The Evolution of the Samsung Galaxy Note

The Samsung Galaxy Note series started way back in 2011, positioned as a note-taking device to replace the pen and paper, made obvious by campaigns such as “do you note?”. Samsung’s Note line-up have come a long way. Let’s look back and check out the evolution of the Galaxy Note once again today.

Gnote 1

The first Galaxy Note packed an 5.3-inch display @ 800×1280 pixels, a dual-core CPU, 1GB RAM and a 2,500mAh battery —  all of which, at that time, were heavy-duty specs that were hard to find. The S–Pen already offered differentiating features but, during that time, it was still hard to justify if the stylus was worth the premium; you’ll mostly want the Galaxy Note for the specs and the size.

And speaking of the size, the first Galaxy Note was massive. In 2011, Samsung’s other flagship phone was the Galaxy S2, and that ran a 4.2-inch display along with other Android phones (the iPhone was at 3.5-inches). Basically, when you picked up a Galaxy Note for a daily driver – you were crazy. (Check out our review of the Galaxy Note N7000 back in November 2011)

But Samsung wasn’t crazy. Sooner or later, everyone realized Samsung made the right bet. Phones started getting bigger, and following the success of the first Galaxy Note, the company launched its successor – the Galaxy Note 2.

gnote 2

The Galaxy Note 2 had a bigger 5.5-inch display (but now 720p with 16:9 aspect ratio), a quad-core CPU, 2GB RAM and a massive 3,100 mAh battery. The phone didn’t get much bigger too since it lost some bezel, and the design carried over the infamous Samsung Hyperglaze from the Galaxy S III, love it or hate it.

The Galaxy Note 2 incorporated more features into the S-Pen such as hovering, and while the design of the handset was a miss, it was very sturdy and it still packed a lot of things power users would want to get their hands on. During this time, phones were already playing around 4.5 – 4.7 inches, so 5.5 –inches was surely still huge, but no longer that huge.

gnote 3

After all the criticism from hyperglaze and following the trend of smartphones increasing in size, Samsung released the Galaxy Note 3 in 2013. The Galaxy Note 3 had a larger 5.7-inch display, but the whole footprint of the phone didn’t increase in size; it was still the same as its predecessor more or less. The phone also ditched the glossy plastic for matte – the fake leather stitched back and the “metallic” sides that tried to imitate the sides of a paper notebook. To a lot of people, the design improved, but it still wasn’t there.

The Galaxy Note 3 was still the phone for power users though as it packed a 1080p display, a top of the line quad-core processor, 3GB RAM and a larger 3,200mAh battery. It was also capable of 2160p video recording.

And then, smartphones stopped getting bigger. Anyone who tried anything larger than 5.7-inches would fail miserably, and after all the disappointment with the Galaxy S5, Samsung finally released a metal smartphone – the Galaxy Note 4.

Gnote 4

The Galaxy Note 4 still had the fake leather plastic back, but the sides were now all metal, and it made a huge difference since it was the sides that people are usually holding on to. It feels however, that Samsung was just testing the waters with this, but everything else went smoothly. The Galaxy Note 4 packed a 5.7-inch 1440 x 2560 display, an improved processor, still the same 3GB RAM and a slightly larger 3,220mAh battery.

After the Galaxy Note 4 and the well-received metal and glass Galaxy S6, we think it’s safe to say that the Galaxy Note 5 was predictable – and while it will please some people, it will surely dissatisfy others as well.

Gnote 5

This year, with the Galaxy Note 5, Samsung dropped the removable battery and the micro SD card slot. It also reduced the battery capacity down to 3,000mAh, which tells us that the company is now facing changes as they slightly prioritize design now more than power.

The Galaxy Note 5 improves upon specs again of course, notably the increase in RAM (now 4GB), but with the changes in software and the incremental updates to the S-Pen, the direction of the Galaxy Note is changing, but still more or less familiar: the Galaxy Note is fundamentally a larger and more polished Galaxy S with a stylus, and the Galaxy Note 6 will most likely depend on the failure or success of the Galaxy S7.

galaxy note evolution

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The Evolution of Samsung Galaxy Note

Lazada Philippines

Samsung pretty much started the “phablet” category by initially offering the Galaxy Note a few years back. Throughout the years the company has been releasing successors with bigger displays and better performing internals. With the fourth generation Note just announced yesterday, let’s take a quick trip down memory lane and look back at how the Galaxy Note started and developed their participation in the phone-tablet hybrid scene.

Evolution_Galaxy_Note

Display

One of the prominent changes in the Note’s lineup is the display. The first Galaxy Note started with just 5.3 inches with HD graphics and 1280 x 800 resolution with 285 pixels per inch (ppi). It was then partnered with Corning’s first-ever Gorilla Glass to reinforce its Super AMOLED display.

The next iteration, the Galaxy Note II, got bigger display at 5.5-inch with the second version of Gorilla Glass. The Note 3 then went bigger and stretched it to 5.7-inch and was protected by Gorilla Glass 3. The company also gave it a Full HD display for the first time.

galaxy-note

The very first Samsung Galaxy Note.

Finally, with the Note 4, we get the same 5.7-inch screen but it’s now equipped with Quad HD resolution of 2560 x 1440. It still got the latest protection from Corning while keeping the same Super AMOLED technology. From the first Note with 285ppi, the Note 4 now has 513ppi – almost double the pixel density!

Processor

A good display is certainly nothing without good processing power. The Note family has been known to provide more than one version of CPU varying from their own Exynos system and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon chip.

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

For the first iteration there was the dual-core Snapdragon CPU clocked only at 1.5GHz and a 1.4GHz Exynos dual-core variant. Fast forward to three years later and we now have the latest Snapdragon quad-core processor at a blazing 2.7GHz and a 1.9GHz octa-core Exynos CPU.

Features

One feature that sets apart the Notes from other phablets is their S Pen functionality that makes working easier. It has been one of the selling points that remained unchanged throughout all versions. With the Note 4, the company claims that it is now more responsive and precise than ever before. Additional functions that appeared first on the Note 4 are its fingerprint scanner and heart rate monitor as fitness trackers are slowly gaining popularity in the market.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 during its IFA launch last year.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 during its IFA launch last year.

Below is a detailed specs comparison between four generations of Galaxy Note in a span of three years.

Galaxy Note
Galaxy Note II
Galaxy Note 3
Galaxy Note 4
5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED display (1280 x 800)5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display (1280 x 720)5.7-inch Full HD Super AMOLED display (1920 x 1080)5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED display (2560 x 1440)
285ppi267ppi386ppi513ppi
Corning Gorilla GlassCorning Gorilla Glass 2Corning Gorilla Glass 3Corning Gorilla Glass 3
1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 8255T dual-core processor2.3GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor2.7GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 quad-core processor
1.4GHz Exynos 4210 dual-core processor1.6GHz Exynos 4412 quad-core processor1.9GHz Exynos 5420 octa-core (1.9GHz quad + 1.3GHz quad-core) processor1.9GHz Exynos 5433 octa-core (1.9GHz quad + 1.3GHz quad-core) processor
Adreno 220 / Mali-400MP GPUMali-400MP GPUAdreno 330 GPU / Mali-T628 MP6 GPUAdreno 420 GPU / Mali-T760 GPU
1GB RAM2GB RAM3GB RAM3GB RAM
16/32GB internal storage16/32/64GB internal storage16/32/64GB internal storage32GB internal storage
up to 64GB via microSDup to 64GB via microSDup to 64GB via microSDup to 64GB via microSD
8-megapixel rear camera w/ LED flash8-megapixel rear camera w/ LED flash13-megapixel rear camera w/ LED flash16-megapixel rear camera w/ OIS & LED flash
2-megapixel front camera1.9-megapixel front camera2-megapixel front camera3.7-megapixel front camera, f/1.9 aperture
HSPA+HSPA+4G LTE, HSPA+4G LTE, HSPA+
Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/nWi-Fi 802.11 b/g/nWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/acWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac
NFCNFCNFC
Bluetooth v3.0, A2DP, EDRBluetooth 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LEBluetooth 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LEBluetooth 4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE
IR LEDIR LED
GPS, A-GPS, GLONASSGPS, A-GPS, GLONASSGPS, A-GPS, GLONASSGPS, A-GPS, GLONASS
USB 2.0, MHLUSB 2.0, MHLUSB 3.0, MHL 2USB 2.0, MHL 2
S Pen stylusS Pen stylusS Pen stylusS Pen stylus
Fingerprint sensor, Heart rate monitor
2,500mAh battery3,100mAh battery3,200mAh battery3,220mAh battery
Android 2.3.6 GingerbreadAndroid 4.1.1 Jelly BeanAndroid 4.3 Jelly BeanAndroid 4.4.4 KitKat
146.85 x 82.95 x 9.65mm151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4 mm151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm153.5 x 78.6 x 8.5 mm
178183 grams168 grams176 grams
Released October 2011Released September 2012Released September 2013Released September 2014

Each of the Galaxy Note has somehow led the pack in its category during their respective times. Providing their users with speedy performance, efficiency at work-related tasks, and a battery life that lasts, the Note just keeps on improving after every version making them one of the most preferred phablets today.

SGN4

The newly-announced Galaxy Note 4.

That’s about it. Hope you got something from this short article we’ve prepared. For our hands-on and reviews just click through the links:

Samsung Galaxy Note
Samsung Galaxy Note II
Samsung Galaxy Note 3

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Samsung shows Galaxy Note 4 teaser

Samsung uploaded a teaser for the upcoming release of the Galaxy Note 4. The video may not contain anything about the anticipated phablet but it gives excitement to those who await.

The device is said to pack a Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 or Exynos 5 Octa SoC, 16-megapixel camera with 4K video recording and 5.7″ QHD display.

Samsung Galaxy Note 4 specifications:
5.4-inch Super AMOLED display @ 2560×1440, 551ppi
Qualcomm Snapdragon 805 2.5GHz quad-core
Exynos 5433 Octa-core (4 x 1.3GHz Cortex A53, 4 Cortex A57)
4GB RAM
16GB, 32GB, 64GB internal storage
Up to 128GB via microSD
LTE 150Mbps
WiFi 802.11 a/c
Bluetooth 4.0
GPS with aGPS support
16MP OIS rear camera, dual LED flash
Android 4.4.3 Kitkat

The Samsung Galaxy Note 4 is ready for announcement on September 3 at the Unpacked event to be held in Berlin, Beijing, and New York. Check out the early leaks of the device here and its clone here.

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Samsung rolling out KitKat update to more devices

In addition to the Galaxy Note 3, Samsung will be rolling out an Android KitKat update to more than a dozen Galaxy devices starting today. Head past the break to see if your device is amongst the selected few which will receive this sweet treat.

samsung galaxy

Here’s the shortlist of devices that’ll get the KitKat update:

Galaxy Note II
• Galaxy S4
Galaxy S4 Mini
Galaxy S4 Active
Galaxy S4 Zoom
Galaxy S3
Galaxy S3 Mini
Galaxy Mega
• Galaxy Light
Galaxy Note 8.0
Galaxy Tab 3
Galaxy Note 10.1
Galaxy Note 10.1 2014 Edition

Just what we mentioned last month, the upcoming update will bring all the things that Android KitKat has to offer, plus something extra on the side that Samsung likes to add on top of the basic stuff.
As always, the roll out will vary from region to region so we might not get the update immediately. Nevertheless, it’s great that Sammy didn’t forget to include some of their non-flagship devices to the mix. Hopefully, the firm will add more devices in the future.

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Bianca Gonzalez is the face of Samsung Galaxy Note 8

With 2.2 million followers in her Twitter account and 230K for Instagram, multimedia personalty Bianca Gonzalez is the perfect choice to be the endorser of Samsung first 8-inch tablet, the Galaxy Note 8 (suggested retail price: P23,990).

At least we can say that the multi-tasking Bianca will use this gadget to the fullest as she essays different roles: TV host, newspaper columnist, editor-at-large, commercial model and social media influencer.

Bianca with officials of Samsung Electronics Philippines Corporation (SEPCO) during the launch of the Note 8 in Makati City:

Bianca with Samsung officials

In front of the media, the pretty and svelte Bianca demonstrates the fun she has with the tablet:

Bianca Gonzalez for Samsung

The writer and TV host says she loves the Galaxy Note 8 for bringing about the 2 Ps: portability and productivity. “It can serve as your laptop, tablet, mobile phone, camera, e-book, movie and music player, calendar, diary, and notebook – all in one!” Bianca enthuses.

So without much further ado, here are the specs of the Samsung Galaxy Note 8:

1.6GHz A9 quad-core processor
Display: 8” WXGA (1280×800, 189 ppi) TFT
OS: Android 4.1.2 (Jellybean)
Camera: Main(Rear): 5 Megapixel Camera
Sub(Front): 1.3 Megapixel Camera
S Pen Optimized Features: S Note, S Planner, Email with hand-writing integration
- Quick Command, Easy Clip, Photo Note, Paper Artist
-Air View
-Popup Note, Popup Video
- Shape Match, Formula Match, Idea Sketch

Samsung AllShare

A-GPS + GLONASS (3G Version)

Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 & 5 GHz),
Wi-Fi Direct, AllShareCast, BT4.0, USB2.0

Sensor: Accelerometer, Digital Compass, Proximity
Memory: 2GB (RAM), 16GB microSD (up to 64GB)
Dimension: 210.8 X 135.9mm, 345g (3G Version)
Battery: Standard battery, Li-ion 4,600mAh