Samsung Galaxy Note Reviews

Samsung Galaxy Note Review at Engadget

We've already spent quite a bit of time with the international version of this phone, but what was once a bit of a niche device -- would-be owners facing hefty import duties and confused looks from friends -- has now gone mainstream, with the Super Bowl commercial to match. That kind of exposure will have a lot more people wondering if this kind of thing can work for them and for many we think the answer is yes, it could work quite well indeed.

The Note is big, but not unmanageably so. Those with small hands might find it a bit unwieldy at times, but even if your glover has you written down as XS you shouldn't rule this out completely. After a few hours with the Note you'll very quickly become accustomed to the size, and once you have you won't want to go back. Read more...

Samsung Galaxy Note Review at CNET

There are two main questions at hand: is the Samsung Galaxy Note a phone worth buying, and if so, can it satisfy the need for a tablet? So long as you're all for supersizing, I can emphatically answer "yes" to the former. It has all the high-flying specs that we loved in the original Galaxy S II and Galaxy S II Skyrocket, but an even larger, HD Super AMOLED screen. While its size could make carrying the phone awkward, the screen real estate is ideal for interacting with HD games and multimedia, and for reading Web sites and e-books.

When you add in the S Pen, there's so much more potential for creative drawings and games. Whether it's little more than a party trick or if you'll ever use it on a regular basis depends on you. I think the screen size, rather than the stylus, will make it or break it for most buyers, but I do worry about the long-term comfort and security of the skinny pen if you don't feel like dishing out for a $50 pen holder accessory--a price I feel is a lot to ask. Read more...

Samsung Galaxy Note Review at PCMag

The Galaxy Note is just about the size of a Moleskine notebook, and note-taking is one of its premier features. The Note comes with a little plastic stylus called the S Pen, which tucks into a slot in the bottom. Using the S Pen, you can draw or take notes in Samsung's S Note app, Autodesk's Sketchbook Mobile, or anywhere else you choose. The S Pen also enables a few tricks—for instance, taking snapshots of Web pages and doodling on them.

Using the S Pen is a little awkward, though, because it's so short and skinny. I found it difficult to use without touching the screen with the side of my hand, which disrupted the input. Things got easier when I put the S Pen in the larger S Pen Holder ($59.99), which gave my hand some more distance from the screen. Read more...

Samsung Galaxy Note Review at LaptopMag

Ultimately, the $299 Samsung Galaxy Note is too big to be a phone, but too small to be a tablet. While the idea of replacing our paper notebook with an electronic one is tantalizing, the Galaxy Note's poor handwriting recognition and iffy palm rejection make it too impractical to use on a regular basis. Its large size also made it awkward when we wanted to pull it out of our pocket to quickly check messages, or even when making a phone call. While the Galaxy Note's parts--a 720p display, 8MP camera and LTE speeds--would make it the rival of any other smartphone on the market, you're ultimately trading versatility for comfort. Read more...

Samsung Galaxy Note Review at PCWorld

As somebody who is reluctant to hop on the tablet train, the Galaxy Note’s size is ideal to me. I like being able to whip the Note out to jot down ideas, and I love being able to doodle during a meeting or while riding the bus. To me, this is a perfectly sized tablet. But a perfectly sized phone? I’m not so sure. I wish Samsung sold a Wi-Fi-only, carrier-free version in addition to the subsidized AT&T version with LTE. I see it more as a secondary device--something I take to work, but not out to dinner or to the beach. Overall, the Galaxy Note works well with the S Pen, and I am excited to see more pen-supported apps. Right now, the selection feels a bit limited. Read more...