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Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Launch Date: What Not to Expect

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Despite a host of rumors, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 remains unconfirmed but we should hear all about it come September 4th at Samsung’s Unpacked Episode 2 event in Germany.

For months now, Samsung Galaxy Note 3 rumors have waged on, revealing just about every piece of the Galaxy Note 3 puzzle. The device, which is expected to replace the Galaxy Note 2 as the company’s flagship Galaxy Note model, is expected to feature a number of upgrades to help it battle with the iPhone 5S, HTC One Max and more.

Read: Samsung Galaxy Note 3 Launch Date: What to Expect.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 launch event is on for September 4th.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 launch is slated for September 4th.

Rumors have aligned and they suggest that the device will be coming with a massive 5.7-inch 1080p display, quad-core processor of the Exynos 5 Octa and Snapdragon 800 variety, a 13MP camera up from the 8MP camera on the Galaxy Note 2, Android 4.3 Jelly Bean, and a design that has been tweaked from the previous model.

Samsung still isn’t talking about the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 but it has all but confirmed its arrival. Just a few short days ago, Samsung sent out invites for an event in Berlin, Germany, just ahead of the IFA 2013 trade show. The company did not say what the invite was for, only that it would be Episode 2 of the company’s Unpacked events in 2013.

The company doesn’t make it clear, but it’s clear that this is the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 launch date. Samsung reserves Unpacked events for its flagship devices. IFA typically serves as the launching pad for Samsung’s Galaxy Note series. Both the Galaxy Note and Galaxy Note 2 launched at IFA. And furthermore, the invite itself not only contains the word ‘Note’ but it has sketches and handwriting, alluding to the Galaxy Note’s S Pen stylus.

And while much of the focus has been on the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 device itself, there has been little focus on the launch event itself.

We’ve already discussed what we expect at the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 launch date and now, it’s time to take a look at what we don’t expect from September 4th’s Unpacked event.

A Dull Event

Samsung launch events have progressively gotten more spectacular, for better or worse. With the Galaxy S3 launch, we saw an orchestra and massive screens that Samsung used to show off its smartphone. With the Galaxy Note 2, we had magic and a massive stage. And with the Galaxy S4, Samsung rented out the Radio City Music Hall and had Broadway actors play out skits showing off the Galaxy S4’s features.

Of course, we also had a number of Samsung executives show off features, both hardware and software, but it’s clear that Samsung events have expanded beyond your typical Apple event.

With the Galaxy Note 3 launch event, we fully expect Samsung to go all out. Exactly what it might have in store for consumers is unknown but we expect something that is either on par or a little step below the Galaxy S4 launch. Samsung goes all out with these events and the Galaxy Note 3 launch, given that it’s Episode 2 of Unpacked, should be no different.

Look for teasers to start occurring ahead of September 4th, it’s probably why the company sent out invites so early.

Another Phone

All signs point to the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 being the star of the show. But there are rumors that suggest that it could be joined on stage by Samsung’s smartwatch, currently dubbed Samsung Gear.

Samsung Gear is expected to be the company’s answer to Apple’s rumored iWatch. Samsung has confirmed that it’s working on a smartwatch though we haven’t seen the product make an official appearance yet. Details remain extremely scarce though there is speculation that it could join the Galaxy Note 3 on shelves later this year.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch could be a perfect pair this fall.

The Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and Samsung Galaxy Watch could be a perfect pair this fall.

An Unpacked event is the perfect place for a device like this to launch but it’s not clear if Samsung is willing to pull attention away from the Galaxy Note 3 in order to show off its watch. Perhaps another event is in order later in the year. We’ve also seen Samsung announce a host of new devices so it would be shocking to see it pull another one out its hat.

Whatever the case may be, it’s looking like the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 will be the only phone that takes the stage in Germany though it could be joined by at least one other Samsung product on stage in September.

Surprises

Samsung does a great job of keeping its product designs a secret but it doesn’t do a good job at preventing leaks of anything else. At this point, weeks ahead of its arrival, the Galaxy Note 3 has seen virtually of its features confirmed. From its display size, to its processors, to its RAM. It’s laid out on the table for consumers.

That said, we don’t expect there to be any surprises in regards to the Galaxy Note 3. Expect many of the features we’ve heard to be on board the device when it arrives. Expect there to be new S Pen related software. Expect it to arrive for many carriers.

It’s possible that we could see the Samsung Gear make its debut but even then, it’s wouldn’t be a surprise.

Concrete U.S. Release Date

As we’ve noted, we fully expect Samsung to announce the Samsung Galaxy Note 3 release date at the launch event. Rumors suggest that it will be out in late September and if that’s the case, expect Samsung to offer up a late September window for regions at the launch event. Gone are the days of extremely vague release dates.

Samsung doesn't usually disclose specific launch dates.

Samsung doesn’t usually disclose specific launch dates.

Those in the U.S. can expect to hear about when it will be touching down, late September, October or beyond, but buyers likely won’t get specific release dates. That’s because Samsung isn’t in charge of that. It’s up to the carriers to decide when the device touches down. Given how many smartphones are in the pipeline for the fall, we don’t expect carriers to have it all figured out and that should mean a lack of specific Galaxy Note 3 release dates during and after the event.

Those who are on Verizon should just expect the Verizon Galaxy Note 3 to be released last at this point as well.

Clarity About Storage

Samsung typically confirms its devices in several different storage options. In the case of the Galaxy S4 and Galaxy Note 2, we saw it confirm 16GB, 32GB, and 64GB options. Problem is, carriers in the U.S. never launched anything above a 16GB Galaxy Note 2 and the Galaxy S4 only came in 32GB form to AT&T and Verizon. Samsung of course didn’t make any of that known on stage.

So buyers will likely once again be throw for a loop at the launch event. Samsung will likely confirm several storage options and the smoke won’t settle for several weeks after the announcement when carriers disclose which storage options or in this case option, they will carry.

Pricing

Samsung may announce suggested retail pricing at the Galaxy Note 3 launch event but that’s not guaranteed. What is guaranteed though is a lack of pricing from U.S. carriers.

Don't expect pricing to be confirmed at the Galaxy Note 3 launch event.

Don’t expect pricing to be confirmed at the Galaxy Note 3 launch event.

We should see them confirm the device, without any kind of pricing, and not disclose the pricing until much closer to the Galaxy Note 3’s release date. The device is expected to command a $299.99 on-contract price tag but we likely won’t see carriers talking about that price until much further down the road.

34 Comments

34 Comments

  1. Joey

    08/09/2013 at 10:55 am

    Well I’ll be the first.
    Looking good as far as specs but still the same old cheap plastic. Second-year ID students could design more exciting shells than Samsung’s billion-dollar corporate designers do. Same old white and gray plastic blob kid-toys- year after year. And still no forward-facing stereo speakers. With streaming video and music SO popular, why is another 90-cent speaker so difficult to add?

    And, yeah, why the big scrooge-effect with 64gB models? I’ve never understood that. They get to make WAY more money per gig if they add it on-board, but they limit options, and everyone buys 64 gig microSD cards for less than half the cost per gig. At least Samsung continues to make devices that accommodate expandable memory- unlike others! cough-nexus!-cough-HTC…
    Just seem that with the enormous success of the Galaxy line, and the massive budgets, that there would be more to be excited about in a premium $800 device.Still, I’m looking forward to seeing in.

    • Lara

      08/10/2013 at 1:58 am

      what Roy replied I am alarmed that you can earn $6599 in a few weeks on the internet. have you seen this web site,……….. https://goo.gg/Hb

  2. Anonymous

    08/09/2013 at 11:00 am

    Sony Z Ultra Look Better. Excellent Display With Triminiuos Display. 2.2Ghz cloked CPU frequency.thinner and lighter

    • Beto

      08/11/2013 at 2:14 am

      Sony Z models got ridiculous big bezels and far less powerful batteries for such big devices…. No match for any Samsung phablet…

    • bob

      08/11/2013 at 11:58 pm

      Triluminos doesn’t even come close to the Samsung OLED or LCD panels

  3. chrisj979

    08/09/2013 at 12:01 pm

    Did I miss something because I did not see a pic of the Note 3, I saw pics of the Note 2. Also adding a forward facing speaker would increase the bezel size, which to MOST consumers is ugly. HTC did it and it’s cool for some, but the majority won’t like it and those phones are not selling that well. Buy some headphones, I don’t want to hear your music. It’s like complaining about the speakers on your flat screen TV, the thought is buy a home theater system.

    People complain about the design but the phone still sells like crazy, if 100million people buy it and 100thousand don’t like the design, guess who wins?

  4. Adam

    08/09/2013 at 12:30 pm

    In response to the comment about the “plastic” shell, some including myself prefer it to the sturdier aluminum one. Metal does look better and gives you a more solid feeling phone, but taking into consideration signal quality and ease of manufacturing, “plastic” makes sense! Ever drop an iPhone or HTC device with aluminum shell? If so, the glass probably cracked or shattered. Undependant testshaveshown that the “plastic” you refer to actually gives and helps to absorb impact. Seeing as most people put there pricy phone in a protective case, does it really matter, you’ll never see that beautiful aluminum? If rather have the added durability myself. W are all entitled to our own opinions and that’s part of what makes Android devices so popular (we can choose what we want instead of accepting what iDevice’s are without a choice). I agree that speakers on the front would be nice (they are on the HTC One), but would rather have a small one on the back that “works perfectly fine” instead of adding girth to an already large phone. That’s just my $. 02!

    To address the storage issue mentioned previously, carriers don’t want you to have the large amount of internal storage on the phone because you’d likely keep the phone longer and they would not make as much money selling you a newer “better” (supposedly) Phone.

    Go Samsung! Just don’t lock the bootloader…….. or at least give us the option to unlock it.

    • Nolan

      08/10/2013 at 8:46 am

      Couldn’t have said it any better.

    • duff

      08/10/2013 at 8:23 pm

      I keep my metal Droid x in a case most of the time but not always. I have thoroughly abused the phone (dropped, thrown, kicked, stepped on, used in the rain) and Still have the ORIGINAL one from 4 years ago. Do that with a plastic phone. A front speaker would be Nice or at least some on top and bottom like the original galaxy tab. And I would love to actually be able to have the larger storage option IN MY HAND.

    • Max

      08/10/2013 at 8:47 pm

      Agreed on the polycarbonate (“plastic”). I work in retail selling and activating phones (handling them quite a bit) and in my opinion it’s much much easier to hold a samsung device than an iphone without it slipping and sliding around crazily in my fingers. I find this slipping happens quite a bit in metal and glass designed phones.

  5. Esther

    08/09/2013 at 1:37 pm

    Can’t wait for sept 4th. Plastic case is fine takes the shock well. Have Samsung s3 and need larger screen. Good for me with what the rumors are saying

  6. Alex

    08/09/2013 at 2:05 pm

    I hate Verizon they better get it when everyone else does

    • Marc Lee

      08/09/2013 at 2:22 pm

      NOT BLOODY LIKELY!!!

  7. Marc Lee

    08/09/2013 at 2:20 pm

    I’d prefer a Nexus7-like rubberized case, though, of course that can be fixed with a good protective case. My Note 8 is a bit slick, but then it rarely leaves it’s leather case anyway. Not sure alum. is the answer. Kevlar anyone??? I’ll be at AT&T day one!

    • Marc Lee

      08/09/2013 at 2:21 pm

      Carbon Fiber???

  8. ukandroid

    08/09/2013 at 2:29 pm

    In Europe even independent retailers were unable to obtain any S3/S4/Note/Note 2 models with more than the basic 16Gb internal storage despite user demand. A BBC TV programme featured the relatively small amount of memory left for users after the “bundled” apps. I can understand why carriers may want to offer base versions on cheap subscriptions but when people want to buy a larger memory version for money, it seems mad that despite larger memory variant being available in some markets, Europe has never seen them. Let’s hope it is different for the Note 3 or it won’t be a flagship.

    • Marc Lee

      08/09/2013 at 2:35 pm

      Couple limited memory with “Bloatware” and installed apps for which there are better replacements, and the memory issue REALLY starts to become real. Thank G-d for microSD!

  9. Ron Poratti

    08/09/2013 at 5:26 pm

    Always have and always will love Samsung phones and tablets because they have MicroSD card slot for added storage. Period. Why doesn’t any other phone company understand this??!!

  10. Fullofwit

    08/10/2013 at 12:50 am

    I was planning to buy the S4. But I begun to think that having a larger screen and a more powerful CPU, plus the ability to use the stylus for my work, it was a no brainer. Plastic or not I will buy the N3, The only concern I have is the lack of larger memory. I hope they offer it and let us make the choice.

  11. Roberto

    08/10/2013 at 1:24 am

    I have been waiting for this Note 3. Please hurry…. I am finally throwing away my iphone
    yay!

    • kandiekane0602

      08/20/2013 at 10:19 am

      I hated my iPhone, I went as far as getting the Samsung Skyrockett 2 just to get away from it. I hope you enjoy being iPhone free when the N3 comes out.

      • Marc Lee

        08/20/2013 at 10:39 am

        Don’t/can’t hate the iPhone… they did invent the category. Bought the iPhone when it came out. Upgraded to 4. Upgraded to 5 when battery life dropped to 50% and speaker phone flaked out. Now it is just SO DATED, and Apple’s idea of “upgrades” are so minor… I am SO looking forward to pen input, bigger screen, and all the other “goodies”. Just hope it ships in time to cash out of current phone at Gazelle for $300+ (AT&T 32GB FLAWLESS, currently at $330).

  12. Steve

    08/10/2013 at 1:26 am

    I really need bigger screen. I hope it comes with at least 6.3 inch screen.

    • Robert

      08/10/2013 at 9:38 pm

      If you are in the states like me. You can get on ebay and buy a Samsung Galaxy Mega with a 6.3″ LED display. The performance isn’t quite up to par as the N3 will be or as the s4 is already but if your just looking for the larger display with s3 computing power. The Mega will work for you. My wife bought the first Galaxy Note for $800.00 when it first came out and loved it. She has been waiting for the Note 3 since February. Upgrade eligibility is killing her lol. Hope it comes soon. Also Samsung is the best my opinion. Go ahead and hate. I’ll never own a different brand Android. I started with Galaxy S 1 (captivate) now have an s3 and will get an s4 or s5 next.

      • Note Lover

        08/11/2013 at 6:11 am

        I agree, I will probably never get anything but Samsung again. Even before smartphones, I’ve had Samsung phones feature ohones. I also had Nokia, Motorola, Sony and HTC, just to give them all a try, but always came back to Samsung. Nothing else compares IMO and in another month my whole family will all have Samsung phones. I currently have the Note 2 so I’ll be upgrading to the Note 3 and letting one of them have my Note 2. One of my sons has the S4, and my other son will also be getting the Note 3. Just waiting impatiently lol!

  13. jpswain48

    08/10/2013 at 4:38 pm

    Note 3 wish list:

    1: 32 gb standard
    2: 3 gb ram
    3: 5.99 + inch screen
    4: usb 3
    5: hdmi
    6: 1080p
    7: Snapdragon 800 cpu
    8: 4000 amh battery
    9: 13 mp + camera

    • Note Lover

      08/10/2013 at 7:05 pm

      Perfect, I agree jpswain48

      • Marc Lee

        08/10/2013 at 7:55 pm

        + wireless charging and 64GB option!

        • kandiekane0602

          08/20/2013 at 10:21 am

          Wireless charging would be an excellent addition.

  14. Beto

    08/11/2013 at 2:24 am

    I guess that the flexible screen and stuff will be for a future Note 4, probably.

    Since I am more than satisfied with my Note 2, perhaps I will save me some buck, skip the Note 3 and wait on the Note 4…
    Unless… I will be able to sell my Note 2 as good I sold my Note 1 ….

  15. ukandroid

    08/20/2013 at 10:57 am

    Great to find out that the “standard” model will be 32GB.

  16. Pastor Osoro

    09/12/2013 at 6:01 am

    Sorry for all… but surely the “plastic case ” should be changed to a more durable yet suitable for the phones and users.

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