SINGAPORE — Smartphone consumers today are a demanding lot, expecting devices to not only perform well, but look and feel as expensive as their price tags.

And while the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 impresses when it comes to performance, its design and build cannot match those of the recently launched iPhone 5s and Sony Xperia Z1.

The Note 3 certainly looks better than all of Samsung’s previous creations, with its leather-like back and chrome finish on the sides.

But hold the device in your hand, and you will realise immediately it is still made of plastic. The durable, lightweight polycarbonate body will ensure the phablet remains scratch-free, but it does not have the premium feel a smartphone with a metal body comes with.

The Note 3 is one powerful machine, however, thanks to what is under the hood. It comes shipped with a 2.3GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon 800 processor and the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean operating system.

As a result, almost any task, including playing high-definition games and streaming videos, can be performed quickly, smoothly and without lag.

The Note 3 is powered by a 3,200mAh battery, which should last for about a day and a half with heavy use of email and frequent playing of videos and high-definition games.

The camera has also been upgraded to 13 megapixels from the Note 2’s eight-megapixel sensor.

Multitasking is made easier with the new Multi Window feature. This allows users to view several applications on the 5.7-inch full HD Super AMOLED screen, meaning one can switch between apps without closing a window or opening a new page. Users can also transfer data such as contacts and pictures between the windows via a simple drag-and-drop system.

With the introduction of a few new features, Samsung has done well to make the S Pen stylus a device people can actually use in their daily lives.

Removing the stylus from its slot will start the Air Command feature, which allows users to quickly access components like Action Memo.

The Galaxy Note 3 is definitely one of the most impressive smartphones this year, thanks to its great battery life, fast processing speed and intuitive S Pen technology. But it is time to ditch the polycarbonate body and give consumers what they really want — a device with a metal body that looks and feels expensive.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be available from Sept 28 at S$1,048 (without contract).