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Galaxy Note 3

Is Samsung Rigging Galaxy Note 3 Benchmarks?

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Samsung’s Galaxy Note line is mostly known for its large expansive screen, but this year’s version, the Galaxy Note 3, added a new superlative: powerful. Unfortunately, if rumors about Samsung intentionally rigging the Galaxy Note 3 to score better on benchmarks are true, its crown as powerhouse phablet could be in jeopardy.

While testing the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 in preparation for its review, tech publication ArsTechnica noticed that benchmarking scores for the device completely outstripped those of other smartphones. Ordinarily, that wouldn’t be odd, newer smartphones with upgraded processors routinely outstrip their older counterparts. However, the publication says that it began to get suspicious when it noticed that the LG G2 received vastly lower scores – even though it used the same 2.3 GHz Snapdragon 800 processor.

The AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note 3 arrives on steps timed to the T-Mobile Galaxy Note 3 release.

After what it calls “a good bit of sleuthing,” that outlet says that it’s managed to track down why this happens, and its results are not good news for Samsung’s image at all.

“We can confidently say that Samsung appears to be artificially boosting the US Note 3’s benchmark scores with a special, high-power CPU mode that kicks in when the device runs a large number of popular benchmarking apps.”

Effectively, it’s ArsTechnica’s belief that Samsung is deliberately boosting the public relations profile of the Galaxy Note 3 by fooling reviewers and industry watchers with fake benchmarks that being generated on demand.

That’s pretty damning, and it’s a practice that got Samsung into trouble earlier this year after the launch of the Samsung Galaxy S4. At that time, some reviewers noted that the device seemed to go into an enhanced mode only when popular benchmarking apps like Geekbench were run on it.

At that time the company released a statement defending the practice saying, “The maximum GPU frequencies for the Galaxy S 4 have been varied to provide optimal user experience for our customers, and were not intended to improve certain benchmark results.” It also said that it intentionally boosted performance for other apps like the S Browser, Gallery, Camera and Video Player too.

Galaxy Note 3 is certainly a powerful phone. It still managed to best LG’s G2 without manipulated benchmarks, and GottaBeMobile’s review of the Galaxy Note 3 trumpeted its speediness. This does allude to a coming issue for Android buyers.

Read: Galaxy Note 3 Review: Samsung’s Most Powerful Phone

Should users actually consult processor benchmarks when purchasing a new device, or should they be more focused on the user experience as a whole, despite differences in processing speeds? It’s an interesting conundrum, one that’ll only become more relevant as Android manufacturers continue to bump up processor speeds in their devices.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is coming to AT&T for $299 on October 4th. Sprint users will have the option of purchasing the device for $349 on that date as well. Both prices include a two-year service agreement.

3 Comments

3 Comments

  1. C Jacobs

    10/02/2013 at 10:22 am

  2. ukandroid

    10/02/2013 at 10:33 am

    Benchmarks are indicative only and are a bit like a car manufacturer giving top speed, acceleration and fuel consumption – they all need to be taken with a pinch of salt!
    I am sure car makers give their performance figures without passengers and luggage. It’s real world experience that counts in the end – that’s why hands on reviews are worth far more than benchmarks.

  3. Richard

    10/02/2013 at 2:14 pm

    They all do it, who cares. Note 3 is bad ass. I just bought it at tmobile.

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