Galaxy Note 3 phablet is strictly for S Pen fans
Six months after the release of the Samsung Galaxy S4 smartphone, the South Korean giant has kept momentum with the launch of the Galaxy Note 3 "phablet". The device bridges the gaps between smartphones, tablets and touch screen personal computers.
Unveiled last month, the Note 3 is narrower, slimmer and lighter than the previous generation of the phablet, despite having a larger screen.
large, vibrant 5.7-inch screen - "HD Super AMOLED", in official Samsung jargon; improved S Pen stylus functionality; longer battery life.
faux-leather back that's slippery in the hand; expensive.
the Note 3 is a supersized phone. It sat well in my hands, which are also on the large size. The faux-leather back gives the device a classy touch, but ultimately plastic is still plastic. Given the cost of the device, Samsung could have opted for real leather. Nevertheless, the operating system is smooth and highly responsive, and apps load almost instantaneously.
the 4GLTE version has a blazingly fast 2.3Ghz Quad Core Snapdragon 800 processor (3G: 1.9 GHz Quad-Core + 1.3 GHz Quad-Core), with 3GB of RAM and 16GB of internal storage. It also supports an additional 64GB via a standard-capacity memory card. With that much storage space, it will no doubt appeal to hardcore users who are hooked on their music, videos and apps.
the display is great for videos, being brighter than previous Notes. The 5.7-inch screen is a treat for mobile games, since you don't have to squint as much as you would using an iPhone.
this is where the most improvements have been made. The pen tools are now displayed in a handy pop-up fan-like dial menu called "Air Command" when you pull out the pen from the device or press the button on the side of the pen. This improvement makes using the device much more convenient, and the tools can be accessed at all times. Also, having the pen functions distilled into five main options helps users become accustomed to using the S Pen.
the 13 mega-pixel camera with auto focus and smart stabilisation is the same as that which comes with the Samsung Galaxy S4. Overall, it performed very well, although I found the lens isn't as wide as that of the iPhone. To get the same full-body shot I had to stand an extra metre away from the subject, which could be problematic in a confined space.
the Note 3 is the device that finally delivers on the promise of the original, with easy and functional pen utilities that don't require a steep learning curve. This device is perfect for the creative minded and multitaskers, since the Note emulates a notebook in most regards, allowing you to jot down ideas and "paste in" clippings from the web, e-mail and app into a scrapbook.
But the high price tag of the Note 3 may give people sticker shock, and will be a big issue in deciding whether to purchase it: the 3G version costs HK$5,988, with the 4G LTE version costing a whopping HK$6,198. At these prices you could get a laptop, or, for a little more, a MacBook Air.
It's hard to recommend it for light users, so it comes down to whether or not you will be an S Pen power user and know that you will be able to squeeze every drop of functionality out of the Note 3 to make the high price tag justifiable.
