Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs. Nokia Lumia 1520: Bigger, better, faster

27 December 2013
We venture again into the realm of phablets, one that at the beginning seemed to promise little more than a short burst of action, has become the scene of some of the most thrilling battles this industry has seen. The showdown we’re about to witness...

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  • B
  • Black Adder
  • 33h
  • 06 Jan 2014

At the end of the day when you are tired of bragging about who's phone has a slightly better something, the thing that will matter for the rest of its days is the operating system. And windows is not and will never be the long run system you wish.

    • X
    • X
    • mSu
    • 06 Jan 2014

    "Build quality" is an excuse for bad hardware use by Nokia fanboys. I have a SGS 3 from September 2012. Still looks and works like new(I use a protective flip case). There is no dirt, dust, etc under the glass of the screen, the phone still shines. Runs the latest apps/games without a glitch. In 2012 (released in November) Nokia's flagship phone was Lumia 920. I wonder if that phone(with better "build quality", sic), is in the same situation as the SGS 3. And if I decide to I sell my SGS 3 I can get easily 300 Euro for it. So judge for yourself what "build quality" really means for Samsung phones.

      When my uncle brought a note3 i thought it was a demo (i mean that screen looks like a paper).... i m no fanboisim cause i own a mid-high end phone.... the lumia 1520 is 1 of the best hardware nokia has ever built but when they merged with microsoft (micronokia) they shurely messed up the picture... Just imagine if this beast (nokia lumia 1520) had android (just saing) with a little bit of software tricks ... Note3 was going to have a very very tough challange.... note3 wins cause of good hardware(dont care about the build) and good software... nokia lumia 1520 lost cause of good hardware. but software just doesnt suit that kind of hardware.... you guys can bash crapdroid but it shurely a good os ever built for mobile phones ... the only reason y windows does need more development is cause when compared to android it just looks like its still maturering....

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        • rai
        • 954
        • 06 Jan 2014

        much better nokia lumia 1520

          • ?
          • Anonymous
          • 4QS
          • 06 Jan 2014

          darknite, 05 Jan 2014And also that was a statement to comfort you...it was mutua... moreThough preferences and views aside the Note 3 has way more advantages here and more so than any phone in general.

          Nothing offers a similar package. For the best you can get of everything this is it. Unless you are looking for a smaller device or something with one specific feature that something has better.

            Anonymous, 04 Jan 2014That was good statement to make urself happy dude...bottom ... moreAnd also that was a statement to comfort you...it was mutual...and u know that I would still disagree that note3 wins here or any where! That's my view like you have one...!

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              • AnonD-134497
              • sSP
              • 05 Jan 2014

              AnonD-214682, 05 Jan 2014Here in gsma I only could see a alternate version of real w... moreFor you? Yes. Therefore, better write "in my opinion". GSMArena's reviews are one of the best and unbiased reviews I do read. They have a purpose. They test devices up to their limits and how much they can perform under difference circumstances. Now, they are experts unlike us. They have a professional lab for test purposes. Concluding opposite in real life is nothing but another way to say "I disagree".

              What you said here about fanboys, liars, trolls etc goes the same for you. Let's be honest. This is what you are doing from the day 1 here. You own a Lumia 520, I see. I am not asking for any favoritism or evidence but I have seen you engaging with darknite and iron.man for no reason. You have many times picked up their posts and starts calling them trolls etc etc. Now the main purpose of this point is "Clap is never done with a single hand". You call them liars, bashers, trolls but if you look inside your own self, you are doing the same thing...

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                • AnonD-134497
                • sSP
                • 05 Jan 2014

                AnonD-214682, 05 Jan 2014If you call me a fanboy of logic based reality...It would b... moreThe logic is simple. Anyone who is doing anything needs a initiative step and you do the job of initiating wars in the comment section. Initiating how exactly? Simple. You call them trolls Microsoft fanboys etc etc while the fact is saying that, you decided to jump towards the only existent Google wagon. Therefore, it's simple, you call them Microsoft paid fanboys, you are automatically a Google fanboy for defending Google and bashing MS. It's simple like that and now saying that you are none fan won't be a good enough excuse. If you were nones fan, you won't be having problems right now with anyone...

                  • D
                  • AnonD-214682
                  • s82
                  • 05 Jan 2014

                  darknite, 04 Jan 2014First of all I don't like championships...for a device to b... moreHere in gsma I only could see a alternate version of real world, where everything is just opposite of reality. Calling Microsoft fanboys cheater because 3 Lumias topped in votes "here" is fanboism for you. But when your fellow fanboys call people "liar", "troll" and some other POLITE adjectives with NO logic only because they're not happy with their wp8 devices is OK for you. Discrimination Discrimination everywhere

                    • D
                    • AnonD-214682
                    • s82
                    • 05 Jan 2014

                    AnonD-134497, 04 Jan 2014Should I call you a Google fanboy or something like that? If you call me a fanboy of logic based reality...It would be better

                      • ?
                      • Anonymous
                      • 4QS
                      • 05 Jan 2014

                      AnonD-15385, 05 Jan 2014The point was most definitely not missed. First generation ... moreBattery Life, OIS for shakiness in videos, Sunlight, and possibly call quality. Not tested yet... Just about everything else the Note 3 leads in a little to a very good bit.

                      Aside from the nit picking here and there yes. You are one of the few that gets it. And I don't think that is the best Nokia can do. But it is what they did. Even the massive advantage on paper in photography did not shine here.

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                        • AnonD-15385
                        • rM3
                        • 05 Jan 2014

                        Caviar, 04 Jan 2014You've missed the point here dude, if the first generation ... moreThe point was most definitely not missed. First generation or otherwise, it just doesn't mean much.

                        As I said in my original post, the blueprint has been laid out. "Any" company can choose to build their device around the best hardware on the market today and slap a big screen on it, which is exactly what Nokia did here. That alone doesn't make it a true competitor. How the device makes use of the hardware/software to differentiate itself from its rivals is what makes it a winner.

                        The Lumia 1520 matches the Note 3 in terms of the SoC, but that's where it stops. Display, Connectivity, RAM, Cameras, Sensors, Performance, Productivity, Gaming, and Software are all better on the Note 3. There is no worthy competition here.

                        The Lumia 1520 is only considered for comparison to the Note 3 because it is a WP flagship phablet. Of course review sites are going to toss it in the ring with a champion. That didn't prevent it from suffering the same fate as the many devices which came before it. Knock out!

                        What's sad is that this is the best Nokia could do, which is not saying much at all as a device is only as good as its software ecosystem.

                        Currently, there isn't a better device on the market than the Note 3. The Lumia 1520 never stood a chance.

                        Verdict: Note 3 (Landslide)

                          • ?
                          • Anonymous
                          • rAU
                          • 04 Jan 2014

                          darknite, 04 Jan 2014Ouch! Sorry ...! now I know you knew you were there!...I wa... moreThat was good statement to make urself happy dude...bottom line is note3 wins. And l1520 wins only if note3 wud not have been there...so u just cannot ignore its existence and yes even i wud buy the l1520 no matter if its running ios wp or any other os.....again only if i do not have the note3 ANDROID as option..

                            Anonymous, 04 Jan 2014However. Seeing as we can both agree both devices are quite... moreYeah right ....I agree...I stop here!

                              Anonymous, 04 Jan 2014Because they did not sworm the competition and flame the co... moreOuch! Sorry ...! now I know you knew you were there!...I wasn't there for I'm not that fanatic...! I leave it to experts...when it comes to trolling...but by the way ...it still mystifies me...fandroids were in millions...what happened...off late they lost interest in android?! Alarming though!

                                • ?
                                • Anonymous
                                • 4QS
                                • 04 Jan 2014

                                darknite, 04 Jan 2014Who are you to proclaim and paint a picture on what would I... moreHowever. Seeing as we can both agree both devices are quite awesome this is getting neither of us anywhere and I don't feel like bogging another comment section.

                                  Anonymous, 04 Jan 2014Still avoiding that you always misquote me and then get los... moreStill you twist and twist an issue that is non existent and make people tired...I too evolve...I would be resistant to all your tries off late...I won't answer you as you yourself know honestly...your heart knows it!!!

                                    • ?
                                    • Anonymous
                                    • 4QS
                                    • 04 Jan 2014

                                    darknite, 04 Jan 2014Who are you to proclaim and paint a picture on what would I... moreStill avoiding that you always misquote me and then get lost in debate over the misquote.

                                      • ?
                                      • Anonymous
                                      • 4QS
                                      • 04 Jan 2014

                                      darknite, 04 Jan 2014What about android trolls...why don't you speak about them ?!Because they did not sworm the competition and flame the comments even to a faction of the number as the others did..
                                      Why do I have to bring them up to point out how horrifically others acted?

                                      If it had been the other way around and you pointed it out would you be talking about WP trolls?

                                        Anonymous, 04 Jan 2014Nice try. They make it quite obvious and I don't think that... moreWho are you to proclaim and paint a picture on what would I say ... Hypothetically? This is the millionth time you say and doing in a forum?! In fact you do this to all comments which you don't like!