My question is, in what positiion is the phone placed, while people are using the phone's speakers (and it doesn't sound as loud as the Note 2)? From all the reviews I've seen, they seem to say that the speaker placement makes for better/louder sound.
Reason I ask is, I believe part of the reason they placed the speaker on the bottom is due to natural amplification, when cuffing the phone (with the hand) while viewing in landscape view.
There were similar natural amplification benefits from the Note 2's having the speaker on the back. If one were to have a case with a kickstand or place the phone flat on its back or place it on a dock, the sound would naturally bounce off the surface and project sound (as if it were louder).