Samsung Galaxy Note hands-on (photos)
While we were at London last week for Nokia World, we popped by the CNET UK offices and chanced upon the Samsung Galaxy Note smartphone. We didn't have much time, but managed to get some lovely shots of this incredibly huge handset and its 5.3-inch display.
Photo by John Chan/CNET Asia
Caption by Aloysius Low/CNET Asia
Samsung has managed to make use of the larger surface area of the Galaxy Note to deliver a sleek device. At just 9.65mm thick, the handset is just 0.35mm thicker than the iPhone 4S. Despite the thinness, the Note sports a 2,500mAh battery, which it will need.
Photo by John Chan/CNET Asia
Caption by Aloysius Low/CNET Asia
With such a big screen, Samsung wants to let you do more than just use your fingers to interact with the smartphone, so the Galaxy Note comes bundled with a stylus that's kept in the bottom of the handset. We've highlighted this as an issue before in our preview--and the lower storage location means gravity could play a part in helping you lose the stylus.
Photo by John Chan/CNET Asia
Caption by Aloysius Low/CNET Asia
The rear cover sports a very familiar finish--we've seen this before on the Samsung Galaxy S II and the Galaxy Nexus.
Photo by John Chan/CNET Asia Caption by Aloysius Low/CNET Asia
Here's a look at what's under the cover--the aforementioned 2,500mAh battery that's powering the smartphone. You can also spot the SIM card slot and the microSD port for more storage.
Photo by John Chan/CNET Asia
Caption by Aloysius Low/CNET Asia
The large screen should make typing with two hands easy. The only problem is if you are typing with one hand--your thumb may not be able to reach the opposite side.
Photo by John Chan/CNET Asia
Caption by Aloysius Low/CNET Asia
The large size of the Galaxy Note is apparent when you have the Apple iPhone 4 to compare with. The iPhone feels tiny by comparison.
Photo by John Chan/CNET Asia
Caption by Aloysius Low/CNET Asia
You could probably use the Galaxy Note as a smaller secondary display (with the appropriate Android app) given its epic size. It looks like it fits comfortably on an average-sized keyboard, too.
Photo by John Chan/CNET Asia
Caption by Aloysius Low/CNET Asia
About the author
Editor John Chan's love for gadgets can be traced back to the days when he disassembled his toys and couldn't put them back together again. He practices great restraint in not opening up every review product that comes through the CNET Asia Labs, and before that, in his previous job at HardwareZone. He has reviewed items big and small, from mobile phones to projectors and feels everyone should carry a multitool at all times in case of MacGyver situations.
About the author
Aloysius Low is a Senior Writer at CNET Asia and covers all things mobile. A former World of Warcraft addict, he now dabbles in social media to stave off the withdrawal symptoms. As a lover of all things furry, he's also the unfortunate slave/minion of two adorable cats.
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