I've had nothing but iPhones almost since they came out and the first time I picked up the Note 3 it just felt giant. Then I surfed the web a bit, learned tricks and tips and eventually felt the functionality beat the inconvenience of the size.
After a month, it has replaced our iPad as well. So I think of it more as a very portable device that I can make phone calls on than a phone.
Great Job Samsung... wish Knox wasnt included... or, release a Knox free version. Make alot of the bloatware uninstallable, by putting in the data/app folder.
I went from a iPhone 5 to Galaxy S4. While I loved the S4, I needed more space, I went to the wireless store to find another S4 with more memory because that's a great phone as well. I saw the Note 3 and passed it because I thought it was bigger than what I could handle. Well, after thinking for a few days, I decided to try the Note 3 and do without my tablet. Well, I can't return it. I love it. I'm a professional Interior Designer and study drafting and the sketchbook comes in handy. I have a massive collection of digital books and magazines, the note 3 works for it. All of my downloaded music from Google play subscription is there.... it can't get any better. I love it.
Overall a solid phone that for the most part works well. All US-based phones are limited compared to the international versions but within these limits performance is in general excellent.
Only a few of annoying problems thus far. The battery life is not as good as its predecessor, the note 2. This seems especially true with certain types of usage. So I would say acceptable but definitely not great. I would recommend an external USB battery or a spare internal one to pop in for heavy usage. The dialer is terrible -- the white background is awful. They REALLY need to provide an option for reverse video in the dialer and make it black/dark like the Note 2. On the gesture stuff, the gestures do not match real life sometimes -- for instance music. When fast forwarding a left to right motion should fast forward not reverse. Samsung, we are not reading a book here and the fast forward button point rightward, not leftward. The other annoying issue thus far is the lack of options on the lock screen when using security there. When I turn it on, I should see time, weather, music, social networks, etc. displayed and then if I swipe the phone should then present another screen that asks for authentication if the configured security timer has expired.
The S Pen works mostly as advertised, and the phone is great with or without it. So mostly we have a good solid product with a few small UI issues that is as good as it can be in the USA.
Pros: Bright display, Realistic color, Lightweight, stylus is cool
I have been a Galaxy fan from the Propel, Captivate, Infuse, Galaxy S3, Galaxy Note, and now the Galaxy Note 3. After owning all of these phones I can say that the GN3 is the best phone in the Samsung Series and the best phone in the Android arena. The only thing that this phone lacks is the Kit Kat 4.4 Android OS. You won't fine a better device other than the Galaxy Note 10.1 Tablet, which I also own, that can provide you the features you will find in this phone. Additionally, to ensure you get every ounce of enjoyment out of this device be sure to run it in on a quality Network.
Samsung should have merged the following apps into one: S-Note, Action Memo, Scrapbook. Would be great to have more cross platform compatibility of S-note. And also S-pen functionality could be somewhat more than it is now. A lot of bloat-ware built into the phone too. Samsung could let owners of its phones to download more ringtones for FREE from its website. Way too many features, but they are not well thought of and are just raw.