Samsung Galaxy Note 3 -> My Review by BandOfBrothers.

[Anonymous]

Device name : Samsung Galaxy Note 3. 

By : BandofBrothers.

I would like to start this ‘Try The Tech’ Review with my usual and respectful Thank you to  @Toby , @MarinaP and @Marjo our O2 Community Site Management, and to 02 for permitting me once again to get my teeth into reviewing a device via the ‘Try The Tech Programme’, a gadget which I normally wouldn't have played with.  

To join this programme and perhaps try a device out yourself then just keep an eye out on the forum board here :  http://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Welcome-News/bd-p/3  ,and put your name forward via a Private Message to Toby or Marina when they announce a new Phase of reviewing, and put yourself forward for a device(s) that interest you - Its as easy as that.  

The manufacturers specifications and more Product Information can be found here : http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/mobile-devices/galaxy-note/smartphones/SM-N9005ZKEBTU 

Specifications : http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/mobile-devices/galaxy-note/smartphones/SM-N9005ZKEBTU

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 accepts a Micro Sim Card.

Design

I really do like the way the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is put together ,and it is also thin and very light and comfortable to hold. That said I'm not overly keen on the fake leather stitched style back cover. {Not a dealbreaker}

This is also a phone that a person cannot use one handed all the time ,but that's not a deal breaker either for me, and the sPen helps dramatically. 

The 5.7" screen is equipped with 1080 x 1920 pixels with a very bright clear display.

The devices Internal memory is 32GB ,with the option of a SD Card up to 64GB, and the Ram is a very respectable 3GB. The snappiness of the phone is very apparent. 

Operating System & UI.

What I found under its hood was stock Android 4.2.2. and a 2.3Ghz Quad Processor. 

Phone Calls, Texting, Internet and General Usage.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 handled YouTube videos I like to view with absolutely no problems at all. Accessing forums and blog sites etc were seamless and buttery smooth. 

I made calls and received calls which were crystal clear for both parties. 

The keyboard was the usual android affair and was easy to use in sending text messages and writing posts on forums. The sPen came into its own here too. 

The internet experience using Chrome was a breeze to use.

Wifi connectivity to my Home Broadband Router and shops I frequent along with my free City Centre Wifi gave me no issues. 

I found no problems using the phone in sunny conditions outdoors and was just as good indoors too.

I use email apps heavily and The Note 3 pushed all my e mails and notifications to me from my BtMail server adequately , which is something that is a ‘want and need’ from any communication device I use.

The Apps available from GooglePlay were the usual affair of useful, eye candy and dross.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 coped very well with games I tried out. As usual I played Fifa 14, and also Batman, which pushes most devices to see if it offers a good gaming experience.

The ringtone alerts and Notification Sounds were loud and clear. 

The sPen is very easy to use and I liked the way that the phone responded when you retracted the s pen from the phone, which also makes the device a lot easier to use too.

My only concern would be is the cost to replace the s pen and nibs.

Battery Usage.

I received just under a days usage with a medium to heavy usage pattern. 

Camera.

The camera has a 13MP camera which is enough for me when i need to capture that ‘special moment’ picture. The front facing camera is 2MP. Both are good enough for what I as a casual picture taker would ever need. 

Music.

the phone played my music with no issue and was very easy to set up. Their are lots of bells and whistles for one to play around with within the music settings if you deem its warranted.

Accessories.

I found the usual affair of weird and wonderful expensive and low cost sleeves and cases for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 on well known selling sites, and on the high-street.

Here is a couple of cases that caught my eye. 

The Good for me about this phone.

Workmanship to a high standard.

Light to handle and comfortable to hold.

Large Display.

Very Good Performance overall.

Responsive Screen.

Micro SD Card Slot expands memory up to 64GB.

sPen makes a very nice addition.

4G.

The Not so good for me about this phone.

I didn't particularly like the fake leather stitched style rear cover.

Possible costs to replace sPen and Nibs.

My Rating out of 10.

 7/10.

Conclusion.

A very nice phone indeed. {Can I keep it @Toby ?  }

I hope you enjoyed my review as much as I enjoyed reviewing this Device.

[Toby]

Its an awesome review BoB. I'll make sure we can get those details changed.

For everyone, we intend to hold a review discussion very soon, where we can all post our personal tips and tricks for reviews, as well as what we would like to see in the reviews we read :).

We all have different views and styles and must respect each other's. But as I say, we can all share our views when I create a discussion

[Beenherebefore]

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@Toby wrote:


We all have different views and styles and must respect each other's.

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I'm not sure I understand what you mean Toby....is that a coded message ?

[viridis]

This thread is getting weird,
Off to find out why.

[jonsie]

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@viridis wrote:
This thread is getting weird,
Off to find out why.

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You won't have to look far...

[Anonymous]

Hi @Toby

I look forward to that promised thread.

I'm not in any way a professional reviewer or have expertise in writing them. I simply speak from how I find the device in laymans terms and try to put something together in my spare private time.

To help me do this I use a template held on my Mac and change around some of the finer details and add things relevant to that particular device.

I understand that this may mean some of the review may be similar to my last ones. It's not laziness or intentional. Theirs no intentional déjà Vu.

I look forward to reading others members views on how one should be written and put together and even better perhaps get involved and trial a device themselves if at all that interests them.

[Toby]

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@Beenherebefore wrote:

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@Toby wrote:


We all have different views and styles and must respect each other's.

---

I'm not sure I understand what you mean Toby....is that a coded message ?

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No code in there @Beenherebefore 

[Beenherebefore]

@Toby The use of "must" is very unusual.....perhaps even autocratic.

If you're advising me and other members that we "must" respect others' views then you're opening the door for us to post any old twaddle aren't you and yes, I know a lot of light-hearted twaddle is posted but if we are being told that we "must" respect others' views then there will be no interaction and the whole Community will be an extremely bland place.

[Toby]

Hi beenherebefore,

I'm happy to change the word 'must' to something else if that word causes an issue for you. Its not intended as a strict command by any means. I just like to make sure we're all getting on and I think everyone 'must' be respectful of others in all walks of life surely as long as they are receiving it back? :).

The community is a pretty interesting I think because we are all different and long may that continue.

[viridis]

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@Toby wrote:

Hi beenherebefore,

I'm happy to change the word 'must' to something else if that word causes an issue for you.

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Resisting the urge to post "mustn't" 

For the lolz 

[Beenherebefore]

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@Toby wrote:

Hi beenherebefore,

I'm happy to change the word 'must' to something else if that word causes an issue for you. Its not intended as a strict command by any means.

Using the word "must" in that context, you provided, perhaps inadvertently, a good example of how a post can be interpreted differently by people reading it and how a situation can quickly be created which may become disrespectful.

Although now well off topic (!!), perhaps we can all learn something from this thread ?