The new Samsung Galaxy Note 3 has not been able to live up to the hype which was generated in the market as much as Samsung would have wanted. While it is a significant improvement over the older Samsung Galaxy Note II, it isn’t so much of an improvement that it would turn many heads. With all the rumors doing the rounds about the Nokia Lumia 1520, it’s just a matter of time before Nokia announces their plans for the phablet market. But here, I am going to compare the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 with Nokia’s current flagship smart phone the Nokia Lumia 1020.

Phone Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Nokia Lumia 1020
Image The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs the Nokia Lumia 1020-samsung-galaxy-note-iii.jpg The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 vs the Nokia Lumia 1020-nokia-lumia-1020.jpg
Operating System Android 4.3 (JellyBean) Windows Phone 8
Processor Quad Core, 2300 MHz, Krait 400 Dual Core, 1500 MHz, Krait
System Chip Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974 Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8960
System Memory 3 GB 2 GB
Graphics Processor Adreno 330 Adreno 225
Display 5.7” Super AMOLED 4.5” AMOLED
Screen Resolution 1,920 x 1,080 1,280 x 768
Pixel Density 386 ppi 334 ppi
Storage 32 / 64 GB Internal memory + microSD / microSDHC slot (up to 64 GB) 32 GB Internal memory
Primary Camera 13 MP 41 MP
Flash LED LED, Xenon
Secondary Camera 2.0 MP 1.2 MP
WiFi WiFi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac / n 5GHz WiFi 802.11 a / b / g / n
Bluetooth 4.0 3.0
Battery 3,200 mAh 2,000 mAh
Weight 168 g 158 g
Dimensions 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm 130.4 x 71.4 x 10.4 mm
Announced 04th September 2013 11th July 2013


Size and weight

Before I compare the size and weight of both these smart phones, you need to keep in mind that the Galaxy Note 3 is significantly larger than the Lumia 1020. That being said, the Lumia 1020 measures 130.4 x 71.4 x 10.4 mm while the Galaxy Note 3 measures 151.2 x 79.2 x 8.3 mm. The only noticeable point here is the fact that the Galaxy Note 3 is much thinner than the Lumia 1020. But in terms of weight, the Galaxy Note 3 weighs 168 g while the Lumia 1020 weighs 158 g. I don’t want to differentiate between both these smart phones on the basis of their size and weight since both have reasons to accommodate their excess weight or thickness.

That’s why this point’s a draw.

(Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Zero / Nokia Lumia 1020 - Zero)


Display

The Galaxy Note 3 comes with a 5.7” Super AMOLED touch screen while the Lumia 1020 comes with a 4.5” AMOLED touch screen. Quite frankly, I am disappointed with the display technology used on the Lumia 1020. I’m sure they could have done a lot better. In terms of pixel density, the Galaxy Note 3 has 386 ppi while the Lumia 1020 has 334 ppi. The Lumia 1020 does have scratch resistant glass and a polarizing filter too.

I want to award this point to the Galaxy Note 3 for its superior technology and let’s not forget about the S-pen.

(Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - One / Nokia Lumia 1020 - Zero)


Memory & Storage

This is one point where the Lumia 1020 is found severely lacking. It only has 2 GB of RAM and comes with only 32 GB of internal storage. But when it comes to the Galaxy Note 3, it comes with 3 GB of RAM and 32 or 64 GB of internal storage. Now, this is more than enough to prove that this point belongs to the Galaxy Note 3. But, to add to this, it also has 64 GB of expandable storage options while the Lumia 1020 has no expandable storage options. Microsoft really has to revamp the Lumia range and I think including expandable storage is the perfect place to start.

But in this comparison, the point goes to the Galaxy Note 3.

(Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Two / Nokia Lumia 1020 - Zero)


Camera

Whatever the Lumia 1020 lacks in all the other points in this comparison, it definitely makes up for it in this point. The Galaxy Note 3 comes with an impressive 13 MP rear camera with an LED flash. The sad part though is that it comes nowhere close to the 41 MP rear camera with Xenon and LED flash on the Lumia 1020. In fact, there isn’t a single smart phone in the market which is anywhere near the Lumia 1020 in terms of camera. The Galaxy Note 3 does support 4K video recording, which is an industry first.

But still, the Lumia 1020 takes this point because of its huge 41 MP camera.

(Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Two / Nokia Lumia 1020 - One)


OS & Performance

The Lumia 1020 runs on the latest Microsoft operating system, Windows Phone 8 while the Galaxy Note 3 runs on the latest Android operating system Android 4.3 (JellyBean). Now both these operating systems have their own good and bad points and I will prefer to just leave it at that. In terms of hardware, the Galaxy Note 3 is far better than the Lumia 1020. It comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 MSM8974 chip and quad core, 2300 MHz, Krait 400 processor which I can safely say is the most advanced technology in the market today. The Lumia 1020 comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Plus MSM8960 chip and dual core, 1500 MHz, Krait processor. In terms of graphics, the Galaxy Note 3 has an Adreno 330 processor while the Lumia 1020 has an Adreno 225 processor.

Clearly, the Galaxy Note 3 will perform much better than the Lumia 1020.

(Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Three / Nokia Lumia 1020 - One)


Battery

In terms of battery, the Galaxy Note 3, once again, has a much larger battery than the Lumia 1020. It comes with a 3,200 mAh battery while the Lumia 1020 comes with a 2,000 mAh battery. The Lumia 1020 has a standby time of 16 days and there isn’t any official news on the standby time of the Galaxy Note 3. But, Samsung smart phones are known for having exceptional battery life and I expect the Note 3 to have a standby time of at least 30 days.

But, since there aren’t any official figures on the Galaxy Note 3’s standby time, I will have to call this one a draw.

(Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Three / Nokia Lumia 1020 - One)


Price

The Lumia 1020 will cost around $ 735 (free of contract) while the Galaxy Note 3 is supposed to cost $ 700 (free of contract). I think both these smart phones are well worth their price tags. The Galaxy Note 3 has a lot of neat little features while the Lumia 1020 has the 41 MP camera.

But the Galaxy Note 3 is $ 35 cheaper and that is why I will award this point to the Galaxy Note 3.

(Samsung Galaxy Note 3 - Four / Nokia Lumia 1020 - One)


Conclusion

The final score reads four points to one. The Nokia Lumia 1020 is guaranteed to win at least one point in ever comparison it’s a part of because of its camera. But apart from that, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is clearly the better smart phone. Now it’s understood that the Note 3 was going to be a much better smart phone considering the fact that it was just released this month. Let’s hope the so called Nokia Lumia 1520 can do a lot more than just have a better camera.


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