Samsung Galaxy Note 2 review

It hasn't even been a year since the original Samsung Galaxy Note launched. It was a work of genius for old Samsung. Many (including us, we admit) were not convinced. Who on earth would want something so big to make their calls and surf the internet, even with a glorified stylus?

Cue awkward silence.

Millions of you, it would appear. The Samsung Galaxy Note has sold by the bucketload. And while it is most definitely a niche device, it's done wonders for Samsung's balance sheet. How do you follow that up? With something better, of course - the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

If you've ever fondled or caressed the original Samsung Galaxy Note and found its larger size too much to handle, we'll break this to you with a sledgehammer - the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is bigger.

It's now 151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4mm (5.9 x 3.2 x 0.4 inches), so slightly up from 146.9 x 83 x 9.7mm (5.8 x 3.3 x 0.4 inches). That said, we didn't find it cumbersome at all.

In the way the original Samsung Galaxy Note followed the Samsung Galaxy S2's square design, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 follows the Samsung Galaxy S3's more rounded rectangular look.

And what a beauty it is. It actually felt slightly smaller to us in day-to-day use - but that may be down to the fact that we have gravedigger hands.

The Samsung Galaxy Note had a frankly amazing screen as it was, so would have taken some beating. But Samsung clearly likes a challenge. The size has gone up slightly from 5.3 inches to 5.5. And although pixel density is reduced, we didn't notice it.

This is the bright, vivid Samsung Super AMOLED panel that we all know and love - and what a beauty it is, replicating colours amazingly and immaculately.

As expected, that screen takes up most of the front. You get a home button and two hidden soft keys beneath it as before, plus a front-facing camera and sensors up top.

The handset itself has little to note (geddit?) around the edges. A headphone jack up top, power button on the right, volume on the left and charger port below, right alongside the S-Pen slot - more of which will follow later.

Around the back, you'll find the 8MP camera with flash.

The additional sorcery is carried out away from view. The microSD expansion slot is beneath the rear cover - as is the microSIM slot, hidden behind the enormous 3,100 mAh battery.

And there's a whole lot of goodness even further inwards than that: HSDPA (LTE if you're extra lucky), NFC, GPS, Wi-Fi and so forth. It's a veritable treasure trove of geekdom.

One other thing we'd say is that this does feel like a quality Android smartphone/tablet. We're aware of the protestations by some readers (particularly iPhone users) that phones such as the Samsung Galaxy S3 feel like toys because they're so light and plasticky.

At 183g (0.4lbs), you couldn't describe the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 as a feather - and the weight gives it a real notion of substance.

If you want to pick one of these big boys up, you'll need to be willing to part with some serious cash - around £530/AU$999/US$700 appears to be the average SIM-free price. It is also available on contract, but be willing to shovel top dollar each month in the network's direction for two years.

Normally, this is where we'd talk about the alternatives on offer. But we admit, we're stumped here. Why? Well, in our mind, there is no clear rival. The Samsung Galaxy Note created its own category, in that there were no real phablets about before.

There is the LG Optimus Vu, which hasn't hit the UK, but is in the US under the moniker LG Intuition, however it's 4:3 ratio screen makes it an extremely odd proposition.

And while you'll get the Android 4.1 Jelly Bean operating system and similar benefits from the Samsung Galaxy S3 or Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 (depending on whether you want a phone or tablet), the form factor is pretty unique.

In fact, the only real rival is the original Samsung Galaxy Note - a worthy contender for that title, because it's now available for a much reduced sum.

Around £400/AU$480/US$500 will get you one of those babies SIM-free - and that makes it a very serious and credible alternative to its replacement, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2.

Second-Generation Android tabs take the fight to Apple

Sequels can be brilliant things, taking what's great about the original and running with it. We're sure you can think of loads of examples: The Godfather Part 2, The Empire Strikes Back, Santa Buddies... okay, maybe not Santa Buddies.
This week it's the tech industry's turn to catch a does of sequelitis - but which products are Toy Story 2 and which ones have taken a great idea and added Jar Jar Binks?
The Asus Transformer Prime is definitely in the good-sequel category, and not just because it's nicked its name from the famous robotic bash-em-up.
The world's first quad-core Android tablet rocks Nvidia's Tegra 3, and we think it's outstanding. The new processor came in for particular praise: it's "fast and nimble, pumping new life into apps we've used for the past nine months and speeding up the operating system overall".
It's not the best tablet in the world - "the iPad 2 still has that honour" - but it's definitely up there along with another sequel, Samsung's Galaxy Tab 10.1.
Our list of the best Android tablets gets more impressive by the day, so where does the Motorola Xoom 2 fit in? If you guessed "number six" you'd be right, because as we discovered in our in-depth review, we have a few concerns.
There are some build quality issues, such as "the way the Xoom 2 rattles when the loudspeaker is high", and the screen is "a horrendous fingerprint/grease magnet". The keyboard "is a weak spot", and "the lack of a microSD card is perplexing".
Remember we're talking about a premium device with a premium price here, and on that basis it's "an improvement over the original Xoom, but not over the competition".
In cameras this week, we've seen the Canon EOS-1DX. It's the firm's latest flagship, replacing both the 1D mk IV and the 1DS mk III. Is it any cop?
Angela Nicholson reckons it's "fast and furious" and "a truly fantastic camera", but there are "fundamental questions about the concept [for] existing EOS-1 series users". Jeff Morgan agrees, arguing that restricted autofocus "cannot be considered an advantage to any photographer" and that "nature and some sports photographers are not feeling Canon's love with the announcement of the 1DX".
Canon isn't the only firm showing off shiny new snappers: Panasonic's got a new Lumix too, the Lumix DMC-GX1. Josie Reavely reckons it's "an exciting new direction for Panasonic" and "a premium option that advanced enthusiasts should definitely consider".

Yet another memory card

We haven't just seen sequels to familiar kit: we're seeing sequels to familiar components, too. Just when you thought the world could manage without yet another memory card format, the CompactFlash Association has announced yet another memory card format.
XQD is slightly bigger than an SD card and offers very fast write speeds - 125MB/sec or higher - but it's a different size from existing SD and CF cards. Nikon and Canon are both on board, and the Association intends to begin licensing the technology to card manufacturers in early 2012.
We've left the best sequel to last: it's Return of the Son of TechRadar Part 2, or TechRadar Mobile as we prefer to call it. As Marc Chacksfield explains:
"Now, when you visit TechRadar from a mobile device you will be transported to a brilliant new mobile-optimised version of the site... If you are reading this on a mobile, then you should already be browsing the new mobile-friendly version of the site. This paragraph is of no use to you... un-read it now."

Philips unveils Fidelio docks for Android devices

Philips has unveiled its Fidelio range of docks for Android devices.

The stations utilise Bluetooth pairing and an app for playback, and come in three different models with varying specs.

Philips' high-end Fidelio AS851 features a 30-watt output and the firm's own proprietary digital sound processing. The flagship device is priced at £200.

The Fidelio AS351 is a cheaper alternative at £130. It includes 10 watt output with dynamic bass boost to preserve low tones. A budget model, the Philips Fidelio AS111, is also available for £70, designed to serve as a bedside dock.

"Philips is adding to its successful series of Fidelio docking speakers with a new range for Android smartphones and tablets, which will be launched at IFA," read a Philips statement.

"The Fidelio docking speakers for Android are based on the same speaker systems as the Fidelio for Apple range, so you can be sure to enjoy a stunning sound from your Android phone or tablet but with all the functionality you need for a simple experience."

Philips' Fidelio docks allow Android users to charge their handsets and connect via Bluetooth, rather than relying on a line-in method.

The Philips Fidelio docks are compatible with both tablets and smartphones.