How does the Note II hardware stack up today?

[poofyhairguy]

I disagree, the fact that there are new phones every 6 months means that you can get away with buying an older phone. Software doesn't change that quickly in that you always need the newest phone. Without apps programmed to take advantage of the extra power then the extra power isn't much of a benefit.

With saying that, if you want a faster phone then go ahead and get it, but picking up a great phone from last year is still a good choice.

I agree 100% that a phone from last year has value. I guess my beef is that the Note 2 doesn't reflect that as much when you look at subsidized pricing.

On Verizon's website a Note 2 is $200, the same price as a S4 (a phone almost twice as powerful). Meanwhile the S3 is showing some last year value at $100.

If you need HUGE and you need a pen, its the Note 2 or wait for the Note 3. That doesn't change the fact that the Note 2 is more than halfway through its product life.

 

[ControlD]

I agree 100% that a phone from last year has value. I guess my beef is that the Note 2 doesn't reflect that as much when you look at subsidized pricing.

On Verizon's website a Note 2 is $200, the same price as a S4 (a phone almost twice as powerful). Meanwhile the S3 is showing some last year value at $100.

If you need HUGE and you need a pen, its the Note 2 or wait for the Note 3. That doesn't change the fact that the Note 2 is more than halfway through its product life.

I think your point is perfectly valid. As with any tech purchase the game is generally to get the best bang for your buck and avoid obsolesence as long as possible. Looking at the phones Verizon has out right now, the S4 probably fits that description better than anything else. I was fully expecting the S4 to be $100 more than the Note too, so that is a surprise.

I'm not even 100% sure why I want the Note. I think perhaps because it is pretty much the "Anti-iPhone" if that makes sense. And I don't have anything against the iPhone, it has served me well. But when I held the Note and my 4S at the same time I had to laugh a little bit. The Note is outrageous and fun. I figure if I am going to venture out of my comfort zone, why not go all the way? It is entirely possible that the S4 would give me the same experience and I will certainly try one out when I hit the Verizon store!

 

[s44]

I agree 100% that a phone from last year has value. I guess my beef is that the Note 2 doesn't reflect that as much when you look at subsidized pricing.

This is definitely true, which is why I told him to save the upgrade and go with Swappa.

Upgrades are only basically worth it at two points: on device release and when the first $50/$1 sale hits at Amazon/Best Buy.

 

[Zaap]

Buy an S4 at the subsidized price- play with it for a few weeks, sell it, buy a used Note 2. You'll probably pocket a tidy little profit.

 

[ControlD]

Buy an S4 at the subsidized price- play with it for a few weeks, sell it, buy a used Note 2. You'll probably pocket a tidy little profit.

That's not a bad idea.

 

[Chocu1a]

Buy an S4 at the subsidized price- play with it for a few weeks, sell it, buy a used Note 2. You'll probably pocket a tidy little profit.

But he will still lose unlimited data.

 

[poofyhairguy]

But he will still lose unlimited data.

He is on a limited plan.

I will say this thread got me to look on Ebay for unlimited plans. Verizon unlimited goes for $300+ and AT&T unlimited goes for $500+. Looks like I will keep my AT&T plan forever.

 

[ControlD]

But he will still lose unlimited data.

I don't have, nor did I ever have, unlimited data. I got into the game too late to qualify for it. To make matters worse, my wife upgraded to a S3 last year and lost her unlimited data too.

 

[ControlD]

He is on a limited plan.

I will say this thread got me to look on Ebay for unlimited plans. Verizon unlimited goes for $300+ and AT&T unlimited goes for $500+. Looks like I will keep my AT&T plan forever.

You can buy other people's data plans? I used to think I knew at least a little bit about the mobile space but it appears I know next to nothing ...

 

[Bman123]

We are to the point now where the software needs to take advantage of the hardware. I bought a new note 2 over the S4 last week. I went from a dual core phone to a quad core phone. The note 2 is smooth, s pen it's awesome, the battery life is amazing I go a full day easily between charges, the screen is huge and great. So what if it's only 720p, the shit is still HD

Too many people are spec whores here, with android no matter what you buy its being passed up by a faster cpu or gpu in no time. If you like the note 2 get one from Amazon wireless last I checked they were only $99 New

 

[Kenmitch]

We are to the point now where the software needs to take advantage of the hardware. I bought a new note 2 over the S4 last week. I went from a dual core phone to a quad core phone. The note 2 is smooth, s pen it's awesome, the battery life is amazing I go a full day easily between charges, the screen is huge and great. So what if it's only 720p, the shit is still HD

Too many people are spec whores here, with android no matter what you buy its being passed up by a faster cpu or gpu in no time. If you like the note 2 get one from Amazon wireless last I checked they were only $99 New

I agree with the above statement. Doing the normal things that most people do on phones most any phone with a dual core SOC running ICS or better is good enough.

I just let my son upgrade his line on my ATT family plan. He went from a Blackberry to a Galaxy S3 and is totally blown away by what he was missing! Of course it was only $41 out the door at Samsclub 🙂

Saying that....I got the LG Optimus G Pro for the screen size only. Most of my phone use is surfing the web during slow times at work! Didn't need the power but craved a larger screen. Was eyeing the Note II for the longest time but wasn't willing to pay the price ATT wanted at the time. Of course now it's the same price(or cheaper) as the LG Optimus G Pro on ATT but figured the G Pro was more current and had a better screen....The SPEN would have been nice to have but not sure it would have gotten much use by me anyways.

 

[ponyo]

He is on a limited plan.

I will say this thread got me to look on Ebay for unlimited plans. Verizon unlimited goes for $300+ and AT&T unlimited goes for $500+. Looks like I will keep my AT&T plan forever.

I rather have the Verizon unlimited than AT&T unlimited. From what I've read, Verizon unlimited is truly unlimited with no throttling. AT&T will text you and throttle you after 5 gigs even on unlimited. I would pay the $300 to buy the Verizon plan. I wouldn't pay a penny for the AT&T plan.

 

[Bman123]

I agree with the above statement. Doing the normal things that most people do on phones most any phone with a dual core SOC running ICS or better is good enough.

I just let my son upgrade his line on my ATT family plan. He went from a Blackberry to a Galaxy S3 and is totally blown away by what he was missing! Of course it was only $41 out the door at Samsclub 🙂

Saying that....I got the LG Optimus G Pro for the screen size only. Most of my phone use is surfing the web during slow times at work! Didn't need the power but craved a larger screen. Was eyeing the Note II for the longest time but wasn't willing to pay the price ATT wanted at the time. Of course now it's the same price(or cheaper) as the LG Optimus G Pro on ATT but figured the G Pro was more current and had a better screen....The SPEN would have been nice to have but not sure it would have gotten much use by me anyways.

I use the s pen every day numerous times a day, I love that thing. I had the choice of s4 or note 2 for free and I picked the note 2 due to the screen size and s pen plus the s4 camera has a nature field of view

 

[dlock13]

Not to take over, but do you think trading a Droid DNA for a Note 2 is a viable idea?

The one reason I think I'd do it is because you can get AOSP on there, and the Note 2 is holding it's value more so than the DNA.

 

[Red Storm]

Not to take over, but do you think trading a Droid DNA for a Note 2 is a viable idea?

The one reason I think I'd do it is because you can get AOSP on there, and the Note 2 is holding it's value more so than the DNA.

I would make that trade 100 out of 100 times.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I rather have the Verizon unlimited than AT&T unlimited. From what I've read, Verizon unlimited is truly unlimited with no throttling. AT&T will text you and throttle you after 5 gigs even on unlimited. I would pay the $300 to buy the Verizon plan. I wouldn't pay a penny for the AT&T plan.

I think the AT&T plans go for more because part of what you are selling is not just the account but an upgrade for the account. I just upgraded to a S4 three weeks ago on AT&T and kept my unlimited plan.

 

[poofyhairguy]

I would make that trade 100 out of 100 times.

Me too.

 

[Red Storm]

I think the AT&T plans go for more because part of what you are selling is not just the account but an upgrade for the account. I just upgraded to a S4 three weeks ago on AT&T and kept my unlimited plan.

But it's not really unlimited, they throttle you after 5GB. Verizon unlimited is really that, unlimited.

 

[s44]

I rather have the Verizon unlimited than AT&T unlimited. From what I've read, Verizon unlimited is truly unlimited with no throttling. AT&T will text you and throttle you after 5 gigs even on unlimited. I would pay the $300 to buy the Verizon plan. I wouldn't pay a penny for the AT&T plan.

Yes, but this isn't out of the goodness of Verizon's heart -- it's because of the terms of the auction by which Verizon won their LTE band.

The FCC won't *let* them throttle or limit or otherwise mess with LTE over that band for anything besides general slowdowns to prevent network overload.

 

[Bman123]

Not to take over, but do you think trading a Droid DNA for a Note 2 is a viable idea?

The one reason I think I'd do it is because you can get AOSP on there, and the Note 2 is holding it's value more so than the DNA.

If it's a even trade and the phone is in great shape I'd do it in a heartbeat. Dna in my area sell for $300 all day compared to the note 2 going for $500

 

[Zaap]

I use the s pen every day numerous times a day, I love that thing.

Same here. I love that the notes app can be launched simply by removing the pen. 9 times out of 10 these days when I need to jot something down I'm reaching for the pen first.

 

[Red Storm]

Same here. I love that the notes app can be launched simply by removing the pen. 9 times out of 10 these days when I need to jot something down I'm reaching for the pen first.

The S Pen was awesome when I had my Note 2. Wish all phones had that...

 

[jacktesterson]

I owned 2 different Note II's at different times.

S-Pen is neat - but I found myself never using it. Just my 2 cents.

 

[dawheat]

I owned 2 different Note II's at different times.

S-Pen is neat - but I found myself never using it. Just my 2 cents.

Surprisingly I find I use it mostly at work to take notes in occasional meetings instead of lugging around my laptop. But yeah, not an everyday thing.

 

[Eruditass]

High end hardware from a couple years ago still is pretty overkill for most people.

The S-Pen for me is the biggest draw to the Note series, much more than the big screen.