It's pretty obvious that design-wise, the Note II is inspired by the GS3. It's all about the plastic body, rounded corners, and thin bezels. In an attempt at the "premium" look, Samsung has added a flashy metallic finish (like what you see on Whirlpool refrigerators).
Brilliant screen; Excellent performance; Extensive multimedia support; Great battery life; Packed with features
Uncomfortable for single-handed use; Feels too plasticky; S-Voice is worse than Siri