Here’s an interesting screenshot I noticed during the Galaxy Note II presentation. While Samsung announced they would be making a 4G version of the new device, many assume it would use a variant dual core S4 processor found in the U.S 4G version of the Galaxy SIII or the HTC One XL. This may not be the case if the specification sheet shown at the presentation is anything to go by.
Given that the Samsung Exynos quad core processor doesn’t support LTE or DC-HDSPA (42Mbps 3G) shown in the specs for the 4G version, it’s still going to be a Snapdragon SOC device. However while Samsung listed two separate specs for the radio support for the standard 3G and 4G versions, it only lists one processor: a 1.6GHz Quad Core chip.
This could be an oversight sure, but it’s much more exciting proposition if the 4G Galaxy Note II will feature Qualcomm’s Quad-core S4 Pro chipset recently seen in the newest LG Optimus G (http://betanews.com/2012/08/28/lg-optimus-g-worlds-first-lte-snapdragon-s4-pro-quad-core-smartphone/).
Honestly, I’m not sure Samsung would do this since the S4 Pro has benchmarked much higher than any other mobile processor out there, even against Samsung’s own Exynos 4412 found in the international Galaxy SIII (http://www.engadget.com/2012/07/24/qualcomm-snapdragon-s4-pro-apq8064-benchmark/).
It’s also unlikely as the Dual-core S4 version of the Galaxy SIII keeps up pretty well already with the Exynos version, along with Qualcomm’s issues keeping up with demand for the popular processors. As it stands, the Galaxy Note II is scheduled for U.S release ‘later this year’ rather than in October as announced in the keynote.
If the 4G Galaxy Note II ends up having the Quad-Core S4 Pro, it would certainly be the one to get. A better processor in addition to 4G LTE and faster 3G connectivity with 42Mbps support compared to 21Mbps with the Exynos version.
Update: Samsung have recently announced a 4G version of the Galaxy SIII to be released in Australia containing the Exynos processor + LTE and DC-HSPDA capabilities. As such, this is almost certainly going to be the combination for the LTE Galaxy Note II.