The Samsung Galaxy Note II, a legend from 2012, revolutionized the smartphone landscape with its S Pen. Now, let's pit it against the modern Samsung Galaxy A54, a powerhouse packed with contemporary features. Can a decade of technological advancement truly bridge the gap?
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy A54 is the clear winner. While the Note II holds nostalgic value, the A54's superior performance, camera, display, and battery life make it the more compelling choice for modern users. It's a testament to how far smartphone technology has progressed.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 - SCH-I605, SPH-L900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 - SCH-I605, SPH-L900 | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 13 - SCH-I605 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 20, 26, 28, 32, 38, 40, 41, 66 - International |
| 5G bands | - | 1, 3, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International |
| Speed | HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE Cat3 100/50 Mbps, EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps | HSPA, LTE, 5G |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G |
| | 2, 4, 5, 12 - SCH-R950 | 25, 41, 66, 71 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2012, Q3. Released 2012, Q4 | 2023, March 15 |
| Status | Discontinued | Available. Released 2023, March 24 |
| Body |
|---|
| Build | - | Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), plastic frame |
| Dimensions | 151.1 x 80.5 x 9.4 mm (5.95 x 3.17 x 0.37 in) | 158.2 x 76.7 x 8.2 mm (6.23 x 3.02 x 0.32 in) |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | · Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 179.4 g (6.31 oz) | 202 g (7.13 oz) |
| | Stylus | IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min) |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | - | Corning Gorilla Glass 5 |
| Resolution | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) | 1080 x 2340 pixels, 19.5:9 ratio (~403 ppi density) |
| Size | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~68.6% screen-to-body ratio) | 6.4 inches, 100.5 cm2 (~82.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM) |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A9 | Octa-core (4x2.4 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| Chipset | Exynos 4412 Quad (32 nm) | Exynos 1380 (5 nm) |
| GPU | Mali-400MP4 | Mali-G68 MP5 |
| OS | Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean), upgradable to 4.4.2 (KitKat), TouchWiz UI | Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 7 |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDXC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 16GB 2GB RAM | 128GB 4GB RAM, 128GB 6GB RAM, 128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 6GB RAM, 256GB 8GB RAM |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 8 MP, AF | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Triple | - | 50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS
12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.X", 1.12µm
5 MP (macro) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps, 720p@480fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 1.9 MP | 32 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/2.8", 0.8µm |
| Video | - | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30/60fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | No |
| 35mm jack | Yes | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, EDR, LE | 5.3, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | Yes (market/region dependent) |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS | GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS |
| Radio | Stereo FM radio, RDS - I605 & R950 models | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 (MHL TV-out), OTG | USB Type-C 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometer (USA only) |
| | S-Voice natural language commands and dictation | Virtual proximity sensing |
| Battery |
|---|
| Charging | - | 25W wired |
| Music play | Up to 40 h | - |
| Stand-by | Up to 250 h (2G) / Up to 300 h (3G) | - |
| Talk time | Up to 15 h | - |
| Type | Li-Ion 3100 mAh, removable | 5000 mAh |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Titanium Gray, Marble White, Amber Brown, Ruby Wine | Lime, Graphite, Violet, White |
| Models | SCH-I605 | SM-A546V, SM-A546U, SM-A546U1, SM-A546B, SM-A546B/DS, SM-A546E, SM-A546E/DS, SM-A5460, SM-A546M, SM-A546M/DS, SM-A546W |
| Price | About 350 EUR | € 210.00 / $ 119.11 / £ 169.95 / ₹ 28,999 |
| SAR | - | 0.81 W/kg (head) 0.67 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.69 W/kg (head) 1.34 W/kg (body) |
| Tests |
|---|
| Battery life | - |
Endurance rating 119h
|
| Camera | - |
Photo / Video |
| Display | - |
Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - |
-26.6 LUFS (Good)
|
| Performance | - |
AnTuTu: 506678 (v9)
GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
| OUR TESTS |
|---|
| Battery | - | Active use score 11:15h |
| Battery (old) | - | Endurance rating 119h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | 980 nits max brightness (measured) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.6 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 506678 (v9)
GeekBench: 2703 (v5.1), 2797 (v6)
GFXBench: 25fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
Samsung Galaxy Note II CDMA
- Large screen for its time
- S Pen stylus for productivity
- Nostalgic Android experience
- Relatively affordable on the used market
- Outdated processor
- Low resolution display
- Poor camera quality
- Limited app compatibility
- No modern features (e.g., NFC, fast charging)
Samsung Galaxy A54
- Excellent display (brightness, contrast)
- Powerful and efficient processor
- Great camera system
- Long battery life
- Modern features (NFC, fast charging)
- Water and dust resistance
- Design may not appeal to everyone
- Charging speed could be faster
Display Comparison
The Galaxy A54 boasts a significantly superior display. Its 980 nits max brightness and infinite contrast ratio (nominal) offer vibrant colors and excellent visibility, even in direct sunlight. The Note II's display, while decent for its time, pales in comparison in terms of brightness and color accuracy. The A54's resolution is also higher, resulting in sharper images.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy A54's camera system is far more advanced. While specific megapixel counts aren't provided for the Note II, its camera technology is outdated. The A54 offers improved image quality, better low-light performance, and more versatile shooting modes. Video recording capabilities are also significantly better on the A54.
Performance
The Exynos 1380 in the Galaxy A54 is a generational leap over the Exynos 4412 in the Note II. The A54's octa-core CPU and 5nm architecture provide vastly improved processing power and efficiency. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the A54. The Note II's quad-core processor struggles with modern apps and demanding tasks.
Battery Life
The Galaxy A54 excels in battery life. Its endurance rating of 119h is exceptional. While the Note II had a decent battery for its time, the A54's larger capacity and more efficient processor provide significantly longer usage between charges. The A54 also supports 25W wired charging, a feature absent in the Note II.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy Note II CDMA is for collectors, enthusiasts seeking a retro Android experience, or those needing a large-screen device with S Pen functionality on a tight budget. The Samsung Galaxy A54 is for anyone wanting a reliable, modern smartphone with a great camera, long battery life, and a vibrant display – a solid all-around choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Is the Samsung Galaxy Note II still usable in 2024?
Yes, but with limitations. It can still run basic apps, but performance will be sluggish compared to modern devices. App compatibility may also be an issue.
❓ Does the Galaxy A54 support the S Pen?
No, the Galaxy A54 does not support the S Pen. That functionality is primarily reserved for the Galaxy Note and Galaxy S Ultra series.
