Here's our analysis of how the Galaxy Note 3 stacks up against the Galaxy Note 4.
Pros and cons of the Galaxy Note 3
The Galaxy Note 3 is slightly lighter than its successor. Released over a year ago, even by today's standards the phablet has almost no equal in terms of performance. It has a 2.3 GHz quad-core processor supported by 3 GB of RAM. With 2.7GHz, the Note 4 may not be perceived as a significant improvement. Galaxy Note 3 still maintains a level of performance that is virtually unmatched in the industry.
The Galaxy Note 3 initially launched with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, but can still be upgraded to Android KitKat. As you'd expect from any predecessor, the Note 3 does have some shortcomings. The display, which supports 1080x1920 pixels, is not as bright and colorful compared to the Note 4 and its 1440x2560 pixels resolution. The primary and secondary cameras are also not as powerful.
Pros and cons of the Galaxy Note 4
The Galaxy Note 4's 16-megapixel camera is a notable upgrade over the Note 3's 13-megapixel lens. Additionally, the secondary camera has a 3.7-megapixel lens versus the Galaxy Note 3's 2-megapixel front-facing camera. The Note 4's storage can be expanded to 128 GB, compared to its predecessor's maximum capacity of 64 GB. The Galaxy Note 4 has a true phablet form factor, while the Note 3 has a tile design. The 3220mAh battery may not be too big compared to its predecessor, but it does support the technology fast charging, which can charge the battery to 50% within 30 minutes.
The Galaxy Note 4 may have some major upgrades over its predecessor, but it is still considered expensive for its segment. It lacks the IP67 certification for water resistance and should be more durable overall to withstand rough handling since it feels thinner.
Specifications
The Galaxy Note 3 is available in three memory configurations – 16GB, 32GB and 64GB, all with 3GB of RAM. Android Jelly Bean OS can be upgraded to KitKat. Other highlights of the phablet include a 5.7-inch display, a 2.3GHz quad-core processor, a 13-megapixel main camera and a 2-megapixel secondary camera, and a talk time of up to 21 hours.
The Galaxy Note 4 is available in one configuration with 32 GB, which can be expanded up to 128 GB. It has a similar 5.7-inch display to the Note 3, but with a higher pixel density of 515 ppi. Other key specs include a 16MP primary and 3.7MP secondary cameras, Android KitKat, a 2.7GHz quad-core processor, and up to 20 hours of talk time.
Issues for discussion
Samsung Galaxy Note 4 was unveiled exactly one year after its predecessor was launched in markets around the world. Samsung has brought some notable improvements to its phablet series.
Prices
The Galaxy Note 3 is currently available on Amazon for around $495.90. The Galaxy Note 4, on the other hand, comes with a price tag of $974.
Conclusion
The GalaxyNote 4 isn't a major upgrade to the Note 3, but it's still out of reach in its class given that its predecessor was already unrivaled and way ahead of the competition. But upgrading to a new Samsung phablet can be quite expensive.
The speed shown by Speedtest is not very high, although it differs from 3G to a greater extent. This is due to Megafon's weak LTE coverage in Moscow. In addition, high-rise buildings around the testing site may be to blame.
Battery
The new Galaxy Note 3 smartphone has a 3200 mAh lithium-ion battery. With a powerful processor and large screen, the battery charge will last a little more than a day of active use. With a gentle mode, the “plafond” can last up to two days. Of course, a lot depends on the brightness of the screen, so by making the backlight a little less, you can significantly extend battery life.
In general, the use case will not change. You will still have to charge your smartphone in the evening. Even if you use the device little and do not use it much during the day, then the next day you risk being left without a phone by lunchtime.
Price issue
The new gadget costs 34,990 rubles. It may seem that the price of the device is too high. If so, then not by much at all. Judge for yourself: there is a powerful processor here, good camera, developed new design, and there’s a ton of software chips. Essentially, this is an enlarged Galaxy S 4, and it cost only 29,990 rubles at the start. So, the price is quite reasonable for the set of hardware and software that Samsung provides us.
In addition, the situation is significantly improved by the opportunity to buy a Galaxy Note 3 at Megafon at a price of 21,990 rubles. But here everything is not so simple. Of course, there will be no mandatory 2-year contract (like AT&T and iPhone). But you will need to deposit 3,000 rubles into your account, and this is where your obligations to Samsung and Megafon end. In principle, the idea itself is good, and this is the first time I’ve seen such a model in Russia. But the lack of support from other operators is depressing. That is, if you have Beeline or MTS, then you will not buy a smartphone for less than 34,990 rubles, according to at least, Bye.
Smartphones purchased from Megfon will be blocked for use with other operators. This also imposes restrictions on the use of a smartphone in other countries. Essentially, you won’t be able to insert a local SIM card and will have to use roaming, which is inconvenient. Information has leaked to the media that operator-locked smartphones can work with local SIM cards abroad for up to 90 days. The Russian representative office of Samsung has not yet commented on this information.
The new Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is already available for sale in official Samsung stores, as well as in Megafon brand stores. The price is for a smartphone with an Exynos processor. How much the version with LTE and Snapdragon 800 will cost is still unknown. Judging by the sales experience of the Galaxy S 4, the price for this model may be significantly higher.
Competitors
Sony Xperia Z Ultra
This flagship Sony smartphone has a record-breaking 6.4-inch Full HD display, made using proprietary TRILUMINOS Display technology. The smartphone is equipped with a quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor with a clock frequency of 2.2 GHz, supports the 4G LTE standard and HD voice technology.
Detailed comparative testing of screens, cameras, performance, power consumption and battery life of the SM-N900 and SM-N9005 models
Much was known about the latest innovation from the world of tablet phones even before the start of sales - the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 de facto attracted the maximum attention of users around the world. People interested in mobile gadgets simply could not help but be interested in the next creation from the series called Galaxy Note, the first-born of which at one time gave impetus to the rapid growth of the tablet phone market, as it is now common to call devices that combine the features of a tablet and a smartphone at the same time. Now, thanks to the love of manufacturers to spy on the successes of competitors, it is already difficult to find a smartphone on the market of normal, not spade-shaped dimensions, but at that time it was not exactly a novelty - people almost twisted their heads, looking at the “smartphone”, barely fits in the human palm. But times are changing, and now every teenager dreams of a smartphone with a screen of 5 inches or more - smaller ones are no longer valued. Abroad, the result of such a mutation of a smartphone into a half-tablet is called a phablet (phablet - from the English phone + tablet), but this word in Russian pronunciation is unpleasant to the ear, so we prefer to call devices of this type the more humane word “tablet phone”.
So, it is known that the progenitor of all tablet phones was the Korean model Samsung Galaxy Note, released in 2011, and, despite all the ridicule of its monstrous size, unexpectedly even for Samsung itself, it sold millions of copies, eventually reaching the 10 millionth sales mark. Successful sales of the second model in the series confirmed the developer’s understanding of where to move, although only the lazy did not reproach the company for the uniformity and boring design of all mobile devices coming out of its pen. TO the current moment and the Galaxy Note 2 model is completely outdated, inferior to literally any top modern smartphone in most technical characteristics. By releasing its third Note to the market, Samsung tried to kill two birds with one stone: to improve the technical performance of its flagship and to introduce a “fresh stream” into the design of its mobile products.
This “fresh stream” captivated the creators so much that all marketing power was eventually thrown at promoting the image component of the new product (leather-like finishing, special designer accessories, even a separate model of wristwatch, etc.). Behind the glitter of glamor, the technical characteristics of the new Note even somehow faded into the background, but this model actually has something to brag about. And since we are traditionally most interested in a scrupulous and comprehensive study of the technical aspects of any devices that fall into our hands, this time we decided to “dig” deeper.
To do this, we purchased two modifications of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 tablet at once, obtaining them from different sources (to the shame of the Russian representative office of Samsung, they once again did not bother to send us a copy of the Galaxy Note 3 for testing in a timely manner, so we had to find other means). At the moment, two main modifications of the device are sold in the world. The N900 has Samsung's own hardware (SoC Exynos 5420), this particular model is now presented on the domestic market, and its noticeable feature is the lack of support for LTE networks. There is also a version labeled N9005, running on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 hardware platform, equipped with an LTE modem with support for frequency bands permitted in Russia. This model can be found in stores in most European countries, but in other countries, like the USA or South Korea, variants based on Snapdragon 800 are equipped with a 4G modem, which does not support LTE frequencies used in Russia. It is worth keeping in mind that currently most European Galaxy Note 3 (N9005) devices, although sold at full price, have a vile restriction introduced by Samsung, which does not allow them to use SIM cards, for example, from Russian mobile operators ( "regional store") Fortunately, the problem is not insoluble.
- N900 (Samsung Exynos 5420, 4 cores 1.9 GHz Cortex-A15 and 4 cores 1.3 GHz Cortex-A7, GPU Mali-T628 MP6)
- N9005 (Qualcomm Snapdragon 800, 4 cores 2.3 GHz Krait 400, GPU Adreno 330)
Main characteristics of Samsung Galaxy Note 3
| Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (N900) | Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (N9005) | Meizu MX3 | LG G2 | Sony Xperia Z1 | |
| Screen | 5.7″ Super AMOLED, 386 ppi | 5.7″ Super AMOLED, 386 ppi | 5.1″ New Mode 2, 415 ppi | 5.2″, IPS, 424 ppi | 5″, ASV?, 440 ppi |
| Permission | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 | 1800×1080 | 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 |
| SoC | Samsung Exynos 5420 (4x Cortex-A15 @1.9 GHz and 4x Cortex-A7 @1.3 GHz) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (4 cores Krait 400 @2.3 GHz) | Samsung Exynos 5410 (4x Cortex-A15 @1.6 GHz and 4x Cortex-A7 @1.2 GHz) | Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (4 cores Krait 400 @2.2 GHz) | |
| GPU | Mali-T628 MP6 | Adreno 330 | PowerVR SGX 544MP3 | Adreno 330 | Adreno 330 |
| RAM | 3 GB | 3 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Flash memory | 32/64 GB | 32/64 GB | 16/32/64/128 GB | 32 GB | 16 GB |
| Memory card support | microSD | microSD | — | — | microSD |
| operating system | Google Android 4.3 | Google Android 4.3 | Google Android 4.2 | Google Android 4.2 | Google Android 4.2 |
| Battery | removable, 3200 mAh | removable, 3200 mAh | non-removable, 2400 mAh | non-removable, 3000 mAh | non-removable, 3000 mAh |
| Cameras | rear (13 MP; video - 1080p), front 2 MP, video 1080p) | rear (13 MP; video - 4K), front 2 MP, video 1080p) | rear (8 MP; video - 1080p), front (2 MP) | rear (13 MP; video - 1080p), front (2 MP) | rear (20.7 MP; video - 1080p), front (2 MP) |
| Dimensions | 151×79×8.3 mm, 168 g | 151×79×8.3 mm, 168 g | 139×72×9.1 mm, 143 g | 139×71×8.9 mm, 143 g | 144×74×8.5 mm, 170 g |
| Average price (32 GB models, except Sony) | T-10484134 | T-10498348 | T-10516822 | T-10459740 | T-10491965 |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N900 offers | |||||
| Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005 offers | |||||
- Operating system Android 4.3 Jelly Bean
- Touch display 5.7″ Super AMOLED, 1920×1080, ppi 386
- Random access memory (RAM) 3 GB, internal memory 32/64 GB
- Communication GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 MHz
- Communication 3G WCDMA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 MHz
- 4G connectivity (N9005 only) 800 / 850 / 900 / 1800 / 2100 / 2600 MHz (bands 20, 8, 5, 3, 1 and 7)
- Bluetooth 4.0
- Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n/ac (2 bands), Wi-Fi hotspot, Wi-Fi Direct
- GPS, A-GPS, Glonass, Beidou
- NFC, IR LED (Remote Control), MHL 2.0, OTG
- Gyroscope, proximity sensor, light sensor, gravity sensor, electronic compass, barometer, thermometer, hygrometer
- 13 MP camera, Sony Exmor R BSI sensor, autofocus, Smart Stabilization
- Camera 2 MP (front)
- Lithium-ion battery 3200 mAh
- Dimensions 151.2×79.2×8.3 mm
- Weight 168 g
Contents of delivery
The boxes of the two models are slightly different - one is slightly larger in height, but otherwise the packaging is identical: a rectangular light brown cardboard box with a folding top has several compartments inside, separated by cardboard dividers.
Inside: a compact charger, a USB 3.0 connecting cable, standard headphones - a wired stereo headset with in-ear ear pads, as well as a set of replaceable tips for the S-Pen electronic pen and a metal holder for removing them. The N900 model, officially intended for the Russian market, also included an additional flyer with a raffle for tickets to the Sochi Olympics.
Appearance and ease of use
About appearance We won’t talk about the new products for a long time. The only thing that has noticeably changed here compared to the “branded” uniform streamlined “bathroom tile” design is the appearance of the back cover. The same glossy rear plastic “boat” has been replaced with plastic “skin”: now the back cover is stylized as a leather cover, and not only the texture of real leather is created, but even the side stitching, but the relief is embossed on the same plastic, no leather on actually not here. In general, it’s done well, but you can’t confuse it with real leather. If you want to get a back cover made of real leather, you will need to separately buy a branded cover in the form of a book - that’s where real leather is actually used. It is not clear why, at such a wild price, reaching 35 thousand rubles at the time of the announcement, it was impossible to make the cover of the device from genuine leather - here Samsung was greedy.
Otherwise, nothing has changed: the front panel is very similar to all previous top-end Korean models with a metal speaker grille and a mechanical middle hardware button under the screen, the same flat corrugated “metal-like” bezel along the entire side perimeter, like the Samsung Galaxy S4, slightly rounded corners. Compared to previous Note series models, the third incarnation has become less streamlined and airy in appearance, with flat edges and right angles appearing to weigh down the appearance. Although in numbers the physical dimensions of the new product turned out to be even smaller than all previous Galaxy Notes:
- Samsung Galaxy Note - 146.8 x 82.9 x 9.6 mm, 178 g
- Samsung Galaxy Note 2 - 151x80.5x9.4 mm, 180 g
- Samsung Galaxy Note 3 – 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm, 168 g
Overall, the device is more reminiscent of the first Galaxy Note than the second model in the series. The smartphone fits well in the hand due to the rough back surface, although the dimensions are certainly too large for a normal human hand - to manipulate it you have to constantly move the body in your hands.
To Samsung's credit, the buttons on its devices are always located in perfectly aligned places, making them easy to both reach and press. The keys are always large, with a soft, pliable, but elastic and distinct response without erroneous or inaccurate presses, and are always located on the side edges directly under the fingers. Nothing can be brought to the upper end, where you usually cannot reach with the fingers of the same hand. In addition, there is always a mechanical central key, not a touch one, which eliminates accidental pressing (but, however, provokes them when carrying a smartphone in a pocket, etc.). In terms of thoughtfulness and physical execution of control elements, Samsung devices are one of the best on the market.
At the top end there is a jack for connecting headphones (3.5 mm), as well as an infrared transmitter - to implement the possibilities associated with remote control various techniques. In the case of Samsung, the company’s smartphones with an infrared port always have a pre-installed program called WatchON, which initially contains all the necessary settings for controlling a variety of equipment, from TVs to media set-top boxes.
At the bottom end, in addition to the cleverly placed speaker grille, there is also a Micro-USB 3.0 connector and a slot for the S-Pen electronic pen. Now nothing interferes with the sound output, the new connector provides increased data transfer speed over the cable, and the new S-Pen has an equiangular cross-section, so it can be inserted on either side - all changes are definitely for the better.
The back cover of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, in the best traditions for all the company's products, is removable and opens Free access both to the battery and to the card slots. Samsung has never skimped on trifles, providing its users with the opportunity to expand memory using microSD cards - all the company’s smartphones have their support, for which we deeply bow to it and sincerely thank you.
Well, about flowers. This time, the Koreans decided to focus on three main color options for the new tablet phone: black (Jet black), white (Classic white) and pink (Blush pink). Two of them, black and white, were simultaneously in our hands and tested, and here’s what we can say about this: the black back cover is most similar in tactile sensations to genuine leather. It is softer to the touch and does not slip into the palm as much - as if there is a soft-touch effect. With the white cover, everything is completely different: it is harder, and feels smoother and more slippery, and it doesn’t look at all like real leather. It’s not really known what’s going on with the pink version, but it’s worth touching different copies in the store, because, as it turns out, they can be different. It is also worth noting that depending on the color of the back cover, the color of the front panel under the glass also changes: in the case of a white cover, the panel is also white.
Screen
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 tablet is equipped with a Super AMOLED touch matrix with a physical size of 72x126 mm and a diagonal of 144 mm (5.7 inches). The side frames here are about 3.5 mm thick. The pixel density is 386 ppi, the screen resolution is 1920x1080.
The display brightness has both manual and automatic adjustment, the latter based on the operation of the light sensor. Multi-touch technology allows you to simultaneously process up to ten touches - tested by AnTuTu Tester. The smartphone also has a proximity sensor that blocks the screen when you bring the smartphone to your ear. In bright sunlight the screen remains readable. The screen can be controlled not only with your fingers, but also with gloves, as well as with the help of a special electronic pen included in the kit and attached to the body of the device. You can turn off the glove control feature if it bothers you increased sensitivity display.
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Detailed comparative testing of the screens of both modifications of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 model on the market using measuring instruments was carried out by the editor of the “Monitors” and “Projectors and TV” sections, Alexey Kudryavtsev.
As already mentioned, we tested two variants of Note 3: SM-N9005 in a black case and SM-N900 in a white case. The third copy (also a white SM-N900), provided by the Russian representative office of Samsung (for which we express our gratitude to them), also appeared in the photographs, but tests were not carried out with it. However, the white and black copies that passed all the tests are so similar, at least in part of the screen, that we do not distinguish the results by model, but simply present the range of values if at least some difference was found.
The front surface of the screen is made in the form of a glass plate with a mirror-smooth surface that is scratch-resistant. Judging by the reflection of objects, there is a very effective anti-glare filter that is superior to the Google Nexus 7 screen filter in reducing reflection brightness. There is no ghosting of reflected objects, which indicates that there is no air gap between the layers of the screen. On outer surface The screen has a special oleophobic (grease-repellent) coating (very effective, much like the Google Nexus 7), so fingerprints are removed much easier and appear at a lower speed than with regular glass.
When withdrawing white field full screen and with manual brightness control, its maximum value was 320-330 cd/m², minimum - 5 cd/m². Despite not the most high value brightness, even in bright daylight You can use your smartphone, as an effective anti-glare filter helps. You also need to take into account the fact that in this case, than smaller area white on the screen, the lighter it is, that is, the actual maximum brightness of the white areas will almost always be higher than the specified value. For example, when displaying white on half the screen, its maximum brightness with manual adjustment increases to 350-360 cd/m². Low brightness mode allows you to use your smartphone even in complete darkness without any problems. There is automatic brightness adjustment based on the light sensor (it is located to the right of the front speaker); adjustments can be made to the operation of this function by moving the adjustment slider from −5 to +5 units. Below, for three conditions, we present the screen brightness values for three values of this setting - −5, 0 and +5. In complete darkness in automatic mode brightness is reduced to 5, 10 and 15 cd/m² respectively, in an artificially lit office environment the brightness is set to 80, 120 and 215 cd/m², in a brightly lit environment (corresponding to daytime outdoor lighting, but without direct sunlight) increases to 320-335 cd/m² for all three correction values. In principle, the result of this function is as expected. When brightness decreases, modulation appears at a frequency of 240 Hz. The figure below shows brightness (vertical axis) versus time (horizontal axis) for three brightness settings:
It can be seen that at maximum brightness there is virtually no modulation; at minimum brightness the modulation amplitude is low, so in these extreme cases The flickering of the backlight is impossible to see. But for half brightness, the modulation has a large amplitude, so at medium brightness values, flickering can be seen - hardly just by looking at the screen, but if you quickly wave, for example, a pencil in front of a white field on the screen, then flickering can be determined by the repeating mark of the pencil.
This smartphone uses a Super AMOLED matrix - an active matrix based on organic light-emitting diodes. A full-color image is created using subpixels of three colors - red (R), green (G) and blue (B), but there are twice as many green subpixels, which can be referred to as RGBG. This is confirmed by a fragment of a microphotograph:
For such matrices, Samsung introduced the name PenTile RGBG. The manufacturer calculates the screen resolution based on the green subpixels; based on the other two, it will be two times lower. If you count the number of red subpixels in one millimeter in this photograph with a scale:
...then there will be a little less than 8 of them, which gives a resolution of less than 200 ppi, but not 386 ppi, indicated in the specifications. The location and shape of the subpixels in this version are similar to the one in the case of the Samsung Galaxy S4 screen, and what follows from this can be read in the specified review. In short, this version of PenTile RGBG is better than the previous one with red squares, blue rectangles and stripes of green subpixels.
The screen has good viewing angles, though White color when deflected at relatively large angles, it acquires a noticeable shade, which varies slightly from specimen to specimen. For example, this is what a white field looks like when viewed perpendicular to the screen plane:
It can be seen that the screens have good white field uniformity, and its color is close to white (the white balance during shooting was forced to the standard temperature of 6500 K).
And this is what the white field looks like at an angle:
A slight tint appears, and it differs for all three devices. It can be assumed that during production the parameters of the screens change a little, for example, the directional pattern and the glow intensity of individual subpixels vary, and if the second can be dealt with by performing a quick calibration, then the first has to be put up with. We also note that the screen of the “black” SM-N9005 at certain angles barely noticeably shimmered with rainbow hues (which could not be captured with the camera); the screens of the other two Note 3 did not have this feature.
To demonstrate how other colors change when deviated, here are photos of a test image taken straight:
And at an angle:
The colors clearly change, becoming more faded, but in general the changes are not very large. By the way, the brightness of the Note 3 screen, when tilted diagonally to approximately an angle of 45°, decreases by about 2.5 times (the shutter speed differs so much with equal white brightness in photographs), which is two times less than in the case of a typical mobile device screen on an IPS matrix (cm. ).
Since the pixels on the Note 3's screen emit themselves and can be turned off, black remains just black at any angle (although the reflection from black areas has a blue "metallic" tint at some angles). It is so black that the contrast setting in the case of OLED screens is simply not applicable. Switching the state of the matrix elements is actually instantaneous, but at the front of switching on (and, less often, switching off) there may be a step (or two) with a width of 16.7 ms (corresponding to a screen refresh rate of 60 Hz). In some conditions, the presence of such a step can lead to plumes trailing behind moving objects, but in normal use these artifacts are almost impossible to see. Quite the contrary: dynamic scenes in films on OLED screens are distinguished by high clarity and even some “jerky” movements.
We connected to the circuit between the battery and the contacts on the smartphone body using flat conductors.
Two conductors were connected to the positive terminal with an insulator between them, which allowed current to flow through the current sensor; to negative - without an insulator, just for reference to negative to measure the current voltage.
Current and voltage were recorded at a sampling rate of 100 kHz for 85 s, after which the resulting current and voltage samples were multiplied to obtain instantaneous power consumption values. From the obtained dependence of power on time, the part corresponding to the time period of the test was cut out, and this section was integrated to obtain the amount of energy expended. At the same time, the test execution time was determined.
As a test, we chose one stage from the Mobile XPRT 2013 test suite - Create Slideshow. This stage is quite short, but at the same time it contains a variety of actions - transforming images using various filters and encoding video. For the beginning and end of the test, we took the position of characteristic peaks in the power versus time dependence, which were well reproduced. According to the results of the Mobile XPRT 2013 program itself, the time (estimated) for completing this test was 25-26 s in the case of the SM-N9005 and a stable 22 s in the case of the SM-N900. Since we covered the stages of preparing for the test and calculating the results, the test time we determined was several times longer. Testing was carried out with wireless interfaces disabled, at minimum screen brightness, and virtually immediately after resetting the devices and installing all current updates. The obtained data is shown in the diagram below (the confidence interval is indicated by the marks at the tops of the bars):
In the case of SM-N9005, 20 repetitions were performed, in the case of SM-N900 - 15. It can be seen that the differences between the devices are significant. The SM-N900 performs the test a little faster, but uses more power, meaning it is more productive, but also less energy-efficient. Note that we are comparing exactly the energy consumed, and not the power, that is, in an ideal case, one would expect an increase in power consumption in proportion to the reduction in time, and this would lead to equality in the energy expended, but in this case this option is not realized. However, it all depends on the goals: if speed is more important, then efficiency can be neglected. Below is the dependence (after some smoothing) of power on time when this test is performed by two devices:
It can be seen that the peak consumption of the SM-N900 is two times higher (the maximum, apparently, occurs at the video encoding stage). Indeed, the peak current (in this test) in the case of the SM-N900 reached 4.5 A, while in the SM-N9005 it did not exceed 2.2 A.
As an additional test, we tried to determine the effectiveness of the screens as light sources. To do this, we measured screen brightness and power consumption for different brightness levels. The conditions were the same as the previous test, with a white field displayed on the entire screen. By plotting the dependence of luminous intensity (brightness multiplied by screen area) on power, using the angle of inclination of the approximating straight line, we were able to estimate the efficiency:
It turned out to be 2.02-2.03 cd/W. By the way, the graphs show a tendency that as the brightness increases, the efficiency decreases slightly, which, in general, was to be expected. The resulting efficiency value turned out to be noticeably lower than in the case of the Samsung Galaxy S4 with a similar screen, but there the testing was carried out using a different method, without directly measuring the current. Therefore, it is still premature to draw any conclusions; it is necessary to conduct additional testing of the screens and once again analyze the stages of the methodology for possible sources of errors and errors. However, one thing is already clear: in this test we determine the efficiency in relation to the achieved light intensity, that is, the brightness when viewed perpendicular to the screen plane, taking into account the area. In this case, LCD screens, characterized by a relatively narrow directivity (see the screen test section), have an advantage over OLED. That is, to assess the effectiveness of a screen as a light source, you do not need to measure the brightness of its screen, but determine the luminous flux, as we do when testing light sources (see "". On the other hand, the brightness of the screen at the optimal orientation for viewing is also important, and it follows that ideally, efficiency should be determined by both luminous intensity and luminous flux.
Bottom line
Based on the results of comprehensive testing of two models of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 tablet, built on different hardware platforms, it turned out that the modification, not intended for sales on Russian market(N9005), in most respects it surpasses the model that is officially available in our stores (N900). As for the external data, in this regard we clearly prefer the black version, and not even because of the color of the case itself, but because of those tactile differences, which, oddly enough, turned out to be very noticeable - the cover is black in every sense turned out to be nicer than the white one. By coincidence, this color turned out to be the model based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 platform (N9005), which we preferred in terms of hardware, which even more inclined us to choose the “international” version of N9005.
Note that the tablet phone based on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 single-chip platform demonstrated best time autonomous work. Even though the battery life advantage in two of the three scenarios is within a 5 percent difference, it is nevertheless a proven fact. The N9005 model has a more powerful graphics subsystem, as shown by the results in gaming tests. But the model based on the Samsung Exynos Octa 5420 single-chip system demonstrates better performance in non-gaming scenarios. So, by and large, if you do not need support for LTE networks, then the N900 will not disappoint you and, overall, will be no worse than the N9005. Official deliveries of the N9005 model to Russia are expected in about a month, and the most impatient or the most demanding can buy it from gray supplies, which will also be cheaper. In any case, which model to prefer, you will have to decide for yourself.
As for comparing Note 3 with competing solutions, now the screen size, as in the days of the first Note, will not surprise anyone. However, here we use a display made using AMOLED technology (with all the characteristic pros and cons of this technology - however, the color gamut can almost be adjusted to normal by software) on a PenTile RGBG matrix (with the characteristic disadvantages of this solution). A serious marketing advantage of the new product (like everyone else in the Note line) seems to be the regular use of the stylus, especially taking into account the fact that in Note 3 the work with it was seriously improved: the lag that prevented full use was eliminated. feedback when drawing. However, as surveys show, owners of Note devices rarely use a stylus in their lives, that is, the choice in favor of Samsung tablets is usually made for other reasons. Unique Galaxy features Note 3 is practically exhausted on this, but of course, it should be noted that this device has the most advanced hardware, it implements almost all modern technologies and provides maximum support for wireless (and wired) communications. The tablet has a very decent battery life and provides excellent video playback, including on an external screen. Perhaps one of the weak points of the device is the camera - top-end smartphones from competitors can offer noticeably more interesting photo modules.
Is new always better than old? Galaxy Note 3 is currently so popular that even after the presentation of the new phablet, many are going to buy the last year’s model. In any case, Note 3, even now, is no worse than the new Android flagships and can give many a head start. For many months, no real competitor appeared. Unless Galaxy Note 4 is able to offer something new, because it is a worthy successor to the bestseller. But we still need to determine in detail what the difference is between the two phablets, because this is the most pressing question. Does it make sense to change Note 3 to Note 4? So we'll find out.
Design
From the front side, both phablets are practically indistinguishable from each other, since Samsung still adheres to the usual lines in the same style. But here this is not taken into account as a minus, because we are accustomed to this design and if there was something different, there would be a lot of dissatisfaction. But what else can you come up with? Square or round phablet? In any case, the Note 4 retains the familiar features, but now has a metal frame, which adds more sophisticated style. True, because of this, the Galaxy Note 4 has become a little longer and wider. But it's barely noticeable. The phablet looks slimmer, but that's due to the thinner bezel around the display.
Despite the favorable changes in the Galaxy Note 4, it is still a typical flagship phablet from Samsung's Note line. Of course, metal in the case is a pleasant innovation, but this cannot be called a very strong change.
Display
Looking at the characteristics of the Galaxy Note 4, we immediately see its main advantage. The new phablet still has the same display size – 5.7 inches, but the resolution has increased to Quad HD. The display type is still the same - Super AMOLED, but improved. The predecessor also has a 5.7-inch screen, but this one is Full HD. From a normal distance it will be very difficult to distinguish which resolution is which and difficult to assess superiority. Only when the screen is very close to your eyes can you see the absence of pixelation in the picture.
I think that if it weren’t for the approval of a new unspoken standard for flagships - a display with a Quad HD screen, then Samsung would hardly install such a display. Firstly, as I said, it is difficult to distinguish Full HD from Quad HD with such screen sizes. Secondly, technology is still evolving, so the Galaxy Note 4 boasts a brighter screen with more saturated colors. This is the “wow” factor.
Interface and functionality
It's funny to look at two flagship phablets that have almost identical software, but that's just visually. The big changes are hidden under the outer shell of TouchWiz. Several new software features have been added. If you do not pay attention to small superficial changes, the Galaxy Note 4 opens up new possibilities for the user. In particular, there is support for new gestures to control some functions - you can quickly check the time/date, launch the camera application, etc. In addition, the functionality of the updated S Pen stylus has also been expanded - we have more control over the capabilities of the powerful flagship.
Processor and memory
Samsung is very consistent in creating new smartphones, especially its flagship models. The Galaxy Note 4 now boasts a powerful quad-core Snapdragon 805 processor, which is in many ways better than the quad-core Snapdragon 800 found in the Galaxy Note 3. At first glance, this still affects the overall performance of the device - fast loading of web pages, smooth and instant navigation. interface, instant launch of any applications. But the new processor is also amazingly energy efficient.
Fortunately, Samsung is aware that memory is also an important consideration for users when choosing a device. Galaxy Note 4 comes standard with 32GB of internal memory and support microSD cards. Well, as for RAM, the new phablet works with 3GB of memory, which should be enough for multitasking without application crashes.
Camera
You have all already seen the presentation or read the news after the official announcement, where you noted the new 16-megapixel Sony IMX240 camera with optical image stabilization. Galaxy Note 3 is still more modest - it has a 13-megapixel camera from Samsung and without optical stabilization. Of course, the Galaxy Note 4 will show better results for many reasons - both hardware and software, the camera is superior to its predecessor. You will be able to shoot videos and photos steadily in any situation. It’s difficult to talk about new modes of operation of the main camera, but the front camera has been noticeably improved - it’s 3.7 megapixels with the ability to take selfies by default at 90 degrees, but you can set the “wide selfie” mode and take panoramic selfies at 120 degrees. Believe me, the difference between Note 4 and Note 3 at this point is huge and this is in favor of the new flagship. We will talk a lot about this in a separate review.
Expectations
I am sure that many are already itching to get their hands on the Galaxy Note 4 and explore the new amazing flagship for themselves. However, if you already have a Galaxy Note 3, then you're probably in a tough spot. If you have enough money to safely spend it on a Note 4, then everything is pretty clear. In the meantime, Samsung will fight for its customers and do its best to promote the new phablet and its new capabilities. It is noteworthy that Note 3 still remains one of the best smartphones on the market, even after the release of its successor.
Xiaomi's most popular offerings include the Redmi Note 3 and Redmi Note 3 Pro smartphones, which are sold relatively inexpensively but have excellent design and technical characteristics. These devices instantly became a bestseller.
Next, we will look at the characteristics of xiaomi redmi note 3, comparing with xiaomi note 3 pro in important parameters. Please note that officially both smartphones are no different - they are the same model, which is why they are practically the same, down to grams and millimeters, but stores have identified the later version with the prefix “Pro” to distinguish the update, which has some advantages.
The cost of redmi Note 3 pro and redmi Note 3 differs by only 1-2 thousand rubles.
The first smartphone has the following characteristics:
- Runs on MIUI 7 (Android Lollipop)
- Supports 3G/4G networks
- Equipped with a 5.5" FullHD screen
- Cameras 5 MP and 13 MP (with phase focus, dual-tone flash)
- 8-core Helio X10 processor
- 4000 mAh battery (not removable)
- PowerVR G6200 Graphics
- RAM up to 3 GB, ROM up to 32 GB (without flash drive slot)
- Additionally: radio, fingerprint scanner, GLONASS, GPS, BeiDou, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, infrared, microUSB, 3.5 mm, 2 SIM, weight 164 g.
The parameters of the second are absolutely identical, with the exception of a couple of differences:
- 16 MP main camera
- Processor 6-core Snapdragon 650
- Adreno 510 Graphics
- There is support for microSD flash drives
This was a comparison technical specifications, and now let’s study smartphones in more detail.
Case, screen
The devices received a palette of 3 colors: black, gray, gold. Outwardly they are absolutely similar. The differences are noticeable only in the assembly details - the Redmi Note 3 Pro has thinner screen frames, and the camera and flash are “recessed” to protect against scratches.
The fingerprint scanner responds quickly (up to 0.3 s), but when used, it seems that the Note 3 Pro is quicker to exit from standby, and the Redmi Note 3 instantly unlocks if the display is already on.
Support for two SIM cards is a definite plus of Redmi Note 3, but unlike Xiaomi Redmi Note 3 Pro, you cannot insert a flash drive into it, although Pro owners need to choose between a flash drive and a second SIM card, so the advantage is debatable. But it has a greater reserve of screen brightness and this is the only obvious advantage of the screen. In general, with budget IPS matrices there is nothing special to brag about. Although the quality of the oleophobic coating is pleasing.
Sound
Smartphones produce sound of different quality due to differences in chipsets. And they also do not have separate audio processors or amplifiers, i.e. Built-in codecs are used for audio processing. The model with a Qualcomm processor sounds louder, however, the device with the MediaTek chipset allows you to amplify the sound using the engineering settings menu (be careful, it opens through the code *#*#3646633#*#*).
In headphones, the sound quality seems better with the Pro version. Although, both phones cannot be confidently recommended to music lovers, since low frequencies They sound sluggish and fine details turn into noise.
Firmware, cameras
Redmi Note 3 Pro 32gb (codenamed "Kenzo") officially has global firmware with Russian localization and the usual Google services. Unfortunately, Redmi Note 3 (code "Henessy") does not have global firmware, but you can enable English language, manually install any Google applications and services.
A very interesting point. Smartphone cameras may differ significantly in parameters:
Redmi Note 3 - 13 MP, f/2.2;
Redmi Note 3 Pro - 16 MP, f/2.0.
However, in practice, both devices take rather mediocre pictures, even in daylight. Let's refrain from criticism, maybe the shots will be better if you tweak the options. By the way, there are more of them in Note 3 Pro. The front cameras also record very poorly. Selfie lovers are unlikely to like it. The video is of low quality, although the "Pro" version does a better job.
Performance, autonomy
The simple Redmi Note 3 is powered by MediaTek's Helio X10 octa-core processor and PowerVR G6200 GPU. The standard version (SE) has 2 GB of RAM and 16 GB of user memory. The Prime variant already offers 3 GB of RAM and 32 GB of ROM.
The "Pro" Redmi Note 3 Pro is powered by Qualcomm's 6-core Snapdragon 650 chip and Adreno 510 GPU. It also has SE and Prime variants with similar memory capacities.
In games, smartphones are approximately equal due to better optimization for the PowerVR G6200 GPU. True, the Redmi Note 3 gets terribly hot.
The smartphones have identical 4000 mAh batteries. Considering that they are also almost identical in other respects, the differences in battery life are explained only by the processors.
In video viewing mode at maximum brightness, the model with Helio X10 lasted 7 hours 8 minutes, and the device with Snapdragon 650 lasted 9 hours 34 minutes.
In games, smartphones drain at approximately the same speed: -15% per hour in Asphalt 8.
conclusions
It is difficult to understand why Xiaomi is churning out so many Redmi models with minimal differences (for example, Xiaomi Redmi 3 and Redmi 3 Pro were also released, which have essentially very minor differences). Perhaps, in this way, Xiaomi is trying to quickly improve the popular Redmi series. In general, a strict comparison of the Redmi Note 3 with the Pro model shows that there is no compelling reason to buy the former (other than the fact that it is a couple of thousand cheaper). The version with Snapdragon 650 provides a decent level of performance, records video better, holds a charge longer, sounds nicer in headphones, has no problems with the firmware, and also supports flash drives. We can’t compare from the photo, because... Both devices don't take good photos.
Of course, Redmi Note 3 Pro can hardly be called the best, but the smartphone is really interesting. If you don't find fault with the camera, it satisfies the requirements of most users. For its price it will be just an excellent choice. However, it has worthy competitors from other companies.
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