As well as the Samsung watch, the IFA show in Berlin has seen the unveiling of the (also) long-awaited new Galaxy Note – Samsung’s phablet flagship (phablets are Android territory because Apple has avowedly chosen not to occupy the ground, “tweeners” as Steve Jobs called them).
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has a 5.7inch, full HD Super AMOLED display, in a slimmer and lighter form factor.
Samsung also claims a better battery life, which is always an issue with the power hungry phablet screens. There’s a 13 megapixel rear camera “with Smart Stabilization and high CRI LED flash”,LTE Cat 4 150/50Mbps support, and a hefty 3GB of RAM. It runs Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean).
Pictured below is the rear of the device that features a “textured back cover and delicate stitching that delivers a premium look and feel”.
S Pen
There’s also a new S pen stylus for one click functionality. “Air Command” has five features highlighted by Samsung.
• Action Memo “allows users to handwrite a note, and automatically execute a function or convert that handwritten information into formatted content. Action Memo can instantly initiate a call, add to contacts, look up an address on a map, search the web, save a task to a to-do list.”
• 
Scrapbook “enables users to organize or track down content and information from various sources including the web, YouTube and Gallery in one place so that users can easily look back at collected content all at once. When consumers save content for future use, Scrapbook also collects source material or URLs allowing them to easily refer back to the original source.”
• The Screen Write feature “captures the full screen image of the current page on the device and allows users to write comments or additional information onto the captured image”.
• S Finder “allows users to expansively search for content on their device regardless of the type. By putting in keywords or filters such as date, location, and content type, users can search related documents, events, communication threads, and even the Help page – all in one place. In addition, users can also search for hand-written content in their Notes and memo applications, as well as symbols and formulas”.
• Pen Window “allows users to use the S Pen not only for drawing sketches or writing notes, but now also for opening a small application window for a true multitasking experience. Simply by drawing a window of any size, anywhere on the screen, users can easily and quickly open another application window such as YouTube, calculator or Browser without pausing current activity on the screen.”
“We introduced the original GALAXY Note in 2011 and launched a whole new smart device category. The undeniable success of the GALAXY Note strengthened our conviction that consumers want higher quality features for smart devices and they want those new features to make their lives better,” said JK Shin, CEO and President of IT & Mobile Division at Samsung Electronics.
“Samsung GALAXY Note 3 is a powerful, original approach that enables users to tell the stories of their lives through dynamic and seamless expressions of their passions across work, play and life experiences. With a simple click of the S Pen button, users can unlock opportunities for self-expression, features that transform everyday activities into extraordinary events and access to new experiences delivered to them on Note 3’s larger screen.”
In the display size stakes, the LG Optimus G2 (5.2in screen) was pushed off the top-three list by the arrival of the Samsung Galaxy Mega. And now the new Note pushes the old Note 2 off the list (5.55in). The Sony Xperia Z Ultra phablet takes the (size) crown.
Updated: The Asus FonePad Note 6, with a 6in screen (full HD 1920 x 1080 pixel) has been pointed out to me. This was also released at the IFA show yesterday.
- Sony Xperia Z Ultra – 6.44in
- Samsung Galaxy Mega – 6.3in
- Asus FonePad Note 6 – 6in
- Samsung Galaxy Note 3 – 5.7in
Full Samsung Galaxy Note 3 specifications:
Network |
2.5G (GSM/ GPRS/ EDGE): 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz 3G (HSPA+ 42Mbps): 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz 4G (LTE Cat 4 150/50Mbps) : up to 6 different band sets (Dependent on market) |
|---|---|
Processor |
LTE 2.3 GHz Quad-Core Processor 3G 1.9 GHz Octa Core Processor ( A15 1.9 GHz + A7 1.3 GHz) The selection of AP will be differed by markets. |
|
Display |
5.7inch (144.3mm) Full HD Super AMOLED (1920 x 1080) |
|
OS |
Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean) |
| Camera | |
|
Main(Rear): 13 Mega-pixel BSI Sensor, Auto Focus camera with Smart Stabilization, LED Flash(High CRI), and Zero Shutter Lag |
|
|
Dual Camera: Dual Shot / Dual Recording/ Dual Video Call |
|
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Video |
Codec: H.264, MPEG-4, H.263, VC-1, WMV7, WMV8, Sorenson Spark, MP43, VP8, HEVC Recording & Playback: Full HD (1080p), UHD (*may differ by market) |
|
Audio |
Codec: MP3, AAC/AAC+/eAAC+, WMA, AMR-NB/WB, Vorbis, FLAC(*), WAV(*) (*) Ultra High Quality Audio (~192KHz, 24 bit) support |
|
S Pen Optimized Features |
Air Command: Action Memo, Scrapbook, Screen Write, S Finder, Pen Window |
| Additional Features |
Group Play: Share Music, Share Picture, Share Video, Share Document, Play Games |
|
Story Album, S Translator |
|
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Samsung Smart Scroll, Samsung Smart Pause, Air Gesture, Air View |
|
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Samsung Apps, Samsung Hub, ChatON (Voice/Video Call, Share screen, 3-way calling), Samsung WatchON |
|
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S Voice™ Hands Free, S Health |
|
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Samsung Adapt Display, Samsung Adapt Sound |
|
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Samsung Link, Screen Mirroring |
|
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Safety Assistance, Samsung KNOX |
|
|
Google Mobile Services |
Chrome, Search, Gmail, Google+, Maps, Play Books Play Movies, Play Music, Play Store, Hangouts Voice Search, YouTube, Google Settings, Play Games, Messenger |
|
Connectivity |
WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (HT80) |
|
Sensor |
Gesture, Accelerometer, Geo-magnetic, Gyroscope, RGB |
|
Memory |
32/ 64 GB User memory + microSD slot (up to 64GB) |
|
Dimension |
151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3mm, 168g |
|
Battery |
Standard battery, Li-ion 3,200 mAh |
