This month marks the 10th anniversary of the Samsung Galaxy Note. There is no current Samsung Galaxy Note handset for sale, and it is likely that the series will be completely retired by 2022. The Galaxy S22 Ultra will carry on the Note's spirit, but it feels like an end to an era. The Note's apparent demise is fitting as every high-end smartphone is a Galaxy Note. Or at least has the Galaxy Note's most prominent feature: A huge screen that allows for immersive play and productive work. The Note was for a long time the only place that offered this experience. It all began in 2011 with the debut of the first phone in this series. VPN Deals: A lifetime license for $16, or monthly plans starting at $1. The Note's main feature, the S Pen, was so large that most of the coverage was focused on its size. The Android of 2011 held the Note back. The original Note was one of the most popular Android phones at the time. It was also a pioneering device that was held back by the Android ecosystem and software of 2011. The Note was a huge bet on a bright future and paid off well. It spawned a decade of sequels as well as several tablet spin-offs. At the height of smartphone wars in the early 2010s, there was a perception that Samsung was an opportunistic copycat selling iPhones.
Source: Alex Dobie / Android Central
The first Note physically looked like a Galaxy S II. It had a half-capacitive and half-clicky button system below the screen, an 8-megapixel rear camera, and a textured "hyperskin finish to its battery door. The WXGA (1280x800), large display was the main feature. It boasted the best display of "HD" in a phone. The co-branded Galaxy Nexus by Samsung and Google had a higher pixel density but a lower quality panel that has a more grainy appearance. Although the integrated Exynos 4210 dual core processor managed to achieve acceptable frame rates, the UI, as with many Android phones at the time, was prone for occasional lags and stuttering. The Note felt like a next-generation PDA because of the dockable S Pen stylus and large display. However, users would need to deal with Android 2.3 Gingerbread straight out of the box. This was not particularly suitable for larger-sized phones. Samsung's apps have been redesigned to make the most of the larger screen space than a standard phone-sized device. The original Note firmware didn't include core Note features such as split-screen multiwindow and floating windowsed mode for applications. This means that there was still a lot of hardware potential in the software.
Source: Alex Dobie / Android Central
Although the Note had a lot of potential, it was largely ignored in the OG model. The pen can be used to draw or take notes. The handy shortcut key allows you to quickly take screenshots and summon a small notepad application. I can recall using the original Note for some time 10 years back, and most of its functionality as a mouse pointer to navigate between apps. Samsung took several years to add additional functionality to the pen like air gestures (Note 3), and Bluetooth remote capabilities (Note 9,). Even the first-gen pen had a solid feature set. Samsung launched the Note in major cities across Europe, Asia and North America. Samsung wanted to promote the Note as a third category of device, a combination of a smartphone or tablet. Products like the Note led to the birth of one of the most snarky techie portsmanteaus of the last decade, the "phablet". The OG Note received positive reviews in 2011. Engadget's Zach Honig reviewed the Note and said, "The jumbo screen makes it an ideal candidate for a notepad substitute. With the included S Pen stylus, you can easily take notes, mark up screenshots, or sign documents electronically.
Source: Alex Dobie / Android Central
I was not entirely happy with the Note's use as a daily driver in one of my reviews for Android Central. The Galaxy Note isn't the phone for me. I need a phone that I can comfortably hold in my hand. However, some people will be happy with a smartphone that can be used in both hands. The Galaxy Note is for you if you are one of these people. It's currently the fastest Android phone available. It boasts the best display of any Android phone. Yes, even the iPhone's retina display. It is useful and thoughtful to integrate the S Pen. This is a great device for the right person. The original Note was not a one-hand phone. Ten years later, I still have my original Note. I also have a Google Pixel 6 Pro in my pocket. This is a large phone that I can comfortably use one-handed most of the day. The difference is probably a decade of muscle memory, and an Android version that's more comfortable on large screens. The Note was also not well received by other reviewers. Veteran tech journalist Walt Mossberg doubted the phone's usefulness as a phone. It covers your entire face when you hold it up towards your ears. Mossberg described the new, 4G-equipped U.S. version of the phone in AllThingsD, February 2012. He said that the Note is so large, an iPhone could almost fit within its screen. It dwarfs the larger, more expensive Android phones like Samsung's Galaxy S II series, which can have a screen as big as 4.5 inches. The Note can be carried in a large handbag or pocket, but it won't fit neatly into your jeans or small purse.
