Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Mobile

Samsung Galaxy Note: Giant phone or tiny tablet?

By
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Here’s an interesting, albeit unsurprising development: Samsung’s announced the newest member of its Galaxy lineup of smartphones and tablets. It’s a giant phone. It’s a tiny tablet. Either way, Samsung hopes it will cater to consumers who don’t want to carry around a pair of devices but still have extra-large pockets.

The Galaxy Note is nominally a smartphone, albeit with a massive 5.3 inch HD Super AMOLED display. With a host of tablet-like features, Samsung’s taken to rather breathlessly calling the Note “the next chapter of the mobile industry.” While that may be a particularly egregious bit of PR fluff, the phone’s giant size and the inclusion of Samsung’s digital S pen for on-screen scribing do add to the smartphone/tablet conversation.

Recommended Videos

It’s also 4G: The Note will have variants for both HSPA+ and LTE.

Related

The Galaxy Note’s biggest drawing point is its display. It’s simply the biggest screen anyone’s ever put in a smartphone, and while it truly is a massive thing to hold against your head, it does offer real advantages. Samsung promises a 180 degree viewing angle, which should make for more relaxed and less-squinty video sharing. The 1280×800 resolution also means less zooming and scrolling when surfing the web and dealing with any business-related tasks like going over PowerPoints. It’s also slimmer than you might expect at 9.65mm thick.

On the hardware side of things, the Note runs a 1.4GHz dual-core processor with 1GB of RAM and 16GB or 32GB of built in storage. It’s slated to ship with Android 2.3, although that may change given the current state of the Apple-Samsung lawsuit battle. The Note has a pair of cameras, one with 8MP on the rear and a 2MP device on the front.

In a throwback to the PDA days (and hinting at its intended professional demographic), the Note has a host of productivity software as well as a built-in stylus that slides right into the phone’s body. The S Pen allows users to scribble to their heart’s content without using their clumsy fingertips. The included S Memo software offers a platform to combine pictures, audio and handwritten notes and drawings that can be packaged and sent via text or email.

So what we’ve got is a giant phone with a high-resolution screen that offers some of the productivity features that made PDAs popular way back when. Is that a successful combination? We think so. With tablets having solidified their place in the market long ago, there certainly users who would like the functionality of a tablet without carrying (or paying for) a second device. For those who can get past the enormity of the device, the Galaxy Note takes the best things about a smartphone and makes them bigger.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Derek Mead
Derek Mead
Former Digital Trends Contributor
How to fix the ‘Not Registered on Network’ error on a Samsung Galaxy phone
Someone holding the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy S23 Ultra.

Unlike our phones, the SIM cards that connect them to a network have barely evolved over the last decade or so. This can sometimes mean you'll have trouble connecting to a network, even when the phone and the SIM card are seemingly just fine. If you are using a Samsung Galaxy or another Android phone or tablet with cellular connectivity, you might see an error on your phone that says "Not Registered on Network."

Read more
The best tablets in 2024: top 11 tablets you can buy now
Disney+ app on the iPad Air 5.

As much as we love having the best smartphones in our pockets, there are times when those small screens don't cut it and we just need a larger display. That's when you turn to a tablet, which is great for being productive on the go and can be a awesome way to unwind and relax too. While the tablet market really took off after the iPad, it has grown to be quite diverse with a huge variety of products — from great budget options to powerhouses for professionals.

We've tried out a lot of tablets here at Digital Trends, from the workhorses for pros to tablets that are made for kids and even seniors -- there's a tablet for every person and every budget. For most people, though, we think Apple's iPad Air is the best overall tablet — especially if you're already invested in the Apple ecosystem. But if you're not an Apple user, that's fine too; there are plenty of other great options that you'll find in this roundup.

Read more
Best Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals: Grab the foldable phone for $700
A person holding a partially open Galaxy Z Fold 4.

While the more recent release of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 has turned attention away from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4, the Z Fold 4 is still an incredibly capable smartphone. Newer tech releases often make previous generations much more affordable, and that’s certainly the case with the Z Fold 4. While much of what’s available out there are refurbished models, there’s some huge savings to be had on a Z Fold 4. Retailers like Amazon and Back Market offer great ways to save, and we’ve got all of the information you need to do so. Reading onward you’ll find links to the best Samsung Z Fold 4 deals you can shop right now, as well as a little information on what each retailer has to offer with a purchase.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals at Best Buy
The Unlocked 512GB model of the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is on clearance at Best Buy. The popular retailer is really showing up with this deal, which sees the Z Fold 4 marked down to $700 and makes for nearly $1,300 in savings. Even more savings are available if you have an eligible device trade-in.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals at Amazon
Amazon may currently have the widest variety of Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 deals. You’ll find both the 256GB and 512GB models discounted there, as though much of what's available are renewed models. Don't hold back because it's renewed, though, as Amazon has a great return policy should you receive something that doesn't live up to its condition. You can save even more when purchasing a Galaxy Z Fold 4 at Amazon if you have an eligible device to trade-in.

Read more