Which phone for browsing?

[chortle]

I don't use my telephone very much as I'm generally out of the country, use a local sim (which my friends won't have the number for), and am averse to making calls anyway (I prefer email). What I really want is a phone I can use as a tablet, for browsing and reading documents, and occasionally for making phone calls.

What phone will suit me?

The Samsung Galaxy note II appeals to me. I'll have to buy in August/September which unfortunately rules out the note III.

Although I like Apple products I don't want one of their mobiles.

 

[mattopotamus]

I don't use my telephone very much as I'm generally out of the country, use a local sim (which my friends won't have the number for), and am averse to making calls anyway (I prefer email). What I really want is a phone I can use as a tablet, for browsing and reading documents, and occasionally for making phone calls.

What phone will suit me?

The Samsung Galaxy note II appeals to me. I'll have to buy in August/September which unfortunately rules out the note III.

Although I like Apple products I don't want one of their mobiles.

Sounds like you already have your answer. If you want a phone that can give you a tablet like experience the note line is by far the best. I had the note 2 for a little bit and I really did use it like a tablet. The s-pen features are great and browsing is perfect. It was a little to big for me personally, and I actually am looking back into smaller phones, but if you know that is what you want, get the note 2

 

[0dev]

Pretty much any decent smartphone will do browsing and email just fine. If you like the Note 2 go for it. The big screen is great for browsing and the specs and battery life are brilliant.

 

[maflynn]

If you want something browsing then size matters, so the Note II is your best bet, provided the Note III doesn't hit the streets sooner then expected.

I know people who love their Note II and I think its a good choice

 

[The Game 161]

if browsing is all that matters get the galaxy mega 6.3

 

[0dev]

if browsing is all that matters get the galaxy mega 6.3

Size isn't all that matters; resolution is important too, and the resolution on the Mega is terrible. You won't actually see any more of the webpages, it'll just be a bit blown up with terrible quality compared to a Note 2 or GS4.

 

[Dunbar]

I've demoed the S4 and Note 2 in the store. The S4 felt noticeably snappier browsing full size pages in Chrome. The Note 2 felt slower than the S4 like my S3 when browsing. Not sure if that's due to 4.2.2 update or just better hardware on the S4 (the Note 2 and S3 are supposed to be getting the 4.2.2 update.) The 1080p screen on the S4 looks really nice and renders full size pages better than even the Note 2 IMO. If the Note 3 interests though I would strongly recommend waiting a month or two to buy that.

 

[appledes7]

Have you looked into the LG G Pro?

 

[chortle]

I will have a look at the S4 and the LG G Pro.

For those of you who have used the S4, how was the experience for reading (pdf, docs, etc.) ? I wonder if this is where screen size over resolution will be a factor in user experience.

 

[maxosx]

Size isn't all that matters; resolution is important too, and the resolution on the Mega is terrible. You won't actually see any more of the webpages, it'll just be a bit blown up with terrible quality compared to a Note 2 or GS4.

Please refrain from guessing and posting false information as fact.

Here are the real facts. The iPad Mini which has a good, if not spectacular display, has a much lower resolution than the Galaxy Mega.

Here's the specifics.

267 PPI for Galaxy Note 2

233 PPI for Galaxy Mega 6.3

163 PPI for iPad mini

So as anyone can see, the Galaxy Mega has a display far superior than the iPad. The difference between these two Galaxy's cannot be seen in real world use. I have them both.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I will have a look at the S4 and the LG G Pro.

For those of you who have used the S4, how was the experience for reading (pdf, docs, etc.) ? I wonder if this is where screen size over resolution will be a factor in user experience.

I have no problems views pdfs and docs on the S4. It's as clear as can be as long as you don't a crappy app to view them.

 

[The Game 161]

I will have a look at the S4 and the LG G Pro.

For those of you who have used the S4, how was the experience for reading (pdf, docs, etc.) ? I wonder if this is where screen size over resolution will be a factor in user experience.

I've found it great for reading personally.

 

[ceva321]

browsing on the iphone... can be very bad on the eyes just too damn small...


iiii by Ceva321, on Flickr


for browsing NOTHING beats the galaxy Note 2


Untitled by Ceva321, on Flickr

 

[TacticalDesire]

Size isn't all that matters; resolution is important too, and the resolution on the Mega is terrible. You won't actually see any more of the webpages, it'll just be a bit blown up with terrible quality compared to a Note 2 or GS4.

Wrong. The DPI is different. It's not just stretched out.

 

[surjavarman]

Might as well go for a nexus 7 or galaxy tab 7.7

 

[0dev]

Wrong. The DPI is different. It's not just stretched out.

It's still 720p vs. 1080p on the GS4. It makes a big difference when you're reading text.

 

[kaielement]

Have you looked into the LG G Pro?

I like that idea. Not a big fan of the Note.

 

[beaniemyman]

note 3 is the device for you, or by the time note 3 comes out note 2's price will drop so that will also be a good deal.

xperia z ultra is also a great device (cough...if the price is not an issue)

 

[egoistaxx9]

optimus G pro, xperia Z Ultra, galaxy Mega, note 2, note 3 (rumored), htc one max (rumored)

 

[Fernandez21]

If you can't wait on the note 3 or HTC max, i would say the optimus g pro is your best bet. Its basically a note 2.5, but fits much better in the hand.