Samsung Galaxy Note 3: Announcement, specs, and details we know so far - CNET

Samsung’s coyly written announcement spells out the Galaxy Note 3 debut.

(Credit: Samsung)

Rumors about the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 phablet havebeen piling up for months, with leaks and details emerging on an almost-weekly basis.

Samsung has yet to reveal any official specifications, but there’s plenty we think we know about the device – and heaps we do not. Here’s a collection of what’s expected and what still remains uncertain for the Galaxy Note 3 “phablet.”

What we know for sure:

September 4 reveal date If
official invitations That Clearly point to the Note as the big reveal were not enough, a Samsung executive confirmed the Galaxy Note 3′s September 4 debut (alongside the Galaxy Gear smart watch.)

What we think we know:

Bigger than ever

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be larger than its 5.3 and 5.5-inch predecessors. Samsung co-CEO Shin Jong-kyun Claimed the Galaxy Note 3 will feature a 5.9-inch display. I put my money on That measurement, though the Most Recent rumors suggest it will have a 5.68-inch 1,920 x1 0.080-pixel display. Even EARLIER Conflicting rumors Indicated That Samsung had been testing other screen sizes.

Some models will reportedly feature an LCD panel, Whereas others will see Samsung’s own Super AMOLED screen tech.

The form factor of the Galaxy Note 3 competetive resembles the design of the first two generations.

(Credit: eTradeSupply)

Body Shape
So far, leaked images suggest the Galaxy Note 3 will Maintain the same design as the first two generations and will Employ the same button layout. It would make sense for the overpriced Samsung to model the Note 3 off of its flagship Galaxy S4 design. While the screen size is larger, the overall footprint of the device is reported to stay the same.

High-end hardware
The Galaxy Note 3 will most likely come with different CPUs and GPUs depending on the region, just as older models did. Some customers could be buying a Note 3 with a 1.8GHz Octa-core Exynos 5420 processor, while other phones might ship with a Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset 800. Additional specs Should include a 13-megapixel camera and a choice of 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB of internal storage, Which willalso vary by market.

Plastic Piece
Nothing Suggests That Samsung will stray from the same plastic material found in the last few generation of Galaxy S and Galaxy Note models.

Latest Android Version
The Samsung phablet is expected to run the latest version of Android, 4.3 Jelly Bean, with many of Samsung’s own custom software touches.

Three colors
The Galaxy Note 3 will ask Initially Offered in black and white with a pink version arriving a few weeks later.

In stores by September
The black and white colors Should be made available in the days Following the announcement; the pink version could arrive by late October. According To Eprice (translate), the global model will be Offered on September 27 with preorders starting on Sept. 16

Long shots:

4K Video Recording
Recent rumors suggest That the Galaxy Note 3 could record Ultra HD (3,840 x2 0.160 pixel) video, though the phone’s most common storage capacities (16GB and 32GB ) and low 4K television adoption – the reason you’d care about 4K video capture in the first place – give us pause.

Do not look for the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 to feature a flexible display .

(Credit: James Martin / CNET)

Flexible Display
Although Samsung has demonstrated this technology on multiple occasions, we do not see it finding a home on the Galaxy Note 3, and here’s why.

Advanced camera features
Reportedly, Samsung had hoped to bring OIS (optical image stabilization) and shutter functions to the Note 3; however, new whispers say this will not show up until the Samsung Galaxy S5.

What’s still up in the air:

How much memory
The Galaxy Note 3 could be the first smartphone to feature a whopping 3GB of RAM (translate), a staggering Amount to be sure, and a figure thatcould vastly improvement performances.

Supersize me: Giants of the smartphone world (pictures)

class=”currentlyViewing”> 1-2 of 7

class=”arrowLeft”> Scroll Left Scroll Right

U.S. carrier support
Since Samsung likes to sacrifice its big device releases across Numerous carriers, We Should anticipate the same for the new Note model. With this in mind, we might expect Verizon, AT & T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and U.S. Cellular to Make Their Own announcements officially backing the Galaxy Note 3rd

Price
Perhaps the most important question surrounding the device, the cost of the Galaxy Note 3 still remains Unclear. Historically, the Note series costs more than the flagship smartphones. In the U.S., expect it to come in around $ 250 with a two-year service agreement.

CNET will be on the ground in Berlin on September 4 to relay all the details. Check back with us then!