Galaxy note 2 dimensions

Problem solved

Pluses: 1. Just an incredible screen. Now you can really watch anything without switching to a laptop or tablet 2. The 1.6 GHz processor is just incredible work speed. 3. Memory - Finally 2 gigs. After the first Note, I feel that now she is really missing. Against the background of 3 games, the Internet, YouTube and it all opens instantly without restarting. Bravo! 4. Due to this iron, several chips were screwed in, such as swipe your palm in front of the screen and the phone will show you the current time, charge, missed calls, etc. Finally, a normally working smart backlight. He follows the eyes well, sees even at sharp angles, does not dull like the first Note, determining the eyes when he lies on the table and looks at the ceiling :) 5. The pen - who used the first Note and used the pen there - will appreciate it. Quickly took a picture, painted on, wrote down the contract number, phone number during the call - in general, anything. In fact, this is no longer a pen, but a kind of replacement for a mouse on a PC (I will not describe all the functions, because they are simply heaps of them there). 6. Battery - 3.1 A for a mobile device is simply not realistic. 7. Body materials - I don't know how anyone, but the materials used did not raise any questions. The back cover is a kind of "bumper" to compensate for the impact when falling, hence its softness. For me, let it fly off when dropped, which will crack the touch glass (and it cracks despite Gorilla Glass 2). 8. Camera - I didn't notice much difference between SGS3 / Note 1 and this one, although someone (and in the reviews) says that there is a difference. I like the photos - that's why the dignity is 9. Speaker - the first Note just squeaked compared to this speaker. Accidentally turned on the music, forgetting about the volume, yelled so that he made it quieter. Sounds pretty much like the iPhone 5 or Nokia. 10. Vibration - Note 1 was simply incomprehensible in this regard. Immediately vibration is like on good old Nokia. Felt even in a coat. Disadvantages: 1. Because of the NFC antenna, the inscription on the back cover is sprayed with paint. I do not know if it will be erased or not, because the phone is already in the case, but after the first Note / SGS3 it is somehow strange. There the inscription is embossed and pasted in with metal letters. 2. Battery - oddly enough, but it got into disadvantages. Firstly the weight. I put it in the phone and you immediately feel that it weighs the most - but there's nothing you can do about it - lithium is heavy. Secondly, the capacity. Yes, I expected more - especially as the former owner of Note 1. But in the end it turned out that if it is lying and used as a phone or an Internet / YouTube viewer, then it really lasts for 2 days. But it was worth playing games (3D shooters and 3D racing) as 4 1.6 GHz cores gobbled up this huge battery in 4 hours. The only thing that pleases is that the iPhone 5 eats a battery when playing games as well, only its screen resolution is smaller and its hardware is weaker. 3. The nib is purely a nitpick, but for some reason, when I remove the nib, a slight abrasion remains on it at the working end. You have to wipe it down. Apparently, something in the stamping was screwed up in the case, you have to wait until this burr is mechanically erased :) 4. The screen - yes it is gorgeous, but. Looking at the pentyle on the Note1 and SGS3 as well as on the SIPS Retina on the iPhone5, I really see that the image is not as clear, as if it was slightly blurred with blur. Maybe this is purely my quibbles, but I honestly expected more clarity from the fonts (although I knew about a lower resolution and PPI when I bought it). But the font does not break, as on the pentyle, because here is an RGB matrix, and the pixels are square (looked at 10x magnification) Comment: Moved to it from Note 1. Moved solely because of the hardware. For on the first, there was a catastrophic lack of RAM, as well as processor cores. The slowdowns (especially after switching to JeallyBean 4.1.2) were so noticeable that sometimes I didn't want to use the device. Well, the fact that after minimizing the game and watching the video on YouTube, returning to the game, I see it loading from the beginning - finally convinced me of the need to switch. Yes, it is big, but honestly, having an iPhone 5, SGS3, Note 1 and this one, for some reason my hand still reaches for it, even despite its shortcomings (albeit not large). The device is really cool, and I already see that it will replace my laptop and tablet for the next 2 years for sure. Verdict - if you need a replacement tablet or netbook, take it, you will not regret it. For people who are not switching from Note 1, the phone will most likely have a wow effect!

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Problem solved

Pluses: Quality of performance. Screen. Performance. Ease of use. Energy survivability (battery). The quality of communication and data transmission. Sound (both external and for conversation). The quality of satellite reception during navigation. Disadvantages: Does not connect to XP as a disk. Only as a media device. Files can be moved, but small "dances with a tambourine" are needed. Everything is fine in Win7. A little tricky settings - you need to get used to it. The absence of the "search" button is sometimes annoying and you have to perform several actions instead of one. Commentary: I didn’t write a review right away to calm down my emotions. Everything is strong, precisely, beautiful. Looks stylish and expensive. A couple of times I have already fallen on the floor from the height of my chest - without consequences. The first phone without a film on the screen is not needed in principle. It fits into the pocket of jeans like a glove. The resolution is excellent - HD movies look very impressive. The sensor is sensitive, responds gently and accurately. The brightness is almost always 0-25%. More is needed only in the sun. Performance ... I've turned on the power saving mode permanently (it cuts down on CPU performance). In this case, tel. I have never slowed down yet. Those. the performance margin is huge. But the battery saving is obvious (I will write below). The connection keeps excellent, 3G and WiFi catches very quickly, even with a minimum signal strength, data reception is confident. In the metro, when I enter the station, communication and the Internet are connected in the first 2-3 seconds, during the parking time, you can easily load the site, which is not the case with all phones. The call can be heard from any pockets (to be honest, it yells "like a victim") Several types of vibration, even your own can be created - this is the first time I've met. The sound from the speaker is powerful and even with some bass. The sound from the headphones ... I would call it correct. No need to play with EQ and effects. The sound chip is like the best players. Power - with a large margin. Even in the subway, in old cars (hedgehogs), I do not make it louder 60-70%. Separately - about the battery. When I hadn't played enough with the phone and tortured him almost all day, sometimes it was not enough for 2 days. Now it is stable for 3 days, while reading, video, music and playing takes at least an hour or two a day, plus the Internet every evening for an hour and a half. On the third day, at 30% charge in the morning, I boldly drive to work, knowing that it will be enough for the rest of the day. I can still write many different tasty little things, but I have already sprinkled enough. Conclusion: an almost ideal smartphone for our time. You won't find better.

Recently, our laboratory tested the flagship smartphone from Samsung Galaxy S3. Not much time passed, and we got our hands on another flagship of the company, which is already the second in a row - this is a stylish, confident Samsung Galaxy Note 2. This device received almost the same functions as the S3, but there are some differences ... In its lineup Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is undoubtedly the best and can compete with any new products. So let's move on to a closer look at the incredible Samsung Galaxy Note 2 gadget.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 price

So let's start with the simplest thing - the price. Samsung Galaxy Note 2 will cost its customers approximately 24,000 rubles. What do we get for this tidy sum? This is a stylish flagship device that opens up a huge number of possibilities for us and just an excellent version of a mobile device that allows us to quickly and efficiently perform almost any job.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 package contents

The set includes:
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 2 device itself
  • Charger
  • Headphones with additional pillows (I would like to note that this type of headphone does not quite suit me, the feeling that they are made to pump sulfur from the ears)
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Warranty card
  • Several brochures

In other words, a standard set of options.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 specifications

  • SoC Exynos 4412, 1.6 GHz, four cores
  • GPU Mali-400 MP
  • Operating system Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean
  • Touch display Super AMOLED HD, 5.55 ″, 720 × 1280, capacitive, multitouch
  • Random access memory (RAM) 2 GB, internal memory 16/32/64 GB
  • Micro SD card slot up to 64 GB
  • HSPA + 21 Mbps
  • Bluetooth 4.0
  • Wi-Fi 802.11a / b / g / n
  • GPS / Glonass
  • NFC, Wi-Fi Direct, MHL
  • Cameras 8 Mp 1.9 Mp, LED flash
  • Working with the electronic S Pen
  • Li-ion battery 3100 mAh
  • Dimensions 80.5 x 151.1 x 9.4 mm
  • Weight 180 g

  • If you look at the characteristics of the flagship smartphone Samsung Galaxy Note 2, we can say that these are pretty good indicators. Of course, it may seem to someone that it is too big and uncomfortable. We can agree with this, but do not forget that this is not an ordinary mobile phone with a standard set of functions, where you can type SMS messages and call your friends. Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is a new and high-tech device, created, most likely, for business people who do not have time to sit for days in front of their computers.

    Samsung Galaxy Note 2 appearance

    At first glance, the device resembles its predecessor, the Galaxy Note, but in an enlarged format. Someone might think that this is a large inconvenient contraption that can only be used at home, but this is not entirely true. The Note 2 came to our lab with a stylish case in which the gadget can be easily carried anywhere. It will be safely stored in it, and unnecessary scratches that begin to appear after carrying phones in your pocket will not bother your user.


    Also, do not forget that our Korean friends do not pay much attention to appearance, everything is strict here, there is not even a hint of any smooth lines. The body of the device is made according to the manufacturer's standard scheme, and the build quality is very good.


    The back glossy cover slides well on the hand, but this can hardly be called a good quality in this device. Dimensions and so not small, there is still a fear of dropping it out of hand. And endless fingerprints on the phone make you wipe it down almost after every use. The main thing is not to rub the hole. I had similar feelings even when testing the flagship of the Korean company Galaxy S3. By the way, all the buttons are located in the same way as on the S3, and there are no special differences in the devices, except for the large dimensions.


    "Is it comfortable to hold it in your hand?" - you ask. Personally, I have some discomfort, and this despite the fact that my hand is quite large. One can only imagine how our fragile girls will cope with this. It is rather inconvenient to work with one hand, but if you pull the other hand to help, then the device is completely under your control.


    Let's see how the elements of the device are located:

    Samsung Galaxy Note 2 sound quality

    So let's move on to one of the main features of mobile devices - sound. Let's be honest and frank, I haven't heard anything like that in sound quality. Of course, it differs from budget devices - in the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, it is more saturated. However, at maximum volume, problems begin - rattling and other bad things.
    We connect the headphones, as I already noted, I did not really like them. The sound quality is pretty decent, but I found it lacking in bass. Also, headphones open access to FM radio.
    As for the speakers, everything is pretty good. You hear the interlocutor clearly and distinctly, and he can hear you too. But there is one thing: due to the large size of this device, it is not very convenient to hold it near the ear, there is some discomfort. I think it's best to use a headset of some kind.

    Samsung Galaxy Note 2 screen

    So, let's start with the most interesting thing - this is the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 display. It is made using Super Amoled technology, and this is already a huge number of advantages:
    • Incredible viewing angles
    • Brightness on top and much more.

    As I said, the flagship of the Korean company Galaxy S3 has already been tested on our site. If we compare these two models in terms of picture quality, then, of course, I will give preference to the S3. It is unlikely that you will be able to see this in the screenshots posted, but it really is.

    • Dimensions - 69 × 118mm
    • Diagonal - 5.55 inches
    • Resolution - 1280 × 720 pixels
    • Pixel density - 265 dpi (less than the S3)

    The screen brightness is also adjustable, it can be adjusted manually, or you can put it on automatic mode. As for the sensor, it is simply great, it responds very well (it is possible to be controlled by multitouch gestures). An important point - Samsung Galaxy Note 2 received a proximity sensor under its control (it blocks the display).


    Let's summarize a little. The display of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is excellent, the quality of various videos is excellent. In other words, I'm more than happy.

    Filling Samsung Galaxy Note 2

    Now let's move on to the main part of the powerful flagship of the Korean company Samsung Galaxy Note 2. The device runs Android 4.1.1 Jelly Bean. However, this is not yet the main advantage. The developers also equipped their gadget and added Touch Wiz there, while powerfully changing the appearance of the operating system.


    What does this give our Samsung Galaxy Note 2? Thus, new possibilities open up for the device, and a huge selection of options for setting up almost any elements of the software platform is revealed. However, everything is practically the same as in the Galaxy S3 already tested in our laboratory.
    Another nice feature is multiview. You can turn it on by holding the touch-back button located on the front of the device.


    And, of course, one cannot but tell about the new arrangement of everything that is associated with the use of the S Pen. First, as already mentioned, the stylus itself has become much more comfortable to hold in the hand and, accordingly, use. In addition, the number of recorded degrees of pressure has increased, which makes the artistic possibilities of using the mini-tablet close to reality. You can choose brushes or pencils, their thickness and color of paints, make pencil sketches or draw full-color pictures. This is useful not only for real artists - ordinary people can brighten up their leisure in this way or let children draw to develop their artistic abilities.


    However, there is another program to develop artistic abilities - Paper Artist, and it is also preinstalled in the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

    You should also take some time to work with the pen. We launch the S Note program and work wonders, even the most inexperienced artist can make their fantasies come true. The application also allows you to take notes, keep certain records. Very handy when handling. It seems to me that S Note will be useful not only for business people, but also for ordinary users.


    The pen functions don't end there. We go into the gallery, we see a lot of miniature pictures, but it is not necessary to open them in order to see, you can simply present a pen to it and the picture will automatically increase. In other words, the pen is a very handy and useful thing when working with the device, its functions are almost endless.


    Let's summarize a little. Samsung Galaxy Note 2 fully met my expectations and I was satisfied. The smartphone does not freeze, everything works clearly and quickly. It is pleasant and convenient to work with the device, despite its large dimensions.

    Samsung Galaxy Note 2 battery life

    Many fans of mobile novelties try to focus on a long-lived battery. So, Samsung Galaxy Note 2 surprised me a lot. If you do not lean heavily on various toys, watching videos, then charging is enough for about two days, which just does not fit in my head. Do not try to quickly drain the battery, you are unlikely to succeed. In other words, the power consumption of this device made me very happy (lithium-ion battery with a capacity of 3100 mAh).

    Samsung Galaxy Note 2 camera

    The flagship of the Korean company Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has two cameras under its control:
    • Front (1.9 Mp) - they rarely spend a lot of time on this module, the quality is depressing.


    • The main camera (8 megapixel) is a completely different story. The camera must be treated like a girl: step to the right, step to the left and the pictures can be ruined. And if you look in general, the pictures are just gorgeous. The video quality is also excellent, everything is clear and smooth. However, there is one thing: the camera shoots better in natural light, sometimes it happens that the pictures are not very high-quality: this is if there is not enough light.


      The main feature of the main camera is that the quality of the frames can be adjusted from start to finish. From manually activating shooting mode for low light conditions, to the ability to shoot HD video.


      Here are some examples:


      Click to enlarge



      Click to enlarge

When the first Galaxy Note was born, everyone unanimously predicted its failure - they say, keep this is in the hands is impossible, only complete geeks need such a device, of which there are not so many in the world. Unexpectedly for everyone, perhaps even for Samsung itself, the Galaxy Note sold millions of copies. It was not only geeks who took it, who really do not count for millions - for example, in the Taiwanese subway at every step you can meet young beauties typing a message on a Galaxy Note to a friend in a pink case.

In general, on the wave of success, it was decided to continue. The new Galaxy Note number 2 was presented to the world at IFA in Berlin, just like its predecessor a year earlier. Presented with pomp - Koreans invited Wim Wenders, the director of the cult art-house film "Sky over Berlin", who calls himself nothing less than the first ambassador of the Galaxy Note, to the presentation. What does Wim Wenders have to do with it? While Samsung is positioning the Note as a device for those who are eager to create. Let's see what the Koreans themselves have done.

⇡ Appearance

You can't confuse the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 with almost anything - except perhaps with its only ancestor, the original Galaxy Note. The two devices are really very similar - first of all, in size: no one really produces more of such "megalopaths". The new Note has become a few millimeters longer, literally a couple - narrower and quite a bit thinner, but against the background of the overall large size, such changes are almost invisible. The mass has increased, but also quite slightly, by a few grams. But many argue that the device has become more grippy, that now it fits better in the hand. The characteristic Samsung design has not gone anywhere either. Is that the new Note has something from the Galaxy S III - there are a little more roundness in the forms, and in general the smartphone looks more modern.

Otherwise, everything is the same: a huge screen in the entire front panel, which now takes up even more space - a very thin frame, a standard Samsung combination of buttons - two touch-sensitive and one mechanical, "chrome" edging on the sides, a thin polycarbonate back cover. Backlighting the touch buttons when they are inactive is still not something Samsung sees fit, the chrome speaker grille seems to be peeling off again like it did on all previous models.

All buttons are in their usual places - to make it easier to transfer from Samsung to Samsung. Even the speaker remains where it was, and the S Pen still sticks out in the lower right corner, and it still (an old habit since Windows Mobile) sometimes you mistakenly want to shove it into the headphone jack on the right, respectively, upper corner.

The changes lie in the details: the Note 2 has a slightly more elongated mechanical button, a multi-colored LED indicator appeared - again from SGS III. In general, if the Galaxy Note seemed like a stretched Galaxy S II, then the Note 2 seems to be about the same size as the Galaxy S III. The device will be produced in two colors: white and dark blue, with the same glossy back cover. A convenient grooved lid, like the first Note, is not provided for the novelty. But the main thing in the Note 2, of course, is not restyling.

⇡ Screen

The display, however, is not the most important change either, but what is important is that it has become even larger - 5.55 inches versus 5.3 in the original one - with practically unchanged dimensions. This was achieved by changing its proportions: earlier the aspect ratio of the screen was 16:10 - 1280x800 pixels, now it is 16: 9, 1280x720 pixels. That is, the display has become a little more elongated.

Really long, right?

Here it would be possible to hint at the reduced resolution, but the display manufacturing technology has also been changed: earlier it was PenTile AMOLED, and now a full RGB AMOLED. In Samsung's marketing language, both are called HD Super AMOLED, according to the official specifications, the difference is generally impossible to discern. However, the fact is that the real screen resolution has even increased - a pixel does not consist of two subpixels, but of three. The dot density is 264 PPI, that is, it is not the notorious "retina", but the grain can be seen only if the device is close to the eyes.

Our measurements showed that the luminosity of the white field of the screen, which is traditionally low for AMOLED displays, is 161.1 cd / m2 - more than that of the Galaxy Note and Galaxy S III, but three times less than that of the Apple iPhone 5 with its IPS matrix. The contrast, of course, is huge - black practically does not glow.

The white luminosity for AMOLED is not the sum of the luminosities of the color components, as in LCD displays, but about half that. For example, only green shines even brighter than white - the green subpixel obviously has to be dimmed to form white.

But in terms of color gamut, AMOLED displays have no equal. The Galaxy Note 2, Galaxy Note and Galaxy S III have roughly the same color gamut and ... it's wider than the Adobe RGB color space, not to mention sRGB. However, it is not necessary to rejoice at this - modern graphics are usually "sharpened" after all for the sRGB space, so that on a display with such a wide gamut, colors look oversaturated, especially green.

The lack of screen brightness is compensated by its size - the total luminous flux of the Galaxy Note 2 is quite impressive. So the display can be called very, very decent: in fact, it got rid of the only drawback of the first Note screen - the PenTile, while retaining all its advantages.

⇡ Iron

Every new Samsung phone needs to outperform its predecessor in core count and speed, even if its screen resolution gets smaller. Therefore, it is not surprising that the place of the dual-core Exynos 4210 from the previous generation Note was taken by the quad-core Exynos 4412 with a frequency of 1.6 GHz. While fans of counting cores and hertz rejoice, let us remind more skeptical readers that along the way the technological process has become thinner: Exynos 4210 from the first Note were produced according to the 45 nm process technology, and the Exynos 4412 is 32 nm. But the graphics adapter is the same, Mali 400 MP4.

The subject of special delight for fans of numbers in the specifications - 2 GB of RAM. Almost no one else has this. Additional RAM, of course, eats extra watts * hours of batteries, but no application on the Galaxy Note 2 even thinks to slow down anywhere. The amount of permanent memory varies depending on the model: from 16 to 64 GB plus microSD.

Wireless capabilities have also been updated. We won't talk too much about GSM, HSPA, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi - everything is clear, but the Galaxy Note 2 has NFC and (theoretically) LTE. Here, small clarifications do not hurt.

If you look closely, you can find two pairs of contacts next to the battery. One is for connecting a special cover with wireless induction charging. Samsung does not really advertise this for the simple reason that the chargers, like the covers, are still available only as an accessory from a third-party manufacturer. Samsung itself does not do them, citing the fact that modern wireless chargers shorten battery life. The second pair of contacts on the lid corresponds to a kind of "blotch" - this is just the same NFC antenna. So all the tricks that allows you to create NFC , can be realized with the help of Galaxy Note 2.


LTE makes everything more fun and easier. Some markets, say South Korea, have a Galaxy Note 2 with LTE. Well, or will eat. And the smartphone that has visited us, and which, in fact, is planned to be sold in Russia, does without LTE - this is an ordinary GSM device with a maximum data transfer rate of 21 Mbit / s with a spherical connection to HSPA + in a vacuum. Judging by the existing data, even the 4G version of the Samsung Galaxy Note II will not work in the bands that are allocated for LTE networks in Russia.

⇡ Performance

A powerful processor paired with two gigabytes of RAM and elderly, but quite serious graphics should show very decent numbers in tests. It makes sense to compare the "plafond" first of all with its predecessor. In some benchmarks, he can chase with the iPhone 5, which has not yet descended from the lips of the masses.

The piece of iron justifies expectations: the giant device has indeed become noticeably faster than its predecessor, and, which is funny, mainly in terms of graphics. In online (and therefore cross-platform) disciplines, the iPhone is ahead, but not so far - the gap is less than 10%.

One of the strongest points of the Galaxy Note 2 is its 3,100mAh (11.78Wh, 3.8V) battery. No joke - a quarter of the battery of an average laptop! Of course, a powerful processor and a huge screen consume a lot of energy, but this does not prevent the "cover" from living without recharging at an average load of about two days. In the Antutu Tester benchmark, the device gains 659 points and is in third place in the rating of this test.

⇡ Camera

Judging by the Apple iPhone 5 and the latest Samsung models, there are no more than eight megapixels in the sensor, and it is not necessary. There are companies that think differently, but the same iPhone doesn't make it worse. The Galaxy Note 2 also features an 8-megapixel camera with LED flash.

However, if you do not change the settings, it shoots mediocre - worse than the camera in the first Note. If the settings are set correctly, the frames are quite decent. For example, under fluorescent lamps, the Galaxy Note 2 is frankly blue, but with the appropriate white balance preset it gives more or less realistic colors. And in the dark, if you don't set the night mode, the device turns any light sources into large light spots that cover part of the picture. The first Note did not suffer from such problems.

The video is recorded, of course, in Full HD-resolution, with the quality it has exactly the same problems as the photos - you have to constantly tweak the settings. There is a 2 megapixel front camera, but as usual it is better to use it exclusively for video calls.

In general, the Galaxy Note 2's camera is not doing well. It's great that she takes good pictures with the right settings, but one percent of the shooters will get to the settings when shooting on the phone, while the rest of the photos will not be of the highest quality.

⇡ S Pen

One of the main features of the first Galaxy Note at Samsung was called the S Pen (the Koreans insist: "This is not a stylus, this is an S Pen!") And, accordingly, the Wacom screen, capable of working with this pen. The fact that many during the use of the "plafond" never took out the pen from its seat did not bother the Koreans - the Galaxy Note 2 also has an S Pen, supplemented and improved.

To begin with, the pen itself has become thicker - now it is already 8 mm in diameter (let's call it a diameter, although the pen is not round in cross-section), so it is almost comfortable to hold it in your hands. At the press conference, they said something about a rubber pad for added convenience - but for some reason it was not on the S Pen we got. 1024 levels of pressure is recognized, while the original Note had only 16. By eye, however, it is difficult to determine the number of these gradations.

Moreover, now the "plafond" feels the presence of the pen, even if you do not touch the display, but only bring the S Pen to the screen at a distance of about half a centimeter. This feature has received the name Air View and has acquired a certain amount of software support: for example, if you bring the pen to the thumbnail image in the gallery, it will increase slightly.

In general, the hardware changes are a trifle compared to the amount of software bells and whistles that were not in the first Note and that appeared in the second. If you list everything, you can accidentally write a second full-length article, so let's go through the main ones.

1. Easy Clip - the ability to circle an arbitrary image on the screen, after which it is copied to the clipboard. From there it can be attached, say, to a letter. True, you won't be able to insert it into Gmail - it works only with the proprietary Samsung mail client. So an excellent, in general, feature is not yet applicable everywhere, which is sad.

2. Gestures. There is one whole button on the S Pen - and it's there for a reason. If you hold it down, the "plafond" begins to perceive a number of gestures. For example, going backwards - if you draw a squiggle of one shape, calling the menu - a squiggle of another shape. Actually, Easy Clip also refers to this kind of gesture. In addition to the above, you can take a screenshot by simply holding down the button, poking the stylus at the screen and holding it for a while. Well, and one more opportunity - by holding the pen with the button held down from the bottom up, you can call the so-called quick command menu.

3. Quick commands... In fact, someone was joking about the "fast" ones. You must first move the pen across the entire screen, in the window that appears, draw a symbol to which this or that command is attached, for another second it will be recognized - and only after that the action that you wanted to perform will finally be performed. Provided, of course, that the gesture was recognized correctly. That is, in general, it takes a lot of time.

Conveniently, you can call up the shortcut menu from anywhere, moreover, you can create commands yourself. Let's say you can draw a note symbol and hang a music player call on it. True, it is faster to call it by clicking on the corresponding icon, but coolthe same. Some kind of macros are also supported - you can not only call the message set window, but also specify who will need to send this message when entering the appropriate command.

4.S Note... The S Note application existed in the previous generation of "shades", but in the current one it has acquired unprecedented functionality. Previously, it allowed, in fact, only to combine recognized handwritten text and pictures in one note. Now, with its help, you can, say, recognize mathematical formulas. This can greatly simplify life for all those who come across them. Mathematicians will not let you lie: even in a specialized computer program, it takes several minutes to write down any double integral of a nonweak length. Everything is done in a matter of seconds.

5. Paper Artist. This application allows you to apply all kinds of filters to your photos, changing them beyond recognition and bringing more hipster pictures to the world. There are a lot of filters, they are all fun, and with the S Pen you can tint parts of the image, which adds another nice effect to one nice effect. You can also add a commentary to the picture with the S Pen. Someone can quickly get bored with it, but someone will not be able to tear themselves away, filling up the entire Internet with such pictures.

There are also many other chips, both useful and not so. For example, if you take out the pen from the device, the corresponding menu for working with “pen” applications will appear on its screen. You can also customize the "shade" so that when you remove the S Pen, a small window opens with the S Note. These are useful features in their own way. Of the controversial features, there is, for example, the following: if you bring up the pen, the smartphone stops perceiving key presses and screen touches. Or this: when you pick up the S Pen, by inertia you poke it at everything, and the touch buttons of the device are not friendly with the pen - you have to put it off and press it with your fingers.

Nevertheless, in general, the functionality of the S Pen has grown by an order of magnitude: now its presence in a smartphone is justified and even somewhat convenient.

⇡ Soft

Actually, we have already listed most of all the software charms of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 above. So let's not spread cape on the tree... The updated "plafond" works immediately for Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. This is a big plus, since many devices have been promising to update to the next version of the kind green robot for years, but not all are updated. I don't even want to talk about when these updates reach Russia and are localized.

Naturally, Android is powered by TouchWiz, which, as we said, no longer slows down and therefore does not cause any irritation. The device is detected without problems by the computer when connected, it does not hang, does not glitch and generally behaves stably and correctly - I would like to tell you about some epic failures, but everything is so efficient that there is nothing to even talk about. Boredom.

Of course, a number of preinstalled programs are found in the firmware, including demos of some toys. The most memorable of them is the wonderful game about fighting robots. One of the arenas for multiplayer shootouts in it is Moscow, and you are unlikely to see it anywhere else. If you suddenly did not know, then in the Kremlin there is nothing but the Tsar Bell and four red stars in the corners, the Mausoleum was moved away from the Kremlin wall for greater preservation, and about fifty meters from the Spasskaya Tower you can find Moscow University. Don't miss it - a few minutes of healthy laughter are guaranteed.

⇡ Conclusion

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 goes on retail sale on October 18 at a price of 29,990 rubles, and at the time of publication of this article, the device should be pre-ordered. If it seems that it costs exorbitantly a lot, recall the price of the first Note at the start of sales - 34 990. The situation with competitors is simple - the 5-inch LG Optimus Vue has not really reached Russia, so the Note 2 will only compete with its predecessor, now still pretty much cheaper.

The new "shade" is better than the old one in almost all respects: it sits more comfortably in the hand, it has an even larger screen, which is now rid of the hated PenTile, the S Pen has finally become meaningful and functional, the hardware is faster, the battery is even more more capacious. The pre-installed Android 4.1, which is likely to appear on the first Note, is also good news, but not in the very near future. The disadvantages include only the camera, which suddenly became worse, and the not quite intuitive interface for working with the S Pen. Samsung has already learned how to make hardware and bug-free interfaces, but Koreans have yet to master the complex science of ergonomics.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs. Samsung Galaxy S III

If the concept of a huge phone is close to you, then today Note 2 is the best device with a very large screen diagonal. If for you there is no difference between a giant screen and just a large one, then perhaps it is better to pay attention to the Samsung Galaxy S III - it will save almost 10 thousand, which, you see, is noticeable.

Information about the brand, model and alternative names of a specific device, if any.

Design

Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, offered colors, certificates.

Width

Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use.

80.5 mm (millimeters)
8.05 cm (centimeters)
0.26 ft (feet)
3.17 in (inches)
Height

Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use.

151.1 mm (millimeters)
15.11 cm (centimeters)
0.5 ft (feet)
5.95 in (inches)
Thickness

Information about the thickness of the device in different units.

9.4 mm (millimeters)
0.94 cm (centimeters)
0.03 ft (feet)
0.37 in (inches)
Weight

Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement.

182 g (grams)
0.4 lbs (pounds)
6.44 oz (ounces)
Volume

The approximate volume of the device, based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

114.34 cm³ (cubic centimeters)
6.94 in³ (cubic inches)
Colors

Information about the colors in which this unit is offered for sale.

White
Brown
Blue

SIM card

A SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.

Mobile networks

A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.

GSM

GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analog mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often referred to as a 2G mobile network. It is enhanced by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services) and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies.

GSM 850 MHz
GSM 900 MHz
GSM 1800 MHz
GSM 1900 MHz
UMTS

UMTS stands for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is based on the GSM standard and refers to 3G mobile networks. Developed by 3GPP and its biggest advantage is to provide more speed and spectral efficiency thanks to W-CDMA technology.

UMTS 850 MHz
UMTS 900 MHz
UMTS 2100 MHz
UMTS 1900 MHz (GT-N7100)
LTE

LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as a fourth generation (4G) technology. It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM / EDGE and UMTS / HSPA with the aim of increasing the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent development of technologies is called LTE Advanced.

LTE 800 MHz (GT-N7105)
LTE 900 MHz (GT-N7105)
LTE 1800 MHz (GT-N7105)
LTE 2600 MHz (GT-N7105)

Mobile technology and data rates

Communication between devices in mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data rates.

Operating system

An operating system is the system software that controls and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.

SoC (System on a Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) incorporates all of the major hardware components of a mobile device into a single chip.

SoC (System on a Chip)

A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software required for their operation.

Samsung Exynos 4 Quad 4412
Technological process

Information about the technological process by which the chip is manufactured. The value in nanometers is half the distance between the elements in the processor.

32 nm (nanometers)
Processor (CPU)

The main function of the processor (CPU) of a mobile device is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications.

ARM Cortex-A9
Processor size

The capacity (bits) of the processor is determined by the size (in bits) of registers, address buses and buses for data. 64-bit processors offer better performance than 32-bit processors, which, in turn, are more powerful than 16-bit processors.

32 bit
Instruction set architecture

Instructions are commands with which the software sets / controls the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute.

ARMv7
Level 1 cache (L1)

The cache memory is used by the processor to reduce the time it takes to access more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small and is much faster than both system memory and other levels of cache. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for them in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2.

32 KB + 32 KB (kilobytes)
L2 cache

L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1, but instead has a larger capacity, allowing more data to be cached. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for them in L3 cache memory (if available) or in RAM memory.

1024 KB (kilobytes)
1 MB (megabytes)
The number of processor cores

The processor core executes program instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to execute in parallel.

4
CPU clock speed

The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).

1600 MHz (megahertz)
Graphics processing unit (GPU)

A graphics processing unit (GPU) handles computation for a variety of 2D / 3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is most commonly used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, and more.

ARM Mali-400 MP4
Number of GPU cores

Like a processor, a GPU is made up of several working parts called cores. They handle the graphical computing of various applications.

4
GPU clock speed

Speed \u200b\u200bis the clock speed of the GPU and is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz).

440 MHz (megahertz)
The amount of random access memory (RAM)

Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. The data that is saved in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted.

2 GB (gigabytes)
Memory type (RAM)

Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device.

LPDDR2
Number of RAM channels

Information about the number of RAM channels which are integrated into the SoC. More channels means higher data rates.

Dual channel
RAM frequency

The frequency of the RAM determines its speed of operation, more specifically, the speed of reading / writing data.

400 MHz (megahertz)

Built-in memory

Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) fixed memory.

Memory cards

Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage space for data.

Screen

The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.

Type / technology

One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the image quality of information directly depends.

Super AMOLED
Diagonal

On mobile devices, screen size is expressed in terms of the length of its diagonal, measured in inches.

5.55 in (inches)
140.97 mm (millimeters)
14.1 cm (centimeters)
Width

Approximate screen width

2.72 in (inches)
69.11 mm (millimeters)
6.91 cm (centimeters)
Height

Approximate screen height

4.84 in (inches)
122.87 mm (millimeters)
12.29 cm (centimeters)
Aspect ratio

The aspect ratio of the long side of the screen to its short side

1.778:1
16:9
Resolution

Screen resolution shows the number of pixels horizontally and vertically on the screen. Higher resolution means sharper image detail.

720 x 1280 pixels
Pixel density

Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be shown on the screen in clearer detail.

265 ppi (pixels per inch)
104 ppcm (pixels per centimeter)
Color depth

Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in a single pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors the screen can display.

24 bit
16777216 flowers
Screen area

The approximate percentage of the display area on the front of the device.

70.04% (percent)
Other characteristics

Information about other functions and features of the screen.

Capacitive
Multitouch

Sensors

Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical metrics into signals that the mobile device recognizes.

Main camera

The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.

Sensor type

Digital cameras use photo sensors to take photographs. The sensor, as well as the optics, are one of the main factors in the quality of the camera in a mobile device.

CMOS BSI (backside illumination)
Diaphragm

Aperture (f-number) is the size of the aperture opening that controls the amount of light reaching the photosensor. A lower f-number means a larger aperture opening.

f / 2.6
Flash type

The most common types of flashes in mobile cameras are LED and Xenon flashes. LED flashes give softer light and, unlike brighter xenon ones, are also used for video filming.

LED
Image Resolution

One of the main characteristics of cameras on mobile devices is their resolution, which shows the number of pixels horizontally and vertically in an image.

3264 x 2448 pixels
7.99 MP (megapixels)
Video Resolution

Information about the maximum supported resolution for video recording by the device.

1920 x 1080 pixels
2.07 MP (megapixels)
Video - frame rate / frames per second.

Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at maximum resolution. Some of the main standard video capture and playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p.

30 frames / sec (frames per second)
Characteristics

Information about other software and hardware features associated with the main camera to improve its functionality.

Autofocus
Burst shooting
Geographic tags
Panoramic shooting
HDR shooting
Touch focus
Face recognition
Scene selection mode

Additional camera

Additional cameras are usually mounted above the device screen and are mainly used for video calls, gesture recognition, etc.

Audio

Information about the type of speakers and audio technology supported by the device.

Radio

The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.

Locating

Information about the navigation and positioning technologies supported by the device.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi is a technology that enables wireless communication for transferring data over short distances between various devices.

Bluetooth

Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless transfer of data between different types of devices over short distances.

Version

There are several versions of Bluetooth, each of which improves communication speed, coverage, and makes it easier to find and connect devices. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device.

4.0
Characteristics

Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols to enable faster communication, energy savings, better device discovery, and more. Some of these profiles and protocols that the device supports are shown here.

A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile)
AVCTP (Audio / Video Control Transport Protocol)
AVDTP (Audio / Video Distribution Transport Protocol)
AVRCP (Audio / Visual Remote Control Profile)
BNEP (Bluetooth Network Encapsulation Protocol)
EDR (Enhanced Data Rate)
GAVDP (Generic Audio / Video Distribution Profile)
GAP (Generic Access Profile)
GATT (Generic Attribute Profile)
HFP (Hands-Free Profile)
HID (Human Interface Profile)
HSP (Headset Profile)
LE (Low Energy)
MAP (Message Access Profile)
OPP (Object Push Profile)
PAN (Personal Area Networking Profile)
PBAP / PAB (Phone Book Access Profile)
SPP (Serial Port Protocol)
SDP (Service Discovery Protocol)
SAP / SIM / rSAP (SIM Access Profile)

USB

USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.

HDMI

HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a digital audio / video interface that replaces older analog audio / video standards.

Headphone jack

This is an audio connector, which is also called an audio connector. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.

Connecting devices

Information about other important connection technologies supported by the device.

Browser

A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.

Browser

Information about some of the main features and standards supported by the device browser.

Html
HTML5

Audio file formats / codecs

Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode / decode digital audio data.

Video file formats / codecs

Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode / decode digital video data.

Battery

Mobile device batteries differ in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge required for their function.

Capacity

The capacity of a battery indicates the maximum charge it can store, measured in milliampere-hours.

3100 mAh (milliampere-hours)
A type

The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, by the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with the most common mobile devices using lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries.

Li-Ion (Lithium-ion)
Talk time 2G

Talk time in 2G is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 2G network.

35 h (hours)
2100 min (minutes)
1.5 days
Standby time 2G

Standby time in 2G is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network.

870 h (hours)
52200 min (minutes)
36.3 days
Talk time 3G

Talk time in 3G is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 3G network.

17 h (hours)
1020 min (minutes)
0.7 days
3G standby time

Standby time in 3G is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network.

800 h (hours)
48000 min (minutes)
33.3 days
4G standby time

4G standby time is the period of time during which the battery is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 4G network.

840 h (hours)
50400 min (minutes)
35 days
Characteristics

Information about some additional characteristics of the device battery.

Wireless charger
Removable
Wireless charging - optional

Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)

SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body when using a mobile device.

Head SAR (EU)

The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device near the ear in a talking position. In Europe, the maximum SAR value for mobile devices is limited to 2 W / kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard was established by the CENELEC committee in accordance with the IEC standards, following the ICNIRP guidelines of 1998.

0.171 W / kg (Watts per kilogram)
Body SAR (EU)

The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed if the mobile device is held at hip level. The highest SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W / kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard was established by the CENELEC committee in accordance with the ICNIRP guidelines of 1998 and the IEC standards.

0.369 W / kg (Watts per kilogram)
Head SAR (US)

The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that a person's body is exposed to when holding a mobile device near the ear. The maximum value used in the USA is 1.6 W / kg per gram of human tissue. US mobile devices are controlled by CTIA and the FCC conducts tests and sets their SAR values.

0.229 W / kg (Watts per kilogram)
Body SAR (US)

The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed if the mobile device is held at hip level. The highest SAR value in the United States is 1.6 W / kg per gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC and CTIA monitors mobile devices for compliance with this standard.

0.954 W / kg (Watts per kilogram)

Smartphone or tablet? Many owners of this first generation device asked themselves this question. Let's review the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 N7100 this time, disassemble it according to the standard scheme, and at the end we will answer the main question: what is a Galaxy Note II - a smartphone or a tablet.

Full Galaxy Note 2 Review

For review, we have provided a white Samsung Galaxy Note 2. The first impression that I got when looking at this box is that it is significantly larger than the Samsung Galaxy S3. Well, let's not torment you in anticipation and immediately proceed to unpacking the device, as I myself am already impatient to evaluate this sensational "flagship" from Samsung.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Unboxing

We open the lid of the box and see the smartphone itself. Of course, its dimensions are impressive, and you catch yourself thinking: is this really a smartphone, as it is written everywhere, or a new type of smartphone-tablets. Well, we will talk about the device itself a little later, but for now let's analyze the contents of the box, that is, what comes with this gadget.

I would like to note right away that the very “packing” inside the box disappointed me a little. At the very top is the smartphone itself, underneath it is a paper package with instructions and other contents. It would be more logical to do this using the so-called tiers, or special compartments, as implemented by some competitors. But, of course, the packaging is not the most important thing - the main thing is the apparatus, but nevertheless ...

So, the package includes: a charger, a USB-microUSB cable (for connecting the device to a charger and to a computer), headphones and earbuds. The box also contains instructions in various languages, including Russian.

There is no point in dwelling in detail on the configuration of the box, since I personally did not see anything new personally, but it actually is not here. Everything that is invested in other Samsung gadgets is transferred from device to device, there is no evolution, let alone revolution. Basically, there is nothing more to say about unpacking. Let's go directly to the review of the smartphone.


Specifications Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has the following specifications:

  • Screen

The device is equipped with an HD Super AMOLED screen with touch control. Touch screen type: multitouch. Screen diagonal 5.55 inches. Screen resolution 720 × 1280 pixels. 16 million colors.

  • Options

Inside, the smartphone has a 4-core processor with a clock speed of 1.6 GHz and 2 GB of RAM. The volume of the built-in memory of the device is 16 GB. Support for microSD memory cards up to 64 GB. Operating system Android 4.1.

  • Camera

The main rear camera is 8 megapixels. The device includes an LED flash, autofocus and face detection. The camcorder shoots in 1080p, 30 frames per second. The front camera has 1.9 megapixels.

  • Interfaces

Supported interfaces: USB, Wi-Fi b / g / n, Bluetooth 4.0. Satellite navigation: GPS and GLONASS. Internet access can be carried out via WAP, GPRS, HSDPA, HSUPA, HSPA +.

  • Other features

The smartphone has support for one SIM card (Micro-SIM). Network standards: GSM 900/1800/1900, 3G. There is an FM radio with RDS support. Battery capacity 3100 mAh.

  • Prices for Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Prices for a smartphone vary, so the average price in online stores for a Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is 29,990 rubles. But, for example, I personally found it for 24,000 rubles.


Galaxy Note 2 visual overview

Well, let's go now directly to the external review of the smartphone. The first impression did not leave me even after I picked up this smartphone for the second time. He is really big, putting it to his ear and looking in the mirror - this situation caused me a lot of laughter, because it really reminded me of the late 90s - early 00s, when the first mobile phones appeared that could barely fit into the hand. From what they left, they came to that. If you are a serious person, then talking on such a smartphone without a Bluetooth headset is a comedy. Not for nothing that many call it a "shovel".

Of course, I couldn't help but compare the Note 2 with its predecessor, the first Note model. If you hold both devices in your hands, then the second generation of the gadget is clearly visually larger. As for the dimensions, the Note 2 is slightly longer in height, and the increase in the display diagonal from 5.3 to 5.55 inches could not but affect this. But there is also a positive factor, Note 2 has become a little narrower and this is undoubtedly a plus. Compared to the first generation, the Note 2 has an aspect ratio of 16: 9 instead of 16:10, which is the generally applicable standard.

Design ... I saw it again somewhere !? Deja vu !? I have one question for Samsung: "Are you out of ideas !?" Samsung Galaxy S3, Samsung Galaxy Grand Duos, etc. - the same design, the same approaches, but different names. Every time I review Samsung devices, I ask myself this question and, to my great regret, I cannot find the answer. The design of all these three devices is absolutely the same, no design changes, and I probably already stopped waiting for them.

South Korean luminaries are not overwhelmed by innovation until their North American rivals in Cupertino are the first to do so, introducing new designs to the iPhone. In the last 1.5 - 2 years, both of the largest smartphone manufacturers Apple and Samsung have not revolutionized technology, but only evolve, only in size and parameters, but, alas, not in design.

The smartphone has a glossy plastic body, but nevertheless, our white device does not give out too much fingerprints on the back cover, and this is of course a plus compared to the Galaxy S3. The device is held in the hand quite comfortably, but it is somewhat difficult to operate it with one hand, you must either constantly grasp the device with your hands, or help with the other hand, well, the manufacturer has put a stylus in its body to control the gadget.

It is somewhat difficult to walk with such a device on the street, because it will not fit into every pocket. But if girls can safely put it in their oversized bag, then for husbands it will be somewhat problematic.

On the front panel, in the center, there is a mechanical button "Home", on the sides of which there are 2 touch buttons: "Menu" and a button "Back". Above there is a speaker for conversations, to the right of which there are two sensors built in: light and proximity sensors. There is also a front camera on the side of the sensors. On the rear panel, in the upper center, is the main camera, to the right of which is the flash. The main speaker is located at the bottom of the rear panel, and the stylus is neatly hidden in the lower left corner.

As for the sides of the gadget, there is a volume control key on the left, and a power key on the right. On the upper side there is a 3.5 headphone jack on the left side, and a microUSB input on the bottom panel in the center.

The back cover houses the battery, memory card slot and SIM card slot - the standard architecture.

Device operation

After the first impression, let's turn on the device and test it. Despite all the shortcomings that I have outlined, the device turned out to be quite interesting. First of all, I was pleased with the large screen, compared to other "smartphones" it is really impressive. The screen is bright enough to give the impression that absolutely anything can be placed on it. It is also worth noting, as always, the beautiful Android interface, convenience and great possibilities for fine-tuning, as well as animation. The smartphone works very quickly, and I also want to note the quality of the sensor's response.

When watching a video, Note 2 works very quickly, without slowdowns. The video is loaded and processed by the device quickly enough, which is not very often the case with devices from other manufacturers. Watching a video on a smartphone is not very interesting in itself, but with the Galaxy Note 2 it is much more interesting than on the same iPhone. In addition, the device reads popular video formats, making it unnecessary to convert.

I would like to separately note the graphics of the games and the games themselves. Thanks to such a "shovel" it is a pleasure to play games, because the 5.55-inch screen is almost a mobile game console, which also makes calls and goes online. The graphics of the games are at a high level, but again I repeat - the large display plays a key role in this matter.

The video being shot is of excellent quality, and, in principle, for a home video archive shot by the phone, the video quality will be quite sufficient (1920 × 1080). As for the photo resolution, it has 3264 × 2448 pixels. The quality of such photographs is quite enough for amateur photography.

You can evaluate the work of the smartphone in more detail in the video review below.

Intellectual expectation

Remember when we looked at this feature in the Galaxy S3? This time, I could not help but test it on Note 2, since the last time I was somewhat disappointed with its work. To be honest, the function began to work quite normally, and I'm not even afraid of the word - right. Therefore, we can say that the work on the errors was done very well.

Intelligent screen rotation

I really liked this "feature". Its essence lies in the fact that when you turn on the function, the sensor monitors your face, and when you are in a horizontal position, the picture on the screen does not rotate into landscape mode, which happens in many smartphones. Although this is not a significant function, it is very convenient, especially for those who do not part with their gadget even in bed.

Working with two applications at the same time

Very often it becomes necessary to work in parallel with several applications in a smartphone. In this gadget, this issue is resolved - to do this, you need to hold down the "Back" key and a menu with applications will appear on the left side of the screen, which we can drag onto the screen. Drag one application icon to the top, and the other to the bottom, and the screen is divided into 2 parts. Applications work independently of each other, each one can be scrolled up and down separately - in a word, the idea and implementation are very good.

Overall impression of the device

The performance of the device can be estimated at 10 out of 10. Samsung has provided the gadget with very powerful components that ensure fast and high-quality operation of the device. For several days of my use of the Galaxy Note 2, I did not notice a single freeze and slowdown, although I used the device very seriously, in general, as it happens in everyday life. It is large, but you can get used to it, a large screen - this drawback will quickly cancel out, but there is still some inconvenience in operating with one hand. Due to the large size of the gadget, it is very difficult to call it mobile, but again, not for everybody.

Should you buy the Note 2? If you do not want to carry both a smartphone and a tablet with you at the same time, or if you want to smartly save money and buy one of these two devices - Note 2 is what you need. In other cases, you can answer this question only after you yourself have worked and tested this device. Better to wait for Note 3.

Despite the fact that the manufacturer called this device a smartphone, many had association thoughts with a mini-tablet. The very size of this gadget and the 5.5 screen are unusual for the average user. Perhaps this is such a new trend that many manufacturers will adopt, but so far this is somewhat unusual, even despite the fact that we are already used to the first generation Samsung Galaxy Note. Personally, I have the impression that the Galaxy Note II is more than a smartphone, but less than a small tablet, there is only some 1.5 inches missing, up to the same Samsung Galaxy Tab 2 7.0, in which the screen has a diagonal of 7 inches. Everyone will decide for himself what this gadget means to him, but my opinion is a kind of smartphone tablet.

Video overview Samsung Galaxy Note 2

In order to learn more about the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, we present to your attention a video review of this gadget.