The Samsung Galaxy Mega is a 6.3-inch woolly mammoth of a handset, and it reigns as the largest of its kind.Mega features include a high-definition screen and 4G, and a bunch of new features from the Samsung Galaxy S4.
The Mega is similar to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2: it's bigger than a phone, but smaller than a tablet.
Features
Running the latest Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean software, the Mega borrows a host of features.That includes Group Play, which lets you link together up to eight Galaxy devices on the same Wi-Fi network, and the clever S Translator, which instantly translates anything you say or type into the phone into different languages.
The odds of hearing "Wow, that thing's a phone?" were, expectedly, incredibly high.we believe it's far more important to judge a smartphone by its actual merits rather than perceived social implications.
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Design
So how huge is the Mega, exactly?
It measures in at 167.6 x 88 x 8 mm (6.60 x 3.46 x 0.31 inches) and weighs an outlandish 7.02 ounces (199g); it's much wider and taller than the Galaxy Note 2, which in contrast is 151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4mm and 6.35 ounces. It definitely doesn't compare to the 5-inch Galaxy S4, which comes in at 136.6 x 69.8 x 7.9mm and weighs 4.59 ounces. Indeed, the Mega is no lightweight, nor is it for the tight-pocketed or weak-armed, and despite the fact that it fits snugly in your average jeans pocket, it's a buzzkill once you sit down.
| Samsung Galaxy Mega | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 167.6 x 88 x 8 mm (6.60 x 3.46 x 0.31 in) |
| Weight | 7.02 oz. (199g) |
| Screen size | 6.3 inches |
| Screen resolution | 1,280 x 720 (233 ppi) |
| Screen type | SC-LCD |
| Battery | 3,200mAh (removable) |
| Internal storage | 8/16GB (4.8GB user accessible) |
| External storage | MicroSDXC (up to 64GB) |
| Rear camera | 8MP, AF, LED flash, |
| Front-facing cam | 1.9MP |
| Video capture | 1080p, 30 fps (front and back) |
| NFC | Yes |
| Radios | Depends on market -- see hardware section |
| Bluetooth | v4.0 with aptX |
| SoC | Qualcomm Snapdragon 400 |
| CPU | 1.7GHz dual-core Krait |
| GPU | Adreno 305 |
| RAM | 1.5GB |
| Entertainment | MHL 2.0, DLNA, IR sensor |
| WiFi | Dual-band, 802.11a/b/g/n, WiFi Direct |
| Wireless Charging | No |
| Operating system | Android 4.2.2, TouchWiz UI |
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Performance
The dual-core 1.7GHz processor of the Mega did a good job of keeping the phone snappy, but we noticed odd moments of sluggishness where the Mega would suddenly slow down during transitions. Mega 6.3 has a slower processor and less RAM than the Galaxy S4. We found it was adequate, though not the fastest device we’ve tested. There was some stuttering as we cruised through applications but apps loaded fine and played fine. The phone just didn’t feel as fast as the quad-core and octa-core devices we’ve been testing – though that comes as no surprise.You can run multiple apps, for sure, but you will likely need to do some app management so that you’re not running too many at once.
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Camera
It uses an 8-megapixel camera, and I found that it performs pretty good in well-lit environments, but the Auto mode seems to have problems when trying to take pictures in low-light situations. It appears that the shutter isn't opening long enough to capture the image resulting in an image with details that are hard to make out. Do check out the shots below for proof.
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Conclusion
Those who don't want to wait for the Note 3 have a viable alternative in the form of the Mega, though it's not as powerful. The Mega, at S$798, does seem like a tad expensive for the handset's performance, but bear in mind you're really paying for the large display, which is a key feature for those who want to consume media on their smartphones.Although Samsung boasts about the Mega's thin design and software features, the real impact the devices will have is in the evaluation of screen sizes.
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