Galaxy Note 2 vs. Ascend D2: Can Huawei Steal Samsung's Thunder?

By Anu Passary email: a.passary@mobilenapps.com | Jan 14, 2013 09:03 AM EST

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CES 2013 saw a flurry of devices ranging from tablets, smartphones, HDTVs, laptops etc. took the stage and set a new trend in the tech industry for the coming year. One of the companies that created quite a buzz at the tech fest was Huawei, which had unveiled its much-awaited Ascend D2 smartphone.

With the launch of the 5-inch Ascend D2, Huawei is looking to tap into the burgeoning bigger smartphone space, throwing the gauntlet to the existing phablet king - Samsung's best-selling Galaxy Note 2.

The question is, can Huawei eat into Samsung's market share and take home the honors? Here's a look at how the Galaxy Note 2 and Ascend D2 face off:

Processor

The Galaxy Note 2 features a powerful quad-core Exynos processor, which clocks at 1.6GHz. On the other hand, the Ascend D2 has a 1.5 GHz quad-core Hi-Silicon K3V2 + Balong V7R1 processor.

Display

The Galaxy Note 2 sports a bigger 5.5-inch Super AMOLED screen when compared to the Ascend D2's 5-inch full HD display. However, the Samsung offering has a 1280 x 720 pixels resolution display, which pales in comparison to the Huawei smartphone's 1920 x 1080 pixels resolution display.

Additionally, the Ascend D2 ousts the Galaxy Note 2 when it comes to pixel density. The Ascend D2 has a pixel density of 443 pixels per inch (ppi), whereas the Galaxy Note 2 has just 267ppi. Moreover, the Huawei offering is both waterproof and dust resistant unlike the Samsung phablet.

Form Factor

The Galaxy Note 2 measures 5.95 x 3.16 x 0.37 inches, whereas the Ascend D2 measures 5.51 x 2.80 x 0.37 inches. This means that the Galaxy Note 2 is taller and wider than the Ascend D2. Both devices, however, have the same thickness.

Weight-wise, at 6.35oz, the Galaxy Note 2 is heavier than the Ascend D2 which weighs 5.99oz.

Storage and Memory

The Galaxy Note 2 is the clear winner here. It is available in 16/32/64GB on-board storage options, whereas the Ascend D2 will be available in 32GB.

What's more, the Galaxy Note 2 has an expandable memory option (of up to 64GB) via a microSD card. The Ascend D2 does not have an expandable memory option.

Both devices offer 2GB of RAM.

Software

Both the smartphones come pre-loaded with Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. However, the Android 4.1.2 Jelly Bean update for the Galaxy Note 2 went live in December 2012.

Camera

Camera-wise, the Galaxy Note 2's 8-megapixel primary camera is no match for the Ascend D2. The Huawei smartphone betters the Samsung offering with a 13-megapixel BSI rear-facing camera that has HDR support and ISO sensitivity, which the company touts as being "higher than other smartphones in this category."

However, the Galaxy Note 2 betters the Ascend D2 in the front-facing camera department. It has a 1.9-megapixel snapper whereas the Huawei offering has a 1.3-megapixel one.

Battery

The Galaxy Note 2 packs in a powerful 3100mAh battery that supports up to 16 hours of talk time on 3G.

A slightly smaller 3000mAh battery fuels the Ascend D2 and Huawei claims it offers a stand-by time of six days on WCDMA. The company also asserts that the Ascend D2's fast battery charging technology enables the device to be fully charged in 30 percent less time than other smartphones "under the same electricity conditions."

Availability

The Galaxy Note 2 released in October 2012 and has gone on to sell an incredible 5 million units worldwide, a testimony of its immense popularity. The Ascend D2 will go on sale in China in January 2013, and other parts of the world in the near term.

The unlocked Galaxy Note 2 (16GB) costs nearly $580 whereas the price for the Ascend D2 is currently not known.

USP

The Galaxy Note 2 has an S Pen stylus unlike the Ascend D2, which makes it stand out from other smartphones in the market. The Ascend D2, on the other hand, touts water and dust resistance, features that are notably missing in the Samsung device.

So, can Huawei steal Samsung's thunder and give the Korean company sleepless nights? We don't think so. One must remember that the Ascend D2 is a part of Huawei's 2013 line-up. Samsung, on the other hand, is yet to announce its 2013 line-up which is expected to include the colossal 6.3-inch Galaxy Note 3.

And, if Galaxy Note 3 incorporate the recently announced flexible display and the 8-core processor, as well as the water and dust resistant features, it will surely make rivals run for cover.