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Samsung Galaxy Note 2 hands on (photos)

Samsung is hoping a smaller sequel with a bigger screen will make its super-large Android phone more popular. Here's a look at the new phablet.

Stephen Shankland
Stephen Shankland worked at CNET from 1998 to 2024 and wrote about processors, digital photography, AI, quantum computing, computer science, materials science, supercomputers, drones, browsers, 3D printing, USB, and new computing technology in general. He has a soft spot in his heart for standards groups and I/O interfaces. His first big scoop was about radioactive cat poop.
Jessica Dolcourt Senior Director, Commerce & Content Operations
Jessica Dolcourt is a passionate content strategist and veteran leader of CNET coverage. As Senior Director of Commerce & Content Operations, she leads a number of teams, including Commerce, How-To and Performance Optimization. Her CNET career began in 2006, testing desktop and mobile software for Download.com and CNET, including the first iPhone and Android apps and operating systems. She continued to review, report on and write a wide range of commentary and analysis on all things phones, with an emphasis on iPhone and Samsung. Jessica was one of the first people in the world to test, review and report on foldable phones and 5G wireless speeds. Jessica began leading CNET's How-To section for tips and FAQs in 2019, guiding coverage of topics ranging from personal finance to phones and home. She holds an MA with Distinction from the University of Warwick (UK).
Expertise Content strategy, team leadership, audience engagement, iPhone, Samsung, Android, iOS, tips and FAQs.
Stephen Shankland
Jessica Dolcourt
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Meet the Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Ladies and gentlemen, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. The successor to the original Note unveiled at IFA last year, the Note 2 (or Note II) has an even larger, 5.5-inch screen and the look and feel of the Samsung Galaxy S3 (or S III).
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2 of 25 Josh Miller/CNET

Large and in charge

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has a 1280x720 Super AMOLED screen. The phone will ship in the fourth quarter, but Samsung hasn't disclosed pricing yet.
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3 of 25 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Double-tapping on the screen with the stylus pops up a quick-access note-taking application that hovers over the top of the active task.
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4 of 25 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 back

The back of the Galaxy Note 2 shows its 8-megapixel camera, LED flash, and speaker.
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5 of 25 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and S Pen

The S Pen is a bit longer and thicker than the first-generation model for easier use, and it's got a rubbery tip for a better feel.
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6 of 25 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 pop-up video

You can now punch and zoon to enlarge pop-up videos, up to the width of the screen, if desired.
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7 of 25 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 resizing video

Pop-up videos can be resized as they play to take up more or less room on top of whatever other task is active.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 2

You can also drag them around with a finger.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 2

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has a front-facing camera, too.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 2 with S Pen stylus

Samsung hopes people will be more creative with the S Pen, a pressure-sensitive design from Wacom.
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11 of 25 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 with Chrome browser

The phone comes with Android 4.1, aka Jelly Bean, and includes Google's Chrome browser.
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12 of 25 Stephen Shankland/CNET

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 side view

The Galaxy Note 2 is a bit slimmer than the first-generation model that debuted at IFA a year ago.
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Holster your S Pen

The S Pen slides into a dedicated holder bored into the body.
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Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Google's Chrome browser in action.
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Specs and stuff

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has a quad-core 1.6GHz processor, 2GB of RAM, and 3100mAh battery. Flash memory storage options are 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB, and the Note 2 supports up to 64GB of expandable memory.
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16 of 25 Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

How's this for meta?

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2, photographed with another Samsung Galaxy Note 2.
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Camera quality

The Note 2 took very good, crisp photos and video that mostly looked terrific on the phone's screen and on larger screens.
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Camera test, take 2

Samsung's 8-megapixel cameras are generally very good. Here's proof.
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19 of 25 Josh Miller/CNET

The Galaxy Note 2 is smart enough to know when you've removed the S Pen from its holster. When you do, it gives you this start screen. You can also enable settings to see the same contextual menus when you plug in a headset, dock the phone, and so on.

The Galaxy Note 2 is smart enough to know when you've removed the S Pen from its holster. When you do, it gives you this start screen. You can also enable settings to see the same contextual menu, called a Page Buddy, when you plug in a headset, dock the phone, and so on.
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20 of 25 Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Quick Command

S Pen gesture support is a welcome addition. You can use a gesture to call up this quick command interface, and go from there.
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21 of 25 Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Enlightened highlighting

Press the S Pen button while dragging over lines of text will quickly select it. Genius! Too bad there are a few rules, like you have to drag from right to left.
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22 of 25 Jessica Dolcourt/CNET

Gallery grid view

It isn't life-changing, but the photo gallery gets some new interactive views, including this layered grid view...
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Spiral view

...and this spiral view, which you can advance, like a corkscrew, with your finger.
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Carriers and colors

A closer look at Sprint's Galaxy Note 2 in white (top) and T-Mobile's version, in titanium grey. Both colors will be available from both carriers, in multiple storage capacities.
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Chilling on the grass

Here's one last look at the phones, in all their gigantic glory.

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