Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (GSM)
Phone Scoop Review
Oct 1, 2013 by Eric M. Zeman
Samsung takes another stab at the Note phablet and might finally have a winner on its hands. Here's what we like and don't like about Samsung's latest large-screen Android smartphone. read review ›
User Reviews
Average Ratings
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So disappointed
Carrier: AT&T
So this phone has a Snapdragon 800 quad core with an Adreno 330 and 3Gigs of RAM. Then why does it need more reboots than a Marvel movie franchise?
My Galaxy S3 can fly circles around this piece of junk and still can now with KitKat on board. The Note 3 is even worse with KitKat causing so many apps to crash or be unresponsive. E.G. Feedly begins to not flow so well and YouTube vids will keep playing but the video freezes and that's the ones that "work".
The aesthetics of it are horrible too. What genius places the pwr/sleep button exact opposite of the volume key?! I am constantly hitting the power button and volume rocker simultaneously! And the damn power button never even responds if you do happen to use it correctly!!!
I know it's b/c of the bloatware that is TouchWiz which I used to no mind because at least the gimmicky stuff worked but with this phone... ugh!!! Smart pause pauses when I'm looking at it and plays when I am not facing it, Smart Stay doesn't keep the phone awake nor can it detect the orientation of my face to ensure it doesn't go to landscape while I'm laying down.
Worse yet, I'm on the Next prog with AT&T and can't get rid of it. Never getting a Samsung POS again!
Do not buy this overrated, overhyped useless brick!
Ok just because of the DOs that phonescoop wants:
Pros: Battery is beyond godlike. I can go all day without charging this thing and still have 40%+ by 9pm
Cons: See my review
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Samsung does it AGAIN!
Carrier: T-Mobile
Upgraded to this device after having the Note 2 for over a year and I am very surprised with how much better this one is to its predecessor.
Pros:
-Incredible full 1080p display
-Very fast 2.3 Ghz quad core processor
-Ridiculous 3 Gigs of RAM
-T-Mobile 4G LE getting 35Mbs download on average
-Much better use and integration of S-Pen
-Great battery life
-Damn good camera with lots of different shooting modes
-4k video recording
-Slow motion recording at 120 fps
Cons:
-Loud speaker could be louder
-A few glitches (hopefully get ironed out with ota update)
-Quite pricey
Overall, this is a great device and a great successor to the Note 2, I'm extremely happy with it.
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Handled/played with Note 3 today.
Carrier: AT&T
Our local att store had them on display today, I wore them out trying everything I could think of, and will be getting one tomorrow I guess.
IMO, a somewhat improved, ie faster, brighter, note 2, with more ram and onboard storage. Just what I've been waiting for,
One of the more strange things about this phone, is the size thing, ie orginally thought too big, now want a little bigger. My g/f wanted one, and got an original note over two years ago. I made fun of it, ie, too big, etc. I did have to admit it was easier to see/read. I got a note 2 last fall. Didn't use it much at first, deferred to my s3. Used the note for gps on a trip last spring, got use to size, and now the s3 seems too small.
When looking at the note 3, I couldn't help but play with the mega, and probably would get one of those, but for the dimmer screen, and reduce storage/ ram. Strange!!
Oh, my ratings mean nothing, as I only used it in the store.
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My Note 3
Carrier: T-Mobile
To start have have to say that this has to be one of the best phones Samsung has put out. I've never had a issue with it and its a phone the never tells you no. I've downloaded and deleted so many apps with no issue, the phones has held a perfect signal and the download booster is a big help when trying to download a app in a hurry. The camera has so many different modes that all make the pictures look amazing. The stylus is there when you need it. Nobody likes to keep poking at the screen or zoom in all the time and the stylus makes that easier. The Note 4 and 5 have been released but I'm so attached to this phone its hard to even upgrade to a newer version.
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Still going strong
Carrier: T-Mobile
I bought my Note 3 on the very first day it came out and it's been great two years strong. Battery life is still excellent and the phone it self is still very competitive even against some of the newer more advance smartphones. I do admit that the touchwiz interface that Samsung uses has cause me some problems, mainly with lag, but I am a tinkerer. There are so many "roms" for the Note 3 that I have been able to extend the life of my phone and my interest in it by changing how it works every so often. This has been a great phone and I plan to get another 2 years out of it before upgrading.
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Samsung Note 3 from Apple iPhone 4
Carrier: AT&T
Now yes, I realize that there is a generational gap between these two phones, however, I did test the iPhone 5s before making this purchase. I found that Android does everything that Apple doesn't. The only thing Apple has on Anroid is Siri, it out performs S Voice and Dragon, I have yet to find a digital assistant I like that's free. Almost all the apps I had paid for on the Apple Apps store were free on Google Play, I found free and legal music downloaders as well.
Pros:
1080p HD 5.7 inch screen
Better apps on Google Play
13 MP camera, printed pictures match my point and shot Cybershot
NFC-yes I use it (not true for iPhone w/o $80 case)
USB 3.0
Battery Life
Micro SD (also not true of iPhone)
Much Louder than any iPhone
User replaceable battery (almost all manufactures have moved away from this)
Cons:
Samsung bloatware in annoying and almost completely useless.
Back plate is flimsy and I had to buy an Otterbox to properly protect my phone.
I don't see any way Apple could win me back ever.
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Great phone
Carrier: AT&T
Have had my note 3 for a few weeks. Must say it's great. Fast processor.volume is great hearing callers. Speakerphone is average. What has impressed me more is battery life. Two days is my usual with moderate to heavy use. Just a nice phone. Just a bit big for pockets but too great not to carry. Interface speed is a bit slower then htc but that's typical Samsung .hardware takes a little learning with s pen.
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amazing phone
Carrier: AT&T
Nothing comes close to this phone.super fast, download whatever you want without converting and connecting to iTunes like on the iphones.i thought that a big 5.7 screen might be to big at first but after a couple days of using it,it actually feels normal size.
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samsung does it again....
Carrier: AT&T
someone asked me why would i want such a huge phone???? i replied ,why not!!!! samsung is clearly ahead of the game and setting the mark higher and higher. honestly who is coming even close the phone isnt perfect but close to it..
reception is excellent not a dropped call yet..
battery is a beast. i use phone heavily.
super fast and smooth interface.
volume could be louder..
only thing i am disappointed in is the back cover.. too thin feel it could break.
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Samsung Note 3 (from iphone user perspective)
Carrier: AT&T
I was concerned about android phones not being fully ready compared to iphones. What I can say is that the usability and featureset that comes with a Samsung Note 3 is simply amazing! My Note 3 operates smoothly and I haven't had any issues since I purchased it 3 weeks ago. My other concern was that iphones have all the "cool" apps. Well, every app that I used on my iphone is available for android.
I come from a long line of iphones and I just upgraded my wife to the 5s. Compared to the 5s, the only thing that the Note 3 doesn't do better is take indoor pictures. However, all of the extra features that I have on my Note 3 are fantastic!! I shake my head at how many cools things I can do now versus my iphone.
I use the infrared to control my TV and DVD player.
Stylus is great for taking quick notes or jotting down some thoughts.
Movies and youtube are extraordinary. The 5s looks like a kindergarten toy compared to the Note 3 screen.
Tethering (hot spot sharing) works great.
I have customized my text messages with Go SMS Pro, which allows me to use different themes--really cool. Plus I CAN do group texts, which I thought I wasn't going to be able do.
The split screen is fun. I put up a video podcast on one half, and on the other half, I browse the internet or go through my email. Funny enough, only half of the Note3 screen was like my iphone 4s display.
The built in swype keyboard is probably the best part. I can now send long emails very comfortably, since with swype, I can write very fast. On the iphone, Apple doesn't allow swype, and trying to peck-type a long email is painful.
I was concerned to leave Apple, but even when the iphone 6 comes out with the supposed 4.99" screen, I have a hard time seeing myself moving back to an iphone. Unfortunately, Apple isn't innovating anymore, and I had to leave to get all of the new cool features available today. My only regret is that I did not get the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 sooner!
