GADGET WATCH: Samsung Galaxy Note

It’s far too early to have a look at the new iPad, but there’s plenty of great gadgetry going around – and the Samsung Galaxy Note is definitely worth of some attention.

Smartphone sizes have been getting bigger lately, so it was only a matter of time before one cracked into the realm of “mini tablet”. The Samsung Galaxy Note attempts to bridge the two categories – but can it succeed?

Hardware and features

The Galaxy Note features a 5.3 inch screen, is 146mm tall and weighs just 178 grams. Running on the Gingerbread iteration of Android, it’s powered by a 1.4Ghz dual-core processor, and 1GB of RAM.

The device can store up to 16GB or 32GB of memory but can also expand up to 32GB through a microSD slot.

Other features include the multi-touch screen, gyroscope, accelerometer and stylus, which some reviewers have noted as an interesting choice.

The display runs at 1280×800 pixels, while the rear camera is an eight megapixel capable of shooting full HD video. The front camera is just two megapixels.

What’s the consensus?

Opinions have been mixed when it comes to the Galaxy Note. Over at CNET, it begins by saying Samsung may have made a misstep when it comes to actually marketing the thing, highlighting the difficulties of showing off a tablet/phone hybrid.

It also says that if you throw out the stylus you won’t miss out on much. “So forget worrying about the Galaxy Note as a tablet, and think of it as the phone that it is,” it says.

It praised the design, saying the slim build keeps it looking light and lean, although, that said, there’s not much chance of the device fitting into a pocket.

“While plastic may not seem upscale, it does offer its own brand of durability over glass parts that can shatter, or paint that can chip off metal fixtures. It weighs a chunky 178g, but that heft also lends it a greater sense of structural strength,” it said, also noting the quality of the screen.

Engadget spent a little more time talking about the Stylus, the S Pen, saying it can be used for pretty much everything although, it said, writing was a challenge.

“Ostensibly, this phone was designed to replace something like a Moleskine notebook that many journalists stuff in their back pockets, but writing legibly with the S Pen is a difficult proposition,” it said.

It also praised the display, but criticised the device for making calls. The device is just so large that the publication said making calls made the user feel self-conscious.

“That said, should you need to make a call here, the Note is a very willing partner. Quality is good and, with the phone never struggling for signal, we came through loud and clear to those on the other side of the device.”

Over at The Verge, the publication said the battery inside the device was quite large for a smartphone, and overall the device benefits as a result.

“In my time using it in place of my regular handset, I could regularly go from the start of one day to the end of the next without recharging the Note.”

“Looking at the Android battery level monitor, there’s a discernible stepped pattern — long period of very gradual discharge, punctuated by steep drops when the device is active — which can be explained by the power consumption of the display.”

The device was said to last for multiple days if kept idle, although using it all the time will keep that life at just a few hours.

It also said the camera was high quality, although that depends on the lighting conditions. It did, however, say the video camera was “the most impressive…I’ve seen on a smartphone yet”.

All of these reviewers praised the Gingerbread software, although Engadget noted the processor suffers from a bit of lag compared to the competition.

Who’s it for?

If you’re looking for a tablet, then look somewhere else. The Galaxy Note is just too small to do what you’re looking for and you’ll be better off going with a dedicated device, such as the 10.1 Tab or the iPad.

But if you’re after a high-end smartphone, this is a nice choice. The bigger screen is of a great quality and even though the processor isn’t quite as fast as the competition, it still zips along nicely.

If you can get over the bigger size and the battery limitations, then this is a quality product.