The new Note 3 measures 151.2x79.2x8.3mm, meaning it is slimmer and thinner than the Galaxy Note 2 despite having a larger 5.7-inch display.
The Note 3 weighs 168 grams, which means that it is 12 grams lighter than its predecessor and having the same weight as the 5-inch Sony Xperia Z1.
The Note 3 has also surprised users by ditching its much-derided glossy plastic, found on the GS4 and most other recent Galaxy devices.
Samsung has now replaced it with a faux leather backing, with stitching around the borders. It's still plastic, but it's nice to hold, soft and feels solid.
One good thing about the textured plastic casing is that it makes the device really light and thin. The sides almost look metallic from a distance, but they're plastic.
The panel on the Note 3 is a bit taller, not wider. The company has managed to trim down the bezels on top and bottom to allow more room for this.
Still, it is comfortable to hold the Note 3, as compared to the most supersized handsets on the market, including the first two Notes.
The easy-to-remove back cover provides access to the removable battery and SIM/microSD card slots, while a band of silver-painted plastic goes right around the entire phone.
The S Pen stylus fits snuggly into the bottom right hand side of the phone when not in use. And when you pull it out, an S Note document is presented on screen instantly, ready for writing.
Samsung said users can expect a more "enhanced" S Pen experience than found on last year's model, and claimed that this will enable better multitasking.
The Samsung Galaxy Note 3's home button retains the general size and shape of the Note 2. Also, the left- and right-side buttons layouts remain the same.
The left-hand side houses the volume rocker, and the power/lock button is located on the right-hand side. On the bottom edge there is a single speaker and USB 3.0 micro-B connector.
The headphone jack and the built-in IR blaster for controlling your TV, set-top box, and other home-entertainment gear sit up top.
