Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Review: The Phablet Refined
Whether you’re a fan of oversized smartphones or not, it’s clear that they are here to stay. When Samsung initially released the first Galaxy Note, many of us in the industry looked at it a little sideways and wondered what the designers at Samsung were thinking. The original Galaxy Note seemed simply gargantuan next to virtually every other device available at the time and it was somewhat comical to see such a large device perched next to someone’s ear when they were making a call.
The Note had a transformative effect on the smartphone industry, however. Yes, it was large. But once you've experienced the benefits of a larger screen, it's difficult to turn back, and Samsung sold millions of them. I was originally dismissive of the Note, but after living with the second-gen Note II for a while during the lead-up to our review, I grew accustomed to its size and features and now everything else just seems too small. Since reviewing the Note 2, I’ve had access to a number of other newer devices, but I keep going back to the Note 2. Take that for what it's worth.
As much as we liked the Note 2, technology inevitably marches on, and its successor is now available. The recently released Galaxy Note 3 build upon the success of the Note and Note II, but with significantly updated hardware, a larger screen, fresh software, and a host of additional features...
