Phones Galaxy Note questions

[danny_w]

I have been considering the Galaxy Note series (phones or tablets) for taking notes at work. I have used the Note 10.1 and loved its stylus for notes, but have never used the Note 3 or 4 beyond short stints at the store, and this really does not give me a feel for how it would be long term. I have tried a Surface 3 and found the result frustrating (I think mostly due to Win 8.1 in tablet mode), so I think I am forced to go with a Galaxy Note (either tablet or phone). For those of you with a Galaxy Note phone, do you feel like it is actually large enough to be useful in an everyday situation such as meetings? I don't have a good feel for how the smaller screen would play out in real life situations.

Also I went to Best Buy last night and played with the Note 4 but the response was horribly slow; response to a screen tap would take up to 2s or more before anything happened. I don't know if this was normal or due to the demo software running on the phone or what. I know responsiveness is subjective (what some see as laggy will be fine with others), but what is the general consensus on this board with regards to how it compares with other phones, say an iPhone or an LG G2/G3? My G2 has been getting very slow of late but not as bad as what I saw last night by any means.

I noticed while I was at the store that Samsung has now come out with an S-Pen variant of the Tab A; this is the first use of the S-Pen on anything besides the Note series that I have seen. They only had the display model and it has a screen resolution of 1024 x 768 so it is in many ways antiquated by today's standards. However it was interesting to see the S-Pen on other products.

I would like to make a decision soon so any help would be appreciated.

 

[mi7chy]

People familiar with stylus don't realize the active digitizer on the Note is very precise so even on 5.5" or 5.7" you can write fine text with prper palm rejection and fit a lot on one page. It's indispensable for me since pen and pad isn't always available such as noting an ODB2 fault code my car throws when on the road. User experience on Note is more polished than Windows 8.1 but it looks like Windows 10 will help reach parity. I'd say go with the Note if you want the best precision pen note taking that fits in your pocket. Even the Note II from 2012 is better than anything comparable on the market now. The store demo issue is because of the constantly running demo app.

 

[The Game 161]

Note 4 s pen is awesome for writing..almost like the real thing.

Demos are abut misleading as with everything they have on it and amount it's being used.

Lag wise I've only experienced it in text messages but that was more on 4.4 than 5.0..

I have the note 12.2 and it's an awesome tablet and I have the keyboard to go with it so it's basically like a laptop

 

[nickchallis92]

I've got the slightly older Note 3 and like others have said, there's certainly no lag on mine and writing on the screen is akin to writing on paper; very accurate.

Is the screen big enough for serious note taking? i'd say probably not.

 

[Sevanw]

I've got the Note 4 and, for me, it is easily the best phone out right now. But to be honest, I've already told a few friends to wait for the Note 5 since it's only 4 months away.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

Writing with the Note 4 S-Pen is top notch. Don't trust demos.

 

[danny_w]

Thanks everybody for your responses. I am going to look at some phones in the next few days, hopefully without the demo running. Is there any major advantage to the Note 4 vs. the Note 3? I can get the Note 3 new for just over $400 from Amazon compared to considerably more for the Note 4 ($650 Amazon $750 T-Mobile). I have read reviews that state that there is really no major difference.

 

[spinedoc77]

No huge advantage for Note 4 over the Note 3, If you don't mind last generation and want to save a ton of money go for the Note 3. The Note 4 has slightly better specs, better resolution although it's overkill IMO and has a nicer metallic feel to it. Performance wise I'd say they both are lightning fast. I've had a LOT of issues with my Note 4 GPS and several replacements so if that sense I'd opt for the Note 3.

You are going to LOVE writing with it. The screen is a bit cramped, I don't know that I'd do an entire lecture with it that's what my SP3 is for. But for notes and such it's phenomenal. Also make sure you get OneNote for it, it's free and it's an incredible app that ties in with your computers and the cloud. In terms of lag, yeah you will see some here and there but it doesn't bother me. It's minimal at worst.

PS Look on swappa.com, you can probably get that Note 3 for $275 or less.

 

[danny_w]

Thanks, I ordered a Note 3 from Swappa last night. I could have gotten one as cheap as you said but in Good condition from a random seller; I paid extra to get one in Mint condition from a dealer. If I like it I will sell me G2.

 

[ceva321]

Get the note 4. So much better

 

[danny_w]

Get the note 4. So much better

In what way? Most seem to disagree and say that the 4 is only a slight improvement not worth the cost. Not disputing you word but genuinely interested to know.

 

[Shanghaichica]

In what way? Most seem to disagree and say that the 4 is only a slight improvement not worth the cost. Not disputing you word but genuinely interested to know.

Higher resolution screen
Much better camera
Finger print scanner
Heart rate monitor/O2 sats monitor
Compatible with gear VR
Snapdragon 805 processor
Improved multi tasking/ S pen features
Newer UI

 

[danny_w]

Higher resolution screen
Much better camera
Finger print scanner
Heart rate monitor/O2 sats monitor
Compatible with gear VR
Snapdragon 805 processor
Improved multi tasking/ S pen features
Newer UI

Thanks for the info but I don't think any of those are meaningful to me with the possible exception of the S-Pen features. On a screen that small I think I will be just fine thanks.

 

[Michael Goff]

Thanks for the info but I don't think any of those are meaningful to me with the possible exception of the S-Pen features. On a screen that small I think I will be just fine thanks.

Off topic, you're the first person I've known to ever use the word small to describe the Note screen. XD

 

[danny_w]

Off topic, you're the first person I've known to ever use the word small to describe the Note screen. XD

LOL yes it is big for a phone but small compared to a tablet, which was what I was referring to in this case.

 

[spinedoc77]

Higher resolution screen
Much better camera
Finger print scanner
Heart rate monitor/O2 sats monitor
Compatible with gear VR
Snapdragon 805 processor
Improved multi tasking/ S pen features
Newer UI

Higher res screen, not very noticeable unless you are using VR. Camera is a bit better, still has issues in low light and macro. Finger print scanner is hit or miss, nowhere near the utility of an iPhone, but still it's there and usable. I use proximity lock so I don't have to futz with the FP sensor very often thankfully. Heart rate monitor sucks as it does on any other smart phone. Gear VR is ok, I'm very hopeful for it, but the apps out now for it are pretty meh. Snapdragon proc. the Note 3 is just as fast, and lags in all the same places the Note 4 does in my experience. Improved multi tasking, I prefer the old way of multitasking where the tiles didn't overlap each other, then I could see what apps I am scrolling through, it's a downgrade IMO. S pen features, some good some bad, more levels of pressure sensitivity but I don't notice it in real life/practice.

I'm rocking the Note 4 but only because I love wasting money on the absolute newest thing, lol. For someone watching their money $275 versus $700ish on swappa is a huge difference with a minimal loss of features.

 

[shyam09]

Thanks for the info but I don't think any of those are meaningful to me with the possible exception of the S-Pen features. On a screen that small I think I will be just fine thanks.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2786666

if you're familiar with rooting and putting custom roms, I highly recommend this. I'm using it myself and it just smokes the hell out of the note 4

 

[danny_w]

I received the Note 3 and have been using it for several days now. So far I really like this phone and am probably going to sell my G2 shortly. The S-Pen is really nice for taking notes and otherwise it is just another nice android phone which I am used to by now. The battery life is really good as long as location services are off, but the GPS really drains it fast.The screen is nice and clear and the size so far has not been a problem for me.