Hello!
We are considering another ex-flagship from the point of view of operating experience and relevance in the current realities.
In the comments to past articles, one tablet phone from a Korean manufacturer was often mentioned, and I could not ignore it, since this series from Samsung, appearing more as a bold experiment, at the moment, along with the 'S' series, is a separate, very popular line flagship devices. Next up is the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.
Housing and materials
This is one of the latest flagship models from Samsung along with the Galaxy S5, which is made with the concept of a 'puff plastic sandwich'. I never cease to scold Samsung for this principle of creating cases. The idea is that the display module is glued into a metal frame and framed with a plastic lacquered edging 'like metal'. The most annoying thing is that this very edging instantly collects chips and scratches, like the ever-memorable Galaxy s3. The problem is exactly the same – after some time of operation without a cover or bumper, the device loses its presentable appearance and turns into a victim of military operations.
And, interestingly, the frame does not start to be knocked off immediately, but some time after operation. First, the clear varnish peels off, and then the spraying breaks off, exposing the black plastic of the base. And all would be fine, that's just by design, it won't work to replace the frame separately. The display module is very firmly glued into the very base, which is part of the frame. The way out is either at your own peril and risk to remove the display module, risking damaging it, or put up with it and walk with a flaky phone.
Under the display bezel is the main frame of the case, which also quickly deteriorates. As with the Galaxy S4, the bezel bezels are not easy to change. If in the Galaxy S4 it is enough to unscrew a few screws around the perimeter, pry the frame with a connector (or a plastic card) and snap it off along the perimeter, in the Note 3 the manufacturer returned to the same as in the Galaxy S3 – the frame cannot be easily replaced.
In addition to problems with the case, this model uses a non-standard connector for synchronization and charging.
Dual connector with USB 3.0 support. and MHL for connecting to TVs and projectors at first glance may cause confusion, but is not a problem, since it supports the connection of a regular MicroUSB cable.
In the lower part there is a polyphonic speaker grill. The sound of this speaker is loud and slightly shrill, but the quality is poor. Thanks to the convenient location on the bottom end, the sound does not overlap if you carry the phone in your pocket. This speaker's grille is surprisingly made of metal, which can rust over time.
The Note 3 is one of the latest Samsung phones to feature a removable battery cover. This is a definite plus, since it allows you to easily replace the battery if it is out of time, or has lost its original capacity and requires a final replacement.
The back cover of the device is made of plastic with a leather-like texture. Initially, while the device is new, it looks presentable and gives excellent tactile sensations. However, over time, the soft plastic coating begins to peel off, exposing the same black base underneath. It looks untidy.
What surprised me is that the chrome bezel of the camera practically does not peel off, in contrast to the same S3 / S4, which had one of their weak points.
The losing back cover is the lesser of the problem, as there are still a lot of Note 3 back cover options on sale, including exotic options such as genuine leather and various types of wood.
The buttons, despite the fact that they are also plastic, practically do not peel off. Thanks for that.
Pay attention to the photo above – the chrome frame is cracked, although the device has not been disassembled or repaired. This is also a problem with this design. The body is assembled from several layers and because of this it can give slack in the most unexpected places.
Therefore, if you are going to buy a Note 3, and the option you have chosen has defects in the frame or case, remember that it is unlikely that you will be able to painlessly replace these elements.
Display
The display measures 5.7 inches and is very bright.
At the time of the release of the device, the 5.7-inch diagonal was very impressive. Display resolution 19201080. Matrix type SuperAmoled. The matrix has the notorious PenTile. Therefore, the FHD resolution with such a diagonal is enough end-to-end. I can't say that the fonts are loose, or reading is uncomfortable, but when compared directly with a FHD display of the same diagonal, made using IPS technology (for example, Xiaomi Mi Note), it becomes clear that the clarity of Amoled is still insignificant inferior to that of IPS. But again, this is more at the level of sensations. And one more drawback of amoled matrices is also present in Note 3 – the display burns out over time. By the way, this is one of the reasons why samsung stubbornly continues to use dedicated softkeys and does not use on-screen ones. The sad experience of the Moto X and Nexus 6, in which the key area and status bar over time begin to differ in color from the rest of the display, speaks to the correct position of Samsung.
Versions
Note 3 was produced in two main modifications:
- Samsung Exynos Octa 5420 (four cores at 1.9 GHz, four at 1.3 GHz), graphics ARM Mali-T628 MP6, 3G.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 (MSM8974) 2.26 GHz, Adreno 330 graphics, LTE.
At one time, Megafon branded retail arranged an attraction of unprecedented generosity, selling the 3G version of Note 3 (N900) for 13 thousand rubles. Those who managed to buy this device for themselves at such a price did not lose. The device was clearly worth the money.
The main difference between the versions is 4G support. The Exynos version does not support LTE.
And also, given the different processor, it should be remembered that firmware for different versions of the device is not compatible. The plus is that there are many of them for both versions, and there is plenty to choose from.
power usage
The battery of the device has a capacity of 3200 mAh, which in the current reality is not amazing. At the time of its release, it was a pretty impressive figure.
On the stock firmware, the device showed autonomy records. Even now, given the significant wear and tear of the battery, it is still enough for daylight hours. I think. if you can find an original battery in retail, you will again have a very durable device. In a mixed mode of use (I do not spare the battery, I do not save the charge), the phone is enough for me for a full day of light. At the same time, I always have WiFi on, Bluetooth, Nfc, synchronization, auto brightness.
Traditionally, the Nfc module is housed in a battery.
Therefore, if you use a non-original battery, you can lose this functionality. In the comments to the last article, I remember that a user under the nickname Tyu posted a link to a video in which someone with a clever look 'tears off the covers' disassembling a similar battery and talking about spying on users with an antenna placed in the battery – it was fun. ? Yes, it was just about the Nfc antenna, with the help of which, according to the author of the video, special services are monitoring users.
Camera
The camera was great for its time. at the time of its release, it could compete for the title of the best camera on the market. The now fashionable 4K video mode has appeared. On a sunny day, the camera produced excellent quality images, but sometimes it slightly overexposed frames with bright areas.
I recommend that you familiarize yourself with the camera's capabilities in more detail in the review by Eldar Murtazin.
From myself, I can say that the camera in the Note 3 was completely fine with me. There was, however, one not obvious moment – by default, digital stabilization and automatic night mode were turned on out of the box, which made the first impression not very good – the frames often turned out blurry. But after I figured out this setting, I was pleasantly surprised by the result.
Firmware and Relevance Android
The latest version available for both mods is Android 5.0.
An important nuance of the stock firmware is thoughtfulness when opening the 'phone' application from sleep mode, as well as when ending a call. The problem is easily fixed by installing a custom kernel. The exact instructions for the firmware can be found on the well-known xda or w3bsit3-dns.com forums. An interesting feature of Samsung Note firmware is the incompatibility of firmware for versions with different amounts of internal memory. The version with 32GB of memory will not get the firmware from the version with 16GB of memory and vice versa. Don't risk it.
The device was very popular, and thanks to this, now it is not a problem to find ported firmware from other, later sansung devices, as well as a large number of custom versions. One of the most popular custom firmwares. by tradition is Cyanogenmod. Just do not forget that by flashing on 'cyan' along with the speed and flexible settings you will get a disgusting camera quality. Well, 'cyan' does not yet know how to use proprietary Samsung camera drivers (or they do not allow it).
Speed
It is difficult to blame the device for the lack of performance. At the time of its release, the Note 3 was the world's first device with 3GB of RAM! The device worked and works very quickly.
With subsequent updates, the speed of the device only grew. At the moment I regret that I sold this phone to my friend – he still uses it as his main one. Again, the only complaint about the stock firmware I have is the speed of the regular 'dialer'. The device starts her very slowly.
Buns
The main feature of Note series smartphones is the stylus, which with each new generation becomes more functional and more convenient.
In note 3, the stylus has one advantage – it cannot be inserted upside down! Given the appearance of the stylus, it is difficult to make mistakes, unless you do it on purpose.
The upper part is made of metal. And unlike the case, it does not lose its appearance over time.
Agree, the 'new' stylus looks strange in a flaky body.
Maintainability
In terms of maintainability, the Note 3 is typical Samsung. For us, this means that repairing the display will result in a very expensive pleasure – about 8500 rubles. for the new module. Moreover, this amount in Russian spare parts stores will be for a display without a frame. If we talk about eBay.com, then most likely you will buy there with the frame, but do not forget that in the case of eBay, you still have to pay for shipping.
So if your Note 3 has broken glass. but the display remained working, I strongly recommend that you look for a master who can change the glass separately, without having to replace the entire module. From my own experience (I repair phones / tablets) I can say that replacing glass on this device is no more difficult than in other similar devices, and should cost significantly less than a module.
At the same time, starting with the Galaxy S4, Samsung began to use a modular system of internal elements, which has a positive effect on the ease of repair. An example of this is how the system connector (charging connector) can be replaced. Instead of painstaking and not the simplest soldering of the connector itself, you can completely replace the board on which this connector is located, as well as the microphone and the antenna contacts of the wireless interfaces.
Replacement is simple. It is enough to open the cover, unscrew the several screws under it, then remove the inner cover and voila, we will get access to this board. For repair, you will need a plastic card or a pick to remove the inner cover, as well as a Philips screwdriver (Phillips). Most of the elements of the phone, such as the camera, microphones, light sensors, etc. change in the same way.
Again, the stumbling block is the display module. With this, Samsung is, as usual, difficult.
Conclusions and conclusion
At the moment, Note 3 can be found on sale from both Russian sellers and popular foreign auctions. If you buy a device from your hands, then you need to be prepared for the fact that there will be flaws in the case – display bezel, frame, cover. Or, if you are offered a used device in perfect condition, then with a high probability it is after repair, well, or the person is neat and blew off dust particles from it.
Is this device relevant now as the main one? I think it's absolutely relevant.