Galaxy Note 2 and its phablet rivals: full comparison with S Pen, displays, and performance

El Samsung Galaxy Note 2 It was made official at the IFA fair in Berlin and was born with a clear premise: to consolidate the concept of phablet that the first Note had opened. This new terminal from the Korean company is designed to reign in models with 5-inch or larger screen (not surprising, since it was the Galaxy Note that created this product range). Will it succeed or are there major rivals capable of questioning his leadership?

We are going to list, apart from Galaxy S3, two models as Meizu M3 Notes that can make things very complicated for you to the new Samsung “phablet” to find out if the company's efforts are enough to achieve the same success as the first Galaxy Note, and we will expand with other large-format devices that also compete in this segment.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

It is indisputable that Galaxy Note managed to be innovative and the market thanked it with very good sales; therefore, Samsung developed this successor to continue being the segment reference. The Note 2 screen is 5,5 inches, making it 0,2" larger than the original model. It retains the ability to write freehand with its S Pen stylus and, in this generation, a processor was confirmed 1,6 GHz Quad Core Exynos accompanied 2 GB of RAM, a combination that ensures fluidity even in demanding multitasking.

The system came with Android Jelly Bean and, in addition to the hardware jump, it brought a battery of 3.100 mAh, storage 16 / 32 / 64 GB expandable by microSD, and a complete connectivity package with variants HSPA+ or LTE depending on the market, in addition to NFC, DLNA, MHL, Bluetooth 4.0 and positioning GPS / GLONASSAt the time, there were rumors about a “curved screen” or a 13-megapixel camera; ultimately, the business model remained a HD flat panel (1.280 × 720) with 267 dpi and a 8 MP rear camera capable of recording in Full HD, along with a front of 1,9 SM.

In software, the Note 2 knew how to differentiate itself with functions designed for productivity and creativity: Multi Window to use two apps at the same time, Popup Notes for quick notes in any context, EasyClip for clipping with the S Pen, QuickCommand with gestures, Screen Recorder to capture the screen and utilities like Smart Stay, Direct Call, Pop Up Play o S Voice. The preview to zoom in on the S Pen The hover screen offers a “preview” experience that Samsung later called Air View in other families, providing extra comfort when checking emails, galleries or calendars.

Without a doubt, a model designed to be the best that, depending on its autonomy and capacity when performing operations, it could be even more attractive than Galaxy S3 for those looking for a large format device with integrated stylus.

In addition, it is worth remembering some fine details of your data sheet To put it into context: dimensions of 151,1 × 80,5 × 9,4 mm, 183 g of weight, microUSB 2.0 y 3,5 mm jack, as well as support for microSD up to 64 GB. Your panel Super AMOLED does not use a PenTile matrix in this generation, improving perceived sharpness. In cameras it uses a sensor of 8 MP with HDR and burst, and in performance it reached benchmark figures in its category (for example, AnTuTu above 13.000 points y Quadrant around 5.400), with very fluid navigation and a real autonomy close to 20 hours with mixed use, according to standard tests of the time.

LG Best reign

It was the first to stand up to the Galaxy Note, and in what a way. A possible update before the end of its cycle, and in fact it arrived with the Optimus Vu 2, but even the initial model had solid credentials. Optimus Vu offers a 5 inch with format 4:3, its great differentiating element: wider for reading and annotating. Its processor is a Qualcomm dual-core 1,5 GHz and 1 GB of RAM. That is, it has all the seasonings so as not to disappoint.

With an operating system updated to Ice Cream Sandwich at the time, it has a rear camera of 8 megapixels, HDMI output, weighs 168 grams and battery reaches 2.080 mAhIt will be inferior to the Note 2 in raw performance and capabilities. stylus, but compensates with a excellent autonomy and a 650 night screen that shines with its luminosity. With the evolution to Optimus Vu 2, LG added a Rubberdium Pen stylus more precise, 2 GB of RAM, front camera 1,3 SM, microSD slot and versions with LTE/VoLTE. Its dimensions (132,2 × 85,6 × 9,4 mm) and 159g weight make it surprisingly manageable within its 4:3 format, while the battery grew to 2.150 mAh.

HTC OneX2

This is HTC's big bet for the end of its cycle of that generation, since it comes to replace One X and, therefore, will be its high endIts great novelty is what makes it be called a “phablet”: the screen goes from 4,7 to 5 inches while maintaining compact dimensions. Another major innovation is the jump from Nvidia's Tegra 3 to a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 1,7 GHz (Krait architecture) with NEON support, which promises very contained consumption and superior performance. With Jelly Bean y Sense 4.1, added compatibility such as Clear Voice and HTC Watch 2. Its autonomy, predictably, also improved compared to the One X thanks to a higher capacity battery.

The performance of this HTC One X 2 aims high, with a very fluid experience and great autonomy. Yes, the Samsung model screen It seems superior in contrast and also allows the use of a stylus with a dedicated app ecosystem.

More phablets to consider: Asus fonePad Note and Acer Liquid S1

In the comparison of large format devices, there are two names that fit very well against the Galaxy Note 2. The Asus fonePad Note opt for a screen of 6,0-inch Super IPS with resolution Full HD (1.920 × 1.080) and a higher density (around 367 ppi). It has a processor Intel Atom Z2560 Dual-Core 1,6 GHz with PowerVR SGX544MP2 GPU, 2 GB of RAM, cameras 8 SM and 1,2 MP front camera, and HSPA connectivity with A-GPS, GLONASS, WiFi N and Bluetooth 4.0. Its battery is around 3.200 mAh, removable, offering good durability despite its Full HD panel.

El Acer Liquid S1, for its part, grows until 5,7 inches with technology TFT and resolution WXGA (1.280 × 800) for a wide panel in 16:10 format. It integrates a chipset 6589 GHz Quad Core MediaTek MT1,5 with PowerVR SGX544MP GPU, 1 GB of RAM, cameras 8 SM and 2 MP front, and HSPA, WiFi N and DLNA connectivity. With 2.400 mAh removable battery and 8 GB expandable storage, it is a balanced option for those who prioritize size without the need for a stylus.

Facing them, the Galaxy Note 2 combines its 5,5-inch Super AMOLED panel, the Exynos 4412, 2 GB of RAM and a battery of 3.100 mAh removable with the differential value of the S Pen and its software ecosystem. In addition, it starts with 16 / 32 / 64 GB internal and microSD up to 64 GB, while rivals like the Liquid S1 stay at 8 GB base.

Samsung Galaxy Mega (5,8) vs. Galaxy Note 2

within one's own Samsung model catalog’s most emblematic landmarks, the Galaxy Mega 5,8 It is positioned as a more affordable alternative. Its screen qHD (960 × 540) At 5,8 inches, it beats it in size, but not in sharpness or contrast compared to the Note 2's HD Super AMOLED. In cameras, both mount a module of 8 SM behind and 1,9 SM ahead, so there is a tie in resolution and basic options.

In terms of performance, the Mega relies on a processor dual core 1,4 GHz y 1,5 GB of RAM, enough for everyday use, but below the Exynos quad-core 1,6 GHz and 2 GB of RAM Note 2, which handles multitasking and heavy apps better. In terms of battery life, the Mega is just 2.600 mAh over the 3.100 mAh of Note 2, a noticeable difference during intense days.

In software, the Galaxy Mega started with a newer version of Android at launch, but lacks the S Pen and the full suite of advanced productivity features of the Note 2. In storage, the Mega offers 8 GB expandable, while the Note 2 is available in 16 / 32 / 64 GB with microSD, making clear its focus on higher end.

Galaxy Note 3: An evolutionary leap that paved the way

For those who value where the Note 2 stood compared to its direct successor, the Notes 3 It was a twist: more screen and definition (5,7 inches Full HD at 386 ppi), thinner and lighter body and the latest batch of chips (according to versions, Exynos Octa o Snapdragon 800). It also raised the 3GB RAM, raised the camera to 13 SM with video 4Kadded IR and refined the design without shooting dimensions.

Dimensions, displays, performance, and price: what defines phablets

Above the 5,5 inches, the differences in size, weight and thickness are noticeable; the screen to size ratio is key. It is common for few models to fall below the 170 grams, although there are slight exceptions such as some teams around the 160 gThere are also phablets that demonstrate that fine is not incompatible with large, like certain series of ultra big screen, while others like proposals with more robust chassis penalized with greater thickness and weight.

In panels, bigger doesn't always mean more resolutionIn the mid-range, many remain in HD 720p, sufficient for general use, although from 5,5 inches the density may be perceived as somewhat limited. Those that go up to Full HD like the bq Aquaris E6 or the Xiaomi Max 3, while others, such as certain Alcatel models, remain in qHD (540 × 960), more typical of smaller diagonals.

Performance in the mid-range usually focuses on efficient quad-core (Qualcomm in many cases, with the presence of MediaTek, Exynos or Marvell), and the connectivity alternates between 4G y HSPA+The battery usually exceeds the 3.000 mAh In the most ambitious, although large screens consume a lot of power and can neutralize part of the advantage. In this scenario, the Note 2 remains in force due to its large battery and the efficiency of the whole.

In price, mid-range phablets move around the 300 Euros, with options that rise to ranges close to 400 Euros and others that go down to the 200 EurosEmerging brands offer very attractive price-performance ratios, although it is worth considering technical service and availability in certain markets. Models such as HP VoiceTab, Sony Xperia Ultra T2 o Nokia Lumia 1320 show how the priorities between power, battery and lightness have changed in this format.

Phablets: niche or de facto standard?

This type of smartphones have a very specific user profile: someone who frequently takes notes, consumes large-format multimedia, and values ​​multitasking. The “Note” label usually indicates the presence of stylus, and here Samsung sets the standard with an optimized app ecosystem. The commercial momentum of this category encouraged multiple manufacturers (Huawei, Acer, Asus, LG, among others) to jump on the bandwagon; in fact, 21% of smartphones sold show the importance of phablets, and even gave rise to professional adoption With companies equipping their flight or field personnel with large-screen devices and annotation capabilities, this popularity is no longer a passing fad: the concept has become established and coexists with more compact smartphones, offering a real alternative for those who need more screen space and productivity.

Considering the alternatives, the Galaxy Note 2 still stands out for its hardware balance, the great contribution of the S Pen and a software package that multiplies its usefulness. Rivals such as LG Optimus Vu/Vu 2, HTC OneX2, Asus fonePad Note, Acer Liquid S1 or own Galaxy Mega They offer interesting options depending on your priorities: 4:3 format for reading, larger panels, affordable prices, or specific connectivity. The decision will depend on whether you value the stylus and productivity more, screen quality, long-lasting battery life, or budget.

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