Samsung’s Sibling Rivalry: GALAXY Note 3 Vs Note 2 Vs S4 | TechTree.com

Samsung’s Sibling Rivalry: GALAXY Note 3 Vs Note 2 Vs S4

Find out how the latest Note 3 stacks up against other similar looking high-end phones from Samsung.

 
Samsung’s Sibling Rivalry: GALAXY Note 3 Vs Note 2 Vs S4

No, we're not discussing the quarrels between Samsung's Lee Kun Hee and his siblings. In this article, we'll give you an overview of how Samsung's latest flagship fares against other members of the GALAXY family, such as the S4 and Note II. As expected from Samsung, things have got bigger and faster in the latest iteration. On the launch day, the Korean brand overwhelmed the fans with Note 3's 5.7" full-HD AMOLED display, octa-core Exynos chipset, and 13 megapixel camera. Now that the dust has settled, lets find out how much of that will actually matter in real world scenario.

Screen
Note 3 – 5.7” Super AMOLED screen with 1080x1920 pixels (386 ppi), Scratch resistant.
Note II – 5.5” Super AMOLED screen with 720x1280 pixels (266 ppi), Scratch resistant.
S4 – 5” Super AMOLED screen with 1080x1920 pixels (440 ppi), Scratch resistant.

We love Sammy’s OLED screens, and the one on the S4 is arguably the best from the Android camp. While we haven’t used the Note 3 yet, it’s safe to assume that it will be equably good. Due to the relatively low pixel count, the Note II’s screen might look less appealing on paper, but it’s actually good for a year old handset.

Fire-Power
Note 3 – Exynos octa-core chipset (quad 1.9 GHz Cortex A15 + quad 1.3 GHz Cortex A7).
Note II – Exynos quad-core chipset (1.6 GHz Cortex-A9).
S4 – Exynos octa-core chipset (quad 1.6 GHz Cortex A15 + quad-core 1.2 GHz A7).

When it comes to raw-power, very few can hold-up against Samsung. The S4 smashed all benchmarking software, and the Note 3 in all probably will do better than that. However, in real world scenario, the S4 never felt significantly faster than the Note II. So except for some graphic intensive games, you won’t feel much of a difference between the performance of the Note 3 and its siblings.

Construction And Aesthetics
Note 3 – Plastic.
Note II – Plastic.
S4 – Plastic.

The less said about Samsung’s design and construction, the better. Everybody was hoping to see the use of premium materials in Note 3, but Samsung decided to go with the tried and tested uninspiring design and plastic. It doesn’t take an expert to know that the S4, Note II, and Note 3 look very similar. The only change in the latest flagship was the leather-like material on its back.

Camera
Note 3 – 13 megapixel auto-focus camera, LED flash, 1080 video at 30 fps (India variant).
Note II – 8 megapixel autofocus camera, LED flash, 1080 video at 30 fps.
S4 – 13 megapixel auto-focus camera, LED flash, 1080 video at 30 fps.

The S4 is one of the best Android camera phones available in India. Now, with a supposedly better BSI sensor, the camera capabilities will only get better in the Note 3. Unlike the processor upgrade, the Note 3 should produce better images than those of its predecessors, and especially in low light conditions.

Battery
Note 3 – 3200 mAh Li-ion battery.
Note II – 3100 mAh Li-ion battery.
S4 – 2600 mAh Li-ion battery.

Both the S4 and Note II offer impressive battery life. To be precise, the Note II’s 3100 mAh battery lasted for around 11 hours, while the S4’s 2600 mAh pack clocked in 10 hours in our video playback tests. In Note 3, Samsung has increased the battery capacity along with the screen-size. So we can expect similarly good, if not better, battery backup on the latest iteration of the GALAXY Note.

Stylus Support
Note 3 – S-Pen.
Note II – S-Pen.
S4 – No.

The Note II and 3 come with a feature-packed digital stylus. Whether you prefer an accessory over a touch of your finger to operate your phone is a matter of personal preference. So if you like the gimmicky S-Pen features, the Note 3 is your best bet. On the other hand, if you prefer straightforward touch interface, you’re better off with the S4.

Software
Note 3 – Android 4.3 Jelly Bean.
Note II – Android 4.1 Jelly Bean.
S4 – Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean.

The Note obviously comes with the latest version of Android. While we don’t know exactly when, but the other two handsets will also get upgraded to 4.3. With Samsung’s TouchWiz layer on top, you won't find much of a difference between 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3 anyway. So I wouldn’t break a sweat over the OS version as long as the interface is lag-free. However, if you fancy a GALAXY Gear, the Note 3 is your best bet, as the Note II and S4 won’t support this smartwatch until they receive the Android 4.3 update.


 


Tags : Mobile Phones, Android, Samsung, GALAXY

 
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