Samsung now has bragging rights to having the mobile phone with the largest screen, having edged out the 6.1-inch Huawei Ascend Mate.
The Galaxy Mega comes in two screen sizes, 6.3 and 5.8 inches, and runs on Android 4.2 Jelly Bean. This review looks at the 6.3-inch Galaxy Mega LTE.
Phones with big screens have the advantage of being able to display more information, and give users - especially older ones - a much better viewing experience.
Whether one is browsing, looking at a video or photo, or playing games, the experience is much closer to that on a tablet as well.
These partly explain the success of the Samsung Note series, which also features upsized screens.
But the downside is that such phones are bulky, and look somewhat strange when placed against the face during a voice call. Still, such awkwardness can be avoided easily by using a Bluetooth wireless earpiece.
I like the 6.3 Mega's screen. It is crisp and clear (1280x720). I don't really mind the bulk, as the device can actually do much of what my tablet does (so that stays in the office or home).
Although the Mega's dual-core processor is slower than the Samsung S4's quad-core Snapdragon 800, it works fine and does not affect the use of any of the functions found in higher-end Samsung phones.
And, because of the cheaper CPU, the 6.3 Mega is more affordable, which is great. I, for one, would be reluctant to spend a fortune on a mobile phone, as they get outdated so quickly these days.
The write-down cost of a cheaper phone is also lower.
While the 6.3 Mega reigns supreme in terms of screen size, its title will soon be seized by Sony's Xperia Z Ultra, which boasts a 6.4-inch screen. The Sony device will be available this quarter.
Still, who knows if Samsung will unleash the Note 3 - with an even bigger screen - earlier than that.
This race is reaching its end. Sooner or later, screens will reach an ergonomically non-viable size for human use, if they have not already reached that limit.
myp@sph.com.sg