Best apps for the Samsung Galaxy Note 2

The Samsung Galaxy Note 2 was something of a game-changer both for Samsung and the industry at large, possessing the biggest display ever used on a smartphone.

Running Android Jelly Bean, packing 2GB of RAM, and with an excellent battery life, the Galaxy Note 2 is one hell of a device – no wonder it’s shifting by the million. 

The Note 2’s display is huge at 5.5-inches and is designed to be used in conjunction with Samsung’s S-Pen. Doodling, note taking, picture editing, and annotations are all possible with the Note 2’s stylus, which is one of the most precise digital pens on the market. 

To take full advantage of the Galaxy Note 2’s abilities you’ll want to load it up with applications that truly bring the device to life. Below are 10 of our current favourites – and best of all, most of them are free. 

Soonr Scribble (free)

As the name suggests, the application makes use of the Note 2’s S-Pen. Pop open Soonr Scribble and you’re free to annotate and edit documents in over 35 file formats, including Word, PDF, Powerpoint, and Excel. 

The app also has built in sharing functionality so once you’re done doodling on something you can fire it off to whoever you like. Ideal for work, sketching down ideas, and sharing ideas with colleagues – this app is a must have for Note 2 users. 

SketchBook Mobile (£1.24)

SketchBook is a premium application that is a must-have for anyone who is serious about drawing. Published by AutoDesk and featuring an impressive toolkit of brushes, pens, effects, and editing features make this creative tool a must have for anyone serious about drawing.

Think Photoshop combined with Illustrator, but just on your mobile. Perfect. 

Netflix (free)

The Note 2’s 5.5-inch display makes it ideal for viewing video while on the move, and as video-on-demand (VOD) services go they don’t get much better than Netflix (even more so when used via a VPN). LoveFilm is also an option but out of the two we generally prefer the layout and UI of Netflix on Android. 

You can grab yourself a monthly subscription to Netflix for just £5.99 and watch TV shows, films, and documentaries wherever you go. Another must have for the Note 2. 

BBC iPlayer (free)

Don’t fancy paying for a Netflix subscription? No problem – just use the free BBC iPlayer application instead to sate all your TV-related desires. 

Navigation is easy and there’s a wealth of content available, including films, which is constantly updated. 

Pocket (free)

Pocket works across mobile, tablet and PC and is one of the best applications for reading articles and posts offline in a clean stripped down format. 

Experience is seamless and syncing is done whenever you’re connected to the web. And if that wasn’t enough to tempt, the app itself is free and looks brilliant on the Note 2’s gigantic display

Catch (free)

Get all your ideas stored on your Note 2 with Catch, a free application that lets you doodle things down via text, voice, and, importantly, Samsung’s S-Pen. Catch also works offline and can also scan barcodes – definitely handy in the run up to Christmas. 

Another cool feature of the application is the ability to setup shared spaces that allow you to work collectively with people. We love this application and use it on a daily basis – it’s a definite must-have for anyone that likes to get creative with their smartphone.  

Upgrade to the Pro version and you get even more features and storage space. 

Touch Retouch (free)

Coming in two versions – free and paid – Touch Retouch brings Photoshop functionality to your Galaxy Note 2. At its core it’s an image editor, allowing you to remove blemishes, touch up shots, and recalibrate colour settings and effects. 

Simple to use and highly effective, Touch Retouch is one of the best photo apps for Android, so make sure you have it on your Note 2. 

Quickpic (free)

The Galaxy Note 2 is a near-flawless device but its stock photo app sucks. Thankfully you can swap it out for something vastly superior. Our current favourite is Quickpic, which is available for free via Google’s Play store. 

One of the best things about this application is that it loads faster than Samsung’s stock application, caches images, and features myriad of quick sharing options. Simple, easy to use, and highly effective – what more could you want from a gallery application?  

Photo Editor (available via Samsung Apps)(free)

Photo Editor is only available via the Samsung Apps store and is designed to be used with the Note 2’s S-Pen. The app itself is free and features tons of useful features and quirks like the ability to touch-up pictures, add effects, and remove blemishes. 

Similar to Touch Retouch just with better S-Pen integration, Photo Editor is a truly staggering image editor that is a must-have tool for any Galaxy Note 2 users that even have a passing interest in photography.