Galaxy Note U.S.: AT&T, Samsung Confirm 'Phablet' At CES 2012

On Monday, AT&T and Samsung both announced that the Galaxy Note "phablet" (a device that fills a size niche between smartphone and tablet) will be coming to the U.S.

The Samsung-branded Galaxy Note has seen success overseas since its launch in September.

According to Gizmodo's and Engadget's live blogs of AT&T's announcement, the Note will feature a 1.5GHz dual-core processor, a 5.3-inch HD Super AMOLED screen with 1,280x800-pixel resolution, 1GB of RAM and 16GB of storage. It will run Android Gingerbread and will sport both a rear-facing 8-megapixel camera and a front-facing 5-megapixel camera. The device will also feature AT&T LTE connectivity.

The Note comes with an S Pen stylus, which Samsung U.S. Senior VP Kevin Packingham describes "a precise instrument with 256 levels of pressure sensitivity," according to Engadget's live blog of a separate Samsung event on Monday. You can use the stylus to navigate through the phone or open the note-taking application and it will translate your handwriting into typing, though Gizmodo found during a hands-on test that some words were lost in translation.

The Galaxy Note phablet combines the calling abilities of a phone with the larger screen size of a tablet. But some say the size is too large. Gizmodo's Brent Rose, who has self-described "ape hands", found the 5.3-inch screen usable, but barely. He writes, "I was able to type on it one-handed, but even for me the far side of the screen was a bit of a stretch."

Engadget described the phone as "snappy" and said it is a "dead-ringer" for its overseas predecessor. One of the major physical differences is that the U.S. version sports four buttons along the bottom bezel below the touchscreen, whereas the global device has only three. Most of the other differences aren't visible on the outside of the device.

AT&T has not yet announced either the release date or price.

For complete coverage of CES 2012, visit our big news page.

Comments

[GodAlleb]

12:01 AM on 01/26/2012

Im getting really pissed that they aren't announcing a release date yet. I mean come on! at least give us something to look forward too!!! I really need a phone this is getting ridiculous. If they dont release it soon im going to be forced to get a dam iphone again and I really dont want to do that!!

[Lydia Smith]

03:51 AM on 01/18/2012

What's funny is that the Dell Streak was almost as big, with a 5-inch screen, and that thing disappeared without a trace. When it did get coverage, people tended to dismiss it as too big for a phone and too small for a tablet. I don't get that -- the beauty of it is that it can function as both a device and a tablet. Small phones don't work for my big hands, and I don't like to squint to read the screen. I got an unlocked Galaxy Note (the German version) on Amazon several weeks ago, and I absolutely love it. If AT&T doesn't load it down with restrictions and bloatware, I think people will love it. It is gorgeous.

[Lydia Smith]

03:53 AM on 01/18/2012

... as both a *phone* and a tablet. Pardon me,

[newswatcher]

07:58 AM on 01/15/2012

I can't wait to get this phone. I wish they'd announce a release date. For those of you who think it's too big, fine, you have lots of choices in a size you like. For those of us who are older, this larger screen will be wonderful. This phone is for the ladies who can drop it in their purse. Since I have a netbook with satellite coverage and a cell phone, I couldn't justify a tablet too, this can replace my cell and still let me feel like I'm not missing out on the tablet experience. Hooray, thank you Samsung and AT&T.

[Tan Thanh Bui]

03:55 AM on 01/12/2012

Show of hands, who will get this "phablet"?

Yours truly will

[Tan Thanh Bui]

03:53 AM on 01/12/2012

I can't wait to get this phone or "phablet". Phablet? They can't come up with a better name than that? Does anyone know when it will come to AT&T?

Now, I have to buy pants with bigger pockets to accommodate this gigantic thing. Otherwise it'll look like I have a freaking table on my lap.

[RocketPower]

01:03 PM on 01/13/2012

tablone

[Mike Clark II]

06:54 PM on 01/11/2012

um, why would you want a giant phone? wait, people do that already? defeats the purpose.

[Post31]

03:44 PM on 01/10/2012

its a smart phone, its a tablet, its garbage.

[heymack]

03:14 PM on 01/11/2012

I have 3 Galaxy 5 players which is the player version of this and they are amazing devices.  I think it is a great idea to come out with a phone version of this.

[Post31]

04:31 PM on 01/11/2012

So what your telling me is that I would have to buy 3 galaxy 5 players to compete againat one iPad. Thanks for the heads up.

[JasonMcl]

11:13 AM on 01/10/2012

If you have a tiny head and are self-conscious about using a 5.3 inch phone, here are your options:

1. Buy a phone and a tablet for around 700-1000, pay an extra 20 dollars a month for tethering. Drag both devices around with you.

2. Buy a bluetooth earpiece for 15 bucks.

3. Stop caring about how you look with a phone and enjoy it for its functionality instead of using it as a fashion accessory.

[heymack]

11:01 AM on 01/10/2012

This follows the release of their Galaxy 5 player...a 5" hand held device that absolutely rocks.  I bought 3 of these for Christmas presents for my wife and kids and our iPod user friends and family are so jealous....now they want to make this size a phone.  Good stuff.

[xmot]

09:33 PM on 01/10/2012

Yes, anyone who wants to see how big this phone is or what it looks like, go to bestbuy and check out the galaxy 5 player.

[gallo001]

05:39 AM on 01/11/2012

I agree, my son wanted an ipod for xmas but instead I got him the galaxy player 4.0 he is so happy with it, my nephew already sold his ipod to get one of this.

[thehighbrowpoliticker]

10:26 AM on 01/10/2012

I have a Samsung Galaxy S II. It fulfills my needs precisely. But that doesn't mean I am not interested.

[she says stroke her ego]

08:24 AM on 01/10/2012

BTW, I was being sarcastic with my earlier comment.

[she says stroke her ego]

08:22 AM on 01/10/2012

Ok I need a lap top.Got it! Ok I need a smart phone.Got it!Ok I need a tablet.Got it!Ok I need a smartphone/tablet hybrid.Got it!What else do I need to help me forget about the problems of the world and their unsolvable nature? Escapism sells doesn't it?

[Akshay Singh]

07:40 AM on 01/10/2012

Samsung is kicking ace all over the world.

[spytheweb]

06:41 AM on 01/10/2012

Are the phones getting bigger? My son just got me a LG800G with triple minutes for life. I make out like a bandit because the producers of this phone figure people get on it, go online and burn through the minutes. Not me, i use a phone the way it was intended, to make calls and i love to text. I'am not one to hang on the phone because i have nothing to do. I see people in checkout lines, getting on buses and driving their cars talking on the phone, who needs that? I'am set up til June, my bill may run around $60-$80 for the whole year. I'am one who this type of phone was not built for, no making a profit here. https://www.google.com/search?q=lg800g&start=10&hl=en&sa=N&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=mSMMT8ExgtqJAoP42YAE&ved=0CGIQsAQ4Cg&biw=2016&bih=1138

[k-watanabe]

01:42 AM on 01/10/2012

She's beautiful, and she's the perfect size for me. I just can't stand the diminutive iAnorexic models...