WoW. Ars Technica found major problems with Note III

[NJRonbo]

I am almost considering canceling my preorder.

Read This

Need to hear from other owners to see if it is really this bad

(particularly the opening of the gallery app)

 

[TeamPowerstroke]

Still getting my N3 and going to love it!

 

[redpill2016]

Their gripes seemed to be confined to the existence of a menu button (nothing new), TouchWiz (nothing new), and some stuttering in the Gallery which can likely be fixed via software changes.

Between their Gallery complaint and their comment about poor battery life, it seems like they may have had an issue going on with their phone. They probably loaded a whole bunch of apps on there to test it and one of them could have been screwing it up. Other Note 3 battery tests I've seen are pretty impressive.

 

[redpill2016]

BTW here are some other reviews that don't have the same negatives (notably no mentions of poor battery life)

Android Central: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review (European version) | Android Central

Droid-Life: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Review – Droid Life

The Verge: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review | The Verge

Engadget: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 review (global edition)

BGR: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Review | BGR

Gizmodo: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Review: Biggerer and Betterer

CNET: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Review - Watch CNET's Video Review

Phandroid: Galaxy Note 3 Review

Washington Post: Samsung Galaxy Gear, Galaxy Note 3: Review - The Washington Post

TechnoBuffalo (FI): Samsung Galaxy Note 3 First Impressions: So Much Phone, So Many Features | TechnoBuffalo

ZDNet: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Review: World's most capable Android smartphone gets even better | ZDNet

GigOm: Galaxy Note 3 review: To ink or not to ink? That is the question. — Tech News and Analysis

 

[slatyford]

That reads like someone has a problem with the manufacturer.
I for one have no problem with a menu button, the battery life for me is great and the gallery, well it's a camera on a phone the useage of which probably best suited to taking photos of your car after someone has crashed into it

 

[thirstypirate]

This issue is being discussed over at Reddit on /r/Android.

andreif comments on Note 3

 

[Methos1979]

I found this to be a good review, highlighting the good with the bad. I'm still not sold on this phone so I want to hear it all. The only thing that gave me pause from this review was the (relatively) poor battery performance. Their 'test' method seemed pretty solid so unless it's just a bad battery, this disturbs me. I'm really looking forward to seeing how the 'real' people here who are getting their N3's find the battery comparison as compared to the N2.

 

[redpill2016]

Granted I don't have the phone in-hand here, but the combo of other sources showing very good battery life plus the actual size of the battery suggests to me that those that are having poor battery performance may have other issues going on.

Part of it could be that Samsung juices up the processor when you're running a native full screen app, among which are the popular benchmark applications, so that probably sucks down more battery, and I bet some of these reviewers are doing some pretty heavy and constant testing.

 

[BlueBiker]

Yeah, I'm not buying their battery claims, especially the suggestion that it's significantly worse than Note 2. Just not plausible. With a sample size of one, I think they got a bad battery or some other issue was going on. Maybe the dreaded gallery app was still endlessly trying to sync photos in the background?

So far the only issue that gives me pause is another review's (sorry, don't remember which) observation that the audio output was flaky and prone to sudden LOUD bursts, apparently similar to an S4 problem. That won't work for me at all, I enjoy long Spotify sessions in the car and elsewhere via the line-out and don't usually have Bluetooth available.

 

[Preach2k]

I am almost considering canceling my preorder.

Read This

Need to hear from other owners to see if it is really this bad

(particularly the opening of the gallery app)

Why does it matter about the benchmark thing anyway.
There has been people other then Samsung that ran pretty decent Benchmarks.. In my opinion it does not matter I will be getting mine next week...

 

[redpill2016]

So far the only issue that gives me pause is another review's (sorry, don't remember which) observation that the audio output was flaky and prone to sudden LOUD bursts, apparently similar to an S4 problem. That won't work for me at all, I enjoy long Spotify sessions in the car and elsewhere via the line-out and don't usually have Bluetooth available.

We're a week out from global release, by now if there was that kind of chronic problem it would be well known. Not suggesting that people are making it up, just that it is probably a rare occurrence. Keep in mind that Samsung, for some time, was Apple's sole source for many of their components because they were the only ones that had the high quality standards demanded by Cupertino. We are dealing with a company that knows and delivers high manufacturing standards, and I wouldn't expect a lot of hardware defects. Software is a different matter of course, and I'm not super excited about the "feature overload" trend, but on the other hand I love that they have absolutely defined the stylus market and changed it from a relic to a reborn innovation.

 

[BlueBiker]

Good observations, RedPill. In general I'm a huge fan of Samsung hardware -- I've used their LCDs and CRTs and hard drives and RAM modules and other products for many years -- but they also make occasional clunkers. I had some time with a Samsung Droid Charge, which turned out to be an awful model with poor support despite good specs at the time.

But bottom line, you're probably right that if there were a widespread audio problem we'd know about it by now.

 

[andy roddy]

The Verge is practically Apple's unofficial PR firm, and even they liked the Note 3.

Although, like a good unofficial PR firm, they did take the opportunity to beat up on the Note 10.1 2014 like it was the Toshiba Thrive. The Verge also still has not acknowledged that their review of the Note 10.1 last year was flawed to the point of being fiction.

Nevertheless, the Note 3 is getting great reviews from just about everywhere.

 

[thirstypirate]

I picked up my Note 3 this morning and am happy to say that the Gallery app opens at break neck speed. It was the first thing I checked.

 

[dontpanicbobby]

I better check mine too then. I use quick pic a freeware gallery replacement from the play store and had no issues with it.

BTW I really liked the review. It was very well written.

 

[zendroid]

Battery life solution for days of battery life under heavy usage. Mine is outstanding.


Anker 2nd Gen. Astro3 12000mAh External Battery

 

[dontpanicbobby]

It took about 2 seconds for the Gallery to load the first time. After a restart it opened instsntly. Maybe I need more than a couple of hundred or so photos on my device before it's a problem. :dontknow:

 

[zendroid]

It took about 2 seconds for the Gallery to load the first time. After a restart it opened instsntly. Maybe I need more than a couple of hundred or so photos on my device before it's a problem. :dontknow:

I've read ARS for a long time. They're somewhat pro-Apple which tips the scales a bit. I'm not discrediting them, just sharing my observations. It also bears repeating that it's just one person's opinion. Something that's very good to keep in mind.

For what it's worth I've got 553 images in my gallery. Opening time it's nearly instant. And as I mentioned earlier I'm sure the Note 3 has drawbacks, yet thus far I've found nothing of consequence. I truly sit in disbelief at how good this phone is.

The moment I find bugs or annoyances I'm going to post back.

 

[Tommydaniel]

From what I have read, the slow down with the Gallery happens when it is trying to download online albums, like Dropbox, otherwise it opens with no issues. Also, Anandtech says the device is great. AnandTech | Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Review

 

[eleveneleven]

From what I have read, the slow down with the Gallery happens when it is trying to download online albums, like Dropbox, otherwise it opens with no issues. Also, Anandtech says the device is great. AnandTech | Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Review

except for the speaker...really bad scores on that

 

[heavychevy]

Im more concerned about the reception issues. Supposed to pick up today but probably will wait.