Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Vs. iPhone 5S – Everything You Need To Know
As you know, two of last year’s most popular releases on the smartphone market were the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. History repeates itself and this year, the release of these smartphones’ sequels are also two of the most awaited events of the industry. Both have seen many rumors and have been always in the news for the last couple of months, and soon both will be available in stores.
In 2012, before the holiday season and separated only by weeks, Samsung and Apple unveiled two of their flagship devices. First it was the Unpacked Event in Berlin, Germany – that is where Samsung unveiled the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Just one month later, in September 2012, Apple revealed the iPhone 5. Both devices were meant to achieve major sales during the holiday season and they achieved that and even more, garnering not only commercial success, but also critical success.
Both the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 are still very successful and important options when deciding on a smartphone; they certainly are one of the most important devices available on all carriers in the US. The Samsung Galaxy Noe 2, a phablet with a pretty big display that also came with the Korean company’s own S Pen stylus. The iPhone 5 on the other hand, a worty successor of the iPhone 4S, a very good camera and long legs. Both smartphones are still big names in the industry and they are still some of the best choices you can make when deciding for a smartphone, at least until they will be replaced with newer models, a few months from now.
A smartphone has a finite life and it usually ends when a newer model is released to replace it. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and the iPhone 5 are the same and while the first sixth months of 2013 did not mean the end of their life, the second half of the year will most likely bring the end of these devices’ life. It’s the seventh month of the year now and rumors about the iPhone 5S and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 have started to appear every day. While there isn’t much official information, there is enough from leaks and rumors to form an opinion on the two most wanted sequels in the smartphone industry. So, without further ado, we will be making a direct comparison based on what we currently know about these upcoming devices.
Release Date
If you search when the iPhone 5S or the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be released, you will find dozens of rumors that have accumulated online over the past few months. While the Samsung Galaxy Note 3′s release date rumors seem pretty plausible, the iPhone 5S’s release date is still speculative. In a ‘history repeats itself’ turn of event, we may see a similar situation to last year when the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 and the iPhone 5 were released within weeks of each other.
As we said, Galaxy Note 3′s release date rumors are quite possible. Report indicate that Samsung is expected to release the third generation Galaxy Note at an Unpacked event, similar to Galaxy Note 2′s debut, before the IFA conference in Berlin, Germany. Both previous Galaxy Note models were released at the IFA event in Berlin so it is only logical that the third will also be launched at the IFA event in Berlin, Germany. Recent reports indicate a 4th September date for this year’s IFA event. And judging from the launch pattern of the Galaxy Note series, there’s a high chance that IFA 2013 will see the launch of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. And if that will be the case, then last year’s situation might repeat as the iPhone 5S could be launched just a few weeks later.
Apple’s CEO Tim Cook said that Apple will debut new hardware this fall and you can bet that one of the new devices that Apple will release will be the iPhone 5S. Unfortunately, rumors cannot give a more accurate prediction than Fall 2013, but September has been mentioned quite a few times. That is probably because it follows Apple’s iPhone release pattern – the iPhone 5 was unveiled last year in September.
Both companies normally announce release dates for their devices at the device’s unveiling event – Apple usually gives a specific date when unveiling a new product, while Samsung only gives release windows. If the iPhone 5S will debut this September, then we can expect a release later that month or in October. With Samsung it is pretty hard to pinpoint a date, but the Korean company has been moving release dates closer to unveiling and rumors suggest that Samsung is targeting a late September release for the Galaxy Note 3.
Display
Without a doubt, both the iPhone 5S will feature improved display over their predecessors, and will also have quite different displays in report to one another. The iPhone line only recently, with the latest model made the jump to a 4 inch display, while the Galaxy Note line is recognized for its large display (that propels the device into phablet territory) that works perfectly with the bundled S Pen stylus. According to rumors, we won’t see an increase in the iPhone 5S’ display, which means it will keep the current iPhone’s 4 inch display. The iPhone that will increase display size is rumored to be the iPhone 6 and that is not expected until next year. While most rumors agree on the iPhone 5S’ display size, where they contradict themselves is the smartphone’s display resolution.
Apple developed a pattern where they maintain the same display from a numbered iPhone model to an ‘S’ iPhone model – case in point, the iPhone 4S has the same display as the iPhone 4. Of course that’s only speculation based on a pattern and for example, Apple might change the iPhone 5S’ display. Recent reports indicate that Apple is thinking about equipping the iPhone 5S with a Retina+ display, that has an even higher pixels per inch density than the current iPhone model; such a display would definitely help the iPhone 5S compete with Samsung Galaxy Note 3′s display. However, those are just rumors and until you hear it from Apple, nothing is sure – in fact, it’s probably a higher chance that the iPhone 5S will keep the iPhone 5′s display, than having a Retina+ display.
If indeed the iPhone 5S will keep a 4 inch display, than the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will have a 1.7 inch bigger display, a srumors point to a 5.7 inch display for the next generation Samsung Galaxy Note 3, capable of a Full High Definition resolution (1080p) – a step up from the Galaxy Note 2. Some rumors imply that Samsung might release the next generation Galaxy Note with many types of display – AMOLED, LCD and even flexible displays are rumored to be used for the next Galaxy Note and it is implied that Samsung might actually use all of them. Sharp’s IGZO display for example (which is LCD) works very well in combination with the S Pen stylus, so it is a candidate as the (or one of the) Galaxy Note 3 display. At CES, the Korean company also showed its own flexible display technology and the Galaxy Note 3 might mark the debut of the tech in a device. Of course, the safest bet would be on a 5.7 inch Super AMOLED High Definition display, which offers as good quality as the iPhone 5′s Retina display but is also bigger.
Design
Regarding the iPhone 5S, as was the case with its display, the smartphone’s design is also rumored to be kept intact from the current model. This may be a bad decision for some users (that would probably want a redesign for the iPhone 5S) or it may be welcomed by others that like the current model’s design and don’t want a change. To be fair, there is absolutely nothing wrong with iPhone 5′s design – its metal and aluminum make it a very sleek design, maybe even Apple’s best design so far.
Besides having a sleek body, the iPhone 5 is also very light and slim – it weighs only 112 grams and is 7.1 mm thin. That makes it one of the thinnest and lightest smartphones currently on the market and that’s no small feat. Another argument in favor of the ‘same design’ rumor is the fact that Apple has a habit of keeping a design active for 2 generations before a redesign occurs, so you shouldn’t really expect a redesign with the iPhone 5S.
One thing is certain – the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will look different than the iPhone 5S and it will also weigh more. Regarding the next generation Galaxy Note’s measurements, rumors point to a thickness of 8 mm (which means it will be 1 mm thicker than the iPhone 5S) and a weight of 182 grams – 70 grams heavier than the iPhone 5 and the possibly the iPhone 5S, but also heavier than the current Samsung Galaxy Note 2. You will probably need bigger pockets for the Galaxy Note 3.
Regarding the design of the next generation Galaxy Note, there have been many rumors, some even pointing to Samsung releasing four different Galaxy Note 3 versions, with cheap and premium models. That could mean a cheap plastic design and a premium, better design. Other rumors suggest that the Korean company might use a similar plastic design to that used by the newest member of the Galaxy S family – the Samsung Galaxy S4, that was released this March. If these rumors turn out to be correct, you can expect a removable back and also microSD card slot, both elements of Samsung designs but also two features that the current (and possibly the next) generation iPhone lacks.
We would say that in terms of design, the iPhone 5S has a somewhat clear situation while the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is still a mystery. Well, except for one thing: the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will surely be bigger than the iPhone 5S.
Camera
Both Samsung and Apple have a habit of equipping their smartphones and tablets with very high quality cameras. You can expect the same high quality cameras inside both the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and the iPhone 5S. According to rumors, Apple will equip the iPhone 5S with a 13 MP camera, an upgrade over the iPhone 5′s camera. Besides the increased camera sensor, the iPhone 5S’ camera is also rumored to include a dual LED flash which will greatly improve photos taken in low light conditions. Apple always upgraded the camera between two consecutive iPhone models, so it is not hard to believe that all these camera related rumors will prove to be true.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is also rumored to be equipped with a 13 MP camera, which is an upgrade from Galaxy Note 2′s camera. Tying into the above mentioned rumor about different Galaxy Note 3 versions, there is the rumor that the 13 MP camera will be included in the premium model while the cheaper model with come with an 8 MP camera. Another rumored feature of the Galaxy Note 3′s camera is a 3x optical zoom, a feature that you will be hard pressed to find in many smartphone cameras.
One thing is a certainty: the cameras in both the iPhone 5S and the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be upgrades from the cameras found in the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 respectively. What we don’t know (and probably won’t find out until both devices will be released) is how their cameras compare to each other.
CPU
Increased processing power has many benefits, the most important and obvious ones being battery life, multitasking and of course gaming; that is why many smartphone producers are actively trying to increase their devices’ processing power. Apple and Samsung are both looking to upgrade the CPUs in their flagship devices from the iPhone respectively Galaxy Note lines.
The iPhone 5S is speculated to come with either the A6X SoC (system on a chip) that you can already see at work in the latest iPad model, or the new A7 SoC. Regardless of which of these two SoCs will be included in the iPhone 5S, it is pretty much a given that the iPhone 5S will have more processing power than the iPhone 5 and an increased battery life – which, as you all know, is one of the most important aspects of a smartphone.
Samsung’s upcoming phablet, the Galaxy Note 3, is rumored to come with either a quad core Snapdragon 800 SoC or an octo core Exynos 5 Octa made by Samsung. We don’t rule out the possibility that the Galaxy Note 3 would come with both, as Samsung has a habit of including different CPUs inside the same model of its product. If that will be the case with the Galaxy Note 3 too, then you should know that both the Snapdragon 800 and the Exynos 5 Octa are very capable and very powerful CPUs that will compete on equal footing with whatever CPU might be included in the iPhone 5S.
As both smartphone lines are know for having great performance at multitasking and are also renowned for having a very good battery life, so we guess the differences between them won’t be that high in this category, regardless of the CPUs that they will come with.
Software
Perhaps the most obvious difference between the two devices is the software. Without a doubt, the iPhone 5S will be running the latest version of Apple’s closed source mobile Operating System, iOS 7, while the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will most likely run on Google’s Android Jellybean 4.2 or maybe Android 4.3. There are many differences between the two mobile Operating Systems; we won’t make a direct comparison between the two but we are going to tell you about some of the unique features of these mobile Operating Systems.
We said before that the ‘S’ version of the iPhone does not usually get a redesign or a new display; in order to compensate, Apple included some other feature in previous ‘S’ models. The iPhone 4S received Siri, the personal assistant that is now included in almost any new Apple device. The iPhone 5S’ new feature is rumored to be a fingerprint sensor that will drastically increase security. Some other rumored new features are related to the iPhone 5S’ camera: the ability to shoot in slow motion, at 120 frames per second. These camera related features were found in iOS 7′s beta.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3′s unique features are S Pen related, if we are to believe the rumors. There will also be software upgrades by Samsung, though there is no information at this point. The Galaxy Note 2′s software upgrades were S Pen related, but it also got the Multi window view which allows users to split the display in two and run two different apps at the same time, in each half. From a software perspective, both devices will be very different from each other (and also from their predecessors).
Carriers
There’s not much info about which carriers will offer these devices. The only thing that we know is that earlier this year Samsung was pitching the Galaxy Note 3 to AT&T. Samsung and AT&T have a strong relation. Much recently, a series of Galaxy Note 3 model numbers appeared in a User Agent String in an Indian data base; these model numbers are rumored to be connected with the four big US carriers.
Other than that, we don’t know much. However, expect to see both devices on the usual carriers like Sprint, Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile and US Cellular. The iPhone 5 being available on T-Mobile and U.S. Cellular is confirmation enough that the iPhone 5S will also be available at these two carriers.
Price
Unfortunately we don’t have any info on the pricing of any of the two devices, so all we can do is speculate. Apple has a habit of pricing its devices similarly, so you should expect the iPhone 5S to be around $199 on contract. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 on the other hand will probably be more expensive; if we look at the Galaxy Note 2, we would guess that the Galaxy Note 3 will be offered at $299 on contract, the main arguments for its increased price being its display size and the S Pen.
