Galaxy Note Series at a Glance

The much-beloved Galaxy Note Series was considered revolutionary when the first Galaxy Note was unveiled at IFA in 2011. The up-sized smartphone, which bridged the gap between conventional sized smartphones and tablets – and effectively ushered in the term ‘phablet’ — was a hit with people who appreciated the larger display size, the S Pen and eventually, the multitasking capabilities. Each Galaxy Note in the series was equipped with a high-end AMOLED display, which provides true-to-life colors through its large screen, which provides users with a truly immersive viewing experience. Each device in the Galaxy Note Series has become remarkably more powerful than the last. The Galaxy Note 4 multi-window functionalities have allowed users to take advantage of the extra screen space more effectively than ever before. For no particular reason, here’s a rundown of the first four devices in the Galaxy Note Series.

Galaxy Note

Slogan: It’s Galaxy Note!

Unveiled: IFA Berlin, October 2011

Features and specs: 5.3-inch WXGA HD Super AMOLED display; 8MP rear camera (2MP front); Android 2.3 (Gingerbread); 1.4GHz Dual Core processor; 16/32GB User memory + microSD; 2500mAh battery.

Size/weight: 146.85mm-82.95mm-9.65mm; 178g

What people loved: This was the original “phablet,” the first of its kind in the industry. What set this phone apart was its size and the S Pen. It was, at the time, the market’s largest HD Super AMOLED display. It was hailed as a smart device that was easy to carry but enabled the user to do more in a faster manner than existing smartphones. Read about its unveiling here.

Galaxy Note 2

Slogan: Be Creative

Unveiled: IFA Berlin, August 2012

Features and specs: 5.5-inch HD Super AMOLED; 8MP rear camera (1.9MP front); Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean); 1.6 GHz Quad-Core processor; 16/32/64GB User memory + microSD; 2GB RAM; 3100 mAh battery

Size/weight: 151.1mm-80.5mm-9.4mm; 180g

What people loved: The S Pen was vastly improved and Air View made its debut with the Galaxy Note 2. The S Pen was longer, thicker and more ergonomically designed and provided a more natural and precise writing and drawing experience. The fantastic display also set a new industry standard at the time. It was also the first to debut multitasking capabilities and Quick Command. Read more about all the bells and whistles that made their debut with Galaxy Note II.

Galaxy Note 3

Slogan: Design Your Life

Unveiled: IFA Berlin, September 2013

Features and specs: 5.7-inch Full HD Super AMOLED; 13MP rear camera (2MP front); Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean); 2.3 GHz Quad-Core processor; 32/64GB User memory + microSD; 3GB RAM; 3200 mAh battery

Size/weight: 151.2mm-79.2mm-8.3mm; 172g

What people loved: The Note 3 was the most elegant Note to date, with a more premium design. It was larger, yet lighter and thinner than its predecessor but the hardware, including the front camera, battery and RAM, got big upgrades making it a far more powerful device. It also came with smarter multitasking capabilities and it was the first Note to be designed to perfectly complement the new line of Gear devices Samsung had just unveiled.

Galaxy Note 4 & Note Edge

Slogan: Do You Note?

Unveiled: IFA Berlin, September 2014

Features and specs: 5.7-inch Quad HD Super AMOLED (Note Edge is 5.6 inches); 16MP rear camera; (3.7MP front); Android 4.4 (KitKat); 2.7GHz Quad-Core; 32GB User memory + microSD; 3GB RAM; 3220mAh battery (Note Edge is 3000mAh).

Size and weight: 153.5mm-78.6mm-8.5mm; 176g; Note Edge: 151.3mm-82.4mm-8.3mm; 174g

What people loved: Once again, the display was groundbreaking in terms of color, brightness and pixel density, providing a tremendous viewing experience. The upgraded cameras, with a F1.9 aperture, Smart OIS and real-time HDR, produce remarkably good photos. The S Pen got improved touch and feel, and the Galaxy Note 4’s seamless multitasking capabilities include all new multi-window, split screen, pop up screen and more. Users also loved faster charging and a higher capacity battery, ultra power-saving mode, as well as the fingerprint scanner and heart rate sensor. See more about the Galaxy Note 4 here.

The Galaxy Note Edge provided users with a new way to access information and express personality. The curved edge on the right side of the screen offered more functionalities and features, such as the ability to received notifications on the Edge Screen while watching videos and quick access to favorite apps and alerts.