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Samsung Galaxy Note 3: 5 More Things to Know

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Rumors are swirling about a number of big time smartphones including the iPhone 5S, HTC One Mini, HTC T6 and yes, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, Samsung’s upcoming phablet and successor to the Samsung Galaxy Note 2. Galaxy Note 3 rumors, over the past few weeks, have been extensive and now, there are a number of new things that interested consumers should know.

Last year, Samsung released a big-screen smartphone called the Samsung Galaxy Note 2, a device that has gone on to sell millions of times around the world, and a device that remains one of the top Android devices on the market. Despite its accolades, the Galaxy Note 2, like all smartphones, will be replaced by a successor, a next-generation machine that a company hopes will not only replicate that type of success, but exceed it.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is coming later this year.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is coming later this year.

Enter, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, a device that is already in the news, despite the Galaxy Note 2 only being a few months old and despite a release that likely won’t come for a number of months down the road.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 is rumored to be an impressive successor to the Galaxy Note 2, at least on paper, and a device that could certainly tempt millions around the world when and if it arrives later on this year.

We’ve heard that it could come with a large 5.9-inch to 6-inch display. We’ve heard that it could come with a powerful quad-core processor. We’ve also heard that it could be coming sooner than expected. Certainly, there are many details out about the next-generation Galaxy Note. But which are the most important to consumers right now?

Here, we sort through the pile of Galaxy Note 3 rumors and take a look at what we think are the five most important, and new, things to know about the still unofficial Samsung Galaxy Note 3.

Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Launch Dates

Up until this week, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 launch seemed destined for September. IFA 2013 is in September and the month falls about a year after the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 launch. It just makes sense. Cue, a report from the always hit-or-miss Digitimes which claims that Samsung is planning a Galaxy Note 3 launch for July or August, sooner than expected.

Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 3: New Launch Dates Emerge.

IFA 2013 remains possible for a Galaxy Note 3 launch.

IFA 2013 remains possible for a Galaxy Note 3 launch.

This of course throws a wrench into the previous rumors, simply because it’s possible that Samsung will push the release of the Galaxy Note 3 up like it did with this year’s Galaxy S4. Samsung has proven that’s not above pushing out a new device within a yearly cycle so July and August remain possibilities.

Of course, September should still be considered the front-runner. Samsung has used IFA for the last two Galaxy Note announcements and with the Galaxy S4 off to a fast start and the Galaxy Note 2 still one of the top phones on the market, Samsung shouldn’t be in a rush to introduce a new Galaxy Note, despite the demand.

Processor Situation is Tricky

Consumers should also know that while the launch date situation is tricky, the processor situation is an extremely puzzling one as well. Up until this week, rumors pegged the Galaxy Note 3 processor as the Exyos 5 Octa octo-core processor, the same processor found in some models of the Samsung Galaxy S4.

A new leak though suggests that the device will be touting a Snapdragon 800 quad-core processor, Qualcomm’s next-generation chip that has yet to make it to any devices.

Both processors are powerful, so it’s not like Galaxy Note 3 owners are going to be skimped on processing power, but as of right now, it’s unclear if the Qualcomm 800 will emerge in all variants of the Galaxy Note 3, if the Exynos 5 Octa will be in all variants or if Samsung will mix and match like it did with the Galaxy S4.

Either way, the Galaxy Note 3 processor should be top-of-the-line.

Improved Camera Appears Likely

One feature that we have zeroed in on is the camera on board the Samsung Galaxy Note 3. While the Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note 2 both sported 8MP cameras, the Galaxy Note 3 is said to sport a 13MP camera sensor that should be a massive improvement over the previous two.

This should come as no surprise. The Galaxy S series got a camera makeover and the Galaxy Note series is badly in need of one as well. If there is one rumor that pans out with the Galaxy Note 3, it will be an improved camera, one that is likely the same or close to the same 13MP camera sensor that we saw emerge in the Galaxy S4.

Galaxy S4 Design

Indeed, there is talk of new Samsung designs on the horizon, possibly including metal, likely features unbreakable flexible displays, but at this point, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 seems destined to mimic the design of the Galaxy S4, just like the Galaxy Note 2 borrowed the design of last year’s flagship, the Samsung Galaxy S3.

The reliable SamMobile claims that despite a number of choices, the Galaxy Note 3 will come with a plastic design that takes from the Galaxy S4. We don’t expect them to be identical but consumers should expect the device to take hints from the smaller model.

What does this mean? This means plastic, this means removable back and this means a microSD card slot for more storage space. No, this isn’t confirmed, but this is the most logical scenario and given that the Galaxy S4 has sold millions of devices already, it’s clear that Samsung’s decision to use plastic wasn’t a bad one.

Serious Competition Awaits

That said, the Galaxy Note 3 should have at least one serious competitor, unlike the Galaxy Note 2 which was met with less than optimal opposition. No, the LG Intuition doesn’t count.

Read: HTC T6 Rumors Point to Serious Galaxy Note 3 Competitor.

The HTC T6 is rumored to be an HTC One-like phablet.

The HTC T6 is rumored to be an HTC One-like phablet.

The Galaxy Note 3 is thought to be squaring off an HTC competitor currently known as the HTC T6, a device that is said to be a phablet form of the current HTC One. The device is said to have a 5.9-inch Full HD display, quad-core processor, Ultrapixel camera, metal design like the HTC One and Android Key Lime Pie.

Furthermore, it’s thought to have a stylus that could match up with the Galaxy Note 3’s S Pen. Whether the HTC T6 has unique software or not is unknown, but on paper, this looks like a serious challenger to the Galaxy Note 3 and its phablet throne.

17 Comments

17 Comments

  1. Techman

    05/31/2013 at 3:44 pm

    Let’s hope Samsung see sense and don’t try to make the Note 3 with only 16Gb of internal memory. Surely they have learnt their lesson with the S4.

    • FreddieBoy

      05/31/2013 at 9:29 pm

      why more than 16, when u can add & exchange a 64gb as often as u want for less than $40. Hello.

      • bob

        05/31/2013 at 11:55 pm

        Because I want more than 80Gb max

      • ChecksHisFacts

        06/01/2013 at 12:30 am

        Because you can’t install apps on the memory card. Check your facts before going all ‘Hello’.

        • George Takei

          06/01/2013 at 1:54 am

          Helloooooooooooooooooo…

          • Nonsense

            06/01/2013 at 2:15 am

            Lolololol!!! I love u George!!

      • Techman

        06/01/2013 at 2:52 am

        Quite apart from the fact that you can’t use a card for apps or bought films/music/e-books etc. Without rooting, an external card is slower to read/write than internal memory. Whilst many penny pinching people may accept only 16Gb, it is not really enough with modern hidef games/apps using large amounts of memory. The shame of the S4 is that it is not available in the 32Gb or 64Gb versions here in Europe. At leasr two carriers in the US have bowed to public pressure and made the 32Gb S4 available. In Europe, even independent sellers can’t get the larger S4 memory versions from Samsung even though there is the demand. A modern powerful smartphone really needs more than 16Gb internal memory.

  2. Jain Kallarakal

    05/31/2013 at 8:18 pm

    GALAXYNOTE 3 towards the end of JULY with a QUADCORE snapdragon 800 chipset along with a quad core 1.9 exynos chipset , with all the goodies of GALAXY S4 is what everybody is looking for. GALAXY NOTE4 with the option of connecting an external harddrive and run all your PC programs and project it to a big screen ( I mean with a projector/ what else we need in a POCKET SIZE MOBILE DEVICE) is in the make.END OF JULY WILL BE THE PERFECT MONTH FOR GALAXYNOTE3 release.

    • FreddieBoy

      05/31/2013 at 9:48 pm

      Sounds good, a Snapdragon 800 processor, with an Adreno 335 gpu & a 1200 X 1920 screen (with all three rgb per pixel), instead of 1.5 pixels (like other phones), with 3gb of Dual Channel ram, etc. will b a killer phone. Also a 5.9″ screen, n the same size chassis, would b great also. Of course all the other trimmings, with improvements. Also I believe composits (u call plastic) is just fine, if its good enough for the frame of my Smith & Wesson 9mm auto, I’ll take it on my phone anytime & not have to worry about bad reception or extra weight. Hello

  3. raja

    05/31/2013 at 10:28 pm

    A lot of people will look at htc t6 if samsung replicates the design of S4 on Note 3.

  4. bob

    06/01/2013 at 12:00 am

    Article titles says 5 more thing I should know. Where are they?

  5. BDuffy

    06/01/2013 at 2:21 am

    Impressive…but the real question is:”Is It Gonna be Pretty”?

    • Jain Kallarakal

      06/01/2013 at 8:01 am

      Dress it up with an OTTER BOX case as per your choice, then it will be pretty and worry free from breaking it!!!!!!!!!

  6. Damoah

    06/01/2013 at 2:34 am

    This goes to the end-user. What role does the price play in acquiring a smartphone? Do you get it because of the latest spec or ‘I have to have it’? A jump from e.g. SGS2 to SGS4 is about right but SGS3 to SGS4? I would like to know, please.

    • Damoah

      06/01/2013 at 2:42 am

      …and that goes for the SGN2 to SGN3. I will may jump from SGN1 to 3 if the price is right.

  7. Drake B

    06/01/2013 at 8:46 am

    I just want to note that I wish Samsung would add a detachable bluetooth ear phone on their phablets. One that is ready to use upon detachment and is placed within the contour shape on the side of the phablet body.
    It will not need a lot of battery juice unlike the typical earphone because once you’re done talking with it, it will go right back to the phablet and be recharged. When a typical earphone is being recharged you are recharging its usage calling time and also its resting time (which can be longer at most times). With the detachable earphone idea you are only recharging the usage calling time which translates to less battery power and time being use to recharge it back. Having said that you will not have an issue of having an uncharged earphone and don’t have to spend extra time recharging it as well. If Samsung maintains having a removable battery on their phablets one can simply choose to bring an extra battery.  At the same time the ongoing advancements is trending towards less power capability hardware and more powered batteries.  Not to mention phablets can accommodate a larger piece of battery.  Having mention trends – there’s more texting now than phone calling. With regard to uncomfortableness on the ear usage this will get better during trial and error in the development stage – and by the way you’re most likely to be off the phone than being on it. And when competition kicks in you’ll see several awesome choices instead. You won’t look like a geek anymore too.

  8. Joe D.

    06/01/2013 at 9:08 am

    After playing around with a co-worker’s Note 2, I am passing the S4 by in favor of getting this device later on in the year. The rumored 5.9 inch screen is stretching the envelope for pocketable phones, but I’ll manage somehow I’m sure. Agree that internal memory capacitys for modern smart phones should START with 32 Gb and end with 128… Seeing as how these devices are used more often to store and share media and data than ever before. I’m pretty excited about the upcoming Note 3.

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