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If you want to maximize the screen size of your phone and get a bevy of features, you should check out the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. The Note 2, with its 5.5″ screen, can do double duty as a phone and as a small tablet, earning it the moniker of “phablet”. But the Note 2 is much more than a large phone. The Note 2 has plenty of unique features to make it a compelling choice for those in the market for a new smartphone.
The Note 2 is the sister phone to the Samsung Galaxy S3, running Android 4.1, Jelly Bean. Most of the Jelly Bean features listed in 10 Features My Galaxy S3 Has that Your iPhone Doesn’t also come on the Note 2, such as Video Overlays and Smart Shot. This article focuses mostly on the many features that are unique to the Note 2.
Size Matters
The most obvious feature of this phone is its size. For a phone it may seem mammoth at first, but once you start using the phone you will quickly appreciate having the extra screen real estate to surf the web, read email, watch videos, take notes and use many of the Note’s innovative features.
I quickly became spoiled by the Note’s screen size. After using the Note 2, going back to the small 3.5″ screen of my iPhone 4S seemed uncomfortable. I usually bring my iPad with me when I’m headed out the door, but when I had the Note 2 with me, I found that I didn’t need to take my iPad along. When I went to a more formal event, I was able to fit the Note 2 in my evening bag without a problem.
As I tested the phone, I repeatedly heard from friends that the Note 2 was “too big”. Men were concerned that the phone wouldn’t fit in their pockets, but they quickly discovered that wasn’t an issue when they actually tried it. Unless you’re a tween, a supermodel, or a tween supermodel, you shouldn’t have an issue fitting this phone in your pocket.
Holding the Note 2 in my hand wasn’t a problem. I was concerned that long phone conversations might be uncomfortable but that didn’t happen. In fact, I quickly became engaged in the conversation and forgot I was holding the Note 2.
Where the size of the Note 2 may become an issue is if you use your phone when you exercise. If you’re a runner, for example, having a large phone on your run may be inconvenient.
In short, I enjoyed having a phone with a 5.5″ screen, but you have to see if it fits in your lifestyle. Just don’t dismiss the phone as being “too big” until you hold it and see if it fits in your pocket.
One-Handed Operation
If you have smaller hands or want to use the phone with one hand, you can activate One-handed Operation in Settings. This will display smaller versions of the phone keypad, keyboard, calculator and password unlock screens. You can activate this feature for each of these individually or for all of them at once.
S Pen Stylus
A killer feature of the Note 2 is its stylus, called the S Pen. The S Pen is not your father’s stylus. The S Pen feels futuristic and is loaded with so many features that you wonder how such a svelte stylus could be so potent. If you don’t like using a stylus, you can keep it nestled in its nook and use your fingers on the touch screen. But this S Pen is so powerful you may quickly become a stylus convert.
Handwritten Notes
When you use the S Pen, you can insert handwritten notes into calendars, email and notes. If you find handwriting easier or you remember ideas better when they’re in your own handwriting, then you will enjoy the ability to handwrite on your screen.
Smart Pen
Samsung has done an excellent job of making the S Pen feel like an actual writing instrument. You can use the stylus at wide angles and the pressure you put on the pen affects how the markings appear on the screen.
Smart Notes
While writing handwritten notes may be easier for you than typing, sometimes you would prefer to read typed text rather than your handwritten notes. No problem. The Note 2 can transform your handwriting into text. With the Handwriting-to-Note feature, the phone will translate your handwriting into typed text. This feature also works for shapes, so a wobbly hand-drawn circle can become a perfectly round circle.
This transformation is taken a step further with Formula Match. You can jot down a mathematical formula and the phone will transform it into a typewritten formula. You can even have the phone solve the equation for you using search engine Wolfram Alpha.
Shortcuts
The S Pen can also make using the phone easier. You can use the phone for shortcuts such as taking a photo of the screen. You can even crop the photo using the S Pen. Use the S Pen to copy and paste, access frequently used apps, preview photos, and perform many other functions with this super stylus.
Air View
The S Pen is so powerful that it doesn’t even need to touch the screen. You can hover the stylus over the screen to highlight objects, see more information in pop up windows, and activate preview screens.
Keeping Track of Your S Pen
One of the biggest challenges with having a stylus is, well, not losing it. Few things are more frustrating than going for your stylus only to find an empty slot where you forgot to return it.
Samsung solved this annoying issue by virtually tethering the S Pen to the Note 2. You can set up the S Pen to alert you when you walk away with your phone, leaving the S Pen behind. I tested this feature plenty of times (mostly by accident) and was able to keep track of my S Pen without a problem.
Also see, Android Authority Samsung Galaxy Note 2 – Top 5 S Pen Apps!
Multi Window
If you like multitasking, then you’ll love the Multi Window feature of the Note 2. With Multi Window you can open two windows on your screen, side by side. You can watch a video while checking email. You can be surfing the Net while responding to a text message.
Multi Window even lets you easily adjust the size of each window with a slider bar.
Multi Window only works with certain apps and you must activate the feature in settings.
Camera
The phone comes with an 8.0 MP camera in back and a 1.9 MP camera in the front. As you might imagine with this phone, the camera comes packed with features. One of the coolest features is Best Shot, which you will love if you take group shots of your family, a sports team, class room, etc. With Best Shot you can take a picture of up to 20 people and then the phone will help you choose the best shot of each person and mesh the best pictures of each person into a photo. If you’ve ever had a great group photo except for one person blinking, you will enjoy this feature.
I’m not much of a photographer, but here are some images taken with the Note 2 under different lighting conditions:
Other Features
In addition to the features listed above, the screen is bright and beautiful, delivering a stunning visual experience. The phone is fast, with 4G LTE connections and a very powerful processor. You can see that the phone has a lot going on “under the hood” as the scrolling and page loading are smooth and fast.
If you like your phones simple, don’t worry about all of these powerful features making the phone complicated. You can use the Note 2 as a basic Android smartphone if the added screen space is your main motivation for getting this phone and you don’t want to bother learning new features. If you like to delve into the depths of a phone to figure out the added features, the Note 2 will not disappoint you. Between the S Pen, Jelly Bean, Multi Window and other features, you could spend quite a while harnessing the power of this phone.
To help you figure out which features the Note 2 has and how to use them, the phone has a handy Help section, complete with instructional videos. These can walk you through how to use these amazing features or help give you a reminder if you forget. Just click on the Help icon in the Apps section to access this information.
If you want even more help, check out the free Samsung apps GALAXY Note II User’s Digest and GALAXY Note S Pen User Guide from Google Play. These apps will help give you tips and tricks to help you make the most of your Note 2.
Battery Life
You may think that with the big screen and all of the features of the Note 2, you’d have to carry around a couple of extra batteries to make it through the day. You would be very wrong.
The battery life on the Note 2 is almost too good to be true. If you’re used to charging your phone every night, you may just get out of that habit. In my testing the battery on the Note 2 lasted several days between charges. When I took the Note 2 to New York for the weekend and tested the Field Trip app (see Field Trip – Discover the World Around You!), I never took the charge cord out of my suitcase. The Note 2 lasted all weekend and into Monday morning without needing extra juice.
According to the Verizon Wireless website, the battery has:
- Usage time – up to 22 hours OR
- Standby time – up to 250 hours
Cons
No phone is perfect, including the Note 2. You may consider the large size to be a negative, though I personally would put the size in the Pros instead of the Cons. I realize a phablet isn’t for everyone, some will prefer a smaller smartphone. But I urge you, before you rush to judgment, to look at the screen and to weigh how important a large screen is versus having a smaller phone. While some may say that they have small hands and don’t want a small phone, my 14-year-old daughters have small hands and thoroughly enjoyed using the phone.
The phone feels solid, but the back is made from plastic and feels cheap when you remove the back cover. The back looks like metal and fooled one techie friend of mine who was surprised when he found out the back was made of plastic. If you don’t like the look and feel of the back of the phone, get a cover.
That’s it. I really can’t find any other quibbles about the phone. Yes, it’s a great phone.
Pricing
The Verizon 16 GB Note 2 is available from Verizon Wireless for $299.99 with a two-year contract or from Amazon Wireless for $199 with a two-year contract.
Bottom Line
If you’re considering getting an Android phone, you should consider the Note 2. Don’t write the phone off because of its size. The features of the phone and the S Pen make this a worthy candidate for your consideration. Once you get spoiled by this phone, you will wonder how others manage without one.
Have you seen a Samsung Galaxy Note 2? Do you like using a stylus? Do you like the Multi Window feature? What do you think of the size of the phone? Let us know in the Comments section below!
Many thanks to Verizon for lending the Note 2 to me for review.
Carolyn, I couldn’t agree more with your review.
I’ve had my Note for about 2 weeks and am loving it and still learning it.
The size isn’t that big an issue for me, since I came from a Droid X which was a bigger phone too, but for people coming from a small phone, the size will take getting used to.
But it’s sooo worth it haha the screen for looking up websites and using apps, like Twitter and Facebook is great.
Oh and if your like me and use your cell once you get in bed, expect to drop this one on your face a few times lol I learned the hard way.
Hi JP, That’s great to hear! I’m not surprised you’re a big fan of this phone. There is so much to recommend it. I’m thinking you’re still discovering new features to love, since you’ve only had it two weeks.
I’ve never dropped the phone on my face nor anywhere else, thank goodness. I haven’t struggled to get a grip on the Note 2, even though I’m coming from the relatively tiny iPhone 4S.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your experiences with us!
Hi Carolyn,
This phone looks good. It’s still too expensive for what it is in the UK. I tried a Samsung phone once to take a photo, it wasn’t very easy. I’m not sure how you focus the things. One of these might be useful for sharing photos while I’m out, but I don’t make many phone calls. I’ve been chatting to China and California using Skype. It’s free! I’m seriously considering a new camera, but will delay until I am sure I can actually take better pictures with one. I want better definition, but prices come down all the time and technology changes. After a long and dark winter, we have sunshine today! I have a few museums in mind to photograph this year and a couple of lock keepers cottages. Another few weeks and we will have bluebells in Moorcroft Wood. 🙂
Hi Mike, The Note 2 has manual settings for the camera and other reviews have said that this one is easy to use. I am not much of a photographer, in spite of your expert guidance. I’m sure you recognized those pictures. 🙂
I so miss the bluebells in England in the spring. I hope you can take plenty of pictures of the for your blogs!
This one takes little time to get adjusted to, but I second your opinion Carolyn, this one is delight to work with. Be it a movie or social interaction, or both this is a gem of a gadget to say the least.
Thanks for this wonderful post!!!
Hi Rashmi, I’m glad you like this phone too. You’re right, watching movies or visiting social media sites is easier with a larger phone screen.
Carolyn,
I like the bigger size. I think it would be plus on my old eyes (yes i am saying I am old)….lol Personally, I find it a little easier to get around with a larger screen. I can tell you i enjoy using my smartphone for all the applications and bells and whistles that it was meant to have. Just my opinion of course….
Aaron Brinker aKa DadBlunders
Hi Aaron, Good point, the bigger screen is easier on the eyes, whether your eyes are old or they are tired from staring at a computer screen all day.
The big screen would be impressive alone, but Samsung has taken advantage of the extra screen real estate with features such as Multi Window. If you like bells and whistles and a big screen, then the Note 2 would be a good fit for you, Aaron. 🙂
Hi Carolyn,
when you mention you can “hover” with the stylus, does that mean the the Note 2 works better than the iPhone in Facebook? I’ve noticed that there are features in Facebook, mostly dealing with who can see what, that you can only access by hovering or “mouse-over”, so those features are unavailable on the iOS.
Hi Ann, I want to be sure that I understand what you’re asking. So, when you go on Facebook on the iPhone using the Facebook app (as opposed to using Facebook on Safari on your iPhone), you want to be able to see who can view your post? I am seeing that on both the iPhone and Android Facebook app without the stylus hovering.
I think perhaps I’m misunderstanding what your asking. Could you please let me know what you’re seeing on Facebook on your computer that you’re not seeing on Facebook on your iPhone and whether you’re using the app or Safari?
I have the Note and I love it, emphasis on LOVE it. It is a fantastic phone.
Hi Josh, It’s so great to hear from a fellow fan of this phone. There is so much to recommend the phone, but it’s very helpful to get the opinion of a Note owner.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts with us!
Hi Carolyn
Nice to see review about this phone as my friend just bought this and love it the speed and the camera quality is good but the size is matter to big and thats what i don’t like much although this phablets have great functionality but then this not meant for everybody. Hope they make something more awesome in upcoming months as i am waiting for Samsung Galaxy 4. Let’s see whats next in tech world 🙂
Hi Amit, You’re right, the Note 2 isn’t for everyone. The size may be a bit big for some. But I really enjoy having the extra space on my screen and Samsung makes good use of the space with Multi Window.
I hope you like the specs of the Galaxy 4 when it is launched, Amit. 🙂
When I was at one of my son’s many soccer games another parent whipped out his behemoth Samsung phone and compared to my little iPhone, I felt, well inadequate. Just sayin’ 😉
Hi Craig, I feel your pain. I went out today without the Note 2. I only had the iPhone 4S and was squinting at the screen. I never had a problem before I started using the Note 2.
Size is relative. B-)
Hello Carolyn,
What a wonderful review. My close friend just bought the Galaxy Note 2 and to tell you that it was awesome. the camera quality, and the screen resolution was off the hook. I really did love the phone because size doesn’t matter to me 😉 Thanks
Hi Babanature, Thank you very much for your kind words. I’m glad you enjoyed the review. That’s great that you had a chance to see the phone in person. It seems some people love the size, some people dislike the size and some people don’t care about the size. You fall into that last category and I’m in the first category.
There is a lot to like about the phone so even if you fall into the second category, the features may win you over.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts, Babanature!
:-bd Awesome review! I am really impressed by this “phablet”: love the smart pen that comes with the package – it makes navigation so much easier and precise, the battery is dreamy if it’s how you say and I love the camera- I do not need a separate gadget for taking pictures or recording videos for my family and friends.
Hi Dragos, Yes, there is a lot to love about this phone. Whether you’re a fan of the screen size or the stylus, you will be please with this phone. The battery life is tremendous so you don’t have to worry about running out of charge during the day.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is really smart, as personally I don’t find anythign wrong with this phone, it is amazing. I mean look at any feature and you can be rest assured to get the best of all, be it screen size, battery life, stylus functioning or anything else. Simply loved the phone.
Hello Jack, You’re right, there is a lot to love about this phone. I mentioned my favorite features here, I’m glad you like those features too!
Fabulous! I just can’t help but always being amazed with the products of samsung. They surely produce quality phones. This samsung galaxy note 2 really makes me drool. Thank you for this information. I absolutely love it.
Hi Sandra, Yes, Samsung does produce quality phones with innovative features. I’m a big fan of their phones and the Note 2 is an especially great phone.
Good phone. Those looking for an innovative phone in the crowded Android space the Note 2 is worth a look. It makes me want to carry the phone around all the time, even though that’s not always easy to do given its large size. Phantastic post, thanks for sharing.
Hi Paul, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Yes, even though the phone is large, it can do so much that you may quickly discover that it’s an essential accessory!
You know how I feel about my iPhone, but still, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 looks great and your review is awesome Carolyn. I am not using my iPad as much as I thought I would (I might have been using an iPad mini more if I had one). So I’ve been thinking what if I had a “bigger” phone, would I use it more like I was using my iPad? I am not sure, but maybe. I am using my MacBook a lot more than I used to, because it’s 13″ instead of the old 17″.
By the way, my wife bought a new phone a few days ago, and she used to have a HTC, but she ended up with the iPhone 5 🙂
Hi Jens, Yes, every time I leave the house without the iPad I regret it. The iPhone screen is just too small to really function as a usable device. For example, replying to comments from an iPhone is extremely difficult which is why I like to carry my iPad with me.
But you’re right, the full sized iPad is cumbersome to carry around. I don’t want an iPad mini because I like the fuller size of an iPad when I’m writing a post. I want a larger smartphone screen and the Note 2 certainly fits the bill.
Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has some fabulous features that cannot be compared to any other smartphone and this is the reason that Note 2 is a fabulous phablet. It photo editing feature, which was featured in a television commercial was a superb one to impress a large audience.
Hi Daniel, Welcome to The Wonder of Tech! Yes, I really was impressed with all that the Note 2 has to offer. I hope you get to see one in person to experience what a wonderful phone it is!