Samsung GALAXY Note II T-Mobile Pro Reviews

For now, this review of the Galaxy Note II is a dynamically changing one. We've only had the opportunity to get a feel of how T-Mobile's version of the device holds up against not only the rest of the carrier's lineup but the N7100 as well, but we've been quite happy to see that very few things have actually been tweaked in the migration to the US. As we mentioned earlier, we'll continue to update this review as we receive the other variants in the mail. But we're confident that our assessment of the global Note II still stands valid with T-Mobile's edition -- and because of this, it currently sits smugly as our top choice in its lineup. That is, unless the size is just too intimidating for you.

The Galaxy Note II on T-Mobile is a beautiful monster. It’s got an incredible screen, it has plenty of power, and the S-Pen functionality, while offering no real boost in productivity for those of us that like to do work on the go, has been greatly improved over the first generation Note. It is our opinion that you have to make a tradeoff. Sure, you have a phone with the biggest screen in the land – but you surrender the ability to use the phone with a single hand. Also, a great smartphone likes this deserves the best possible internet speeds. So unless you live in an area with outstanding T-Mobile service, consider getting the Note II on AT&T, Verizon, or even Sprint, where you’ll get better coverage and a better shot at LTE.

The Samsung Galaxy Note II is a big, big phone in more ways than one. True, it is one of the largest handsets you can buy, but the new dimensions make it an easier device to use day in and day out. Unlike the original, I found I was used to the size after a few days. It is still difficult to use one-handed, however, and for some that might be a deal breaker. It performed well on T-Mobile's network, with data speeds that were on par with other T-Mobile HSPA+ hardware. The software and tools are robust, the media powers second-to-few, the camera and video camera excellent, and the cool features of the S Pen and its associated software are much improved over the original Note. The entire package is powered capably by the speedy Exynos processor and managed well by Samsung's TouchWiz user interface. For the consumer seeking to merge their smartphone and tablet into one device, the Note II is certainly the first device to get the formula (mostly) right.

When I was using the original Note, it was one of the few Android devices I’ve ever used which solicited many questions and discussions in public. With the Note 2, the form factor is still fresh and different, and as a result I strongly suspect it will likely get the same kind of curious attention that will help move units. S Pen also makes the Note 2 different from the rest, and the improvements Samsung has made to the active digitizer and input with S Note have elevated my impression of the Note platform from a notetaking perspective considerably. I’ve enjoyed using the Note 2 considerably. Who knows, I very well might move my personal T-Mobile SIM from one of the smallest smartphones on the market right now, to the largest.

The Samsung Galaxy Note II's above average size is both a gift and a hindrance. The fact that a phone could be so large to be considered a tablet means that it has added benefits that most handsets lack, but it also has challenges unique to this phone. The size of the phone makes one-handed use impractical, which severely limits the pool of potential fans. There's also a chance that a user may look and feel ridiculous when holding the large phone up to their ear to place a call. As strange as it may feel initially, buyers who are willing to use two hands will find a phone ready to help meet many other challenges thrown at them. In my time with the Galaxy Note, I've found the phone to be perfectly capable of running my favorite games and apps, and I've loved the tablet-like experience of reading Pulse or Flipboard on a much larger screen. I also discovered that the S Pen is incredibly useful for annotating photos, and marginally beneficial when navigating in media apps. While the original Galaxy Note may have had issues with system-wide lag, the Galaxy Note II is a smooth and dynamic experience from top to bottom. It's probably too big as a phone or too small as a tablet for most, but many will find it's a comfortable compromise between the two form factors.

The Galaxy Note II is an amazing device, one of the best we've ever handled. That much should be plain by now. We wonder, though, if it might not be even more amazing were Samsung to have dialed back the feature set just a bit and honed what was left to perfection. For instance, holding off on the hovering movie feature in order to make sure that, when one records a sketch in S Note, one can easily share that sketch in a commonly accessible format. Or, perhaps, three S Note templates instead of nine, and those three honed beyond reproach. Too much phone? Perhaps for some. Even for us, from time to time. For all we've said of feature overload, though, we've enjoyed our time with the Note II immensely. We found those features that best fit our workflow and integrated them. From time to time, we've added other functions, but we mainly adhere to a core set of features in our daily interactions with the device. A different user may look at features we deemed unnecessary and find them indispensable. For just about anybody set on using a smartphone to produce things, though -- be it art, a document, a video, a birthday card, whatever -- will find some useful feature in this device. What's more, they'll likely find it a more capable device for content creation than any other handset on the market. Samsung touts the Note II as "the Next Big Thing." We still don't think it's the phone for everyone, but if you're the kind of person it suits, the Note II is sure to have a big and continuing impact on the way you use technology.

If you’re a smartphone user and have enjoyed the Samsung Galaxy S III, you’re probably going to want to at least have a look at the Galaxy Note II. It’s an enticing prospect, seeing your best buddy Galaxy blown up to a 5.5-inch display-toting size with a magic want embedded in its side. I’ve found the Galaxy Note II to be entirely enjoyable to use each and every day I’ve used it – but complaints about the first iteration of this device hold true here as well.

With a fast quad-core processor, a big, gorgeous display, and features galore, the Samsung Galaxy Note II delivers everything a huge-screen smartphone should. If you want a phone that doubles as a small tablet, it's the best you'll find.