Android Gamer: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo to launch in February with 5.5-inch display in tow

Samsung today took the wraps off of a new member of the Note family, but unlike the ginormous Galaxy NotePRO 12.2 that it debuted at CES, this new unit is actually smaller than the current generation Note smartphone. The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Neo features a 5.5-inch Super AMOLED display, which is just a hair smaller than the 5.7-inch display found on the Note 3. It’s also slightly lower-res, coming in at 720p rather than 1080p.

Not only do the internals of the Note 3 Neo and Note 3 differ, but there are also two versions of the Note 3 Neo with slightly different specs. The first model, which offers wireless connectivity that maxes out at 21Mbps HSPA, is powered by a 1.6GHz quad-core processor. Samsung is also cranking out an “LTE+” model that offers speeds of up to 150Mbps as well as a hexa-core processor that’s packing a dual-core 1.7GHz CPU and a 1.3GHz quad-core chip.

The spec lists of the two Note 3 Neo versions are fairly similar beyond that. Both units sport 2GB of RAM, 16GB of built-in storage, a microSD card slot and 3100mAh batteries. There are 8-megapixel cameras on the backs of both phones as well as 2-megapixel shooters resting above their 5.5-inch displays. Finally, both Note 3 Neo models have bodies that measure in at 8.6mm thick with black, white and green paint options.

On the software side of things, the Note 3 Neo comes preloaded with Android 4.3 Jelly Bean running beneath Samsung’s TouchWiz user interface. Included with that custom UI are several features that are also found on the regular Note 3, including Air Command and updated versions of S Note, Easy Clip, My Magazine and Multi-Window. Compatibility with Samsung’s Galaxy Gear smartwatch is in there, too.

Samsung says that the Galaxy Note 3 Neo will begin making its way into stores around the globe in February. The company hasn’t specified exactly which countries it’ll be bringing the Note 3 Neo to or how much it’ll cost to take one home when it does, but Samsung officials did recently say that there are no plans to launch this 5.5-inch phablet in the U.K. or U.S., so consumers in those parts of the globe will have to settle for the regular ol’ Note 3 if they want to get their phablet fix. For everyone else, the Note 3 Neo looks like a respectable device that could be a nice option for folks in the hunt for a big but affordable handset, so long as Samsung’s price is right.

What do you think of the Galaxy Note 3 Neo? Would you make Samsung’s newest phablet your daily driver?