Big is set to get bigger
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 pretty much confirmed for September
4
With the Samsung Galaxy S4 now out of the way the door has
been thrown open for the Korean firm's other high-end smartphone to get a
reboot in the form of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3.
Rumours are circulating about Samsung's next super-sized
handset, suggesting it's going to get even bigger - even though the Samsung
Galaxy Note 2 raised eyebrows with its larger size.
Samsung executive J.K. Shin has confirmed the existence of
the Galaxy Note 3, revealing it will feature a non-flexible 5.9-inch OLED
display.
Samsung Kazakhstan has also slipped up, accidentally
revealing the Galaxy Note 3 on its official website alongside the Galaxy Z4
Zoom and Galaxy Tab 3 10.1.
We're constantly on the look out for Galaxy Note 3 news and
you'll be able to find all the latest right here. You lucky things.
Galaxy
Note 3 release date and price
After a tentative Samsung Galaxy Note 3 release date of September
4 was leaked a while back the Korean firm has now revealed that it will be
holding an Unpacked event on that date at IFA 2013.
We've already had one Unpacked event this year which saw the
introduction of the Galaxy S4 and "Episode 2" (as Samsung is calling
it) carries the tagline "Note the date" - wonder what it might be
announcing?
You can expect the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 to carry a hefty
price tag, probably in line with the Galaxy S4 - making it more expensive than
its Chinese rivals the ZTE Grand Memo and the Huawei Ascend Mate.
The Note 3 will probably set you back at least £550 (around
$800/AU$770) give or take, plus there will be regional variances too.
In terms of when you can expect it to hit stores a report in
Taiwan is suggesting the Galaxy Note 3 release date is set for September 27 -
which would be three weeks after the launch event.
However, a later report from the Three network in the UK
says that the Galaxy Note 3 release date will actually be September 24 - which
would be even closer to the launch event.
Does
the screen need to get bigger?
Although exact specs are still unknown the general consensus
seems to suggest that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will sport an even bigger
screen than its 5.5-inch predecessor.
Early reports pointed towards a whopping 6.3-inch display,
which would see the handset dwarf the 6.1-inch Ascend Mate and 5.7-inch Grand
Memo.
Other sources have claimed that the Galaxy Note 3 could
actually pack a slightly more modest 5.9-inch AMOLED screen.
We thought Samsung may have let the cat out of the bag on
its own website after listing a smartphone accessory compatible with screens
from "4- to 6.3-inches", potentially hinting at a massive display
bump for the Note 3 - although with the announcement of the Galaxy Mega 5.8 and
Galaxy Mega 6.3 this is now less likely.
Screen size, then, remains a mystery but that's not the only
quandary we have regarding the display on the Galaxy Note 3. Oh no, there are
now reports suggesting it will be the first phone to sport a flexible OLED
display.
Samsung did show off such a display at CES 2013 - although
it wasn't part of a phone at the time and we reckon there's still some way to
go before it's ready to hit our handsets, but it certainly gives us food for
thought - especially now there are reports that Samsung is mulling three
designs, one of which includes a flexible option.
We're also hearing that the Galaxy Note 3 may actually pack
a 5.99-inch, Full HD display (although this came from unknown "inside
sources"), as well as word that Samsung is potentially working on a number
of variants with varying screen sizes.
Could this be Samsung replacing the Note range, or adding
more feathers to its super-sized cap?
With JK Shin "confirming" the existence of the
Galaxy Note 3, the Samsung exec is also reported revealing the 5.9-inch OLED
display the super sized handset will pack.
The 6-inch screen size gets another shout out as part of an
image leak on Twitter, with @punkpanda noting the screen was "accounting
for 84%" of the front of the device.
A full HD resolution looks to be pretty much on the cards
whatever size the screen ends up being after more leaks pointed towards 1080 x
1920 for the Galaxy Note 3.
Update: A couple of images have popped up on ETrade Supply
apparently outing the display for the Galaxy Note 3 as a 5.68-inch affair.
Galaxy
Note 3 operating system conundrum
We can be pretty sure that the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will
roll up running Google's Android platform, but which particular version that
will be is not so black and white.
Android 5.0 Key Lime Pie was expected to be announced at
Google's IO event in May, but it failed to materialise and since then we've
seen the search giant launch a new version of Jelly Bean, Android 4.3.
However if history has taught us anything it's that assuming
is for fools - as we've seen numerous handsets launched with older versions of
Android - but Key Lime Pie is pretty unlikely and there's no guarantee the
Galaxy Note 3 will arrive with Android 4.3 on board.
It could well run Android 4.2 out of the box, but he latest
reports do point towards the Note 3 running Android 4.3.
Galaxy
Note 3 specs
- Display non-flexible 5.9-inch OLED display
- Price least £550 (around $800/AU$770)
- OS Jelly Bean, Android 4.3.
- PROCESSOR Qualcomm's 2.3GHz Snapdragon
- 800 quad-core
- octa-core processor
- eight-core GPU
- RAM 3GB of RAM
- CAMERA 13MP rear camera.
The big screen won't be the only feature Samsung will want
to shout about though, as you can expect the Galaxy Note 3 to be packing some
serious tech under the hood.
Check out Samsung's Your Mobile Life to discover loads more
about the infinite possibilities of the GALAXY Note II
It could be another industry leading handset (the Note 2 was
the most powerful smartphone when it launched) with reports suggesting it will
follow in the footsteps of the Galaxy S4 with a ridiculous octa-core chip.
And like the Galaxy S4 the Exynos 5 Octa version may not be
available in some markets with Qualcomm's 2.3GHz Snapdragon 800 quad-core chip
likely to feature in some variants.
Update:
There are now reports that the octa-core version of the Galaxy Note 3 has been
put on hold with no launch for the UK, US or Australia in the near future.
Looks like we may have to settle for quad-core after all.
As this device will fall into Samsung's "Note"
family you can expect the fabled S-Pen to make another appearance here as it
looks to rub shoulders with the Galaxy Note 8.0 and Galaxy Note 10.1.
According to Android Geeks a software engineer has spilled
the beans on the S Orb camera feature which is apparently destined to debut on
the Galaxy Note 3, after reports earlier this year suggested it would arrive on
the Galaxy S4.
The usually reliable SamMobile has also had its say on the
Note 3, with its own "inside sources" claiming the handset will be
the most powerful in the world with a octa-core processor, eight-core GPU, 3GB
of RAM, 5.99-inch Full HD display and a 13MP rear camera.
There's been further leaks surrounding that 13MP camera,
with news claiming the snapper will sport optical image stabilisation tech,
which will apparently give traditional cameras a run for their money.
Update:
According to "industry officials" the Galaxy Note 3's camera could
well support 4K video recording, although we reckon this is highly unlikely.
4K recordings would take up vast amounts of storage on the
handset and there are very few devices the video can be properly enjoyed on at
the moment.
The suggestion of 3GB of RAM was given another boost by a
second source "confirming" the memory of the Note 3 and since then
reports that Samsung has been ramping up production of 3GB RAM has added
further fuel to the fire.
Apparently the Galaxy Note 3 will measure 8mm in thickness
and weigh in at 183g, so slimmer than the Galaxy Note 2, but pretty much the
same weight.
With all that power, and of course the huge display the
Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is going to need a decent battery and the latest from the
rumour mill points toward a 3450mAh power pack which would beat the 3000mAh
battery in the Sony Z Xperia Ultra.
Update: It's not just what's on the inside that counts, with
Samsung tipped to launch the Galaxy Note 3 in a trio of colours - black, white
and pink. It's all very exciting.
Plastic
or metal?
Many were hoping the Samsung Galaxy S4 would see the Korean
firm change its way when it came to chassis construction - ditching the plastic
for a fancier metallic finish, but alas this wasn't the case.
The whole plastic vs metal debate isn't over though and now
rumours are suggesting the Galaxy Note 3 could well sport a hard alloy case.
SamMobile sources reckon the HTC One has "worried"
Samsung, leading the manufacturer to consider a new material for the Note 3.
We've also seen an image slip out online claiming to show the
metallic body of the Galaxy Note 3 and a completely new design language for
Samsung - although we're not overly convinced by this.
Those hoping Samsung will pull out some premium materials
for the Galaxy Note 3 may have their dreams dashed as inside sources claim the
handset will follow in the footsteps of the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy S3 in terms of
design.
More images of the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 have surface, this
time showing off a rounder handset which bears more of a resemblance to the
Galaxy Note 2 and Galaxy S4.
Source : John McCann,PuNSh
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