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TechSpot: King of the big phones - Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review

Sharing similarities with the Galaxy S4 in design and hardware, the Galaxy Note 3 is impressive in many aspects. Depending on what model you choose, you’ll be treated to a powerful Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 or Samsung Exynos 5 Octa SoC, a 5.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display, removable storage, a 13-megapixel camera and the ever-useful S-Pen. TouchWiz is also included on the Note, but that’s a story for later in the review.

Like previous models, the Galaxy Note 3 is quite large, but it’s not ungainly once you get used to the size. Unlike the Sony Xperia Z Ultra, the Note 3 fits reasonably well in pockets and doesn’t restrict movement to the same degree. One-handed use isn’t the easiest when you’re dealing with a 5.7-inch display, but with practice it becomes easier than it first appears.

Despite a 0.2-inch increase in display size compared to the Note II, the overall footprint of the Note 3 has actually decreased. The screen of the Note 3 covers 75% of its front face compared to 69% on the Note II, and it’s also slimmer (8.3mm versus 9.4mm) and lighter (168g versus 180g); all changes that improve the usability of the handset. The reduction in the bezel around the display is a marked improvement both from a visual and ergonomic standpoint.

I have both Galaxy Note 3 models with me for this review, making it an interesting comparison between the new Exynos 5 Octa and the trusted Snapdragon 800. Which model is best suited for users around the globe? Is the Note 3 enough of an upgrade from the previous Galaxy Note?

Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Review

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