back to article Samsung Mega 6.3: Enter the PHONDLESLAB

Some made-up words deserve a place in the popular lexicon. I’m thinking about “friscalating” or “omnishambles”. Others, like the wholly wretched term “phablet”, most certainly do not. So from now on I’ll be calling smartphones with screens between 5 and 7 inches VLPs, or Very Large Phones. Anyone using the word phablet in my …

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  1. James 51

    So, when the play book dies use one of these as a tablet and the nokia 100 for calls.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Huawei Mate?

      A condom perhaps?

  2. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

    Devices this size held up to the ear remind me of the old 'Brick' phones from around 20+ years ago.

    Are they really anything more than a shout 'Hey look at me, I've got a BIG Phone. Ain't I great...'

    Any inverse correlation to the size of their dangly bits is purely deliberate.

    I am sure that those with devices this size will disagree and down-vote me accordingly but everyone is entitled to their opinion aren't we?

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

      "Any inverse correlation to the size of their dangly bits is purely deliberate."

      I've got the smallest phone I could find.

      :)

      1. UJSTech

        Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

        Here's mine

        http://philly.barstoolsports.com/files/2013/03/zoolander-phone.jpg

    2. Jordan Davenport

      Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

      Most people with dangly bits don't tend to carry purses, and I can't imagine how this phone would fit in a pant pocket on the go. Is it intended for backpackers and purse-carriers only?

      1. jai

        Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

        if it won't fit in a trouser or suit jacket pocket, then it can't be called a phone. this looks like you might need a trip to the tailor before you can carry it around, and for your own sake, don't dare sit down while it's in your trouser pocket!

      2. Tom 7

        Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone Purses

        There are more clothes than just underpants you know. And surely only an idiot would put a phone in their trouser pockets -unless a) they want to sit on it and break it, or b) be unable to lift their leg due to the same.

        Unless of course they wear cargo pants with the big pocket on the side which could contain a laptop.

        Personally, if a device like this functions well as a phone and a tablet I would have it in a shoulder holster. Otherwise I'd like a bigger tablet/phone in a holster and a bluetooth headset.

      3. Captain Hogwash
        Joke

        Re: Purse

        Purse? That would never fit in a purse. Or are you one of those people who think a bum bag is called a fanny pack?

      4. tony2heads
        Thumb Up

        Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

        maybe in a shoulder holster (like Dirty Harry) or small of back holster (Like Tony 'Scarface' Montana)

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

      Not everybody has the eyes of a twenty year old.

      Those of us over the age of 45 suffer from presbyopia and a large screen can make the difference between having to put reading glasses on to see the screen or being able to do without.

      1. Steve Davies 3 Silver badge
        Thumb Down

        Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

        I'm nearing 60 and certainly don't need to look like a pratt when using my phone. My eyes (with glasses) are perfectly good enough to use a 'standard/normal' size phone (viz, under 4 inches).

        As has been said where are we going to put this device? Don't say that we have to carry in our hands all the time because no pockets are big enough...

        Tablets are different. They can be put away and used when WE want. A phone needs to be accessible.

        God knows how we all managed before monsters like this. This device fails not only on the size but the fact they didn't 1) put an IPS screen in it 2) have something with 'retina' like resolution.

        I also find using an IPS screen is much easier on the eyes than TFT ones.

        1. JDX Gold badge

          Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

          If a 6" phone won't fit in your jacket pocket, your jacket is crap. Suit jackets are often traditionally used for carrying your diary, wallet, etc. Hell, may suit jackets I can (just) get my Kindle into.

          1. stucs201
            Facepalm

            Re: suit jacket.

            All very well if you wear a suit jacket all the time. I'm not sure I can remember ever wearing one except at an interview, wedding or funeral (all of which are good occasions to leave the phone in the car). A coat pocket is no good either, I tend not to wear a coat inside or in warm weather/ If a phone doesn't fit in a (front) trouser pocket its insuficiently portable to carry unless you're a woman with a handbag.

            1. Anonymous Coward
              Anonymous Coward

              Re: suit jacket.

              I find my 6 inch chinese phone fits into the pocket of any shirt I wear and it was much,much cheaper than the Samsung. Isn't 6 inches a bit small for dangly bits?

              1. FredBloggsY
                Holmes

                Re: suit jacket.

                "Isn't 6 inches a bit small for dangly bits?"

                Guess that depends on the specific bits you have in mind.

              2. Anonymous Coward
                Anonymous Coward

                Re: suit jacket.

                Re: suit jacket.

                I find my 6 inch chinese phone fits into the pocket of any shirt I wear and it was much,much cheaper than the Samsung. Isn't 6 inches a bit small for dangly bits?

                You must be a very large chap indeed.

        2. AceRimmer
          Black Helicopters

          Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

          I see that the conformity police are out in force today

        3. FredBloggsY
          Meh

          Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

          "Tablets... can be put away and used when WE want. A phone needs to be accessible."

          You think these are mutually exclusive categories?

          I hail from a time when the person chooses when to use the 'phone, not the 'phone choosing when to be used. Legend has it there are still an enlightened few who have retained that ability.

      2. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

        That's why I'll get a Google Glass. Text gets projected meters away, where my eyesight is excellent :)

      3. admiraljkb
        Pint

        Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

        @Condiment

        Hear hear! When my vision went, it went FAST too... Didn't even make it to 45, *sigh*. My SGSII was suddenly not working for me at all at any distance, along with a host of other problems. I ended up getting a LG Optimus G Pro for precisely that reason. The 5.5" 1080Pscreen was a nice big, and sharp godsend, and it still fits in my back pocket or shirt pocket just fine. Still no reading glasses, yet. :)

        1. FredBloggsY
          Facepalm

          Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

          "Hear hear! When my vision went, it went FAST too... Didn't even make it to 45, *sigh*. My SGSII was suddenly not working for me at all at any distance, along with a host of other problems... Still no reading glasses, yet. :)"

          Vanity of vanities; all is vanity.

          1. admiraljkb
            Pint

            Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

            @ FredBloggsY

            "Vanity of vanities; all is vanity."

            Uhh, no. I've had glasses almost all my life, so why would I care now about bifocals or reading glasses? You tried screwing around with bifocals and reading glasses? In between my parents, much older siblings, and my wife, I've seen how much fun that is. They are a pain in the kiester and most inconvenient to deal with. The longer you can stave that part off, the better. Here's a beer, it may not improve vision, but at least you won't care as much. :)

      4. whuffie

        Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

        "Those of us over the age of 45 suffer from presbyopia" ???

        Excuse me, I'm over 55 and an atheist!

    4. uhuznaa

      Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

      And caring about how it looks when you hold a phone to your ear isn't vain?

      I would have no problems holding a big phone or even a tablet against my ear. I would only have problems to carry a huge and heavy phone in my pocket every day, everywhere. So I prefer a nice handy phone in my pocket and a tablet that I can take or leave as I see fit.

    5. Sorry that handle is already taken. Silver badge

      Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

      I guess everyone really is entitled to their opinion, no matter how ill thought out.

    6. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

      They probably then need a big pratt car to fit it in, one of those pointless Range Rover Sport things.

      1. h3

        Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

        Those cars are pointless in almost every way other than the Meridian Hi-Fi that you can get in some of them.

        The engineering behind the way it works is similar to how they drown out the noise in the IMAX in Waterloo.

        It is not worth it for me but it sounds divine. (I know someone with the 9000W variant of it).

        I prefer travelling in it to what it replaced (Some type of Lutus).

        He is a contractor with the make loads of money and then blow it all mentality.

    7. nigel 15
      WTF?

      Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

      Seriously. Buy the phone that meets your requirements.

      It's you who seems concerned with what everyone else thinks.

      1. admiraljkb

        Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

        @nigel 15

        Well said.

        Bigger phones have their uses. Those of us with eyesight issues for instance, or even folks who rarely if ever use the phone as a phone, but use it as a tablet all the time, or folks that want multiple day battery life. Figure out what the requirements are, and fill the requirement. If its smaller, its smaller, if its bigger its bigger, but at least there is choice and variety in the marketplace.

    8. frenchmustard
      Joke

      Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

      "Any inverse correlation to the size of their dangly bits is purely deliberate."

      Anybody who's ever spotted me on omegle calling my broker knows this is not necessarily the case

    9. Mark .

      Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

      If you're going to criticise the size of such a device, at least go back to 2010 and criticise the 10" ipad. (And no, being a "phone" makes no difference - smartphones and "tablets" are the same kind of thing. At 6", this is middle-size in a range that goes from 4" to 10" or beyond.)

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Mark .

        What the fuck are you whittering about?

    10. Tachikoma

      Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

      Actually this phone is perfect for the father-in-law, with his massive shovel hands from decades of manual labour. Not everyone has slender fingers from a lifetime working in IT. If the keyboard/dialer can be scaled up to full width this phone would be ideal.

    11. Nigel 11

      Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone

      I doubt that being seen with it is a consideration these days. I'd expect that the typical user of this device wants to use the internet a lot more than he wants to make phone calls. Or is visually impaired, and finds any smaller screen verges on un-usable.

    12. Intractable Potsherd

      Re: VLP == Vain Losers Poserphone @ OP AC

      Well, I have a Galaxy Note 1 which I have made *even bigger* with an Otterbox case which fits to a lovely belt-holster. If I'm going to be in a situation where that might be difficult (wearing a suit with no belt loops or loops only for a narrow belt), it comes out of the case and then it fits in a shirt or jacket pocket. The only time it becomes a bit difficult to carry is when I'm out running, but I simply wear a money-belt for that. I hope your head* hasn't exploded at the sheer un-coolness of all that - no that's a lie; I sort of hope it has.

      Please guys and gals, remember that different people have different requirements. For me, it is to have a phone that fits comfortably in my big hands (especially now it seems I'm getting arthritis in some of my knuckles), that I can comfortably read e-books on, and which has a pen. I have never been [what I regard as] silly enough to text or dial one-handed - a recipe for dropping a phone if ever there was one - and I always carried even chocolate-bar phones in a holster on my belt because it seems the most sensible place to keep a phone. Substance over style should be the keyword here, not what the idiot marketers make you think.

      Oh, and the Mega 6.3 - if it had a pen, I'd be seriously considering it.

      * and all the other fashion-police commentators on here.

  3. Rob Thorley

    Very Large Phones

    What about PUSes - Phones of Unusual Size? :-)

    1. Nigel 11

      Re: Very Large Phones

      I was thinking megaphone ... except that's already taken. Sigh.

    2. Paul Kinsler

      Re: Very Large Phones

      hmm ... if you think about it, these Personal Digital devices Assist us in so many ways - phone calls, notes, media , apps, and so on. Maybe we could call them by some sort of related acronym ... e.g. PDA?

      Just a random thought. :-)

  4. Dave 126 Silver badge

    >Anyone using the word phablet in my earshot will be getting a punch on the hooter.

    Careful, Mr Taylor - you run the risk of hurting your fist on 7" of glass, plastic and metal. Elf and safety etc.

  5. dmcq
    Childcatcher

    Sounds ideal for grans and children

    That sounds good for older people who like a big display and none of those fiddly little buttons. If it is halfway rugged and safe with small children too I think they're on to a winner.

  6. Andrew Peake

    "I suspect users who have failing senses or who are just plain clumsy..."

    That's me. I hate having to find my glasses in order to read a text or mail, which I have to do with my N8-00, as for typing, even with Swype installed it's an ever increasing chore

  7. Andy Hards

    Shoulder Holster?

    I thought people only wore them ironically.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Shoulder Holster?

      And ironically, the people who wear them non-ironically seem to feel they're in a good place to criticise others' fashion sense.

      1. Tom 7

        Re: Shoulder Holster?

        you cant see it under my jacket so there's no irony involved unless your some armpit aroma perv.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Shoulder Holster?

          Except when you get a phone call, check your email, etc. Then I can point and laugh.

        2. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Shoulder Holster?

          To be honest, if you require some sort of additional clothing to carry a phone about, it's too damn big,

  8. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Made in a sweatshop?

    http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/aug/14/brazil-sues-samsung-labour-violations

  9. Yet Another Commentard
    Trollface

    Nice phone

    If only it had WIndows Phone on it...

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Nice phone

      "If only it had WIndows Phone on it..."

      Then it would only need half the memory / CPU power for similar performance....

      1. M Gale

        Re: Nice phone

        "Then it would only need half the memory / CPU power for similar performance...."[citation needed]

        ...have a crap app store (including the crap substandard Youtube app), no way of sideloading, no way of getting rid of the shit UI overlay, be more expensive to pay for that lovely license, get dumped the moment the next Windows Phone comes out, be unable to do something as simple as lock screen rotation...

  10. Dr_N

    HELLO !!!?

    I'M IN THE 1990s!

    YES, THE 1990s!

    WITH A BLOODY BIG PHONE!

    Stop. Enough with the clown sized phones, already.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: HELLO !!!?

      Did someone force you to buy one Mr Angry? Other phones are still available.

      1. admiraljkb

        Re: HELLO !!!?

        I remember not so long ago, when all that was available was 2.8" screens with crap resolution... So having multiple sizes of screens is awesome as far as I'm concerned.

  11. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    So...

    ..has any idiot texted or called the number prominently displayed on the screen in the picture yet?

    1. Danny 14
      Joke

      Re: So...

      no but saga will be. And compare the market. And money supermarket....

  12. Busby

    Well I may be on of the few people possibly interested. Have stopped carrying a tablet daily when commuting but my S3 isn't quite big enough for enjoyable video playback.

    Once we get full specs and pricing for the note 3 I'll likely be getting one of the Samsung phablets just haven't decided which yet.

    1. Danny 14

      Id like to see one in the flesh and compare it to a note 2. The note 2 is perfect size for my use and fits nicely in my jacket. If this beast fits too then i'll go for this one instead.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        This will give you some idea...

        http://www.phonearena.com/phones/size#/phones/size/Samsung-GALAXY-Note-II-T-Mobile,Samsung-Galaxy-Mega-5.8,Samsung-Galaxy-Mega-6.3/phones/7502,7804,7805

        1. Steven Raith

          ...and for comparison

          Here's a Nexus 4 with them, which is a 'normal' sized phone these days.

          http://www.phonearena.com/phones/size/Samsung-GALAXY-Note-II-T-Mobile,Samsung-Galaxy-Mega-5.8,Samsung-Galaxy-Mega-6.3/phones/7502,7804,7805#/phones/size/Samsung-GALAXY-Note-II-T-Mobile,Samsung-Galaxy-Mega-5.8,Samsung-Galaxy-Mega-6.3,Google-Nexus-4/phones/7502,7804,7805,7531

          Blimey!

          I'm liking the larger phones for showing off photos and videos etc, but really I need some kind of killer app for them, so keeping tabs on the Note range as I think a stylus for note taking would be handy.

          Shame the note range is so bloody pricey....

          Steven R

  13. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    £340

    at the moment Expansys has it on sale for £340 which seems like a very good deal

  14. Kris

    To all those commenters who seem to dismiss a large phone out of vanity reasons (i.e. not wanting to "look like a knob" with a big phone held to their ear),

    Have you tried a Note2 size phone for a day or two? Presumably you accept that watching movies or replying to emails is more productive on a small tablet than it is an GS3 sized phone? Shock horror- these things are also nicer on a 5.5-6 in screen than they are a 4.8-5.0 screen, and for millions of people this justifies a slight size increase.

    1. stucs201
      WTF?

      watching movies....is more productive

      Since when is watching movies more productive on any size screen? More enjoyable on a larger screen maybe, but not more productive.

      1. Danny 14

        Re: watching movies....is more productive

        Ive watched a youtube clip on how to remove the stator and rotor from my LG washing machine on my galaxy s2. I could have done with having a larger screen TBH. Ive also watched many clips to show me walkthroughs on various things that have been invaluable on site with customers.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: watching movies....is more productive

          That's what 10" tablets are for.

      2. Kris

        Re: watching movies....is more productive

        OK I could have chosen my words better, but still- seminars? video tutorials? plenty of usage cases related to work/study and leisure which all benefit from having "the biggest screen which isn't a pain in the ass", a definition which varies from person to person,

    2. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      You can argue it all you like, but somewhere it has to stop. Or we'll be walking around with 10" phones soon.

      1. Intractable Potsherd

        "You can argue it all you like, but somewhere it has to stop. Or we'll be walking around with 10" phones soon."

        If *some* people want to buy them, why is that a problem to you? It isn't as if phones at the small end of the market are vanishing, so you buy what you want, and let others choose according to their own needs.

  15. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    VLM?

    Surely phablets should be called VLMs for "Very Large Mobes"

  16. Michael Habel

    So whats this thing gonna retail for? Why wasn't it mentioned, and why am I the first one to ask?

    1. Al Taylor
      Alert

      Price

      At the time of writing it was available unlocked for £375 (para 3) but looking again this morning I see that Expansys now has it on sale for £340 (as A/C above notes.)

      Al

  17. Rabbit80

    Might have been interested...

    But the resolution is too low for my liking. I love my Note 2 but resolution and slow GPU lets it down :(

    Why do I need the resolution? I often log into remote desktops on my phone - an increased resolution and screen size would make life much easier. In normal phone use, the resolution of the Note 2 is just fine!

    1. James Hughes 1

      Re: Might have been interested...

      Ah, at last someone has finally posted a half sensible reason why you might need such a high resolution on a phone. Admittedly a small use case, but valid nevertheless.

      Thanks.

      1. Danny 14
        Thumb Up

        Re: Might have been interested...

        In desperation whilst away I once vpn'd in from a galaxy s2. It wasnt pretty but it worked! Sure you can hotspot a tablet too if you like but a one-stop-shop might suit other people. Same can be said for carting manuals around with you, again you could have a phone and tablet. Horses for courses, better to have a choice IMHO

  18. Sartori

    Looks pretty good to me, for my uses anyway.

    I do use Twitter, browse websites like the register/various news sites, Instagram, some online video clips, listen to music, google maps, browse ebay.

    I don't make lots of phone calls, do much gaming, or watch full movies, iplayer, or need the latest quad core mega HD battery devouring tech, I would rather have a good size easy to read screen with a decent battery life.

    I don't want to carry a tablet with me and need a seperate phone, so this pretty much meets my needs without actually costing £500+ for the latest flagship that eats batteries and in the case of some of them, can't have the battery swapped when it does run low.

    No question it won't suit everyone but it's definitely one I will be considering.

  19. Matt Piechota

    "Anyone using the word phablet in my earshot will be getting a punch on the hooter."

    That covers the ladies, what happens when men say it?

    (What exactly does "hooter" mean in the UK?)

    1. Danny 14
    2. Steve Davies 3 Silver badge
      Coat

      Perhaps

      a 'Glasgow Handshake' would be better?

      One that won't take a monster phone.

  20. CmdrX3

    Peoples biggest complaint about android is fragmentation.... this'll help that problem won't it.

    Dom Joly... comedian or precognitist

    1. Darryl
      Meh

      And by 'People', you mean 'iProduct Fans', I'm guessing

      1. CmdrX3

        Hardly, I have more android gear, the only Apple product I have is an iPhone 4S. I also have a San Francisco, a Galaxy S4, an Asus Transformer TF101 and a Nexus 7 so sorry, but fail on the iProduct fan. Anyway like I said, fragmentation is the biggest problem, which I personally experienced because I have several android devices. Phone apps end up looking like shit on tablets, and some apps work with one device and not another.

        1. M Gale

          Some apps (that require a multicore CPU and 1GB RAM) won't run on some phones (that have a single core ARM11 and 256MB). Phone apps generally look the same on tablets but bigger. Whether that's "shit" is really in the eye of the beholder. There's usually a tablet version of the app if you want the buttons scaling down in size.

          Funnily enough, there's plenty of iOS apps that won't support iOS5 or earlier.

  21. Who took my handle %@£#

    "will be getting a punch on the hooter."

    Hooter? Best you get an American English dictionary on that one my friend. You will get into big trouble if you ever punched one........ ;-)

  22. basicasic

    Size Matters

    I've had this phone for a month and its a cracker. You quickly get used to the size and I wouldn't want to go back to anything smaller. It fits into the pocket of every pair of pants I have, I don't have to squint at a tiny screen and my fat fingers hit the right key more often than not now. And I don't give a f*** about how I look making a call.

    But if its too big for you there's plenty of smaller phones on the market. Choice is a good thing.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Size Matters

      > But if its too big for you there's plenty of smaller phones on the market

      Trouble is, app developers tend to test on bigger Android phones, so their wares aren't always the easiest to use on smaller screens. I currently have a 4" Android phone and whilst I like the form-factor, it is for apps that my next phone may well boast a larger screen.

      Similarly, there are many console games that contain text unreadable on 'standard definition' CRT screens, again because the game developers are use high-definition screens (okay, I suspect that these days most game consoles are connected to HD TVs or monitors).

      1. Ted Treen
        Alert

        Re: Size Matters

        "'standard definition' CRT screens"??

        CRT SCREENS??

        Are they still around in significant numbers?

        1. Nigel 11

          Re: Size Matters

          I still have a CRT telly. I don't want to throw away a piece of 1970s technology that still works perfectly, despite the 25 kilovolts in its innards and the hige multiplicity of discrete components.

          (And size doesn't matter - a 25 inch telly is quite big enough! )

        2. M Gale

          Re: Size Matters

          Still using an AOC 9GlrA here. It's TCO '99 compliant!

          1600x1200 (and 2048x1536 at an extreme push) is probably more "high def" than "standard" though.

  23. Eddy Ito
    Coat

    "Anyone using the word phablet in my earshot will be getting a punch on the hooter."

    So how about the reverse? Tabone. No, how about tone and given the capacitive screen, a touch tone!

    1. Ted Treen
      Coat

      Big Tone...

      ...says no-one's touching him (well, not without asking).

    2. Nigel 11

      Tabphone? Ear-iron?

      Tabphone or Tabfone might work, in a way that Phablet definitely doesn't.

      For gentle mockery of anyone who spends too long talking into one, what about ear-iron? (makes for flat ears).

  24. Ted Treen
    Boffin

    Why in God's name...

    ...do people feel the need to be either ecstatic or excoriating?

    I think it looks like a nice bit of kit which will suit some people admirably, and others less so.

    I have an iPhone5 and I'm very happy with it - but I wouldn't (metaphorically) ram it down someone else's throat: everyone has the right to choose whatever suits them, and by whatever criteria they consider important. That's their right:- it's their money & their choice.

    So, could we please cool it on the "If it's different to mine it's crap" juvenile comments?

  25. __________

    I'd consider getting this next upgrade

    I use a Note now. The simple reason why is my eyesight has deteriorated markedly. it was never great to start off with, but now I have keratoconus, myopia, astigmatism and presbyopia. I loved the sharp screen on my old HTC Desire (though it had a crap allocation of space for apps) but it got to the stage that I couldn't read it

    So yeah. I'd looked at this in the shops, and as a device that's a phone and hovering near the 7" tablets I could see others, with better eyesight, liking it. To be honest, I use email, text and browsing with my phone far more often that I use it for calls. I can't be the only one that does that

  26. Nigel 11

    Why no two-part phones yet?

    Seems to me that what's needed is a two-part system. A largish tablet, for internet access. A small and very light weight "phone" for one's shirt pocket. Link the two parts by bluetooth.

    Even better if they standardise the interconnection protocols, so any tablet can support any bluetooth phone. (I'm dreaming).

  27. RonWheeler

    £375?

    £375 is midrange on which planet? £200 is midrange - £375 is more-money-than-sense.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: £375?

      Most high end phones are around £450-500.

      I paid £489 for my HTC One SIM free.

  28. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Phablet? No, it's a Phondleslab

    It is not a phablet, it's a phondleslab.

  29. SeymourHolz

    On the bright side, you will now always have your cafeteria tray with you.

  30. smot

    Hey, I'll brush the dust off my Dell Streak now this size is becoming fashionable!

  31. Periquet dels Palots

    Many guys around here seems extremely worried about what people may think about them, and profer all sorts of counsel about what is proper or not. Wearing a jacket is a nono, a large phone is a nono, Range Rovers are a nono... Was there any conclusion about 6-inch dangly bits?

    Well, I do have a Note 2, and you can put it just fine in the front pocket of chinos or jeans that are not tight. The very prejudiced around here probably have somerhing freudian against wearing tight pants, so I think the Note 2 would suit their wardrobe just fine. Now, the part about being seen talking into them might be tougher to handle...

    Shirt pockets are bad, unless for some other freudian misbalance you want to see your 6-inch thing sink in the toilet.

    I have a 7-inch tablet that I used in combination with an iPhone 4, but the poor thing is not getting much use now. The Note 2 has usurped her place in my petty little heart. By the way, it has a 1280x720 pixel screen, which I always found very pleasurably clear. The same resolution in a smaller screen can only look better. Not "Retina" level, but who should give a fuck about Apple marketing when it looks so damn good.

  32. AndyMM

    Battery Life

    Give me a normal sized phone with 2-3 days battery life like the Mega and I will buy it. For me this phone is too large but damn I wish my S2/3/4s would go for at least a couple of days of usage (I do mean full usage, never seen the point of a smartphone with all the good bits switched off)

  33. mmm mmm

    Interesting. I was wondering whether to upgrade my phone to a bigger screen or keep it and buy the new Nexus 7 instead and tether it via bluetooth.

    Depending when this VLP comes out, it may well be an option.

  34. Moosh

    Oi Oi

    Personally, I want a large phone because I use the internet on it almost constantly, and for me it's much more a portable media device that can also send texts and calls, as opposed to the other way around.

    Having said that, I seem to be this 1% that Microsoft seem to be targetting with their full function tablets. I have no idea why the idea isn't taking off, because why would I just want to carry around a large gimped phone that can't do anything I want it to do?

    Also, the Nexus 7 fits snugly into a suit trouser pocket. It's just a stupid place to put it because it will snap in two at the slightest provocation. I got it for chritmas and was excited before I sat down with it and realized I couldn't actually do anything on it bar browse the internet, and even then only when there was a wireless available. So I promptly went back to using my phone and computer and only crack out the Nexus 7 when I am going to take a truly cracking shit.

  35. simon gardener

    can i be the first to propose...

    can i be the first to propose Trannyphone as the new noun to describe these larger phones

    Stupidly, I spelt it wrong when i submitted it to urban dictionary a while back.

    http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=tranyphone

  36. bighallion

    Croc Dundee Phone

    I worked in mobile tech in my company for a while I spent some serious time thinking about the pros and cons before buying a Note 2 - Its the absolute business and lives in the trouser pocket - usually wear a pair of Joseph Turner Chinos and despite getting in and out of the car it has never fallen out its really well designed and doesn't feel at all large or cumbersome also when some Apple sheep gets their iPhone out you can get your VLP out and say " thats not a phone , this is a phone mate !!!!! "

  37. The Alpha Klutz

    its not FUCKING big enough

    where is my 8" screen phone dammit

  38. Frederick Tennant

    Envy!

    This looks like a really bad case of "Look at me" its a bit sad, I was in a well know supermarket waiting in a long que, and got my iPhone out and was watching an episode of "Mongrels" just then someone in the next row fished out what I could only call a white monster and began to do something on his, it was all i could do to stop laughing, god knows what happens when he puts it to his head to take a call. I understand the Galaxy S as it was everything the IPhone was not, however it did have some issues with stability. Since then, phones have gotten bigger and bigger. I hate to say but Apple has the size right with its version 5, but alas watch this space. Remember its a small computer which can make phone calls. I could get my old Filofax back out again.

    1. Steven Raith
      Meh

      Re: Envy!

      I'll be honest, the fact you were watching a video in the supermarket queue makes you both saddos, but I'll let you off for watching Mongrels, which is a simply wonderful piece of broadcasting which the BBC should never have killed off.

      Zai Bennet is an idiot - which incidentally, is the third result under google instant...I hope he googles himself every night, and cries himself to sleep, the numpty.

  39. FanMan

    Bring on the iHunk

    I'm Apple to the core (see what I did there?) so no interest in current slabbery but if Cupertino came out with one I'd buy it like a shot. Extra screen space is always good. I don't give a rat's a**e what people think.

  40. mike_ul

    It can also be a small *tablet* - not just a phone.

    There is nothing here to suggest that you must use it as a *phone*. I use my Note 2 as a Multi-Media device and for general surfing - for which the phone connection is great when you're out and about ( I use a cheap data tariff). Therefore, consider this also as a small tablet which is good deal more portable than, say, a 10-inch tablet yet gives a similar viewing experience. I simply hold it closer to me than I would a larger tablet to get the same field of view. Having played with one in CPW I was mightily impressed with the screen quality and it was hard to make the dots out. I can kind of see Samsung's point of the machine!

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