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| Samsung Galaxy Note 2 |
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 review: The ultimate anti-iPhone
You're probably wondering how good the massive, tabletlike Samsung
Galaxy Note 2 is, and if the smartphone can fulfill important tablet
functions.
You may also wonder if the Note 2's 5.5-inch screen
makes it too unwieldy to hold and carry as an everyday device, and if
its battery quickly drains in service to the monster screen. Can the
quad-core processor keep up, and will it defeat the purpose if you never
slide out the Note's digital pen?
My answers are mostly
positive. Yes, the second Note is huge in the hand and awkward at times
to hold, but I quickly grew used to it. In specs, it's Samsung's
highest-end phone, with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean OS, a speedy quad-core processor, an extra-large battery, and an 8-megapixel camera.
The good: Oodles of screen real estate make the Samsung Galaxy Note 2
terrific for videos, games, and reading; and its improved stylus aids
productivity. A blazing quad-core processor, a great camera, and strong
battery life round out the advantages of this Android 4.1 phone.
The bad: The
huge display makes the Galaxy Note 2 unwieldy to carry, and hiccups in
the S Pen stylus and apps can slow you down. The pricey Note 2 isn't a
suitable tablet replacement across all categories.
The bottom line: Samsung
delivers a powerful, boundary-pushing device that gets a lot right. Yet
its complicated features and high price raise questions about its
purpose.
