Samsung Galaxy Note Specs

• Talk Time: Up to 26 h 10 min (2G) , Up to 13 h 30 min (3G)
• Standby: Up to 960 h (2G) , Up to 820 h (3G)
• Size: 147 x 83 x 10mm
• Weight: 178g
• Display: 5.3 inch Super AMOLED HD
• Resolution: 800 x 1280 pixels
• Processor: 1.4 GHz dual core Cortex A9
• OS: Android
• Frequency: Quad-Band
• Messaging: SMS(threaded view), MMS, Email, Push Mail, IM, RSS
• Camera: 8 MP, 3264x2448 pixels, autofocus, LED flash
• Music: MP3, WAV, eAAC+, AC3, FLAC player
• Memory: 16GB, 32GB storage, 1 GB RAM
• Data Speed: GPRS, EDGE, 3G
• Browser: HTML
• Java: Yes, via Java MIDP emulator
• Connectivity: Wi-Fi, USB, Bluetooth

The Samsung Galaxy Note is a phone and a half - literally. It dwarfs the competition in size, power and features. Some would argue the 5.3-inch Note is stuck in an awkward middle ground between tablet and phone, too big to fit in a pocket but too small to replace a computer. Whether it's a pointless chimera or a perfect compromise, there's no denying it's one of the more notable gadgets around. Compared to a phone, the Note is an absolute behemoth. The 5.3-inch screen is so big you feel a bit dizzy. The whole shebang is nearly six inches long - yet is nearly as slim as its smartphone siblings. That keeps the heft down, but it still dwarfs the average phone.

It fits in an average-sized man’s jeans’ pocket; if you're smaller or favour a tighter trim you’re going to have to slip it a jacket pocket or bag. Answering a call makes you feel faintly ridiculous, and you'll definitely have to get used to Trigger Happy TV jokes. We humbly suggest a Bluetooth headset or hands-free kit would be a worthwhile investment. The headphone jack is up top, the lock switch is on the right and the volume controls are on the left. At the bottom you'll find the S Pen, a stylus for writing and drawing on the screen. Below the enormous screen lies the home button, flanked by smooth touch-sensitive buttons to call up the menu or go back to the previous screen. The screen is a truly sumptuous Super HD AMOLED display, which means the image is rich, crisp and bright. That's important, because a screen this size cries out for filling with movies, games and web pages. And the screen is so big you barely have to zoom in on some websites. Not only do movies, games and websites look great, the 1.4GHz dual-core processor keeps them all running fast and smooth, even if you have several things going on at once.

The stunning screen is backed up by sterling support behind the scenes. It plays MP4, DivX and Xvid video formats, among others. You’ve got 16GB of internal storage to fill with movies, TV shows, games and photos, and if that's not enough stretch your legs by slotting in a microSD memory card up to 32GB. The eight-megapixel camera is the same snapper that bagged the Samsung Galaxy S II the Mobile Choice Awards for Best Camera Phone and Best Video Phone of 2011. Photos are razor sharp, while videos are vibrant and detailed. And once you've snapped a picture, you can draw all over it and stick it on Facebook before your subject has blinked away the aftereffects of the LED flash. There's also a two-megapixel camera on the front to capture your reactions for voice chats.

The Samsung Galaxy Note runs Android, which is based around seven home screens that you can fill with shortcuts to your favourite apps. Out of the box it runs version 2.3 ‘Gingerbread’ but Samsung have already updated to the latest version 4.0 ‘Ice Cream Sandwich’. Samsung also adds its own usual Touchwiz overlay that either improves Android or ruins it depending on who you talk to. We feel that it adds a decent amount of extra features without distracting too much. Samsung have also added there 4 content hubs: Social, Music, Readers and Games. These do a nice job of aggragating your content in focussed central locations.

A stylus may feel like a bit of antique in this day and age but the Samsung Galaxy Note proudly features this accessory and is quick to point out its many benefits and applications. Drawing and writing on the screen with the S Pen is at the heart of the Note's design. Another built-in app is S-Memo, a simple notepad app with basic illustration tools like different types of pen or paintbrush, shadow effects, and assorted colour. It's a lot like MS Paint on your computer, and great for doodling notes. S-Memo fires up instantly and your doodling’s can be posted on Facebook in mere moments. In terms of the precision with which the screen recognises your scribbling’s, the Note is in a different class to its rival doodle-slab, the HTC Flyer. It’s like drawing on paper. You can also draw on other apps, such as adding notes on maps, by holding down a button on the S Pen. Or you can leave it in its slot and just control the Note the old-fashioned way, with a tap and a swipe of your fingers.

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