Galaxy Note Series is Samsung’s line of Android phablets. These large phones are aimed at pen computing, with features like note-taking and digital scrapbook apps as well as multi-windowing and expanded S Pen functionality.
Since 2011 the Note series has blazed trails that few smartphone product lines have ever traversed. Here’s a look back at the high points.
Design
The Galaxy Note series has pushed the boundaries of smartphone functionality, reshaping consumer expectations in the process. Its legacy stretches back to 2011, and each subsequent model has incorporated cutting-edge specifications and innovative designs.
This attention to detail has helped the Galaxy Note series establish a distinct identity within Samsung’s extensive lineup, attracting consumers who value productivity tools and advanced mobile features. Its unique S Pen capabilities blur the lines between tablet and smartphone, enabling users to write and draw with ease.
Demographics show that the Galaxy Note series appeals to a wide range of ages, including students and young professionals. Its multitasking features align with the needs of these groups and boost overall user satisfaction.
As the smartphone market becomes increasingly saturated, it’s important to stay up-to-date on the latest technological advancements. Using this information, it’s possible to anticipate trends and prepare for future challenges. For instance, recent high-profile security incidents highlight the need for advanced protections such as Samsung Knox. Likewise, organizations that leverage Wi-Fi 6 technology can experience improved network efficiency and latency across their entire organization.
Display
After the first Note proved that there was a market for a large-screen, stylus-equipped phone (and coined the term “phablet”), Samsung went bigger with 2012’s Galaxy Note 2. While this device was largely similar to the original in terms of design and hardware, it improved the overall experience through refinements. These included split-screen functionality, an ergonomic design, and additional capabilities for the S Pen. Within two months of its launch, the Note 2 sold up to three million units.
In 2014, the Galaxy Note 4 built on the success of its predecessors with a larger, Quad-HD display, Gorilla Glass 4, a better camera, improved multi-window functionality, a more ergonomic design, and even more functionality for the S Pen. Samsung’s suite of apps also grew to include more useful tools for the device, like Memo Note and Crayon Physics.
Today, the Galaxy Note series continues to set itself apart from other Samsung devices with its high-quality, big-screen displays. Its bezels are very thin, and the screen stretches almost to the edges of the device. When measured with our light meter and Delta-E colour accuracy testing, its screens produce rich colours and are incredibly bright.
Camera
The Note series has always had a strong camera, with its big-sensor main cam ultra-wide cam and telephoto cam. The latest Galaxy Note 20 Ultra carries on that tradition with the same camera system you saw on the S20 Ultra from last year, plus a few minor tweaks.
The 108-megapixel main module delivers impressive image quality, with images that look like they were shot on a DSLR or Mirrorless Camera. The photos also have a natural Depth of Field, which is fully done through hardware rather than software.
Unfortunately, the stock camera app ruins some of the good work Samsung’s engineers have put in. The colors tend to be over-saturated, and despite having an option for a choice of matrix, center-weighted or spot metering, the stock camera app still prioritizes brightness over the chosen point.
You can use the S Pen to operate the camera, and you get a good range of gestures for launching modes or switching between the main cam, telephoto and ultra-wide cams. However, the ability to take a picture with a single click is missing.
Performance
The Note is a high-end Android phablet with an emphasis on pen computing. Its stylus pen, dubbed the S Pen, incorporates a pressure-sensitive Wacom digitizer that lets users take notes and create digital scrapbooks with apps designed for those purposes. The line also features software features that capitalize on the large screens of these devices, such as tooltips and split-screen multitasking.
Samsung’s HD Super AMOLED display looks bright and vivid on the Note, and it can render 122.8% of the sRGB colour space and 0.22 Delta-E in our light meter tests. That’s similar to the results we saw on the Galaxy S20 FE, which offers a slightly higher resolution.
The Note’s fast CPU and ample memory let you run plenty of apps, even demanding ones. This device scored 22 frames per second and 1,446 frames in GFXBench’s Vulkan-based Aztec Ruins test for high-tier phones, which puts it a hair behind the OnePlus 8 Pro (20 fps; 1,584 frames). T-Mobile’s version of the Galaxy Note runs on a flavour of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich with Samsung’s TouchWiz interface.
Battery
The Note 20 series boasts a high-capacity 4,500 mAh battery. That’s big enough to power the device for a whole day, even with heavy use of demanding apps and games.
We tested the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra with a 60Hz display and it endured for 11 hours and 54 minutes. That’s pretty impressive, considering that the phone also has a 120Hz LTPO panel.
The Galaxy S20 Plus scored similarly, with a runtime of 10:31. That’s still a good result, especially since the phone has a smaller display than the Ultra.
Samsung’s DeX mode lets you connect the phone to a monitor for desktop-style usage. It’s a useful feature for those suffering from eye fatigue or who want to do some serious gaming. The smartphone can also be used as a makeshift tablet, thanks to its S Pen.
