Samsung’s Galaxy Note II is breaking the records set by the original compliments of its bigger screen, expansive software suite and more powerful hardware.
The Note II is powered by Samsung’s Exynos quad core processor, but at 1.6GHz it’s the most powerful processor in a Samsung smartphone to date. Its joined by 2GB of RAM, internal memory that goes up to 64GB and offers the option of expandable memory. Throw in a 3,100 mAh battery and the Note II begins to resemble more tablet and less smartphone, but I guess Samsung anticipated that when they upped the screen to 5.5 inches.
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For the screen, Samsung has used a Super AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1,280 by 720 (HD). Entertainment is a huge part of the Note II’s allure and the screen, coupled with its 4G technology, will make it a powerhouse device to watch movies or stream videos on.
 The 5.5 inch screen comfortably runs two apps simultaneously |
As expected, Samsung’s S-Pen has returned. Not only does the stylus ease the transition between old-fashioned hardcopy and modern-day digital, it imbues Samsung’s products with a sense of individuality. With 1,024 levels of pressure sensitivity, the S-Pen is fluent in discerning hair-thin lines from bold markings.
On the back of the Note 2 is an 8MP camera that is enhanced with the same photographic sensibilities found on the Galaxy S3. These include its rapid burst mode, the ability to capture a still pic mid-video and its Best Photo mode. The later captures a series of photos and automatically recommends the best one, with an almost alarming accuracy. On the front is a 1.9MP camera that can be used for video calling/video conferencing.
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There’s a host of connectivity features on board, including WiFi, WiFi Direct, NFC, A-GPS (which has access to Russian Glonass satellites) and Bluetooth 4.0. Samsung’s S-Beam is a worthy inclusion as it combines NFC technology with the benefits of WiFi Direct, allowing users to transfer large files (movies, music, photos) quickly by simply tapping the two compatible smartphones together.
The final noteworthy difference is the Note II will be running Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean) out of the box, equipping it with optimised speech recognition software and Google’s intuitive Now interface.
Samsung’s Galaxy Note II is available now in Marble White or Titanium Grey.
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