Compared with the latest Galaxy S models, the hardware is almost modest display with "only" 189 dpi pixel density and "only" quad processor. This is rather the level of 2011/2012. In other central models partly extant delicacies like LED flash, notification LED, NFC, FM radio, infrared sensor, rotation sensor, barometer or you will not find here. There is a unique feature of the Note series halt the S-Pen with an excellent handwriting recognition, which you get anywhere else and should be the most important criterion when making a purchase decision. But whom the pen does not matter who finds in the 7-inch class better stow and much cheaper candidate, such as the Asus Fonepad (with phone, but inferior performance) or the Asus Nexus 7 (without a cell phone but with comparable performance) to only two times to call. With 8 inches of comparison is with the very good iPad Mini (also without telephony) close, the appearance and design is concerning most clearly in front, but lacks a memory card slot painful example and just ranlässt only by going through iTunes someone se.
Coming back to the display: 189 dpi are in 2013 anything but sensational, but it is now not even cry. To interfere as to individual pixels, you have to keep the thing closer to his nose than you would do so in normal use. It is enough even for comfortable reading eBooks very well and, until recently, most eBook readers still had lower resolutions. Striking at the Samsung display is - although not AMOLED display - the somewhat exaggerated Knalligkeit the colors and not just compared to under saturate Nexus7 display. Since here but a rudimentary function for adjusting the color display is available in ROM already, I can well imagine that this will be drilled in the form of an app a resourceful developer. The maximum brightness of the display is very good, the automatic brightness adjustment controls me, however, too far down indoors. The brightness is among other important inputs and off switches for Bluetooth, GPS, etc. but adapted quickly. Here softens the Samsung Touchwiz firmware from the current Android standard with the Quick Access tiles from and makes the still as in previous versions of Android with a horizontal shift placket that flips open by a "finger swipe" (I think better that way).
The pre-installed software is as always with Samsung quite extensive, of the 16 GB of flash memory available to the user only about 9GB of free time. Some of the apps are good (notebook, keyboard, calendar), but much is also simply unnecessary or annoying. I was the first on the device unlocked root access, what was extremely easy, then cleared out vigorously and finally pushed my own apps in the normally not writeable system memory.
Infrared - this I said earlier "no infrared sensor" and I meant it that way. What the Mark 8.0 probably, an infrared LED's can be sent with the remote control signals. Since this is a pure IR transmitter so is a remote but not teachable, whether you the built-in TV remote App "Peel" used or a different app like "TouchSquid".
The camera on the back provides legal underpinnings images with muddy textures, but it is sufficient as a barcode scanner and the photographing of A4 text pages still good. If only a front camera is available (such as the Nexus 7), is not even that, so I'm glad it's there.
What is really good hardware side, is the GPS / GLONASS receivers. He is very strong and reception as he can also receive the Russian navigation satellites, you almost always get a lock, even if one arises only at a window with a view of a piece of heaven.
The sound from the built-in speakers is disappointingly thin. Since both speakers are placed directly next to each other on the narrow bottom, almost nothing even from stereo to remember. The have better solved other devices.
The performance of the device is very good, there is a real joy to. It pays one hand the generous RAM capacities 2GB and the fact that the display must not be a full HD, what a Tegra3 quad-core processor is definitely to their knees (I know the debacle of my Iconia A700 Tablet). So we reached a decent battery life. Although this was criticized in some reviews as fairly average, but I am so very happy. I use the tablet but also less for movies or games.
For Galaxy Note I still get sent by Samsung for registration within one week a hinged sleeve "Diary Cover", which automatically switch the device on when you open the envelope by means of two invisible magnets on and off. Even I would have bought that do not, but because it looks pretty cheap. From tablet itself I would not necessarily say that. Clear everything is plastic, but I have nothing against plastic where it is used sensibly and saves weight. I just wish a little less slippery back.
I would note 8.0 rather than a geschrumpfes Galaxy Note 10.1 (can also make calls) classify. It offers itself as a the Note 10.1 is to keep just too big and too uncomfortable, but you do not want to do without the pen. Since it has a perfect size and is a handy device in everyday work use. In one hand, scribbling with the other. A 10-inch model has to be already part of the forearm supports as an A4 clipboard, to keep it safe. As a substitute, or even as a successor for the excellently equipped, much smaller and I greatly appreciated Galaxy Note with 5.5 inches, which still passes for smartphone XL and fits into a pocket, you should not see it, however.
