Galaxy Note 3 Neo uses a processor Samsung Exynos 5260. It consists of two computing units, one of them contains 4 computing cores with frequency 1.7 GHz, the other is equipped two cores with frequency 1.3 GHz. The essence of the idea is that weaker cores save energy when performing simple everyday tasks, and the quad-core unit is connected only under high computing load (for example, during a game). At the moment, the concept can be considered viable, since it does extend (albeit slightly) the battery life of the device.
The chip is responsible for graphics calculations ARM Mali-T624. In itself, it is not bad, however, other smartphones in the same price category use significantly more powerful solutions.
In general, the performance of the smartphone turned out to be quite mediocre. It corresponds to the level of much cheaper smartphones based on MediaTek hardware platforms. Some benchmarks (especially Linpack) do not consider Samsung processors adequate at all (this manifested itself in the fact that the results in single-threaded and multi-threaded tests were almost identical, that is, very low).
The Galaxy Note 3 Neo can easily handle playing Full-HD video, viewing multiple Internet pages at once, and playing all the current games. We did not notice any significant slowdowns when performing everyday manipulations with the phone. But this is rather due to the low-resolution screen. But the productivity reserve for the future no at all no.
The Galaxy Note 3 Neo phablet is a simplified version of the Note 3, which makes it cheaper and more accessible to a wider range of buyers. This gadget has reduced functionality and performance, but it is still powerful and multitasking. The main difference from its older brother is the lower resolution screen and 8 MP camera.
In tests for battery life, it showed its best side. The device can last more than 10 hours in web surfing mode, and 12 hours in video playback mode.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo has a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED screen with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels, which allows you to save processor resources and get a high-quality picture. For wireless control there is an infrared port, Bluetooth, NFC and Wi-Fi. And for navigation users there are two modules: GPS and Glonass.
Due to such reduced characteristics, the price of the Galaxy Note 3 Neo has dropped significantly - by almost 5,000 rubles.
The main camera is capable of taking pictures in a resolution of 3264 x 2448, and the backlit sensor allows you to take high-quality pictures in the dark. You will be able to shoot videos in Full HD resolution (30 frames/sec). Unfortunately, the engineers did not add protection from moisture and dust.
Specifications of Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
| Class | Phablet |
| Release date | January 2014 |
| Price at the start of sales | 19 990 |
| Current Android version | Google Android 4.4.2 |
| TouchWiz version | TouchWiz 5.0 |
| Dimensions (L × W × T) | 148.4x77.4x8.6 mm |
| Weight | 162 grams |
| Battery | 3100 mAh (Removable) |
| Available models | SM-N7505 |
| Case color options | Black, white, green |
| Display | |
| Diagonal | 5.5 inches |
| Permission | 720 x 1280 pixels |
| Type | Super AMOLED |
| Pixel Density | 267 ppi |
| Safety glass | Corning Gorilla Glass 3 |
| CPU | |
| Graphics accelerator | ARM Mali-T624 |
| CPU model | Exynos 5 Hexa |
| Frequency and architecture | 1700 MHz, ARM Cortex-A15 and ARM Cortex-A7 |
| Number of cores | 6-core |
| Memory | |
| Random Access Memory (RAM) | 2048 MB |
| Read-only memory (ROM) | 16 GB (12 GB available to the user) |
| Memory card slot | microSD, microSDHC, microSDXC up to 64 GB |
| Camera in Galaxy Note 3 Neo | |
| Main camera | 8 megapixels (3264 x 2448), autofocus, LED flash |
| Characteristics | Voice activation, Backlit sensor, Geotagging, Tap-based autofocus, HDR, Face and smile detection, Panorama mode, Autofocus |
| Video | Full HD (1920x1080), 30 fps |
| Front camera | 2 MP |
| Optical stabilization | Eat |
| Flash | LED |
| Multimedia capabilities | |
| Number of speakers | 1 |
| FM radio | No |
| Connection | |
| SIM type and quantity | 1 Micro-SIM card |
| 2G (GSM/GPRS/EDGE) | 850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz |
| 3G (UMTS/WCDMA/HSPA) | 850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz |
| 4G (LTE) | 800, 850, 900, 1800, 2100, 2600 MHz |
| Navigation | GPS and GLONASS |
| Data transfer | |
| WiFi | 802.11 a, b, g, n, n 5GHz, ac |
| Bluetooth | v4.0, A2DP support |
| NFC | Eat |
| USB | Data storage, USB charging, OTG |
| Miscellaneous | |
| Protection from moisture and dust | No |
| Electromagnetic Absorption Rate (SAR) | For head: 0.25 W/kg; For body 0.27 W/kg |
| Sensors | Accelerometer, Gestures, Gyroscope, Compass, Proximity sensor |
| Other | Additional microphone for noise reduction |
| Performance | |
| Build quality | |
| Autonomy | |
| Screen | |
| Camera | |
| Sound | |
| Current value | |
| Benchmark tests | |
| AnTuTu Benchmark | 26412 |
| VELLAMO METAL | 1009.3 |
| BASEMARK OS II | 552.6 |
| Battery life | |
| Rating | 65 points |
| 3G conversations | 18 o'clock |
| Web surfing | 10 o'clock |
| Watch video | 12 o'clock |
| Sony Xperia Z Ultra |
| HTC One M8 |
| LG G3 |
FAQ - answers to frequently asked questions about the Galaxy Note 3 Neo
What's included in the package?
- Telephone
- Charger with USB cable
- Instructions
Will Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo be updated to Android Lollipop?
Most likely yes. There is no official information yet.
Will I be able to Root this phablet?
Yes, detailed instructions can be found in the corresponding section of our website
Is it comfortable to play games like GTA SA on it?
Of course, there is more than enough performance!
Can it be used as a Wi-Fi hotspot?
Which is better to take: Galaxy Note 3 Neo or Note 2?
Each of these phablets has its own pros and cons. Note 2 is more productive and cheaper, and Note 3 Neo, in turn, is more productive and energy efficient. It is worth writing a separate article on this topic, which we will do soon.
Information about the make, model, and alternative names of the specific device, if available.
Design
Information about the dimensions and weight of the device, presented in different units of measurement. Materials used, colors offered, certificates.
| Width Width information - refers to the horizontal side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 77.4 mm (millimeters) 7.74 cm (centimeters) 0.25 ft (feet) 3.05 in (inches) |
| Height Height information - refers to the vertical side of the device in its standard orientation during use. | 148.4 mm (millimeters) 14.84 cm (centimeters) 0.49 ft (feet) 5.84 in (inches) |
| Thickness Information about the thickness of the device in different units of measurement. | 8.6 mm (millimeters) 0.86 cm (centimeters) 0.03 ft (feet) 0.34 in (inches) |
| Weight Information about the weight of the device in different units of measurement. | 162 g (grams) 0.36 lbs 5.73 oz (ounces) |
| Volume The approximate volume of the device, calculated based on the dimensions provided by the manufacturer. Refers to devices with the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped. | 98.78 cm³ (cubic centimeters) 6 in³ (cubic inches) |
| Colors Information about the colors in which this device is offered for sale. | Black White Red Pink Green |
SIM card
The SIM card is used in mobile devices to store data that certifies the authenticity of mobile service subscribers.
Mobile networks
A mobile network is a radio system that allows multiple mobile devices to communicate with each other.
| GSM GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) is designed to replace the analogue mobile network (1G). For this reason, GSM is often called a 2G mobile network. It is improved by the addition of GPRS (General Packet Radio Services), and later EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution) technologies. | GSM 850 MHz GSM 900 MHz GSM 1800 MHz GSM 1900 MHz |
| UMTS UMTS is an abbreviation for Universal Mobile Telecommunications System. It is based on the GSM standard and belongs to 3G mobile networks. Developed by 3GPP and its biggest advantage is providing greater speed and spectral efficiency thanks to W-CDMA technology. | UMTS 850 MHz UMTS 900 MHz UMTS 1900 MHz UMTS 2100 MHz |
| LTE LTE (Long Term Evolution) is defined as a fourth generation (4G) technology. It is developed by 3GPP based on GSM/EDGE and UMTS/HSPA to increase the capacity and speed of wireless mobile networks. The subsequent technology development is called LTE Advanced. | LTE 800 MHz LTE 850 MHz LTE 900 MHz LTE 1800 MHz LTE 2100 MHz LTE 2600 MHz |
Mobile communication technologies and data transfer speeds
Communication between devices on mobile networks is carried out using technologies that provide different data transfer rates.
Operating system
An operating system is a system software that manages and coordinates the operation of hardware components in a device.
SoC (System on Chip)
A system on a chip (SoC) includes all the most important hardware components of a mobile device on a single chip.
| SoC (System on Chip) A system on a chip (SoC) integrates various hardware components, such as a processor, graphics processor, memory, peripherals, interfaces, etc., as well as the software necessary for their operation. | Samsung Exynos 5 Hexa 5260 |
| Process Information about technological process, on which the chip is made. Nanometers measure half the distance between elements in the processor. | 28 nm (nanometers) |
| Processor (CPU) The primary function of a mobile device's processor (CPU) is to interpret and execute instructions contained in software applications. | 2x 1.7 GHz ARM Cortex-A15, 4x 1.3 GHz ARM Cortex-A7 |
| Processor size The size (in bits) of a processor is determined by the size (in bits) of the registers, address buses, and data buses. 64-bit processors have higher performance compared to 32-bit processors, which in turn are more powerful than 16-bit processors. | 32 bit |
| Instruction Set Architecture Instructions are commands with which the software sets/controls the operation of the processor. Information about the instruction set (ISA) that the processor can execute. | ARMv7 |
| Level 1 cache (L1) Cache memory is used by the processor to reduce access time to more frequently used data and instructions. L1 (level 1) cache is small in size and works much faster than both system memory and other cache levels. If the processor does not find the requested data in L1, it continues to look for it in the L2 cache. On some processors, this search is performed simultaneously in L1 and L2. | 32 kB + 32 kB (kilobytes) |
| Level 2 cache (L2) L2 (level 2) cache is slower than L1 cache, but in return it has a higher capacity, allowing it to cache more data. It, like L1, is much faster than system memory (RAM). If the processor does not find the requested data in L2, it continues to look for it in the L3 cache (if available) or in RAM memory. | 1024 kB (kilobytes) 1 MB (megabytes) |
| Number of processor cores The processor core executes software instructions. There are processors with one, two or more cores. Having more cores increases performance by allowing multiple instructions to be executed in parallel. | 6 |
| CPU clock speed The clock speed of a processor describes its speed in terms of cycles per second. It is measured in megahertz (MHz) or gigahertz (GHz). | 1700 MHz (megahertz) |
| Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) The Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) handles calculations for various 2D/3D graphics applications. In mobile devices, it is most often used by games, consumer interfaces, video applications, etc. | ARM Mali-T624 |
| Amount of random access memory (RAM) Random access memory (RAM) is used by the operating system and all installed applications. Data stored in RAM is lost after the device is turned off or restarted. | 2 GB (gigabytes) |
| Type of random access memory (RAM) Information about the type of random access memory (RAM) used by the device. | LPDDR3 |
| Number of RAM channels Information about the number of RAM channels that are integrated into the SoC. More channels mean higher data rates. | Dual channel |
| RAM frequency The frequency of RAM determines its operating speed, more specifically, the speed of reading/writing data. | 800 MHz (megahertz) |
Built-in memory
Each mobile device has built-in (non-removable) memory with a fixed capacity.
Memory cards
Memory cards are used in mobile devices to increase the storage capacity for storing data.
Screen
The screen of a mobile device is characterized by its technology, resolution, pixel density, diagonal length, color depth, etc.
| Type/technology One of the main characteristics of the screen is the technology by which it is made and on which the quality of the information image directly depends. | Super AMOLED |
| Diagonal For mobile devices, screen size is expressed by the length of its diagonal, measured in inches. | 5.5 in (inches) 139.7 mm (millimeters) 13.97 cm (centimeters) |
| Width Approximate screen width | 2.7 in (inches) 68.49 mm (millimeters) 6.85 cm (centimeters) |
| Height Approximate screen height | 4.79 in (inches) 121.76 mm (millimeters) 12.18 cm (centimeters) |
| Aspect Ratio The ratio of the dimensions of the long side of the screen to its short side | 1.778:1 16:9 |
| Permission Screen resolution shows the number of pixels vertically and horizontally on the screen. Higher resolution means clearer image detail. | 720 x 1280 pixels |
| Pixel Density Information about the number of pixels per centimeter or inch of the screen. Higher density allows information to be displayed on the screen with clearer detail. | 267 ppi (pixels per inch) 104 ppcm (pixels per centimeter) |
| Color depth Screen color depth reflects the total number of bits used for color components in one pixel. Information about the maximum number of colors that the screen can display. | 24 bit 16777216 flowers |
| Screen area Approximate percentage of screen area occupied by the screen on the front of the device. | 72.84% (percent) |
| Other characteristics Information about other screen features and characteristics. | Capacitive Multi-touch |
Sensors
Different sensors perform different quantitative measurements and convert physical indicators into signals that a mobile device can recognize.
Main camera
The main camera of a mobile device is usually located on the back of the body and is used for taking photos and videos.
| Sensor type | CMOS BSI (backside illumination) |
| Flash type The most common types of flashes in mobile device cameras are LED and xenon flashes. LED flashes produce softer light and, unlike brighter xenon flashes, are also used for video shooting. | LED |
| Image Resolution One of the main characteristics of mobile device cameras is their resolution, which shows the number of horizontal and vertical pixels in the image. | 3264 x 2448 pixels 7.99 MP (megapixels) |
| Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with the device. | 1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels) |
Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the device when shooting video at the maximum resolution. Some of the main standard video shooting and playback speeds are 24p, 25p, 30p, 60p. | 30fps (frames per second) |
| Characteristics Information about other software and hardware features related to the main camera and improving its functionality. | Autofocus Digital image stabilization Geographical tags Panoramic photography HDR shooting Touch Focus Face recognition |
Additional camera
Additional cameras are usually mounted above the device screen and are used mainly for video conversations, gesture recognition, etc.
| Sensor type Digital cameras use photo sensors to take photographs. The sensor, as well as optics, are one of the main factors in the quality of the camera in a mobile device. | CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) |
| Image Resolution Information about the maximum resolution of the additional camera when shooting. In most cases, the resolution of the secondary camera is lower than that of the main camera. | 1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels) |
| Video resolution Information about the maximum supported resolution when shooting video with an additional camera. | 1920 x 1080 pixels 2.07 MP (megapixels) |
| Video - frame rate/frames per second. Information about the maximum number of frames per second (fps) supported by the secondary camera when shooting video at the maximum resolution. | 30fps (frames per second) |
Audio
Information about the type of speakers and audio technologies supported by the device.
Radio
The radio of the mobile device is a built-in FM receiver.
Location determination
Information about the navigation and location technologies supported by your device.
WiFi
Wi-Fi is a technology that provides wireless communication for transmitting data over close distances between various devices.
Bluetooth
Bluetooth is a standard for secure wireless data transfer between various devices of different types over short distances.
| Version There are several versions of Bluetooth, with each subsequent one improving communication speed, coverage, and making devices easier to discover and connect. Information about the Bluetooth version of the device. | 4.0 |
| Characteristics Bluetooth uses different profiles and protocols that provide faster data transfer, energy savings, improved device discovery, etc. Some of these profiles and protocols that the device supports are shown here. | A2DP (Advanced Audio Distribution Profile) AVRCP (Audio/Visual Remote Control Profile) DIP (Device ID Profile) HFP (Hands-Free Profile) HID (Human Interface Profile) HSP (Headset Profile) LE (Low Energy) MAP (Message Access Profile) OPP (Object Push Profile) PAN (Personal Area Networking Profile) PBAP/PAB (Phone Book Access Profile) SAP/SIM/rSAP (SIM Access Profile) |
USB
USB (Universal Serial Bus) is an industry standard that allows different electronic devices to exchange data.
HDMI
HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) is a digital audio/video interface that replaces older analog audio/video standards.
Headphone jack
This is an audio connector, also called an audio jack. The most widely used standard in mobile devices is the 3.5mm headphone jack.
Connecting devices
Information about other important connection technologies supported by your device.
Browser
A web browser is a software application for accessing and viewing information on the Internet.
| Browser Information about some of the main characteristics and standards supported by the device's browser. | HTML HTML5 CSS 3 |
Audio file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support different audio file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital audio data.
Video file formats/codecs
Mobile devices support different video file formats and codecs, which respectively store and encode/decode digital video data.
Battery
Mobile device batteries differ from each other in their capacity and technology. They provide the electrical charge necessary for their functioning.
| Capacity A battery's capacity indicates the maximum charge it can hold, measured in milliamp-hours. | 3100 mAh (milliamp-hours) |
| Type The type of battery is determined by its structure and, more precisely, the chemicals used. There are different types of batteries, with lithium-ion and lithium-ion polymer batteries being the most commonly used batteries in mobile devices. | Li-Ion (Lithium-ion) |
| 2G talk time 2G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 2G network. | 18 h (hours) 1080 min (minutes) 0.8 days |
| 2G latency 2G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 2G network. | 540 h (hours) 32400 min (minutes) 22.5 days |
| 3G talk time 3G talk time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged during a continuous conversation on a 3G network. | 18 h (hours) 1080 min (minutes) 0.8 days |
| 3G latency 3G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 3G network. | 540 h (hours) 32400 min (minutes) 22.5 days |
| 4G latency 4G standby time is the period of time during which the battery charge is completely discharged when the device is in stand-by mode and connected to a 4G network. | 490 h (hours) 29400 min (minutes) 20.4 days |
| Characteristics Information about some additional characteristics of the device's battery. | Removable |
Specific Absorption Rate (SAR)
The SAR level refers to the amount of electromagnetic radiation absorbed by the human body while using a mobile device.
| Head SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates maximum quantity electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when held mobile device next to the ear in a conversation position. In Europe, the maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices is limited to 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by the CENELEC Committee in accordance with IEC standards, subject to the ICNIRP guidelines of 1998. | 0.536 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
| Body SAR level (EU) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The maximum permissible SAR value for mobile devices in Europe is 2 W/kg per 10 grams of human tissue. This standard has been established by the CENELEC Committee in compliance with the ICNIRP 1998 guidelines and IEC standards. | 0.803 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
| Head SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation that the human body is exposed to when holding a mobile device near the ear. The maximum value used in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. Mobile devices in the US are regulated by the CTIA, and the FCC conducts tests and sets their SAR values. | 0.82 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
| Body SAR level (US) The SAR level indicates the maximum amount of electromagnetic radiation to which the human body is exposed when holding a mobile device at hip level. The highest permissible SAR value in the USA is 1.6 W/kg per 1 gram of human tissue. This value is set by the FCC, and the CTIA monitors mobile devices' compliance with this standard. | 1.1 W/kg (Watt per kilogram) |
Scope of delivery:
- Telephone
- Charger with USB cable
- Instructions
- Battery Li-Ion 3100 mAh
Positioning
At Samsung, all products with the Neo prefix indicate cheaper versions, in which functionality was somehow reduced, but at the same time they were able to reduce the cost for the buyer. It is obvious that the Note 3 Neo model is based on the company’s original flagship – Note 3. At first glance, all software functionality remains the same – the pen can perform exactly the same actions, even the sizes of the devices are very similar.
In theory, Neo looks correct and good - the reduction in price is due to less memory, a different screen, and a camera with a lower resolution. But with comparable operating time, as well as new color solutions. If the Note 3 Neo had been released simultaneously with the main model in October 2013, it would have had noticeable sales, but today the cost of the Note 3 is quite low, in particular, you can still find a model from MegaFon, which costs 21,990 rubles (plus 3,000 to the operator’s account), in the end this gives 24,990 rubles. They ask for exactly the same amount for Neo - and there is no point in buying it at the same price as the original. But this story is typical for Russia; in other markets the price gap is quite noticeable, and someone may like Neo based on this parameter.
Apart from the Note 3, this model can be considered as a typical representative of the phablet category; here the Note 3 Neo has undoubted advantages over its competitors - operating time, the presence of a stylus and all the features associated with it, which stem from the Wacom digitizer built into the display. Competitors don't have anything even close to this. But the fact is that this device will still compete with its older brother – Note 3. And it loses this competition completely. However, let's look into this in a detailed review. In it I will sometimes compare this device with the original Note 3, since this comparison is of some interest.
Design, dimensions, control elements
Most of Samsung's current models are indistinguishable from each other; their front panels differ only in size, but not in design elements. In your hands, you can easily confuse the Note 3 Neo with the original Note 3; they are indistinguishable. In a direct comparison, you will notice that the Neo is smaller - 148.4x77.4x8.6 mm versus 151.2x79.2x8.3 mm. The difference is not fundamental; the device fits well in the hand, which is not what you expect from such a large phone. The weight of the device is 162 grams.
And this is what the Note 3 Neo looks like compared to the larger Galaxy S5, but this difference is not so critical.
Especially to make Neo different from its brother, they made a new color scheme– green. But the device is available in both white and black colors.
The layout of the device is traditional: there is a mechanical key on the front panel, and two touch ones around it. Above the screen you can see the front camera, as well as a proximity and light sensor. On the left side there is a paired volume key, on the right there is an on/off button. At the top end there is a 3.5 jack for headphones or a headset, and there are also microphones at two ends. The main camera is located on the back surface, next to it is an LED flash. Finally, at the bottom end there is a standard microUSB connector, and you can also see a socket for the S-Pen stylus.
The build quality of the device is excellent, there are no backlashes, the parts fit tightly together. Opening the back cover, you will see a microSD connector and a slot for a microSIM card.
Display
The screen has a diagonal of 5.5 inches (5.7 inches in Note 3), is made using Super AMOLED technology, the resolution compared to its predecessor has decreased to 1280x720 from 1920x1080 pixels (16 million colors). The screen is capacitive and supports up to 10 simultaneous clicks. The screen quality is good, but there is a clear disadvantage of the older model. By the standards of the phablet market, the Neo has an excellent screen; competitors' displays are usually worse. But it doesn’t stand up to comparison with Note 3 – color rendition is worse, brightness doesn’t have the same margin, and so on. If you don't compare the screens directly, you won't notice this. But when compared side by side, it catches your eye.
The settings retain all the signature features characteristic of the flagships of the line, in particular, adjusting the color saturation; you can make them calm, or you can choose bright colors. What’s unusual is that video optimization during playback does not always work correctly here: sometimes the black color in videos is displayed as crumbling squares, this is clearly an error in the engine that analyzes the image. I have never seen anything like this on any Samsung device, and this flaw appears quite often.
The screen remains readable in the sun, and there are no complaints about it. Overall, this is a good solution, but it is significantly inferior to the Note 3, and this is noticeable.
Battery
The phone uses a 3100 mAh lithium-ion battery (3200 mAh in Galaxy Note 3). According to the manufacturer, the battery can provide up to 18 hours of talk time and up to 540 hours of standby time (3G mode). Under Moscow network conditions, the device operates on average about two full days under very high load (the difference with the third Note is not very noticeable). The time to fully charge the battery is about 3 hours.
Video playback time is about 13.5 hours. You can listen to music with the screen off for up to 64 hours. Work with Wi-Fi for up to 12 hours, data transfer on a 3G network for up to 10 hours. In general, there are almost no differences in operating time from the Note 3, as well as the gains that could be expected from a less powerful processor.
USB, Bluetooth, communication capabilities
Bluetooth. Bluetooth version 4.0 (LE). When transferring files to other devices that support this technology, Wi-Fi 802.11 n is used, and the theoretical transfer speed is about 24 Mbit/s. Checking the transfer of 1 GB file showed maximum speed about 12 Mbit/s within three meters between devices.
The model supports various profiles, in particular Headset, Handsfree, Serial Port, Dial Up Networking, File Transfer, Object Push, Basic Printing, SIM Access, A2DP. Working with headsets does not raise any questions, everything is ordinary.
USB connection. In Android 4, for some reason, they abandoned the USB Mass Storage mode, leaving only MTP (there is also a PTP mode).
USB version – 2, data transfer speed – about 17 Mb/s (in Note 3, USB version is 3.0). When connected via USB, the device is recharged.
The microUSB connector does not support the MHL standard, which is also a simplification compared to the Note 3.
WiFi. The 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac standard is supported, the operation wizard is similar to that for Bluetooth. You can remember selected networks and automatically connect to them. It is possible to set up a connection to the router in one touch; to do this, you need to press a key on the router, and also activate a similar button in the device menu (WPA SecureEasySetup). From additional options It is worth noting the setup wizard, it appears when the signal is weak or disappearing. You can also set up Wi-Fi on a schedule.
802.11n also supports HT40 mode, which doubles Wi-Fi throughput (requires support from another device).
Wi-Fi Direct. A protocol that is intended to replace Bluetooth or begin to compete with its third version (which also uses Wi-Fi version n to transfer large files). In the Wi-Fi settings menu, select the Wi-Fi Direct section, the phone begins to search for devices around. We select the desired device, activate the connection on it, and voila. Now in file manager You can view files on another device and also transfer them. Another option is to simply find the devices connected to your router and transfer to them necessary files, this can be done from the gallery or other sections of the phone. The main thing is that the device supports Wi-Fi Direct.
NFC. The device has NFC technology, it can be used with various additional applications.
S Beam. A technology that allows you to transfer a file of several gigabytes in size to another phone in a few minutes. In fact, we see in S Beam a combination of two technologies - NFC and Wi-Fi Direct. The first technology is used to bring up and authorize phones, but the second is already used to transfer the files themselves. The creatively redesigned way to use Wi-Fi Direct is much simpler than using a connection on two devices, selecting files and so on.
IR port. Necessary for using the phone as a remote control for various household appliances. Automatically configures for almost any model of equipment.
Memory, memory cards
The phone has 16 GB of internal memory, initially about 10 GB is available to the user. Memory cards up to 64 GB are also supported.
The amount of RAM is 2 GB, after downloading about 1 GB is free. The Note 3 has 3 GB of RAM, which is noticeable - applications launch noticeably faster there, and the overall performance of the system also differs; the Note 3 wins here.
The model turned out to be fast, but by no means a record holder. Again, if you don’t compare it with the Note 3, then everything will be fine - but as soon as you pick up the two devices, the difference immediately catches your eye.
Model hardware options, performance
The processor race on the market does not subside for a minute; Qualcomm refuses to release solutions with more than 4 cores, and most manufacturers presented their 8-core solutions last year. Samsung also decided to use more cost-effective 6-core Exynos processors for replacement models and announced the first processor in February, it became the heart of the Galaxy Note 3 Neo, which comes in two variants - N750 and N7505. The N7505 model has LTE support, which is implemented using an LTE modem from Intel – XMM 7160. Thus, Samsung is reducing the cost of producing LTE models, abandoning Qualcomm solutions that go into top-end devices.
A unique situation has developed in the market in which Qualcomm is the leader in the production of LTE solutions, as well as simply chipsets, but its share is being eroded by companies such as MediaTek (their solutions are already used by A-brands, and their number will increase), other manufacturers are advancing in budget segment, where the company has nothing to answer. NVIDIA is bit by bit, as well as Samsung, which is slowly but surely improving its processors.
For me, the Exynos 5260 chipset was interesting because it can be compared with the 8-core counterpart used in the Note 3, since they have comparable batteries (3200 mAh in the original Note, 3100 mAh in the Neo). The screens are comparable diagonally, but Neo has a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. On the other hand, the screen should not greatly affect power consumption; first of all, it could be the chipset.
The official specifications provide these parameters for the operation of phones in various modes.
| Note 3 Neo N750 | Note 3 N900 | |
| 3G internet | Up to 10 hours | Until 11 o'clock |
| Wi-Fi internet | Up to 12 hours | Until 13 o'clock |
| Video | Until 13 o'clock | Up to 12 hours |
| Audio | Up to 64 hours | Up to 68 hours |
| Waiting time, 3G | Up to 540 hours | Up to 490 hours |
| Talk time, 3G | Until 18 o'clock | Up to 20 hours |
Note that despite the 100mAh difference in battery capacity, the Exynos 5260 runs less in most modes than the 8-core Exynos 5420. The technology used to make the processors is 28 nm, that is, there is no difference here. The only difference we can discern is the standby time - a difference of 40 hours in favor of the Neo.
It turns out that a 6-core processor made using ARM BIG.little technology does not at all provide an increase in operating time, as we would like to believe and what is said in this technology. In theory, the gain should come from the fact that 4 A7 cores at 1.3 GHz do not consume as much energy as more productive A15 cores at up to 1.7 GHz, the number of which was reduced to 2 in this chipset. The Exynos 5420, which is found in the N900 Note 3, has 4 A15 cores, each of which is capable of operating at a frequency of 1.8 GHz. And this is where bewilderment arises: what in theory seemed like a gain turns out to be comparable, or even worse, operating time. Why?
The answer lies not in the number of processors, but in how they work. Most modern chipsets support variable clock speeds, and as a result, they do not operate at maximum frequencies most of the time. High-performance cores are used in 3D games and when watching videos, but not when accessing regular phone functions. That is, in fact, we see that the same music playback is approximately the same, other modes are also the same. The same main 4 cores are used, and the difference of 2 cores has almost no effect on performance.
It turns out that a solution that is more economical in theory turns out to be just cheaper to produce for the company, but this has almost no effect on the cost of the final product (in our case, Note 3 Neo).
In synthetic tests, the Note 3 Neo looks quite ordinary and is much inferior to the original device.
Camera
Regular 8 megapixel camera with autofocus. It is typical for the previous generation of devices; it is by no means bad, but it does not cause delight. Let me remind you that the Note 3 has a 13-megapixel camera, which has a number of serious improvements - it is capable of producing better quality photographs. However, you can evaluate the quality of shooting and video yourself (FullHD, 30 frames per second).
Note 3 software features
In this aspect, the model is completely identical to the Note 3, so I won’t refer you to the review, but will simply share the information below.
Impressions
The call quality is not satisfactory; it is typical for Samsung products - a good, loud speaker during a call, an excellent call and an average vibration alert.
The cost of the device is 24,990 rubles (LTE version), a regular device costs a little less. Considering that for this or comparable money you can buy the original Note 3 (not in the LTE version, that is, also on Exynos), then there is no problem of choice - it’s worth choosing the Note 3. It has a number of undeniable advantages - a 13-megapixel camera, the presence of 32 GB of internal memory, 3 GB of RAM, large diagonal and screen resolution, and the quality itself. Approximately the same case size. Let me remind you that Note 3 can, and quite rightly, be considered the best phablet on the market; it is an uncompromising solution. At the same time, the Galaxy Note 3 Neo is not of interest; it is clearly a niche product that no one is betting on and does not particularly attract attention to it. It will have fairly modest sales. It's also worth mentioning that, unlike the Note 3, the Neo doesn't have as many free subscriptions and programs that you might like. The device does not have any bonuses out of the box. As a short verdict, I would not consider this model for purchase in Russia, because the Note 3 is superior in everything at almost the same cost (and the version from MegaFon is at a lower price).
It is a continuation of the same idea that is inherent in smartphones with the prefix “mini” in the name - a simplified version of a popular model at a more attractive price. The Neo went under the knife with the same characteristics that were usually simplified in “mini” flagships: display diagonal and resolution, camera, memory, processor. The new product costs about 200 dollars less than the flagship (about 2.5 thousand UAH). We will look at how attractive the device is for the money and how much of the famous flagship remains in it in this review.
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo is a continuation of the same idea that is inherent in smartphones with the prefix “mini” in the name - a simplified version of the popular model at a more attractive price. The Neo went under the knife with the same characteristics that were usually simplified in “mini” flagships: display diagonal and resolution, camera, memory, processor. The new product costs about 200 dollars less than the flagship (about 2.5 thousand UAH). We will look at how attractive the device is for the money and how much of the famous flagship remains in it in this review.
Specifications
KamAZ with gingerbread turned over and on the street were fans of the “feather” line, who lacked support for two SIM cards in the device. Neo has it. The model on the global market will be available with two processor options: a six-core Exynos for the version with LTE (they will not be imported to us) and with the fairly common Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8228 (1.6 GHz, four Cortex-A7 cores, Adreno 305 graphics) for version that will only work on 3G networks. The simplification of performance against the backdrop of half the screen resolution goes almost unnoticed. For an HD display, such a chipset and 2 GB of RAM, which the device is equipped with, are quite enough to work fast enough and withstand the abuse of games with “heavy” graphics. The results in the benchmarks, of course, are not amazing, but a live, perfectly working model clearly demonstrates that “parrots” in devices above the average level should no longer become a subject of comparison and speculation. As a more affordable camera, the smartphone received an 8-megapixel module without the DualShot function, but with typical preset modes, FullHD video recording, flash and autofocus. The battery capacity was slightly reduced - by a purely symbolic 100 mAh, which is justified by the smaller display diagonal compared to the Galaxy Note 3. And the display itself, by the way, is painfully reminiscent of the Galaxy Note II – Suler AMOLED, 5.5”, in terms of characteristics. resolution 720x1280 pixels, support for working with gloves. The OS version is the same as in Note 3. The model has exactly the same interface capabilities: Air Command, pre-installed SketchBook Pro, S Health and a number of other pleasant little things. If we put aside the ambition to have the most sophisticated smartphone in favor of the desire to have a working tool at hand with not too much, but a sufficient number of capabilities, then you get exactly what the Galaxy Note 3 Neo has.
| Specifications Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo | |
|---|---|
| operating system | Android 4.3 |
| Display | Super AMOLED, 5.5"", 720x1280 pixels, 16 million colors, pixel density 267 ppi |
| Frame | dimensions 148x77x9 mm, weight 163 grams |
| SIM | two, micro |
| CPU | quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 MSM8228, ARM Cortex-A7, 1.6 GHz, Adreno 305 graphics |
| RAM | 2 GB |
| Flash memory | 16 GB + microSDXC card slot (up to 64 GB) |
| Camera | 8 MP, autofocus, 1080p video recording, LED backlight; front camera for video calls (2 MP) |
| Wireless technologies | Wi-Fi a/ac/b/g/n (2.4/5 GHz), Bluetooth 4.0 |
| GPS | Yes |
| Additionally | S Pen |
| Battery | 3100 mAh |
Frame
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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo looks exactly the same as its flagship predecessor. Well, except that the new overall microUSB 3.0 connector is not used here and the volume control key is located a little higher than we would like, and a little higher than it is in the Galaxy Note 3. However, perhaps it seems so only because the Galaxy Note 3 Neo is shorter than the flagship Note. While the smartphone was in my hands, I noticed that I had already easily learned to operate the 5.5-inch model with one hand. Even the high location of the volume button is not a problem.
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The case cover is still the same “leather”, and the plastic ends pretend to be metal.
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In the area under the screen, the plastic has also acquired a “metallic” texture - it is very similar to polished metal. The navigation unit, the arrangement of sensors, diode and camera are also completely identical to those in the Galaxy Note 3. Pay attention to the modest thickness of the frames around the display; this is a very valuable property for a 5.5-inch smartphone. The thickness of the case, by the way, is only 0.3 mm greater than that of the older model.
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The smartphone uses micro SIM card slots. To install SIM1 you need to remove the battery; the second card and microSD do not require this.
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The pictures below show Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo and LG G Pro Lite Dual (both have a 5.5-inch display diagonal) and Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 (5.5-inch diagonal). The Galaxy Note 3 Neo is thinner, shorter, but slightly wider than the G Pro Lite Dual. It feels a little better in the hand due to the fact that it has a less slippery body, and both the texture of the body and the material allow the model to remain salable longer appearance. However, both models cannot even be called competitors: the gap in performance, quality of display, camera and, most importantly, stylus capabilities and price place them in completely different market segments.
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In general, since the size of the case has decreased slightly, and the brilliantly polished arrangement of buttons and connectors familiar to an Android smartphone has not changed, we can say that compared to the older model, the Galaxy Note 3 Neo has improved ergonomics. Well, purely symbolically improved, because the Galaxy Note 3 is very good for its segment.
Screen
Samsung Galaxy Note 3, although it has a simpler screen than the older model, still cannot be criticized and is pleasant to use. The brightness of our sample was not amazing, but its behavior in the sun was definitely pleasing. Of course, it’s not very pleasant to play Temple Run on the street on a clear day, but you can read, write messages, look for the necessary contacts and other information without hiding in the saving shadow. HTC's flagship smartphones have the brightest displays today.
| Device name | White field brightness, cd/m2 | The brightness of the black field, cd/m2 | Contrast |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo | 335.05 | 0 | ∞ |
| Samsung Galaxy Grand 2 | 349.15 | 0.73 | 478:1 |
| Samsung Galaxy Note 3 | 323.81 | 0 | ∞ |
| Samsung Galaxy S5 | 370.3 | 0 | ∞ |
| HTC One M8 | 459.44 | 0.22 | 2088:1 |
| HTC One Max | 416.37 | 0.33 | 1262:1 |
| LG G2 | 336.41 | 0.4 | 840:1 |
| LG G Pro Lite | 328.28 | 0.52 | 631:1 |
| LG Optimus G Pro | 306.79 | 0.51 | 602:1 |
Screen calibration is quite typical for mid-range smartphones: the color temperature is colder than the reference 6500K by as much as 2000K, the number blue exceeds the standard. But, as is typical for Super AMOLED displays that Samsung uses in older models, the color gamut approaches the Adobe RGB space. By the way, the item with color modes has disappeared from the settings menu. Either they simplified it for a simplified model, or it turned out that users were not interested in it.
Autonomy
My standard scenario for using a smartphone is three to four hours of listening to music during training and on the road, a small number of calls, about an hour of gaming on average, although this value can range from 0 to 2 hours, reading the news in the morning and before bed, perhaps watching an episode of a TV series somewhere in between, WhatsApp, Skype, Hangouts, mail from time to time, two accounts (although a computer is still preferable for mail). In this mode, the smartphone lasts for about a day and a half, although two days, if you discard the games and camera test, and slightly reduce the chatter on Skype, is not a problem for it. Below is the result of the AnTuTu autonomy test (anything more than 500 points is already a decent result, under 700 points is an excellent indicator for a modern smartphone).
Performance, interface
In all kinds of benchmarks, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo is not a star, but a confident average. However, it is capable of beautiful graphics (this is evidenced by the result in Epic Citadel and the rendering of beauties in Temple Run 2 at maximum settings without a hitch, and the playback of video files weighing several GB), and a smooth interface (let me remind you, TouchWiz is also known as glutton), and working with a bunch of pre-installed and pre-installed applications (pay attention to the number of applications in the interface screenshots). I tried to load the device as much as possible, and to the Galaxy Note 3 Neo's credit, the smartphone handled everything perfectly.
The smartphone interface is completely identical to that of the Galaxy Note 3. You can read and watch in detail about the capabilities of the S Pen stylus and the Note 3 interface in general in this video. Let me briefly remind you that important feature new version interface for the Note family of smartphones and tablets, it has become more convenient to work with information thanks to the Air Command functions: active note, quick access to search, “scrapbook”, “screenshot” (allows you to quickly move on to processing a screenshot) and “cut fragment” ( allows you to quickly launch useful applications). S Health in this smartphone is different from that in both the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S5. I liked this app more in its latest incarnation, but that's not a problem at all. Some functions in the Note 3 Neo did come under the knife: KNOX, designed to protect correspondence, contacts, images and other sensitive user data, and display color settings, which is not a problem at all.
Camera
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo is equipped with an 8-megapixel camera with flash, autofocus, and FullHD video recording. The quality is quite typical for Samsung smartphone cameras with this resolution, but not in flagship models. Better than the market average, but it seemed to me that the camera was inferior to the Galaxy Grand 2, although perhaps the Grand 2 was more fortunate with the weather. Landscapes on the Note 3 Neo turn out to be slightly blurred when shooting on a clear day, but in the second half of the day. In low light, the camera has trouble focusing on close objects, but still produces good results. But the pictures turn out juicy, well detailed (if you’re lucky with the lighting and distance), and the smartphone doesn’t distort the colors. It is worth noting that the shooting process is very fast, and the camera menu is notable for its simple and rich settings. There are several modes in quick access, the camera recognizes voice control, allows you to view filter effects before shooting, and allows you to take photos while recording video. Examples of photographs taken with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo can be seen below or in a separate gallery on Torba in original resolution.
Competitors and line neighbors
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo in the manufacturer's line fits exactly between the flagship Note 3 of 2013 and the once flagship Note II of 2012. It is cheaper than the first by about 200 dollars (2400 UAH) and more expensive than the second - by 100 dollars (1200 UAH). At the same time, between the two Note generations there is almost an abyss of possibilities, so if you are committed to this line of devices, I would recommend saving up some money for the Note 2 Neo (or wait until it gets cheaper), because the difference in the current exchange rate exceeds 1000 UAH. In the Galaxy Note 3 Neo, the S Pen stylus has a lot of useful features, the appearance and plastic of the body are significantly superior to its predecessor, and the performance is more relevant. It is also important that this is the only Note with dual SIM support. If you were expecting to see such a solution in the top model, and now you are worried about whether the Neo is cool enough, then give it up. The most noticeable thing for the user will be the slightly lower quality camera, and even then it copes decently with shooting at night and in poor lighting, and this is already excellent. In fact, the Galaxy Note 3 Neo is very good, although on paper it doesn't look nearly as interesting as its older counterpart. Among smartphones with a stylus from other manufacturers, the Galaxy Note 3 Neo has no direct competitors.
If you are looking for a smartphone with a diagonal of more than 5 inches with decent performance and support for two SIM cards, and consider the S Pen capabilities unnecessary, then you can consider the Galaxy Grand 2 model as a candidate for purchase. In the segment of large-diagonal mid-range smartphones, it has proven behaves better than everyone else, and costs almost 2 times less.
Bottom line
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo is quite good decision for those users who are not ready to spend just over $700 on the excellent Galaxy Note 3 smartphone, the main attraction of which is the S Pen, or those who have been waiting for this miracle in pens with support for dual SIM cards. Strengths The model is characterized by fairly high performance, the presence of two SIM card slots, a successful design of the back cover and, of course, the Air Command functions. A simplified camera, reduced display resolution and a weaker processor are actually not bad at all, they are not flagship, yes, but an adequate user will be quite satisfied with their quality. As a result, I would again say that the main reason not to buy the Galaxy Note 3 Neo is the price, which is certainly good at the global level, but in our country, due to the collapse of the national currency, it has begun to bite again.
3 reasons to buy Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo:
- Galaxy Note 3 features at a more attractive price;
- sufficient performance for active use of the smartphone, excellent battery life;
- support for two SIM cards;
1 reason not to buy Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo:
- because of the exchange rate, the price bites again;