Samsung Galaxy Note 8: everything we know so far

We all know how the Galaxy Note 7 turned out to be a nightmare for Samsung. The device had major battery issues making it combustible, resulting in the global recall of the device. Nonetheless, Samsung is still poised to keep the infamous Galaxy Note series alive with its upcoming Note 8 phablet.

The Note series has always been popular among the users who look for productivity on-the-go, and it will be interesting to see the response of the consumers after what happened with Note 8’s predecessor. The company also released a Note Fan Edition recently that came with a smaller battery and Samsung’s latest software upgrades.

Samsung will surely bring some new features and a safer mobile experience to the table along with its Note 8, making sure the sales don’t suffer this time around.

Although, the phablet is still months away from launch, the rumour mill has already churning out information about the much anticipated device. We already have an idea about the design, features, release date and the pricing of the phablet. Let’s find out what to expect from Samsung’s forthcoming flagship device.

Design

In terms of design, the device has been tipped on several websites revealing the alleged design of the phone in full glory. OnLeaks and 91mobiles even released a 360-degree video alongside a set of alleged renders.

If the rumours are to be believed, the Note 8 design highly borrows from the Galaxy S8 series, with a few minor alterations such as the S-Pen stylus and the dual camera setup. As far as the fingerprint sensor is concerned, it will be placed on the right side of the camera, just like the Galaxy S8, which is disappointing considering the fact that the company was highly criticised for it.

Although the rumours and leaks are yet to be confirmed, but it seems that the Note 8 will look pretty much the same as the Galaxy S8, only bigger. Samsung would surely use the winning formula of Galaxy S8 based on the fact that it witnessed an overwhelming response of the consumers with its design.

Specifications

Just like the Galaxy S8 series, the upcoming phablet is expected to sport a curved Super AMOLED display with 2960 x 1440 pixel resolution. The rumours suggest that the Note 8 will boast either a 6.3-inch or a 6.4-inch display. It is expected to have a Snapdragon 835 SoC or the Snapdragon 836 (unannounced) chipset at its heart. The company will also release a model with the Exynos 8895 chip for other markets.

The processor will be backed by either 4GB or 6GB of RAM and will have a dual camera setup in the rear panel. It will house two 13MP sensors with autofocus, f/2.0 aperture, and 1.12µm pixel size.

Earlier there were reports that the device will have the fingerprint sensor underneath the display, but seems like the company has dropped the idea due to some technical limitations.

The device will still feature other noteworthy features such as the IP68 rating water and dust resistance. It will have the iris scanner for added security. The internal storage of the Note 8 is expected to be 64GB and 128GB with an option for expansion up to 256GB using a microSD card. The phablet will also have the Bixby voice assistant on board, which was first seen on the Galaxy S8. The Note 8 will probably have the dedicated Bixby button as well.

Pricing and availability

The Galaxy Note series has always been quite expensive, and that doesn’t seem to change with the Note 8 as well. However, there is a possibility that the Note 8 might cost even more than the Note 7.

The device is expected to be something around $850, which is around $80 more than the unlocked Galaxy Note 7. The bright is that Samsung will likely give out some free goodies along with the Note 8, at least during the pre-order period. The company used the same technique last year by offering the Gear VR, Gear Fit 2 and a 256GB memory card for free on every purchase.

About the release date, there have been many rumours floating around. Few online reports claim that the phablet will be unveiled at IFA 2017 in Berlin in September, which is highly unlikely since the company has already sent out media invites for its Unpacked event in New York on August 23, teasing the upcoming phablet.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 8 will hit the shelves in September, but will come to the sub continental shores and other market in October.

Let’s hope that the company has done its job perfectly this time, making the Note 8 an innovative and safe device to use. If you are someone who loved the Galaxy Note 7, it’s advanced S Pen and the superior build but had to give it back to Samsung due to obvious reasons, then you should surely consider waiting for the device.