The Note 7 is Samsung’s best device ever, and arguably the best big phone ever made. If that’s all you’re looking to know, then you can stop reading right now and go place your order. It will cost you $849 or more, depending on carrier, and can be preordered now. It will be available in stores starting on August 19th.
But it’s interesting to explore why the Note 7 is the best big phone ever. Samsung has more experience with big phones than any other company, and it is leveraging that to improve the big phone experience. It’s the only company that’s saying a big phone doesn’t have to feel like a big phone or be saddled with compromises often associated with them. Samsung wants you to have your cake and eat it too, and that cake’s flavor is the Note 7.
I tried a big phone for the first time. I bought a Nexus 6P, set my iPhone 6S aside. While Android is without a doubt the superior platform compared to iOS, the Nexus 6P just isn’t the right phone for me – it’s just too big. Big phones are heavy phones, and the whole experience just left my frustrated and annoyed. So for now, I’m back to the iPhone 6S, because despite the inferior software, the smaller size is just a lot more pleasant.
So, I gave the big phone so many people swear by a shot, and it didn’t work out for me.
I completely agree. I switched between Nexus 6p, 5x, and iphone 6s plus. I do agree that 6p was too big for me, and 5x has too many problems and it gets so slow sometimes when I even get an email. This was not only my problem, some of my colleges also experience the same thing. The bigger iphone is also too big to handle.
Lack of a good small ones like Nexus 5 is so bold right now in android market (I do not care much about those who do not provide software updates in timely manner). Maybe the next iteration of Nexus phones will provide something complete with the smaller phone.
Weird you mention the 5x problems. I have 3 (1 my wife, 1 myself, 1 my daughter) and no problems ever.
My old, but still great LG G2 is nearly the same size as the Iphone 6.
Best(Both, Worlds)
@Thom isn’t that the point of the review, that this is the first big phone that isn’t actually bigger than a normal phone? They say it’s much smaller than all the others.
Me, I’m happy with my BB Priv despite the slight bulk since I’m a keyboard diehard, but I’d be interested in checking out the in-hand feel of this thing in a store.
I’m seriously considering ordering this when my Note7 shows up.
http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/mobile-accessories/phones/galaxy-n…
interesting… i just looked up some reviews of the older models and it doesn’t seem as much of a compromise as i’d thought… somehow I imagined the keys would be mushy, but apparently they’re not. another thing to check out in person if i get a chance
It depends on what you want and on your personal preferences. I’ve moved from a Nexus 4 to a Nexus 5X and I still think the size of the Nexus 4 was perfect for me. My wife, on the other hand, loves her phablet and won’t go back to smaller phones. There’s no right answer.
I’m divided on it, personally. I’m currently using an iPhone 6S Plus and I like it for the most part. The larger battery was the reason I originally got it. I’m finding that the larger screen is easier on my large hands when I’m actually using the device. However, holding it to my ear and putting it in my pocket again when I’m done with it both are awkward to say the least. If battery life was equivalent, I’m not certain what choice I would make. I’ll stay with the larger ones until then though, as I really do care about the long hours it can handle.
Never mind. I had to support someone’s 3.5-inch phone today, and my fingers cover three letters on the keyboard! I forgot just how bad it was, apparently. I’ staying big.
I’m an Android user. I have had the G1, Magic… Nexus 5, Oneplus One, Nexus 5x, Nexus 6p, but I don’t see how Android is the superior platform. I like it because I can buy an excellent phone at 400 dollars, but not because Android is better than iOS IMHO.
Guess it depends on what you mean by ‘better’. I was thinking just this morning that Android allows me to install emulators, iOS does not.
Android isn’t owned by Apple, another benefit.
Having moved from several previous phones (with smaller screens) to a Note 3, a couple of years ago, I have always been quite happy with it. I wouldn’t move to a phone with a smaller screen. Also, it very much reduces the need for a tablet. I own one, but I could easily do without it.
My first “smartphone” was a Nokia N97. Eventually I learned to type on that keyboard.
Then came a great gift from the boss: Lumia 1020, 4.5″ inches and everyone with iPhones complained it was too big but I loved it
Then came a little gift from Japan: Lumia 1520, 6″ which I am loving even more
Every time the screen got bigger:
* The typing/swiping got easier, faster and more accurate
* The photoos/videos/games are nicer to look at
* Email/Notes are much more useful
* Browsing and Reading becomes much more relaxed.
I cannot imagine going anything smaller than 6″ in the future, probably 7″ would be my next. Just as long as it fits in my coat/pants-pocket
The Note 7 seems to have by far the best big-screen and pen/stylus implementation of any phone. They even thought of multi-window and minimize-for-thumb!
Edited 2016-08-18 14:12 UTC
Question though: how do you hold an 7-inch phone up to your ear to actually, you know, use it as a phone? 6 is probably as big as I could imagine going–big enough for my giant hands, small enough to hold up to my ear.
You hold it boombox style and speak like a rapper, dawg!! Also works for iPads (just rest em on your shoulder), though you’ll need baggier jeans for more street cred, word!!
Edited 2016-08-18 19:44 UTC
1) I hardly ever make regular phonecalls with the phone to my ear. Most of the time I use the bluetooth in the car or a bluetooth headset
2) Whenever I make I regular phonecall with the phone to my ear….I just hold it to my ear. I really don’t see the problem here. The phone is often in a big rubber bumpercase because I have baby-children that love killing electronics and it still fits in my normal sized hands. My wife is about 30 centimeter smaller than me and she uses the same 6″ phone for > 2 years now without any problem to hold it to her ear
3) I use Skype a lot so I aim the phone/camera at my children so the grandparents can see. Having a big phone with “picture in picture” works great
I am really confused. Why would holding a big phone to your ear be a problem? We are not talking 8″ tablet with big bezels here!
You’re confused because you didn’t read what I wrote. I said 6 is as big as I could imagine going. The problem isn’t whether a 7 (or larger) phone fits in your hand, but rather do you actually have room to hold it up to your head. Since you just said you use a 6-inch, you don’t have the answer.
As an experiment, I took an Amazon Kindle Fire and held it up to my ear, as if it were a phone. Just to see what it would feel like. It’s ridiculously awkward.
Thanks for using a Bluetooth headset in public though. So many of these idiots have their giant phone on speaker, making all of us hear their unimportant crap.