Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo Duos vs Galaxy S5 Neo: A Retro Showdown

Remember the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and S5? These phones were once top-tier devices. Now, their 'Neo' variants offer a budget-friendly glimpse into that era. But which one holds up better today? Let's dive into a detailed comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Galaxy S5 Neo edges out the Note 3 Neo thanks to its more modern Octa-core processor and slightly better camera. While both offer a taste of older Samsung flagships, the S5 Neo provides a smoother experience and a bit more future-proofing.

PHONES
Phone Names	Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo Duos	Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - G903F
4G bands	-	1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 - G903F
Speed	HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps	HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat6 300/50 Mbps
Technology	GSM / HSPA	GSM / HSPA / LTE
	-	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 12, 13, 17, 20, 29 - G903W

Launch
Announced	2014, January. Released 2014, February	2015, August. Released 2015, August
Status	Discontinued	Discontinued

Body
Dimensions	148.4 x 77.4 x 8.6 mm (5.84 x 3.05 x 0.34 in)	142 x 72.5 x 8.1 mm (5.59 x 2.85 x 0.32 in)
SIM	Dual SIM, (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by)	Micro-SIM
Weight	162.5 g (5.71 oz)	145 g (5.11 oz)
	Stylus	IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min)

Display
Resolution	720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density)	1080 x 1920 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~432 ppi density)
Size	5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~72.6% screen-to-body ratio)	5.1 inches, 71.7 cm2 (~69.6% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Super AMOLED	Super AMOLED

Platform
CPU	Quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A7	Octa-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A53
Chipset	Qualcomm MSM8228 Snapdragon 400 (28 nm)	Exynos 7580 Octa (28 nm)
GPU	Adreno 305	Mali-T720MP2
OS	Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean), TouchWiz UI	Android 5.1.1 (Lollipop), upgradable to 7.0 (Nougat)

Memory
Card slot	microSDXC (dedicated slot)	microSDXC (dedicated slot)
Internal	16GB (11GB user available), 2GB RAM	16GB 2GB RAM
	eMMC 4.5	eMMC 5.0

Main Camera
Features	LED flash, panorama, HDR	LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.6, 31mm (standard), AF	16 MP, f/1.9, 31mm (standard), AF
Video	1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec.	1080p@30fps

Selfie camera
Single	2 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide)	5 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	Yes	Yes
35mm jack	Yes	Yes
Loudspeaker	Yes	Yes

Comms
Bluetooth	4.0, A2DP, LE	4.1, A2DP, EDR, LE
NFC	No	Yes
Positioning	GPS, GLONASS	GPS, GLONASS
Radio	No	FM radio
USB	microUSB 2.0, OTG	microUSB 2.0, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot

Features
Sensors	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass	Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, heart rate
	ANT+ S-Voice natural language commands and dictation	ANT+ S-Voice

Battery
Music play	Up to 87 h	Up to 73 h
Stand-by	Up to 440 h (3G)	-
Talk time	Up to 22 h (3G)	Up to 15 h (3G)
Type	Li-Ion 3100 mAh, removable	Li-Ion 2800 mAh, removable

Misc
Colors	Black, White, Green	Black, Gray, Gold
Models	SM-N7502	SM-G903F, SM-G903W, SM-G903M, SM-S903VL
Price	About 410 EUR	About 300 EUR
SAR	0.81 W/kg (head) 1.45 W/kg (body)	1.03 W/kg (head) 1.27 W/kg (body)
SAR EU	0.45 W/kg (head) 0.42 W/kg (body)	0.46 W/kg (head) 0.58 W/kg (body)

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo Duos

Large 5.9-inch display
S Pen stylus for productivity
Dual SIM support
Vibrant Super AMOLED screen

Older processor (Snapdragon 400)
Less responsive than S5 Neo
Potentially slower software updates

Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo

More powerful Octa-core processor (Exynos 7580)
Better camera performance
More compact and easier to handle
Water and dust resistance (IP67)

Smaller display compared to Note 3 Neo
Battery slightly smaller than Note 3 Neo
Older design

Display Comparison

The Note 3 Neo boasts a larger 5.9-inch Super AMOLED display (1080 x 1920), offering vibrant colors and good viewing angles. The S5 Neo has a 5.1-inch Super AMOLED display (1080 x 1920), which is more compact and potentially easier to handle. The Note 3 Neo's larger size is a significant advantage for media consumption and productivity.

Camera Comparison

The S5 Neo generally has a better camera system. It features a 16MP main camera with improved image processing compared to the Note 3 Neo's 13MP camera. While both offer decent image quality in good lighting, the S5 Neo captures more detail and handles low-light situations slightly better. Both have front-facing cameras around 2MP.

Performance

Here's where the S5 Neo shines. Its Exynos 7580 Octa-core processor (Cortex-A53) is a noticeable upgrade over the Note 3 Neo's Snapdragon 400 (Cortex-A7). Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading, and better overall responsiveness on the S5 Neo. Gaming performance will also be superior on the S5 Neo.

Battery Life

The Note 3 Neo has a larger 3200mAh battery, while the S5 Neo has a 2800mAh battery. However, the S5 Neo's more efficient processor often results in comparable or even slightly better battery life in real-world usage. Both should comfortably last a full day with moderate use.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo Duos is ideal for users seeking a large screen and S Pen functionality on a tight budget. The Galaxy S5 Neo is better suited for those prioritizing performance and a slightly more modern feature set, even in an older device.