By Katie Cincotta
When Samsung showcased its 2014 product range at a forum in Bali, there was plenty of buzz about its Galaxy NotePro tablets, especially the giant 12.2-inch model, which is the size of an A4 sheet of paper.
Crowds were cooing over the 4.4 million-pixel WQXGA display - putting out 247 pixels per inch - and its ability to display up to four windows on the screen at once, resized however you like. It delivers a level of multitasking never before seen in a mobile device.
The NotePro 12.2 is targeting productivity, performance and portability. At this size, you rarely have to pinch and zoom to read, and full HD video looks razor-sharp. With an octa-core CPU and Android 4.4 Kit Kat under the hood, the Pro sets a benchmark for tablet speed, delivering lightning-fast app downloads and outstanding gameplay.
With its faux-leather back, remote PC functionality, USB 3.0 port, optimised virtual keyboard and massive multi-window screen, professionals are squarely the target audience here.
Where Samsung gets a bit of a rap for overkill is in its pre-installed apps, more than 20 of them on board, which many will regard as unnecessary bloatware.
The S pen stylus makes for easy smudge-free navigation, including activating Air Command when you remove the stylus from its corner slider.
The real question is: Can you handle 12 inches? Wrist fatigue is real when you're trying to balance a 750-gram unit that's the size of a utility bill.
But if you want big-screen real estate at any cost, NotePro doesn't shy from taking centre-stage.
NOTE: The Note Pro 12.2 version reviewed is a universal unit; Australian CPU specifications may vary. Our test unit was running an Octa-core (1.9GHz Quad + 1.3Ghz Quad) but the Australian version might be running a Quad core.
The writer travelled to the South-East Asia Forum in Bali as a guest of Samsung.