Samsung’s Galaxy Note 2 has won hearts all over the world, notwithstanding its price-tag. But today, we’re comparing the Galaxy Note 2 with some of the more affordable best-selling tablets to see if they’d make for a suitable alternative instead. So, do the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD stand a chance against this bestselling phablet?
Form factor: Now, the main differentiator between the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD is that the former can be used as a smartphone. So, you can make calls, send and receive SMS’s, in addition to doing everything else that a tablet does. But, it does have a smaller screen than the tablets. While the Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD have 7-inch displays, the Galaxy Note 2 is smaller, with a 5.55-inch display. All these devices have full HD displays, but the Galaxy Note 2 pips the others with its 265 ppi resolution against their 216 ppi resolution screens. In addition, it comes with the S-Pen functionality, which can be used for easy note taking and scribbling on the device.
Tech specs: In terms of processing power, the Galaxy Note 2 packs a punch with its quad-core processor and 2 GB of RAM, making it suitable for those looking to run very heavy apps smoothly. However, if intense processing is not what you want, and you’re primarily looking for a decent device for gaming, email, browsing, etc. the Nexus 7 with its quad-core processor and 1 GB of RAM, or the Kindle Fire HD with its dual-core processor and 1 GB of RAM should suffice comfortably.
In terms of internal storage, Samsung has put in 64 GB of memory within the Galaxy Note 2 and has also included a microSD card slot, should you require more space. The Nexus 7 and Kindle Fire HD are available with space only up to 32 GB for the high end models.
Camera: Without a doubt, the phablet has a superior camera – an 8 MP one in the rear as well as a 1.9 MP front-facing camera. But, if you are happy with your current smartphone and are just looking for a device that can let you access the internet, we don’t think you’d be too disheartened with both tablets’ front cameras.
The Kindle Fire HD still runs on Android 4.0, while the Nexus 7 is available with Android 4.2 and the Galaxy Note 2 runs on Android 4.1.2. Both the tablets are available in the $199-$299 range, while the Galaxy Note 2 will set you back by over $800 for the unlocked version.
