resolution, no power savings, wifi/data, etc), I haven't had to "top up" during the day once since I got it. Sleep drain is almost non-existent...maybe 4-5% overnight (6-7hrs) with WiFi and bluetooth on. I do a lot of artwork on the fly, and this is even more of a workhorse than my Note 8 was. I do multi-layered (usually 12-20 layers) drawings in Medibang Paint at at least 600dpi and this glorious phone doesn't even stutter. AND (and I know a lot of you don't like it) I was psyched to see a screen protector pre-installed. I know it's a crappy one, but it was great to have while waiting for my "real" one to show up. Really small, but well-appreciated, inclusion. I don't even mind the loss of a headphone jack as much as I thought I would. My portable battery has the wireless charging built in (not that I've needed to use it yet), and I think the sound in the USB C headphones included is better than the ones I got with my Note 8.
My ONLY complaint is the camera. Photos look overly soft, and faces seem flattened out. My Note 8 took much better photos out of the box. At least, in my case, it definitely seems to be a software issue...because using GCam improves the photos dramatically. And it seems that Sammy has already released an update to address photo quality...I just have to wait for Verizon to push out the damn thing. I don't take pro photos or anything, 90% of my picture taking is my kids...but my Note 8 gave me much clearer photos of them running around than I've gotten from my 10+. That being said, I know there's a fix on the way so I'm not going to piss and moan too much about it. I look forward to really using the hell out of the camera once it's updated, especially night mode...I didn't have that on my Note 8.
All in all, nothing but love for this phone.
I perceive the photos to be better than those of my note8, yesterday an update mainly for the fingerprint and camera, became available for my note10+, I am yet to see what improvements it may yield
I was looking at a new Chinese flagship (Realme X2 Pro) but then got to play with Dex on a 10 - bought the Note 10+ dualSIM right there, coming from an S8+. Dex is just fantastic, on my Windows or Mac computers, with an additional 95W wall charger and a 100w USB C hub. Now the phone is fully integrated in my desktop workflow and part of the hub with other devices I own, and I love the ability to cut&paste from/to the phone from my main Windows machine. All other elements one comes to expect from a Samsung flagship are there of course, and video quality is excellent. Writing with the S-Pen on the Nebo App is enough for note taking - I can leave the iPad Pro at home for meetings. And Amazon Germany gave a unexpected $120 rebate, plus tax return from Amazon upon leaving the EU, got a great deal altogether. My S8+ lasted three years and thanks to this community is updated well, will now go to my wife.
3 Stars. The magic is lost. Nothing is special about the series anymore.
Call me jaded as someone who's owned every iteration since the Note 2, but this is not the best from the best that previous Note series enjoyed. Same cameras from S10. Would have liked a better tech that includes a seamless uninterruption of the screen. I can do without a social media whore cam or have a motorized selfie cam for those selfie whores. Also, could have used a speedier screen refresh rate found on the the cheaper One+. Otherwise, speed, battery life, features, all the best android has to offer. Nothing earth shattering and futuristic like the first time we saw the Note Edge or Note 5 or BT pen from note 9. Still has a hole in the screen. Still has a "just a refreshed design until next iteration" look. Screen size increased by a hair. Even diluted the brand by making a smaller Note. I usually go for the best but since I had the blue Note 9, I wanted something different and the Aura Blue is gorgeous but disappointed it only comes in 256gb, another ding against Samsung. Overall, 3 stars because the Note series is known for cutting edge and when you have a camera stolen from an older phone and when you decide to toss in a gimmicky AR camera that everyone used for the first minute and forget about but failed to work on the thing that everyone uses 90% of the time, the screen, like incorporate a 120 refresh rate or do away with the hole or notch, then you aren't living to the high standard that the Note series are known for and that its fanbase expects. You used to be able to say, look what my phone has that you don't. Reverse charging? woopty do. My S10 had that before you. 3 cameras? "Stereo" speakers? Well, my phone has a built in BT stylus. So, my cheaper Note 10 does too! *facepalm* We no longer have something special. Used to be we had it first and then it trickled to other devices. Now, it's the other way around.
The one and only phone, not a tablet, that has this unique feature, the spen, there is the "magic"
winol said:
The one and only phone, not a tablet, that has this unique feature, the spen, there is the "magic"
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Pay attention. You're wrong. We're reviewing the Note 10+. So this isn't the only phone with the s pen. If you pay attention, the diluted note 10 also has one as well as the upcoming note 10 lite. So it still stands, the magic is lost.
As this thread is about the 10+, I am referring to the note10+, so, you pay attention
winol said:
The one and only phone, not a tablet, that has this unique feature, the spen, there is the "magic"
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winol said:
As this thread is about the 10+, I am referring to the note10+, so, you pay attention
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mod edit: removed unnecessarily rude comment
skoobz said:
mod edit: removed unnecessarily rude comment
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Please check your private messages. Remeber folks this is a fun hobby for us all. There's never a need to get fired up and taking jabs and low blows. If you're starting to get heated just log off and go do something else or keep scrolling.
Let me preface this by saying I am picky about my phones and this is one of the worst I have seen in years! If you have an old phone I can understand some of the upgrade but here are my thoughts coming well staying with a Note 10+. Never bought and returned a phone this quick. Returning before it is even released on Friday!!
Let's start with the good, well somewhat......
Screen: Once again Samsung delivers a world class screen. Best in brightness, color accuracy, etc etc everything like normal that they always produce in their flagships. Now for the downsize, the infamous 120hz screen refresh rate. Not worth it here. Smoother scrolling, sure but barely. I honestly don't even mind the 1080p and 120 hz just the need for the 120hz on a phone is overkill. Was gaming smoother sure, do I game much on my phone, no not really. The 240 touch response I can tell more of a difference and a worthy difference then the 120 hz refresh
Processing power: Phone is fast, minus animations. Photo processing, night mode shots are a big difference. Much faster in that aspect. Wish we saw little more ram and more storage though at this price
Battery: 5000 mah in this device makes it a little thicker but in my short one day of use it stood up pretty well to transferring apps and everything over and hard use for a few hours last night. Couldn't kill it
and now the bad
Camera: throw all the numbers at it and it will be great.... well not so fast. Main shooter in 12 or 108 mp mode cannot focus on anything. Piece of paper on desk in front of you, good luck. Zoom a few feet away from you, also good luck. 5x/10x/30x zoom is better then Note 10+ of course but how often are you going to use this? Everyday? Once a week? Once a month? Still not great quality (usable) at 10x or 30x really so no point in my book. 5x is crisp but falls off too much after that for me to use. Wide angle is same as note so no real improvement here. Camera also seems to make everything more saturated then I like as well almost to the point of unrealistic. The one and only thing the iPhone can do well and the note seems to be closer to that realistic representation then the Ultra.
Design: not that the design is bad but feels a tad on the chunkier side. Rounder edges do help but does not feel as sleek as nice to hold as note or even s10. Thicker as well to house that battery and camera module. Also worried about how scratched the module bump will become after months of abuse.
UI: Let me first say I hate Android 10/Samsung UI 2.0, I am still using 9 and the Ultra reminded me why. App animations are slow (yes can fix in dev options but still), quick replying to text or message in status bar is not instant like prior android generations. Don't know if this is an android 10 or Samsung UI 2.0 problem but seems like it should be an upgrade not a downgrade
Price: $1400 is a lot even for 2020. That is also only for 128 gb and 12 gb ram model. So no upgrade to ram compared to Note and a loss of half the storage compared to entry level note. Plan was to trade in note 10+ and pay $800 and it isn't worth that tp be honest. Not even close. Only foreseeable upgrades are little brighter screen and zoom lens. The rest is a downgrade to me or the same.
I will continue to use note 10+ until Note 20 maybe? Needs to have something better for the money it is going to cost though