Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Preview: Hands-On With The New DIgital Sketch-Pad (VIDEO)

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Preview
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BERLIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 05: Visitors try out the new Galaxy Note 3 smartphone at the Samsung stand at the IFA 2013 consumer electronics trade fair on September 5, 2013 in Berlin, Germany. The 2013 IFA will be open to the public from September 6-11. (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
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The Galaxy Note 3 is Samsung's latest 5.7-inch smartphone-tablet hybrid, with a built-in S-Pen stylus.

Key Features

  • 5.7-inch 1080p screen
  • Faux-leather back
  • 2.3 Ghz Snapdragon 800
  • 13-megapixel rear camera
  • 32/64GB internal storage
  • 'Air Command' controls pop-up when you use the S-Pen

The Pitch

"In addition to meaningful technological advancements, Samsung GALAXY Note 3 delivers a new premium look and feel. Expanding on the modern Samsung GALAXY design approach, Samsung GALAXY Note 3 adds a soft and textured-touch back cover and delicate stitching."

Impressions

The Samsung Galaxy Note III looks extremely similar to the previous version - because it is. But it adds a few really nice refinements that make the device a more-attractive option for anyone looking to make the switch to a large Android phone with a stylus.

Oh, and a pink leather back.

Yes, the Note III differs from its predecessors by not only being faster and slightly thinner, but also by coming in a hot pink colour, and switching from a plastic back to a leather-like, stitched material which rests just on the right side of tasteful.

Yes, it feels a bit Jeremy Clarkson - but it's preferable to the plastic feel of other Galaxy products. The pink is - well, it's pink. It will appeal to some, but isn't quite as attractive to our eyes as the classic white/black duopoly.

The Note III boosts the internals as you'd expect - including the CPU, graphics processor and screen. Despite that, the drawing and note-taking performance of the S-Pen remains about the same, and still felt a little imprecise -- though if you're writing or drawing a lot, the S-Pen is obviously far preferable to using your finger.

Take a look at how it all fits together in the video.