Galaxy Note 7 Release: 3 Important Details Confirmed

At this point we know the new Samsung Galaxy Note 7 will be announced on August 2nd, but reports and rumors have been mixed in terms of the final design. However, with the release date quickly approaching new leaks have reportedly confirmed some very important key details for potential buyers.

Earlier this month Samsung sent out invitations for the Galaxy Note 7 launch event in New York City on August 2nd, which will be another annual Samsung Unpacked event. This invite confirmed the name is the Galaxy Note 7, not the Note 6, and hinted at a very important feature which is a curved display.

Read: 7 Reasons to Wait for the Galaxy Note 7

For months on end we’ve been seeing leaks and hearing rumors about their new phablet, and as the release nears more are starting to surface. From cases, press photos, and now videos showing a working Galaxy Note 7 in hand. With that in mind, below are three very important key details and aspects of the phone that all buyers will want to know about, one of which could be disappointing to some. Read on for more details.

Initially rumors suggested the new Galaxy Note 7 would have a bigger 5.8-inch display, considering Samsung’s recent Galaxy S7 Edge from March has a big 5.5-inch curved display. Meaning there isn’t too big of a different in terms of size between the two. As time has passed we’ve since learned that isn’t the case, and Samsung will stick to 5.7-inch Quad-HD for the screen like they’ve offered for the past 2-3 years.

At this point we’re pretty confident in saying the Note 7 will have a powerful 8-core processor or a Qualcomm Snapdragon 821 in the United States with 6GB of RAM for improved performance, the S-Pen stylus, a bigger battery, micro-SD slot to expand storage, 64GB of built-in storage too (not 32GB) along with an IP68 dust and water resistant rating like the Galaxy S7. All of this makes it an excellent phone, but we’ll have to wait and see. With that in mind, here’s what we now know ahead of the release date.

Curved Galaxy Note 7

Almost every leak we’ve seen of the incoming new smartphone have suggested it will have a 5.7-inch 2560 x 1440 Curved S-AMOLED display. As in the screen won’t be flat, and it will have curved edges with additional software features just like the Galaxy S7 Edge or even the big Galaxy S6 Edge+ from 2015.

Last week we received actual photos of the device, seen below, which confirmed the screen is curved. Those going from a Galaxy Note 4 or 5 to the new Note 7 need to know the screen isn’t flat like older devices, but curved on the edges.

This allows for improved software features, extra controls, quick access to apps, and things like a ruler, compass, sports scores and quick notifications at a glance. It’s a nice touch and makes the phone look very premium, but many don’t use them. I have the Galaxy S7 Edge and turned the Edge features off completely. Buying the phone for the bigger screen, great camera, long battery life and water-resistance. Not the Edge. There’s nothing wrong with it, but the features are somewhat redundant. This video confirms a curved Note 7.

The new press render shown above from @evleaks along with everything we’ve seen so far essentially confirms the Galaxy Note 7 will have a curved display.

No Flat Galaxy Note 7

Having a curved display looks awesome and makes using the phone a breeze, but it isn’t for everyone. Last year and even back in March Samsung released two models. A regular “flat” phone like the Galaxy Note 5 and then a curved model. That trend followed in 2016 with the regular flat Galaxy S7 and a bigger curved Galaxy S7 Edge. Giving buyers the choice on which one they wanted.

If you don’t want a curved Galaxy Note 7, this phone isn’t for you. Everything we’re hearing suggests Samsung is going “all-in” with the curved design, and will only release one Galaxy Note 7 in 2016. It will have a curved screen and they will not release a regular flat model. This will be the first year and flagship phone released by Samsung that is only available as a curved device.

This news has been mentioned time and time again, but was reportedly confirmed by a report from VentureBeat. The only Galaxy Note that will be available in 2016 will have a curved screen. I see nothing wrong with that, but some buyers may end up looking elsewhere as a result.

No Micro-USB Port for Charging

This last key detail isn’t an extremely big deal, but could cause some frustration and confusion for new users. The Galaxy Note 7 will not have a micro-USB port on the bottom for charging, syncing to a computer and using accessories. That means old chargers, car chargers, accessory docks and more won’t work with it unless owners get an adapter.

That is because Samsung is jumping on the new USB Type-C port that’s the future. We saw this with Google’s Nexus phones last year, the new HTC 10 and LG G5 and even Apple’s MacBook.

USB Type-C is reversible and can be plugged in either direction, unlike regular micro-USB, it’s also more durable and charges extremely fast. It allows a higher power input to charge the device faster than ever before. It’s always reversible in the sense that owners will be able to charge other devices with the Note 7, as USB Type-C can send power both directions.

Read: Galaxy Note 7 vs Galaxy Note 5: What We Know So Far

With the Galaxy Note 7 we’re expecting the device to support Quick Charge 3.0 technology which will allow it to recharge from 0-80% in just 35 minutes, or fully recharge in around 80-90 minutes. This means it will recharge much faster than the Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy Note 4 and any other Samsung devices released in the past few years. It’s one of the most exciting new technologies in the past few years, and owners will love it. Add in a huge 4,000 mAh battery (if rumors are accurate) and the Galaxy Note 7 is stacking up to be a well-rounded phone.

If everything we’ve heard is true the Galaxy Note 7 will be big, fast, powerful, have a curved display, an excellent new camera, the latest charging technology, an Iris eye scanner for improved security, be water resistant, and have tons of storage along with a micro-SD slot to expand storage. All of this will be confirmed on August 2nd, and we’re hearing that could be the release date too. Either way, it will be here within the next 15-25 days. Stay tuned for more details.