Galaxy Note II coming to Sprint October 25, stylus in tow
The big-screen Galaxy Note 2 will hit Sprint October 25, for $299.99
Sprint has doubled down on Samsung's big Galaxy Note 2 bet. The carrier has just confirmed that the advanced, 5.5-inch screen Android device will hit its stores shortly.
Expected to cost $299.99 when it launches on October 25, both Samsung and Sprint hope the Galaxy Note 2 will offer plenty of catnip for Android users and possibly prove irresistible for users craving a smartphone with tablet-like features. Running Android 4.1 Jelly Bean, Google's latest and greatest software yet, the phone will connect to Sprint's new 4G LTE network and boast a 1.6GHz quad-core Exynos processor.
The handset also takes Samsung's S-Pen stylus interface to the next level, with improved functionality compared with the company's previous Galaxy Note product. For example you'll now be able to use the S-Pen as a mouse-like cursor to hover over pictures, video, and other virtual objects, interacting with them without touching the screen. Other more conventional features of the phone include a 1.9-megapixel front-facing camera, and an 8-megapixel main image capture device.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 comes equipped with NFC technology, too, to share contacts, photos, and other data by tapping similarly outfitted phones together. Of course, in my experience the benefits of NFC are often touted but have yet to deliver on its much hyped usefulness. Since Sprint enjoys a close partnership with Google, the Note 2 will also support the Google Wallet app for mobile payments. This, however, is another gee-whiz feature yet to mature in my view. That's a shame since all the vending machines in my office seem to support it.
Tempted by the Samsung Galaxy Note 2? Be sure to check back soon as we review the massive handset in the coming weeks.
