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Review Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo SM-N7505 Smartphone

Diet. Samsung offers light versions of its smartphone models under the product name Neo. The Galaxy Note 3 Neo is a slimmed down version of its big brother. The manufacturer has made cutbacks in many areas of the device, and only the wireless communication options and the typical Note S Pen remain untouched. Find out what limitations have to be accepted here.

For the original German review, see here.

Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo SM-N7505 is a light version of the popular Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005 that features high-end equipment in all areas. The review sample has also been slimmed down physically. It is slightly thinner and lighter, but also has a smaller, 5.5-inch touchscreen with a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. The biggest modifications are found inside the smartphone. The swift Snapdragon 800 is no longer installed; instead, Samsung uses its own processor with six cores (hexa-core). The working memory has been reduced to 2 GB, and the flash storage has been trimmed by 50 percent. The Neo only has 16 GB here. Those are only a few of the restraints compared with the big brother, which currently only costs 50 Euros (~$68) more. Since the RRP deviates by approximately 200 Euros (~$274), it can be presumed that the difference will increase in the future.

The contenders of the Note 3 Neo that feature an integrated stylus are in particular LG's G Pro Lite Dual (from 259 Euros; ~$355) and Asus' Fonepad Note 6 (from 249 Euros; ~$341). However, Nokia's Lumia 1320 and LG's G Pro are also interesting alternatives.

Case

The S Pen can be completely inserted in the casing.
The S Pen can be completely inserted in the casing.
A notch facilitates opening the device.
A notch facilitates opening the device.

The casing of Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo corresponds to that of its big brother, but it is a bit more compact due to the smaller screen and battery. The bezel is now sleek, and does not feature the wavy surface of the N9005. The metal look seems very genuine, and the quality build supports this illusion. It is nevertheless plastic.

The smartphone proved to be very stiff, and did not produce any noises when corresponding attempts were made. It is also pressure resistant. Waves or the like are not seen on the screen no matter whether pressure is applied to the screen or display bezel. The gaps are very accurate. Differences in the touchscreen's height are only seen when looking closely. But these discrepancies are below one millimeter.

The Note 3 Neo's battery is removable. The back cover has to be lifted off, and the corresponding notch considerably facilitates this. However, the cover is very thin and does not make a particularly stable impression when removing it. Nevertheless, the smartphone makes an overall very good impression.

Connectivity

Unlike the N9005, Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo does not feature a high-speed USB 3.0 port, but only offers the 2.0 standard. The port is OTG capable and supports connected input devices and USB flash drives.

The micro-SD card slot (SDHC, SDXC) accepts memory cards with up to 64 GB. The S Pen is below the display and can be completely inserted in the casing.

Upper edge: Audio, microphone, infrared
Upper edge: Audio, microphone, infrared
Left: Volume rocker
Left: Volume rocker
Lower edge: S Pen, speaker, USB 2.0, microphone
Lower edge: S Pen, speaker, USB 2.0, microphone
Right: Power
Right: Power

Software

Samsung relies on Google's Android 4.3 operating system, alongside its own TouchWiz interface, for the Galaxy Note 3 Neo. Besides that, loads of Samsung apps are installed, and unfortunately, some pre-loaded apps (bloatware) that cannot be deleted.

The software is identical with that of the Note 3 N9005. The Neo version also has the Multi-Window feature, and thus is capable of real multitasking. We did not discover the issue with the inserted memory card that led to a permanent indexing, which heavily loaded the system and quickly drained the battery.

App GPS Test outdoors
App GPS Test outdoors
App GPS Test indoors
App GPS Test indoors

Communication & GPS

The communication equipment of Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo SM-N7505 is very satisfactory, and is state-of-the-art. The Wi-Fi module supports the IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac standards, and thus transmits in both the 2.4 and 5.0 GHz frequencies. The components' range is very good. The reception was still decent and Internet browsing possible, even 30 meters (~98 feet) away from the router (Fritz!Box 6360) and through an exterior wall. A router that supports the higher-performance ac standard should achieve even longer ranges. The Note 3 Neo additionally supports Bluetooth 4.0, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, and NFC.

The smartphone's mobile data connections are also impressive. Both HSPA+ and LTE (cat. 4 max. 150 MBit/s) are supported with a wide frequency range. This should enable achieving the provider's best possible signal quality. The Internet connection can be shared with others via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or USB.

The smartphone can determine the position via both GPS and GLONASSSatellites were found very quickly and reliably even indoors. Unfortunately, this positive impression did not really continue in our practical test performed by bike. Compared with an iPhone 5c or the Garmin Edge 500 navigation system, the components in the Neo are a bit less accurate.

Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Garmin Edge 500
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
Basic phone app
Basic phone app

Telephony & Speech Quality

 

The phone app in Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo is clearly arranged and functionally designed, but looks somewhat nicer than the default version. The standard features for one-handed use are also available so that inputting with smaller hands is possible.

The smartphone's speech quality is at a good level in all areas. Only a quiet background noise is perceptible even when the device is held to the cheek, and noise canceling is enabled. The quality of the included headset surprised us positively, and will serve well.

Cameras & Multimedia

The front-facing camera of Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo has a resolution of 2 MP (1920x1080 pixels), and is well suited for video calls. Owing to the f/2.4 aperture, things can still be recognized even in weak light.

The primary camera has a maximum resolution of 8 MP (3264x2448 pixels, 4:3), and an aperture of f/2.6 as well as an ISO range of 100 to 800. Thus, it is not a low-light specialist. Nevertheless, it shoots decent pictures in good light conditions. The colors are a bit too intense, but do not look unnatural. Besides that, the outlines of high-detail objects blur easily, which is however only seen when looking closely. There are also several picture modes for fast and decent results, and even beginners can shoot usable photos. Videos are recorded in Full HD, but tend to overexpose.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo
Sony Alpha 57 (reference)
Sony Alpha 57 (reference)
Sony Alpha 57 (reference)
Sony Alpha 57 (reference)
Sony Alpha 57 (reference)
Sony Alpha 57 (reference)
Apple iPhone 5
Apple iPhone 5
Apple iPhone 5
Apple iPhone 5
Apple iPhone 5
Apple iPhone 5
Nokia Lumia 1020
Nokia Lumia 1020
Nokia Lumia 1020
Nokia Lumia 1020
Nokia Lumia 1020
Nokia Lumia 1020
Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung Galaxy S4
Samsung Galaxy S4

Accessories

There are not many accessories included, as usual. Besides a modular power supply with a power output of 10.6 Watts, we find the matching USB cord. It is for both charging Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo and data sharing with a computer. Besides that, the buyer gets a headset and quick start guide.

Warranty

Samsung includes a 24-month warranty on the smartphone. The battery, cords and headset are only covered for 6 months. It is a bring-in service that cannot be upgraded or extended.

Input Devices & Controls

The touchscreen in Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo enables smooth gliding, and responds quickly and accurately to inputs. The screen does not err even at its edges. Inputting on the screen is not only possible with the fingers, but also with the digitizer, dubbed S Pen. It is completely inserted into the casing. A small menu automatically opens on the screen when it is pulled out, and the most important options optimized for stylus input can be accessed. Thus, the Neo can be used as a simple notepad, but it is also possible to edit screenshots, and to forward them. The S Pen's pressure sensitivity makes it suitable for painting and sketching. The inputs are also accurate, although the screen sometimes responds only on the second try when it is touched too lightly. A bit of familiarization is needed in the beginning.

The virtual keyboard's keys are quite small, but in return, the gaps are quite generous. Typos are rare even in portrait mode. Typing in landscape mode is considerably more comfortable, but the visible content is minimal. Corresponding options for one-handed use can be enabled in the settings. Among other things, it allows dragging a smaller version of the keyboard back and forth, or to minimize the screen's entire content directly, in order to reach even the outermost corner with a thumb.

Portrait mode
Portrait mode
Portrait mode set for one-handed use
Portrait mode set for one-handed use
Landscape mode
Landscape mode
Zooming the screen's content
Zooming the screen's content

Display

The screen in Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo has a 5.5-inch size, and a resolution of 1280x720 pixels. This equals a pixel density of 267 ppi, which is quite sharp. The Note 3 N9005 (5.7", 1920x1080 pixels) has a slightly larger Full HD screen, but also uses the brilliant Super AMOLED technology. Samsung does not use break or scratch proof glass.

The screen's maximum brightness of 384 cd/m² is comparatively high for an OLED panel, but does not reach the brightness of an LCD screen. The competition relies on IPS screens, and thus their devices are often much brighter. Asus Fonepad Note 6 (max. 491 cd/m², 88%) is clearly superior, whereas LG's G Pro Lite (max. 409 cd/m², 79%) is only marginally brighter.

376
cd/m²
353
cd/m²
341
cd/m²
376
cd/m²
351
cd/m²
339
cd/m²
384
cd/m²
350
cd/m²
339
cd/m²
Distribution of brightness
tested with X-Rite i1Pro 2
Maximum: 384 cd/m² (Nits) Average: 356.6 cd/m²
Brightness Distribution: 88 %
Center on Battery: 351 cd/m²
Contrast: ∞:1 (Black: 0 cd/m²)
ΔE Color 5.43 | 0.5-29.43 Ø5
ΔE Greyscale 4.84 | 0.57-98 Ø5.3
Gamma: 2.42

Black is always deep black on an OLED screen. Nothing shines through here (0.0 cd/m²), which results in an extremely high contrast ratio with a theoretical tendency to infinity, and which is no longer measurable.

The color accuracy of Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo is quite decent, but a bit unnaturally rich. There are minor shifts in all areas. The light bluish cast is noticed in the grayscale, and blue has the highest rate also in the RGB balance. However, this is not noticed adversely in use.

Grayscale (target color space: sRGB)
Grayscale (target color space: sRGB)
Color accuracy (target color space: sRGB)
Color accuracy (target color space: sRGB)
Color saturation (target color space: sRGB)
Color saturation (target color space: sRGB)
Mixed colors (target color space: sRGB)
Mixed colors (target color space: sRGB)

Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo defies even bright ambient light outdoors. Although the screen is reflective, its good brightness and extreme contrast compensate so well that restrictions will only have to be reckoned with in direct sunlight.

The N7505 outdoors.
The N7505 outdoors.
Viewing angles: Note 3 Neo
Viewing angles: Note 3 Neo

The viewing angle stability of Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo is very good. That is not very surprising considering the underlying Super AMOLED technology. A minor brightness loss occurs from an angle of 40 degrees. In addition, a light shadow effect is visible from a viewing angle of approximately 120 degrees. It is caused by the gap between the screen and glass. However, this is complaining on a high level, and considerably more pronounced in other devices.

Performance

Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo relies on a homemade processor called Samsung Exynos 5260. At first glance, it looks like a hexa-core CPU, but it is actually a 4 + 2 core system. The SoC works with a quad-core processor that uses ARM Cortex-A7 cores with a clock of up to 1.3 GHz each. Besides that, two Cortex-A15 cores are integrated that operate at 1.7 GHz. Owing to GTS (global task scheduling), it is possible to temporarily use all cores at the same time, and thus increase the performance for a short time.

We experienced problems in the Linpack benchmark. Although the algorithm started, the results ascertained in the single and multi-core scores were virtually identical, and will therefore be neglected. Otherwise, the CPU performance is on par with that of a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800. The Exynos 5260 is within the same range as the premium devices Note 3 N9005 (AnTuTu: 31725, PassMark: 14220) and Sony Xperia Z Ultra (AnTuTu: 23872, PassMark: 15999) with 31228 points in AnTuTu v4 and 15547 points in the PassMark CPU test.

An ARM Mali-T624 graphics unit is installed. The GPU is clearly weaker than the Adreno 330, and performs in the area of the Qualcomm Adreno 320. Thus, the installed graphics chipset has decent performance, and supports the OpenGL ES 3.0 standard. Unfortunately, it is yet unknown how many cores the GPU sports. Samsung has not answered up to now.

However, it supplied good scores in the benchmarks, and places itself in the midfield. The Neo benefits from its low resolution in the onscreen tests in contrast to the premium models. In return, the stronger devices outperform it in the off-screen tests.

PassMark PerformanceTest Mobile V1 - CPU Tests (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505
15547 Points
LG Optimus G Pro Lite Dual D686
3492 Points -78%
Huawei Ascend Mate
9078 Points -42%
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G)
11276 Points -27%
LG Optimus G Pro E986
10550 Points -32%
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005
14220 Points -9%
Sony Xperia Z Ultra
15999 Points +3%
AnTuTu v4 - Total Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505
31228 Points
LG Optimus G Pro Lite Dual D686
8526 Points -73%
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G)
21093 Points -32%
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005
31725 Points +2%
Sony Xperia Z Ultra
32872 Points +5%
3DMark
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505
9345 Points
LG Optimus G Pro Lite Dual D686
662 Points -93%
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G)
7221 Points -23%
Sony Xperia Z Ultra
16907 Points +81%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505
9931 Points
LG Optimus G Pro Lite Dual D686
536 Points -95%
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G)
6595 Points -34%
Sony Xperia Z Ultra
17791 Points +79%
1280x720 offscreen Ice Storm Unlimited Physics (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505
7745 Points
LG Optimus G Pro Lite Dual D686
3683 Points -52%
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G)
10809 Points +40%
Sony Xperia Z Ultra
14403 Points +86%
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
1920x1080 T-Rex Offscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505
14.2 fps
Huawei Ascend Mate
22 fps +55%
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G)
8.9 fps -37%
LG Optimus G Pro E986
11 fps -23%
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005
24 fps +69%
Sony Xperia Z Ultra
21 fps +48%
T-Rex Onscreen (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505
24.4 fps
Huawei Ascend Mate
35 fps +43%
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G)
9.2 fps -62%
LG Optimus G Pro E986
11 fps -55%
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005
25 fps +2%
Sony Xperia Z Ultra
22 fps -10%

Legend

 
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505 Samsung Exynos 5260 Hexa, ARM Mali-T624, 16 GB eMMC Flash
 
LG Optimus G Pro Lite Dual D686 MediaTek MT6577, PowerVR SGX531, 8 GB SSD
 
Huawei Ascend Mate HiSilicon k3v2 Hi3620, Vivante GC4000, 8 GB SSD
 
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G) Intel Atom Z2580, PowerVR SGX544MP2, 16 GB iNAND Flash
 
LG Optimus G Pro E986 Qualcomm Snapdragon 600 APQ8064T, Qualcomm Adreno 320, 16 GB SSD
 
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005 Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974, Qualcomm Adreno 330, 32 GB SSD
 
Sony Xperia Z Ultra Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974, Qualcomm Adreno 330, 16 GB SSD

The browser benchmarks were performed using Google's Chrome 33, and delivered good scores. The review sample is unrivaled in the comparison field in Google Octane V1 and Peacekeeper, which is likely due to the newer browser generation. The platform differences are also noticed here. For example, Nokia's Lumia 1320 Windows phone is faster than the contenders in Sunspider 1.0.

Octane V1 - Total Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505
Mali-T624, 5260 Hexa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
4659 Points
Nokia Lumia 1320
Adreno 305, 400 8930AB, 8 GB SSD
779 Points -83%
LG Optimus G Pro Lite Dual D686
SGX531, MT6577, 8 GB SSD
2052 Points -56%
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
2349 Points -50%
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G)
SGX544MP2, Z2580, 16 GB iNAND Flash
3546 Points -24%
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005
Adreno 330, 800 MSM8974, 32 GB SSD
3743 Points -20%
Peacekeeper - --- (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505
Mali-T624, 5260 Hexa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
822 Points
Nokia Lumia 1320
Adreno 305, 400 8930AB, 8 GB SSD
391 Points -52%
LG Optimus G Pro Lite Dual D686
SGX531, MT6577, 8 GB SSD
506 Points -38%
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
580 Points -29%
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G)
SGX544MP2, Z2580, 16 GB iNAND Flash
734 Points -11%
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005
Adreno 330, 800 MSM8974, 32 GB SSD
731 Points -11%
Browsermark - --- (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505
Mali-T624, 5260 Hexa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1981 points
Nokia Lumia 1320
Adreno 305, 400 8930AB, 8 GB SSD
1000 points -50%
LG Optimus G Pro Lite Dual D686
SGX531, MT6577, 8 GB SSD
1512 points -24%
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
2065 points +4%
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G)
SGX544MP2, Z2580, 16 GB iNAND Flash
2157 points +9%
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005
Adreno 330, 800 MSM8974, 32 GB SSD
2977 points +50%
Sunspider - 1.0 Total Score (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505
Mali-T624, 5260 Hexa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
999 ms *
Nokia Lumia 1320
Adreno 305, 400 8930AB, 8 GB SSD
701 ms * +30%
LG Optimus G Pro Lite Dual D686
SGX531, MT6577, 8 GB SSD
1345 ms * -35%
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
1408 ms * -41%
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G)
SGX544MP2, Z2580, 16 GB iNAND Flash
857 ms * +14%
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005
Adreno 330, 800 MSM8974, 32 GB SSD
1003 ms * -0%

* ... smaller is better

16 GB of flash memory are integrated in Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo. Approximately 11.2 GB are available after initial use. Although the storage's speed is not quite as swift as that of its big brother, it is still fast in the comparison field. LG's G Pro and Asus' Note 6 are only faster in reading small files (4k).

The storage can be expanded up to 64 GB via the micro-SD slot should the internal storage not be enough.

AndroBench 3-5
Random Read 4KB (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505
Mali-T624, 5260 Hexa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
10.25 MB/s
LG Optimus G Pro Lite Dual D686
SGX531, MT6577, 8 GB SSD
9.38 MB/s -8%
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
13.31 MB/s +30%
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G)
SGX544MP2, Z2580, 16 GB iNAND Flash
10.31 MB/s +1%
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005
Adreno 330, 800 MSM8974, 32 GB SSD
16.05 MB/s +57%
Random Write 4KB (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505
Mali-T624, 5260 Hexa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
1.21 MB/s
LG Optimus G Pro Lite Dual D686
SGX531, MT6577, 8 GB SSD
0.78 MB/s -36%
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
1.15 MB/s -5%
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G)
SGX544MP2, Z2580, 16 GB iNAND Flash
0.98 MB/s -19%
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005
Adreno 330, 800 MSM8974, 32 GB SSD
2.21 MB/s +83%
Sequential Read 256KB (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505
Mali-T624, 5260 Hexa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
97 MB/s
LG Optimus G Pro Lite Dual D686
SGX531, MT6577, 8 GB SSD
30.49 MB/s -69%
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
69.5 MB/s -28%
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G)
SGX544MP2, Z2580, 16 GB iNAND Flash
69.6 MB/s -28%
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005
Adreno 330, 800 MSM8974, 32 GB SSD
107.5 MB/s +11%
Sequential Write 256KB (sort by value)
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505
Mali-T624, 5260 Hexa, 16 GB eMMC Flash
13.93 MB/s
LG Optimus G Pro Lite Dual D686
SGX531, MT6577, 8 GB SSD
13.93 MB/s 0%
LG Optimus G Pro E986
Adreno 320, 600 APQ8064T, 16 GB SSD
11.48 MB/s -18%
Asus Fonepad Note FHD 6 ME560CG (K00G)
SGX544MP2, Z2580, 16 GB iNAND Flash
13.74 MB/s -1%
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 SM-N9005
Adreno 330, 800 MSM8974, 32 GB SSD
29.08 MB/s +109%

Games

The gaming performance of Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo is quite good due to the installed ARM Mali-T624. There will not be any problems with games from the Play Store because a smooth result is still achieved even using high texture details in the Epic Citadel benchmark (ultra high quality: 33.7 fps).

The good touchscreen, and well-working sensors aptly round off gaming fun.

Epic Citadel (High Performance)
Epic Citadel (High Performance)
Epic Citadel (High Quality)
Epic Citadel (High Quality)
Epic Citadel (Ultra High Quality)
Epic Citadel (Ultra High Quality)

Emissions

Temperature

The surface temperature of Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo ranges from 26 to 30 °C (78.8 to 86 °F) in idle mode. That is still within an uncritical area. The rates are virtually identical with the SM-N9005.

The rates increase up to 41.2 °C (106.16 °F) in the receiver's vicinity during load. This temperature is not critical, although it is slightly higher than in the Note 3 (max. 39.1 °C; 102.38 °F), and somewhat warmer than the contenders from Asus (max. 38.4 °C; 101.2 °F) and LG (max. 39.5 °C; 103.1 °F). However, these high surface temperatures are only reached in long-lasting load, for example during games.

 29.7 °C
85 F
28.1 °C
83 F
27 °C
81 F
 
 30.3 °C
87 F
28.2 °C
83 F
27.2 °C
81 F
 
 29.9 °C
86 F
28.1 °C
83 F
26.8 °C
80 F
 
Maximum: 30.3 °C = 87 F
Average: 28.4 °C = 83 F
25.9 °C
79 F
27.4 °C
81 F
28.8 °C
84 F
25.9 °C
79 F
28.1 °C
83 F
28.4 °C
83 F
26.1 °C
79 F
27.4 °C
81 F
29 °C
84 F
Maximum: 29 °C = 84 F
Average: 27.4 °C = 81 F
Power Supply (max.)  28.6 °C = 83 F | Room Temperature 21.1 °C = 70 F | Voltcraft IR-350
(±) The average temperature for the upper side under maximal load is 35.1 °C / 95 F, compared to the average of 32.7 °C / 91 F for the devices in the class Smartphone.
(±) The maximum temperature on the upper side is 41.2 °C / 106 F, compared to the average of 35 °C / 95 F, ranging from 21.9 to 56 °C for the class Smartphone.
(+) The bottom heats up to a maximum of 38.2 °C / 101 F, compared to the average of 33.8 °C / 93 F
(+) In idle usage, the average temperature for the upper side is 28.4 °C / 83 F, compared to the device average of 32.7 °C / 91 F.

Speakers

We did not expect the mono speaker of Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo to be a sound talent. However, it certainly could have been better. Although bass is relatively clear, the rest of the sound spectrum is very muddy. Playing music is more an annoyance, particularly in maximum volume, and sounds muffled and jarring.

The included in-ear headset makes a good impression though, and it is quite suitable for playing music. The audio jack also does a faultless job.

Energy Management

Power Consumption

The power consumption of Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo is slightly higher than that of the SM-N9005. It already consumes between 0.9 and 1.7 Watts in idle mode. The flagship only needs a maximum of 1.4 Watts. Nevertheless, it is a good rate.

The rates climb up to 5.9 Watts during load. The larger model (max. 6.5 W) is a bit more power hungry here, but it also features a much stronger graphics unit and a somewhat bigger screen. The energy requirement in a turned off state and in standby of 0.1 W is acceptable. The power supply's output of 10.6 Watts (5.3 volts, 2.0 ampere) is designed sufficiently.

Power Consumption
Off / Standbydarklight 0.1 / 0.1 Watt
Idledarkmidlight 0.9 / 1.2 / 1.7 Watt
Load midlight 3.8 / 5.9 Watt
 color bar
Key: min: dark, med: mid, max: light        Voltcraft VC 940
Currently we use the Metrahit Energy, a professional single phase power quality and energy measurement digital multimeter, for our measurements. Find out more about it here. All of our test methods can be found here.

Battery Runtime

The 3100 mAh (11.78 Wh, 3.8 V) removable battery of Samsung's Galaxy Note 3 Neo is strong. We ascertained the smartphone's maximum runtime using minimum brightness and only Wi-Fi on. A script that simulates reading a book ran in the browser. The battery was drained after over 18 hours. We determined the Neo's minimum runtime using maximum brightness and all energy consumers on in the opposite scenario. Here, the battery was drained within four hours and 13 minutes via the Stability Test app.

The Wi-Fi test is more real-life. The screen's brightness was set to 150 cd/m², and all energy consumers except Wi-Fi were disabled. A script that opens a new website every 40 seconds was started. The SM-N7505 was drained after 13.5 hours; a very good rate that only the SM-N9005 (18 h) surpasses in the comparison field. The Fonepad Note 6 (9 h 30 min) and G Pro Lite (11 h 35 min) do not last as long. All in all, a very good performance from the review sample.

Battery Runtime
Idle (without WLAN, min brightness)
18h 12min
WiFi Surfing
13h 26min
Big Buck Bunny H.264 1080p
5h 43min
Load (maximum brightness)
4h 13min

Verdict

In Review: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo SM-N7505.
In Review: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo SM-N7505.

The South Korean manufacturer presents a nicely conceived smartphone with stylus input with the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo SM-N7505. Samsung's new processor provides high performance in the application field. The screen is of a good standard, and only exhibits minor weaknesses in color reproduction. The lowered resolution compared with the SM-N9005 is not really noticed unfavorably.

The smartphone's mobile communication interfaces are particularly great. High-speed LTE and wide frequency coverage barely leave anything to be desired. Everything is state-of-the-art here, and functions perfectly. The build is also of a high standard, and demonstrates that a plastic casing can also be compelling. Additionally, the battery runtimes are quite good.

The biggest point of criticism is certainly that the cutbacks made in GPU, flash memory, RAM, screen and omission of USB 3.0 resulted in such a small price reduction. The series' flagship only costs 50 Euros (~$68) more. The contenders that also offer a stylus are in an even different price range, and it is thus difficult to consider them the Neo's direct rivals. Samsung's smartphone represents a different league, particularly in terms of communication.

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In Review: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo SM-N7505. Review sample courtesy of Cyberport.de
In Review: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo SM-N7505. Review sample courtesy of Cyberport.de

Specifications

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505 (Galaxy Note Series)
Processor
Samsung Exynos 5260 Hexa 6 x 1.7 GHz, Cortex-A15
Graphics adapter
ARM Mali-T624, OpenGL ES 3.0
Memory
2048 MB 
Display
5.50 inch 16:9, 1280 x 720 pixel, capacitive touchscreen, 10 touch points, Super AMOLED, glossy: yes
Storage
16 GB eMMC Flash, 16 GB 
, 11.2 GB free
Connections
1 USB 2.0, Audio Connections: combo headphone and microphone jack, Card Reader: micro-SD max. 64 GB (SD, SDHC, SDXC), Sensors: accelerometer, ambient light, orientation, proximity and sound sensor, magnetometer, gyroscope, NFC
Networking
802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (a/b/g/n = Wi-Fi 4/ac = Wi-Fi 5/), Bluetooth 4.0, GSM (850, 900, 1800 and 1900 MHz), HSPA+ (850, 900, 1900 and 2100 MHz), LTE Cat. 4 (800, 850, 900, 1800, 2100 and 2600 MHz); head SAR : 0.392 W/kg, body SAR: 0.705 W/kg
Size
height x width x depth (in mm): 8.1 x 148.4 x 77.4 ( = 0.32 x 5.84 x 3.05 in)
Battery
12 Wh Lithium-Ion, 3.8 volt, 3100 mAh
Operating System
Android 4.3
Camera
Webcam: Rear: 8 MP (3264 x 2448), Autofocus, LED Flash, 1080p video, Front: 2 MP (1672 x 1256)
Additional features
Speakers: one mono-speaker, Keyboard: virtual keyboard, power supply (5.3 V, 2.0 A, 10.6 W), USB cord, in-ear headset, S Pen commands, S Voice, Air View, Pop up Play, S Translator, Smart Stay, Story Album, S Health, Multi Window, WatchON and bloatware, 24 Months Warranty
Weight
162 g ( = 5.71 oz / 0.36 pounds), Power Supply: 61 g ( = 2.15 oz / 0.13 pounds)
Price
579 Euro

 

No surprises to be found among the accessories.
No surprises to be found among the accessories.
The Note 3 Neo has a 5.5-inch screen size
The Note 3 Neo has a 5.5-inch screen size
The resolution of the Super AMOLED is 1280 x 720 pixels.
The resolution of the Super AMOLED is 1280 x 720 pixels.
Using it with a digitizer is also possible.
Using it with a digitizer is also possible.
A quick menu is opened when the S Pen is pulled out.
A quick menu is opened when the S Pen is pulled out.
There are two sensor buttons and physical home button.
There are two sensor buttons and physical home button.
The sensor buttons only light up for a moment when touched.
The sensor buttons only light up for a moment when touched.
The leather look on the back is a matter of taste.
The leather look on the back is a matter of taste.
The S Pen can be completely inserted in the casing.
The S Pen can be completely inserted in the casing.
The digitizer is quite comfortable to hold.
The digitizer is quite comfortable to hold.
An LED flash supports the 8 MP camera.
An LED flash supports the 8 MP camera.
A notch facilitates removing the back cover.
A notch facilitates removing the back cover.
The battery, micro-SD, and micro-SIM slot are underneath the cover.
The battery, micro-SD, and micro-SIM slot are underneath the cover.
The battery is easy to replace.
The battery is easy to replace.
SIM and card slot are stacked.
SIM and card slot are stacked.
The 3100 mAh battery is generously sized.
The 3100 mAh battery is generously sized.
S Pen
S Pen
Home screen
Home screen
Home screen with opened multi-window bar.
Home screen with opened multi-window bar.
The screen content can be minimized for easier one-hand use.
The screen content can be minimized for easier one-hand use.
Geekbench 3
Geekbench 3
3DMark
3DMark
GFXBench 3.0
GFXBench 3.0

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Links

  • Manufacturer's information

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Pros

+Great application performance
+Good battery runtimes
+Decent screen
+HSPA+ and LTE cat 4 with wide frequency coverage
+Expandable storage
+Removable battery
+Many communication interfaces
+S Pen
 

Cons

-Price not much lower than the flagship's
-Poor speakers
-Camera's middling video quality
-Casing's thin back seems brittle during opening
-Bloatware

Shortcut

What we like

The communication interfaces are wide-ranging, and state-of-the-art.

What we'd like to see

A somewhat better camera could certainly have been installed in this price range. Particularly the video could be better.

What surprises us

The Note 3 Neo does not really have a right to exist because it costs almost as much as the much better equipped Note 3 SM-N9005. The device might get interesting when the price difference increases.

The competition

The contenders are: Asus Fonepad Note 6, LG G Pro Lite Dual, Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Note 2, Sony Xperia Z Ultra, Huawei Ascend Mate, and Nokia Lumia 1320.

Rating

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo N7505 - 04/30/2014 v4(old)
Daniel Schmidt

Chassis
83%
Keyboard
69 / 75 → 92%
Pointing Device
89%
Connectivity
55 / 60 → 92%
Weight
91%
Battery
92%
Display
83%
Games Performance
57 / 63 → 90%
Application Performance
41 / 70 → 59%
Temperature
88%
Noise
100%
Audio
50 / 91 → 55%
Camera
69%
Average
74%
83%
Smartphone - Weighted Average
Daniel Schmidt, 2014-04- 3 (Update: 2018-05-15)