Print
Say what you want about Samsung's gigantic Galaxy Note hybrid smartphone/tablet device -- it's too big for a phone, too small for a tablet, a jack of two trades but master of none, or whatever -- the phablet is finding buyers. To wit, Samsung Korea today announced that it has shipped over 5 million Galaxy Note devices around the globe so far, and it has yet to touch ground in Japan.
That's not an earth-shattering number, especially when you figure the device has been around for five months and that it took the Galaxy S II six months to ship twice as many units, but it's not too shabby, either. This is, after a all, a device with somewhat limited market appeal, and Samsung is moving Galaxy Note phablets at a clip of a million a month.
The Galaxy Note, in case you're somehow not familiar with it, sports a ginormous 5.3-inch Super AMOLED display, 1.4GHz dual-core Exynos processor, 1GB RAM, 16GB internal memory, microSD card slot, 8MP rear-facing camera with LED flash, 2MP front-facing camera, and 2500mAh battery wrapped in a body that measures 146.85mm (L) x 82.95mm (W) x 9.65mm (D) and weighs 178g.
Image Credit: Samsung
Comments are closed on this article
TechLarry
March 30, 2012 at 9:52am
Shipped, not necessarily sold to end users :)
I can ship 10 million widgets to widget resellers around the world, and show one hell of a first quarter. But if they don't sell, that will be the last quarter that shows a profit.
Initial orders don't mean squat. Subsequent re-orders are what tell the real story.
MaximumMike
March 29, 2012 at 1:41pm
Unless you're one of those snoody writers for phonescoop who thinks that the only features that matter on a phone are battery life, being super thin, and carrying an Apple logo, you realize that this is hands down the most awesome mobile device on the market. The only reason they have only shipped 5 million units is because they are shackled to AT&T. Sprint and Verizon should have gotten this phone as well. I think you would find that Sprint and Verizon customers would be even more likely to buy it, although that's purely opinion. With the Galaxy Note and the Galaxy Beam, Samsung really seems to be pushing smart phones forward.
Philippe Lemay
March 28, 2012 at 9:15pm
I personally love the Phablet form-factor. The iPad is never going to fit on a person without a bag (and people who try look ridiculous), which really takes away from it's "mobility" if you ask me.
I've used this example before, and I'll use it again... Casio calculators. These things are big and clunky, and I carried them around in my pockets all through highschool. Still today they slide right into almost all my pockets without trouble. I don't see why people like Apple insist on keeping their screens credit-card sized. Give me room to work my big man-thumbs!
OCFRED
March 28, 2012 at 7:06pm
Great device, though ICS is not yet out of the oven this is the only hardware I've yet seen capable enough to boast of a "post PC" era; aside from some teething issues among early adopters ideas like this have great potential in boosting productivity over the next 5 years and is a big reason I'm studying computer science instead of Biz Com.
georgey
March 28, 2012 at 10:03am
I own an unlocked international Note and I absolutely love it. I've always used smartphones mostly for web browsing, entertainment, and email so the awkward calling size really hasn't been an issue with me. If you're interested in a device that's more portable than a tablet and can still make phone calls I'd highly recommend it.
AETAaAS
March 28, 2012 at 10:01am
I love mine... gorgeous screen, massive battery and zips along nicely. How much more could you ask for? If I had one gripe, they are stalling on the ICS update but it already runs everything I want anyway. :)
Suijen
March 28, 2012 at 7:13am
I've found that in China, some women actually like the phone. Most of us guys will find the phone too big, but women-at least those who carry purses-find it just as easily to tote out the Note as they do their wallets. For my wife, she found it a worthwhile temporary substitute for a laptop: you can get e-mail, skype, got a GPS, a phone, watch videos, and surf the net reasonably well. I've never seen her call on it though, but I assume it'd be hilarious as she'd have to use two hands to hold it.
