Technology: Phabletious!! Samsung Galaxy Note II

Samsung Galaxy Note II
Image from GSMArena

I must say my motivation for compiling my first XDA Developer tutorial Technology: Turning your Galaxy S2 to Galaxy S2.5!!! originates from my fondness of the Samsung Galaxy S3, it was a truly amazing device with handful of innovative functions and enormous potential!

Samsung Galaxy S3 GT- i9300 is already a speedy device, with 1.4GHz quad-core Exynos 4 processor and 1GB RAM (or 1.5Ghz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 with 2GB RAM for the US and JP variants), 4.8" Super AMOLED PenTile display and a 2100 mAh battery pack, weighing 133g in total; running Android 4.0.4 Ice Cream Sandwich.

Samsung Galaxy S3
Image from GSMArena

But Samsung has pushed the standard even higher in the the recently announced Samsung Galaxy Note II, which comes with a 1.6GHz quad-core Exynos 4412, 2 Gb RAM, 5.5" Super AMOLED non-PenTile display and a 3100 mAh battery, weighing 180g in total and running; running Android 4.1.1 Jellybean.


S3's PenTile display, though lasts longer, has caused a lot of dismay among users who were expecting an HD Plus version. This time with Note II, Samsung has cleverly invented a new matrix that is different from the RGBG PenTile one to regain the trust of the Galaxy fans.

Image from Phonearena and The Verge

With the oval green pixels now lined parallel to the oval red and perpendicular to the thin blue ones, the Galaxy Note II does look sharper, clearer and more dense than the old matrix, so despite having a lower ppi pixel density than the Galaxy S3 (720x1280p in 5.5" VS 720x1280p in 4.8"), the Galaxy Note II can still look pretty sharp!!!!

Phabletious!!!!

Samsung Galaxy Note II
Image from GSMArena

In terms of design, not only is Note II thinner than Note in numbers (9.4mm VS 9.7mm), it does actually look thinner due to the more pronounced corners at the back of the phone.

Note II (top) is obviously thinner than Note
Image from CNET

The cover is even better than the HTC One X this time, seems like Samsung has really heard the users' voices.

Rear view. The Galaxy Note 2 (right) uses a metal cover instead of a textured plastic version.
Caption and Image from CNET Asia

In terms of functions, it is a MONSTER!!! Here's a video,

No wonder people will need to go for a class to learn them all! I really like the Best Face function!

As a senior member of the XDA Developers, I must say Samsung's developer team has really got brains, the ideas could have been suggested by some XDA Developers, as Samsung is actually working with the XDA Developers, but it is Samsung that makes it happen. I am impressed!

In terms of performance?

Note II hitting 6120 on the Qudrant Benchmark
Image from CNET Asia

I didn't get the Galaxy S3, but I am now seriously considering getting the Note II, hope I will be able to save up enough money by then.


For details, do visit GSMArena's Samsung Galaxy Note II preview: First look and CNET Asia's Hands-on: Samsung Galaxy Note 2 - Mobile Phones.

Quick Commentrs:
Phonearena : Samsung has weighed things well enough where it counts for it to be worthy upgrade.

GSMArena: Our short time with the Samsung Galaxy Note II is over, but it was enough to whet our appetite and we'll surely be coming back for more.

CNET:

Vocabulary:
variants
phabletious -- (adj) a word created by Noisy Biatche from TechieBiatche, a kind of wordplay, from fabulicious -- (adj) from fabulous (adj) + delicious (adj)
phablet -- (n)[C] Phablet is the term by which some touch-screen devices with screens of 5+ inches are referred to. A phablet is a device that combines the capabilities of a smartphone and mini tablet. Bigger than a smartphone, but not large enough to be considered an actual tablet or even mini-tablet, the range of screen size of a phablet falls anywhere greater than or equal to 5", but less than 7".


Resources:

Technology: Turning your Galaxy S2 to Galaxy S2.5!!! @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.com/2012/06/technology-turning-your-galaxy-s2-to.html

Technology: HOLY SMOKE!!! Galaxy SIII As A PC???!!! @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2012/06/technology-holy-smoke-galaxy-siii-as-pc.html

Technology & Event: Samsung Galaxy SIII Reviews @ Locky's English Playground
http://lockyep.blogspot.hk/2012/05/technology-event-samsung-galaxy-siii.html

Samsung Galaxy S III @ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S_III#Hardware_and_design

Samsung Galaxy Note II @ Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_Note_II

Pentile News @ Oled-info
http://www.oled-info.com/tags/pentile

Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100 vs. Samsung I9300 Galaxy S III @ GSMArena.com
http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=4854&idPhone2=4238

Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100 @ GSMArena
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_ii_n7100-4854.php

[GALAXY Note II] First Hands-on Video @ YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DcgZum8M1o

Samsung Galaxy Note II preview: First look @ GSMArena
http://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note_ii_n7100-review-806.php

Hands-on: Samsung Galaxy Note 2 - Mobile Phones @ CNET Asia
http://asia.cnet.com/product/samsung-galaxy-note-2-

http://myfavtechy.blogspot.hk/2012_03_01_archive.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phablet