Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Review: Features & Specs

Galaxy Note 3 (SM-N900)

Definition

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 (SM-N900) is a flagship phablet smartphone developed and marketed by Samsung Electronics, unveiled on September 4, 2013, at the IFA Berlin trade show, and released globally on September 25, 2013. As the third iteration of the Galaxy Note series, it succeeded the Galaxy Note 2, targeting power users, content creators, and productivity-focused consumers with its large display, integrated S Pen stylus, and enhanced performance. The SM-N900 is the global Exynos variant, powered by Samsung’s in-house Exynos 5 Octa chip, optimized for GSM/UMTS/LTE networks in Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. It retained the Note series’ signature “phablet” form factor (combining phone and tablet) while introducing a premium leather-textured back design and a thinner, lighter body than its predecessor.

Key Hardware Specifications (SM-N900)

Component	Detailed Specifications
Display	5.7-inch Super AMOLED capacitive touchscreen; 1080×1920 resolution (386 ppi); 16:9 aspect ratio; Gorilla Glass 3; supports multi-touch and S Pen input with pressure sensitivity
Processor & RAM	Samsung Exynos 5 Octa 5420 (8-core: 4×1.9 GHz Cortex-A15 + 4×1.3 GHz Cortex-A7, big.LITTLE architecture); Mali-T628 MP6 GPU; 3 GB LPDDR3 RAM (a flagship-level RAM capacity for 2013)
Storage	Internal storage options: 16 GB / 32 GB / 64 GB; microSD card slot (supports up to 64 GB expandable storage, non-hybrid tray—simultaneous dual SIM + microSD support on select regional variants)
Camera System	– Rear Camera: 13 MP sensor; f/2.2 aperture; autofocus; LED flash; 1080p full HD video recording at 30 fps; features include HDR, panorama, continuous shot, and face detection- Front Camera: 2 MP sensor; f/2.4 aperture; 720p HD video recording at 30 fps; supports video calls and selfies
S Pen Stylus	4096 levels of pressure sensitivity; supports Air View (preview content without tapping), S Note (handwriting-to-text conversion), Smart Select (crop and share content), and Pen Window (launch floating apps)
Battery	3200 mAh removable lithium-ion battery; 2A fast charging support; up to 12 hours of 3G talk time; up to 360 hours of standby time
Biometrics & Sensors	Accelerometer, gyroscope, proximity sensor, barometer, magnetometer (compass), ambient light sensor; no fingerprint scanner (introduced later with Galaxy Note 4)
Connectivity	4G LTE Cat.4 (up to 150 Mbps download); Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4/5 GHz); Bluetooth 4.0; NFC; USB 3.0 (micro-USB port); 3.5 mm headphone jack; GPS + GLONASS
Build & Dimensions	Plastic body with faux leather back panel; dimensions: 151.2 × 79.2 × 8.3 mm; weight: 168 grams; IP53 dust/splash resistance (limited protection against dust and light splashes)
Operating System	Launched with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean; upgradable to Android 5.1.1 Lollipop (via official Samsung firmware); custom ROM support for Android 6.0 Marshmallow (unofficial)

Core Features & Innovations

1. S Pen Stylus: Enhanced Productivity & Creativity

The Galaxy Note 3’s S Pen was a major upgrade over the Note 2, with 4096 pressure levels (up from 1024) for more precise handwriting and drawing. Key S Pen features included:

Air View: Hover the S Pen over the screen to preview emails, photos, or video timelines without tapping, reducing accidental selections.
S Note: A unified note-taking app that combined handwriting, typed text, images, and audio recordings, with built-in handwriting-to-text conversion.
Smart Select: Crop any part of the screen (text, images, videos) into a resizable floating window that could be shared or saved as a file.
Pen Window: Launch small floating apps (e.g., calculator, browser, memo) with a single S Pen gesture, enabling multitasking without switching full-screen apps.

2. Big.LITTLE Octa-Core Performance

The SM-N900 variant’s Exynos 5 Octa 5420 chip was one of the first mobile processors to use ARM’s big.LITTLE architecture, which dynamically switches between 4 high-performance Cortex-A15 cores (for demanding tasks like gaming or video editing) and 4 energy-efficient Cortex-A7 cores (for light tasks like web browsing or messaging). This balance delivered:

20% faster CPU performance than the Note 2’s Exynos 4412 quad-core chip.
Improved battery efficiency, extending runtime for daily use.
Smooth multitasking with 3 GB RAM—uncommon for smartphones in 2013.

3. Premium Design & Display

Samsung departed from the glossy plastic finish of previous Note models, introducing a faux leather back panel with stitched edges, giving the Note 3 a more premium, business-oriented look. The 5.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED display offered:

Vibrant colors and deep blacks, ideal for media consumption and content creation.
High pixel density (386 ppi) for sharp text and images, a significant upgrade over the Note 2’s 720p display (285 ppi).

4. Multitasking & Productivity Tools

Building on Samsung’s Multi Window feature, the Note 3 added enhancements for seamless multitasking:

Split-Screen View: Run two full apps side by side (e.g., Chrome + WhatsApp, YouTube + Google Maps) and resize the window ratio.
Pop-Up Play: Watch videos in a floating, resizable window while using other apps—a game-changer for media multitasking in 2013.
Samsung Knox: A built-in security platform that separated personal and work data, making the Note 3 a popular choice for enterprise users.

SM-N900 Model Specifics

The SM-N900 is distinct from other Galaxy Note 3 variants, such as:

SM-N9005: LTE variant with Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 chip (for North American and some Asian markets).
SM-N9000: 3G-only variant with Exynos 5 Octa chip (for regions with limited LTE coverage).

Key traits of the SM-N900:

Supports 4G LTE Cat.4 networks (150 Mbps download speed) in global bands.
Exynos 5 Octa chip offers better power efficiency than the Snapdragon 800 in moderate usage scenarios.
Compatible with dual SIM cards (on select sub-variants like SM-N9002) alongside microSD storage—unlike the single-SIM Snapdragon variants.

Release & Market Reception

1. Launch Details

Launch Price: Starting at €749 (16 GB) in Europe; unlocked models retailed for ~$800 in the US (imported).
Color Options: Black, White, and Pink Gold (limited edition).
Sales Performance: Sold over 10 million units within the first month of release, making it one of Samsung’s fastest-selling phablets in 2013.

2. Critical Reception

The Galaxy Note 3 received positive reviews for its performance, S Pen functionality, and display quality. Critics praised the big.LITTLE processor and 3 GB RAM for smooth multitasking, but noted the following drawbacks:

Limited IP53 dust/splash resistance (inferior to modern IP67/IP68 ratings).
No fingerprint scanner (a key feature of later flagships).
Faux leather back panel felt cheap to some users compared to genuine leather or metal.

3. Legacy & Discontinuation

The Galaxy Note 3 was discontinued in 2015, replaced by the Galaxy Note 4. Its legacy includes:

Popularizing the big.LITTLE processor architecture in mainstream smartphones.
Setting a new standard for phablet productivity with the enhanced S Pen.
Proving that large-screen smartphones (5.7 inches) could appeal to a broad audience beyond niche users.