Samsung Galaxy Note II Smartphone Review

Name: Samsung Galaxy Note II
Brand: Samsung

by Marco Chiappetta — Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 01:00 PM EDT

In addition to using the Samsung Galaxy Note II in a variety of everyday usage scenarios, we also conducted some formal performance testing to see how well the device compared to some of the other smartphones we have recently evaluated.

CPU testing

Android CPU testing

In the Linpack for Android benchmark, the Samsung Galaxy Note II's quad-core Exynos SoC didn't compare favorably with some of the Snapdragon S4-based smartphones on the market, but the Note II surged ahead in the multi-threaded test and put up the highest score we have seen to date.

Graphics testing

Android graphics testing

The Galaxy Note II put up some excellent graphics-related benchmark scores. The iPhone 4S and 5 hold onto commanding leads in the GL Benchmark tests, but the Note II put up the best scores we have seen from an Android device in both GL Benchmark and An3DBench XL.

JavaScript testing

JavaScript Android and iPhone testing

The Galaxy Note II's combination of Jelly Bean and an Exynos SoC put up the best Sunspider score we've seen from an Android device as well. Only the iPhone 5 put up a better score here, and even then the delta was relatively small.

Tags: Samsung, Android, smartphone, tablet, note, Jelly Bean, Note II

Marco Chiappetta

Marco's interest in computing and technology dates all the way back to his early childhood. Even before being exposed to the Commodore P.E.T. and later the Commodore 64 in the early ‘80s, he was interested in electricity and electronics, and he still has the modded AFX cars and shop-worn soldering irons to prove it. Once he got his hands on his own Commodore 64, however, computing became Marco's passion. Throughout his academic and professional lives, Marco has worked with virtually every major platform from the TRS-80 and Amiga, to today's high end, multi-core servers. Over the years, he has worked in many fields related to technology and computing, including system design, assembly and sales, professional quality assurance testing, and technical writing. In addition to being the Managing Editor here at HotHardware for close to 15 years, Marco is also a freelance writer whose work has been published in a number of PC and technology related print publications and he is a regular fixture on HotHardware’s own Two and a Half Geeks webcast. - Contact: marco(at)hothardware(dot)com