Connect with us

Mobile

Galaxy Note 2 vs. Galaxy Note

Published

on

The  Galaxy Note 2 is finally official, with a 2012 U.S. release date in the cards, which means Galaxy Note owners and potential buyers are ready to see how the two large smartphones stack up.

The Galaxy Note 2 and the original Galaxy Note 2 share a number of features and users, but based on our time with the Galaxy Note 2 after the announcement and the hands on videos, the Galaxy Note 2 is going to offer more to the consumer.

Galaxy Note 2 vs. Galaxy Note

Galaxy Note 2 vs. Galaxy Note

Galaxy Note 2 vs. Galaxy Note

We’re looking valuable upgrades for the second generation of the category defining Galaxy Note. Here’s what’s new with the Galaxy Note 2, and how it compares to the Galaxy Note on AT&T.

Design

The Galaxy Note 2 is essentially a larger Galaxy S III, which is a good thing. The Galaxy Note 2 design is more visually appealing and even with a larger screen and a larger battery it is a thinner phone.

Galaxy Note 2 vs Galaxy Note Design

Galaxy Note 2 vs Galaxy Note Design

The Galaxy Note 2 features more rounded corners, that do a lot for the looks of the Note line. The Galaxy Note 2 is a little taller, but not as wide or thick.

  • Galaxy Note 2 – 151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4mm – 6.35 oz.
  • Galaxy Note – 146.9 x 83 x 9.7 mm – 6.28 oz.

While the Note 2 is slightly heavier, it’s a fair trade for a large battery and other enhancements.

Display

Samsung packs in a larger 5.5-inch HD SUPER AMOLED display with a 1280 x 720P resolution. This is the same type of display, but there are several differences to pay attention to.

Galaxy Note 2 Display

Galaxy Note 2 Display

The original Galaxy Note features a higher 285PPI thanks to the 1280 x 800 resolution on a 5.3-inch display. The Galaxy Note 2’s 5.5-inch display delivers a 1280 x 720 resolution, but only a 267ppi. Fewer pixels per inch means it’s easier to see pixels in text, resulting in less clear and sharp details.

Processor, RAM and Storage

The Galaxy Note 2 now includes a faster quad-core processor. The Galaxy Note 2 uses a 1.6GHz Exynos quad-core processor while the original Galaxy Note features a 1.4GHz Exynos dual-core processor.

The Galaxy Note 2 doubles up the RAM from the original Note, packing in 2GB.

The original Galaxy Note only offers 16GB of built-in storage, but the Galaxy Note 2 will arrive in 16GB, 32GB and 64GB models.

4G LTE, NFC and Bluetooth

Like the original Galaxy Note, Samsung continues to offer 4G LTE in the Galaxy Note 2. This give hope that we’ll see the Note 2 on multiple U.S. carriers in the near future.

Not every version of the Galaxy Note shipped with NFC support, but it looks like Samsung standardized NFC for the Note 2.

Bluetooth radios see an upgrade to Bluetooth 4.0 which offers better battery life for Bluetooth 4.0 paired accessories and opens the avenue to many Bluetooth 4.0 fitness accessories we may see this year and in 2013.

Battery Life

The Galaxy Note 2 gains an extra 600mAh of battery capacity, which is something Galaxy Note owners will likely be jealous of. Inside the thinner package of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is a 3,100mAH battery, while the original Galaxy Note features just a 2,500mAh battery.

S-Pen

The Galaxy Note 2 includes a thicker S-Pen with a rubber tip. The new S-Pen boasts 1024 levels of pressure sensitivity, and new features not found on the Galaxy Note for AT&T and T-Mobile.

One of the new features is the Quick Commands app shown above. This app allows users to write out commands to start emails, call people and other custom commands.

AirView is another new feature. With AirView, the Galaxy note 2 will show users a preview of emails, calendar entires and even the place in a movie by hovering the S-Pen over the display. Sounds quite handy.

When users take the S-Pen out they can take a quick note in the Pop Up Note tool. This app auto-opens when the S-Pen is removed, and includes shortcuts to other S-Pen apps.

Software

On top of the wide number of S-Pen improvements, we see some of the Galaxy S III nature inspired sounds and Samsung tweaks.

The biggest difference is that Samsung includes Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. Jelly Bean runs faster than Ice Cream Sandwich, the current version on the original Galaxy Note.

In the video below, check out our favorite Jelly Bean Android 4.1 features.

The original Galaxy Note is rumored to see Jelly Bean arrive in Q4.

Cameras

The cameras don’t see much of an update. The original Galaxy Note and the galaxy Note 2 both feature an 8MP rear camera. The front facing camera in the Galaxy Note 2 is now 1.9MP compared to 2.0MP in the Note.

9 Comments

9 Comments

  1. jon

    08/29/2012 at 10:05 pm

    Any idea if and when T-mobile release of Note 2?

  2. reuben

    08/29/2012 at 11:42 pm

    Are the batteries compatible with each other?

  3. NOTE LOVER

    08/31/2012 at 9:42 am

    That’s one of my questions. When (and if) it will be available through T-Mobile in the USA…also, I think I saw that it has a notification LED on the front top. Does the Note 2 actually have the Notif. LED light and finally, is there an FM radio (not streaming type but just a good old fashion FM radio)?

  4. TK

    09/18/2012 at 8:27 am

    I always was an early adopter but the differences between the note 2 and 1 are so little that in real life use you wil not feel the difference and to be honest I like the formfactor from the 1 better then the new one . I have still one more year to go on my present contract and for once I have no problem this time to sit this year out with my trusted Note one .Lets face it chancing now is a lot of money and for what sorry I dont see it . Still I am curious when this thing comes on the market how it will perform against the old note something to look out for

  5. Mike

    10/01/2012 at 10:26 am

    I like to listen to radio sometimes. I do not want to carry another radio around with me. Why US carriers want to eliminate radio is beyond me. If the US version does not have FM radio, I am buying the European one.

  6. Daniel W

    10/14/2012 at 5:41 pm

    The original Galaxy Note features a higher 285PPI thanks to the 1280 x 800 resolution on a 5.3-inch display. But it is a Pentile screen, trying to make do with only two subpixels (RG or RB) which lowers sharpness. All in all; it has 1280x800x2 subpixels.

    The Galaxy Note 2′s 5.5-inch display delivers a 1280 x 720 resolution, but only a 267ppi. This is however (a variant of) true RGB with three subpixels per pixel. That makes 1280x720x3, which is 35% more subpixels than the original Note. It should be the shaper one.

  7. Hantuu

    11/06/2012 at 12:02 am

    Nak beli

    • derick

      11/15/2012 at 4:23 am

      Bro ur an idiot get your information correcy stlp giving people false info.the galaxy note 1 from att does not have exynos retard it has qualcomms

      • Jon Seawarden

        01/06/2013 at 1:34 am

        While this is an old post, I have to agree with derick, but don’t approve of the name calling. Qualcomm s3 in the USA note 1. It sucks IMHO. That’s why I bought the n7000 international note 1. Exynos. I’m happy Samsung was able to integrate Exynos and LTE this time with the note 2, and I plan on upgrading some time. Using gs3 now, and gonna sell it and my n7000 to get a note 2. Although, I hate the curvy look. Note 1 looks way better IMHO, and the bezel is way stronger. Note 2 n gs3 get scuffed & gouged way too easily. But I need the upgrade. Note 1 feels sluggish after using I phone 5 & galaxy s3

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.