You Shouldn’t Wait for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3

For months now, Samsung Galaxy Note 3rumors have waged on, depicting a high-end and enticing smartphone set for release sometime later this year. And while the Galaxy Note 3 is going to be worth waiting for for many people, there are also several reasons why some consumers may not want to wait for the Galaxy Note 3 release.

Last year, Samsung unveiled its second-generation Samsung Galaxy Note in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. The device was an upgrade over the Galaxy Note in many areas including the design, the size of the screen, the S Pen stylus, the software both Google and Samsung made, the processing power and the amount of carrier options that were on the table to consumers.

The Galaxy Note 3 is said to be coming later this year.

Unlike the original Galaxy Note, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 arrived on AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon right from the get-go, making it one of the best Android smartphone options on the market. Needless to say, it’s clear that Samsung has another Galaxy Note up its sleeve and thanks to rumors, we have begun to piece together the make up of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

Thus far, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is shaping up to be a worthy successor to the Galaxy Note 2. On paper, the device appears to have somewhere between a 5.7-inch to 6-inch display with 1080p resolution, a quad-core processor that is either the Snapdragon 800 or the Exynos 5 Octa processor, a 13MP camera, a Galaxy S4 design, and a launch date sometime in September, likely at IFA 2013 in Berlin at the beginning of that month.

The device is shaping up to be a juggernaut and one that should help continue Samsung’s run as the top phablet vendor on the planet. As we’ve said, there are plenty of reasons to wait for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. However, there is always a flip side.

Here, we take a look at the reasons why consumers shouldn’t wait for the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and its host of new features.

Why You Shouldn’t Wait for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is Still a Great

Plain and simple, the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is still a great device and will likely be suitable for a majority of those in the market for a large screen Samsung smartphone with a stylus.

The Galaxy Note 2′s 720p display likely won’t be as good as the one found on the Galaxy Note 3, but it’s still good nonetheless. Same goes for the camera. It’s not going to be as good, but it will do the job for those that don’t need the top of the line features. The Galaxy Note 2 is slim, it has a removable back and microSD card slot, it also has an ergonomic S Pen with a host of useful apps.

Furthermore, Samsung will likely update it with software not just from the Galaxy S4 but also from the Galaxy Note 3 as well which means that its life will be prolonged beyond the Galaxy Note 3′s arrival.

Keep in mind, this is a phone that is less than a year old. It also remains one of the best smartphones available on the market and buyers wouldn’t be wrong in adopting one instead of waiting for the Galaxy Note 3.

Samsung Galaxy S4 is Good and Similar

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 is one reason not to wait and the Samsung Galaxy S4 is another reason not to wait for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. Samsung has brought a few things to the Galaxy S series that will likely entice those that are looking for Galaxy Note like qualities from a smartphone.

First, the screen is 5-inches in size. That’s only .5 inches smaller than the display on the Galaxy Note 2 and likely around .7 to an inch smaller than the Galaxy Note 3. Indeed the Galaxy S4 display is big.

Second, Samsung has brought a number of Galaxy Note software features to the Galaxy S4 including the Multi-Window View feature and Air View, which allows users to hover over content to get a preview. With the Galaxy Note, users need to use the S Pen stylus to hover over content. On the Galaxy S4, users need only use their finger.

So what this means is that users will need to heavily weigh two things. Screen size and the stylus. The Galaxy S4 screen size is only a bit smaller and it can do many of the things that the Galaxy Note series can, including some features that were once unique to the S Pen.

Cheaper Options

With the Samsung Galaxy Note series reigning supreme, Samsung and the Galaxy Note 3 carriers will likely keep the price of the new Galaxy Note around the familiar $299.99 on-contract price point. For many, that’s an expensive price tag and one that will be hard to swallow if it indeed arrives. Fortunately, there are and will be cheaper options in the build up to the Galaxy Note 3′s arrival.

For instance, the Galaxy Note 2 price has dropped significantly since it was first released back in October and November. On some carriers, it’s sitting in the bargain bin. Other big screen smartphones like the LG Optimus G Pro are also fairly inexpensive and are viable options thanks to some heavy duty hardware and some useful software.

The Optimus G Pro is an alternative worth looking at.

The Galaxy S4 is also cheap through retailers and as we’ve pointed out, is a solid alternative for those looking to get a big screen smartphone made by Samsung. Also, the HTC One price is continually dropping and it’s a device that prospective Galaxy Note 3 buyers should take a look at as well.

Can’t/Don’t Want to Wait

The Galaxy Note 3 launch date could arrive in Berlin as well.

For many people, waiting simply isn’t an option. And while it would be nice to see the Galaxy Note 3 launch and release come in July, that’s simply not going to happen. All signs point to a launch and possible a release in September which means that those who own a broken smartphone will likely want to make a move now.

As we’ve said, there are a ton of other options on the table now and waiting three months or more with a broken smartphone is going to be torture. There is always a chance that the Galaxy Note 3 won’t live up to expectations meaning the wait won’t have been worth it.

Those who can’t spend a ton of money on a smartphone also likely won’t want to wait as the Galaxy Note 3 is very likely going to be as expensive as it always has been.

With the release likely coming in the fall, those that don’t want to wait will simply not want to wait, particularly those looking for the Verizon Galaxy Note 3. Verizon is typically last in line which means that we could see a release in October or November, nearly six months from now. For the patient type, it may be worth the wait, but again, there is a plethora of options on the table now.

You Don’t Want a Bigger Screen

Rumors suggest that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will have a bigger screen than the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, possibly a full inch bigger than the display on the older model. This isn’t confirmed, but it’s clear that Samsung will need to make a move to separate the Galaxy Note series from the Galaxy S series, the latter of which has seen its screen size bumped to 5-inches.

Now, the screen size increase doesn’t necessarily mean that the Galaxy Note 3 will be gigantic compared to the Galaxy Note 2. It will likely only be a bit bigger with Samsung increasing the height while slimming the device down. However, the overall footprint should be a tad bigger and if bigger than the Galaxy Note 2 doesn’t sound appetizing, it’s probably time to move on.

You Don’t Like Plastic

Those that don’t care for plastic designs aren’t going to want to wait for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. The Galaxy Note 3 is heavily rumored to have a design similar to the Galaxy S4 which likely means that it will carry a plastic design, like many Samsung devices do. For many, this won’t be an issue but for those looking for a premium design, like those found on the HTC One or iPhone 5, it isn’t likely to be found on the Galaxy Note 3.

The Galaxy Note 3 will likely have a plastic design.

Samsung is said to be exploring metal designs though they have all been rumored for next year.