Details of the soon to be launched Samsung Galaxy Note II have been leaked out and it confirms much of what we already expect. The device will have a slightly larger 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED display (vs. 5.3-inch in the Note) but with a reduced 1280×720 resolution compared to the original Galaxy Note which has a display with 1280×800 pixels. This gives the Note II has a slightly lower pixel density (around 267ppi vs 285ppi in the old Note).
Device operations will be handled by an unnamed 1.6GHz quad-core processor that is almost certainly an Exynos that Samsung manufactures. The processor is paired with 2GB of RAM promising speedy performance and great multi-tasking capabilities. You get HSPA+ 21mbps connectivity as well.
In terms of cameras, the Note II is fitted with an 8MP sensor at the rear and a 1.9MP camera on the front. The device boasts a large 3,100mAh battery (vs 2,500mAh in the original Note) so you can expect some improvements in the running time of the device as well.
Despite having a larger battery, the Note II will be slightly thinner than the original at 9.4mm vs 9.65mm, but it’ll be heavier by 2 grams. 16, 32, and 64 GB variants will be available and you get microSD expansion as well. Oh, and it will run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean right out of the box. Interestingly, there is no mention of NFC support.
Beyond the hardware, the Note II brings enhancements to S-Pen interface with a longer, thicker stylus which features an improved design making it more ergonomic. There is a new feature called Air View that “allows users to hover with the S-Pen over an email, image gallery, or video to preview the content without having to open it.” And, just like Popup Play which lets you watch a video while doing another task, Popup Note lets you keep a note on the screen while using another application. There’s also a new feature called Quick Command that is accessed with an upward swipe with the S-Pen; doing so will reveal a menu of quick commands to send someone an email, make a call, or do a search. Another new feature is called Screen Recorder which allows the user to record screen gestures or a drawing sequence into video.
In terms of availability, the Note II ships to Europe in October and will be available in Marble White or Titanium Gray. No word on pricing or Malaysian availability but expect the device to be available around the same time or by December at the latest. In terms of pricing, expect to pay about the same price for the Note II as the original Note when it was launched here in November last year.
So, what do you think? Well worth the wait?
See the Galaxy Note II in white after the jump.
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