The Samsung Galaxy Note II (or Galaxy Note 2) was an Android Phablet that was created by Samsung and released in October 2012.[2] The Note II was the successor to the original Galaxy Note and was later succeeded by the Note 3.
History[]
The Galaxy Note II was unveiled at IFA Berlin on August 29, 2012, and released in multiple markets at the beginning of October 2012. Samsung sold more than 3 million units within the first 37 days, and it crossed 5 million in two months of its release.
Software versions[]
In December 2012, Samsung began rolling out an update to Android 4.1.2 “Jelly Bean” for the device. In April 2014, Samsung began rolling out an update to Android 4.4.2 “KitKat” for the device. Samsung Nordic has stated several times, including on their official page, that both the 3G and 4G versions of the phone will get the Lollipop update.
Features[]
Split-screen[]
The Galaxy Note 2 is able to show two applications at the same time with flexible width on the screen with its split-screen feature. However, support of this feature varies per app.
Specifications[]
General[]
The Galaxy Note II features a 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED S-Stripe RGB (3 subpixels/pixel) (non-PenTile) screen with 1280 × 720 resolution, a 1.6 GHz quad-core Cortex-A9 CPU, 2 GB RAM, an 8 MP rear camera and 1.9 MP front camera, and a 3,100 mAh battery. It is slightly thinner than its predecessor at 9.4 mm (0.37 inches), albeit also being slightly heavier by 2 grams (0.071 oz). Depending on the specific model, the phone features HSPA+ 21 Mbit/s along with 4G LTE (42.2 Mbit/s DC-HSPA+ for LTE Version). The Galaxy Note II is equipped with Broadcom BCM4334 chipset for the IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity in 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz dual-band with maximum rate up to 150 Mbit/s, FM radio tuner and Bluetooth 4.0 + HS support.
Storage[]
The Galaxy Note II was supposed to be available in 16 GB, 32 GB and 64 GB storage capacity variants, each expandable by up to an additional 64 GB with a microSD card. However, as of 8 January 2013, only the 16 GB and 32 GB versions are available and there has been no release date for or any indication of a 64 GB version of the Note II to be offered.
S Pen[]
The smartphone's pressure-sensitive S Pen is slightly thicker than in the original Galaxy Note, and a feature marketed as Air View allows a user to preview content by hovering the pen over the content, similar to the hoverbox feature of a mouse in some desktop computers, such as thumbnails in the gallery and a preview tooltip on the video player's time seek bar, and zooming in the Internet browser (Samsung S Browser) and for scrolling. Another feature marketed as Quick Command reveals a list of available commands at the swipe of the S Pen.
The S Pen's 1,024 levels of pen-pressure sensitivity give it significantly more accuracy and precision than the original Note's 256.
Camera[]
Both front and rear camera use the same hardware as used in the Galaxy S3, with eight megapixels (3264×2448) rear facing camera and 1.9 Megapixels on the front facing camera.
The video resolution of the rear camera is 1080p at 30 frames per second, while the front camera films 720p at 30 frames per second.
The Galaxy Note 2 is able to capture 6 megapixel (3264×1836) images during 1080p@30fps video recording, which is the highest 16:9 aspect ratio resolution supported by the 4:3 image sensor, matching the aspect ratio of the video.
While the camera interface resembles that of the Galaxy S3, slow motion mode (720×480 at 120 frames per second) has been added. The slow motion videos lack audio.
The burst shot mode is able to capture up to twenty full-resolution photos per row at around six frames per second.
Variants[]
The Galaxy Note II is available in Titanium Grey, Marble White, Martian Pink, Amber Brown and Ruby Wine case colors. Some features were removed, which vary as customized by carrier, include FM/TV tuner, charging pins, and Multiple-SIM card support. To prevent grey market reselling, models of the Galaxy Note II, and other models (Galaxy S4, Galaxy S4 mini, Galaxy Note III and Galaxy S III) manufactured after July 2013 implement a regional lockout system in certain regions; requiring that the first SIM card used on a European and North American model be from a carrier in that region. Samsung stated that the lock would be removed once a valid SIM card is used.
Communication processor[]
The baseband chipset of GT-N7100 is Intel Wireless PMB9811X Gold Baseband processor. The baseband chipset of SGH-T889, SHV-E250K, and SHV-E250S is Qualcomm Gobi MDM9215. SHV-E250L has Qualcomm Gobi MDM9615M for the EVDO revision B connectivity.
Network connectivity[]
Most of the variants support GSM/GPRS/EDGE in the 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1.8 GHz, and 1.9 GHz bands; and UMTS/HSPA+21 in 850 MHz, 900 MHz, 1.9 GHz, and 2.1 GHz.
AWS phones[]
SGH-T889 and SGH-T889V are devices that support AWS-1 for HSPA networks capable of transferring data over Advanced Wireless Services band in HSPA mode on carriers such as T-Mobile US, and in Canada, Wind Mobile, Mobilicity, and Vidéotron.
CDMA/EV-DO phones[]
SCH-R950, SHV-E250L, SCH-i605, SPH-L900, and SCH-N719 are to connect to cdmaOne, CDMA 1xRTT, and EV-DO rev 0/A/B. All models are additionally GSM capable, with the exception of the SCH-R950. SPH-L900 can only use WCDMA/GSM services while roaming internationally due to it having an embedded SIM.
TD-SCDMA phone[]
GT-N7108 is to support TD-SCDMA networks in the 1.9 GHz and 2.0 GHz bands, and connect to the GSM/GPRS/EDGE 1.9 GHz band.
Dual-cell HSPA phone[]
SGH-T889 is known to support dual-cell HSPA+ up to 42.2 Mbit/s.
LTE phones[]
- GT-N7105 is an LTE phone of the Philippine version, that can connect to LTE band 3, 7, 8, and 20 and has 42.2 Mbit/s DC-HSPA+.
- SCH-i605 can connect to the LTE band 13, Verizon Wireless operates.
- SCH-R950, SGH-i317[M], SGH-T889[V], SPH-L900, SC-02E (SGH-N025), and SHV-E250[K, L, S] can connect to the LTE bands of each locked carrier as well as the LTE bands of the other network operators as a roaming service.
- GT-N7108D is a version similar to GT-N7108, but with LTE-TDD support. Also, the Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC was used in this version.
FM radio, digital TV tuner[]
Only some Galaxy Note II variants have a built-in FM radio tuner. For example, some US and Canadian variants (SGH-i317, SGH-i317M) and the LTE International version (N7105) lack the FM radio tuner support. SC-02E for Japan market has 1seg digital-TV tuner and antenna. Korean variants have the T-DMB tuner as well as the T-DMB antenna that can be concealed in the phone body.
Dimension and weight[]
Korean variants with the T-DMB tuner and the T-DMB antenna are 3 g (0.11 oz) heavier than other variants. SC-02E for NTT DoCoMo with 1seg TV tuner is 5 g (0.18 oz) heavier and 0.3 mm (0.012 in) thicker.
Wireless charging[]
Depending on the model, some Galaxy Note II (GT-N7100) units have the two optional charging pins on the back side of the device, just right of the battery holder, that can be used for wireless charging with the dedicated wireless charging back cover variant. Galaxy Note II displays the notification message built in the firmware when it is charged wirelessly. SCH-L900 does not have the pins. SGH-T889 has the pins, but they are disabled.
Table of variants[]
| Model | Carriers | 2G/3G connectivity | 4G LTE connectivity | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International | ||||||
| GT-N7100 | International | GSM: quad-band
UMTS: 850, 900, 1900, 2100 |
No | Optional inductive charging pins | ||
| GT-N7105 | International | 800(band 20)
900(band 8) 1800(band 3) 2600(band 7) |
Inductive charging pins
No FM radio 42.2 Mbit/s DC-HSPA+ | |||
| North American carriers | ||||||
| SCH-i605 | Verizon | GSM: quad-band;
CDMA/EVDO: 850, 1900 UMTS: quad-band |
700(band 13) | No inductive charging pins
Home Button Verizon Branding | ||
| SCH-R950 | US Cellular | CDMA/EVDO: 850, 1700, 1900 | 700(band 12)850
AWS 1900(band 2) |
|||
| SGH-i317 | AT&T | GSM: quad-band
UMTS: 850, 1900, 2100 |
700(band 17)850
AWS 1900(band 2) |
|||
| SGH-i317M | Bell
Rogers SaskTel Telus Telcel (Mexico) |
GSM: quad-band
UMTS: 850, 1900, 2100 |
700(band 17)
850 AWS1900(band 2) |
|||
| SGH-T889 | T-Mobile | GSM: quad-band
UMTS/DC-HSPA+ : 850, AWS, 1900, 2100 |
700(band 17)
AWS |
LTE AWS from 2013
Optional charging pins disabled | ||
| SGH-T889V | Mobilicity
Vidéotron Wind Mobile |
GSM: quad-band
UMTS/DC-HSPA+: 850, AWS, 1900, 2100 |
700(band 17)
AWS |
|||
| SPH-L900 | Sprint | GSM: quad-band
CDMA/EVDO: 800, 850, 1900 UMTS: 1900, 2100 |
1900(band 25) | No optional charging pins, embedded SIM | ||
| Chinese carriers | ||||||
| SCH-N719 | China Telecom | GSM: 900, 1800, 1900
CDMA: 800, 1900 |
No | Dual-Card dual-standby | ||
| GT-N7102 | China Unicom | GSM: quad-band
UMTS: 900, 2100 MHz |
No | |||
| GT-N7108 | China Mobile | GSM: 900, 1800, 1900
TD-SCDMA: 1800, 2010 WCDMA: 900, 2100 (international roaming only) |
No | |||
| GT-N7108D | China Mobile | GSM: quad-band
TD-SCDMA: 1880, 2010 WCDMA: 850, 900, 2100 (international roaming only) |
FDD-LTE: 1800, 2600 (international roaming only)
TDD-LTE: 1900, 2300, 2600 |
|||
| Japanese carriers | ||||||
| SGH-N025
/SC-02E |
NTT DoCoMo | GSM: quad-band
UMTS: 800, 850, 2100 |
1500(band 11)
2100(band 1) |
1seg tuner | ||
| Korean carriers | ||||||
| SHV-E250K | KT | GSM: quad-band
UMTS: 1900, 2100 |
900(band 8)1800 | DMB tuner/antenna
LTE 900 after 2013. | ||
| SHV-E250L | LG U+ | GSM: quad-band
CDMA: 1800 UMTS: 1900, 2100 |
8502100(band 1) | DMB tuner/antenna | ||
| SHV-E250S | SK Telecom | GSM: quad-band
UMTS: 1900, 2100 |
8501800 | DMB tuner/antenna | ||
Notes[]
Further information: UMTS frequency bands, List of UMTS networks, LTE frequency bands, and List of LTE networks
- The bolded frequencies in connectivities, are to support the released carriers' networks.
- All frequencies listed are in MHz.
- “GSM: quad-band” denotes “GSM/GPRS/EDGE: 850, 900, 1800, and 1900 MHz bands”.
- “UMTS: quad-band” denotes “UMTS/HSDPA/HSUPA/HSPA+: 850, 900, 1900, and 2100 MHz bands”.
- “CDMA: dual-band” denotes “CDMA 1xRTT/CDMA EV-DO Rev A/CDMA EV-DO Rev B: 800 and 1900 MHz bands”
Release and Reception[]
Commercial Release[]
After two months of retail availability, Samsung announced that they sold 5 million Note II's.[3]
Critical Reception[]
Critics liked the Galaxy Note II. CNET reviewed the phone favorably, although they did not like the high price.[4] Engadget stated that the Note II "has some big shoes to fill” but that they believe that “it's up to the task” and that the Exynos processor offers “mind-blowing” performance.[5]
References[]
- ↑ (2013, September 2). Over 30 million Samsung Galaxy Note II units sold. Archived from the original on March6, 2024.
- ↑ "Samsung Galaxy Note II N7100" GSMArena, 2015. Web. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ↑ "Samsung sold 5 million Galaxy Note II units in just two months" GSMArena, 25 November 2012. Web. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ↑ Dolcourt, Jessica. "Samsung Galaxy Note 2 review" CNET, 22 October 2012. Web. Retrieved 19 July 2015.
- ↑ Molen, Brad. "Samsung Galaxy Note II review." Engadget, 8 October 2012. Web. Retrieved 19 July 2015.