Nostalgia for older smartphones is real, but which one offers the better experience? We're pitting the Samsung Galaxy Stratosphere II I415, a once-flagship, against the Galaxy Note 3 Neo Duos, a slightly more modern device. Let's dive into a head-to-head comparison to see which phone reigns supreme.
🏆 Quick Verdict
The Galaxy Note 3 Neo Duos wins decisively. While the Stratosphere II boasts a Krait CPU, the Note 3 Neo's quad-core Cortex-A7 processor, newer chipset, and larger display provide a significantly smoother and more modern user experience, despite both being older devices.
| Network |
|---|
| 2G bands | CDMA 800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 13 | - |
| Speed | EV-DO Rev.A 3.1 Mbps, LTE, HSPA | HSPA 21.1/5.76 Mbps |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE | GSM / HSPA |
| | HSDPA 2100 | - |
| Launch |
|---|
| Announced | 2012, November. Released 2012, November | 2014, January. Released 2014, February |
| Status | Discontinued | Discontinued |
| Body |
|---|
| Dimensions | 126.2 x 65.5 x 13.5 mm (4.97 x 2.58 x 0.53 in) | 148.4 x 77.4 x 8.6 mm (5.84 x 3.05 x 0.34 in) |
| Keyboard | QWERTY | - |
| SIM | Micro-SIM | Dual SIM, (Micro-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Weight | 154 g (5.43 oz) | 162.5 g (5.71 oz) |
| | - | Stylus |
| Display |
|---|
| Protection | Corning Gorilla Glass | - |
| Resolution | 480 x 800 pixels, 5:3 ratio (~233 ppi density) | 720 x 1280 pixels, 16:9 ratio (~267 ppi density) |
| Size | 4.0 inches, 45.5 cm2 (~55.1% screen-to-body ratio) | 5.5 inches, 83.4 cm2 (~72.6% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Super AMOLED | Super AMOLED |
| Platform |
|---|
| CPU | Dual-core 1.2 GHz Krait | Quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A7 |
| Chipset | Qualcomm MSM8960 Snapdragon S4 Plus | Qualcomm MSM8228 Snapdragon 400 (28 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 225 | Adreno 305 |
| OS | Android 4.0.4 (Ice Cream Sandwich) | Android 4.3 (Jelly Bean), TouchWiz UI |
| Memory |
|---|
| Card slot | microSDHC (dedicated slot) | microSDXC (dedicated slot) |
| Internal | 8GB 1GB RAM | 16GB (11GB user available), 2GB RAM |
| | - | eMMC 4.5 |
| Main Camera |
|---|
| Features | LED flash | LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Single | 5 MP, AF | 8 MP, f/2.6, 31mm (standard), AF |
| Video | 720p@30fps | 1080p@30fps, stereo sound rec. |
| Selfie camera |
|---|
| Single | 1.3 MP | 2 MP, f/2.4, 27mm (wide) |
| Video | VGA@30fps | 1080p@30fps |
| Sound |
|---|
| 3.5mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| 35mm jack | Yes | Yes |
| Loudspeaker | Yes | Yes |
| Comms |
|---|
| Bluetooth | 4.0, A2DP, aptX | 4.0, A2DP, LE |
| NFC | Yes | No |
| Positioning | GPS | GPS, GLONASS |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | microUSB 2.0 | microUSB 2.0, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, dual-band, DLNA, hotspot | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot |
| Features |
|---|
| Sensors | Accelerometer, proximity, compass | Accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass |
| | - | ANT+
S-Voice natural language commands and dictation |
| Battery |
|---|
| Music play | - | Up to 87 h |
| Stand-by | Up to 144 h (3G) | Up to 440 h (3G) |
| Talk time | Up to 15 h (3G) | Up to 22 h (3G) |
| Type | Li-Ion 1800 mAh, removable | Li-Ion 3100 mAh, removable |
| Misc |
|---|
| Colors | Black | Black, White, Green |
| Models | - | SM-N7502 |
| Price | About 170 EUR | About 410 EUR |
| SAR | 0.37 W/kg (head) 0.90 W/kg (body) | 0.81 W/kg (head) 1.45 W/kg (body) |
| SAR EU | - | 0.45 W/kg (head) 0.42 W/kg (body) |
Samsung Galaxy Stratosphere II I415
- Compact size
- Decent call quality
- Relatively affordable (if found)
- Outdated processor
- Small display
- Limited storage
- Poor battery life compared to modern phones
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo Duos
- Larger display
- Better performance
- Improved camera
- Longer battery life
- More modern Android experience
- Older device - limited software updates
- May be difficult to find in good condition
- Potentially slower than current flagships
Display Comparison
The Galaxy Note 3 Neo Duos features a significantly larger 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display (1280 x 768) compared to the Stratosphere II's 4.0-inch Super AMOLED display (800 x 480). This translates to a much more immersive viewing experience for media consumption and web browsing. The Note 3 Neo's higher resolution also contributes to sharper visuals.
Camera Comparison
The Galaxy Note 3 Neo Duos typically features a 13MP rear camera and a 2MP front camera, offering better image quality and more features than the Stratosphere II's 8MP rear camera and 1.9MP front camera. Low-light performance is also likely to be superior on the Note 3 Neo.
Performance
While the Stratosphere II has a dual-core 1.2 GHz Krait processor, the Note 3 Neo Duos's quad-core 1.6 GHz Cortex-A7 processor and Snapdragon 400 chipset offer a noticeable performance advantage. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and a generally more responsive feel on the Note 3 Neo. The 28nm process on the Note 3 Neo also contributes to better power efficiency.
Battery Life
The Galaxy Note 3 Neo Duos generally has a larger 3200mAh battery compared to the Stratosphere II's 1800mAh battery. This translates to significantly longer battery life on the Note 3 Neo, especially given its larger display and more demanding processor.
Buying Guide
The Samsung Galaxy Stratosphere II I415 is best for those seeking a very budget-friendly, compact phone primarily for calls and basic texting. The Galaxy Note 3 Neo Duos is suitable for users wanting a larger screen, slightly better performance for light tasks, and a more modern Android experience, assuming they can find one in good condition.
Frequently Asked Questions
❓ Are software updates available for either of these phones?
Both phones are quite old, so official software updates are unlikely. You might find custom ROMs for the Note 3 Neo, but the Stratosphere II has very limited community support.
❓ Which phone is better for gaming?
The Galaxy Note 3 Neo Duos is significantly better for gaming due to its more powerful processor and larger display. The Stratosphere II will struggle with even basic games.
