Both the Galaxy Note II and Galaxy
Mega don’t compromise on size or features, but which one of these phablets is
the real deal?
The Galaxy Note II is by far and away the
best-selling Android phablet on the market today, offering a standout design
alongside a great user experience. There’s a new contender on the market in the
Galaxy Mega, boasting a gigantic screen and all the usual phone features you’re
accustomed to. But which on deserves you to part with your cash? We’ve put them
both head-to-head to see which on finishes on top…
Note 2
Design & build (win)
We’ve grown accustomed to Samsung’s use of
plastic on its phones and tablets, but the Galaxy Note II does feel like a
solid device. The square shape of the phablet is unusual to hold while in hand
and can be hard to get used to at first.
Galaxy
Note II
Display (win)
There’s a lot to love about the 5.5-inch
display on the Note ll. The Super AMOLED screen displays colors beautifully,
but the brightness options are limited. One real problem is the resolution,
which can make some apps look distorted.
Power & performance (win)
Under the hood of the Galaxy Note II is an
impressive 1.6GHz Exynos 4412 quad-core processor which handles the most
power-hungry tasks with ease. It’s also aided by the accompanying 2GB of RAM.
Features (lose)
As well as including the usual selection of
standard Samsung apps, you’ll also find a few Note II exclusives that can be
used alongside the accompanying stylus, known as the S Pen. You do have the
capability to make a phone call.
Ecosystem (lose)
Despite the great addition of the S Pen,
the selection of dedicated apps is limited. You still have access to the
various Samsung hubs, but thanks to the strange display size, some media files
won’t take advantage of its size.
Despite
the great addition of the S Pen, the selection of dedicated apps is limited
Hackability (win)
There’s a dedicated community of
enthusiasts which have released a series of hacks, tweaks and ROMs for the
Galaxy Note II. Dig around the community a little and you’ll find several hacks
which alter the use of the S Pen too.
Note 2 specifications
·
OS Version: Android 4.1.1
·
Processor: Quad-core 1.6GHz
·
Graphics: Mali-400MP
·
RAM: 2GB
·
Camera: Eight-megapixel
·
Weight: 183g
·
Resolution: 720 x 1,280
·
Pixel density: 257ppi
·
Battery: 3,100 mAh
Mega
Design & build (lose)
Although it’s essentially a giant phone,
the Mega still has that phablet look about it. It has the same plastic look as
the Galaxy Note ll, but its elongated shape means it’s easier to hold in hand.
There’s little to distinguish it from other Samsung devices.
Galaxy
Mega
Display (lose)
Although the 6.3-inch display of the Mega
looks impressive, especially considering the lack of bezel it leaves, it’s only
an LCD screen, which means things aren’t as crisp and clear as the Super AMOLED
offering on the Note II.
Power & performance (lose)
Despite its humongous size, the Galaxy Mega
only includes a 1.7GHz Snapdragon 400 dual-core processor which can be a bit of
a hindrance in several ways. Many of the more demanding apps can have bad lag
and loading times tend to be poor.
Features (win)
The fact that the Mega is literally a giant
phone would be a great reason to include a stylus, but you won’t find one here.
It does look far more natural to make a phone call with it, however, and the
8-MP camera takes surprisingly clear photos.
Ecosystem (win)
As well as having access to everything in
the Samsung app store, you also have access to Google Play. As previously
mentioned, games and movies look brilliant, but the 6.3-inch display can
distort some of the older apps.
As
well as having access to everything in the Samsung app store, you also have
access to Google Play
Hackability (lose)
Only time will tell how popular the Samsung
Galaxy Mega is in the Android hacking community. Samsung devices are
notoriously popular to hack compared to most manufacturers, so expect more of
the same here with the Galaxy Mega.
Specifications
·
OS Version: Android 4.2.2
·
Processor: Quad-core 1.7GHz
·
Graphics: Adreno 305
·
RAM: 1.5GB
·
Camera: Eight-megapixel
·
Weight: 199g
·
Resolution: 720 x 1,280
·
Pixel density: 233ppi
·
Battery: 3,200 mAh
Winner is, Note 2
No matter which angle you look at it, the
Galaxy Note II is a superior phablet to the Mega. There’s no denying that the
giant 6.3-inch device is an interesting prospect, but the Galaxy Note II just
feels like a more complete device which offers users a brilliant overall
experience.
