iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 2

Two recent launches are the iPhone 5 and the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. So how do they compare when the Galaxy Note 2 has the size and the iPhone 5 the class?

Samsung Galaxy Note 2 vs iPhone 5

Apple iPhone 5 vs Samsung Galaxy Note 2

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 looks like a big S3 – it’s 5.9” tall, 3.2” wide and is 0.37” thick. It weighs 6.4oz. The iPhone 5, on the other hand, is the thinnest and lightest ever, at 112g. It’s made of aluminium and glass, but it’s not as sturdy as the 4S. However, looks-wise, the iPhone 5 walks away with the win.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has a 5.5” Super AMOLED screen with a 1,280x720p resolution. It’s a good screen, but with a higher resolution, it’d stand a better chance against the Retina screen on the iPhone 5.

The iPhone 5 has a 1,136x640p, 4” display. It’s IPS, so you get bright, natural colours. However, when you compare screens, the iPhone 5 is very small, and the Note 2 screen gives better blacks and more vibrant colours. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 might sound massive, but the 4” screen of the iPhone 5 just isn’t that big now. The Note 2 has to take the point here.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 has a 1.6GHz quad-core chip and 2GB of RAM. The iPhone 5 has a dual-core A6 chip with 1GB of RAM, so in theory the Note 2 has it again.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 runs Jelly Bean and TouchWiz, and has S-Pen dedicated apps. The iPhone 5 has iOS 6, which is streamlined and easy to use. If you want deep customization, though, you need Android. This is a draw, as it’s down to personal choice.

The phones draw on cameras too, with 8MP and 1080p video capture.

The Note 2 has decent battery life – 3,100mAh to run a huge screen and loads of features. The iPhone 5 has been slammed for its weak battery, as it falls short of the 4S in real life battery tests. However, the 1,440mAh battery does charge very quickly indeed.

Conclusion: both these are flagships, but they’re aiming at different people. The iPhone 5 looks amazing, is easily trousered and has a smooth OS. The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 goes the other way – massive screen, powerful chip, more RAM and a more flexible OS. It depends which you like more – a wise balance of good design and simplicity, or ample power and flexibility.