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This review pertains to the Samsung Galaxy Note II, model number SCH-I605, or the Verizon Wireless variant of this device. Your mileage may vary with the unlocked version, or with versions from other carriers in which features weren't blatantly stripped making for a more miserable user experience. The first thing I want to start with is the fact that wireless charging has been completely stripped from the device. I'm not referring to not just including the inductive charging plate in the back panel, I mean they've completely removed the terminals from the logic board and covered them with part of the case. This means if you have ANY dreams of owning a wireless charger for this device, either buy from a different carrier, buy the unlocked version, or be prepared to void your warranty by disassembling the case, soldering terminals to the leads, cutting the case, properly measuring and cutting the leads, then installing the inductive charging plate in the back panel lined up perfectly with the terminals you just soldered. Why on earth would they take such a premium phone and neuter this feature? 6 words: Nokia Lumia 822, and Droid DNA. These two devices are a burden on Verizon's inventory right now, and they're doing everything they can to push inferior technology on unsuspecting customers who desire premium quality and design. My second big gripe, just like the Samsung Galaxy Nexus, Google Wallet has been removed. With the Galaxy Nexus, it was as simple as side-loading the application. With the Note 2, it's hours of frustration down a rabbit hole that lead you nowhere near a working solution. You'll have to root your device, voiding your warranty (again,) install Root Explorer and edit your Build.prop file in the root of the filesystem. You have to tell the phone to basically believe it's a different model on a different network, install Google Wallet, initialize it, set it up, then go back and restore the settings in the Build.prop file to the original settings so your phone functions properly. This resolution works on other devices, but still causes issues with Google Wallet on the Verizon flavor. Once again, why?! With Verizon's Motorola relationship, and Google's ownership of Motorola, what, pre tell, would drive them to these means? Isis. The Isis mobile payments system, which Verizon is a parent investor in. Verizon claims it's due to the fact that Google Wallet accesses a secure part of the hardware, and is somehow a risk to users (hence calling it a "secure" part of the hardware?) Funny thing is, Isis does the exact same thing. Unfortunately, Isis doesn't work with all NFC payment terminals. Google Wallet doesn't either, but acceptance is MUCH more prevalent than it is for Isis. In fact, I live in the DC Metro area, and there isn't a single Isis payment terminal that I've seen. Google Wallet, on the other hand, is everywhere, all the way down to Macy's department stores. Third on the list is the bloatware. You come to expect certain apps on Android devices to be prepackaged with carrier-sold phones, but Verizon takes the cake on the list of Verizon apps included, taking up storage space and mucking up system-wide defaults, such as trying to open an address in Google Maps. Sure, you get the option to use "this app by default," but I've actually found it only applies to the app you're using. Example: open an address from a web browser in Google Maps, tell it use Google Maps by default instead of Verizon Navigator, and you're set for the web browser. Open an address from a text message, you'll be asked the same question. This applies to same actions in any app. Still not convinced? What if I told you Verizon disabled MOST of the apps for split-screen viewing? I counted a list of 8 or so apps I could use split-screen view. Most of which were apps I wouldn't use. I installed a custom rom on my device, and unlocked EVERY app and everything from Skype, to Polaris Office, to Email, even to Angry Birds worked fine. Sadly, Verizon disabled a LOT of S-Pen functions as well, not to mention the entire suite of S-Cloud functions. You'll constantly be nagged to trust Verizon with your contacts using their contact backup crapware that never syncs properly, and they've also castrated the call/messaging blocking function. What's that? Well, it's the equivalent to "Do Not Disturb" on the iPhone, but with more features such as whitelisting or even blacklisting numbers from telemarketers and the like. One could speculate that was removed as it competes with their pay-for-use services to lock down phone use between certain hours for your kids. The phone its self in an unmolested fashion is amazing. Sadly though, in spite of what is blared into my ear everytime I call Customer Care, customers DO NOT come first. After this mess, you can believe once my two-year contract is up on my other line I'm gone. You've been warned. It's your money. Spend it wisely.