North American version of Galaxy Note LTE

[xperiax10]

The rumored specs are that it will have the S3 cpu(1.5ghz cpu / adreno 220 gpu), which is found in a lot of phones today. The shape is also more rounded and no physical buttons. Main reason for going with the S3 cpu is the ability to do LTE, since the exynos thats found in the original note doesnt do LTE. No mention of type of screen , but will probably carry the same super AMOLED screen found on the original Note.

I personally prefer the exynos cpu/gpu combo over the S3 combo, having used both , the s3 produces more heat when playing games for longer than 10 min.

http://pocketnow.com/android/samsung-galaxy-note-press-shot-shows-att-badging

[fiveleaf]

Thank you.

[steveblue]

OK for us Canadians who want one now, should we get an international version or this AT&T version of the phone. Or wait for a Canadian version ( or will that just be the international verion).

Looking at the differences and choices:

1) AT&T has LTE - I assume this is worthless to LTE networks up here.
2) AT&T is branded ( logo) and carrier locked.
3) AT&T uses different cpu (Snapdragon S3 like on the galaxy sIIs) so all the great international development of ROMS and updates will not work on this model? ( can someone confirm)
4) The international version does not have a north american warranty so must be shipped back to country of origin - is it better for the AT&T model?

Please add other differences/issues for us Canadians wanting to buy a gNote to this thread.

More minor diffs:
AT&T model has no physical HOME button. Has 4 soft buttons.
AT&T had to make room for the LTE antenna, so has some internal differences.
AT&T will be coming out with its own line of accessories ( would they work on both)?
AT&T coloured the s pen button so it is easier to see.

Here is a video of someone going over the AT&T model.

[xperiax10]

It will be interesting what version of the note Canada will get, on one hand you have the exynos cpu and no LTE and than you have the qualcomm s3 cpu with LTE and hspa.

Personally i would go for the international version with the exynos cpu since LTE is overkill in my opinion. Who really needs 50mb/s download speed on their phone unless you tether at home, plus the battery drain associated with LTE is pretty high, just look at the review for the LTE nexus on verizon.

The newest rumor is that it will come to Bell , hopefully it will be exclusive for not more than a month, like the nexus was.

http://mobilesyrup.com/page/2/?s=samsunglynx

[fiveleaf]

You mentioned Bell, but I have to agree with MobileSyup when they say that Telus doesn't **** around when they add a phone to their "coming soon" section:

http://www.telusmobility.com/en/ON/smartphones/index.shtml?
http://mobilesyrup.com/2012/01/13/telus-puts-lte-capable-samsung-galaxy-note-online-as-coming-soon/

[Zirian]

Hmm according to Telus's website, the Note sports an Exynos processor.

Features

* Enjoy an immersive 5.3” super thin and light HD screen
* Sketch and create with the precision of a real pen using the intuitive digital “S pen”
* Capture pictures on or off the screen and easily edit and share them
* Download and stream at blazing fast speeds with a dual core 1.4 Ghz Exynos processor
* Create a Wi-Fi® hotspot* to share web access with up to 8 devices like your tablet or laptop
* Access over 250,000 free and paid Android Market™ apps
* Stay on track with FREE Google Maps turn-by-turn voice guidance navigation and Google Maps in 3D

[xperiax10]

Hmm according to Telus's website, the Note sports an Exynos processor.

That is very interesting because there is officially no Exynos LTE chip for now, and I thought that we in Canada are getting the Galaxy Note LTE with the 1.5ghz qualcomm cpu that does LTE. So by the looks of it some carriers get the Note LTE and some get the International no LTE version like telus, or very likely is that who ever posted that on their website screwed up.

[steveblue]

Well, I did the right thing I think. I waited for CES and the announcements of the NA Notes variants ( and warranties). But now looking at the data, decided that I do not want some broken features, crapware, locked version of the Note with a different cpu so no dev Roms will even work with it - I want a Note - one that has a huge group of developers and a excited community ( of 1 million) waiting to trade ideas and make stronger. Not some broken Telus/ATT crapware, spyware version. So I went to expansys, talked to them to check that you get at no extra cost a EU 2 yr Samsung warranty that you go through expansys to honor ( that was my main worry - the non NA warranty), found a $20 discount coupon, noticed the expansys prices went down and they are in stock ( and for me since I am close to the border bought the cheaper US shipped one - $689-20us, free ship). So a real Note, unlocked and mine, ready for ICS updates, new roms, ... and no supporting the ugly carriers ( in the states they are so screwed up they have to even change the name). I want a BMW 320i from BMW, not a Telus/AT&T coolcarB320 where they put in a different engine, change the grill, lock the car so I must buy their expense gas and only go on their toll highways. Done. I realize others will go the local carrier route for good reasons, but with the warranty worry solved, I get the real Note now.

[xperiax10]

Im looking to get the note too and contemplating going the same route you did steve, you made some valid points. Main one being dev support and lack off that the north american version will suffer from for the first few month. Maybe we get lucky in Canada and carriers carry the international version of the note, since its like $700 to buy it and this way you can get it subsidized. Plus as you pointed out the international version of the note will most likely get ICS faster than the north american version of the note.

[MrCrowley]

The features section for the Galaxy Note on the Telus site has been changed to say this "Download and stream at blazing fast speeds with a dual core 1.5 Ghz processor" rather than this "Download and stream at blazing fast speeds with a dual core 1.4 Ghz Exynos processor". So it's official North America gets robbed of a better processor for some marketing gimmick in LTE. Such a shame.

[xperiax10]

The features section for the Galaxy Note on the Telus site has been changed to say this "Download and stream at blazing fast speeds with a dual core 1.5 Ghz processor" rather than this "Download and stream at blazing fast speeds with a dual core 1.4 Ghz Exynos processor". So it's official North America gets robbed of a better processor for some marketing gimmick in LTE. Such a shame.

It totally is a shame since now its almost certain that all the Canadian carriers will carry the north american version of the note. So if you want the international version its gonna have to be online sites like newegg,expansys... , which also means no carrier subsidy. When you look at the last few months the carriers are really pushing LTE as the next best thing, even though the coverage is mainly found in few major city cores, and it will take probably a year for LTE to grab significant market share from hspda+(4G). Also the removal of the physical home button and replacing it with 4 capacitive buttons is another mistake in my opinion.

[jasonmike]

@steveblue i read in the forum that u got an unlocked eu version of the galaxy note i would be thankful if u made a review on the phone that was sold to u ... what vesion is sold ... the factory seal ... the condition of the phone ... how it works after a period of time ... wat problems did u have and how did u deal with it ??


thanks

[cdnexpat]

I used a Note 7000 for a month, and loved it. It was a gift for some one, and I will buy another for myself next month. With this phone, no need for a pad. I travel a lot, and do not like to carry many things with me.
The downside is the battery life. It is like a computer, and need daily charging. I bought a car charger, because the Note, when using all applications, GPS, playing music,etc... sometimes will last about 12 hours only.
Cheers,