Samsung is expected to release a Galaxy Note 3 Lite soon, with many pundits hoping for a Q1 2014 release. With the belief that we’ll see it at MWC — where we saw the Note 3 and Galaxy Gear come to light — new details have leaked out that note one important spec for the new variant to Samsung’s largest phone. If you’re expecting to be wowed, it’s probably best to go ahead and dial it back a bit.
SamMobile got hold of a User Agent Profile for the SM-N750, which is a non LTE version of the Note 3 Lite. As it’s hard to think they’d produce different specs for an LTE version, we’ll go ahead and consider these simply the working specs for the Note 3 Lite. Perhaps the most easily dismissed of the specs is Android 4.3, which the device is currently running. By the time of launch, we’re expecting to see Android 4.4 and a (hopefully updated) TouchWiz.
The real let-down here is the screen, which could be 720p (line of code: <prf:BrowserScreenSize>1280×720</prf:BrowserScreenSize>). For something the size of a Note, 720p is pretty pixelated. A reduced pixel density is not going to make this one a go-to for media consumption, so those who like watching TV and movies on their phone will probably want to keep a safe distance here.
From that, we can probably expect this one to dial back the other specs similarly. The Note 3 Lite will probably have 1.5 GB RAM, and 16GB Memory. The camera could see degradation as well, but that’s not something we’d expect to see. The processor is another place Samsung could cut back, offering up the Snapdragon 600 or similar. Though the Note 3 Lite is the first time Samsung is offering their largest device in a pared-down way, the screen almost immediately keeps us away. A 720p display at 5.7-inches is just not going to be pretty.
A 720p screen at 5.7in wont be pretty? You arent being serious are you? A 720p 40in tv still looks good. I would take a 720 downgrade over a processor downgrade any day..
you cant even see the pixels pixelated?
It’s a wonder how the incredibly crisp, bright and snappy 720p Note II sold. The only people possibly disappointed by this are those with unreasonable expectations of a LITE version of a top-tier phone. This is simply a way to offer the S Pen at a lower price point, since that’s not something currently available. If the screen “immediately keeps [you] away”, then perhaps look for something better, like I don’t know… THE NOTE III.
Seriously what were you expecting?