We are approaching one of the most important days of the year for Samsung. And it is that the South Korean company has set August 29 as the launch date of the new Samsung Galaxy Note 2, the successor of the «phablet» with the S Pen stylus that has been so successful. Well, after various photos, rumors, and assumptions, we see it again a new image that appears to be very real, and that fits very well with what this device is expected to be. Are we talking about the original Samsung Galaxy Note 2?
It could well be yes. And it is that very clear and explicit images are rarely seen on a device. As a general rule, you see rendered images, not very stylized prototypes, but this time it is something very different. The image we have of Samsung Galaxy Note 2, which you can see below, appears to be real, taken from a print, and fits very well with The photograph we saw recently of the front glass and the possible flexible AMOLED screen that would take the Galaxy Note 2.
And we say it fits for a number of reasons. The brightness and proximity sensors are located next to the top speaker, on the right, and the front camera is a little further apart. The start button is another element that makes us think that this image is real and that the front glass that we have already seen is, in effect, a part of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 that we will see from August 29th, and this would strengthen its position against your rivals.
Of course, the color of the device that we have seen in this photograph stands out. And is that the new Galaxy Note 2 It would be white, in the style of Galaxy S3, and it would have a frame that appears to be metallic, although it could just as easily be plastic. In any case, the frame's size stands out, which is very thin on the sides, maximizing the space to reduce the device's size. We'll see if it ends up being a real image or if Samsung has something else in store.
Design and construction
The size of the Note 2 This is one of its features: dimensions are around 151,1 × 80,5 × 9,4 mm, with a weight that according to technical specifications ranges between 180 and 183 grams. Ergonomics are improved over its predecessor with more rounded corners and a very thin chrome frame which reduces the visual sensation of volume. It is marketed in Marble White and Titanium Grey, and was expected to be presented at the IFA from Berlin, with the classic central physical button and two touch buttons on the sides, plus power and volume keys on the profile.
The materials They follow Samsung's line: solid and lightweight polycarbonate, less fragile than glass when dropped and with a good feel to the touch. The finish helps to ensure that, despite the 5,5-inch panel, the grip is stable, although using it with one hand is still a challenge depending on the size of your hand.
Screen and visual experience
El 5,5″ HD Super AMOLED panel comes with resolution 1280 × 720 pixels (16:9 format and ~267 ppi). Samsung does away with the PenTile pattern in favor of a sharper alternative matrix, something that can be seen in text and outlines. The typical AMOLED contrast offers deep blacks and highly saturated colors, with a slight blue bias that can be adjusted with display profiles.
By increasing the diagonal compared to the first Note, it gains in comfort for reading, video and multitaskingThe reduction in side bezels matches what we see in the leaked image: more screen space and less bezel.
S-Pen and exclusive functions
El S-Pen is a pillar of the Note 2. The pencil is more comfortable, with better ergonomics and well-located button. It integrates proximity detection at about 1 cm to offer previews and gestures. Samsung enables accesses such as Popup Notes (quick note instantly, even on call) and QuickCommand (shortcuts that launch apps with a stroke).
For cropping and editing, EasyClip allows you to select shapes from the screen and send them to mail, Note S or gallery, while photo note Add handwritten notes to the virtual back of a photo. Also included is a pop-up browser floating and capture options when pressing the stylus button. As for Air ViewThe Note 2 offers a preview by hovering the S-Pen without touching the screen; the finger-based version arrived on later models, a detail that explains the difference in the feature names.
Performance and autonomy
In specifications, the highlights are the 1,6 GHz Quad Core Exynos with Mali-400MP GPU and 2 GB of RAM. Real-world performance is very fluid: fast transitions and smooth multitasking, with some occasional lag when opening very heavy galleries. Synthetic tests have shown references of AnTuTu around 13.473, Quadrant around 5.472 y SunSpider near 1.197 ms.
Battery 3.100 mAh is another strong point: with mixed connectivity (WiFi and mobile data), automatic brightness and intensive use of apps, they are estimated up to about 20 hours according to conditions and habits, fully fulfilling the premise of autonomy that gave meaning to "phablets."
Cameras and video
The main chamber is 8 SM with recording 1080p and good dynamic range for its time. Many batches mounted a sensor Exmor R type Sony sourced, with consistent results in focus and noise. The app includes burst, HDR and panorama, plus creative filters. The front camera is 1,9 SM, capable of video 720p is 30 fps, more than enough for video calls and selfies.
Connectivity, memory and software
In connectivity, the Note 2 came in variants HSPA+ and LTE, with NFC, DLNA, Exit MHL via microUSB, dual-band WiFi and 3,5mm jack. In storage there are versions of 16 / 32 / 64 GB, all with microSD slot: officially supports up to 64 GB, although many users have used higher capacity cards (formatted properly) without problems.
In software part of Android Jelly Bean TouchWiz, integrating Google Now and improving the notification curtain. Proprietary features include Multi Window (split-screen multitasking), Smart Stay (the screen stays on if you look at it), Direct Call, Pop Up Play y S Voice. All of this is in addition to the S-Pen-specific optimizations already mentioned.
With all the above, the leaked image makes even more sense: the thin frame, location of sensors and front camera and the physical home button They are consistent with the final design expected for the device, as well as the commitment to a large panel, a more useful S-Pen, and a high-capacity battery.
