Samsung GALAXY Note LTE Pro Reviews

The Samsung Galaxy Note for AT&T is somewhat hard to wrap your head (and your hand!) around. In the end, I have to say it is a prime example of the "bigger isn't always better" maxim. Though I love the huge display and the room it provides for applications and content, it is so big that it gets in the way of general usability. I would not buy a phone that I can't use easily with one hand; that's table stakes. However, if you have exceptionally huge hands, the Galaxy Note may be exactly what you're looking for. The S-Pen brings a new dimension (or, really, resurrects an old dimension) to the modern smartphone. While it has some whiz-bang appeal, Samsung needs to scare up more apps that offer unique pen-based features. Until it does, the S-Pen and accompanying S Memo app come off as parlour tricks to me. Discounting the sheer dimensions of the Galaxy Note and the S-Pen, it gets pretty much every other feature right. It's a good voice phone, has great battery life, offers zippy mobile data, and takes good pictures/video. Would I recommend this phone? Only to the Kobe Bryants and Jeremy Lins of the world. For most of us, it's just too much phone.

Rather than getting down and dirty stating which device did better in what category, we’re going to get right to the point and talk about pricing – well, that’s because there’s such a huge disparity. When you’re deemed as a high-end offering and priced at $99.99 on-contract, you’re bound to attract plenty of attention, while coming off as something that’s packing a whole lot of bang for the buck. Simply, that’s essentially the story we find with the Nokia Lumia 900. On the flip side, however, people will cringe having to cough up $299.99 for a device that’s going to be on-contract for 2 years. Yes, it’s a steep price to own and experience the Samsung Galaxy Note LTE, but it’s fully warranted seeing that it wins in the specs sheet department – while still offering some benefits in the form of its S Pen functions and video-out functionality. On the hardware side, its 5.3” display is a magnificent thing to behold, and simply puts the 4.3” display of the Lumia 900 to shame. In the end, they both offer all the lovable qualities we expect out of any top-shelf smartphone, but if pricing isn’t a concern, the Samsung Galaxy Note LTE proves to be the more alluring product in the long run. Well, we can say that the Nokia Lumia 900 is a grand device on its own, but it can’t outmatch the prestige that radiates blindingly from Sammy’s juggernaut.

Storming onto the scene and gracing AT&T’s lineup very recently, we can’t help but take notice of the dominating presence attached to the Samsung Galaxy Note LTE. Not only because it’s the latest and greatest here stateside, but it’s simply different from the normal trove of smartphones we’re accustomed to seeing. Blurring the fine lines of being a tablet, the Galaxy Note LTE is also able to make some headway over the LG Nitro HD for the added functionality of its S Pen and superior battery life. When it comes to sheer presence, there’s no way to hide the Galaxy Note LTE, obviously, but it has this invisible allure that enchants people far and wide – and it’s still doing it to us! Interestingly enough, when the Galaxy Note LTE became official blessed AT&T’s lineup, the LG Nitro HD was given a dramatic reduction in price. On one hand, you’ll need to fork over $300 to pick up the newer Samsung Galaxy Note LTE, while the LG Nitro HD is easier to handle at $100 on-contract. Needless to say, that’s a major factor for some people, but if pricing isn’t a worry whatsoever to you, we totally would recommend the Samsung Galaxy Note LTE for the stark reason that it’s simply the bigger head turner.

Here’s the deal people. We’re well aware that the iPhone 4S is a venerable smartphone that’s sure to continue with success, as it has done so in the past countless times, but this latest version doesn’t quite have the same level of fresh appeal found with the Samsung Galaxy Note LTE. On the flip side though, there are people that will instantly steer clear from the Note due to its intimidating posture, but that’s exactly what makes the handset so fresh and very different. Throw in its S Pen functions, and you have a smartphone that already packs one feature that’s not available with the iPhone 4S. Nowadays, we can whip out the iPhone 4S in a crowd of people and not receive one shred of recognition. Certainly, that’s not an issue with the curious looking Galaxy Note LTE, since it’s able to somehow magically sum up conversation from random strangers. Aside from its effectiveness in garnering attention, it’s also well-endowed in various key areas to make it a formidable rival in the smartphone landscape.

The Samsung Galaxy Note is tough device to recommend. It hits a lot of high marks, with its gorgeous display, great camera, and speedy data services. But it fails to meet some necessary requirements to work as a phone - namely it's impossible to use with one hand. When I am running to catch a subway train and need to bang out a quick message on my phone, the Note is the last phone that I want to be in my hand. On the other end, even with its unique S Pen input features, it doesn't really offer that much more than other smartphones on the market in terms of software experience, so it doesn't replace your tablet, either. Add in the persistent user interface lag that I experienced again and again, and I have to say that the Galaxy Note is a pass. The Galaxy Note is a perfect example of bigger isn't always better, and that a jack of all trades is a master of none.

The Galaxy Note is either a very large “super” phone or a pocketable tablet that happens to make phone calls. That’s great, but if you buy the Note you need to know that there will be roughly 20-percent of the time when you won’t be able to use it. The scale of the device demands a two-handed grip or, if you attempt to go one-handed while walking, driving or otherwise distracted, it will slip through your fingers, I guarantee it. The AT&T Galaxy Note LTE does what it does very well, but those who can handle it are likely few and far between.

Reiterating the obvious (again), the Samsung Galaxy Note isn’t for everyone, and in fact, it might take some people a good amount of time to get used to accepting its glorified status as being some kind of hybrid device. But simply, that’s where we find all of its allure, as it’s able to come off as being something totally fresh from the usual set of smartphones we’ve been seeing. Yes, it’s pretty much like any other ordinary super spec’d smartphone when you look under the hood, but its sheer size is exactly what makes the Galaxy Note extremely intriguing in the first place. In fact, we’re amazed to find so many random people publicly coming up to us asking, “what is that?” Of course, there’s always the matter of pricing, which will set you back $299.99 with your signature on a 2-year contract. Hands down, it’s one of the most expensive devices to be sold by AT&T, but then again, when you factor in its high-end hardware, ridiculously large display, and 4G LTE connection, it’s all very justified – even more when it excels in a variety of key areas. Besides its physical traits, the Samsung Galaxy Note has proven itself to be a balanced offering to appease even the most demanding users out there. And on top of that, this version is seeing some improvements over the original – with the inclusion of 4G LTE connectivity being the most profound one of them all.

The Samsung Galaxy Note is an unfortunate tweener, satisfying neither phone nor tablet buyers.