Develop Bugs

[Q] TMO Galaxy S II vs Note II?

I have an S2, and considering moving to the Note 2 for the larger screen, quad-core, accepots 64gb SD, & other features etc. ... anybody have a reason why the note 2 would be an unwise move? I haven't checked what kind of custom ROMs are available for the Note 2 yet, but I've been a flash-a-holic on the S2 (now running "The Sith 2" ROM). The only downside I would imagine others saying, is that the larger screen is more of a pocket-full, maybe more clunky to use as phone, but that's not an issue for me.
ALSO, TMO only carries the 16gb version of the Note 2, but there are other models available, but i don't know if their interfaces with the tmo network will work as well as a tmo version.

I'd say it depends on how bad you want it. If you just want it to upgrade, I'd hold out. I went through the same dilemma and decided I'd wait. Mainly because of the strides kernel/ROM development have taken with our phone. Also, the GS4 is supposed to be released in March, which is rumored to have a 5" display.
Obviously the hardware speaks for itself, but from what I understand, especially with the TMO version, the software is clunky and just crappy I'm general on the note. No one seems to want to come out and say it, but the S-pen is a gimmick. Plain and simple. Obviously that can be changed with different ROMs and etc, but I'm curious how much dev attention the note is going to get. Especially with the nexus right around the corner, and as I said, the GS4 only 4-5 months away.

Our phone happens to support 64gb sd cards. I guess the major difference here would be if you want a phone or a phablet. I'm sure each are great/bad in their own ways, I guess you'll just have to read up on a few reviews

I want one, just too damn big for my pockets. Not to mention the sgs2 is way too big already for strapping on your arm and going for a jog. I can't imagine the note 2 on my arm.

Unless you are in a rush I would wait just because of the amount of rumored new phones that are coming out. Although if you are just looking for screen size I don't think any of the rumored phones will be as big as the Note II. One of the reasons I didn't like the Note II at least spec wise was because with a screen that big I would want it to be 1080p. Just my thoughts!

Thank you everybody for your replies. About two weeks ago I pulled the trigger on the TMO Note II and very happy with it.
I'm running this rom, the dev, ptmr3, has given great support and quick personal responses. I use the multi Window way more than I imagined. I'm a writer & the S-pen, gimmick or not, has been very handy at 3am when I need to jot a note in the dark.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1987634

sirdowski said:
I'd say it depends on how bad you want it. If you just want it to upgrade, I'd hold out. I went through the same dilemma and decided I'd wait. Mainly because of the strides kernel/ROM development have taken with our phone. Also, the GS4 is supposed to be released in March, which is rumored to have a 5" display.
Obviously the hardware speaks for itself, but from what I understand, especially with the TMO version, the software is clunky and just crappy I'm general on the note. No one seems to want to come out and say it, but the S-pen is a gimmick. Plain and simple. Obviously that can be changed with different ROMs and etc, but I'm curious how much dev attention the note is going to get. Especially with the nexus right around the corner, and as I said, the GS4 only 4-5 months away.
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If the gs4 has a 5inch display, I will not buy it.
The size of the gs2 is perfect. I can deal with the size of the gs3. Any bigger and I wont buy it. Phones are getting 2 big right now.

Well if they removed the T-mobile and Samsung branding they could probably fit a 5 inch screen within the the SGS2 form factor. Be more of an edge to edge display. Personally I like the look and feel of the S2 and Note vs the "natural" look the S3 and Note 2 are going for.
I would wait like others have stated. Just use your S2 until it disintegrates and see what the next round of devices is about and how the well developers are supporting it. The S2 specs will do you well for awhile unless your a serious mobile gamer. Then if the next round of devices aren't anything to write home about you can go and pick up yourself a Note 2 for a whole lot cheaper this spring/summer than it is now

T889 vs Nexus 4?

I've been debating with myself which phone to get - I'm pretty sure I'm not the only person in this boat so I made this thread.
My situation:
Nexus IV: $360 here in Canada
Note II: $400 here in Canada, although with a 3 year commitment ($40 a month for unlimited nationwide calling, unlimited data, although they throttle after 5gb, and unlimited nationwide text).
I'd use the same data plan if I got the Nexus, although on the plus side, I have no contract. Not too sure how big of a plus that is, as I don't want to swap from Wind Mobile.
Strongly leaning in favor of the Note II right now.
Nexus IV Advantages: Overall this phone is very similar to the Optimus G; not unlike the Nexus S and the i9000s.
- The SOC appears to be faster
- No Touchwiz (IMO Stock > anything the manufacturers come up with)
I personally do not care about the Wireless "charging orb" and think it's a gimmick; of limited use in the real world where one can simply connect a micro-USB.
Perhaps the biggest advantage the Nexus IV has is well ... a Nexus phone. That means that the development community around it will be much bigger, faster updates, and a 100% chance of Cyanogenmod. I'm not sure what's the Cyanogenmod prospects on the T889, but there is a beta one working for the N7100 and considering how similar this phone is to the international version. I don't know how big the development community for the T889 is going to be.
Note II Advantages: More or less a blown up Galaxy S3.
- Audio quality appears superior (Wolfson DAC); important to me; I keep a rooted voodoo Galaxy S variant just for the audio as a PMP; I am unsure at this time of what DAC the Nexus IV comes with, but having listened to the Galaxy S3 and the Optimus G
- Speaker appears to be superior (not a big deal IMO)
- Bigger screen (good for browsing and movies)
- S Pen (and everything that comes with it; probably the only custom thing that any manufacturer has done that has added value; well maybe Sense before Froyo added value to Android)
- Expandable storage (Nexus IV probably not enough to import a serious FLAC collection)
- Battery life (based on reviews, it looks like the Note II has a better battery life)
I would discourage people from using a "points" system to evaluate the 2 phones.
Areas for debate:
- Size .... I personally prefer a larger phone, up to debate though
- Screen; well it comes down to IPS vs Amoled. Both have outstanding viewing angles, and the Amoled isn't pentile (although not the traditional RGB either it seems). Amoled has deeper blacks, but the white reproduction isn't the greatest. IPS has better brightness and is better out in sunlight.
- Neither the Nexus IV nor the Note II can claim to have a better camera for taking images
- I'm not sure how well these phones will last over time - the glass back on the Nexus might be an area for concern; the Note II seems to do well in the drop tests though
- Pentaband phone (the T889 is pentaband as is the Nexus); not planning on making any international trips, but this would come in handy if it did
LG also seems to have a bad reputation; not too sure as I personally have never owned LG phones for an extended period, but my Samsung experiences have been positive.
Your thoughts?

How much faster is the processor known to be on the Nexus 4?
I considered both, but definitely do not regret having gotten the Note II because I really care about the larger screen (the main reason I upgraded from a GS3, though I really wanted the quad-core exynos)
Also, there's a big difference in retail price, which is going to be a major factor in the comparison.

Nexus 4 is crap! Don't buy it or u will regret it!!!!!!
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium

jkxklutz said:
How much faster is the processor known to be on the Nexus 4?
I considered both, but definitely do not regret having gotten the Note II because I really care about the larger screen (the main reason I upgraded from a GS3, though I really wanted the quad-core exynos)
Also, there's a big difference in retail price, which is going to be a major factor in the comparison.
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In my case, price is very close, but yeah the screen is a big attractor.

honestly i don't think you can compare these 2. galaxy s3 versus nexus 4 is more of a fair comparison. Either you want the big screen or you don't, really what it comes down to. The pen is nice too although I seriously doubt how much i'll use it. I believe samsung cameras are superior as well. and i'm sure its gotten better, but frankly stock android sucked to me when i tried it on froyo and gingerbread.

Apples and IEDs
You're comparing Apples and ****ing IEDs; Note is HUGE, wicked fast, polished up with TouchWiz and has the surprisingly useful S-Pen. Nexus devices are wonderful, and I've owned every single one except the two just announced... But you can pry the Note II from my cold dead hands because it is hands down, the greatest device on Earth today.

Ya, I gotta agree, you are comparing two totally different products. While saying your movie collection will help you get over the fact that you will be stuck with 8 or 16 gb worth of space, over time, you will kick yourself for being stuck with 8 or 16 gb worth of space. 64gb microSD cards should be enough for you to stop making silly statements referencing your FLAC collection; it's a no brainer.
The S-Pen should be at the top of your list for a device that's centered around productivity. If you just want to watch movies, buy a tablet.
Long story short, CM10 and the rest of the ROMs are needed on devices... the Note 2 doesn't need them. Oh, and you forgot to compare battery sizes... probably something more important than any rom or even the microSD card slot. On the Note 2, it's glorious!

IMHO i need the sd slot by getting that phone i would have to revert back to ousting my iPod for music amongst the other things I've got on it.. can't do it... sides love the s pen.. this phone is awesome
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app

I would personally never buy the nexus 4 simply because it is made by LG and Samsung is far superior when it comes to smart phones. I upgraded my SGS3 to the Note 2 for the larger screen and the extras like the s-pen. Only thing that sucks right now is there are very few accessories for the Note at the moment but Seidio and Otterbox are in the works.

brashmadcap said:
You're comparing Apples and ****ing IEDs; Note is HUGE, wicked fast, polished up with TouchWiz and has the surprisingly useful S-Pen. Nexus devices are wonderful, and I've owned every single one except the two just announced... But you can pry the Note II from my cold dead hands because it is hands down, the greatest device on Earth today.
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You are exactly right.. I honestly don't see how i can honestly go to soothe device after I've had the note 2 i had a guy at work offer me 300 bucks and his white s3 I was like no!! Put the s3 on Craig'slist and get your own...the next phone i buy wool obviously be a note 3... What can i say I'm hooked...
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app

I have to agree. The t889 is the way to go. I look at the nexus4 and it is very similar to my t989 with a updated soc and very slightly different size screen. Along with the whole stock android thing. I didn't really feel the need to upgrade to the s3 from my s2 especially since I don't like hardware home buttons. But the note 2 has got me desperately wanting out of my contract so that I can get it. Bigger better screen, s pen, removable battery and sdcard slot. And I don't know about the statement that the qualcomm Soc is better then the exynos they are probably very very close but I'd take the Mali gpu over the adreno any day of the week. If you really want a nexus device just get a 199$ nexus 7. It seems like a better deal then the nexus 4. But you probably wouldn't even use the 7 incher if you had the t889.

I'm not sure what sort of crap people are talking on here and saying the Nexus 4 is crap, but that's an absolutely ridiculous statement. The SoC on the Nexus 4 is definitely faster than the Note II, but honestly Need for Speed Most Wanted is the only thing that doesn't run perfectly on the Note II (and even then we're talking a handful of frame drops that make no difference to gameplay). Most games aren't even close to being as taxing as NFS MW, so I wouldn't even worry about that. Games that usually slow phones down like Plight of the Zombie, and livewallpapers that do the same don't slow down the Note II at all. Everything runs perfectly on the phone.
As for features, it's really TouchWiz vs. stock Android. As nice as Android 4.2 is, the features in TouchWiz are unmatched, even though it can be extremely ugly. What's really nice about the Note II though is that there are already a lot of theming kitchens available, like this one, that make TouchWiz just a little less ugly by letting you customize icons and colors in the interface. Honestly after having the S-Pen features on the Note II, I'm not sure I could go back to any phone that doesn't have such features. It's one of the reasons I'll probably never run an AOSP based ROM on this phone. Of course AOSP has S-Pen gestures now, so there's no telling what the wizards here at XDA will do over time, but for now I bought the Note II for the S-Pen features primarily, and that keeps me from jumping ship from Samsung's stuff.
It's up to you. I'm getting my wife a Nexus 4 for Christmas because although she loves the Note II and the features, it's just a little too large for her. Plus I'd recommend a Nexus 4 over a Galaxy S III any day, but that's a whole 'nother thread. Get the Note II, you won't be sorry. It's by far the best phone I've EVER used.
---------- Post added at 08:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:48 AM ----------
bookburner said:
I have to agree. The t889 is the way to go. I look at the nexus4 and it is very similar to my t989 with a updated soc and very slightly different size screen. Along with the whole stock android thing. I didn't really feel the need to upgrade to the s3 from my s2 especially since I don't like hardware home buttons. But the note 2 has got me desperately wanting out of my contract so that I can get it. Bigger better screen, s pen, removable battery and sdcard slot. And I don't know about the statement that the qualcomm Soc is better then the exynos they are probably very very close but I'd take the Mali gpu over the adreno any day of the week. If you really want a nexus device just get a 199$ nexus 7. It seems like a better deal then the nexus 4. But you probably wouldn't even use the 7 incher if you had the t889.
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The Nexus 4 has a Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core and an Adreno 320. It's in a league of its own honestly. The only thing that truly competes with it is the SoC in the iPhone 5. Burns me that that's the case, but facts are facts unfortunately.

Gwanatu said:
I'm not sure what sort of crap people are talking on here and saying the Nexus 4 is crap, but that's an absolutely ridiculous statement. The SoC on the Nexus 4 is definitely faster than the Note II, but honestly Need for Speed Most Wanted is the only thing that doesn't run perfectly on the Note II (and even then we're talking a handful of frame drops that make no difference to gameplay). Most games aren't even close to being as taxing as NFS MW, so I wouldn't even worry about that. Games that usually slow phones down like Plight of the Zombie, and livewallpapers that do the same don't slow down the Note II at all. Everything runs perfectly on the phone.
As for features, it's really TouchWiz vs. stock Android. As nice as Android 4.2 is, the features in TouchWiz are unmatched, even though it can be extremely ugly. What's really nice about the Note II though is that there are already a lot of theming kitchens available, like this one, that make TouchWiz just a little less ugly by letting you customize icons and colors in the interface. Honestly after having the S-Pen features on the Note II, I'm not sure I could go back to any phone that doesn't have such features. It's one of the reasons I'll probably never run an AOSP based ROM on this phone. Of course AOSP has S-Pen gestures now, so there's no telling what the wizards here at XDA will do over time, but for now I bought the Note II for the S-Pen features primarily, and that keeps me from jumping ship from Samsung's stuff.
It's up to you. I'm getting my wife a Nexus 4 for Christmas because although she loves the Note II and the features, it's just a little too large for her. Plus I'd recommend a Nexus 4 over a Galaxy S III any day, but that's a whole 'nother thread. Get the Note II, you won't be sorry. It's by far the best phone I've EVER used.
---------- Post added at 08:49 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:48 AM ----------
The Nexus 4 has a Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core and an Adreno 320. It's in a league of its own honestly. The only thing that truly competes with it is the SoC in the iPhone 5. Burns me that that's the case, but facts are facts unfortunately.
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Imagine a note 2 with a s4 pro
Sent from my SGH-T889 using XDA Premium HD app

I think these devices have really different use cases.
One major draw back for me about the nexus 4 is the battery and SD card. I've owned every nexus devicedevice and while they are amazing devices, there always seems to be some (major)drawback.
This could be said about any phone.
For the note2, the Major drawback is the size, something that I'm OK with. Which is whyi won't be switching to the n4.

brashmadcap said:
You're comparing Apples and ****ing IEDs
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mdt73 said:
Ya, I gotta agree, you are comparing two totally different products.
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I agree they're pretty different, but definitely not comparing apples and oranges (or IEDs). ..mainly because (for most), it's one or the other. They're going to serve the same purpose, even if in different ways.
I've been going crazy, back and forth btwn the two. I told myself I'd never get a non-nexus device again, but leaning more towards the NoteII now. The most important aspect for me now is the developer support. ParanoidAndroid has ruined my crackflashing escapades. I've never been on a ROM so long, and everything else seems weird now.
I hope PA comes soon. Aside from that, I worry about the N4's lack of storage/expandable storage which has seriously been a PITA on my Gnex. That BS from Duarte or another Googler about users not needing expandable memory is bs. And the cloud storage argument is ridiculous. Files commonly accessed get cached on the device anyway and take up space. (preaching to the choir). I'm less concerned about the LTE futureproofing, but it's definitely an issue as well.

dannydv said:
Nexus 4 is crap! Don't buy it or u will regret it!!!!!!
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium
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The nexus 4 isnt going to be crap. There are many negative points for me regarding the nexus 4 versus the note 2 but it will not be a bad phone.
On another note. I haven't done any reading or researching on the matter, is the snapdragon really THAT much faster than the exynos? I didnt know such a disparity existed.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

I got the Note II because it has much better battery life than the new Nexus. My last phone was the Galaxy Nexus, a great phone, but I was always carrying an external battery with me or charging it in the wall. Compared to the galaxy nexus (and probably the nexus 4 and most androids out there), my experience so far with the Note II is that the battery life is about twice as good. With the Note II I can leave the bluetooth on, gps on, screen bright, and it's all okay for the day. It also charges super fast at 2amp. It took me longer to charge my Galaxy Nexus even though the battery was much smaller.
Wifi calling, removable battery, larger screen, SD card are nice as well. It seems Google doesn't update their OS that often anymore anyways. I had the Galaxy Nexus for a year and only had very few updates that barely improved anything (where as my Nexus S and Nexus One seemed to have had more significant updates.)

The charging is pretty cool on the note 2. Ive never had a phone with such a huge battery that can chsrge so fast
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

Funny thing is when I had my S2 all I heard is how crappy the snapdragon was and how great he Exynos was, now that the nexus has one all of a sudden its the best. Smh

tigerz0202 said:
Funny thing is when I had my S2 all I heard is how crappy the snapdragon was and how great he Exynos was, now that the nexus has one all of a sudden its the best. Smh
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This exactly.
Sent from my JellyBean Galaxys3

This phone or the Galaxy S3?

It wont be long and my upgrade be here. So I was wondering if I should get this or the s3. I like this one and the fact that is a quad-core and samsung have the same build hardware on all of the note 2. But I also like all the gestures features from the s3

The note 2 has all the features of the s3 plus more. You cant go wrong with it
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda app-developers app

You will need a bigger pocket though....
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium

I know I went to see the phone at the store it huge! I didnt know it have all the gestures features like the s3 because they were never announced. Like automatic calling somebody from text by just put your phone in the ear, Smartview. Screenshot by swiping your hand on the screen, etc etc. Those features really caught my eye. but wasnt sure if the note 2 have them. I guess I'll go with the note 2. Thanks guys

gypsy214 said:
I know I went to see the phone at the store it huge! I didnt know it have all the gestures features like the s3 because they were never announced. Like automatic calling somebody from text by just put your phone in the ear, Smartview. Screenshot by swiping your hand on the screen, etc etc. Those features really caught my eye. but wasnt sure if the note 2 have them. I guess I'll go with the note 2. Thanks guys
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Ill tell you what. after using it my s3 feels tiny . almost iphone 4 tiny ........ Btw get the note Trust me i have both

I hate to stir the pot, and I know that it hasnt been talked about yet, but if your upgrade is not here yet and u have some time to wait I would wait for the Galaxy S 4. Now wait! Let me explain! I am currently the very proud owner of the Note 2 with T mobile. This is the best phone on the market, with all of the great Hardware with excellent software to match. I mean the innovation and true attention to detail is unmatched. But I have read some rumors, yeah rumors, that the S4 will be a beast also in a smaller form. I love the huge screen of the Note 2, but you are trying to choose between the Note 2 and S3 so I take that to mean that you are on the fence and the extra screen size really isn't that important. Maybe the power is what u are seeking. Word on the street is that the S4 will bring in new tech, edge to edge screen, quad core, 1080p screen, 2gb ram, new software features, and new design. These things are not outside of the realm of reality and as we can all see Samsung is on a roll. I think this year they found their groove, and they can only get better from here. They are suppossed to announce this sometime end of January and into February. I say all this to say, if u are thinking Note 2 vs. S3. Don't do it as the S3 is so last year. The note 2 is basically the precursor to what we can expect for 2013. Think more like Note 2 vs. S4
Written from my Beast T Mobile Note 2

Also not that its much different but the S3 will NOT be getting LTE on tmobile from what I've heard and the Note will get LTE. Now as far as the Nexus 4, the biggest issue is that it's made by LG Booooo!

Sold my s3 for this phone. No regrets.
From the Best: Note 2

Yeah that is a dissapointed for me too Nexus 4 from LG gosh. I had the G2X and LG support sucks. Really guys I am a little nervous I have the S2 but it have a lot of problems with the noise reduction where other people hears an echo. And if you flash aosp rom or miui they say you sound like underwater and there is not a fix really. I really like how samsung did with their TW but I dont want another samsung and is going to have the same problem as my s2 with call quality. But The s3 and the note2 are really good phones!! The S4 announced in Jan or Feb? The s2 and s3 were announced late of year. I think its too soon for them to release the S4 and by the time i think it will I will have another upgrade lol. The big screen doesnt bother me. When I got my S2 it was big and at first it was wow. But then if I play with another phone like the Amaze It feels weird because of all the small icons. lol

gypsy214 said:
It wont be long and my upgrade be here. So I was wondering if I should get this or the s3. I like this one and the fact that is a quad-core and samsung have the same build hardware on all of the note 2. But I also like all the gestures features from the s3
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Click to collapse
The Note 2 is a different level then the S3, has all the same features and more, and has a much better processor then the S3. It's just about whether the screen size is too big for you.
And I wouldn't worry about waiting for the S4 or Note 3. The S4 might be announced at MWC but I don't think that will happen so soon and the Note won't have a sequel till at least Oct-Nov of next year. Then it'll take at least 2-4 months before the first US carriers get them. So the Note 2 will be king of the hill for quite some time, barring HTC's Dlx when it comes out.
noted for future reference on my Note 2

Either you have been living under a rock, or... who knows. This video will answer your questions, and pretty much make up your mind for you. It's long, but thorough.
Colfustion's Review of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2
And to the bloke who recommended waiting for the S 4... just stop. Recommending non existent hardware just makes you sound silly. It will have a processor similar to the Note 2, a smaller screen, no S-Pen... etc. Not a very good comparison.

I've got both.. and honestly can't make a decision - have to sell one - need the cash.
GOing back to the S3 from the Note, it feels positively TINY...
but, the Note really does feel big; and I've got pretty big hands... whether its too big or not, I guess its partly personal choice and partly ease of use - I don't think I can honestly say that the Note 2 is always easy to operate with a single hand -
Also, to be honest, the alternate rom scene, at least for the T-Mobile Note 2, is pretty limited - I'm not sure if there'll be any "original" android development for it as I guess to make use of the S-pen etc, a vanilla android rom just wouldn't have the features (I'm only guessing here). Most of the rom development would be those "de-bloated/de-odexed/zip aligned" versions of stock TouchWiz rom which claim to mysteriously give longer battery life. I'm currently on the Jedi Rom on my Note 2 and not really sure how different it is to the stock rom.
On my S3, I've got Task's Rom, and it truly made a huge difference to the battery life - to the point I'm comfortable returning to the standard Samsung battery form the extended Hyperion 4200 mAH one I had bough due to the horrible battery life the S3 has (on cellular internet) when on the stock rom - with Task's rom, there is a marked, appreciable improvement in battery life.
Right, coming back, I still can't figure out which one to keep and which one to sell - I'm pretty sure, whichever decision I take, I'll regret it cos both the S3 and Note 2 are really and truly excellent products!!!.

RizSher said:
I've got both.. and honestly can't make a decision - have to sell one - need the cash.
GOing back to the S3 from the Note, it feels positively TINY...
but, the Note really does feel too big. and I've got pretty big hands.
Also, to be honest, the alternate rom scene, at least for the T-Mobile Note 2, is pretty limited - I'm not sure if there'll be any "original" android development for it as I guess to make use of the S-pen etc, a vanilla android rom just wouldn't have the features (I'm only guessing here). Most of the rom development would be those "de-bloated/de-odexed/zip aligned" versions of stock TouchWiz rom which claim to mysteriously give longer battery life. I'm currently on the Jedi Rom on my Note 2 and not really sure how different it is to the stock rom.
On my S3, I've got Task's Rom, and it truly made a huge difference to the battery life - to the point I'm comfortable returning to the standard Samsung battery form the extended Hyperion 4200 mAH battery I had bough due to the horrible battery life the S3 has (on cellular internet) - with Task's rom, there is a marked, appreciable improvement in battery life.
Right, coming back, I still can't figure out which one to keep and which one to sell - I'm pretty sure, whichever decision I take, I'll regret it cos both the S3 and Note 2 are really and truly excellent products!!!.
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The phone has been out for less than a month in the US. I think the ROMs will come, in time. Plus, the battery in the Note 2 is amazing... ever try running the battery down to 5% on purpose? It's actually harder than I thought it would be! That's the beauty of the Note 2; the battery is big enough, by itself, that minimal changes are needed to constantly see 24+ hours on one charge. I have had both the S3 and now the Note 2, and I would never recommend an S3 over the Note. The S-Pen alone is > any wizbang S3 thing out there!

mdt73 said:
The phone has been out for less than a month in the US. I think the ROMs will come, in time. Plus, the battery in the Note 2 is amazing... ever try running the battery down to 5% on purpose? It's actually harder than I thought it would be! That's the beauty of the Note 2; the battery is big enough, by itself, that minimal changes are needed to constantly see 24+ hours on one charge. I have had both the S3 and now the Note 2, and I would never recommend an S3 over the Note. The S-Pen alone is > any wizbang S3 thing out there!
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I wasn't making a point about the Note's battery life - it really is pretty good - what I waas trying to say was, the S3 alternate ROM scene is very vibrant; the particular ROM I've got currently make a noticeable diff. in battery life; based on my guess work I'm not very sure if the same would happen for the Note.

Seems like all of the Note 2 series including the international one are the same hardware. Why not make it a worldwide phone with a universal radio. or Like on my Sensation? I may be wrong but in any case do like the tmobile version of the s2 and the skyrocket which are very similar phones

gypsy214 said:
It wont be long and my upgrade be here. So I was wondering if I should get this or the s3. I like this one and the fact that is a quad-core and samsung have the same build hardware on all of the note 2. But I also like all the gestures features from the s3
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Click to collapse
The note 2 can do anything the S3 can but better.. and bigger.. and with a stylus

Which should i get? Note 2 or stay with S3?

i'm torn between keeping my S3 or getting the Note 2. can u guys help me with this?

xenine said:
i'm torn between keeping my S3 or getting the Note 2. can u guys help me with this?
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Want a bigger screen and better battery life? If not, keep the S3.
I'm not sure what type of answer you want without knowing your preference.

initial_k said:
Want a bigger screen and better battery life? If not, keep the S3.
I'm not sure what type of answer you want without knowing your preference.
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Id wait for the note3 if u can

Had the S3 before the note 2. And the Note 2 is a lot faster then S3. But with the S4 coming in a month maybe you should hold off.

I love my note 2, I won't replace it until the note 3 comes out
Sent from my SGH-T889 using xda premium

N2
Sent from my GT-N7105 using XDA Premium HD app

I was in the same predicament. I have the original Galay S 4g and was wanting to upgrade as the phone was experiencing some problems. I debated whether to wait another 7-9 months for the Note 3, but ultimately decided I could keep this phone for at least 2-3 years before needing to upgrade (especially with all the ROM support that kept my old phone alive and will most certainly keep the N2 alive for years).
I believe the N3 will have a faster processor, better battery and slightly better battery but won't be 'revolutionary' (much like the Galaxy S4). IMO, it'll take at least another generation before the phone will be significantly upgraded to make waiting worth it.
The N4 will most likely have a smaller footprint, near indestructible glass and perhaps a flex screen/wraparound. To me, that'd be worth it. Until then, I'm waiting on my Note 2 to arrive and will enjoy it for the next couple of years. Plus, the fact you can pick one up for $550-$650 new doesn't hurt either compared to the suspected $899 price the N3 will come out for.

KurlyK said:
The N4 will most likely have a smaller footprint, near indestructible glass and perhaps a flex screen/wraparound. To me, that'd be worth it. Until then, I'm waiting on my Note 2 to arrive and will enjoy it for the next couple of years. Plus, the fact you can pick one up for $550-$650 new doesn't hurt either compared to the suspected $899 price the N3 will come out for.
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how cna u pick a Note 2 for $550 - 650? where they do that at?

xenine said:
how cna u pick a Note 2 for $550 - 650? where they do that at?
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Ive been watching prices on Ebay and Craigslist and have seen prices falling to at least these levels if not lower for some models (like the Sprint version) in the past couple of weeks.
Not uncommon to find one below 550 even if you are patient.

The main difference is size. If you like 1 handed use you will hate the note 2. Unless of course you have med to large hands then it my not be an issue.
Things I noticed. I don't use the stylus or multiview anymore.
When I go to the gym I take my s3 as its easier to use hen I'm listening to music.
Sent from my SGH-T889 using Tapatalk 2

I don't use the stylus either and often times I think the phone is slightly too big. I like the size of my wife's S3 better. I got the Note2 (back in November 2012) to be future-proof. With LTE around the corner I'm glad I got the Note2. If I was in the market for a new phone now, I would wait for the S4.
Personally I think the north american S3 is more like a S2.5 with the dual core processor and no LTE. The S3 should've had the Note2's quad core processor and LTE modem (Note2 is the pseudo S3). Thus the S4 is more like a S3.5 since we'll probably get the quad core instead of the octo.

As an owner of both devices, I would stay with the the S3. It's a great phone, well built, awesome specs, and a good development for it. It fits more natural in the hand then the note 2.

HKSpeed said:
I don't use the stylus either and often times I think the phone is slightly too big. I like the size of my wife's S3 better. I got the Note2 (back in November 2012) to be future-proof. With LTE around the corner I'm glad I got the Note2. If I was in the market for a new phone now, I would wait for the S4.
Personally I think the north american S3 is more like a S2.5 with the dual core processor and no LTE. The S3 should've had the Note2's quad core processor and LTE modem (Note2 is the pseudo S3). Thus the S4 is more like a S3.5 since we'll probably get the quad core instead of the octo.
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Good point about LTE. I think once the s4 comes out I'm going to sell both my s3 and note 2 and buy the s4.
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HKSpeed said:
I don't use the stylus either and often times I think the phone is slightly too big. I like the size of my wife's S3 better. I got the Note2 (back in November 2012) to be future-proof. With LTE around the corner I'm glad I got the Note2. If I was in the market for a new phone now, I would wait for the S4.
Personally I think the north american S3 is more like a S2.5 with the dual core processor and no LTE. The S3 should've had the Note2's quad core processor and LTE modem (Note2 is the pseudo S3). Thus the S4 is more like a S3.5 since we'll probably get the quad core instead of the octo.
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You do realize when the s3 released it was spanking phones with quad cores like nvidia 3 Samsung quad core.
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I have both
I have both right now I am using the s3 because I dropped my note 2 and cracked the screen. But trust me you want the note2. It is definitly superior to the s3. The battery life is fantastic compared to the s3. With my s3 I had to be rooted and pull out every trick in the book just to be able to deal with it. The note2 has the best battery life ever and thats right out of the box. It is way faster and they already activated the LTE modem in it with the latest update. The s3 will not get the lte modem activated for at least another few months. To me there is no comparison its note2 all the way. I even think the note2 will be better than the s4 or at least comparable. I think the int s4 is getinng a crazy processor I think I misunderstood but it looked like it will have 4 cores running at 1.9 and another 4 running at 1.6 like ours for a total of 8 but I am not too sure of that exactly. I do know that the us version will have the same processore we have now and they are listing the same reason as last time that the new processor isnt compatable with LTE. So I think that if they have a note3 in the works it will get the int s4 processor and that will be the new phone for us note 2 users to get next. Sorry for the long winded answer.

Andrew149 said:
You do realize when the s3 released it was spanking phones with quad cores like nvidia 3 Samsung quad core.
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that's because the North American dual core S3 has 2gb of ram while the international quad core S3 and int'l HTC One X (the other quad core phone that came out at the same time) have 1gb. I don't think the north american S3 spanked quad cores, rather it kept up. plus that was 8-9 months ago. My point is that the S3 isn't very future-proof.
Did the north american S3 get multiview from carriers? I know the international version got it and you can hack-add it to the north american S3.
this is a good video comparing the dual core vs quad core S3, but it was made in Summer 2012. I'm curious what the comparison would be like now with newer apps like the Samsung Premium Suite (mutliview, etc).
I worry the S4 will suffer a similar fate. By Christmas 2013 (if not by halloween) we'll see octo-core LTE phones, making the S4's king-of-the-hill status very short lived. imagine the apps that'll come out in 2014 that'll run better on a octo than a quad.

i would get the note 2. i actually just got mine. i was looking to trade my nexus 4 and cash for the note but i find alot of people were trying to screw me over so i just went to tmobile the other day and got it myself. anyways i love stock android and i said i would never had another samsung phone after i had the original galaxy s on sprint but so far i'm liking it. the battery life seems good so far but i'm wait after a week to comment because the battery needs to condition first. i love the multi screen view. i used it to get directions from maps and send them in a text. very handy to me. i wont use it everyday but its there when i need it. plus i wanted to get a sdcard capable phone. also i wanted to future proof myself since lte comes to my area. i get great tmobile service where i live. the S4 and note 3 will have 1080p screens and such and faster processors (only really matters if you do intense things on the phone. i have finally learned that) so taking this into account. i decided on not waiting and i got the note 2. we will never had the latest tech because its new one day and old the next in the tech world.

daniel2744 said:
i would get the note 2. i actually just got mine. i was looking to trade my nexus 4 and cash for the note but i find alot of people were trying to screw me over so i just went to tmobile the other day and got it myself. anyways i love stock android and i said i would never had another samsung phone after i had the original galaxy s on sprint but so far i'm liking it. the battery life seems good so far but i'm wait after a week to comment because the battery needs to condition first. i love the multi screen view. i used it to get directions from maps and send them in a text. very handy to me. i wont use it everyday but its there when i need it. plus i wanted to get a sdcard capable phone. also i wanted to future proof myself since lte comes to my area. i get great tmobile service where i live. the S4 and note 3 will have 1080p screens and such and faster processors (only really matters if you do intense things on the phone. i have finally learned that) so taking this into account. i decided on not waiting and i got the note 2. we will never had the latest tech because its new one day and old the next in the tech world.
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When you get a new device you're always excited over it. I felt the same about my note 2 a few months ago and praised it. For me multi screen I thought was awesome til I realized it is cumbersome as it didnt launch an app in split view right away. I had to run one app first through multi view then run the other app so it can split. And multiview apps are limited in stock form. Spen was great too as I like to photoshop a lot and that I can write notes and even converts my writing to actual text. Now I don't really use it anymore as I type faster with swiftkey than writing and i dont photoshop as much. Most of the time I forget I have a stylus lol. All the hover stuff I like but thats gonna be in the s4 too which is only a month away so as far as waiting, it isn't too long from now. If we're talking several months then that's a different story IMO. I think the OP should wait it out....
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF700T using Tapatalk 2

New to this forum, coming over from the Vibrant. Hello everyone!
I just got my note 2 from tmobile. Best upgrade price they could give me was $369, but by adding the phones to my plan rather than upgrading, I was able to get them for 199 each (after rebate.). Then I cancelled my old lines. New numbers, but who cares. That's what I paid for my vibes years ago, and they're running great still (on pacman 4.2.2).
I love this phone. About the only thing I don't like is the bloat, but it doesn't seem to affect it. Maybe I'll root it just to get rid of that, but honestly I don't think it needs it. Battery is awesome as it is.

HKSpeed said:
Did the north american S3 get multiview from carriers? I know the international version got it and you can hack-add it to the north american S3.
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can u please post a link that enables mutliview in the S3 for USA tmobile?

Coming from gnex..should I get a note 2

Guys as the title says I'm just curious if this is a good move or just side stepping. Checked one out today and like it but just wasn't sure due to the specs
Same display as my nex
720p
No sd800 or 3g ram
What unlike is the big batt, big screen, I see a good amount of ROMs, benchmark scores dbl my nex.
The n5 doesn't wow me and reading about the note 3 Knox scares me as possibly no development. The lg g2 interests me but not unlockable and want a little bigger screen.
So do you n2 owners feel it would be an upgrade from my nex?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

I'm probably a tad bit biased, but I would say "Absolutely"
It has/is going to have 4.3 support from samsung, so much third party development, and i am guessing it is fairly cheap now.
I never owned a GNex, however the GNote2 was a VERY worthy upgrade from my AT&T galaxy S 2. The screen is brilliant and they battery life is more than wonderful for me.
I'd say that you should watch many reviews on it, first impressions, etc. and maybe even see if a friend or coworker has one that you can hold and see if it fits your liking.
My only concern for you is whether or not you want to be on the "bleeding edge" as the device is what, a year old now? by the time of your next upgrade (if you're on AT&T's 2 year plan) it will be three years old. You probably will still be getting CM and whatnot builds by the time this device is "obsolete" for you/your contract is up, however I cannot be sure about the official builds of Sammy touchwiz or whatnot.
So, all in all, yes I PERSONALLY would recommend this device (for people like myself) however not for everyone.

I had galaxy Nexus and also Note 2. I got to say coming from Nexus, you will definitely feel that Note 2 is much faster. The size and the weight of Note 2 is noticeably bigger and heavier. Though I think it is not as bothersome to me. I do wish the screen to be just a tad smaller so it is easier to carry. Overall, it's <good upgrade. Though with new devices on the market,it is hard to promise Note 2 will get much attention in term of development. If you always want to flash roms, Nexus is always the choice. Nexus 5 has a lot of good things and should last longer. Note 2 is prob only to be able to last 1 more yr. Knox is also coming to Note 2 sadly. Looks like Samsung is going to turn a lot of people away with Knox. IF you can go to a store to play with - Note 2 to see,t yon like the size and weight, it would prob. be the best option before you made the purchase
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Firstly. U should really post in the right section. This is general. Not q & a
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I checked it out at the store and did like it. I liked the size too. Knox from what I've read makes dev almost a non issue and if n2 gets it....the 4.3 update will b out soon .. Will Knox b in that update? Love my nexus but want something bigger. I feel now the nex is 2 devices back everyone will b on the n4 or n5 and the gnex will be gone soon. Only other option is the g2 although I wish the body itself was a bit bigger. The HTC one but its actually smaller than the nex
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Probably best to go here for any further discussion...http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2187272