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Samsung Galaxy Note 2 Features: What Not to Expect

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August is looking like the month that Samsung finally takes the wraps off of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, its successor to the original 5.3-inch Galaxy Note phablet. And while we still don’t have confirmation on the devices release date or specifications, we can make some educated predictions.

The original Galaxy Note has been one of the most stable Android phones of 2012. Its price has stayed pretty consistent, a sign that it’s still selling well, months after it launched on AT&T’s 4G LTE network in the U.S.

It’s clear that consumers want a large screen, something that the Galaxy Note offers. It’s 5.3-inch display is the biggest display consumers can find on a flagship Android device. It’s also this screen size that makes the Galaxy Note such a great productivity tool.

It’s part phone, part tablet and it supports a stylus for handwriting directly on the screen.

Needless to say, there is a large demand for a sequel that will likely improve on the original Galaxy Note in every possible way.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is now rumored for a launch on either August 29th at IFA in Berlin or on August 15th in the U.S. Right now, smart bets are on August 29th as being the lucky date for the device’s launch though it’s still possible that we could see it emerge on the 15th.

And while Samsung hasn’t confirmed anything, we already have an idea of what to expect on either of those days from the Galaxy Note 2.

We’ve already taken a look at what to expect from the Galaxy Note 2 features and now it’s time to take a look at what consumers shouldn’t expect, feature-wise, from the upcoming phablet.

The Same Design

We know that the sequel will feature all sorts of upgraded specs, from a possible quad-core processor to an HD display to a design inspired by the Galaxy S III and it’s that last part that leads us to believe that the Galaxy Note 2 will have a different design than its predecessor.

With the Galaxy S III, Samsung took inspiration from nature and added some nice curves to the design of the Galaxy S series giving it a much different look from the earlier model, the Galaxy S II.

We expect the company to do something similar with the Galaxy Note 2. Yes, the first Galaxy Note had a decent enough design, but it definitely had room for improvement and hopefully Samsung seized on that with the Galaxy Note 2.

Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich

While we have seen benchmarks of the Galaxy Note 2 display Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich as its operating system, it would be ridiculous to see a phone, as high-end and new as this one, launch with anything but Android 4.1 Jelly Bean on board.

Given that Android devices generally launch in the U.S. long after their launch event will leave Samsung with no excuse for putting Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on there.

People want the latest devices with the latest hardware and we hope that Samsung is aware of that.

Lack of a Home Button

Those who are hoping for the lack of a home button on the Galaxy Note 2 should not expect that to happen. Yes, the AT&T model of the Galaxy Note did not possess a home button. However, if the Galaxy S III is any indication, Samsung may release the same device across the board.

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The international Galaxy Note had a home button.

The international version of the Galaxy Note did sport a home button and it doesn’t appear that Samsung has any intention of doing away with it, even though Android 4.0 Ice Cream and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean virtual navigation buttons.

A Non-Plastic Design

Additionally, those hoping for a Galaxy Note 2 design that lacks plastic should temper those expectations. While we do expect Samsung to change up the design a bit, we don’t expect it to stray away from the usual plastic design that it employs on its smartphones.

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The Galaxy Note 2 design will likely employ plastic.

The polycarbonate plastic on the Galaxy S III is likely going to appear with the Galaxy Note 2 design as well.

Best-in-Class Display

The Samsung Galaxy S III, Samsung’s top of the line smartphone, only has 306 pixels per inch. Apple’s Retina Display on the iPhone 4S uses 328PPI. And while we hope that Samsung includes a display on the Galaxy Note 2 that has better PPI than the Galaxy S III, consumers shouldn’t expect it to.

The original Galaxy Note had a PPI of 284 so we expect some improvement in that area, and we also expect the device to have a 720p HD display.

But don’t expect it to blow the Retina Display or the Galaxy S III’s display out of the water.

The Same Cameras

One of the few weaknesses of the original Galaxy Note was its cameras.  They were decent enough but for a productivity tool as good as the Galaxy Note, it should have possessed best-in-class cameras.

We expect Samsung to upgrade the Galaxy Note 2 with better camera software, the Galaxy S III release hinted at this, but it’s also possible that it could get a better sensor.

A souped up camera, combined with a large HD display, would make it a perfect device for video chatting.

So don’t expect the same cameras on the Galaxy Note 2.

Once again, nothing has been confirmed, these are just our best guesses. What do you expect from the Samsung Galaxy Note 2’s features?

7 Comments

7 Comments

  1. lev i

    08/02/2012 at 8:29 pm

    I agree, however! I believe it will be a 13 or 12 mp camera…better 1080p fps, also i think august 15th is the date..However i hope its better, ive been waiting 3 months for this.

  2. Isaiah Osoro

    08/03/2012 at 3:03 am

    its very nice the only problem is battery life

    • Barney

      08/06/2012 at 8:09 pm

      Did you have a problem with the first Note’s battery life? Mine sees out a day with moderate use quite well.

      It already has a very large battery, and due to its size I am sure it will be the same, prob one of the biggest in a smartphone.

  3. KrautMcFriend

    08/04/2012 at 10:40 pm

    I think many sites, such as CNET and Gizmodo, are stating that this will run Android OS Jelly Bean and not Ice Cream Sandwich. Let’s hope for the latter, since for *some* silly reason, you can’t update phones running AOS.

  4. amit panishap

    08/05/2012 at 8:06 am

    Can’t wait to get it. I currently own a HTC wildfire S and I really hope I can get it this month.

  5. jasjot singh bains

    08/05/2012 at 10:57 pm

    I hope the Note 2 has the camera doing the duty on the S3. Though it might be a bit too big to fit easily in the pockets with a 5.3″ screen, making sure that you dont need any other gadget will surely reap dividends for Samsung.

  6. freeminiwares

    08/07/2012 at 12:25 am

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