For some reason I have noticed that my att note 3 n900a stutters and lags when playing games that my mega 6.3 and note 2 have zero issues playing. Games like, Fifa14, Nba2k13, Homerun Battle 2, Real Basketball, and Frontline Commando. This baffles me, give the fact the adreno 330 and quad core a15 based krait 400 is theoretically capable of nearly double the computational capacity of the exynos 4412 of the note 2, and around 1.25x faster than the dual core a15 based s400 chip in the mega with adreno 305. The only thing I can figure which would cause this stuttering, frame dropping, and lag is lack of optimization or compatibility with the newer gpu, but given the fact the mega has the same basic architectural framework, albeit dual vs quad core a15 and higher clock, the compatibility should not be the issue. Im wondering if the insane overheating is causing massive throttling of the cpu and gpu, as my n3 heats up and dims the screen by 60% in only a few minutes of play, which is extremely annoying.
Ive also noticed that pictures take appx 4 to 6 seconds to process upon capturing the image, when set at 13mp and superfine quality. Again, with the power of the soc this is ridiculous.
There is also a bad delay between hitting the lock button and the time it takes for the phone to turn off the screen and lock the phone.
Lastly is the worst problem with the note 3...the call quality and speaker quality. While others may attempt to justify the hideous sound quality of the speakers baffles me, as the ear piece is quiet and tinny, and the speakerphone is so tinny and filled with digital artifacts it makes calling or talking on the note 3 an absolute chore. I realize the fact that its a phone and am not expecting dolby 7.1 hd audiophile quality, but the call quality of the note 3 is atrocious and has kept me on the edge of retunring it, as it fails to be even a decent phone.
All in all, im a massive note fan, I own all 4 note devices and love them, and bought the note 3 to be a backup to my mega 6.3 but to be honest. Its nowhere near the phone the note 2 is. For all its power and benchmark bragging rights, it performs identical or worse in nearly every aspect to the note 2 and mega 6.3 in real world use. The ui transitions are identical, as is the scrolling animations. The call and sound quality cannot stamd up even to my nearly 2 year old note 1 and are an absolute joke for an 800 dollar flagship device.
Another decision by samsung that I cannot comprehend is the s pen and software for the s pen. The s note app has had the entire premium suite stripped feom note 2 in the note 3 inexplicably, missing formula match with wolfram alpha, global search, and shape fixing. The handwriting recognition either doesnt work at all, or when it chooses to work, is a horribly ineefective "scrolling style" input vs. The intuitive and precise input of my note 2, note8, and note 10.1. The action memo is a redesigned ui of quick command ripped directly from note 2, except minus the customizable inputs and actions which quick command allows for in the rest of the note series.
If I wasnt a massive note series fan, and hadnt waited almost a year for the note 3 I would never have purchased it at all. Especailly given that its .13 inches larger than note 2, which is appx 3.2mm taller screen which is so tiny of a difference even side by side its hard to tell them apart. Subjectively, I much prefer the note 2 look and design, and overwhelmingly love the mega screen size over note 3, on top of the tacky fake stiching back panel, I am having to force myself to find anything at all which I like or serves me better than the note 2. Worse s pen input, worse s pen shape and size, stuttering laggy gameplay, overheating and screen dimming...EXTREME BATTERY DRAIN vs note 2, giving appx 2 hours less screen on time at identical settings of brightness and features active, and call quality so bad I try to avoid it if possible any time I carry the phone.
All in all, the only upgrades ive seen in the week 9 days ive had the note 3 is a slightly clearer picture quality in bright lighting, but this is offset with terrible mid and low light quality due to lack of any night mode for shooting, and slightly brighter screen. Hopefully samsung and att will update the note 3 soon to adress several of these issues in the software, as I do see great potential for the note 3 given the hardware kit inside, but the speaker and call quality is a hardware issue that is doubtful to change.
I am making this post as an honest objective take on my experience with the note 3, a phone I was absolutely ecstatic to get at 10:01 on day 1 of launch, but has left me dissapointed and havent seen these issues adressed honestly and openly. Again, I love the note lineup, I now have all 5 note devices and will be getting note 10.1 2014 after the first update releases, so please dont mistake where im coming from, as im sure much of these issues will hopefully get sorted out soon.
